Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 54
Interlude - In the Case of Takatsukasa Kazura, Part 1
It was early April when Kazura got a call from Kazura contact-averse cousin, asking for "a little help." Honestly, when the first thing she said was,
"I... I'm getting married before you,"
Kazura thought she had finally lost it. Kazura mean, she's always been the type to talk to her own reflection, you know? It's only natural for Kazura to react that way.
And then she tells Kazura the lucky groom is "a teenage boy." Wait. Is this... is this still her delusion? If she's actually kidnapped and imprisoned a minor male, even Kazura family's power won't be able to sweep that under the rug!
She started rambling some nonsense about "an engagement based on a grand love affair." That's just Shouko's delusion—Kazura mean, her version of events.
That led to a "Confess your crime!" argument with Kazura versus a "I absolutely did nothing wrong!" counter-argument from Shouko.
...Anyway, that's not the point. She called Kazura for a reason, right? It's not about hiding, concealing, or disposing of anything, right? If the "engagement delusion" continues, Kazura is hanging up... Ah, good. She finally got to the point.
Hmm... Kobe family? No, never heard of them... Oh, they're a minor baronial house? So, what's wrong with some house nobody's heard of? Is there some trouble? ...There really is trouble?
Why would she get involved with someone so far beneath her? Ah, Kazura see. She's not the one having trouble, it's the Kobe main house fighting their own branch family? ...Now Kazura is even more confused.
A baronial branch family is practically common folk, right? The main house daughter is bullying the branch house daughter? ...Yeah, that happens. Why are you getting involved? It's not your concern... Ah, here it comes.
The subject of her imprisoned fiancé.
What's that? "We live together, but it's not imprisonment"? Do you realize that that statement is a bigger crime than this whole branch family bullying mess?! Listen, living with a minor who isn't a blood relative is an indefensible crime!
Oh. His whole family died in a car accident...
Kazura get that she wants Kazura to "shut up and listen," but the conversation is only going off the rails because she keeps saying insane things.
—So, after that conversation, Kazura delegated the task of sending a "complaint (threat)" call—no, an email—to the Kobe house to our butler, Okita, about ten days ago.
Shouko sent me one email afterward:
Thank you. It helped a lot. Also, he said he wanted to meet you directly to say thank you, but I politely declined for you. ...Kazura, don't get the wrong idea. When he said 'I want to meet you,' he just wanted to thank you for helping. There was absolutely no affection or personal interest in that request.
...Kazura don't mind that she declined. After all, Shouko is in Kansai, and Kazura is in Kanto. It's a pain for either of us to travel. So, her declining the meeting is fine.
But... Shouko's desperate eagerness to keep us apart is highly suspicious. If this boy is real, he's supposed to be your fiancé, right? So why the hell don't you want me to meet him?!
Maybe he's some kind of worthless trash that she doesn't want anyone else to see... Kazura suspicion grew, and that feeling of unresolved frustration kept getting bigger.
A little time passed—and Shouko called again. Did that girl finally get arrested?! Kazura lips twitched as Kazura hit the call button.
"Eh? Yeah, I'm doing fine."
What's with the formal greeting? Ah, Kazura see. She has another favor to ask? What? The Rokujou family is involved now?
Huh? Why would Rokujou's name come up... Oh, right. Ayaka-neesan is the LAB Director in Osaka.
Wait, Shouko and Ayaka-neesan were only acquaintances who exchanged greetings. How are they involved? Ah, her fiancé is a labyrinth student, and that's the connection.
...Eh? Your fiancé is a girl? Stop being confusing! If she was a girl, Kazura would be relieved, so just say so from the start... Not a girl? He's definitely a boy? And she even had a medical check to confirm it?
No, no, no! Doesn't the hospital and the doctor who confirmed that need to be investigated?! Including you!
What? He consented? He's actually eager to prove it? Kazura don't even know what you're talking about anymore. That's not important right now? ...I guess.
But still, a boy enrolling in the Labyrinth course... From what you've said, Kazura knew he was weird, but not that weird.
Eh? He has mana aptitude? Of course Kazura know what that is, Kazura have it. ...Wait. He has it too?
"Don't get cocky just because you match him!!"
Why the sudden outburst... Is she unstable? Kazura wasn't even thinking that. ...Shouko, have you changed while Kazura wasn't looking?
So, what's his connection to the Rokujou family? Ayaka-neesan is trying to recruit him? ...No, that can't be right.
Ayaka-neesan is about as uninterested in men as Kazura is... well, maybe not uninterested, but she hasn't met anyone she "wants to be with."
Besides, the Rokujou and Takatsukasa houses are almost equal in status. They aren't some minor baronial house you can casually pick a fight with.
Ah, she doesn't want Kazura to fight Rokujou, she just wants Kazura to escort the boy when he enters the dungeon? Listen... Kazura is a Gold-rank Explorer, you know?
Kazura honestly considered refusing. But given that Kazura haven't been able to make any progress in a year... If Kazura stay here, Kazura'll just be helping train the clan's rookies. So, babysitting a student or training a mid-level Explorer—it's the same level of 'no benefit' to Kazura.
"...If that's the case, wouldn't it be more fun to just go see Shouko's face?"
Decision made: Kazura taking a road trip to Osaka. The boy—Shouko's 'fiancé (temporary)'—is going into the dungeon next on Monday, right? Kazura might as well leave early and sightsee over the weekend!
Monday morning arrives.
Shouko probably planned for us to meet before he left for school, but this is a boy who is supposedly trembling with desire to be an Explorer! A boring first meeting? My pride as one of Japan's top Explorers forbids it!
Fufu, just you wait, boy! Kazura, your idol, am going to make a spectacular surprise entrance for you!
...Or so Kazura thought.
"Kazura! That woman is planning something bad... I can feel it! Hurry up!"
"Hey! Kazura can't ignore the speed limit just because a monster appeared..."
Shouko, who Kazura let ride on the back of my bike, started shouting after receiving some weird psychic signal. ...What kind of character is this girl going for?
We finally arrived at the second parking lot. Huh? Behind the school bus... Ayaka-neesan really is there! "This is my chance!" Kazura thought, and slammed the accelerator! Kazura slid the bike to a screeching halt!
Yes! Kazura is shining brilliantly today! ...Then Kazura saw Shouko jump off the back seat, executing a great mid-air spin.
Hey! Why is a civil servant like you trying to steal Kazura thunder?!
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