Chapter 1254. Afterglow / Visiting Guest

Katsuko-nee’s car has Misato and Michi.

Margo-san’s van has Misuzu, Ruriko, Yoshiko-san, Yomi, and me.

Leaving the hotel owned by the Kouzuki house, we drive through the night city and back to our Kuromori mansion.

「 Onii-sama, please take a rest 」

Ruriko whispered to me.

Yeah.

I’m a little tired.

As expected, it’s tiring to deal with people from various noble families and young ladies.

For me, they’re people from Isekai, from a different culture.

「 Uhm, Margo-oneesama, I would like to ask 」

Misuzu suddenly talked to Margo-san.

「 Hm, what? 」

Margo-san shows a smile through the rear mirror as she drives.

「 Uhm, Margo-oneesama, why did you suddenly start in the martial arts business? 」

True, Margo-san’s been working hard for the past six months to put on a martial arts industry.

Reforming her body from a brothel bodyguard to a fighter.

She looked for sponsors, created connections with martial arts business owners.

「 I’m in my 19 this year 」

Margo-san said.

「 Kyouko-san once told me that a person’s foundation is set by the time they’re 20 」

Foundation?

「 How they think, how they live, their personal rules for getting themselves through the world. Those things get tied to you by the influence of people you met before you were 20, and whatever you acquired in life until that point. Well, even after the age of 20, you can join the army, go to prison, or live a life in a different culture from your home, changing the whole foundation you had. But, most people have their experience until they are 20 affect the rest of their lives 」

Their life experience, influences from other people, and what you know, what you discover until you’re 20.

「 When looking at the former prostitutes of the brothel, I feel that even if they retired from being prostitutes, their standards and judgment were still the same as when they were prostitutes. Look at Minaho, even if she only was a prostitute for a few years before her body was destroyed. Despite spending more time as the brothel manager than as a prostitute, she still insists on the will as a prostitute, and honor as a prostitute. Katsuko-san too, when she has to make a decision, she thinks of a prostitute. That’s because it’s their foundation 」

True, Katsuko-nee earlier was angry at Kaan-san for me.

Normal people won’t be complaining that bluntly to the head of the Kaan house.

That was Katsuko-nee’s philosophy on the action when she was a prostitute of the Black Forest.

It’s because Katsuko-nee has experience with the political and business VIPs as clients that she’s able to defy them with such boldness.

Furthermore, she called Jii-chan “Shige-chan” on purpose, getting cute-angry, all to prevent Kaan-san from reflexively reacting to what she’s saying.

That’s a technique she learned from when she was a high-class prostitute.

「 You see, I’ve been a brothel bouncer since Minaho picked me up from the orphanage in America, see? I learned a lot about the underground and how to intimidate people effectively 」

Margo-san shows a wry smile in the mirror.

「 I thought that I don’t want to remain a bouncer when I reach 20. That’s why I was in a bit of a hurry to change into a martial artist before I reach 20 」

「 I see 」

Misuzu murmurs.

「 Yes, I’d rather be a martial artist than a bouncer for the rest of my life. Well, being a martial artist is an occupation so I don’t know if I can continue it all the time, but it’s a little scary to have the methods and ideas from the underground as the foundation. Not just for me, but for Nei as well 」

Nei.

「 That girl, even though it’s just a few years, she spent her most sensitive time from middle to high school underground, see? It’s impossible to get out of it completely, but I want to bring her closer to the surface at least. So, she has to be away from Minaho for a while 」

From Minaho-neesan?

「 Minaho can never leave the brothel and underground business. Living in that world has become Minaho’s foundation. Naturally, she would close down the brothel after five years, but her connection to the underground will remain for the rest of her life. That’s Minaho’s case 」

Minaho-neesan’s kidnapped and turned prostitute when she was 12, and she has lived in the brothel all the time since then.

「 Katsuko-san’s making a bakery with Yoshinobu-kun and the girls, and currently, she’s selling bread to the students in school. If things go that way, then Katsuko-san’s foundation may be of a prostitute, but she will be able to live with ordinary people without any problems as far as her daily life goes 」

Huh?

「 As mentioned earlier, Katsuko-san can change by putting herself in a different environment. Katsuko-san is selling pastries and teaching the students in your school how to bake, getting along with them, right? 」

「 Yes 」

I replied.

「 It should make a good change for Katsuko-san to talk not just with the family but also the students in the school. I think interacting with younger high school students should be great for her rehabilitation, although 」

Margo-san looks at me through the rear mirror.

「 Yoshinobu-kun, I heard you asked Katsuko-san to help Minaho until the opening of the brothel 」

Well…

「 I think that’s just an unwelcome favor for Minaho. Minaho wants Katsuko-san to be independent of her 」

So sending Katsuko-nee to the new brothel to help out was a failure?

「 Even so, that’s only until the reopening, right? There doesn’t seem to be enough time to train the new prostitute girls and so having Katsuko-san help out would be great for Minaho. But, once the operation gets going, Minaho needs to stop calling Katsuko-san to the new brothel 」

Katsuko-nee will do the same.

She’s helping out in the new brothel because I asked her, but…

The truth is Katsuko-nee doesn’t want to be near a brothel anymore.

