My mother's love song

Miyamoto Iori nodded and said, "Yes, if I knew who took Xiangye away, I would not come to you for help, Ruler."

Last night, while Rhodes was training Ugly Gozen in the workshop, Miyamoto Iori and Saber went out to patrol the streets of Edo as usual.

They had another fight with the masterless Berserker who followed Takao Taifu in Yoshiwara at night. When they returned to the long house in the morning, they found that Ogasawara Kaoru was missing and the magic barrier was destroyed.

So the two of them ignored the fact that they had not slept all night, and searched frantically in Edo Castle for the whole day like headless flies.

Of course nothing was gained.

Miyamoto Iori and Saber were desperate and came to Ruler's base

Although it was still broad daylight when the two knocked on the door, Yui Masayuki was just about to practice his riding skills on Rod.

After that, Rhodes brought the three of them to Yoshiwara and used it as the meeting place.

"Kaoru..."

Although he didn't show it directly on his face like Saber and Masayuki, Iori was also very anxious about his sister being taken away.

Regarding the criminal who took my sister away, first of all, Zheng Chenggong, who became an ally because of the Battle of Yokosuka, was probably not the criminal.

Needless to say, Yu Jing Zhengxue has already withdrawn from the Full Moon Ceremony.

Takao Taifu was in Yoshiwara last night directing Berserker and Miyamoto Iori to fight, so he has an alibi.

Then next

Assassin's Master, Dorothea.

Lancer's master, Chiemon.

And, Caster's Master who has not yet appeared.

The remaining three are particularly suspicious.

"So you want to use Ruler-sama's power to find out who took Xiangye away?

Isn't this a bit presumptuous, Master Iori? The judge cannot violate the rules of the Waxing Moon Ceremony just because of your sister."

After Takao Taifu said this, Yui Masayuki showed an extremely unhappy expression.

Although they had only known each other for two days, she had already become very good friends with Xiangye, and they had also made a promise to live together with Rhode after the ceremony.

In Zhengxue's opinion, it was only natural for Rod to help find Xiangye.

Taifu ignored the cold gaze from the android and spoke to Iori in a neutral manner.

“Since your sister was taken away because of your own negligence.

Then you should take the responsibility to negotiate with the enemy and bring your sister back, which is the responsibility of a man. "

Iori was silent for a moment before saying, "Well... you're right, but... something's wrong."

Takao Taifu frowned slightly: "…something's wrong?"

Miyamoto Iori said: "The criminal who took Kaya away has not contacted us yet.

Even if we want to get Kaya back, we won't be able to start if we don't even know who the enemy is. Edo Castle is too big."

Takao Taifu said, “It’s probably because the time has not come yet.

I understand your anxiety, but what you should do now is to wait for the other party to contact you calmly. "

"No... Regarding this, I don't think the other party will contact me."

"What does it mean?"

“I don’t know why, but I feel that way.”

Rhodes, who was standing by, listened to their conversation and smoked silently.

I see... Iori has vaguely noticed it.

The enemy's real purpose in taking Xiangye away was not to threaten him with his relatives, but Xiangye herself.

Humph……

As expected of Musashi and I's child, even though he's a boy in this world, he's still smart and perceptive.

Even without opening his clairvoyance, Rhodes knew clearly who took Xiangye away, and also knew why.

But it was precisely because of this that he was not worried about Xiangye's affairs.

At least until the Full Moon Ceremony was completely over, Rhodes was sure that she would not be harmed in any way.

But the current situation cannot be resolved by just saying, "Xiangye is fine, you guys go home quickly."

Several eyes in the room were focused on the young man, waiting for his answer.

Especially Yui Masayuki, who was present when Rod made a promise to Ogasawara Kaya that day.

If Rhode completely distanced himself from this matter, she, who was upright, didn't know what she would think.

"I understand. Although I cannot directly intervene and help you find Xiangye, it is not a bad idea to tell you some clues."

"Oh! As expected of Ruler!" Saber smiled happily.

Rhodes ignored his compliment and continued, "You guys should go back and have a rest today. You haven't closed your eyes for a whole day and night.

At night you went out as usual, and the first Servant you met tonight was the real murderer who kidnapped Xiangye. "

……

……

……

"The first Servant we met tonight is the prisoner who took Kaya away..."

On the way out of Yoshiwara, Saber had a gloomy expression.

