In a deserted ruin sowhere in the Hyakkiyako Autonomous Region, an irritated, raspy voice echoed.
"Let hear your excuse for failing, Street Mouryo. You assured that you would definitely interrupt the festival today, didn't you…?"
Wearing a black kimono and a black eyepatch, the tabby cat radiated a mix of authority and malice. Date owru narrowed his eyes.
"I paid you a great deal of money. I didn't spend that just to hear sothing like 'we couldn't do it.'"
Although Date owru believed his eyepatch gave him an intimidating presence, most of the Mouryo girls gathered in the empty room looked completely unfazed.
"So where should we eat after work?"
"Let's walk around the festival grounds first. Decide after that."
"Hehe, then let's play so festival gas too. Not to brag, but I was famous as a goldfish scooping pro when I was little!"
"Eh∼ that sounds so fun∼ I want to go too∼"
Date owru's ears twitched. Hearing the carefree chatter of the girls in the corner, who showed not an ounce of guilt over failing their mission, he felt his temper flare.
These brats… do they even understand why they were hired?! They were paid to disrupt the festival, yet here they were planning to go enjoy it?
So ruining the festival is work, but attending it is leisure, is that it?
He wanted to yell at those irresponsible fools, but he did not dare. He was their employer, yes, but if he pushed these troublemakers too far, he truly did not know who else he could hire to carry out his plan discreetly and without raising suspicion.
Fortunately, not all mbers of Mouryo were this hard headed.
Two girls, entrusted with responsibility not because they wanted it but because no one else did, were standing stiffly with anxious expressions. Their unease gave Date owru a faint sense of relief.
"Well… it's because…" The girl in the tengu mask hurried to explain. "We ran into an unexpected ambush."
The noh mask girl quickly added, "It was a teacher from Schale! He's the one who ruined everything!"
"A teacher from… Schale?"
Date owru muttered as he stroked his chin. His fur creased into a sharp mark between his brows as he scrutinized the Mouryo representatives.
To be honest, Date owru didn't think that person was anything special. It sounded more like they were making excuses after botching the job.
But right then, a lively voice chid in nearby.
"That's right! It was Sensei, no… it was my master!"
Date owru froze. "…Even you, Ninja Izuna? What are you talking about?"
"You said it before." Izuna closed her eyes. "As long as Izuna faithfully carries out her missions, soday she'll beco a cool ninja and et the destined lord she'll pledge her life to!"
Date owru searched his mory, but no such line surfaced. "I… may have said sothing like that…"
Izuna opened her bright eyes, eager to share her excitent.
"Izuna may have finally t soone like that! Shishou is not only a legendary ninja, but even with a harsh attitude, Shishou's kindness always shows through. And most importantly, Shishou supports Izuna's dream!"
Date owru nodded dumbly. "Oh… and then?"
"But for so reason, Shishou was mixed in with those busybodies! Don't tell … Shishou was hired too? That must be the fate of a ninja…"
Izuna lanted her cruel destiny, but soon her expression hardened with resolve.
"So Izuna will defeat Shishou, prove how far her training has co, and make Shishou acknowledge her and return to her side!"
"I don't think any of that really matters…"
So said Date owru, recalling the scene he personally witnessed earlier. That ordinary looking adult taking on a request from those annoying brats… and now hearing the matching accounts from both Mouryo and this ninja obsessed idiot before him made him feel unbearably irritated.
Mouryo might just be passing the bla, but even Izuna was saying the sa thing. He couldn't ignore it.
Which ant that person would interfere with his plan. Date owru reached the conclusion imdiately.
"If even Izuna the ninja says so, then that teacher must be a formidable opponent. A legendary ninja, huh? Sounds troubleso."
Date owru shook his head, thinking it was just another of Izuna's delusions. Then he looked at the Mouryo girls again, his expression stern.
"As for you all, I won't press the issue this ti. But I expect you to earn the pay you receive. Understand?"
The tengu masked girl stiffened up and promised, "Next ti we'll definitely stop the festival!"
The noh masked girl nodded repeatedly.
Good. That was how hired rcenaries were supposed to behave.
But just as Date owru felt satisfied with their response, more voices floated from the corner.
"Hehe, acting all high and mighty even though he's just so temporary employer."
"Yeah, whatever. He's just a cranky old man with no skills."
"Hey now, don't be too an. We were still hired."
"Who cares? We've already done enough work for what we're being paid. And he still wants more."
"Ugh, this is annoying. I just want to clock out and go enjoy the festival."
