"Yutsuki-sama, the guards seem to have decreased."
"Yeah..."
Looking at the completely empty hallway, Yutsuki didn't feel relieved. Instead, she frowned in annoyance.
"It seems the other side has already noticed the traps I set in the castle. They've probably gathered all the guards at the castle gate."
If they tried to catch Yutsuki inside the castle, she could easily use the castle's complexity and the traps she set to shake off their pursuit. So, instead of doing that, it was better to gather their scattered forces at the exit and wait to catch the turtle in the jar.
I have to say, this is a very wise judgnt.
"Doesn't that an we're in a very bad situation!?"
"Mhm, to be honest, it's super bad. If we jump out the window, we might just get shot to death by arrows."
"Eh, eh!? Then what should we do?!"
Seeing Yutsuki nod without hesitation, Shiori cried out in panic.
"Calm down, my princess. Although it's a bit troubleso, it's not entirely out of my expectations."
Rubbing Shiori's head vigorously, Yutsuki showed a reassuring smile.
To Yutsuki's actions, Shiori didn't resist. After a mont of silence, she finally spoke:
"Yutsuki-sama, could you... answer one question for ?"
"Hm? Please go ahead."
"Why... go to such lengths for ? Didn't Yutsuki-sama tell that a prince who can rescue a princess from a birdcage only exists in fairy tales? I am just a pampered princess. Even if I leave the castle, I cannot survive. So why do such a dangerous thing?"
"Pfft..."
"Wh-What's so funny! I'm asking a very serious question!"
"Ah~ Sorry, sorry. I just didn't expect you to care so much about that. Orihi-sama really is full of maidenly feelings~"
Yutsuki couldn't help but turn her head and chuckle. Then, under Shiori's embarrassed and angry little pink fists, she shook her head, sighed, and answered.
"Unfortunately, Orihi-sama, I'm doing this completely for myself~"
Hearing Yutsuki's words, Shiori was stunned, deep confusion showing on her face.
If it were just to steal gold and silver, Yutsuki would only need to sneak into the castle once. You have to know, to take a pampered princess out of the castle, Yutsuki risked her life to sneak into the castle multiple tis to set up a massive amount of traps. She even had to confront the castle's top samurai, Tobiichi Origami, almost losing her life.
She clearly could have just ignored it. What exactly could Yutsuki-sama gain?
"Of course, it's because... if I'm separated from an important friend, I will be very lonely."
"Wh...?"
A look of dumbfounded appeared on Shiori's face.
"I'm very happy. To be honest, I completely didn't expect that I would beco friends with a princess inside a castle—a person whose life was never supposed to cross paths with mine."
Yutsuki looked at the girl in front of her, a cheerful smile appearing on her face.
Feeling a certain emotion hidden in her heart being touched, a trace of tears welled up in Shiori's eyes.
"After eting you, I feel like my world has changed."
The sa...
"I think of you all the ti. When we can't et, your figure always appears in my heart."
The sa...
"I want to taste the good tea you prepare..."
The sa...
"I want to talk with you about all sorts of interesting topics."
The sa...
"I hope the ti spent with you can turn into eternity."
The sa...
Shiori always thought that Ryougi Yutsuki only accepted her selfishness out of sympathy, compromising herself to accompany her despite the danger. However, everything was just Shiori's delusion.
Just as Shiori cherished Yutsuki as her first friend, from the very beginning, Yutsuki also treated Shiori as an indispensable friend.
Shiori's heart was gradually being filled.
"If you get married, then wouldn't I be unable to chat and drink tea with you anymore. Besides, originally having to sneak into this heavily guarded castle every ti we t, I also found it very troubleso."
Shrugging her shoulders and expressing her dissatisfaction. The corners of her mouth curled up, revealing a proud smile.
"I am a thief, you know. If there's sothing I want, naturally I have to steal it... Eh, eh, why are you crying!?"
"Uuu... be-because... it's too sly... Yutsuki-sama... like this... I... then an-any... words to stop you... I can't... say them anymore..."
