"My, my~ It's been a long time since I've dined with so many people," Yae Miko said with heartfelt emotion as they sat around the table. "It's just a pity there aren't any main courses, especially with two important figures present. You should at least have some fried tofu ready, don't you think?"
At her words, Hailing and Yoimiya didn't dare to speak, only thinking to themselves: Didn't you just have some this afternoon?
Muramasa, however, had no such reservations and blurted out, "No. You only just said you were coming. Did you expect me to conjure the ingredients out of thin air? And you made a mess of the kitchen. Otherwise, we could have eaten even earlier."
While they were engaged in this meaningless verbal sparring, Kujou Sara quietly enjoyed her dinner, finishing her meal at a steady pace.
This one, does she treat eating as a form of training too… Muramasa thought, watching her precise, calculated movements. Just then, he heard Miko speak again.
"So, isn't it about time you came clean with us, old man~?"
Who are you calling old man— Muramasa thought, but he held his tongue. "Yes... I suppose it's time I explained."
"As most of you know, I was 'summoned' here. I am not a being of this world. You can just understand it like that."
Muramasa didn't hold back much, explaining the mechanics and reason for a Heroic Spirit's existence. He had hidden his identity to avoid trouble, but the current situation didn't allow for such considerations.
"This body, in the end, is just magical energy... or what you call elemental power. As long as the core is not completely destroyed, there won't be a problem."
So that time, his body glowed because those were his 'Visions'? Kujou Sara thought to herself.
"Hmm…" Yae Miko had a cunning look on her face, as if she were still waiting for something. But seeing that he didn't intend to elaborate, she temporarily suppressed her questions.
"Thank you for the meal." Kujou Sara put down her chopsticks, having finished her dinner. "I'll go and prepare the horses. We'll leave after they've finished eating."
The decisive tengu had no intention of resting further. She stood up and walked out of the hut. The big men outside, who had been drinking and chatting, immediately fell silent upon her appearance, leaving only the quiet sounds of them eating.
…
"Phew... I'm so full, so full." Yoimiya patted her slightly protruding belly and stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. "It was just too delicious. I couldn't help but overeat~"
"Then I'll go wash the dishes," Hailing offered, collecting the tableware.
"Me too~" Seeing Hailing volunteer, Yoimiya also helped clear the plates. "You just rest, Muramasa. And keep Lady Guuji company!"
He had no objection to this. Having someone willing to clean up after he cooked was a great relief.
"Well then, I'll make some more tea... Is matcha okay?" Muramasa stood up to boil water and asked the fox for her preference.
"Anything is fine," she said lightly. Seeing that only the two of them and the hidden tanuki girl were left in the room, she spoke. "Well then, let's talk about the rest. Old man, you seem to have something similar to the Shogun, don't you?"
Muramasa hesitated for a moment, but his hand on the kettle didn't stop. He knew what she was referring to.
"A Reality Marble?" A magecraft that materializes one's inner world, eroding the real world to create an independent space.
"Is that what you call it over there? A Reality Marble... a very fitting name."
"It is." He used the same cup from dinner, confirmed it was empty, and poured another cup.
"Aren't you surprised I could tell?" This time, it was Miko's turn to be a little surprised.
"Because I can 'also' see it." On that day, looking towards the Tenshukaku from here, he had felt the Raiden Shogun's unparalleled presence. "Though it's not very clear. After all, I'm not an Archer, but I could feel it. The real Ogosho-sama has locked herself inside, hasn't she? The one outside and the one inside are two separate beings."
Muramasa could tell that the one who had made the proclamation was just a vessel, a proxy for the will of the being within.
"Oh?" His judgment was unexpectedly sharp, which piqued the Lady Guuji's curiosity. "Then, what is your assessment?"
After thinking for a moment, he maintained his indifferent expression. "I have no opinion on this decree. In the end, everyone acts for their own purposes. No one knows the outcome until it's done, right?"
"Hmm~ I'm not asking you to evaluate the Vision Hunt Decree." Miko narrowed her eyes. He was clearly avoiding her question.
"Spare me. For a lofty being like that, one wrong word and you'd have to apologize with your life, wouldn't you?" He spoke with feigned cowardice, but his face wore a refreshingly teasing smile.
"Also, today aside, in the future, you should have some limits with your mischievous nicknames. Otherwise, I might just have to spill the beans about your little secrets." He was still holding a grudge about the 'old man' nickname and couldn't help but protest.
"Hah~ alright, alright." Seeing his strong desire to live, Miko didn't press further and changed the subject. "Well then, would you be willing to accept a commission from me?"
"What's the content?" Muramasa asked out of habit, and Yae Miko didn't hide it.
"Help me explore a place. Tsurumi Island."
"I suppose I don't have the right to refuse?" Looking at her wry smile, he knew this was a job he had to do.
"Naturally." The corners of her eyebrows naturally curved down as her lips curved up. "Aren't you going to ask about the other details?"
"If you didn't bring it up, it's either because you don't know or because it's useless to say it now." He had dealt with too many clients and seen his fair share of riddlers. As for this one—it was almost a given that she just wanted to see the disappointed look on his face after he asked and learned nothing.
"Hehe~" A clear, enigmatic laugh escaped her cherry-colored lips. "Being too clever isn't always a good thing, you know. People need to learn to play dumb sometimes to make things interesting."
"So?" Muramasa raised an eyebrow, playing along. "What kind of place is it, and when can I go?"
"I don't know~" she replied immediately, then sighed. "Agh, you'll have to be a bit quicker on the uptake next time. In short, it's a mysterious place. I only learned its name from that 'Chiyo'."
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