Every word stung Date owru's ears, scratching at the calm he had just barely regained. His expression collapsed again, anger blazing hot—
Do they truly know nothing about respecting their elders?!
Even a dimwit like Izuna used polite speech and probably never bad mouthed him behind his back. And these girls were almost saying it straight to his face!
Date owru felt furious and powerless.
All he could do was add more funds. Yet even if he did, how long would these disrespectful delinquent children show him any courtesy?
Better to endure for now. Once his great plan succeeded, he would no longer need to stomach this humiliation.
He repeated the thought to calm himself. After several deep breaths, he managed to settle down, though indignation lingered.
Then he turned toward the small fox ninja, who had her head lowered and her brows tightly knit in thought.
His own brows twitched sharply, then he forced a concerned tone.
"Izuna the ninja? What's wrong?"
"…Izuna has suddenly realized sothing."
Izuna, who had earnestly morized her master's teachings, had just noticed sothing she had never questioned before about her employer.
She lifted her head, tilting it as she stared at Date owru in confusion.
"It's strange. Why do you know so much about ninjas?"
In that instant, Date owru felt a chill shoot from the soles of his paws straight to the top of his skull. His fur stood on end.
Had she noticed? That he'd only ever been lying to her and using her?
"W… what? I'm not allowed to know?"
Date owru tried to sound calm.
"I rember… you're supposed to be a rchant… so why do you know so much about ninjas? And why did you give Izuna that advice?"
Izuna thought of her master's handso face, gentle voice, scent, and words. Then sothing clicked.
"No! Izuna understands now. You're lying to !"
…This child must not be allowed to remain.
What a waste of good combat potential.
Date owru sighed inwardly while signaling to Mouryo. At the sa ti, he pretended to look confused.
"What are you saying? Why would I lie to you? This must be a misunderstanding!"
From the corner of his eye he saw Mouryo girls quietly moving behind Izuna. Soone even picked up a gun and flipped the safety off.
And Izuna noticed none of it.
"You can't fool Izuna! Stop pretending and confess!"
Having already been tricked several tis, Izuna was unwavering.
She pointed at Date owru with severe conviction.
Behind her, several Mouryo delinquents had silently surrounded her escape routes, ready to strike.
The sniper in the corner already had her finger on the trigger.
Date owru took a deep breath. He fixed his one visible eye on Izuna. As soon as she finished talking, when her guard was lowest, he would order them to capture and detain her imdiately.
Finally, in this silent room where even a pin drop would echo, Izuna's voice rang out loud and clear.
"You're actually a ninja too!"
The air itself froze.
Date owru blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"Hehehe∼ I told you, you can't fool Izuna∼"
She placed her hands on her hips triumphantly.
"Shishou told Izuna that in an age where ninjas all live in hiding, anyone can be one, no matter what job they have. As long as they understand the ninja way, they might be a secret ninja!"
Izuna, having scrambled her master's teachings through her own imagination, declared excitedly,
"So since you're the one who taught Izuna about ninja duty, your true identity must also be a legendary ninja!"
What nonsense was she spewing? How could he possibly be sothing as foolish as a ninja?
Just as Date owru was about to deny it, a short laugh cut through the air.
"Tch… like that guy could ever be a ninja."
For a mont, Date owru heard a snap.
It was the sound of his self control breaking.
Anger burned, but along with it spread sothing else, sothing fast and unfamiliar. A possibility he had never considered.
A path that might finally earn him respect from Street Mouryo.
"…You," Date owru raised his head, eyes bloodshot and voice strained, "actually saw through my true identity."
After a brief silence, his confession rippled across the room like a pebble thrown into water.
Voices erupted at once in shock and excitent.
"Yay∼ Izuna knew it∼"
Izuna threw her hands up in delight.
Date owru alone stood trembling in silence.
'What did I just say?!'
Realizing he had admitted to a completely fabricated identity out of anger and desperation, sha flooded him. Curious gazes pinned him in place. He wanted to flee the scene.
…But what choice did he have now?
He had to lean into it.
His thoughts raced, and in that mont of crisis, he found a single escape route with astonishing speed.
He could just bla it all on Izuna later. Say he only played along to humor her. Then he wouldn't face social ruin.
Yes. That would work.
Date owru felt relief wash over him.
He cleared his throat. The room fell silent imdiately.
Everyone watched him with expectation. And beneath his humiliation… he felt a strange joy.
Being a ninja… might not be so bad?
Date owru looked around, closed his eyes, and breathed in air that felt strangely fresh.
Then he opened them, firm and resolute.
"In truth… I am a ninja."
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