Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

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Kyosuke Kosaka laughed and said, "Who do you think you've used this trick on before?"

"No, no, I've always been very honest with you, Kyosuke-sama," Shizuko quickly replied.

Kyosuke Kosaka: "I'm being very honest with you too, like how I want to grab you from your busy schedule and keep you company during my free time right now."

"This is a kind gesture, thank you for your concern, Kyosuke-sama..."

Shizuko replied without hesitation.

Kyosuke Kosaka pondered for a moment: "To be honest, my thoughtfulness is mainly in other areas."

After he finished speaking, the surroundings seemed to become much quieter.

Kyosuke Kosaka realized that he had killed the conversation again.

But it's okay.

He likes it this way.

Shizuko, who was being teased again, was already mentally complaining.

"Lord Kyosuke's words are too blunt, it's happened several times now, making Lady Suyi, Princess Yaodao, and White Wolf hesitant to speak."

Of course, Shizuko just said it to herself.

She's quite comfortable with being teased.

She had been sexually assaulted by Kyosuke Kousaka countless times, and had done all sorts of role-playing and costume-related things. She was used to any of Kyosuke Kousaka's lewd behavior.

The reserved Chitanda was more understanding.

On the way, he asked about how Kousaka Kyosuke and Hiroi Kikuri met.

After Kyosuke Kosaka's explanation, the others became somewhat strange.

Su Yi thought to herself, "This strange singer has a beautiful voice, and her personality and aspirations are also strange."

I didn't feel any dislike.

While Su Yi certainly disliked people who didn't follow the rules, she had even more unwavering faith in her husband's judgment.

Since her husband has high expectations of her, it means she must have some ability; she just needs to believe that.

The thoughts of Yaodaoji and Bailang were similar.

"I heard from Komachi that she's been learning the biwa (Chinese lute) with Kyosuke-sama these past few days. Perhaps Kyosuke-sama is thinking of Komachi..."

White Wolf: "Music can not only cultivate one's mind but also provide relaxation. The pieces that Kyosuke-sama has played for me these past few days have been really beautiful."

I'll skip over the thoughts of the two shikigami.

The group chatted as they traveled, and finally arrived at their destination.

As soon as he met Hiroi Kikuri, Kosaka Kyosuke began explaining the situation to her.

"These are my partners, they all want to come and hear you sing."

“Okay, no problem!” Hiroi Kikuri wasn’t shy at all.

In the past, she would have needed to drink some alcohol to calm her nerves in front of so many people, but now it's not about drinking anymore.

If you sing well, you can be kept by a sugar daddy!

Hiroi Kikuri really wanted to eat well and drink the sake she had been dreaming of!

She hadn't had any alcohol for a long time, and she almost couldn't take it anymore!

"Then, I'll begin..."

"Please wait a moment, my wife is still not here. How about we have a chat?"

"Ah, I don't have any connections, it's just that I'm a lowly commoner, and I can't do anything except music..."

Kikuri Hiroi hung her head awkwardly.

The pressure is quite high.

With so many beautiful and charming women, including a beast-eared girl, she would have definitely made a huge fuss in the past.

Now? Hiroi Kikuri wants to cling tightly to Kosaka Kyosuke's leg and never let go.

Naturally, they wouldn't want to easily expose any flaws, lest they be disliked.

I can't be bothered with anything else!

For example, in Izumi Province, she went to great lengths to get a pot of sake from a yokai by singing. Although the sake smelled strange, it was incredibly fragrant!

All the wine smells so good, I want to drink it again...

"So, may I ask what instrument you used before?" Chitanda asked with interest.

Upon hearing the chat, she readily joined in.

Even with Lady Suyi by her side, she had little worry or concern.

Her husband likes that she can speak freely, so it would be better if she spoke in places that are not public.

After all, it's not good to make your husband worry too much.

In fact, Chitanda was able to clearly sense that Kousaka Kyosuke was always paying attention to her feelings, so if she occasionally acted a little more lively and mischievous, Kousaka Kyosuke might not worry about her so much.

In fact, it was exactly as Chitanda had thought.

When Kousaka Kyosuke saw Chitanda ask him a question, he was secretly quite pleased.

They've been partners for who knows how long, yet they're still so careful and cautious, like walking a tightrope. Anyone would be frustrated in that situation.

He likes people who are straightforward and honest with him.

Even if it's PUA, Kyosuke Kosaka can just laugh it off.

Speaking of this PUA, he thought of the spider lily again, which tries to influence him from time to time.

What a jerk.

"Haha, that's a rather rare instrument, called a bass. I also know how to play the guitar... It's a pity that all these instruments are now out of reach of me. I want to try learning the pipa, but it's so expensive, I'm broke..."

Without hiding anything, Kikuri Hiroi spoke her mind.

It doesn't matter if her past is exposed; she has dedicated her life to music, and being able to drink, play bass, and sing is her dream in this era.

Bass?

Guitar?

Shizuko and Chitanda were stunned.

Aren't these just like them?

"Kyosuke-sama always manages to find people like us so easily," Shizuko muttered to herself.

She wasn't too surprised.

Ultimately, Kyosuke Kosaka has always been attracted to people with eccentric personalities.

The things she complained about countless times, Kousaka Kyosuke would always look cheerful when he heard them, as if he were saying something like "Again, again!" Sometimes it would even annoy her.

That's a little bit awful.

Chitanda gradually calmed down, thinking, "Kyosuke-sama always has such good taste."

She had only just met Kikuri Hiroi when she noticed Hiroi's passion for music.

A single sentence is enough to prove it.

At least, Chitanda felt that Hiroi Kikuri spoke very frankly, even if she seemed to be joking around.

"I don't know about instruments like bass or guitar, but I can try to make one for you. I've had some experience with instrument making since I was a child, so I think it might not be a problem."

"Is it really possible?"

“Yes, I’m not too busy these days,” Kousaka Kyosuke said.

He's idle as long as the sea kingdom doesn't attack.

Everything that needs to be prepared has been prepared.

We can't just rush over and attack, can we?

If I did that, I'd probably be hung on a lamppost by those frivolous nobles who spend their days indulging in romance and pleasure.

The Siren's all-out attack on Kyoto was truly one of the most brutal battles in Onmyoji, comparable only to the later battle where Orochi drew Ame no Habakiri and unleashed the Final Judgment.

"...I'm so touched."

Hiroi Kikuri forced out tears, and they actually flowed.

She believed that Kyosuke Kousaka was omnipotent and was convinced that he could create instruments such as bass and guitar.

"Can bass, guitar... compare to the pipa?" Su Yi rarely asked such a question.

Hiroi Kikuchi wiped away the few tears that had just fallen and replied:

"Please forgive my boldness in expressing my opinion—I don't think there's any inherent hierarchy among musical instruments. Different timbres result in different sounds, and with the differences between instruments and playing techniques, it's difficult to say which is superior or inferior..."

Upon hearing this, Su Yi nodded slightly in agreement.

Hearing that Hiroi Kikuri spoke logically and not just made things up, she gradually developed trust in her.