"Iori, are you really going to believe what Ruler said? No matter how you look at it, he's just making things up for us.

Takao Taifu also had a look of “Huh?” on his face at the time. We were definitely tricked! ”

Miyamoto Iori frowned and said, “No, Saber, I want to trust Ruler for once.

Let’s do what he says tonight.”

"Since Iori said so, okay..."

Yamato Takeru reluctantly accepted his words, and then showed an expression of recovered spirit.

"Well, I'm hungry too! Let's go back to the longhouse and have dinner! Only when we're full will we have the strength to get Xiangye back!"

"Don't just focus on eating..."

Miyamoto Iori shook his head helplessly and showed a bitter smile: You must be okay... Xiangye.

……

……

……

"I don't have any free meals for Ruler-sama."

After being driven out of Miura-ya by Takao Taifu, Rod said goodbye to Yui Masayuki at the entrance of the flower street.

As expected, she was still worried about Xiangya and wanted to use her connections with the shogunate to find someone in Edo Castle.

"Edo at night is very dangerous until the ceremony is over... Masayuki, you should stay at home tonight.

Yeah, it’s okay, let Iori and Saber take care of Kaya’s affairs.”

The boy tried to comfort her, but was glared at.

"…Rod, why are you so at ease?"

Even though the ice beauty was extremely angry, her expression was still very cold.

"Although we may have forced you to do this, didn't you plan to marry Ogasawara Kaye?

Your fiancée was taken away for no reason, aren't you worried at all?"

"I'm worried, too."

“This is really… I can’t tell at all.”

Yui Masayuki crossed his arms over his chest and sneered, "So even if I was kidnapped, you wouldn't worry at all."

"No such thing."

"........."

The girl's long eyelashes trembled slightly.

This answer was not in response to Kaya being taken away, but in response to her question, "You wouldn't worry if I was kidnapped."

Although Zhengxue couldn't tell how Rhode was going to deal with Xiangye, she could fully understand it when it came to herself.

He didn't lie.

Yui Masayuki pursed her lips and said sheepishly, "Um... sorry, I went a little too far just now."

Rhode held her hand and said, "I understand how you feel. I would be anxious too if it were me."

"Um...thank you."

"Okay, let's go back, Zhengxue."

Rhodes took her hand and prepared to leave, but Yui Masayuki stood there motionless.

"I won't go back tonight. I still want to go find Xiangye.

I don't have the vision and single-mindedness that Rhode has, so please... just let me do my part."

"Don't make it sound like you're a saint... But I understand. You have to be careful."

Looking at the stubborn artificial life form girl, Rhodes understood a little bit why she was able to summon Ugly Gozen.

……

……

……

After bidding farewell to Yui Masayuki, Rod returned to his base.

As soon as he entered the door, part of the space behind him suddenly moved, and then a ball of dense magic power transformed into a slender human figure.

"Did you send Zhengxue back? What a heartless man."

The demon child, who had released his spirit form, gave Rhodes an evil smile.

"So you're here, Ugly Gozen."

Rhode responded with a malicious, teasing smile: "How is the work of hunting down the masterless servants going? Have you seized your own spiritual land?

No... Since you've come back to me, it means things aren't going well."

Last night, Ugly Gozen obtained magic power from Rhodes through oral administration and escaped from the near-death state.

But she didn't intend to endure this humiliation and swallow a man's filth every night, so Ugly Gozen left Rhodes' workshop early this morning.

She planned to defeat a certain masterless servant while her magic power was full, obtain a spiritual vein of Edo, and thus achieve magical freedom.

The result of Ugly Gozen's day of fighting was

"...How dare you ask!"

The demonic face of the demon child twisted.

"You used your authority as Ruler to inform those masterless servants that I would attack them today!"

Ugly Gozen attacked several masterless servants today, but without exception they were ready for battle as if they had been prepared in advance, leaving her empty-handed.

Facing her questioning, Rhode looked innocent: "Huh? How is that possible? Why would I do that?"

"Don't play dumb... Lancer has already told me! All the masterless servants now know my real name!"

"Tsk... that dog that can't control its mouth."

Rhodes cursed softly, then said with a mocking look on his face that he would stop pretending.

"If your real name is known and you are prepared in advance, you can't win. Isn't this also Ugly Gozen's own problem?"

"!"