Tears continuously dripped down Shiori's face.
"Even though... uuu... I... didn't want... Yutsuki-sama... to be in danger..."
Hearing Shiori's words, Yutsuki gently stroked her head.
"A thief absolutely cannot doubt that they will be caught. As a successful thief, all you should think about is the result of counting money until your hands cramp after getting your hands on the treasure. As for you, you just need to obediently think about the result after being stolen by ."
"Really?"
"Really, so real that I can repeat it a million tis over."
Looking at the usual, confident smile on Yutsuki's face. Shiori wiped the tears from her cheeks, a helpless smile appearing on her face.
You're really too much, Yutsuki-sama. I had clearly already decided to give up. Yet you still appeared so suddenly and selfishly, and so suddenly said you were going to steal everything of mine... really, it's too sly.
"Is that so, I am Yutsuki-sama's spoil of war... then it can't be helped."
In the dark night, under the illumination of a massive number of torches, the originally massive Tengu Castle had already been surrounded so tightly by a huge number of samurai and soldiers that not a single drop of water could leak out.
"Tobiichi, I have ordered the soldiers to surround the castle according to your request. You absolutely must snatch Orihi back from that thief for ."
The lord with a "?" face ordered Origami with a gloomy face.
"As you command."
Origami nodded to the lord with a calm and serious attitude.
"Honestly... for such a scandalous thing to happen right when she's about to be married off. I must quickly lock down all news afterwards. Otherwise, if bad news spreads and General Kyouhei backs out of the marriage, then the trade routes for goods cannot be opened..."
"..."
Hearing the self-muttering complaints of her lord with a "?" face, although Origami didn't show any expression, her hand couldn't help but grip the handle of her sword tightly.
From a citizen's perspective, the Lord of Tengu Castle was definitely a good lord who inspired respect and love. However, he was not a good father.
Being able to nonchalantly place his own flesh and blood and profits on opposite ends of a scale to weigh and analyze, and completely ignoring Shiori's wishes, using his closest relative as a tool, as a stepping stone for his plans.
Although, apart from deliberately confining her and spreading rumors to attract the attention of high officials and nobles to raise Shiori's fa. Shiori herself hadn't actually suffered any grievances.
Regarding the sudden political marriage, although Tobiichi Origami felt a bit dissatisfied, she didn't say much. After all, even if the lord valued profit over family ties, he wouldn't send his daughter to a dangerous place for profit. She believed that even in another region, Orihi-sama would be able to live a noble and comfortable life.
On the contrary, towards Ryougi Yutsuki, Origami's heart was filled with murderous intent.
Instilling weird ideas into the innocent Orihi-sama, making her develop a aningless rebellious consciousness, leading to her being confined by the lord, and becoming emaciated due to lancholy and loss of appetite. It's all that guy's fault.
And now, to shalessly want to take Orihi-sama to the outside world to suffer.
—Unforgivable!
In Origami's heart, a fire of anger was continuously burning.
If Ryougi Yutsuki used Orihi-sama as a hostage to threaten her in order to escape, in the next instant, I will cut this petty thief into pieces.
For Origami, who had honed her swordsmanship to the extre, this was no empty boast.
Amidst the silent waiting, movent finally occurred inside the castle.
A black shadow suddenly broke the window and jumped out. Falling towards the ground.
"Loose arrows!"
For the guards whose nerves were taut outside, hearing a sound in the silence, they issued the order almost reflexively. Subsequently, countless arrows shot towards the figure.
Idiots, what if that guy jumped out carrying Orihi-sama?
Although rationally she understood this possibility was extrely low. But seeing her subordinate guards ignoring Shiori's own safety in order to capture the thief, Origami still frowned in dissatisfaction.
However, such a thought only flashed by fleetingly. Origami then fixed her gaze on the castle gate.
The figure just now was nothing but a dummy. In fact, the astonished sounds made by the guards also told Origami this.
Misleading others's sight by creating illusions, making a feint to the east while attacking the west. This is the thod Yutsuki is good at using.
