Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 168

 Life is a continuous series of unknowns, surprises, and things that never go according to plan. It's a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs, a tough journey across a muddy river, a path through life. Like a boat adrift in a storm, people can only surrender to the currents and play with the cards they're dealt.

 And Kakitsugi Inaba was in a position to deeply understand these words. Possessed by a fox youkai and turned into a puppet, she had lost her memories of the past few months. When she regained consciousness, she found herself in a completely changed situation.

 Inside one of the tents set up by the delegation to Mt. Anma, the exorcists and warriors who entered were met with a mountain of discarded flesh. Servants and laborers were all dead. It was immediately clear that the corpses of these puppets had been dead for some time.

 The Imperial Court immediately sent personnel to the Kakitsugi family's mansion and territory in the capital. When they dispelled the cleverly hidden illusions, they found a scene no less hellish. The tragedy of the main residence on the Kakitsugi family's territory was said to be beyond words. The youkai fox was cruel creatures who toyed with human life and dignity.

 ...After many twists and turns, the Imperial Court and the Omnyouji Bureau decided to freeze the status of the Kakitsugi family as exorcists. Although there were some who had married into or into the family, the loss of servants, laborers, and other personnel made it almost impossible to rebuild. The assets and privileges in the capital were confiscated by the Imperial Court and the Omnyouji Bureau, and the territory itself was divided among the neighboring families. Officially, it was under temporary management, but it was practically a takeover.

 Now, Kakitsugi Inaba's existence was hanging in the air. She was the last surviving member of the main family. Although the status of the Kakitsugi name was frozen, it was not revoked. The Imperial Court and the Omnyouji Bureau were at a loss as to what to do with her. The neighboring families who had taken over the Kakitsugi territory offered to act as her guardians out of traditional friendship. Or perhaps the families who had married into the family... Well, it would be foolish to believe these suddenly affectionate relatives at face value. At best, they would try to get her pregnant or kill her off with a sudden illness.

 "Well, I guess... this is better than the alternative?"

 "Oh? Did you say something, Inaba-san?"

 The soft murmur was barely audible, but the Nanban girl, dressed in a vibrant young green hakama, was quick to catch it and turned around with a flourish. She flashed an angelic smile.

 "No, it's nothing... Anyway, it's a beautiful garden."

 Inaba replied calmly, suppressing her emotions as she faced the overly sweet appearance of her temporary employer. She averted her emerald eyes and looked out at the garden that stretched along the veranda. A luxurious hibiscus garden, with white gravel paths and a pond filled with carp swimming, it was a testament to the owner's wealth.

 "Ah, you like it? That's good. Hehehe, the scenery is nice, but there are also many fruit trees planted. There are so many sweet, sweet fruits... I can't wait for autumn!"

 The temporary employer, the only daughter of the Tachibana trading company, chirped with a lovely smile. She turned around to face Inaba and skipped along the veranda with a lightness that almost made a sound. Inaba sighed softly again as she watched her back.

 (Really, how did things turn out like this?)

 She had lost her home and family, but she wasn't particularly attached to them anyway. Still, she was at a loss for what to do with her life. The Onmyouji Bureau must have been struggling with how to deal with the situation, when the Onitsuki family took the initiative and intervened.