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Chapter 40 – The Giant and The Princess

“Strange? Why is no one here? What happened to the horses?”

One of the raiders who happened to slip through the interception had made it all the way to the fence of the base where many people, including Ootori’s oil developers, were staying in dormitories they had built.
The fence was like the kind used on ranches, easy for a person to climb over.

However, he was only equipped with an old-fashioned rifle and a small traditional curved sword. He had no explosives or grenades. 

His mission was to support and spread chaos, but unless he could rendezvous with someone handling explosives, it would be meaningless.

Even so, as a member of a certain organization, he had no intention of abandoning his mission.
Therefore, he resolved to fulfill his role by killing or injuring even just one person. 

He climbed over the easily scalable fence and entered the premises.

But just as he approached one of the buildings inside, he became unable to carry out his role.

Feeling a terrible heat in his chest, he looked down to find something like a metal plate protruding from it.
Its tip was sharp, and though it was hard to see clearly in the dark, the entire thing seemed wet with something.

And just as his thoughts caught up with what had happened, before he could speak or act, he was forced to stop.

A slender hand clamped tightly over his mouth from behind, and the piece of metal was forcefully twisted.

The one who brought down the now-lifeless intruder was a slender woman dressed in a two-tone outfit of black and white.

In her hand, she held a drawn katana.
No other weapons were visible, but her efficient, purposeful movements conveyed that she needed nothing else.

Moreover, she kept moving afterward—because she sensed there were other intruders or those attempting to intrude.

However, just before making her next move, she took a moment to consider her own appearance.
Swiftly, she removed her pure white frilly apron and maid cap, leaving only a plain, jet-black long-skirted one-piece dress. 

The only parts that appeared white now were her face, hands, and the cloth around her ankles.

Then she dashed off like a shadow cloaked in black.

Had her master seen her take off the apron, she would likely have complained.
But being almost entirely clad in black made her perfectly suited for the cover of night.

In a straight sprint, she passed by an intruder who had just crossed the fence and entered the facility, and with a single stroke, cut him down as they passed each other.
Her blade was of excellent craftsmanship—it cleaved deeply through the torso, bones and all, and the man collapsed with a thud, without so much as a scream.

The woman who struck the blow showed no reaction whatsoever.
After confirming the target was dead, she quickly scanned the area and disappeared from sight.

In the very next moment, she stabbed another intruder, who was just about to enter one of the buildings, straight through the heart from behind—killing him instantly with a single thrust.

Sensing another presence, she quickly prepared to respond, but halted just in time.

“Impressive, maid girl.”

Standing next to the intruder sinking into a pool of his own blood, a large man approached silently.

“No, Lord Yagami, your efforts are truly appreciated.”

Shizu respectfully bowed her head to the man.
She knew he had lowered his guard. 

The fact that he had relaxed his vigilance was the clearest indication that there were no more intruders.

“However, you’ve played around a bit too much. You’re not fit for guard duty.”

“This is nothing, just a trivial matter. I don’t think you need to worry about it.”

“Well, that’s a relief. By the way, where did you get that sword?”

“The handling of a sword is merely a hobby for those who serve Ootori.”

As Shizu wiped the blood off her katana with a hand towel, Yagami raised an eyebrow, then smirked.

“I see. Lord Kiichirou is still as he was, huh. By the way, Tokita, have you figured anything out?”

As the two spoke in quiet voices, Tokita also approached silently.
Shizu gave a silent, respectful bow.

“Just as the pre-mission intel suggested, they are Comintern agents. It seems there were many who were hired merely for the money.”

“Communists, huh? What about the bandits?”

“They claim to have been hired by Russians with money. The verification is still to come.”

“Local bandits and Russians, huh? Which one didn’t want Japan to gain a new oil field?”

At those words, Tokita paused for a moment to think.
It seemed the meaning of “which one” was something they both understood.

Then, Tokita quickly spoke up.

