Mob Yandere

Chapter 169-1

[Part 1/4]

"Was it good? Accepting such an offer?"

"It doesn't matter. If we can just get him away from those people a little... it's fine with me."

In a quiet room where a soundproofing barrier was set up, the two women responded. Immediately after, the sound of gold clinking echoed. It was the sound of pruning shears. The princess cut off the rotten red flower from the flower vase, the sound of pruning...

In one of Oumi family's rooms, a secret meeting was held under the guise of a flower arrangement class. On the surface, it was a lesson, but the real reason was to persuade the Second Princess, and the true reason was too obvious to mention.

"Indeed, the Omnyouji Bureau isn't influenced by those two people. But... can we trust them? They're quite cunning, aren't they?"

"Well, that's exactly why we can't let those two people have their way. And... isn't this the time for Grandma to take action?"

Aoi cut off the wilted purple flower and responded with a question. As for Kochou, the Advisor, she had a stronger connection with the central government than the lord and lady of the family. Many people wanted to interfere with Onitsuki's next leader, and Aoi knew that a considerable number of them were in contact with this old woman. This was one of her values.

When it came to dedicating everything to him, this woman's connections were essential to get the imperial court to recognize him...

"And besides, we have insurance. As long as she's attached to him, there's no way he'll be discarded. ...you understand, don't you?"

Aoi stroked the small white flower and smiled. As the former head of the Shadow Department, that girl was quite sweet. That's why she was exiled and ended up running an orphanage.

The orphanage she had established was actually doing a great job of raising children. She wasn't plotting anything out of power hunger.

"Of course, if necessary, I won't hesitate, so please don't worry."

With a hint of reluctance, but the pruning shears cut off the white half-flower with a cold indifference. It would be better to open it a little bigger, but pruning it was unavoidable for the overall harmony.

"...You're still a decisive child, aren't you?"

"Oh, that's rude, grandma. I'm actually quite cautious, you know?"

"That's just a mistake of being too cold-hearted."

"Hehehe."

Without hesitation, Aoi finally dropped the last yellow petal. It was a nuisance, but thinking about the overall impression of this work, it was an out-of-place foreign object. Cut, cut, prune...and Aoi's work was roughly complete.

"Ah, wonderful, I'll acknowledge it."

"Thank you for your praise, it's an honor."

Aoi, who had been slacking off by about 80%, responded with a nonchalant tone to her grandmother's cold praise. Between the two of them was a large, beautiful flower. A single, vibrant flower with a white peach color, and scattered around its base were countless small flowers of various kinds...a work that symbolized her majesty.

"But it's not very ladylike...and it's quite an adventurous piece, isn't it?"

That was her grandmother's critique, which was both like and unlike a granddaughter's work.

Aoi was a genius with a natural talent. She was exceptional in everything, not just art. When she held a brush, she created a masterpiece, when she brewed tea, she produced an exquisite product, when she recited poetry, she was chosen as a singing prodigy, and when she played the koto, her sweet performance captivated both body and soul. And it was the same with flowers.

Her teacher, a master of the Youka school, had given up teaching her after just one day and retired. The effort of decades was effortlessly surpassed, and what hurt the most was that the princess's skills lacked heart.

With a heart devoid of passion, the flower that was forced to bloom was more beautiful than anything her teacher had ever seen. An art adorned with overwhelming and unparalleled technique...it was almost as if she was forcing it. It was enough to crush the heart of a seeker of truth, and it was a common fate shared by the various teachers who had taught her in the past.

On the contrary, Onitsuki Aoi's skills were abnormal in scale, but fundamentally, everything was based on the basics. It was a mastery of the basics. It was not something that exceeded existing boundaries, and there was no surprise. No matter how severe and majestic her personality was, Kochou had never thought she would create such an unusual flower. Although she didn't show it on her face, Kochou was genuinely surprised from the heart.

"Ah, Grandma. To be exact, it's still not complete, you know?"

And the second princess smiled mischievously, as if testing her grandmother, and began the final touches. She stood up quickly, and with a playful smile, she kicked the vase with her foot.

"This is the final finishing touch...!"

The bottle breaks with the declaration, and its fragments scattered. Aoi, wearing kimono, trampled the large flower that had fallen to the floor with her black leg wraps.

