16. You, don't you have any human heart at all?! You do have one!!!
You, don't you have any human heart at all?! You do have one!!!
"If this foxkin girl is really an assassin, then that makes her the biggest fool around."
Shh... she's just a kid, and you can't say stuff like that.
The girl with fox ears was fast asleep, her head pillowed on Lily's lap. Lily scolded her contracted spirit via telepathy for badmouthing the child.
Calling her a fool? This girl was adorable. To Lily, a cute girl acting a bit dumb or clumsy wasn't a flaw—it was a charm point.
"...From now on, let's talk via telepathy. But you're sure about this, right? That she's an assassin...?"
Yeah, I confirmed it. Dad secretly had one of his guys hire her.
"To think there are still people following that pig bastard..."
What can you do? Even trash like him—if he regains his power as archduke, some folks might get a sip from his rice-water bowl.
"Even if you don't kill him, shouldn't you tighten surveillance? Otherwise, assassins will keep coming for you nonstop."
It's fine... I have to give Dad some breathing room. People can't live without hope, and for that old man, his last hope in life is sending assassins after me. I'll bear it...
"Soft-hearted fool."
As the spirit said, Lily knew it herself. She was too soft.
To her—and to the peace of this archduchy—her father was a cancer. It'd benefit everyone if he vanished from the world. But even so...
Just because it'd benefit everyone, did that mean he had to die? That was too horrific. Even if he was incompetent, even if he was evil.
Of course, she acknowledged there were times when taking a life was unavoidable. Even so...
Lily stroked the girl's black hair. Plump cheeks like freshly baked bread, just to her taste. Cute fox ears and tail fur. Eyes holding a vibrant crimson like a rose in full bloom.
...But a child with thick bloodlust.
Everything but her foxkin race and age matched Lily's own eyes—pure lies from those scarlet pupils.
Interrogating the one who'd placed the contract in her father's stead had revealed her identity. A fearsome assassin from the foxkin lands in the north, called the Shinigami.
Even the name "Nazuna" she'd whispered to Lily before sleep... was a lie.
A spirit mage with Spirit Eyes could naturally detect human lies. They saw more than ordinary sight allowed. Like energy used in polymorph to alter appearance. Or tiny spirits floating in the air, recoiling unpleasantly when lies spilled from lips...
No wonder spirit mages were common among imperial law enforcers, alongside shrine maidens.
So she knew. The child sleeping soundly on her lap... was an assassin.
A murderer who'd slain hundreds—no, thousands at minimum. Who might kill countless more.
Did that mean she had to kill this girl? Because it benefited the majority?
No... Of course not. Because...
I'm taking this girl to the academy with me.
"Master, can I say one thing?"
Yeah, what?
"Have you lost your mind? She's an assassin sent to kill you!"
I know. And a naughty girl who fed me nothing but lies.
"Right, she's got a snake's fangs. So why the hell...?"
But among all the lies she told me... there was one truth. You saw it too, just a bit ago.
"......"
When the kid she loved died, she was devastated... That much was real.
Yes. Amid all the pure lies, the one truth this girl had shown Lily. A natural human emotion—the grief of losing a loved one.
And the moment she'd read it, Lily knew. This girl still had a human heart.
So...
I want to lead her down the right path. I don't think it's too late.
"Reformation, huh... Hah, your soft heart knows no bounds."
Eheheh, it's not just for her... There's my own selfishness too. Remember one of our contract conditions? If you're gonna date a woman, make it deep, monogamous love.
"You don't mean..."
The spirit contracted to her had one long horn—not a horse, but a whale. A ridiculous guy insisting he was a unicorn type. His contract terms were just as picky, like a horned horse.
First: No love with men. Second: Women okay, but only one, deeply.
I like her... Love at first sight, maybe.
"You're serious...? It'll be a thorny path."
"......"
"Before she's an assassin out to kill you—this girl lost the one she loved first. That kind of love... it's hard to forget. It sinks into your bones!"
