After the simulations got back on track, Kokomi could finally take a short break, only occasionally pointing out the flaws in their strategies. Just then, she heard the voices from outside and, out of curiosity, paid a little attention.
"Is that Her Excellency's boyfriend?"
The moment she heard the first sentence, Kokomi, who was drinking tea, almost spat it out.
"I heard they're long-lost childhood friends!"
"Huh? Weren't they betrothed as children—"
The chatter outside was getting more and more out of hand. What had started as quiet whispers had now almost drowned out the discussion inside the tent.
Gorou also noticed the disturbance outside and, with a stern face, went out. "Silence!"
His shout did quiet the people outside, but it also stirred up the people inside. Everyone had been curious about the identity of this mysterious guest whom Kokomi had personally brought, but they hadn't dared to ask due to the military matters at hand. But now that the discussion had been disrupted, they took the opportunity to start their own.
"It's quite noisy outside, but the topic is rather interesting." A soldier immediately turned his gaze to Muramasa, who was also aware of what was happening but didn't interrupt. "So, you two, is it true as the rumors say…"
This uncle looked to be in his forties and would probably be eligible to join the 'Village Intelligence Association' in a few years. He was exceptionally excited about this kind of thing.
"It's not."
Muramasa had expected such a rumor. But here, his words carried little weight, and no matter how he answered, he would just be brushed off with a laugh, so he didn't explain further.
As expected, everyone who was listening with pricked ears had the same look on their faces: This young man is so shy.
Helpless, Muramasa could only pin his hopes on Kokomi. But when he looked over at her, he found several shrine maidens had also gathered around her, their faces full of gossip, trying to pry something from her. The young lady's face was getting so hot it looked like it might start steaming. She had probably never been teased like this before in her life as the 'Divine Priestess'.
"Hah…" Muramasa sighed and took a step towards them. "It's one thing to make fun of me, but that young lady is your leader, isn't she? How about showing a little more respect?"
As expected, another chorus of "Oohs," "Aahs," and "Alases." It seemed his defense was interpreted as a young couple protecting each other.
I really should have just kept my mouth shut…
He looked at Kokomi again and found that she seemed to have finally calmed down. She let out a long breath and slowly began to speak. Finally, she's going to clear things up…
"Our relationship is indeed as you all imagine."
Huh?
Muramasa's gaze transmitted his confusion, and he heard her continue. "But that is ultimately a private matter between us and has no further benefit to the war effort. Please return your attention to the study."
…
A few hours later, the study session finally came to an end. The others in the tent, as if by agreement, walked out, occasionally letting out "hee hee hee" sounds of suppressed laughter.
"Aah…" A trembling, deflated sound suddenly came from Kokomi, making Muramasa doubt his own ears. Then, like a salted fish, she slumped her head onto the table, her arms stretched out straight like salted chicken feet, making him doubt his own eyes.
But, he could also understand the reason.
"I didn't expect you to just say that," he said, somewhat tactlessly, which made her face flush red again.
She slammed the table with a thwack, then sat up straight and, trying to remain calm, said, "I had no choice. In that situation, there was no other way to explain it! And bringing a man who is not my lover to my room for the night…" That would have a much bigger impact than her having a boyfriend! So, instead of making things worse, it was better to just admit it. After all, he wouldn't be staying on Watatsumi Island for long. "And looking on the bright side, in the future, when we cooperate with the Yashiro Commission, they won't be too resistant." She tried to look at the matter from a better perspective.
"Hmm…" After the switch, she couldn't help but tease him. "And if this news spreads over there, it might be a blow to the Tenryou Commission's morale, don't you think?"
The sudden teasing made Muramasa fall silent for a moment, an awkward look on his face. "Then please spare me." For some reason, the first images that came to his mind were not of the Tenryou Commission, but of a few other people.
"Joking aside," after teasing him, Kokomi had also calmed down a bit. "It seems this matter was too explosive. Even my personal shrine maidens couldn't help but spread it around…" She reviewed the oversights in this matter and could only attribute it to her usual gentle image lacking sufficient authority.
"Yes, it was Gorou's presence that managed to stop those people just now," Muramasa recalled.
"That can't be helped. Compared to him, I spend more time in the rear. My prestige in the army is naturally not enough," she sighed. "And I didn't establish myself with authority from the beginning, so this is inevitable. But what's more worrying now... is probably your situation."
"Me?" he asked in confusion, then remembered the young man's hostile gaze. "Oh, that…"
"Yes." Kokomi nodded gently. "Just the gifts I've received in the past two years are too numerous to count…" She recalled the daily task of sorting through the gifts her shrine maidens delivered on behalf of others. If left unchecked, they could have filled the entire Sangonomiya Shrine. "Even excluding the慰問品 from the elders, the number of gifts from peers expressing their affection is terrifying. And, Watatsumi Island is not like Narukami Island. Here, the older generation will even fight over a potential partner, without even caring about the other person's wishes."
Muramasa thought for a moment. It wasn't entirely incomprehensible. In the past, people had sought him out to forge a sharp sword just to win a samurai duel where "whoever wins gets the girl." In the end, the girl chose neither of them. But those few samurai thought that as long as they cut down everyone who got close to her, they could win her heart.
"Although I trust in your abilities, an endless stream of challenges would be tedious for you, wouldn't it? So, could you… intimidate them a little? But please don't go too far."
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