Translator: Reflet

「What’s the meaning of this?」

　The words that came straight out of her mouth displayed her state of mind as it was .

　She didn’t think that she would hear that voice of all things here, and she could hear an extremely calm voice .

　Serious, but not cornered . At the very least, this was not the voice of a retainer who grasped the current situation of one’s master being captured by one’s enemy .

　That was the kind of voice she had heard from Tsuk.u.mo’s smartphone .

　Various thoughts recurred in her head, and Youran once again responded .

「Do you understand the situation that I am in?」

『Of course I do . I’m viewing your situation over there via video after all . 』

「You seem rather composed despite that . 」

「Well yeah, that’s cause she’s doing this of her free will . 」

「What do you mean?」

「I like that version of New Moon-sama as well; she’s strongly high-minded and refined . She feels like the heroine of the era――the century . 」

「I thought I told you I wasn’t into that sort of thing . 」

「But I like that kind of thing; so much so that I want to reset myself as soon as possible . 」

「Michiyo!」

『……』

　She roughened her voice, but there was no response from the smartphone speakers . She could hear the faintest respiration, but nothing more .

　She called her name once again, but expectedly, there was no answer .

　Youran understood that attempting to press questions wouldn’t make her respond . Changing her target, she turned to Tsuk.u.mo and asked him .

「What are your objectives? I cannot comprehend why Juunis.h.i.+ma Tsubaki has resorted to these violent actions at this point in time . 」

「I hear that it’s exactly because it’s this point in time . Doesn’t New Moon-sama actually also comprehend the situation?」

「I understand the part about Adano’s whereabouts being found, but I cannot comprehend why I need to be captured now . 」

「New Moon-sama is unexpectedly pure . 」

「What are you getting at?」

　Youran furrowed her brow, somewhat feeling she was being made fun of .

「At this rate, the next Juunis.h.i.+ma head is decidedly New Moon-sama . You do after all hold the name『Director of the New Moon』, and most importantly, your popularity among the island’s citizens is exceptional . Even if Tsubaki-sama and Adano-sama paired together, that rank would not sway . You’re thinking that, right New Moon-sama? That is correct . 」

「Quit the roundabout manner of speaking . 」

「We’d like to have New Moon-sama say with her mouth that she’ll yield the inheritance rights to Adano-sama . 」

「You’re telling me to yield in favor of a more virtuous successor?」

「Can’t tell if those words are suitable for――Nah, it’s New Moon-sama so I guess they are . Yeah, that’s right . 」

　Tsuk.u.mo nodded, and Youran figured that if that were the case then she was satisfied with the answer .

　It was true that Tsubaki grasped a certain degree of authority in Juunis.h.i.+ma, but no matter how she used that power, the chances of her ascending to the head were equal to 0 .

　That was simply related to her lineage .

　The causes of power struggles were generally cla.s.sified into two categories . And in Juunis.h.i.+ma, the modern anachronism of the name「Director of the New Moon」being used was more important than justification .

　In this case, the ones who could be the next Juunis.h.i.+ma head were only Youran and Adano Pochi, born from the current head’s legal wife . Those who were not of the main line such as Tsubaki or Sakura, Anna, etc, could not get the chance unless Youran or Adano were to disappear .

　That was why Tsubaki tried to support Adano . The problem there was that Youran already had her position solidified as the inheritor of the t.i.tle of Director of the New Moon .

　If Adano had perhaps been on Juunis.h.i.+ma and grew up just like Youran, things may have been different, but even if she revealed herself by this point in time, that rank would not waver .

　And if someone were to want to erase Youran, it wasn’t that simple .

　Tsubaki’s objective was to have the discovered Adano inherit the heads.h.i.+p, and no matter the procedure, people would appear who a.s.sociated Adano’s return with Youran’s disappearance .

　Youran had the support of island citizens numbering over a million; the majority . Even if an agenda were to be pushed within Juunis.h.i.+ma, the island residents would not be satisfied with that .

　It was to be expected that chaos would continue for a long period of time .

　In the worst-case scenario, the now-gone Youran would be idolized/deified, remaining deep-rooted within the hearts of people .

　The charisma gained from reaching an entirely new stage would be too much to even mention in all of history .

　Youran understood that, and believed that Tsubaki also understood that .

　So despite being a political opponent, Youran had in a sense believed completely in her safety .

　Youran had believed that in fact if anything had happened to her then Tsubaki would a.s.sure her safety with all her effort .

