Seeker 333

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Chapter 333. Kushina's Resolve (1)

──Side: Kushina──

Kushina, having left the bath, walked down the hallway of the main castle in her yukata.

She felt abandoned by Mikoto—this was how Kushina felt, deeply distressed.

(I… I don’t understand what Mikoto is angry about…)

She was called a coward.

She was told she was sulking.

It hurt, and she couldn’t accept it, her heart was in turmoil.

(I thought it over… and decided to become the sacrifice myself…)

Seven young women had already been offered as sacrifices to Yamata no Orochi.

If she offered herself, no one else would need to be sacrificed.

Yet, Mikoto was preparing to fight Yamata no Orochi again.

Involving the good-natured adventurers—Daichi, Kazane, and Hotaru.

That could result in Mikoto and the adventurers losing their lives.

So many people didn’t need to be sacrificed just to save Kushina.

It would be better if she wasn’t found.

Tomorrow, Kushina would be sacrificed to Yamata no Orochi, and everything would end.

(Besides, there’s no way I should be the only one to survive…)

The seven who had already been sacrificed were all commoners.

Kushina knew.

She knew how privileged her life was as someone born into the Shogun’s family.

She had delicious food every day, a warm bath, and slept in a high-quality futon.

Kushina had lived without any hardship as the heir of the Shogun’s family since childhood.

But commoners were different.

Many families couldn’t eat properly and were always hungry, Kushina knew this.

She wished everyone could live equally and prosperously, but it seemed that the world didn’t work that way.

Seven commoner girls had been sacrificed to Yamata no Orochi.

Those chosen as "Miko" received a large monetary reward and many spent their last days in luxury.

Some even volunteered for this.

Rumor had it that those who volunteered cried and screamed, “No, I don’t want to die,” just before being eaten by Yamata no Orochi.

In contrast, Kushina had everything she wanted from the start.

Unlike the poor commoner girls, she had lived a rich life without any lack since birth.

If those commoner girls had been sacrificed as "Miko," then Kushina also had to fulfill her role.

That was her minimal duty as someone born into the Shogun’s family.

Kushina, walking dejectedly along the hallway, finally reached her room.

She entered without turning on the light and huddled in a corner of the room.

Holding her knees on the tatami, she spent her time alone, quietly and deeply troubled.

(I’m trying to fulfill my duty… Yet Mikoto calls me a coward. Why, why doesn’t she understand?)

Truth be told, Kushina didn’t want to die.

She was scared of being eaten by Yamata no Orochi.

It was only natural.

There was no reason for Kushina, who had grown up in warmth and privilege, to want to die.

But she thought it was her duty, so she decided resolutely.

She at least didn’t want her foster mother, Mikoto, to deny her feelings.

She wanted Mikoto to send her off with a smile.

She wanted her resolve to be affirmed with a “May you fulfill your duty.”

But Mikoto—

Kushina didn’t know how long she had been lost in thought alone.

In her last moments, why was she spending her time like this?

She didn’t understand.

She didn’t understand herself.

She didn’t understand anything.

As she hugged her knees and crouched, she heard a voice at some point.

“Princess, are you there?”

“…Mi, Mikoto?”

It was Mikoto’s voice.

A small joy filled Kushina’s heart, who had thought she was abandoned.

Kushina hastily stood up, straightened her disheveled yukata, and went to meet her.

She gently opened the sliding door to the room,

“Ah…”

There were three other figures besides Mikoto.

One man, two women.

They were young adventurers about Kushina’s age.

Daichi, Kazane, Hotaru.

The adventurers they had met during the recent kidnapping incident in the western town.

＊＊＊

The atmosphere was tense.

A refined tatami room.

We, along with Mikoto, had entered what appeared to be Princess Kushina’s private room.

All five of us, including the princess, were sitting on cushions.

Mikoto sat beside the princess, facing us three.

