Chapter 68: The Initiative of the Hime-Miko
The [History Compilation Committee]—a secret organization that governs all mages and spirit-users in Japan and manipulates information—has the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the National Diet Library, and others from the Imperial Household Agency to the Association of Shinto Shrines under its influence. Shrine maidens and Shinto priests like Mariya Yuri have an obligation to assist this organization.
As the request came from Sayanomiya Sayaka, the head of the Tokyo branch of the [History Compilation Committee], Mariya Yuri had no possibility of refusing.
Sure enough, upon hearing the girl's inquiry, Sayanomiya Sayaka exhaled, pulled out a document envelope, and placed it in Yuri's hands.
"This is..."
Yuri took the envelope handed over by Sayaka with a dazed expression, speaking out in confusion.
Then, she opened the heavy envelope and took out the A4 papers inside; altogether, there were more than ten pages. Not only that, but there were color photos printed on them. Those photos appeared to be of girls aged 15 or 16. Although their figures were all different, without exception, they all possessed pretty and lovely faces.
There were innocent and cute girls, girls who seemed to have the charm of a mature woman, girls who appeared very cheerful, and girls who gave off a sense of purity.
The last one was a Caucasian woman with long golden hair, whose level of beauty even made Yuri somewhat envious. Even in a photo, she exuded a noble aura.
"These are the people from yesterday..."
Yuri looked at the somewhat familiar faces in the photos, her mouth hanging open involuntarily as she looked up in surprise.
"Exactly. You saw these girls yesterday as well. They are the three witches following King Orihara. Two of them are members of the Italian magic associations [Bronze Black Cross] and [Copper Black Cross]; they are both knights holding the rank of 'Great Knight.' And that last golden-haired Caucasian woman is Her Highness Princess Alice, the former Speaker and current special advisor of the [Witenagamot] in London, known by the epithet 'White Princess.'"
Sayanomiya Sayaka answered Yuri's confusion and then continued.
"Mariya Yuri, your current mission is to integrate yourself among them and then persuade this 'King' to leave Japan if possible, or else..."
"Or what...?" Regarding Sayaka's unfinished sentence, Yuri spoke up quickly, feeling concerned.
"Or else, you get this 'King' to accept the allegiance of our [History Compilation Committee]."
Hearing Sayaka's final words, Yuri stood there with a blank expression, stunned.
"Yuri, you are the 'Hime-Miko' with the most outstanding spirit vision in all of Japan. Furthermore, even if it were a contest of appearance, you have no reason to lose to them. I hope you can strive for an opportunity for our [History Compilation Committee]. When the time comes, our Committee and even the entirety of Japan will be able to receive the protection of this 'King'."
If such an opportunity could be secured, it was undoubtedly a better strategy than persuading the "King" to leave. As the eldest daughter of the Sayanomiya family, one of the four great families, and a figure who held power in the Kanto Committee, Sayanomiya Sayaka could see much further than most people.
If the [History Compilation Committee]—and by extension, the magic associations of all Japan—could become the vassals of this new "King" who defeated Marquis Voban, they would be able to exist more freely in the magic world under his protection. To be able to "borrow the fox's majesty" under the authority of such a powerful "King" was undoubtedly an honor.
"I don't know if I can do it..."
Yuri's hands, holding the envelope, were trembling slightly at this moment.
"For the sake of the [History Compilation Committee] and even all of Japan, Mariya Yuri, you must not fear any hardship. You must face it bravely!"
Sayanomiya Sayaka encouraged Yuri with a serious face.
"..."
Yuri's expression slumped a bit. Looking at Sayaka cheering her on, she spoke with a cool voice.
"Speaking of which, your looks are also top-tier, and you are a 'Hime-Miko' as well. Why don't you come with me to meet the 'King'?"
Being asked this, Sayanomiya Sayaka's expression also slumped, and the smile on her face gradually vanished. She didn't know how to answer—she couldn't exactly tell Yuri that she was terrified too, could she?
.
.
.
Tokyo, Shibuya Ward.
Inside the living room of a villa prepared by the [History Compilation Committee], Shirou was currently leaning back against the sofa, scrutinizing the "Gorgoneion" in his hand, which looked like an obsidian medal.
As for Princess Alice, Erica, and Liliana—the three witches—they were currently staring intently at the television screen, watching a robot that was filling the screen with "orange juice" after going berserk.
"Strange. It clearly couldn't win just now, so why is it suddenly doing fine?" Liliana raised this question as she watched.
"I don't know. You'd be better off wondering how such a giant thing was manufactured," Erica shrugged.
Princess Alice tilted her head but did not join the conversation. Liliana looked confusedly toward Shirou.
"My King, do you know what's going on?"
"Why don't you ask the Magic Conch?"
Shirou glanced at Unit-01 going berserk on the TV screen and then returned his gaze to the "Gorgoneion" in his hand. At this time, the maid Karen approached with black tea while explaining to Liliana.
"That purple robot is actually the protagonist's mother."
"Huh?" Liliana was stunned.
Just as Liliana wanted to ask something more, the doorbell rang.
Ding-dong...
The maid Karen quickly headed to the door.
"Oh? You are...?"
"Ah, um... I would like to see King Orihara..."
It was the voice of a girl who sounded somewhat timid. Since she mentioned him, Shirou naturally looked over. The girl standing there with her head bowed respectfully was the "Hime-Miko" Mariya Yuri, whom he had just met yesterday.
"Let her in," Shirou said to Karen.
"Yes!"
Receiving the instruction, Karen immediately cleared the way for Yuri.
However, after entering the living room, Mariya Yuri realized that the three witches from abroad were also staring at her, their eyes filled with a bit of wariness, causing Yuri to swallow hard.
Actually, before coming here, she had already guessed it would end up like this. Because the three women beside this "King" were all existences with great fame in Europe without exception; as the "King's" vassals, they would naturally be on guard against anyone else trying to compete for status.
Yuri couldn't help but feel a bit helpless. However, she felt that compared to being treated as a sacrifice for Marquis Voban's ritual to summon a "Heretic God," staying beside this powerful "Demon King" actually made her feel more at ease.
At least judging from the fact that he let her go back after yesterday, this "King" harbored no ill will toward her and had no intention of using her to conduct a summoning ritual.
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