"Lady Kaguya," Eirin greeted respectfully, immediately bowing. Reisen followed suit, bowing as well.
"Lady Kaguya?" I looked at her from head to toe. "She's incredibly beautiful... Is she some sort of princess?" I wondered to myself.
After the initial greetings, Lady Kaguya looked at me with a gentle smile. "Ah, you must be Shun. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
I nodded, feeling a mix of awe and nervousness in her presence. "Likewise, Lady Kaguya. Thank you for taking care of me."
She waved it off with a graceful gesture. "Oh, it was nothing. You were in good hands with Eirin and Reisen here. They did a fantastic job."
Eirin and Reisen nodded, expressing their gratitude for the compliment.
"Now then, I'm actually curious about you, Shun," Lady Kaguya said, her tone filled with intrigue. She glanced at Eirin and Reisen, giving them a subtle signal to leave the room. They immediately understood and nodded as they made their way out.
I couldn't help but wonder why they left, but I kept my focus on Lady Kaguya as she approached and took a seat. She looked at me with a keen gaze.
"So, are you truly fine serving the vampire?" she asked, her eyes searching for sincerity in my response.
I nodded firmly. "Yes, Lady Kaguya, I am genuinely content serving Lady Remilia. It is an honor and a privilege to serve the Scarlet Devil Mansion."
She studied my expression for a moment before a smile formed on her lips. "I see. It warms my heart to hear that. Loyalty and dedication are admirable qualities.
She nodded approvingly. "I have no doubt that you will continue to do so. If you ever need any assistance or guidance, feel free to reach out to me. You are a guest in Eientei, and we are here to support you as well."
I expressed my gratitude with a bow. "I appreciate your kind offer, Lady Kaguya. I will keep that in mind."
She remained silent for a moment, her gaze fixed on me. "So, I have a favor to ask," Lady Kaguya finally spoke up, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"A favor?"
She nodded, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "Would you mind accompanying me to the Human Village?"
I hesitated for a moment, "Shouldn't we inform Miss Eirin and seek her permission?"
Lady Kaguya chuckled softly, her amusement evident. "Oh, Shun, you can be quite amusing at times. No, I don't need permission. I'm simply using you for this little excursion."
I raised an eyebrow, a mix of curiosity and confusion filling my mind. "Using me?"
She leaned back in her seat, her expression teasing. "Yes, Shun, using you in the sense that your presence will attract attention and stir up quite the commotion. It will be a delightful diversion."
I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension at her proposition. "Are you sure about this, Lady Kaguya? It may not end well if we draw too much attention."
Her smile widened, displaying a hint of mischief. "Oh, don't worry, Shun. I assure you, it will be quite an interesting experience. Besides, you will ensure my safety throughout our little adventure, right?"
"...Very well, Lady Kaguya, I will accompany you to the Human Village."
She laughed softly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Excellent! I knew you'd agree!"
"First... Let's get out of here." I got off the bed and looked out the window.
Lady Kaguya and I quietly approached the window, making sure to avoid any creaking floorboards or other sources of noise. With a swift motion, I opened the window, allowing a gentle breeze to enter the room.
We glanced back one last time to ensure that we weren't being observed, and then Kaguya gracefully climbed onto the windowsill. She looked at me and whispered, "Shun, follow my lead."
I nodded and carefully followed her, using the window frame as support. We perched on the edge, gazing out into the night, where the moon illuminated the surroundings.
"Now we just have to get out of the Bamboo Forest," I whispered to her.
"Don't worry, I know my way," she replied with a mischievous smile.
We carefully maneuvered through the dense bamboo grove, following Kaguya's lead as she effortlessly weaved between the towering stalks. The moonlight cast intricate patterns through the leaves, creating an enchanting atmosphere as we made our way deeper into the forest.
But as we walked around the bamboo forest, a silhouette figure suddenly appeared, blocking our path. It was a girl with a discolored light brown shirt and dark red sashinuki hakama adorned with paper charms.
"Hm? Kaguya, what are you doing out here?" she asked, her tone tinged with a mix of concern and annoyance.
"My~ Fujiwara~" Kaguya greeted her with a mischievous smile.
"Are you sneaking out again?" The girl's gaze then shifted to me. "If it isn't Shun..."
"Miss Mokou..."
She sighed, crossing her arms. "Don't tell me this woman used you to sneak out."
"Haha... Sorry," I replied sheepishly.
"Sadly, I can't let you both do that. You need to get back to Eientei. Besides, it's nighttime, and Shun needs more rest," Mokou insisted firmly.
"Sorry, Mokou~ I'm not planning to back out. After all, there's takoyaki being sold at night, and I want to drink sake right now!" Kaguya responded playfully.
Mokou let out another sigh. "Look, Shun needs some rest. How about quietly returning before I have to resort to force?"
"My~ Mokou, using threats now? That's bad~" Kaguya glanced at me, silently signaling for me to comply.
"My~ Mokou, using threats now? That's bad~" Kaguya glanced at me, silently signaling for me to comply.
I nodded, understanding Kaguya's message, and took a step back, creating distance between us.
"You're really a pain, huh... Fine, if that's what you're asking for." Mokou's stance shifted, and a fiery aura enveloped her body, signifying her readiness for combat.
"It's just once~" Kaguya sighed, seemingly unfazed by the situation. "But fine, I need to make sure I'm still doing well with danmaku anyway~" A mischievous smile danced on Kaguya's lips as she prepared herself.