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Last Embryo Volume 3 Chapter 4 Part 1

Translator: DarkHeartedAlchemist

The summer was currently at its peak.

With each passing day, the rays of sunshine which normally caressed the skin in a gentle manner were getting stronger and fiercer, revealing their true, menacing nature. In Tokyo, where the information about the new records of the highest temperatures were being constantly updated throughout the last three days, many people began to suffer from collapsing due to heat strokes.

Kudou Ayato, who looked utterly exhausted from having to put up with the heat even though she was inside of an air-conditioned car, called out to her female driver with a weak voice while having sweat drip from her beautifully golden hair.

「Uesugi…」

「Yes, Milady?」

「I think… I think it would be appropriate to call Tokyo during summertime a perfect example of a modern-day Hell on Earth. See, steam from the heat haze is actually rising from the road’s surface, the tap water’s temperature is actually warmer than the recommended temperature of a human body, and most of the air conditioners are useless even when turned onto their maximum settings, which only makes them break down that much faster. Having to go to school or work while being handicapped by those three crippling conditions really makes me think that this is the result of humankind’s collective bad karma, or some kind of sick punishment game. We are all trying our best to keep going on about our daily lives as usual, but in the end, is it really worth pushing ourselves so hard if this is what’s going to await us at the end of the road no matter which path we will take to get there? Just where the hell are we, humanity, heading to? I, uhh… I guess what I am trying to say here is: can’t you do something about this? Like, with your power as a Divine Spirit and such?」

Saying that, Ayato slowly undid the buttons from the top of her shirt after heaving a truly exhausted sigh. Since she spend most of her current life living the life of a sheltered rich lady who was taught nothing but ladylike manners since a very young age, such a careless behavior would definitely be called very unbecoming, or even shameless of her, especially since her chest, which way too developed for someone of her age looked so alluring and tempting that the eyes of not only the members of the opposite, but also of the same sex as well would be glued to it, especially now when it was all shiny and moist with the droplets of sweat trickling off of it.

Even though the school she was attending didn’t have its own uniform and allowed its students to wear regular clothing, she would have definitely been summoned to the school counselor’s office if anybody was to see her in her current state. On a side note, it was a complete mystery how one could look so indecent with nothing but their natural body, both to Ayato and Uesugi who was acting as her attendant while Pritt was away on business purposes abroad.

Speaking of Uesugi, she presented a stark contrast to Ayato. She was a pretty tall woman who wore her hair tied in a neat ponytail, and despite the meltingly-hot heat that was assaulting them even in the car, she was wearing a full suit without a single word of complaint. Instead, she mercilessly replied to Ayato’s question without a shred of hesitation in her voice.

「I am afraid that I cannot do anything about it.」

「Can’t you make an exception? Just this one time?」

「No, I can’t. You just have to endure the heat, Milady.」

She gave her that reply almost immediately after Ayato asked her question, and once more she was merciless with it. That’s Uesugi for you. She was like a walking definition of the word 「Unapproachable」, but her iron will and determination to continue to do her job even though she must have been unbelievably hot in that suit of hers was probably an example that Ayato should have tried to follow.

However, that was that, and this was this.

In Tokyo, it was suicide to spend the summertime without using air-conditioning. And yet, more and more people were succumbing to heat strokes every day, causing the media to make a big fuss about it.

Still feeling exhausted, Ayato weakly glanced outside of the car’s window.

「If Pritt was here, then surely she would have remembered to be up to date with the car’s maintenance… but I suppose it can’t be helped now. I suppose that a part of the reason why my skills as a warrior have grown so dull was because I have allowed the technological advancement of modern civilization to spoil me silly, so I might as well go and make it a lesson in self-discipline I guess.」

「Would that serve any reason other than needlessly torturing yourself though? If you say that you have grown dull with the years, then all you have to do is to simply work harder than ever toward bringing yourself back into your former shape. And if you really can’t handle this heat, then I don’t mind keeping you company so that you could forget about it even if only just a little.」

At the very least it would seem that Uesugi was also bothered by the heat at least to some degree. Not to mention that her overall tone and the way she spoke seemed to be a little rougher than usual as well. However, that last bit made Ayato raise her face with surprise written all over it.

「Huh? You really would help me with my training, Uesugi?」

「Of course. I might be acting strictly as a replacement for Lady Pritt, but that would actually fall within the scope of my responsibilities more so than being your personal attendant like I am now.」

「That… wow, that would be a great idea. In truth, I couldn’t ask for anything more right now! I would definitely like to have a sparring match with you whenever you would have a moment of free time on your hands!」

Uesugi said that over her shoulder without really meaning anything of what she said, but much to her own surprise Ayato was strangely on-board with that idea. Then again, if she didn’t regain the understanding of who she really was, she would not say something like that so carelessly simply because she lacked anyone who would be willing to train together with her. Stopping at the nearest red light, Uesugi glanced back at Ayato in a rearview mirror and asked:

「Milady, I’m sorry if I ended up raising your expectations more than I should have, but I must have you know that I have never trained anyone in my life before. Knowing this, do you still wish me to train with you? Are you really fine with it?」

「Of course I am. Besides, having you as my partner would be a tremendous honor! If I were to receive tutelage from none other than {The Dragon of Echigo} : Uesugi Kenshin, one of the {Twelve Devas}, a renowned group of Gods of War and the bearer of Bishamonten’s divinity, I couldn’t have possibly asked for anything more. Also, that way I will be able to vent about all of the issues I have my family without risking having anyone report everything back to them.」

Ayato spoke Uesugi’s real name and all of her titles with the utmost respect. If anyone of her friends and acquaintances heard her now, they would no doubt raise a brow or two and jumped up in surprise. Feeling a little bit better despite still sweating literal bullets, Ayato crossed her legs and continued.

「I have to admit that I had my suspicions about your real identity ever since we first met, Uesugi. The rumor that the renowned Kenshin might have been a woman is a particularly famous one, but I didn’t believe it, at least not until you appeared before me, but even then I couldn’t help it but to feel shock and awe at what I saw. But now that I have this once-in-a-lifetime chance, I would very much like to hear about your various heroic exploits, like the ones from the battle of Kawanakajima in as much detail as possible so that I could feel like I have experienced them myself!」

「Hoo? I see you have kept a close eye on all of my secrets, huh?」

「Of course, since I felt like it would be necessary if I ever wanted to have a sparring match with you.」

Ayato answered honestly without bothering herself with keeping up appearances anymore, to which Uesugi responded with an unusually amused voice However, it was understandable that she felt that way.