Chapter 19 (1/2)

「19」

We walked on the path that led to the white-roofed gazebo

It see led astray by a shi+fty hustler

The young lady wore a kimono with short hakama

This wasn’t a case of an unscrupulousmaiden you know?!

The woman that Nanaht butterfly

While she’d been wearing an elaborate cabaret dress, its poor craftsmanshi+p and overall cheapness had been on full display

It was the type of dress I felt nostalgia for

Whencafé for a culture festival or so, we could only afford one piece suet

It’d been a fun festival

It was regrettable that shi+nonome Academy didn’t host such events

The reason there were no festivals was that there was no disappointing protagonist to raise the 『Let’s have a Suame

Not really… the actual reason was that letting outsiders onto the campus would be problematic

Even if a ticket systeave one to a student from another school

That was the way things were

Nana to ith, andout any escape available

I’m also a hustler, so that came with the territory

Ah I needed wrap things up quickly and head to the game room!!

I’d stay here as long as time permits

The white-roofed gazebo came into view

The gazebo was all white, but the ivy e

Behind the gazebo was a slight slope that had a sh it, which eventually ended in a small waterfall

Because of the cascading water, the oppressive summer heat was only half as bad

“Now then, shi+ori-sama No one should come here”

“It is quite a lovely view This place is also rather cool”

The entire reason I’d walked this far out with her on such a ht was this cool spot

No one would intentionally walk out here without knowing about it

So, no one should bother us

“It’s a so-called natural air conditioner I’ll listen to any- and everything you have to say Consider it a gift for your engagement”

“You already know?”

“I learned about it a little while ago”

“Kaori-oniisama……Onii-sah, but I am truly sorry for what I did back then”

shi+ori dropped her shoulders as she took a sit on the bench

“Would you ?”

“Whatever you want”

“What duty prevents you fro?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at shi+ori’s question

“To live is to be useful”

“Huh?”

“The Sagara clan started out as feudal lords However, it was a tiny territory, surrounded by mountains on all sides The land was poor and the river tended to be unruly at the best of times”

I’d been told the origins of the Sagara fa

“But even such a poor stretch of land was targeted by other people The bloodstained earth only worsened as the fighting dragged on Then they e the river, they were able to revitalize the land,it fertile once more A succession of wise leaders directed and iara house was built on the backs of warriors and sages The Sagara’s role is the enrich the province and not give in to adversity The head of household alone cannot achieve that Therefore, the responsibility falls every inheritor of the Sagara blood”

“That was in the past wasn’t it?”

“No It’s the same even now”

I immediately corrected shi+ori

“Although the territories and peasantry have disappeared, the conglomerate and its employees have taken their place Since I aara family, I must protect my employees and family That is why the Okabe follow us, and e are allowed to marry for love The Okabe are the first of our subordinates and if we can’t protect them, how can we protect other people? The selfish ones were disqualified The Okabe and our spouses became our reminders”

“That doesn’t sound like a reminder……”

“It is a re asha lazy I would still be hospitalized if that weren’t the case I have to secure assets for use later on Once we reach adulthood, the Sagara show their ability in corporate ement There is little I can do as a child Accidentally, I seemed to be blessed with artistic talent, but that’s merely an amateurish pursuit”

Iwryly smiled as I spoke

My skill in Yuzen designing was soinal Mizuki learned

Personally, I think my skills were too unrefined to be considered talent

“That’s… There are plenty of people trying to get a hold of your handcrafted kimonos, for you to consider them amateurish……”

“It’s useful tome to make connections”

“Huh?”

“Drawing yuzen is ait allows me to befriend the influential ladies of society Those people are a treasure trove of information”

“Mizuki?”

“You know that assets aren’t liht?”

While theyuzen was a nice benefit, it was the information the customers were privy to that made Kikkneesan dance with joy

I was taught that +α was more valuable than money

However, it still ca its usefulness

Various liner as a future occupation

More than anything else, it failed to serve Sagara eful way

It was a source of inforh on its own

Therefore, I sought a different occupation

However, I couldn’t afford to lose the connections I gained as a designer either

I think I should get a job where I can s

If the inforlomerate, then I would be able to bear the less than favorable looks anyone would give me

Even the scars that reht people, I would use utilize them to their fullest

Well, that way I ht still be pure when I finally reach my forties, you know?

“Mizuki, you see beyond what I could ever hope to”

“Has this answered your question?”

“Yes But…… I have become like Icarus”

Such a phrase left shi+ori’s lips

Icarus

As in the ical Icarus?