「 Well, both of them are adults so you don’t have to worry too much about them. In fact, I think that Katsuko-san will be able to part ways with the brothel with a clean slate. Anyway, Katsuko-san’s reform still has two years before you graduate so there’s plenty of time 」

Katsuko-nee’s waiting for me to graduate before opening her bakery.

「 So, Katsuko-san can build on her foundation as a prostitute and gain plenty of experience interacting with normal people. But for Minaho 」

Minaho-neesan…

She’s going to continue living in the underground, as a manager of the brothel for five years.

「 You know why Minaho’s the way she is, the way she talks, the way she behaves, and the way she interacts with people, and the reason behind it, right? 」

Yes.

I recall Minaho-neesan when she was in charge of our class.

「 Minaho-neesan can’t have a conversation with ordinary people unless she puts pressure on them 」

「 Yes. You can’t get along with the scary people underground unless you do that 」

Margo-san said.

「 You must always see yourself as superior, make a smile to threaten and torment the other person so you always have the upper hand in conversation 」

Yes, that’s right.

「 Minaho has to put on that attitude apart from the family, and people above her like Kouzuki-san. But, that won’t work on ordinary people 」

Hmmm.

「 It’s the same with Yoshinobu-kun back then. You were on the receiving end of that mode. Ordinary people would only think of not wanting to meet Minaho again

Yeah, that attitude and behavior is Minaho-neesan’s foundation.

And as Minaho-neesan will continue to live underground, her foundation won’t break.

「 Katsuko-san, Nei, and I can do the same manner as Minaho. Yoshinobu-kun know that well 」

Yeah, I’ve seen Margo-san and Nei do the same threat as Minaho-neesan do it with people.

「 Katsuko-san, Nei and I are the oldest members of the Black Forest and so we’ve received influence from Minaho

Margo-san said.

「 Nagisa who started her own flower shop no longer received Minaho’s influence after leaving the brothel. Mao-chan too 」

What does that mean?

「 Up until six months ago, Minaho’s been a strong influence to us but we had our own problems. Katsuko-san, Nei, and I all sympathize with Minaho’s desire for revenge, and managed to endure our despair 」

Katsuko-nee’s life was distorted as she was turned prostitute.

Nei’s parents and her beloved brother were killed by Cesario Viola, and her life was in constant danger.

Margo-san’s born with blond hair and blue eyes, and so the Indian settlement persecuted her, her father raped her, and she killed her father by shooting him, she was in despair.

「 The original members of the Black Forest were in an abyss of despair. But, participating in Minaho’s revenge on Shirasaka Sousuke made us keep our will to live. Back then 」

Minaho-neesan speaks in a dark tone then laughed.

「 But, Minaho’s revenge ended half a year ago, so our relationship in that regard is over. We’re all starting to walk our paths 」

Right, everyone’s no longer in despair.

We have a family we have to protect.

I see. That’s why Nagisa didn’t receive much influence from Minaho-neesan just like Margo-san.

That’s because she has Mao-chan, she wants to keep her safe.

If you have someone you value more than yourself, then you can’t fall into despair.

「 Minaho knows that we need to get away from her influence, and that’s why Minaho’s been staying at the new brothel lately and hasn’t come back to the Kuromori mansion recently 」

Huh?

「 She’s aware that she’s the only one that still has the underground dark vibe left. Katsuko-san’s coming to help so that surge is inevitable, but Minaho’s worried that it’ll affect Nei or me 」

To leave Margo-san and Nei out of her influence…

「 But still, Minaho-neesan must be feeling lonely to be away from everyone 」

I said.

「 Indeed. But there’s nothing we can do about it. Everyone’s busy walking in their path 」

Margo-san, nei, Katsuko-nee, the original Black Forest members had to leave Minaho-neesan’s side.

「 Okay, I’ll do something about it 」

I said.

Margo-san laughs.

「 You don’t need to press forward that hard 」

Huh?

「 Why do you think Tamayo-san’s in the new brothel? Apart from Tamayo-san, other former prostitutes of the Black Forest are coming to check on Minaho 」

That’s…

「 The time she spent in the brothel never went to waste. Minaho’s seniors from when she was a prostitute and the people who received her support when Minaho’s the manager never forgot about it. They saw how Minaho’s desperate to survive in that hell 」

Margo-san smiled.

「 Let your big sisters take care of Minaho. You should just do what you do best. Minaho’s always watching you. Then, when Minaho comes back, be gentle with her. That should be enough 」

I see.

When a younger one, me, shows a clear worried look at her…

Minaho-neesan will only feel hurt.

「 I understand, I’ll do what I should 」

I agreed with Margo-san.

Then.

「 I also have to change 」

Misuzu mutters.

「 I don’t want to reach 20 being ‘just a young lady’ 」

Misuzu’s been thinking various things today as well.

「 I’m already making a move 」

Huh, Ruriko, you?

「 Onii-sama, didn’t I appear on a TV program introducing the Kouzuki house’s Meiji era mansion before, remember? 」

Oh yeah, there was that show.

I saw that.