The beautiful flower pattern on the leg wraps, made from the leather of a blue horse, was mercilessly trampled, crushed, and twisted... showing no interest in the other fallen flowers, Aoi carelessly destroyed them with her leg wraps, creating a mess. And then, she stepped back to admire her work.

The remnants of the peach-colored flowers, torn to shreds and scattered, and the leather tabi socks wraps that had absorbed the flower's sap. That was Onitsuki Aoi's masterpiece.

"...Another frontal-like work, huh?"

"That's right? I've been feeling bored with the usual types lately, so I'm trying out different things."

Aoi responded calmly to her grandmother's unpleasant gaze, her eyes gleaming with mishead.

"You know, but please refrain from doing the same thing in front of others. You're being too reckless. It's embarrassing."

Kochou was afraid that Aoi's carefree and joyful demeanor would reveal their secret connection.

"I know. That's why I showed it to you, Grandma, right?"

"Such a pretentious tone. You're going to start a fight with Hina in front of everyone, aren't you? Oh dear..."

Aoi's grandmother sighed, placing her hand on her cheek, as if nailing down her granddaughter's ambition. She had read through Aoi's proud and lofty thoughts, and it wasn't an exaggeration. She was grateful to have set up this meeting, and was able to warn Aoi beforehand.

...But as the granddaughter herself, Aoi was pretending to be innocent, making a joke of it. However, she knew that every night, her grandmother would put on a revealing outfit, crawl on all fours, and assume a horse-like pose to being attacked by a d*ldo. And she knew that her grandmother would even make a shiki step on her own head with its front legs while being attacked. And, wait, what's with "big brother"?

...Just like the thing in front of her eyes, but wouldn't her sons be shocked and have their brains destroyed if they saw it? Or maybe it would be better if they were destroyed. Those born in darkness should return to darkness, in every sense of the word.

"Heheh"

"Heheheh"

They laughed, sensing each other's malicious intentions. With a full-faced smile, they washed away everything. In reality, the situation was stubbornly stuck, like oil stains, but form was important.

"I'm just kidding. Don't be so sulky."

"I understand. Don't worry about it."

A superficial apology and acceptance. Now, let's start the conversation again.

"...Still, he was granted a title. In itself, it's a very good thing, and he's being recognized as a 'person'. The problem lies in the 'circumstances'."

The reason for the title being the great achievement was due to his duty with the first princess. Even his appointment as Yun-shoku and his summons by Onitsuki were similar. From the outside, it looks like he's being greatly favored, and those who know the truth also know that there's a deeper reason.

"His personality also plays a part. He has a lot to make up for with Hina, don't you think? You understand, right?"

Although he doesn't need to feel guilty about anything...he will surely harbor feelings of remorse.

"And his heart is undoubtedly drawn to Hina's... be prepared. You'll have to face an unpleasant situation for a while."

Onitsuki Aoi was intelligent, talented, and a genius, but also an extremely emotional woman. Words like "patience" and "self-control" didn't suit her. She was a self-centered, reckless woman who would stop at nothing, and that's what remained after removing the concept of "princess" from Onitsuki Aoi. Her fellow granddaughters' fiery passion, which she indulged in without thinking of the consequences...that's what Kochou feared the most.

"There will be provocations from all directions. But endurance is crucial. With the resolve to endure humiliation, we must be cautious not to act rashly...don't get anxious, okay?"

Strongly, strongly, the grandmother emphasized the importance of caution. She can't let her emotions destroy everything in an instant. Not like her usual self. Not like Hina. She can't repeat the same mistakes.

"Heheh, I think you said it with a hint of fear... But it's just unnecessary hard work. Why do you need to be anxious?"

However, Aoi declared with confidence, without a hint of anxiety or fear, that she would face her grandmother's concerns.

Because, isn't that right?

"After all, he sought me out. My power. He needs my cooperation."

He was relying on her to fulfill his own desires. That alone was enough to satisfy Aoi, and she felt at ease. She was being useful to him. Then, there was no need to worry about being abandoned. She could feel at ease, no matter what. Why would she need to be afraid?

"Can you understand this feeling, too?"