I Came Back but the World is Still a Fantasy!?

4-80: The Summit Meeting – The Real Story (2/5)

Locked within the darkness in a space ruled by the Mask, filled with a calm gaze and words just as calm, but the meaning behind them was that of rebuke.

It was the old man who responded first, albeit only slightly.

They had meant no ill will yet the Mask showed them malice.

A twisted expression surfaced on him, but what was painful was that he could not understand the Masks intentions, neither the hidden ones nor the surface.

Masquerade-dono, thats

I wasnt saying it to you.

But despite having noticed that, the Mask didnt even glance at him.

His gaze remained on the smiling Mikoto, who merely shook her head in disappointment.

Oh my, it seems Im quite hated.

What a strange thing to say. Do you mean to tell me that despite your age you still believe that the opposite of favor is hate?

Well, excuse me, ufufu

That was a second serving of is your age merely a decoration?

The Mask was basically saying that he wasnt interested in her enough to hate her, but Mikoto just kept smiling.

On one side was an emotionless being that continued to spit poison, while on the other was a woman who never affirmed nor denied anything and just continued to smile.

It was a clash between nothingness and a smile, yet the air it engendered was surprisingly dangerous.

The old man watching that from the side couldnt help but gulp.

Compared to this, the light-hearted quarrel and conflict at the garden was truly nothing more than childs play.

But why would you say something like that? It should be our first time meeting. Did Tomoe-chan say something?

Enough with the shameless lies. I said it right from the start. That Ive been watching ever since.

Huh Come to think of it, why didnt you help until then?

Mikoto spoke in jest as though shed just realized it, but the one who was most affected by that and trembled wasnt the Mask but the old man.

I dont know if youre courageous, or dont care, or just want to anger me.

For the first time, the apathetic voice of the Mask was tinged with disgust.

Since she knew what he said then, she mustve been there at the time.

Surely, she mustve realized that shed let slip that much, so she must have been acting like this intentionally.

But then again, whatever her intentions may be, it was all meaningless anyway, so the Mask increased his pressure on her.

You wanted to know why Im like this, Tsuchimikado Mikoto? Thats becauseyou abandoned them.

Without so much as a change in his tone, the Mask spat poison(the truth) at her.

Mikoto covered her mouth and smiled as usual, but the old man was sweating buckets.

He had quite the poker face too, but in front of the unchanging smile and the expressionless Mask, he just seemed too out of place.

But neither Mikoto nor the Mask paid him heed.

Perhaps, they only had eyes for each other.

I see, so thats why you created a space like this. So that those children wont be able to hear anything even by chance Youre kind(soft), arent you?

Mikoto smiled despite her thoughts behind those last few words.

I make sure to take care of those under my protection.

Unlike you, the Mask seemed to say.

Mikoto still didnt deny or confirm anything, but the Mask didnt pursue the matter any further.

Neither felt the need to clarify the truth here since they could more or less understand why they were acting like this; however

I would like to learn more about that, though.

There was another person here that needed clarification.

All eyes gathered onto the source of that voice, but the emotions within their eyes varied.

Mikoto remained calm, while the old man showed impatience, and the Mask was surprised.

Kamunagi?

That voice came from none other than the katana that he had set aside.

At this distance, there was no way for him to mistake the direction the sound came from.

And as if the katana had been waiting for him to look at it, a bluish-white light rose from it and flickered.

That light gradually turned into a human shape and formed the translucent body of an adult woman.

It was a woman in her early twenties with Japanese hair and eyes.

She floated there dressed in a mikos garment.

Long time no see, Shouko-chan.

Mikoto referred to her as Shouko, but the woman just floated there and refused to respond, only wryly smiling at Mikoto while looking like the very picture of an ideal Japanese woman.

When the Mask heard that name, or more precisely, saw how she looked from the side, he gulped.

Shouko Shouko Safina, youre Tomoes mother!?

Oh my, to be called by that name As expected of the man my daughter chose.

She seemed elated that hed called her with the name of her beloved husband.

Her smile was just like that of her daughter.

Shouko Safina, or Abe Safina, she was Tomoes mother.

He had seen that name before when he looked up Tomoes history.

I see, so she didnt have business with Kamunagi but with you.

Sharp. Though I suppose what you really meant to say is that she didnt have any intentions of fighting with me Well, I would have preferred it if you were a bit more shocked, though.

When the Mask saw that hed been seen through, he let out an astonished voice, but Shouko wasnt happy with how calm he could remain and so pouted.

You wouldnt think her a mother from the way she pouted by puffing up her cheeks.

Weapons imbued with a soul arent really that rare, but Dont you talk a bit too much?

The Mask ignored that and tried to talk to her normally, but midway-through he glared at her.

Hed realized that there were some truths slipped in her remarks, so he tried to tell her not to say anything unnecessary.

But this mischievous mother just winked at him.

Its fine, no? Theyll find out anyway. Youre the closest person to them, after all. Besides, wont it be easier if you get the top two involved?

Despite the cheerful air about her, the meaning behind her words was surprisingly dark.

Despite his threats, Tomoe and the others werent in a situation where they could avoid the investigation and surveillance of the clan.

So regardless how he wanted to deal with the clan, he might as well talk to these two big wigs and teach() them properly to avoid future troubles.

Or at least thats what she was saying, and the Mask nodded to show that he accepted her suggestion.