Volume 13 Chapter 327 Sumeragi Kukuri, Father and Mother
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Haah, I’m so tired…”
I let out a long breath in the back seat of the car. Ever since Aqua-sama left for Stars, life had been busy like a wild roller coaster with all the follow-up work.
”You seem very tired,” a woman said.
I looked at the woman sitting across from me. She was Kazami, a relative of Kazami Rin, one of the Kazami Clan, and she had been my mother’s maid.
”You too. How are your eyes?” I asked.
”Not bad. While I lived away from the world, it changed so fast,” she said.
Kazami touched her new machine eyes, looking pleased with them.
To make these machine eyes work well, the problem had been how to accurately perceive surfaces. They solved it by using data from hyperspectral imaging and polarization imaging, combined with a database of optical material properties. Only the minds of Sabato Koyomi-sensei, a genius who won the Noblesse Prize in his twenties for an ultimate high-performance server, and Maria-sensei, a top doctor, could make such a crazy idea real.
”Still, there is room to make them better,” Kazami said. “There is a small delay between seeing and the signal reaching my brain. It’s fine for daily life, but in a fight at the same level, it is a problem. I would be stronger if I fought with my eyes closed.”
”I see…”
This technology began with a suggestion from Emily-oneechan. She wanted visually impaired children to be able to enjoy Aqua-sama’s face and dance. The Saint Aqua Church had the resources to create any weapon, yet Emily-oneechan only wished for benevolent applications like this.
If someone with a bad heart had this power, the world would fall into chaos. No… maybe this many people gathered because it was Emily-oneechan, not someone else. I don’t know how she found Sabato-sensei or Maria-sensei, but people like them don’t usually serve under anyone.
”So please share your data with the Admin, including these points,” I said.
”Understood.”
By the way, had Kazami met Rin yet? I glanced at her face, curious.
”Hehe, are you worried about Rin?” Kazami asked. “I haven’t met her yet. I’m staying in the Shirogane Kingdom and seeing how long it takes for her to find me.”
”What is that? You could just meet her,” I said.
She saw my look and gave a small laugh.
”Talking with you, Kukuri-sama, reminds me of my time with your mother, Kikuri-sama.”
Her eyes looked far away.
”Hey… my mom isn’t dead,” I said.
”Haha, that’s true.”
My mother lives in seclusion. She is alive, but I don’t know where she is or what she is doing. Even the Garden Guard who stay by my side do not know. How does she hide in this world full of information?
”I haven’t seen Kikuri-sama in a long time either, but Momiji might know her whereabouts. It’s just a guess, as I didn’t ask her,” Kazami said.
”Hmm.”
Morikawa Kaede’s mother, a former superior of Prime Minister Habu, had served in the special forces of the Self-Defense Army. On the surface, Morikawa Kaede seemed like an ordinary company worker, so maybe she really did not know anything. But there was still something strange about her.
When I frowned and fell into thought, Kazami gave a small laugh.
”You know, Kukuri-sama, compared to your mother, you are very innocent. She was truly a dangerous woman,” Kazami said, her voice calm.
”Oh? Really?” I answered.
I had heard from Agewa-oneechan that my mother was always playful and guided Emily-oneechan when they were young. Maybe she was different back then.
”Do you want to meet your mother?” Kazami asked.
”Not really,” I said.
I looked away from Kazami and stared out the car window. With Agewa-oneechan and Emily-oneechan around, I did not feel lonely even without Mom.
”But if I could meet her, I would. She would know more about the Women’s Mutual Aid Society,” I added.
”Hm,” Kazami said.
They had done something huge. So many people moved, and still they could not catch the tail of it.
”Regarding the Women’s Mutual Aid Society… Shirogane Aqua and you, Kukuri-sama, seem safe for now. But be cautious. They were responsible for your father’s death,” Kazami said.
”W-what?” I froze at her words.
I knew my father existed, but Mom never said who he was. I had assumed he was just a donor for reproductive cells or something.
”Why was my father killed?” I asked.
”He discovered the Women’s Mutual Aid Society’s secrets. He knew too much and chose to keep silent, not even telling me, Momiji, or Kikuri-sama. He wanted to protect everyone,” Kazami said.
I clenched my fist hard on my knee.
I had never thought much about my father before.
But I respected the quiet nobility of someone who gave himself so no one else would be harmed.
”Be proud of him. I assure you: your father was a good man, as noble as Shirogane Aqua. By sacrificing himself, he eliminated a significant evil within Japan. However, his mission was incomplete, and remnants remain,” Kazami said.
I understood then.
The group that led the remnants was the Kokucho family, and Agewa-oneechan’s plan had wiped many of them out.
