Classmate wa Isekai de Yuusha ni Natta kedo, Ore dake Gendai Nihon ni Okizari ni Narimashita - Chapter 94

Chapter 94 : A Difficulty Overcome 4

“Kyori, are you okay?”

In a corner of the Kuon family main estate’s hallway—inside a secret passageway that opens into a space with staircases extending in all directions—I found Kyori sitting with her knees hugged close.

I sat beside her and spoke as calmly as I could.

“…Iori-kun? Why are you here?”

“Koharu told me about this place before. She said it’s a secret passage the Kuon elders don’t even know about.”

“…I see. Ah, I’m sorry. I suddenly ran out. But I’m okay now, so I’ll go back soon.”

Kyori said that, but her forced smile and swollen eyes clearly showed she was far from okay.

…How could I believe “I’m fine” when it looked like this?

“You don’t have to go back right away. Maybe you should calm down a bit first?”

“B-But everyone is calling for me—”

Listening carefully, I indeed heard voices from beyond the sliding door at the end of the stairs calling, “Kyori-sama!”

…There must be about 30 to 50 entrances and exits to this space; I could block them quickly.

Thinking so, I formed a barrier using Ice Magic, Water Magic, and Perception Blocking Magic to also create soundproof walls, sealing every entrance.

Kyori would probably figure it out soon enough, but at least I could buy some time.

Besides, I left a small drone in the hall, so if those idiots tried any drastic moves, I could respond.

“Hmm? I don’t hear anything.”

“B-But… Huh?”

“See? You don’t hear anything. So right now, focus on calming down. If you want to be alone, I’ll leave right away.”

I planned to put those calling for Kyori to sleep using the Perception Blocking Magic beyond the door.

Maybe even give them nightmares so they’d be unmotivated for a while.

While thinking this, Kyori shyly asked me:

“Um, can we talk together for a little while?”

I didn’t think talking with me would lift her spirits, but if that’s what she wanted, I’d do it.

“So, what shall we talk about? I have to warn you, I don’t know anything about trends or popular stuff, so don’t expect much.”

“Hehe, I’m the same.”

“Really? You keep your hair and clothes neat, so I just assumed you followed trends.”

“Ah, thank you…”

…Well, this ended up sounding like a casual pick-up line.

More importantly, how do I steer the conversation now?

“By the way, Iori-kun, why did you come to this mansion?”

Kyori tossed me the ball, so to speak.

Now I don’t even know who’s helping whom here.

“Well, first, I got a letter after summer break.”

“A letter?”

“Yeah. A Kuon family shikigami was standing at my door. The letter invited me to come over during the next long holiday.”

“…I see. So that’s how you came here.”

“Well, that was just the trigger. It wasn’t the direct reason.”

Indeed, receiving that letter made me aware of the Kuon family.

But at that time, I was mostly concerned about my own and my family’s safety.

You wouldn’t just go to an unknown powerful family’s home because you got an invitation.

The real reason I came was—

“How should I put it? I was worried because Kyori hadn’t been at school for a long time. It felt really strange not seeing the person who’s usually right next to me.”

Also, I’d heard from Ueshima-san about Kyori’s condition at the main family estate, and from Alicia about the dangerous ritual to decide the next head of the family.

Hearing all that made me want to at least check how she was doing. That was the real reason I came.

“…Well, that’s about it. Sorry for not having a proper answer.”

“N-No! …You really thought about me that way…”

I thought I heard Kyori’s voice crack slightly, but I decided not to ask any more.

“By the way, Kyori, is there anything you want to talk about?”

“Me?”

“You seemed like you had a lot bottled up. Maybe talking it out would make you feel better. But if there’s something you don’t want to talk about, that’s okay too.”

Suddenly hiding out here and crying alone means she’s seriously pushed to the edge.

…Though I could mostly guess why.

“Then please listen. It’s quite a long story.”

“Okay, I’ll listen.”

Kyori took a deep breath and began.

“For Japanese exorcists, the Kuon family head is like their clan leader. The wealth and power that come with it are huge.”

Considering the massive mansion, the number of people taking part in the ritual to decide the next head, and the violent acts people committed just to gain that position, the wealth and power Kyori spoke of must be beyond anything I could imagine.

“So those born into the Kuon family with the qualification to be the next head devote everything to becoming the leader, starting from when they’re barely aware of the world.”

That’s a world beyond the understanding of someone born into an ordinary family.

To be honest, “making a child decide” is more like “forcing a child to decide” from an early age.

I couldn’t do it, and I was secretly relieved I didn’t have to.

“I was made to study magic techniques, learn how to behave properly as the Kuon head, and prove myself by fighting yokai. I even almost died a few times. There was no time to be a child. But that’s normal for those born into the Kuon family.”

Crazy. That’s the only way to describe it.

Training heirs to be suitable successors is common enough, but stealing a child’s freedom and making them fight dangerous beasts is beyond abuse.

“Did Kyori’s parents not care?”

“They truly believed it was my duty to do this, until their last breath.”

“That means…”

“My parents are gone now. What surrounded me were soulless shikigami who faithfully carried out their orders to raise me as the next head, and adults scheming to gain power by making me the leader.”

There was deep grief and regret in her eyes as she spoke.

“I wasn’t allowed to live like a normal child. I studied and trained as the shikigami ordered, and had to put on a fake smile to entertain relatives coming close just to grab the benefits. At some point, I gave up. I told myself I could never have a normal happiness, so I’d live like a doll, suppressing all emotions.”

From the moment she became aware of the world, she wasn’t seen as a person but only as a candidate heir of the Kuon family.

Her life was decided for her by others.

That is nothing less than hell.

“But after entering that high school and meeting Iori-kun and the others, my days became truly fresh and wonderful. They saw me as a person. Treated me as a person. That made me really, really happy… That’s why I ran away to a place like this.”

She wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and forced a smile as she stood up.

“Thanks for listening to my boring complaints. I’m okay now, so—”

“What will happen now?”

“…I’ll probably quit school and live here again, like before. But like I said, I’m okay. I’ve accepted how things will be.”

“…Is that really what you want?”

When I asked that, Kyori stopped in her tracks.

I couldn’t help but feel she really wanted an ordinary school life with friends, to live as just a normal person.

“…That’s not true! I want to spend time with everyone and with Iori-kun, just like before! But as the Kuon heir, I can’t selfishly say that…!”

Kyori turned and finally revealed her true feelings.

“Isn’t it fine? You’re not a doll but a human. You should live how you want.”

My words made Kyori’s eyes widen, and then with a confused look, she asked:

“Is it really okay? Even if I do something selfish and self-centered?”

“You’ve been pushed around enough. Once or twice, it’s okay to push back. Actually, what you want isn’t even selfish to me.”

Kyori lowered her head, thought deeply, then after some resolve, raised her face.

“Please. Free me from this house, from all the Kuon family ties…!”

“You got it.”

That was enough.

Now all that was left was to make it happen.

I took Kyori’s hand and walked toward the door leading closer to the courtyard.

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Translator’s Notes:

• Shikigami (式神): Supernatural entities or spirits summoned to serve and obey their master, common in Japanese folklore and magic-themed stories.

• Perception Blocking Magic (認識阻害魔法): A spell or effect that suppresses or blocks awareness and sensory recognition, often used to hide or induce sleep in others.

• Kuon family (久遠家): A powerful and wealthy family with strict traditions and dangerous political/magical rituals, symbolizing oppressive noble lineage.

• The "ritual to determine the next head" implies a deadly and politically charged tradition that forces heirs into conflict.

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