364: The Water of the World Flows to One Place (1)
In a company or other building, perhaps, but in a private residence, the reception room doesn't differ much from the living room.
At best, there might be a table set up on the balcony.
But if it's a grand mansion, there are indeed cases where a separate room is called the 'reception room' in earnest.
If it's the mansion of the Hyakurenno family, which is said to be even more noble than actual royalty, then there's nothing more to say.
The place where Han Seoyeon is currently sitting is a reception room with that kind of old-fashioned yet somehow modest feel—actually, she knew that furniture that looks deceptively simple is often extremely expensive.
"Talking here seems to be the first time, doesn't it?"
"Yes. Indeed, it is."
Of course, the other party was Hyakurenno Yuri. After setting down her teacup and thanking the departing maid, she gave a faint smile and then turned her gaze back to Seoyeon.
Behind her stood two people. One was, as expected, Momomomo Chisa in her maid outfit, who was almost always with Yuri.
"Has Ryuuma'i been well since then?"
"Ah, yes. There wasn't anything particularly worth mentioning."
And the other was Ryuuma'i Fuu, who had one eye covered by an eyepatch.
Unlike Chisa, she was wearing what looked like a men's tailcoat. Seoyeon thought it was probably just a clothing choice based on Yuri's taste, similar to the maid outfit.
Perhaps they were both maids, so maybe one was supposed to be a butler or something simple.
She appeared calm and well-mannered, and it was a fair assessment, but given Yuri's personality that sometimes showed very impulsive behavior, Seoyeon had come to know that well.
"Anyway... Here is what you requested."
Soon, Seoyeon lifted the bag she had set aside.
The fact that Yuri brought her to this room meant that she was now addressing her as a 'daughter of the Hyakurenno family' at this level, and of course, the content would be business or political in nature.
...In modern society, the two are not that separated, but.
After a while, the item Seoyeon took out from her bag was a rolled-up scroll. It wasn't ordinary paper, but a strangely artistic item made of animal hide.
It was possible it was a poison skin, but thinking about what might be written inside, it was probably parchment.
The scroll was tied with a wide ribbon that was more like a ribbon, and the blue ribbon had a pattern that Yuri also knew.
A symbol of flame and sun and crescent moon arranged vertically. Yuri couldn't speak Mongolian at all, but she could roughly guess how to read the characters written below.
"Thank you."
"It wasn't much of a hassle. It was just to get one more copy while I was there for the inspection."
After lightly declining Yuri's thanks, Seoyeon continued.
"Originally, there was no reason for the other side to clash with the Hyakurenno Group. If anything, it would be better if they were more friendly."
With that, Seoye's gaze slightly shifted to the side. Of course, the destination of that gaze was Ryuuma'i Fuu.
Originally, the cause of this Kuriltai's convening this time was fundamentally because Ryuuma'i here had been attacked by the Russian Republic partisans.
She is the leader of the Triage Team who treats her team members like family, or rather, more than that, fears them terribly.
Yet, even a normal subordinate, not a daughter, was being attacked after retirement? That would be a natural thing to do as revenge by bribing the real daughter.
If there was the greatest misfortune for the Russian Republic partisans, it would be that their youngest daughter was the highest dignitary of the Yeke Mongol Olo's.
Of course, one should blame the stupidity of those who decided to touch a human protected by the similar sage spirit of Russia and the similar sage spirit of Mongolia in the first place.
"And this time, I received a message, but this part is left to the employers, so please check it later. You've started riding horses again recently, haven't you?"
"Ah, yes. Precisely, it's more about horsemanship, though."
"Every time I feel it, your tastes are quite, um, individualistic...?"
What on earth does this person want to be? I know it's rude, but I keep having that thought every time I forget.
Seoyeon lightly cleared her throat and changed the subject.
"And to the two of you as well, this is a souvenir."
"Ung? Me too?"
"Yes, for starters, a little ayirag (ᠠᠶᠢᠷᠠᠭ)."
Saying that, Seoyeon took out a leather bottle and placed it on the table.
...And it immediately disappeared. The maid had taken it away at a speed that left a lingering impression.
"People say you have to rely on connections, don't they~"
Chisa hugging the bottle and giggling. ...Actually, at this place, she thought that even not blowing the horn right now was her self-restraint.
"Ryuuma'i's side... this."
Soon, the transparent container Seoyeon took out contained a strangely colored liquid. And inside it, two spheres floating...
"...Eyeballs?"
Yuri muttered absentmindedly upon seeing it. It was, no matter how you looked at it, human eyeballs.
"The eyes of the criminals belonging to the Rosy Cross who attacked Hitomi this time."
The ones mentioned were, like the attackers of Ryuuma'i, foolishly attacking the disciples of the Apostles.
...Of course, they didn't extract the eyes and seal them as revenge for attacking Hitomi.
"Do you know about the motto of the Rosy Cross?"
"It was to apply the techniques of the surface and the back without discrimination to create 'perfect humans', right?"
"Yes. And in the process, what they chose was division of labor."
If there truly existed a perfect and overwhelming new humanity, it wouldn't be possible for a single human individual to contain it all. Their ideology starts from this thought.
"If it's impossible with one portion, divide it into components and evolve them, then later reassemble the finished product... something like that."
"...It reminds me of Frankenstein somehow."
"Actually, it won't be that different."
That's why they research by dividing the eight parts separately, gradually improving each one, and when the members are replaced, passing on the body as well.
The fact that they are quite hesitant about tail-cutting is also for this reason. Well, anyway, other things are fine, but let's protect our 'components' first.
Originally, the Rosy Cross felt more like a seminar that compiles and reports results of independent research with similar themes rather than an organization moving with one purpose.
And this eye was also a component that had accumulated many such histories.
"Anyway, this might be transplantable. It's just a possibility, though."
Ryuuma'i Fuu looked quite unsightly on the outside, but her internal injuries were even more serious.
There are many injuries that even attempting treatment with various curses intertwined is not even possible. The one eye she lost was one of them.
Honestly, I thought even with this eyeball it was hopeless, but no matter how low the probability, it wasn't zero.
"Thank you. I'll use it well. But if it doesn't work, is it okay to donate it somewhere else?"
"Of course. Since I gave it as a gift, that's up to Ryuuma'i to decide."
Since she's a member of the Triage Team who crosses death lines as if eating, it's close to impossible, but actually, even a blind patient who has been judged as 'this is practically hopeless' in the back world could probably recover with this level of eye.
Even in this situation, the fact that the donation topic came up immediately made me think she wasn't just a Triage member.
"Really, thank you. Up to Chisa and Fuu's share... This much, I really wouldn't be able to relax if I didn't do something for you."
"No. It's not like I asked for any compensation, so it's fine...... Yes, it's fine."
"Huh? A moment ago, it seemed like a reaction as if something suddenly came to mind wanting something."
With this much, it felt like I had to return something to fulfill the duty.
Of course, Seoyeon always declined as usual, but Yuri's eyes didn't miss the momentary hesitation that passed by. As a member of the Hyakurenno family, she had inherited some of that insight.
Therefore, she said with a faint smile.
"If it's within what I can do, I'll cooperate as much as possible, so please feel free to speak."
"Um, if you say it like that..."
With Yuri's urging, Seoyeon hesitated for a moment and then cautiously spoke.
"...Um, could I borrow the Hyakurenno family's private beach for a bit?"
"...Eh, yes?"
And that was a story that Han Seoyeon had never expected to come out of her mouth, so for Yuri, it was impossible not to stare blankly.