”We investigated that incident. Kokucho Agewa, Prime Minister Habu, Yukishiro Emily… and Shirogane Aqua and you, Kukuri-sama—if any one of you had been absent, complete eradication would have been impossible. Together, you succeeded. I believe Kikuri-sama would be proud,” Kazami said.
”I hope so,” I replied softly.
My mother had stayed hidden even during that incident.
When the nobles were dissolved, the government, police, the Saint Aqua Church, former nobles, and the Garden Guard all worked with Prime Minister Habu to find Mom. They used every information network, but they could not find her at all.
”She might wish to return but is unable. Alternatively, she could be held captive by the Women’s Mutual Aid Society,” Kazami said.
”Even if so, with no clues at all, there is nothing we can do,” I said.
They had found small bases of the Women’s Mutual Aid Society before.
But none of those leads connected to anything larger.
”Do you know why I was in the Far East Federation?” Kazami asked suddenly.
I shook my head at her question.
Even using the Saint Aqua Church’s network, no one could say why Kazami had been there.
”If the Society has a main base, I suspect it is located deep within Antarctica, in Greenland’s mountains, or somewhere in the Arctic. That is where I am searching,” she said.
So she had kept searching all this time.
For my father’s killer.
”Perhaps Kikuri-sama shares my goal,” Kazami said, her voice steady.
”I see…”
It was not only Kazami. My mother was also tied to the past. She could not save my father.
”We’ve arrived at our destination. I’ll take my leave,” Kazami said.
She opened the car door and stepped out as it slowed, quickly disappearing from sight.
She could simply meet Rin instead of avoiding her. Rin is kind and sincere. She would be delighted to see Kazami!
”…Mother, you should worry about me a little and visit. Even if Father is gone,” I whispered.
I knew it was impossible. If I were in her place, I would also put revenge for Aqua-sama first. Prime Minister Habu once said Mom and I were very alike.
”Thank you,” I said to the driver. I exited the car and entered the Shirogane Kingdom.
Someone was waiting at the entrance.
”Guhehe! Trick or treat!”
She wore a pumpkin mask, but it was clearly Emily-oneechan. I stared blankly and held out my hand.
”Give me treats. I don’t need tricks,” I said.
”What!? Aww…” she whined.
She handed me a cookie from her basket. It was shaped like a chibi Aqua-sama, designed by Nene-san.
”I made it myself. No strange ingredients, so enjoy,” she said.
Hearing that made me worry more!
”You look tired, so take another,” she said.
This one featured a Merry-san design. Emily-oneechan was truly talented.
”Eat and feel better, alright?” she said.
”Yes, thank you, Emily-oneechan.”
She was genuinely kind. She cared for me more than my mother ever had. I held the two cookies in their bag and examined them carefully.
”Oh, my next target is here! I’ll go!” she said.
”Alright. Don’t overdo it. You’re pregnant,” I called.
I passed the grand entrance and headed upstairs to the living room. Along the way, I encountered Agewa-oneechan dressed as a witch.
”Ah, Kukuri-chan…” she said.
Her face flushed. She adjusted her short skirt with one hand and covered her chest with the other.
Today she was a witch. Last time, she was a black cat.
”It wasn’t my choice. Victoria-sama insisted we all dress up again…” she said.
”I see,” I said.
From the start of the Beryl Halloween Fest weekend until the actual day of the 31st, the Shirogane Kingdom hosted daily parties. I also enjoyed trying on costumes with Emily-oneechan, Lapis, and the others.
”Sorry. I don’t look good, do I? A woman my age in this youthful outfit…” she said.
”No, it suits you. You’re adorable, Agewa-oneechan. I think Aqua-senpai would approve,” I said.
Her face turned even redder.
”Th-thank you. But I’m too embarrassed. I’ll return to my room,” she said.
She attempted to leave, but actual witches—Marin-san and the Mamas—intercepted her.
Hehe. Good luck, Agewa-oneechan.
When I entered the spacious living room alone, Aqua-sama, dressed in a Merry-san costume, was playfully wrestling with Kohina Yukari-senpai, who wore a giant monster suit.
”Hey! Let me prank you!” Kohina-senpai yelled.
”Then you wear this mini-skirt outfit too!!” Aqua-sama retorted.
”No way, idiot!” she snapped.
”Then I won’t let you prank me!!” he said.
This place was always lively, never dull.
I settled into the kotatsu, peeled a tangerine, and watched them with a smile.
Notes:
• Maria – female medical genius originally from the United States, now a Japanese citizen, affiliated with Saint Claris and Mary Foundations, renowned for her research and humanitarian work.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply