"Could it be that Mr. Arataki is also here to participate in the Test of Courage?"
Ayaka decided to change the subject and used the opportunity to ask why he had come.
"Of course~! Sorry, but the prize is gonna be claimed by yours truly—Arataki 'Braver Than the Heavens' Itto! None of you stand a chance! Hahahahaha—!!"
He continued boasting with the same overwhelming confidence.
"..." ×3
The three of them stared at him in silence.
"Ahem~ I mean, that's what I'd like to say... but I actually came here for something else this time."
Noticing the awkward expressions on their faces, Itto immediately coughed a few times and adopted a somewhat more serious demeanor.
"Oh~? Brother Itto, what happened this time? Why don't you tell us about it?"
Thoma eagerly joined the conversation. He had discovered that whenever something happened to Itto, there was always entertaining gossip to be had.
"Haa—! It's a long story! A while back, when I heard about the 'Test of Courage,' yours truly immediately gathered up the Arataki Gang and planned to bring them here for some serious fun, but unfortunately—"
"Turns out my underlings don't seem all that interested. That's a real problem..."
Itto shrugged helplessly, then launched into an impromptu one-man performance—
"Oh, come on, we've already been to Chinju Forest plenty of times~ It's not scary at all~"
Then he switched to playing another person.
"Isn't this just some game for little kids to build up their courage? Why don't we go play Genius Invokation TCG instead?"
Then he sat down on the ground, bent one leg, and struck the stylish seated pose of a mature man.
"Do we really have to join the Test of Courage? Uh... well, if it's the boss' idea—every single one of them was saying stuff like that!"
He stood back up helplessly.
"They were all so listless! That just won't do!"
He clenched a fist and smacked it against his palm several times, producing a series of smack, smack sounds.
Genius Invokation TCG? What's that?
Hearing a term she knew absolutely nothing about left her somewhat puzzled, but judging from his tone, it was probably some kind of game or activity. She could ignore it for now.
"...So?"
Once he had finished his performance, the Shogun asked in confusion.
"So I figured they just don't know how much fun this can be! Maybe they just think this Test of Courage is boring and won't be able to scare them. Haa... As the boss of the Arataki Gang, how could I let them think like that? I've gotta give them a proper scare and make sure they feel like coming here was worth it!"
"In other words, you aren't simply here to participate in the Test of Courage. You want to be one of the people doing the scaring?"
She understood now.
"Exactly! Haa... Miss Kamisato, forgive me for saying this, but your Yashiro Commission really isn't that creative when it comes to this sort of thing. If nobody actually gets scared, then there's no point, right? So... hehe, let me join in! I'll handle the scaring! I guarantee it'll work wonders! Hahahahaha—!!!"
Itto confidently and firmly made his proposal to Ayaka, then burst into another loud and ridiculous laugh.
"Uh—hehe..."
Thoma gave a wry laugh, then glanced at his lady.
"..."
Ayaka was genuinely considering it now.
She actually took him seriously?! As expected of the Shirasagi Himegimi.
The Shogun complained inwardly.
"Mm—he does have a point. If this Test of Courage fails to achieve the proper effect, then holding it would indeed be rather meaningless. Besides, it's meant to test people's courage in the first place, so adding a few unexpected surprises would be entirely appropriate."
After thinking it over, Ayaka ultimately agreed to his proposal and gave him an elegant smile. Strictly speaking, something like this should be reported to her brother, but she did not do so at the moment. After all, as the second-in-command, she could still make decisions about minor matters like this herself.
"Really?!"
Itto asked excitedly.
"Mm, really... In fact, having a 'professional' such as yourself assist with this event would be our honor, Mr. Arataki."
Ayaka smiled and responded with graceful politeness.
"All right! That's Miss Kamisato for you—straightforward as ever! Then I'll go get ready~! See you all later! Oh, right, I'll be scaring you guys too—!! Hahahahaha—!!"
Whoosh!
The next instant, he happily dashed away, his laughter still echoing behind him.
"Young people these days certainly are energetic..."
Watching the trail of dust left behind, the Shogun sighed with some emotion.
Haa... To think someone like that exists in Inazuma. What an eye-opening experience. Still, I suppose that isn't a bad thing.
That was what she thought to herself.
"Hehe, what are you saying? Shogun-sama, you're very young too."
Ayaka smiled as she comforted her.
"Such a smooth talker... We don't have much time left. Let's go."
The Test of Courage was about to begin. If they did not leave now, they would miss their chance.
"Mm. Thoma, are you coming?"
After nodding, Ayaka casually asked the retainer beside her.
"Huh? Me? Uh—I probably won't head over until the second round. There are still some things at the estate I need to take care of."
Thoma scratched his head and answered somewhat awkwardly.
"I hope the two of you have fun!"
After saying that, Thoma returned to the estate under their gazes, offering them one last well-wish before leaving.
"..." ×2
After watching him go, the two women exchanged a tacit glance.
"Is it with... Ayato?"
She asked.
"Hehe, perhaps... He says there's work to do, but he's probably just keeping my brother company over a game of chess."
Ayaka raised her folding fan beside her face and smiled mysteriously.
So that's how it is... Mm.
"Let's go too, Shogun-sama."
"Mm..."
And so, the two of them once again set off down the mountain, heading toward the site of the Akitsu Kimodameshi Test of Courage—that is, in the direction of Chinju Forest.
"..."
However, only a few seconds after the two of them left, someone poked his head out from the shadows beside the wall of the Kamisato Estate.
"Shogun-sama...?"
The young man dressed in the distinctive uniform of the Tenryou Commission recalled how Ayaka had addressed the other woman just now and murmured the words in a low voice, his gaze turning serious.
Could that woman be... Shogun-sama?
Could Shogun-sama also be participating in the Test of Courage?
Shikanoin Heizou closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then quickly cast the matter aside.
Forget it. The real business comes first.
...
...
Both the Shogun and Ayaka had passed through Chinju Forest countless times before, yet at this moment, the scenery they knew so well seemed far more mysterious than usual—no, "eerie" would be the more accurate word.
There were quite a few people participating in the Test of Courage, but most of them seemed somewhat uneasy about this kind of activity. The more uneasy people felt, the more curious they became, and the more curious they became, the more compelled they were to participate.
Yet among the crowd, she caught sight of Arataki Itto already hiding somewhere nearby. The mere sight of him instantly shattered the ominous atmosphere she had been trying to immerse herself in. There was no helping it. He was simply that good at ruining the mood.
"Maybe Mr. Arataki will end up being the one who has the most fun at this Test of Courage."
Ayaka had also spotted him and quietly sighed.
"...Let's hope so."
She responded, though they had no intention of losing either. After all, this could be considered a competition of sorts, even if it was only a game.
Standing before the two of them now, at the entrance to Chinju Forest, was a shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine. She appeared to be one of the staff members for the event, so the two of them walked over.
"Oh? Miss Kamisato... and this must be... Miss Mio, correct? You're here to participate in the Test of Courage."
The shrine maiden recognized them immediately, perhaps because she had seen the registration list beforehand. Her final words were not phrased as a question, but as a statement, showing that she was certain the two had come to participate.
"Indeed."
Ayaka answered on the Shogun's behalf, while the Shogun merely stood silently beside her.
"Just as I thought. Black mist swirls around the two of you, carrying an ominous aura~ I can sense that you're already on the verge of being swallowed by darkness. Hehehe~"
The shrine maiden laughed in a wicked tone, like some sinister witch.
Is this woman really a shrine maiden? Why doesn't she have even the slightest air of righteousness...? Imagining her working beneath the Sacred Sakura every day feels completely out of place.
Come to think of it, does she say this exact same thing every time she meets a new visitor? Maybe it's meant to put them in the right frame of mind.
"You still have a chance to withdraw. I'll count to three. Three, two, one... Too late. Hehe~ Welcome to... the Test of Courage~ you two~!"