Kaguya Princess (4)

Beautiful, yet horrific.

Insects swarming around me like a siege. I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lost my words for a moment. This situation is just too... too perfect.

"Ah~!! So many bugs~!!!"

Water striders! Protected species in both Korea and Japan! Stag beetles! Those horn-like scythes are badass. And that's a longhorn beetle! That cow-like coloring is straight-up lewd. Japanese countryside bugs galore. Plenty of weird ones I've never seen, like Kintama-chan.

Classic countryside means bugs. Japanese summer vacation? Insect collecting, duh.

Is this a bug harem? I once dreamed of being a K-Fabré, but gave up when I learned Korea doesn't have Hercules beetles. This hits hard.

"You raise all these guys? Impressive."

I gave the kimono girl a respectful nod. She gestures slightly, surprised, and the bugs halt their advance.

"How peculiar."

She covers her mouth with fluttering sleeves and asks in turn.

"Why dost thou remain in thy right mind after beholding Hime?"

First-person Hime? Princess, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠right? Well, I used to call myself "this lord" back in the day. Gotta be understanding.

"I'm definitely not in my right mind. Feels like heaven."

Japan × bugs × bishoujo? My top three faves? Everything's pure white too—gotta be heaven, right?

"To call the pi'an heaven... Dost thou not fear and revere Hime?"

The kimono girl says something unexpected. Ah, sure, it's confusing, but just moments ago I was dueling a headless Jizo. A fluffy, cotton-candy-looking bishoujo is pure eye candy.

"No way I'd fear a cute girl like you."

"Hime is cute? Art thou mocking Hime right now?"

Jade light glints in Hime's eyes. Her puffed cheeks in anger are adorable.

Got it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Romcom mode activated.

Every harem has that one tsundere with rock-bottom self-esteem. Objectively a total babe, but she's all "I'm ugly, boo-hoo~ ㅠㅠ." Hero strokes her head, praises her, and boom—kyun~ ❤ instant win. Yuuki's handsome, so double damage.

"Nah. That silky sheen! Those jade eyes! The sheer wings, calling herself princess—it's all cute."

(Nice. Perfect communication choice unlocked.)

Should be smooth sailing now. But nope.

"Hime knows not why thou wanderest the pi'an bare-bodied, but enough sweet talk. Insolent lowly one, thou art but a plaything for Hime's boredom."

A white thread descends from above, looped in a perfect O—like it's gonna noose my neck and dangle me.

OH-NO-!

But my galge-swapped brain reads it clear: Hime's heart.

Bingo! Boredom! The 'play with me to conquer' heroine!

Kimono girls often come from strict traditional families, clueless about commoner life. Tough exterior, but lonely inside. Classic route: play "peasant games" to win her over.

"You're bored, huh? What should we play? What to play?"

Perfect timing. I snag the loop of thread. Then shasha-sak—quick hands weave it into a star shape.

My string art skills haven't rusted post-isekai. God-tier as ever.

"What sorcery is this?"

Hime's icy glare softens with interest.

Jackpot.

"Sorcery? It's string art. You twist thread into shapes. Fun game."

I'm better at it than most girls. She hands over a bunch, and with tiny hands, she mimics—makes a star.

"Like this?"

Honestly shocked. Tricky move, but she nails it first try? Prodigy?

"Your eyes are sharp! Amazing."

"Hime hath compound eyes..."

She averts her gaze, bashful. Good vibes.

Hime whispers in her signature soft tone.

"Canst thou make other shapes with string?"

"Of course. Next up: chopsticks."

I'm fired up. Teach her every trick I know. She picks it up fast—feels rewarding.

No string prodigy could match this.

Time for my ultimate technique. Chak chak chak!

"Eiffel Tower. Whaddya think?"

Super precise—twitch and it flops. Master-only finisher.

Expected sparkling eyes. But...

"Eiffel Tower? What be that? A pagoda in Tang China?"

Tang? Like ancient China Tang? France called "Europe's China" is one thing, but c'mon.

"Not China."

"Then Goguryeo? Baekje? Or Silla? Those be the only foreign lands Hime knows besides Tang."

All ancient Korean kingdoms? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Where even are those?

"It's in France, far west of Japan. Been there myself."

Poop-strewn Champs-Élysées. Sewage Seine. Pickpockets. Fantasy shattered. Korean here, but smug when Japanese hit Paris Syndrome.

"Thou hast crossed seas to the Western Paradise? First time Hime envies a lowly one..."

Mood drops again.

"Overseas trips are easy these days."

"Hime cannot escape the void."

That's fate, she adds softly.

"No such thing. Wanna go? I'll take you beyond Utsuromura."

Japan's tough, but Korea? Full VIP tour.

"Thy words honor Hime. What be thy name?"

Hime asks quietly. Got so into bugs and strings, forgot intros.

"Natsunashi Yuuki."

"Enough, Yuuki. Hime shall send thee back to the living world."

Krr. Krara.

The lead golden stag beetle—Kintama-chan—ignites red eyes in its horns. Pissed?

"Tsuno-o, enough. This one's madness defies measure. If it devours even the moon in its frenzy, truly Hime shall—"

Hime scolds; Kintama bows low. Felt like shade, but whatever.

I blurt desperately.

"Wait! Send me back?!"

Nooo!!! Lemme catch that beast first (obviously the epic bug).

Before I yell, living mists gather.

"Return anon, and play with Hime—Mayukomori Futakenohime—once more."

Red thread from her hand churak—binds my wrist. Fading sensation swallows my consciousness into darkness.

Ugh.

I open my eyes. Lying at the bamboo forest entrance. I'd gone deep in, no doubt.

Fuzzy memories piece together.

"What the hell was all that?"

I mutter to myself. All a dream? Volcanic gas hallucination?

Headless Jizo duel. String games with kimono girl in mist. Easier to call it dream/hallucination.

But snapped bag strap. Buntaro's shattered axe. Too real for dream.

Jizo was over there—gone now. Camera! Right.

Film camera on. Snapped that statue, but... blank.

Still skeptical, I wail.

"My! Epic! Golden stag beetle!"

Kintama-chan!!! How'd I even catch it!!!

As I scream, something plops on my head from above.

"Ow! Who... huh?"

Whiiiing—Kintama buzzes golden wings, flying off. I reach, but ignored—shoots straight up.

Why betray your lord, dude! How am I supposed to live?!

Dejected, I pick up what it dropped: bamboo tube. Lid pops off—jade caterpillar inside.

Big... cute!? New species.

Wonder what adult it'll morph into?

Kintama forgotten. Raising from larva's the fun part. I pocket the whole tube...!