"Mm… n-no, I don't want to!" Avrora shook her head at once.
"Yeah? What about you, Kaguya?" Shichen asked with a smile.
"I'll do whatever you say, Shichen," Kaguya replied calmly.
"Good girl~" Shichen ruffled her hair.
"Kaguya?" Zaharias looked at her, puzzled.
"Oh, that's the name I gave her. Not bad, right?"
"Giving them names? How entertaining—very you, Mr. Shichen. And the other one?"
"She's Avrora."
"Sleeping Beauty… quite fitting," Zaharias nodded.
"I think so too."
"Then you truly won't transfer these two vessels to me?" Zaharias asked again.
His stare fixed greedily on Avrora and Kaguya.
Avrora shrank her neck and hid completely behind Shichen, clutching his clothes and pressing close—
but, alas, it didn't make her feel any safer.
"You want me to sell out Avrora? Do you really think I would?" Shichen shot back.
"Don't be so quick to refuse. The price is negotiable. Let's see… how about 20 billion yen?"
"T-twenty billion?!" Avrora was the one who yelped in surprise.
She finally had a sense of money now—twenty billion was more ice cream than she could even imagine.
"Not enough?"
Noticing Shichen's unchanged expression, Zaharias chuckled. "Then we raise it. Double. No—triple! These two products are the strongest weapons in the world and worth every coin… Though I don't fuss over sums, my capital is finite. I'd ask for your indulgence on any shortfall."
"'Products,' huh." Shichen shook his head with a faint smile.
"You're mistaken about one thing."
"Oh?"
"They aren't products—and they're not weapons either. I couldn't bear to let them leave me."
"'Couldn't bear to'…?" Zaharias gave him a strange look. "Don't tell me you—"
"What?" Shichen played dumb.
"Forget it."
Zaharias's eyes sharpened, and the two Hunguis to either side lowered their centers of gravity, ready to move.
"You sure you want to take a swing at me?" Shichen asked, still smiling.
"I don't dare," Zaharias sighed.
"In that case, negotiations have failed. But I won't give up."
"Then show you've got the strength to back it up."
"I understand… We're leaving."
He turned on his heel without hesitation; the two Hunguis followed.
Only No. 9 didn't move, staring unblinkingly at Shichen.
Shichen smiled back. "No. 9… that name doesn't suit you. How about Enatos?"
No. 9 said nothing.
Unbothered, Shichen went on, "Enatos, wait for me. You'll be reunited with Avrora and the others soon."
"Mr. Shichen," Zaharias called over his shoulder, "the manner of that reunion may not be the one you're imagining."
"Who can say."
"Hmph! No. 9, with me."
Only then did No. 9 break her gaze and follow him away. Their figures vanished down the street.
"They're gone," Avrora murmured.
"What, going to miss him?" Shichen gave her a sidelong look.
"Twenty billion, though…"
"So it was the money you cared about… Your ice cream's melting."
"Ah! Slrp—" Avrora snapped back to herself and hurried to lick the drips.
Her rosy tongue swept around the ice cream; it soon took on a creamy tint as she circled the cone, chasing even the drops on her hand.
"It melted this much already… The others are melting too!"
"You've got… uh, some on your mouth," Shichen said, expression a bit odd.
The way she looked right now reminded him of Darkness kneeling in front of him.
…Getting a little warm out here.
"Kaguya, I'm finishing yours," Shichen said, and took the ice cream she was halfway through.
"Okay."
Kaguya didn't mind—she still had another, though it had melted quite a bit.
Her eyes, however, were on Shichen's face as he unhesitatingly took a bite right where she'd licked.
A subtle, restless heat sparked in her chest.
"Kaguya, what's wrong? Not enough? Want me to buy you two more?"
"No need…" Kaguya withdrew her gaze and shook her head.
"In that case, let's head back. We've dawdled long enough—Natsuki's going to scold us."
"Uu…" Avrora whimpered; she really did fear Natsuki's scolding.
Back home—sure enough—Natsuki asked why they were late. Shichen laid out the perfectly reasonable explanation.
"Zaharias… the arms dealer? He actually got his hands on No. 9," Natsuki said, brows knitting as she thought.
"So the Eternal Banquet is starting?"
"Probably still a while yet," Shichen said, kneading her shoulders as he shook his head.
"Why?"
"The Banquet is just a ritual to awaken the Fourth True Ancestor. It requires a host to take the initiative and hold it. The other vessel-holders don't seem inclined, and Zaharias isn't qualified yet."
"Not qualified?" Natsuki turned to look at him.
"With only one vessel, what can he do? Still… it's only a matter of time."
"A matter of time?"
"My guess is he'll snag several more before long."
"Seriously?"
"He's ambitious—and confident. I guarantee it."
"Then you're not going to stop him? Don't you want to secure the other vessels yourself?" Natsuki asked, face unreadable.
"Hm?" Shichen eyed her 'slightly jealous' expression, chuckled, let go, and pinched her cheek.
"What are you doing?"
"Jealous Natsuki is really cute."
"I am not jealous—and don't call me cute!" She slapped his hand away.
"Just speaking the truth."
"Cut it out."
"Heh~ Anyway, I'm not in a hurry. Remember? The Fourth True Ancestor is long gone. Their info is outdated. That ritual? It's nothing."
"I almost forgot…"
"Besides, I need him to gather the other vessels. Saves me the trouble of fetching them."
"Is that so."
"When the time comes, I'll use the opportunity to announce myself—to the whole world," Shichen said evenly.
"You're serious?"
"Of course. What do you think of me making Itogami Island my Night Empire?"
"…Why ask me?"
"Because then you'd be the lady of the house."
"Shoo." Natsuki blink-stepped away.
"I'm serious."
"Who cares if you are. It's late; I'm going to bed." With her back to him, she opened her door, went in, and shut it.
…Was that embarrassment?
Shichen wasn't sure—but kind of was.
He was alone in the living room; Avrora and Kaguya had already turned in. He headed to his own room to sleep.
Zaharias's interruption didn't really affect him—if anything, it gave him something to look forward to.
He lay down, closed his eyes, and drifted off—
—but not for long. His door eased open, then clicked softly shut.
A faint flame-light colored the dim room.
"Avrora, why aren't you asleep? What are you doing in my room?"
"Eek—!" Avrora jumped.
"Y-you're not asleep?" she asked from the doorway, nervous as she looked at the now-sitting Shichen.
"You made such a racket opening the door that you woke me."
"R-really?" Avrora tilted her head.
"Heh~ Come here." Shichen patted the space beside him.
"Um… okay." Avrora shuffled to the bed—and stood stock still.
Smiling, Shichen reached out, lifted her onto the bed, and set her sideways across his lap.
"U-um… w-what are you going to do?" she asked, body stiff, head bowed.
"What am I going to do? Shouldn't I be asking you? Why did you come to my room?"
"I… I came to thank you," Avrora said, lifting her head.
"Thank me?" Shichen blinked.
"You didn't sell us. I'm very grateful," she said earnestly.
"That's it? As if I'd ever sell you."
"W-why not?" she asked, curious.
"Did you forget? I collect a protection fee from you."
"That's true, but—twenty billion…"
"How could money ever compare to the two of you?"
"Shichen…" Avrora looked at him, moved.
"Oh right—I forgot something."
"What?"
"I haven't collected today's protection fee."
"Eh— mm!"
~~~
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