Chapter 89

Though I was a bit surprised to see Kaguya sitting by the fire, I walked up to her and sat down beside her. It was rather strange to see her dressed in a kimono, especially in this dangerous environment where anything could happen at any second.

However, she had a habit of wearing one before bed every night. Tonight, she was adorned in a floral patterned kimono and a floral patterned Kanzashi, a Japanese hair accessory. It almost seemed as if she wanted to show off her outfit, as if it were intended for a festival rather than sleepwear.

Now sitting beside her, I pondered how to start the conversation. Should I compliment her outfit or discuss some other topic? Women were always a bit difficult for me to understand. We weren't exactly close, but I figured a compliment wouldn't hurt.

"I thought I would be the only one on night watch," I said, breaking the silence and initiating the conversation.

"Hmm, oh, I just remembered a festival celebrated back home today and decided to dress for the occasion despite us being in the dungeon," Kaguya replied, her tone tinged with a hint of disappointment. I couldn't help but wonder if I had done something wrong. Should I have complimented her outfit?

"You look great with that kimono. It suits you well," I said, offering her a compliment.

"Thank you," Kaguya replied with a smile, seeming to be appeased by my words. Ah, so she did want a compliment after all. Women and their complex ways always left me unsure.

"So, do you mind sharing about your hometown? Since you eavesdropped on me and Lyra's story," I asked, genuinely curious about her background. However, Kaguya's smile disappeared, and she seemed to be borderline embarrassed and displeased at the same time. Uh-oh, did I accidentally step on a landmine?

"It's okay if you don't want to talk," I hastily added, trying to backtrack and diffuse the tension.

"No, it's fine. I did eavesdrop, so sharing my own story should be fair," Kaguya replied with a hint of reluctance. Well, at least she wasn't angry with me.

"But if you tell anyone else, you might just cease to exist," Kaguya menacingly threatened, her words laced with an ambiguous tone. It was hard to discern if she was joking or not, but I had no intention of betraying her trust. I quickly scanned the surroundings and noticed an opening in Lyra's tent.

"Yea, not a soul will hear your past," I assured her, making it clear that I had no intention of disclosing her secrets. It was evident that Lyra was listening in on our conversation.

"The Far East, my hometown, is an island country ruled by a familia-type royal court, with the goddess Amaterasu being the main deity," Kaguya began, her voice holding a touch of nostalgia.

"There were once nine noble families that served the court, but before I left, only eight remained. One of the families was wiped out due to political strife."

"That sounds like a dark and tumultuous situation," I commented, she nodded in agreement.

"Yes, it was. Anyway, the further away from the capital you go, the less developed the surrounding areas become, resembling the olden days. Due to constant wars, diseases, and monstrous creatures, the country is plagued by hardship. There are many orphans as a result," Kaguya shared, her voice tinged with sadness as memories flooded her mind.

"Ahem," I coughed, interrupting her train of thought to regain her attention.

"Oh, right. I belonged to the Gojou family, one of the nine, now eight, great families that serve the court. We were tasked with handling the darker aspects of the court and took on many dangerous jobs," Kaguya revealed, briefly shifting away from the somber topic. As she spoke, a playful thought crossed my mind about her possible relation to Gojo Satoru from Jujutsu Kaisen.

Nevertheless, Kaguya's narrative painted a vivid picture of a land riddled with challenges and a society burdened by its own shadows. It left me with a newfound respect and curiosity for her origins. There was much more to learn and understand, but for now, being a compassionate listener was the least I could offer.

"There are many groups throughout the country that are not part of the Amaterasu familia and do not obey, meaning that there were a lot of jobs for my family to do," Kaguya said, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

I couldn't help but notice the slight slump of her shoulders, and I knew that her thoughts were wandering into a deeper realm. Wanting to lift her spirits, I playfully nudged her with my elbow, jokingly saying, "You always had this Ojou-sama vibe to you."

The unexpected gesture caught Kaguya off guard, causing her to jolt up and stare at me, momentarily taken aback. But then, like a wave crashing onto the shore, our laughter filled the air, washing away the solemnity that had clouded the conversation.

As we settled back down, Kaguya resumed sharing her story. "I always contemplated if my life would revolve around being in the darkness and working in the shadows like my family. I felt that we weren't really doing anything meaningful for the country besides protecting the interests of the royal family. I guess in a way, I had it better than Lyra," Kaguya joked, perhaps aware that Lyra was listening in.

Listening intently, I could sense the profoundness of her words. It was as if she had been carrying this weight on her shoulders for quite some time. But then, her tone softened, and a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes.

"But everything changed when I met my goddess, Astraea," Kaguya continued, her voice growing more passionate. "She showed me a path to justice. Which changed my perspective. Perhaps that's what charmed me, so I left and joined her familia, and now here I am."

I couldn't help but remark, a playful tone in my voice, "Wow, your familia is starting to look like it's filled with either runaway girls or those with a dark past." Kaguya chuckled appreciatively, finding humour in my comment.

"Thanks for sharing. Now I feel like I know a bit more about you," I said sincerely. The night passed quickly as we delved into various topics, engrossed in our conversation until it was time for a shift change.

As the night drew to a close and we parted ways, I couldn't help but reflect on the emotional journey Kaguya had shared with me. Her story resonated with a sense of longing for purpose and a desire to make a genuine impact.

Overall, our conversation had shed light on the intricate layers of Kaguya's past and the choices that led her to join her current familia. It was a reminder that everyone has their own unique story and motivations, and that these stories can often shape the course of their lives.