Somehow... after all of what happened last night, I managed to fall asleep. Any other day and I might have tried to sleep in, but my nerves forbid me from staying idle for too long. It was just a bit after the break of dawn that my feet carried me to the central bailey to see a large pile of luggage and a girl with dark hair standing next to it.

CHIYOE: ......

She looked lost in thought, analyzing the luggage whilst unmoving. She eventually turned and noticed me, a slight amount of surprise written over her face that soon fell into her more neutral expression that I had seen all yesterday.

CHIYOE: Good morning, Saneyo.

SANEYO: G-Good morning! Erm... I think.

She cocked her head to the side a bit. Though no words escaped her lips, her eyes seemed to ask her questions all on their own.

SANEYO: Well... I mean... I think it's hard to really believe in such a positive greeting when... last night...

She gave a nod of understanding before beckoning me to join her side in front of the luggage. I followed.

CHIYOE: You must be unused to the sight.

SANEYO: Are you?

CHIYOE: ...I don't know.

SANEYO: ...?

CHIYOE: Have you found yours amongst these?

She breezily changed the subject and it took me a moment to realize what she meant—

SANEYO: Oh! Are these all ours?

CHIYOE: Mmhm.

SANEYO: Well, I can help you find yours while I look for mine!

CHIYOE: That won't be necessary. I've already found mine.

She pointed languidly to one small trunk smack dab in the middle of the entire assortment.

CHIYOE: If yours is at the top, it would help me be able to retrieve mine...

SANEYO: Oh... Chiyoe, have you been waiting this morning for someone to come by and grab the one on top for you?

She blushed a bit before nodding. I hadn't really gotten to know her the day before, but seeing her today really opened my eyes a little bit of how awkward she could be. It's nice.

I gave her a reassuring smile.

SANEYO: Well, let's try and move these together then! That'll make it easier for you, right?

CHIYOE: ...Thank you, Saneyo.

In return, I got a smile from her myself. We set to taking the heavy trunks off the top and onto the ground beside us so we could more easily get to hers but when we removed one, we happened upon a slip of parchment with a scrawled note:

"The one who kills becomes emperor."


SANEYO: …!

Though the note had sent a chill down my spine, when I looked over to Chiyoe, she just seemed pensive.

???: H-Hey! Saneyo! Chiyoe!

Proceed