Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 1048

"The happiest state is not wanting to think about anything..."

Despite thinking this to herself, Makihara Kozue couldn't help but recall the several upheavals that had occurred over the past year.

Leaving aside the unpleasantness of that wicked god treating them like toys, it seems there are quite a few things happening around us.

Monster attacks, monster invasions, and even natural disasters...

It's really hard to survive here.

What's even more desperate is that there's nowhere to move to if you want to.

Calculated based on what Makihara Kozue sees at that moment.

There are about three companies that have successfully "profited" from Kyoto Port.

The first is the modern-day Shinomiya family, but the eldest son offended both the Kenbishi Agency and the Gaieibu (Outer Guard Office), implicating the family and making their future uncertain.

Fortunately, the Hayasaka family members who separated from the group were working under the command of the Kenbishi Agency.

The second is the modern-day Shijo family, which should be the most successful. Because the head of the family, Shijo Makoto, was valued by the Kenbu Ichiban (Imperial Envoy Agency) for her abilities, she was directly taken in as a retainer, and even her daughter married the head of the family. Their lives seemed to be getting better and better.

Among them, Maki, the daughter of Shijo Makoto, is someone Makihara Kozue knows, and knows that she is a tsundere senior.

The little tiger teeth always quietly show when he's feeling proud.

Shijou Makoto's son, Shijou Tei, is someone Makihara Kozue knows a little about, but she always feels he has a strong air of being a good-for-nothing.

The last one... happened not long ago.

It was Ishigami Yu, a rather famous boy in Makihara Kozue's grade.

Because important information about the monster forces was discovered during the war, the manor owner who was taken in sent people to express his gratitude, and he and his family stayed at the manor temporarily.

After the war ended, he did not return with everyone.

Everyone said he got incredibly lucky.

However, Makihara Kozue vaguely understood that things were far more complicated than that.

However, delving into these details is pointless.

Makihara Kozue was speechless at the fact that these people and the Kenbushi Agency truly had a special connection.

Given that the territory held by the Chief of the Prosecutor's Office was not far from Kyoto Port, it is not incomprehensible.

Judging from his official rank of fourth grade and the fact that he held real power, this inspector of illegal activities was clearly an outstanding man.

He was also young, and there was a strange rumor that he had married multiple wives within a year, and that even the maids didn't mind and took good care of them.

He looks like a fine man no matter how you look at it.

That's how it is from the perspective of this era.

Sometimes, Makihara Kozue really suspected that this man was the prototype of "Genji".

The reason is simple: Genji would make proper arrangements for the women he had interacted with.

Coincidentally, the man that the famous Murasaki Shikibu married was a Kenbishisa, which, in this era, meant he had risen to the highest rank of "officer".

Ugh... what a mess this era is.

The historical accuracy is poor, and the relationships between the characters are a mess.

For example, Fujiwara no Michitsuna, whose mother was very famous, was a young man who wore glasses and looked cunning no matter how you looked at him. He was also one of the most famous Onmyoji (yin-yang masters) in the Fujiwara clan.

It's absurd no matter how you look at it.

It's as absurd as having characters from the Three Kingdoms appear in Warring States games.

If we treat this world as a game, it makes a little more sense.

But Makihara Kozue doesn't want to play this kind of game.

"I miss Fuchihara-chan so much..." Terashima Kaoru murmured.

Makihara's eyelid twitched.

She suddenly remembered what her father, who would occasionally go to Kyoto to buy and sell things, had said.

At that time, my father did mention meeting the current Minister of the Province, Fujiwara Masataka.

That was my friend Fujiwara Chika's uncle.

Makihara Kozue thought that Fujiwara Chika might also have come over.

However, the location is Kyoto.

Compared to their well-developed trading port, the conditions are certainly far superior.

After all, Kyoto is the center of this country, and the three major Onmyoji forces gather here, so its safety is trustworthy.

On the contrary, it's the port area.

At first, things were actually not bad... but as time went by, monsters attacked and even invaded, destroying half of the port.

This completely extinguished the desire of a group of people for a comfortable life.

Nowadays, many people actually understand that if they don't move to Kyoto, they are very likely to encounter dangerous situations.

But things are not that simple.

The port area provides connections and income, enough to cover daily living expenses.

And what about moving to Kyoto?

All of this will most likely start from scratch.

Unless there is a connection.

Unfortunately, such a thing is impossible. If they were to move, all the related benefits would be divided up and none would be left.

Whether it was the Shinomiya family, the Shijo family, or the Ishigami family that relocated, all their previous businesses were divided up by the nobles.

Therefore, whoever really wants to move out should be prepared to burn their bridges.

The worst-case scenario might be that they can't even afford to eat...

This is probably why a group of adults and elders dare not act rashly.

Let's get back to the main topic.

"Is Fuchihara-chan alright?" Makihara Kozue wondered to herself.

at the same time.

The main hall of a mansion on a main street in Kyoto—

Fujiwara Chika was vigorously scrubbing Shizuko's back, displaying a very enthusiastic attitude.

Shizuko felt helpless.

She had a feeling that Fujiwara Chika's proactive attitude meant she needed something from her.

Despite being puzzled, I didn't ask.

Let's wait until Fujiwara Chika asks for her opinion before giving a proper answer.

Hope lies in agriculture.

After all, she really knew nothing about agriculture.

"Madam Qianhua, let me scrub your back too."

"Okay~ Thank you for your help~"

"Can you turn around now...?"

Shizuko's vision blurred as she turned around; the imposing sight nearly shattered the confidence she had just built up.

Don't look, you can't look.

We can't continue!

"Heave-ho!" Fujiwara Chika turned around just in time.

"I'm starting."

Shizuko, who was secretly relieved, said something and began to scrub Fujiwara Chika's back.

At that moment, Fujiwara Moeha quietly slid over and whispered, "My sister usually bribes the person she's asking for a favor before she asks them for anything."

"Hey! Mengye, don't talk nonsense!"

Fujiwara Chika let out a scream as if she had been pricked by a needle.

As Shizuko silently scrubbed her back, she muttered, "Now I'm sure of it. I'll ask you for help with something I can."

The people bathing around them heard this but didn't find it strange, and continued to clean their bodies.

Among them, Xiangzi was very curious about what Chika wanted to ask Shizuko for a favor.

If it's too awkward, she'll definitely stop it.

Ultimately, the atmosphere in the sleeping quarters still needs to be maintained.

Although her husband liked to slack off at work, Xiangzi knew that he would never abandon his responsibilities when there was something to do.