The Eminence in the Shadow 112 There's No Helping It When the Left Hand Begins to Ache

Gazing at the extravagant carriage painted in black, I open my mouth in a yawn. I can't see inside because the windows are blocked by thick curtains, but apparently Nee-san is having a farewell party with her vampire friend inside.

The clear, crisp autumn air feels good.

A lot of things happened, but the real life progenitor vampire event has ended. Along the way, I met a bit of trouble due to unforeseen developments. I still managed to try out Recovery at the very last moment, so all's well that ends well.

But unfortunately, I couldn't manage to 'Recovery' all of the gold coins. At my best moment, I was on cloud 9 with 3,000 pieces. But after various things happened, I was only able to secure 500 pieces.

Five hundred gold coins means fifty million Zeny. It's far from enough to last for the rest of my life.

But after giving it more thought, I realize that this is more than enough.

After all, Outlaw City will always be here, and there are still two towers left.

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If I'm ever troubled for money, I can just come here again.

Indeed, Outlaw City is my piggy bank.

After another while, the door of the carriage opens, and Nee-san comes out.

Oh, and about Nee-san? It's becomes a rather serious matter.

The incident was last night. It happened at the inn where we were staying at.

Apparently Nee-san got wrapped up in this time's vampire event because she was looking for me. That is why I thought to at least give her a word of apology, and thus opened the door to her room.

That instant, I witnessed it.

I witnessed Nee-san wrapping her left hand in bandages to cover up a super stylish magic circle on the back of said hand.

Furthermore, Nee-san was muttering "My left hand aches... I have a special power..."

I wordlessly closed the door.

It's a triple combo of 'magic circle,' 'hiding with bandages,' and 'special power.'

So Nee-san has reached that phase of her life...

Nee-san's smile seems somewhat shadowed after coming out from that black-painted carriage.

I call out to her with as normal a voice as I can muster.

"Done?"

"Yes. Let's go."

The two of us walk off.

But, that moment.

"Sid..."

I am suddenly hugged from the back.

"... What's the matter?"

"It's… nothing... no, actually… it's something... I actually..."

Here it comes...!

"Have a special power sleeping inside of me..."

Oh boy, it's her coming out.

I must not deny her here. Thoughtless denial leads children towards the path of delinquency.

"I knew it. I've always thought that Nee-san is special."

"As I'd thought, Sid really believes me..."

Nee-san hugs me even tighter.

"I must unravel the mystery related to this power. Then eventually, who 'he' is, and what it is that I am supposed to do with this power..."

"Un, I'm sure Nee-san would be fine. No matter what path Nee-san goes down, I will always support you."

"Sid..."

From here on, Nee-san will surely encounter a large variety of hardships. She will ponder, she will suffer, and she will face reality head on. But there's no helping it, now that her left hand has begun to ache. This is the path that all humans must tread to become adults.

Regardless of what path she ultimately decides to walk on, I intend to respect her choice. After all, the path that she is on right now is the path that I myself have walked in the far past...

Suddenly feeling a gaze on my back, I turn around a little.

In front of the black-painted carriage is a woman standing underneath a huge black parasol.

I can't see her face because it is hidden by the parasol, but I do see her beautiful crimson hair swaying in the autumn wind.

She performs an elegant bow from where she is.

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

Yukime the Enchantress is waiting at the top floor of the White Tower.

Together with the pale moonlight shining in from the white moon outside, candles on the table illuminate the extravagant fare on the table.

Suddenly, a black figure emerges from the dark shadows.

"So you've come..."

Before she knows it, Shadow, clad in his usual jet-black longcoat, is standing on the other side of the sliding screen.

"Shadow-han, I have been expecting you."

Then two ladies wearing kimonos with high exposure guide him in.

Shadow sits down across from Yukime.

"Your business...?"

Then he speaks up with that deep voice that sounds like a reverberation emanating from an abyss.

"The other day, I was entirely in your care. It is all thanks to Shadow-han that I still have this life of mine."

Yukime lowers her head briefly.

Within the collar area of her audacious kimono, two bulges can be seen jiggling.

"Would you accept my thanks? Natsu, Kana."

Then she smiles bewitchingly.

The two beautiful women who go by the names of Natsu and Kana open up their kimonos and draw towards Shadow.

"I've said it already. It was not my intention to save you. And..."

"Do you dislike things like this...? It's a pity, but we can leave it for after we become close, then."

Yukime signals for Natsu and Kana to leave the room.

Then she snuggles up to him and pours him a cup of alcohol.

"This is sake of the highest quality."

However, Shadow shows no intention of reaching out for it.

"I said for you to state your business..."

"I just want to get closer with Shadow-han..."

So Yukime whispers in his ear, before giggling softly.

"But it takes a while to build up a relationship. It's not quite in exchange, but I do have a proposition to bring to you."

Yukime presses her two bulges against him while speaking.

"Do you know of the plan to entrap Mitsugoshi Co? Trading firms feeling threatened by the abrupt rise of Mitsugoshi Co have joined hands and are planning to crush it. I myself also have healthy companies on the outside. They are actually quite sizeable too..."

Yukime says the last few words in a meaningful way while smiling bewitchingly.

"Be it Mitsugoshi Co or the Alliance... whichever one wins out in the end, there would still be a fierce battle for supremacy in the business world around here. At the moment, I am also part of the Alliance, but the victor will be neither Mitsugoshi Co nor the Alliance."

Yukime's lips draw so close to Shadow's ears that they are on the verge of touching.

"The victor will be me, together with Shadow-han... Join hands with me, and we shall wrest it all away."

She blows softly, then rests her head on his shoulder.

"With just me and you, what say you to creating a giant organization to control the entire world's business from the shadows...?"

Shadow's ears, which had remained unresponsive to all of Yukime's temptation so far, twitches at this very moment.

Chapter end