Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 146

 'Sob, sob... Sister... Sister!!'

 'There there, don't cry. Show me your wound. Let me treat it.'

 Those were the customary words after rigorous training for a young girl. The big sister comforted the young girl gently and after the treatment, they would embrace each other and sleep together, as if it were a beautiful ritual.

 As the young girl grew, she could hardly remember her mother's face, leaving her to wonder if she hadn't been loved as much as her sister. It was during this time that her sister assumed the role of a parent figure.

 Their daily life unfolded within the confines of the secret training ground established by the exorcism family—an isolated, hidden village that remained entirely cut off from the outside world. Even the Onitsuki family did not officially acknowledge its existence, and those who trained within its boundaries remained equally concealed.

 This place is the Onitsuki family's specialized dirty work, officially a department of the Hidden Group for budget purposes. In reality, it served as the eyes, ears, and weapon of the semi-independent head and elders. The Hidden Group's Owl Inspector... That was the harsh reality of the doghouse where she lived.

 She didn't question her position, nor did she consider it unfortunate. She didn't even think about such things. Rather, she simply disliked the painful training, but she endured it because she had her sister. She was satisfied with a world that consisted only of my sister and myself. That was everything.

 It was much later when she learned that her abilities were the reason for her position and that her sister was the chain that bound her. However, at that time, she had no thoughts of changing the world she lived in. She didn't even have the idea. Besides, due to her experiences and resignation, her rebellious spirit had been broken.

 ...And later, her first task was coming. It was to kill a family member. She hunted down a fellow trainee who had fled. The second task, she made it look like an accident and pushed a reckless member of a branch family, who had leaked the secrets of the Onitsuki family, off a cliff. The third task was disguising herself as a thief and slitting the throat of a spy from the royal court who had been hiding in the valley on her way back.

 She does these tasks for her sister. However, when her sister, who also has a lot of work, became very tired, she wanted to assist her. This was especially true because her sister couldn't handle the risky tasks that she could. She willingly accepted the dangerous jobs and left the easier ones behind. This was her way of showing gratitude to her sister. Even the lingering scent of blood and the fact that the blood wouldn't wash out no matter how many times she cleaned her hair were small concerns compared to her love for her sister.

 ...It would be a long time before she would understand why her older sister continued to hug her in her bed every now and then without letting out a sob.

 'Sister, has something changed?'

 'Oh? I think everything is the same as always.'

 That conversation took place during their long-awaited reunion. One involved assassination, the other involved internal surveillance. After each taking on their respective missions for over a month, they coincidentally met again after reporting to their superiors. It was because it was the girl that she noticed the slight changes.

 'Are you okay? Are you eating properly? Are you sleeping well? Are you injured? Is your health okay?'

 'Yeah. I'm fine. There's no problem...'

 As usual, she responded bluntly, with a hint of annoyance and embarrassment. Being treated like a little sister was one thing, but being treated like a child forever was irritating. After all, she is already an adult and capable of doing her job.