Then, as expected, a smoke bomb suddenly exploded in the crowd the mont most people diverted their sight.
Subsequently, as if an illusion, the ssy and heavy sound of iron hooves rang out in the smoke, and long horse neighs ca from everywhere, as if an army of thousands of horses was surging out from Tengu Castle.
Then, in the thick fog, the guards fell into chaos.
"Wah, horses! So many horses!"
"We'll be trampled by the horses, everyone get out of the way quickly."
"Why are there so many horses kept in the castle?!"
"It's that thief's dark magic. She's already blended into the crowd!"
"S-Soone co! The petty thief is coming to kidnap . Protect the lord, protect the lord!"
Suddenly, panicked cries for help ca from the lord's direction. Hearing their master's wails, the guards naturally ran towards the lord's direction.
However, all of this could not disturb Origami's concentration.
Ignoring the situation on her master's side entirely, Origami instead ran towards the gap in the encirclent created by the guards' commotion.
As expected, two figures, very familiar to Origami in different senses, appeared in her line of sight. Without hesitation, Origami drew her sharp blade from her waist and slashed towards Yutsuki with lightning speed.
Clang—! A harsh sound of tal clashing rang in her ears.
"Yutsuki-sama, you're not hurt, are you!"
"Ah... I almost stepped through the gates of hell."
Yutsuki rubbed her right hand, which was sowhat numb from the shock, and then looked at the dagger in her hand, which had a huge notch hacked into it. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but twitch slightly.
"Geez, you really are just as persistent as a ghost, like always."
Origami said without changing her expression.
"There might be one or two horses in the castle, but it's absolutely impossible to have that number. Moreover, under the circumstance of already having Orihi as a hostage, going to kidnap the lord obviously wouldn't be a wise choice. It's nothing more than planning to use ventriloquism to create a commotion after sealing the guards' sight, tricking the guards into gathering on the lord's side, and then escaping through the gap in the encirclent."
"Phew~ I've played this trick for so many years. You're the first one to see through it at a glance."
"Attendant Tobiichi, do not harm Yutsuki-sama. Yutsuki-sama is my friend. The reason she is taking out is just hoping..."
"Orihi-sama, you have been deceived. This person is a thief famous for seeing through human nature and being full of cunning tricks. She definitely deliberately used all sorts of sweet words to lure the innocent princess."
Origami watched Yutsuki with icy eyes.
"N-No. Yutsuki-sama is not what you think..."
"Alright, alright~ You don't need to try to help but end up making it worse, Shiori-chan~"
Yutsuki shook her head helplessly. Looking around, she couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
This is really... a bit bad...
The smoke bomb Yutsuki threw had already dispersed by this ti. The guards had regained their sight, and seeing Yutsuki and Shiori not far away, quickly surrounded the two.
"Orihi, my daughter."
The Lord with a "?" face walked over under the escort of the guards, looking at Shiori.
"To let you encounter this kind of thing while waiting to be married. I feel very sorry, but do not fear. Very soon, I will help you eliminate that little fly that disturbed your life."
Shiori couldn't help but tremble a bit. Although the Lord with a "?" face spoke in a very gentle tone, in reality, it carried an undeniable seriousness. The content of it was even more unacceptable to Shiori.
Her hand was enveloped by a warm hand. Shiori looked up, and Yutsuki showed her an encouraging smile.
Incredibly, Shiori's heart cald down.
(If it were just alone, I would definitely be unable to do anything just like back then. But, now it's different...)
"No, it's not like that, Father."
Stepping out from behind Yutsuki, Shiori looked at the Lord with a "?" face and denied it with incomparable resolve.
"This Yutsuki-sama. Is not so annoying fly. But my one and only, most precious friend."
Hearing Shiori's statent, the guards felt confused about the situation before them and started whispering to each other.
"I do not intend to marry, so I asked Yutsuki-sama to take and escape! Moreover, even now, I have no intention of returning."
"Ho..." Shiori's answer seed sowhat beyond the lord's expectations, but regarding his daughter's slight rebellion, he wasn't nervous either.