「 It’s going to be in a book. Kouzuki group is the publisher. While at it, the TV show and book series on “Kouzuki Ruriko introduces the Kouzuki house treasures,” and “Seeing the treasures of Japan with Kouzuki Ruriko” are planned up 」

Huh?

「 I won’t be just a young lady. I will be the most known young lady of nobility in Japan. I will serve as the public relations woman of the nobility to connect them to the public 」

Ruriko smiles.

「 First, we will introduce the public to the historic buildings and treasures of the Kouzuki house, starting from the mansions, treasures, and the other noble families. Then, I want everyone to know the traditions of the nobility and the weight of the house that lasted generations 」

I-I see.

「 If nobody does that, there will be another incident like the Kurama Kaku from the Kurama house 」

Yeah, Kurama Kaku was a splendid structure. It was a treasure to the nobility, and yet…

The young head of the Kurama house demolished it because some bad guys tempted him.

Jii-chan dismantled it secretly and is somehow able to keep it safe, but…

「 If the public were to discover the value of the treasures of the nobility, then such destruction will no longer be possible 」

If the value is widely known, then…

There will be brakes for the young heads to do anything rash.

「 If I, a member of the Kouzuki house, asks for help, people from each family will cooperate, and they will form a project team so as not to be rude. Naturally, they will all be women so please don’t worry 」

Ruriko.

「 I will make sure that nothing that can cause Onii-sama to worry will ever happen 」

Then, she speaks to Yoshiko-san sitting next to her

「 Yoshiko’s helping me too, okay? 」

Ruriko speaks in her “Master mode”

「 Certainly 」

Yoshiko-san replies happily.

As expected, she loves serving Ruriko.

「 Meanwhile, I’m going to learn how to use cameras in various ways with Onii-sama so please look forward to it 」

Err.

Ruriko’s love for filming sex doesn’t change.

「 What should I do? 」

Misuzu looks down and mutters.

I try to call her out, but…

「 Sensei, you should leave her alone for now 」

Yomi told me.

「 Right, if you call her out now then Misuzu-chan will just get spoiled 」

Margo-san tells me with a smile.

◇　◇　◇

「 Darling, welcome back!!! 」

「 Welcome back! Onii-chan!! 」

「 Welcome back! 」

Edie, Mana, and Arisu greeted us when we returned to the mansion.

Although, Edie’s;

For some reason, she’s wearing a velvet cloak over a flashy-colored swimsuit and a crown on her head.

「 Today is my victory so I’m dressing like a star 」

No, Edie, that’s…

No matter how you look at it, it’s the appearance of a world beauty contest winner.

「 I also have one for Margo. Where is she? 」

「 She’s in the garage, parking the car 」

Margo-san’s going to put on something like that?

「 Ah, Darling, I called over some of my friends today! 」

Huh, friends?

「 They’re in the dining room already. They’re Edie-chan’s friends in martial arts 」

Mana said.

「 Wait, could it be… 」

「 Yes, it’s Seiko, Haruko, Poron, Mimi, and Grace 」

Do you mean the girls who participated in the martial arts tournament and declared that they’ll go with Margo-san to America?

Err, Rodulfo Seiko-san, the leader of the creative martial arts Golden Balm Gym.

Rodulfo-san’s disciple, Line Haruko-san.

Daiporon Karisman from the Tomy Ashida Dojo of Combat Karate.

Monkey Mimi-san from the same dojo.

Grace Marinka, a female pro wrestler.

「 They’re called over for Agnes-chan’s training 」

Mana tells me.

「 Remember, tomorrow, Agnes-chan will go to school tomorrow, right? She can’t just suddenly go to a world of people who aren’t in her family 」

「 And so, we invited some outsiders 」

Edie smiled.

「 And so, Agnes-chan is banned from talking about sex or anything similar in front of outsiders. Luna-chan and Koyomi-chan’s next to her so they’ll use their Miko power if she’s about to speak carelessly 」

「 She’s going to learn in practice not to be rude with Margo and my friends 」

Oh, that’s not a bad idea.

I think that’s good practice before going to school for the young ladies.

「 Also, Onii-chan, there are other weird people here too 」

Mana said.

「 Huh, what kind? 」

「 Someone really good at cooking. Two of them 」

Two people

「 They’re not just good at cooking but they also came early and cleaned up the party room. They work nice and they have a nice smile. Those girls are good 」

「 Wait, who are they? 」

I asked.

「 Kuromiya Motoko-sama 」

Arisu who’s listening to our conversation speaks up.

「 Kuromiya-sama and Mikuriya-san, her attendant 」

Oh, yeah, they watched Edie’s matches last night.

The martial arts girl who is a spear master and her bodyguard?

「 We told them that they don’t have to since they’re guests but they just said “Please don’t mind us” and continued cooking and cleaning the house. Furthermore, they’re good at it 」

Mana said.

「 They helped out with half of the food for the party 」

Err, I-If I recall…

Those girls did say that they’ll become my concubine, right?

「 Where is Kuromiya-san now? 」

Misuzu asks Mana.

「 They’re in the party dining room 」

「 Let’s go, Danna-sama 」

Misuzu’s complexion changed as a new young lady has entered.

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