Chapter 2

"Th... The new palace maid has taken down the First Consort!"

Immediately after Kohime slapped the Moonlight Consort, the corridor fell into chaos. A scream rose from the court ladies and eunuchs, who were momentarily unable to understand what had happened, and everyone began to panic.

"Who are you, really?"

In the midst of this, Kohime continued to move. She looked down at the Moonlight Consort, who had fallen to the floor and was staring up with a dazed expression, and asked her a question.

"W-What...?"

"Are you a 'demon'?"

At Kohime's question, the Moonlight Consort showed visible signs of agitation.

(... I hit the mark.)

Kohime immediately tried to launch another attack on the Moonlight Consort.

"Milady Moonlight!"

"What are you doing!?"

However, the maids who were attending the Moonlight Consort stepped in to block her.

Furthermore—

"Over here!"

"Which court lady attacked the First Consort!?"

"Is it an assassin!?"

Armed soldiers rushed to the scene. They were the palace guards responsible for security within the imperial grounds. Someone must have reported the incident, and they had rushed over.

"That one! That palace maid!"

"She's still trying to attack Milady Moonlight!"

Several eunuchs pointed frantically at Kohime.

"You!"

The guards drew their curved swords from their sides and lunged at Kohime.

"..."

Kohime's response was terrifyingly calm. She dodged the first guard's blade with minimal movement and then seized his sword.

"What!?"

The guard, confused by her natural movement, watched as Kohime dodged the attacks of the second and third guards in quick succession.

(... Too slow.)

Kohime, moving like a dancer, evaded the blades one after another, thinking to herself. These are the soldiers who serve in the imperial palace? Their movements are far too slow. Even her father, who used to play sword fights with her when she was a child, was much faster. In a flash, Kohime, with the guards at her back, approached the Moonlight Consort again.

"Ugh!"

One of the maids, who seemed to know some self-defense techniques, reached out to Kohime. Kohime tripped her with a swift foot sweep.

"Kyaa!"

"Milady Moonlight!"

Another maid clung to the Moonlight Consort, forming a barrier. Kohime immediately struck the maid's side with the pommel of the curved sword.

"Ugh..."

The maid, dazed by the pain, collapsed. The Moonlight Consort was now completely exposed.

"W-Wait!"

The Moonlight Consort, her face pale, shouted. However, Kohime did not stop.

"Huff"

She swung the curved sword at the Moonlight Consort's neck without hesitation.

"Ah!"

[It's bad!]

—Two voices overlapped.

In an instant, the Moonlight Consort's body floated in the air, narrowly avoiding Kohime's strike. A black miasma seeped from her body, wrapping around her like a kimono.

"W-What? The Moonlight Consort is floating..."

The court ladies, eunuchs, maids, and guards, unable to understand the sudden phenomenon, stood in shock. Only Kohime remained calm, looking up at the Moonlight Consort.

"... Possessed."

[Who are you...?]

From the black miasma that had risen from the Moonlight Consort's body, something appeared. It was a fox. Not just any fox, but a nine-tailed fox, a demonic beast as large as a human.

"Who are you? Why are you possessing the Moonlight Consort?"

[Damn... Is this girl an 'Exorcist'? No, an ordinary 'Exorcist' couldn't have detected my presence... Damn, my plans...!]

"Is there no way, Lady Daji!"

The nine-tailed fox was in a panic, while the Moonlight Consort, clinging to the fox, raised a high-pitched voice.

(... Hm? I thought she was being controlled, but it seems the Moonlight Consort is also a collaborator?)

[... There's no choice.]

While Kohime was analyzing the situation, the nine-tailed fox, called Daji, whispered in a low voice.

[In this situation, I must kill all the witnesses...]

"Can you really hide it by doing that!?"

[Shut up! There's no other way—]

As the Moonlight Consort and the demon argued, Kohime moved to take advantage of the distraction. She swung her arm, and the curved sword she held was thrust into the floor, swaying back and forth. Kohime then ran nimbly toward the sword, jumped onto the hilt, and used the flexibility of the blade to launch herself into the air like a spring.

[What!?]

The demon and the Moonlight Consort let out a scream-like sound as Kohime flew toward them.

[What are you, girl!]

"I'm just a poor girl who lives in the mountains."

As she closed in, Kohime's right hand whistled. Before the demon could react, her open palm struck the Moonlight Consort's cheek again.

"Ugh—"

A clean hit. The Moonlight Consort, who had been floating, fell straight to the floor with a scream. She landed on the floorboards and immediately lost consciousness, rolling her eyes.

[Gr... Grr...]

On the other hand, the nine-tailed fox, who had been knocked to the floor with the Moonlight Consort, was still conscious.

[Damn... I have no choice...]

The miasma that had been clinging to the Moonlight Consort slipped out, forming a large fox. The fox, with its nine large tails swaying, had a bitter expression on its face.

[... I will make you regret disgracing this great demon, Daji...!]

With that, the demon gathered its strength in its limbs. Kohime immediately grabbed the curved sword embedded in the floor and pulled it out, intending to throw it at the demon. However, the nine-tailed fox was already gone from the spot.

"She escaped."

Its escape was faster than expected. The only one left on the scene was the unconscious Moonlight Consort, and the surrounding people, unable to understand what had happened, watched in shock.

"Over here!"

More reinforcements arrived. Several soldiers, armed with armor and spears, surrounded the area. There was no choice—Kohime thought she would have to explain the situation to them and ask for help in tracking the demon.

"You! The villain who struck the Moonlight Consort!"

The soldiers surrounded Kohime, pointing their spear tips at her.

"... Is it going to be like this?"

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆

"Hey! Be still!"

"Don't resist!"

"I'm not resisting, and I'm not moving..."

Kohime was grabbed by the collar by two soldiers and carried off like a cat with its neck held. They brought her to the department responsible for maintaining order in the palace—the Inner Palace Office. When they reached a secluded room, one of the soldiers knocked on the door.

"Head of the Inner Palace Office! I apologize for the intrusion! We have brought the palace maid in question!"

The soldier, sounding somewhat tense, knocked on the door, which was then opened. Inside the room were two men. One was seated in an official chair, and the other stood beside him.

"... Thank you for your efforts."

The seated man, with a sharp gaze and his black hair tied back in a single braid, spoke in a low voice. He looked quite old, probably around the same age as Kohime's father would have been. His eyes and aura exuded a powerful presence, which was likely the reason the soldiers were so tense.

"Alright. From now on, we will handle the situation. You may leave."

The man standing beside him said. He was younger than the seated man, with a well-built body and a fierce, martial appearance.

"But, Captain of the Guards... This is not someone who warrants the attention of both the Head of the Inner Palace Office and yourself..."

At this, the seated man, the Head of the Inner Palace Office, turned his sharp gaze on the soldiers. The two soldiers shuddered and shouted, "S-Sorry!" before leaving the room.

(... The Head of the Inner Palace Office... So he's the highest-ranking person here...)

"... I have already been informed of the details."

The Head of the Inner Palace Office, looking directly at Kohime, began the conversation.

"Tell me. Are you an 'Exorcist'?"