"Then, what if I use letting go of this precious friend of yours as a condition. Are you willing to obediently marry?"
Hearing the lord's words, Shiori fell silent. Just when the lord thought Shiori was convinced by his conditions.
"That's true... it is indeed a very good condition. If possible, I also do not hope my friend falls into danger because of ."
"Very good..."
Thinking his words had shaken Shiori's heart, a trace of smugness appeared on the face of the Lord with a "?" face.
"But I refuse!"(Daga kotowaru mont)
"...?!"
"Are you asking why? Because the thing I, Itsuka Shiori, love doing most is saying 'No!' to guys who think they are in an absolutely advantageous position."
"?!!!!!"
"Yutsuki-sama... please do not use my voice to say strange things."
Yutsuki turned her head and whistled, indicating she knew nothing.
Sighing helplessly, Shiori looked at the "?" face and said with a sigh: "Because, Yutsuki-sama already said it. She didn't co to rescue for my sake, but simply because she wants . So even if she fails the first ti, Yutsuki-sama will co a second, a third ti. I believe even with Father's generosity, you wouldn't forgive Yutsuki-sama's unreasonable behavior, right."
"..."
Regarding the stare from Origami's side that seed to want to cut her into a thousand pieces, Yutsuki indicated she still didn't see anything and continued whistling.
"Then, do you plan to commit double suicide here with that thief?"
"How could that be~ I have absolutely no intention of dying here."
Shiori playfully blinked her eye, let out a long breath, and a aningful smile appeared on her face.
Looking at Shiori's little devil-like smile, Yutsuki couldn't help but sigh that maybe it was really like Origami said, she had corrupted that innocent and pure Shiori.
"Yutsuki-sama."
"Hm?"
"You should have... really used all your tricks, right?"
"Yup, I've used every trick I could possibly use~ Holding nothing back."
"Then, can Yutsuki-sama take to the outside world?"
"A piece of cake."
"Good, I understand."
It was clearly a self-contradictory answer, yet a bright smile appeared on Shiori's face.
Then, to the sowhat pale-faced lord, Shiori gave a decisive answer.
"I, won't go back! I am going to escape this birdcage, and then go see the mountains and rivers of this world with my favorite friend!"
"Ho, it seems my daughter's wings have grown quite strong. Very well! Very well!"
The Lord with a "?" face was stimulated by Shiori's unwavering appearance, laughing out of extre anger.
Origami looked at Shiori with so surprise. At the princess's resolute and bright expression, unlike her usual self, Origami couldn't help but fall into a silence.
"Tobiichi! Capture Orihi together with that petty thief!"
"...Yes."
Origami looked at the sowhat hesitant guards and secretly sighed in her heart.
Honestly, Origami was a bit hesitant, and a bit curious right now.
Logically speaking, all of Yutsuki's tricks had been seen through by now. They were also surrounded by guards and soldiers from all directions. Escaping was already impossible.
Why could Orihi-sama still so decisively choose to believe the other party? Then why could Ryougi Yutsuki still make a promise so confidently?
What other tricks did this most cunning Nurarihyon of the chivalrous thief group have?
Wait! Nurarihyon of the chivalrous thief group... chivalrous thief group! Origami couldn't help but widen her eyes.
As if responding to Origami's guess, a figure landed in front of Yutsuki and Shiori with a "boom".
"Ahhhhhhhhhh—"
The other party roared, swinging the giant sword in her hand. A violent wave of air scattered outwards with her at the center, directly blowing away the surrounding samurai.
Ugh— Origami, standing closest to Yutsuki and the others, was within the sweeping range of the greatsword. Origami held her katana in front of her chest, but was pushed back a dozen steps by the unexpectedly massive force.
As expected, Yutsuki never planned to co alone from the very beginning.
Figuring this out, Origami couldn't help but grit her teeth.
"Oh oh, found you, found you. So you were here, Yutsuki. (Chew~)"
"You are?!..A mber of the thief group,Yatogami Tohka!!!!"
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