Princess Kushina, in her yukata, now had her hair down, appearing quite feminine.

Seeing her sitting gracefully, I realized again how beautiful she was.

But her expression was dark, her gaze lowered.

She wasn’t looking directly at us or Mikoto.

Mikoto, sitting gracefully beside her, seemed to want to speak to her but kept silent.

Yuzuki leaned close to me and whispered.

“Senpai, what’s going on here?”

“If you can’t figure it out, there’s no way I can.”

“Hm, that’s true.”

“It’s a bit sad to be so readily agreed with.”

“You’re such a hassle, Senpai.”

“I think so too.”

As we were having this frank exchange,

Suddenly, Princess Kushina spoke.

“…So, you found me.”

Did she mean Mikoto had found us?

Princess Kushina continued, addressing Mikoto.

“Mikoto, can these four defeat Yamata no Orochi?”

The same question as Kazane.

Mikoto, after a brief pause, answered.

“To be honest, I don’t know. But there is hope.”

“Which means there’s a chance you could lose and die, right?”

“…Yes. I can’t say there isn’t. But,”

“Then let’s stop, okay?”

Tears overflowed from Princess Kushina’s eyes as she said that.

The princess continued.

“If I sacrifice myself, it’ll all end. Seven commoner girls have already been sacrificed. It’s not fair for me to be treated differently. And most of all—I don’t want Mikoto and the others to die.”

Taking a towel nearby to wipe her tears, Princess Kushina clearly stated.

But Mikoto objected.

“Princess, that’s an insult to those who are about to go into battle.──Or rather, before that,”

Then Mikoto turned to us.

The woman known as the Sword Saint bowed deeply on the tatami floor and prostrated herself to us for the second time.

“Daichi, Kazane, Hotaru, I ask again! Please, help us defeat Yamata no Orochi! The lord promises ample rewards! I will do anything within my power! So please, please…!”

“M-Mikoto, stop…! There’s no need to involve Daichi and the others.”

Princess Kushina tried to stop her.

But Mikoto, with tears in her eyes, glared at the princess.

“Princess! How can you say such a thing!”

“Because… I don’t want you to die for me! If my sacrifice alone can save others, I must…!”

“Princess…! Please, calm yourself.”

Mikoto shook the princess by the shoulders.

The princess, crying and shouting, tried to push Mikoto away.

Seeing this, I felt a bit annoyed.

It looked like she was indulging in her tragic heroine role.

As Mikoto said, even if we fought Yamata no Orochi with all our strength, there was no guarantee of victory.

No battle had a 100% success rate.

From our experience fighting the Kraken, we knew how dangerous and strong a 250,000-point monster could be.

It was undoubtedly a tough challenge.

The reward was great, but considering the risk, choosing not to fight was a strong option.

After all, I could sense the danger to Kazane and Yuzuki.

Of course, there was also a chance I could die.

Yet, if Princess Kushina herself wanted to play the tragic heroine, it didn’t sit well with me.

I addressed the sulking princess.

My gaze was probably sharp at that moment.

“Princess Kushina. What do you want to do? I want to know.”

My voice sounded cold, even to me.

The princess looked at me once, then quickly averted her gaze, speaking without looking at me.

“I…I, it’s fine. If I sacrifice myself, no one else will have to die.”

“Princess!”

“Sorry, Mikoto, can you stay quiet? I want to hear Princess Kushina’s true feelings.”

“Ugh… but… alright.”

When I asked her to be quiet, Mikoto reluctantly complied.

I asked the princess again.

“Princess Kushina, I want to know your true feelings. I’ll ask one more time. What do you really want? If we do this, we’re risking our lives. I want to hear your true feelings.”

Despite my urging, the princess, with vacant eyes, replied.

“I already said… If I sacrifice myself, it’ll be enough. Seven girls were sacrificed before me. To not waste their sacrifice…”

Seeing the princess repeating the same words like a broken machine, my patience ran out quickly.