Emiya reached out and gently touched the candle flame, unable to suppress a sigh.
'Since childhood, confined within the mansion, not allowed to interact with the outside world, only permitted to study the knowledge of [etiquette] and [sacrificial rites]...'
'This is not raising a daughter, but rather creating a tool or a sacrificial offering.'
From how easily Haruhime's father believed the words of that pallum official, severing ties with Haruhime and expelling her from the family, it was clear, he did not regard Haruhime as a person, but as an item that could be discarded at any time.
Any normal person could sense that Haruhime's theft of the offerings might have been a plot by that pallum official, and Haruhime's father might not have been unaware of this.
However, in his heart, Haruhime, who mingled with the common folk outside (such as Mikoto and others), was already a failed creation.
Rather than keeping her and risking further tarnishing the prestigious glory of the [Sanjou] family, it was better to take this opportunity to dispose of this useless daughter.
The truth of the matter might not be so, but Emiya speculated with the utmost malice about the yet-unseen noble of the [Sanjou] family.
"Haruhime, do you know of the [Nine Families]?", Emiya asked.
"I am sorry, I have heard the name [Nine Families]," Haruhime said, "But I only know that [Sanjou] is one of the [Nine Families], the rest, I have not learned about..."
It sounded somewhat ironic, the young lady of [Sanjou] knew less about the [Nine Families] than Emiya, who at least knew the duties of [Gojo] among the [Nine Families], and that the [Nine Families] had actually been reduced to [Eight Families], as the [Rokujo] clan had been annihilated.
He learned these things from the goddess Astraea, because [Gojo Kaguya] was one of the executors of the annihilation of the [Rokujo] clan.
"To be honest, the more I learn about the [Nine Families], the worse my impression of these families becomes... I could even say, the more I detest them," Emiya spoke words that might be considered great disrespect in the [Far East Country].
Haruhime showed a frightened expression at Emiya's words, even though she had left the [Far East Country] for a long time, her childhood education was still etched in her memory.
If she had spoken such words in front of her father, the consequence would not be as simple as expulsion, she would definitely be executed immediately.
'But, but... father, he cannot kill Emiya-sama...', Haruhime looked at Emiya's tall and strong figure, subconsciously thinking, even she herself did not realize she had such a thought, 'It is Emiya-sama, who has the ability to kill them...'
Whether it was the guards of [Sanjou], her father's shadow warriors, or her father himself, Emiya-sama could easily defeat them.
This might not be the truth, Haruhime did not know the actual martial strength of [Sanjou], but regardless of the current facts, having witnessed Emiya's battles, Haruhime blindly believed this.
Therefore, she gradually stopped being afraid.
"I know... the story of a [Gojo]," Emiya said so, hearing [Gojo], Haruhime curiously pricked up her ears.
She knew almost nothing about the [Nine Families], but vaguely understood that [Sanjou] was a middle-ranking family among the [Nine Families], while [Ichijo], [Gojo], [Kujo] were far above [Sanjou].
"[Gojo] is the guard of the Far East Country, they are the order of the Far East, the guardians of justice, the entire clan, regardless of gender, is dignified and beautiful, embellishing the cherry blossoms of the [Far East]... on the surface."
Emiya raised his hand, and the tachi [Higanbana] appeared in his hand, then he spoke words that shocked, shook, and even collapsed Haruhime's worldview.
"But in reality, the true [Gojo] is just a filthy dark department," Emiya realized that although she had been expelled by her family, Haruhime had not questioned [Sanjou], but instead fell into deep self-doubt and self-loathing.
Due to the incomplete education she received since childhood, whether it was [Sanjou] or the [Nine Families], Haruhime always revered them.
And if [Sanjou] and the [Nine Families] were correct and great, then she, who was abandoned by her family, was wrong, lowly... Haruhime always followed this logic.
So the first thing Emiya needed to do was to break the sanctity of the [Nine Families] and [Sanjou] in Haruhime's heart, for this, he needed to use the story of a senior, Gojo Kaguya, 'I hope senior does not mind.'
When Emiya mentioned the name [Gojo], the weapon [Higanbana] he projected, which belonged to Gojo Kaguya in the past, vibrated slightly.
However, it did not seem to be blaming Emiya for insulting the name of [Gojo].
Rather, it was saying, ["The [Gojo], that stupid idiot family, curse them hard!"]
"The true face of [Gojo] is actually the dark department of the Far East Country"
Emiya introduced:
Assassination, tampering, erasure. All means aim to solve problems with as little loss as possible, implementing mediation with extreme speed before the smoke turns into a spreading fire.
They undertake the most unspeakable work in the Far East, surpassing even ninjas, becoming the noble yet filthy, flying in the night and darkness, the incarnation of the death cherry blossoms.
Girls of the [Gojo] family, from birth, take a certain drug daily.
It is a poison called [Konohana's Poison], as literal as it sounds. Those who cannot withstand this poison are eliminated, only those with the minimum qualifications survive.
This is a familiar method, because the criminal familia from which Chloe Rollo originated also cultivated [assassins] in this way.
However, compared to the hell that Chloe called the criminal familia, the methods and purposes of [Gojo] are even more nauseating.
Chloe and others were fed poison from childhood to cultivate [abnormal resistance], the special poison they drank would not stay in their bodies, after enduring the brief pain, their bodies could return to normal.
But the daughters of the [Gojo] family, the poison they drink penetrates into their bones, the accumulating [flower poison] turns the girls' bodies into [poison vessels].
The meaning is naturally to lure the foolish males who are in heat into their chambers, causing them to greedily consume themselves and die strangely, a heterodox method using bedroom arts.
In stark contrast to the girls, the boys of the [Gojo] family must continuously take an antidote called [Konohana's Wine]. This is to be able to combine with the girls who are [poison vessels] and can even kill higher-level ability users, to produce offspring.