I know.
"Even knowing you might never win her heart back...!"
It's fine.
Yes, it'd be fine. Lily believed that. She was the strongest in the world, the cutest, the ultimate beauty with brains, brawn, and looks.
Even if that girl's heart was etched deep by death...
I'll win.
Lily was certain she'd prevail. The spirit, hearing this telepathically... swallowed the words 'That's a sure-loss flag' down his gullet.
Still...
"Hang in there... I'll respect and cheer for your choice."
Ehe... Thanks.
The spirit wanted to support Lily's decision. After all, he'd chosen her as contractor for exactly that side of her. Braver than anyone, nobler than anyone, more romantic than anyone...
That's why he'd bound himself to her. So as long as she didn't change... he'd just cheer and watch her path.
That was all the spirit thought.
Taking her to the academy also protects the archduke's people.
"Hm..."
This is the empire's northern border... Lots of people hate foxkin. Some might try to kill her. Then she'd quietly erase them without evidence.
Lily added the reason. While running the archduchy, she didn't want deaths inside its walls or among its people.
And above all... This foxkin girl, just seventeen, same age as Lily, didn't need to face threats here, or harm others when she wasn't the target.
So take her to the academy. That was her decision.
There, the targets would limit to Lily alone... Preventing worst-case deaths.
And keeping her close, showering love, good education... Maybe she'd escape her cycle of killing. Lily harbored that hope.
Early winter. Not long until the academy journey. A certain day in the life of a 20-year-old noble lady.
###
Ugh, I dozed off. Always think it—too sleepy for a ninja...
But opening my eyes... Huh? She's asleep... Lady Lily Claudia herself.
She'd laid my head on her lap-thigh, dozing on the sofa herself. Hey, weren't you working? What're you doing?
......
...No, wait. That's not the reaction I should have.
Perfect chance! Prime opportunity to snag Lily Claudia's life, handed on a platter.
Room empty but us—she'd cleared everyone out. Target Lily beyond careless, straight-up asleep... Distance so close we're touching.
Just reach out, rip her nape.
Despite tight security and weird frequent clothing checks leaving me weaponless...
No issue for a foxkin. Just use Claws—morph hands beastlier.
Rip her nape with claws... Mission complete.
Shing.
Transformed my hand. Now just tear the nape of this idiot girl who foolishly lended her lap and slept...
Tear it...
No, hold on...
No deadline on the contract. Finishing now's fine, but...
Every time she did something for me, something stirred in my chest.
...Familiar sensation. Yeah, just like 10 years ago, with those kids while they lived, sharing ups and downs.
Perception alteration clouds exact emotions, but... Probably fondness for Lily building inside.
If so, then...
Heard in my past life: Delayed gratification via self-control yields bigger rewards... Marshmallow experiment?
If these feelings (whatever they are) grow stronger... Won't decapitating her bring more pleasure?
Like slicing those kids. Like that final exam, ripping "that kid's" nape—the peak ecstasy.
So, so... Hold back. Like the witch in Hansel and Gretel, fattening kids with food, waiting.
Pass on this chance. Opportunities will come again. I'm the Shinigami. Even without better shots, I can take her life anytime.
I'm weaker than Lily, sure. But life-or-death ain't just about strength.
Exciting... If you become as precious as those kids—as her—how much ecstasy will your death give me?
Retracted Claws. Soft human hand gently touched the cheek of the girl who'd lended her lap.
"Mm... Oh, Nazuna, you're awake?"
Nazuna? Ah, right... Sleepy, couldn't give real name. Casually fed her that lie.
Pfft, hilarious. Hearing "that name" from another's lips.
Most memorable among those I'd killed. Felt like desecrating the dead myself—pure delight.
Delightful, so delightful... Ahahat.
Maybe that's why, unthinkingly... After she woke from my lap-pillow, words she often said slipped out.
Like possessed by a ghost.
"I haven't overstayed my welcome, have I?"
Truly, an endlessly delightful day.