「I see; it definitely seems like there’s no other option . 」

「Sharp as usual, New Moon-sama . Your comprehension will save time . 」

「But I have no intention of doing that . 」

「So you have no intention of surrendering your authority?」

「I cannot entrust the lives of a million villagers with someone who has no readiness . 」

「The one with the real power would be Tsubaki-sama . 」

「Even if she’s a puppet, if she had the resolve then the worst situation could be avoided . If that’s not there then it’s out of the question . 」

「Tsubaki-sama might very well have the resolve, right?」

「Not possible . 」

「Eh?」

「Juunis.h.i.+ma Tsubaki is a vulgar person with no self-awareness . She’s like a variety of the evil spirits of rivers and mountains, obsessed with greed for hollow authority of the bottom . She has no such thing as resolve . 」

「Evil spirits and mountains? You’re evaluating her pretty high . 」

「It would do you well to take out a dictionary . 」

「？」

　Tsuk.u.mo stared in puzzlement . Youran ignored him, carrying on the conversation .

「Anyhow, I have no intention of yielding this seat to Adano . No matter what is done to me . 」

「Well, that was also to be expected . So we made preparations . 」

「Preparations?」

「Tsubaki said that we have a specialist in brainwas.h.i.+ng . That we’d take a long time in units of years as we fixed New Moon-sama’s way of thinking . 」

「……」

　Youran’s face stiffened . She felt the most threatened in this very moment of this day .

「That’s how it would be between New Moon-sama and Adano-sama・・・・There is groundwork; groundwork for the people around to be convinced, and all that would be left would be to have New Moon-sama say it directly from her mouth . Tsubaki-sama said that there are people prepared who can accomplish that . 」

「……No matter what you do to me, I will not change my views . 」

　She tried saying firmly, but Youran was panicked internally .

　She tried saying firmly, but Youran was panicked internally .

　Brainwas.h.i.+ng pros . Those words gave her a big impact .

　Youran thought of herself as the one who she distrusted the most in this world . Ever-changing, and a hopeless human who accepted too easily the influences of those around her .

　If it was torture then she could endure it; feelings of revolt would be born within her .

　But what Tsuk.u.mo said――The brainwas.h.i.+ng pros that Tsubaki had prepared were probably not that .

　Using various outlets: occasionally coercion, occasionally placation, they would probably try to begin to change Youran’s way of thinking .

　She had knowledge of those said methods, and she had absolutely no confidence that she could endure them .

『Milady . 』

　Suddenly, Michiyo’s voice came out from the smartphone speakers . She had totally forgotten, but it seemed that the call had continued on throughout .

『It would be best for you to surrender . This is not the sort of situation that you can make do of with obstinance . 』

「……」

　Youran became further cornered .

　Michiyo was her right hand . Youran had entrusted her with trust as well as indirect authority with small and large things alike .

　There was the working squadron under Youran’s direct control, but in general, she sent them orders via Michiyo .

　The fact that Michiyo had come to the other side also meant that there would be no people to the rescue .

　Negative factors continuously piled up .

　There was only one bright light left for her .

　Because she valued justification, Tsubaki had chosen a drwan-out war . She had chosen to take time and reform Youran’s thoughts .

　In other words, danger was not imminent .

（If I can at least hold out here……）

　She thought, thinking to initially surrender, but…

「Huh? A catch, eh . 」

　Tsuk.u.mo said, operating the smartphone giving off electric sounds . He put the receiver straight to his ear .

「Chan Suu, eh? How’s the course of events?」

　Tsuk.u.mo said, operating the smartphone giving off electric sounds . He put the receiver straight to his ear .

「Chan Suu, eh? How’s the course of events?」

　Youran cautioned herself when she heard “course of events” . She braced herself for something still progressing outside of her knowledge .

「You got them, eh? Good job . Now listen, you need to treat ‘em carefully; carefully . 」

　Emphasizing his words, Tsuk.u.mo ended the call .

　Could Adano have been caught? Youran thought that, but―ー

「Seems that they’ve received New Moon-sama’s Okasama . 」

「Eh?」

「My subordinates, Chan Suu and Chan Shaa are escorting her, and you’ll be taken along later as well, New Moon sama . And then…guhuhuhu . 」

　Tsuk.u.mo made a bizarre laugh . Hearing that, Youran felt chills race up her spine .

　She wasn’t sure why, but it was really disgusting .

「Guhuhu, gonna have some mother-daughter bowl, mother-daughter bowl . 」

「T-That’s an act…That’s just a character that you’ve set yourself as . 」

　Youran was violently disturbed .

「That’s right . I’ve set myself to be a person who loves the mother-daughter bowl . And during that time period, it’s the best thing to me in my value system . 」

「Eh……」

「We’re going to slowly change New Moon-sama’s way of thinking . Just like the Chan mother and daughter . 」

　He made a repulsive smile at her .

　Youran completely felt her face become pale .