This disgusting custom originates from the characteristics held by the bloodline of [Gojo].
It determines the inheritance of specific [magic] and [skills] through generations.
Just as similar nature [skills] easily manifest among elves due to the inherent bloodline of the race.
Based on the same principle, Kaguya's ancestors noticed that a strong [Gojo] bloodline could mass-produce soldiers.with the same ability [skills].
And the [ability] inherited by the founder of [Gojo] was specialized in killing.
Subsequently, the clan members who showed more of the founder's [magic] and [skills] were considered superior, playing an indispensable role in the generations-long mission of [fire extinguishing].
This is the family inheritance of [Gojo].
It created this combat group that only reproduces within the clan, continuously refining, aiming for ultimate standardization.
Thus, the custom of always wearing masks is not without reason. After all, those who always maintain inbreeding almost invariably have the same face.
It is impossible to describe them as brothers and sisters, everyone is uniform.
It can be said that for [Gojo], even the goddess of sin, whom Chloe called a demon, would comment: "You are a bit too extreme."
Haruhime was clearly also scared, or rather, somewhat disgusted.
Even the fox girl who received an incomplete education since childhood could feel the absolute abnormality of [Gojo].
Yet [Gojo], was the existence that her father and the [Sanjou] family respected and worshipped...
Realizing this, Haruhime, although she had not yet realized it, finally began to question [Sanjou].
National affairs lie in sacrifices and warfare, and the latter is especially important. Compared to [Sanjou], which manages sacrificial rites and etiquette, the violent organization [Gojo] holds a higher status in the Far East Country.
However, if the more revered [Gojo] is like this, what about [Sanjou] and the [Nine Families]...
Haruhime's worldview began to shake.
"My friend, her name is 'Gojouno Kaguya',"Emiya continued.
"Gojo...", Haruhime's tone was somewhat dazed, "She is also..."
Before being expelled from the family and severing ties, Haruhime's surname was [Sanjou], and after being disowned by the family, her surname became [Sanjouno]
("Unworthy of the noble [Sanjou] name, wandering ghosts"), the new surname carried such meaning, and Gojouno Kaguya's situation was the same.
("The divine blessing engraved on you, the contract between us has been lifted for you.")
("This is my sin. And you no longer belong to me or Gojou. So, consider this a farewell gift.")
("Rest assured, I did not use your treasured virginity.")
[T/N: Dialogues between parenthesis mean it was said in the past]
The god served by the [Gojo] family, the cherry blossom god [Konohanasakuya-hime] said so, severing the bond with Kaguya, from then on, [Gojou Kaguya] became [Gojouno Kaguya]
She went from being a princess of a noble family to a wandering ghost with nowhere to go.
"Kaguya...", Haruhime softly recited the name, due to similar experiences, she felt a sense of camaraderie with this "princess" she had never met.
However, Emiya had a completely different idea from her.
"I believe that Kaguya, who left [Gojo] and the [Nine Families], is not a wandering ghost," Emiya said, "But a wildflower growing freely on the boundless wilderness, transformed from the decaying Far East Cherry Blossoms"
"What?", Haruhime was surprised, "Emiya-sama, do you really think that Kaguya-sama leaving the [Gojo] family is a good thing..."
"Yes, that's exactly what I think."
Emiya immediately replied.
Haruhime lowered her head, she subconsciously thought, "What about me..."
"Haruhime, you are the same," Emiya said, "You have encountered many disasters after leaving the [Far East Country], but those tragedies are not your fault, you do not need to feel ashamed."
"Especially, leaving the [Sanjou] family, I actually think, not being in such a family, might not be a bad thing."
Listening to Emiya's words, Haruhime's head hung even lower, "Master, do you really think so..."
"Yes... stepping back ten thousand steps, it is precisely because you left the [Sanjou] family that we met in this city," Emiya said.
This line was taught to him by the goddess Astraea.
He gripped the tachi [Higanbana] in reverse.
'Magic [Gokou]'
The sharp sword intent burst forth, like bursts of cold air scattering, the wicks of the incense candles in the attic were all severed, and the room immediately darkened.
"Haruhime, from today on, be my sister," Emiya tried to gently hug the girl's shoulders.
However, Haruhime heard nothing, because, 'Master, the air master exhaled, blew on my ear... hya...'
Only the sound of "thud" was heard.
The fox girl fell on the tatami, completely fainted.
———
[Hostess of Fertility] tavern, courtyard.
Ryuu swung the wooden sword, the sacred blade [Alf's Lumina] cut a full arc in the air.
The spear adorned with delicate golden patterns was struck. This spear, a first-class armament of the same rank as [Alf's Lumina], along with its user, had retreated from the front lines to the background at some unknown time, and had not participated in battle for a long time.
The last time was when Lunoire, Chloe, and the others invaded the tavern, and [Golden War Spear] once took to the field, suppressing the weaker Chloe in terms of strength and endurance. However, this time, [Golden War Spear] encountered a Waterloo.
Under Ryu's overwhelming sword pressure, [Golden War Spear] and its owner, Anya Fromel, were sent flying together.
Anya crashed onto the floor, rolling several times with a "Nya! Nya!" sound before coming to a stop.
Without a moment to mourn for Anya, the one who rushed to the battlefield was, [Black Fist] Lunoire Faust.
Lunoire charged forward and was hit by the magic trap [Muse's Thunder], immobilized on the spot, "Wait, what is this thing... Stop, idiot Ryu, stop quickly..."
═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═❀═
patreon.com/AmbitiousTranslator
🥳Joining Patreon keeps me motivated and eager to work diligently, so please consider joining.🥰 You can access upto 20 advance chapter through Patreon.
https://discord.gg/bYAfGyp98y