“It’s certainly the Russians. In Soviet Russia, they’re currently overwhelmed dealing with the newly rich farmers who have become uncontrollable. Additionally, they’re planning large-scale economic development on a national level, and until that succeeds, they wouldn’t want Japan to gain more power.”

“Well, pulling others down is a basic tactic. But I have to ask, is it okay for me to hear this from you?”

“Actually, it would be better if you knew. And just so you know, the story about Japan attempting to drill for oil in Manchuria was likely told to the Russians by someone from America.”

“It’s good to know, but as the saying goes, it’s best not to ask more than necessary.”

With that, Yagami shrugged.

 ・
・
・

“Hmm! What a nice morning.”

“Good morning, Milady.”

“Good morning, Shizu. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I slept very well.”

She had slept so much yesterday due to being tired, but thanks to that, her head was now clear.

So, she quickly got up, finished changing and taking care of other things, and headed toward the dining hall.

It was on her way there.

“Good morning, Princess. How did you sleep?”

“Good morning. I feel great, Uncle Yagami. Uh, and you?”

Standing half a step behind Uncle Yagami was an even larger giant of a man.
He looked like someone who might practice Mongolian sumo or some martial art.

“Nice to meet you. I am Wan Paijin. I look forward to working with you.”

“Uh, yes, likewise. Are you one of the security people?”

(There it is, a game character. The Seven Stars, secretly working behind Ootori. He’s one of those monitoring the confinement of the exiled villainess. Yagami-san had nothing to do with it, so why is he with him?)

While such thoughts drifted through her mind, the conversation continued.

“My apologies. I arrived late last night as reinforcements, Princess.”

“From today, I would like to request permission to serve as your bodyguard.”

The large Yagami and the even bigger, muscle-bound man both bowed respectfully.
Playing the role of princess and attendant seemed almost overwhelming when there were two such large men involved.

(I wonder if Yagami-san is going along with this. Wan, huh, that means he’s from the mainland, or maybe Taiwan? There’s not much backstory on this guy. Wasn’t he modeled after a real Japanese person?)

“Such a noble cause. I leave the bodyguard duties to you.”

“I humbly accept.”

This time, the muscle-bound man knelt down on one knee.
It felt a bit much, but I decided to think of him as just someone who’s full of good spirit.

There was something else that caught my attention, though.

“By the way, is that the smell of blood? Are you hurt anywhere?”

At that, the muscle-bound man, still kneeling, looked up with a brief expression of surprise before breaking into a smile.
It was an unexpectedly friendly smile, but he was so large and intimidating that it was almost scary.

“Ah, this morning, I was preparing chicken for breakfast. I thought I had washed everything thoroughly, but I apologize for the oversight.”

“No, that’s fine then. But please, when you’re acting as my bodyguard, don’t overdo it.”

“Such kind words. I am deeply grateful that someone like me has earned your concern. Please feel free to make use of me in any way you see fit.”

(I wonder how long this person will keep up the attendant role? Wait, is this ‘the real him’?)

I briefly thought that, but then I heard a wry chuckle. It was Uncle Yagami.

“Wan, that’s enough. Even the princess is feeling a bit awkward.”

“My apologies. But I mean it. I like you. Please, feel free to ask anything of me, Princess. Or rather, Lady Reiko Ootori.”

With that, the giant man named Wang snapped into a sharp, military-style salute.
It seemed that this person was also originally from a military background.

However, the increase in bodyguards meant that the danger had also increased.

I would have to make sure not to get in the way of the bodyguards, even a little.

“Yes, likewise, Wan-san.”
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Comintern

The leading organization of the international communist movement. It existed before the war.
Outside of the Soviet Union (Russia), it was more of a cover or an alias for the Soviet Communist Party.

To put it bluntly, it was a group of spies, terrorists, and agitators.

Aka
The color red is the symbolic color of communism, so in Japan, communists and everything related to them are colloquially called “Aka” (red).

Rokusuke
A derogatory term for Russians.
A derogatory term in Japanese for Russians or things related to Russia.

It is best not to use this term.

Planned Economy
It stands in contrast to the market economy.
It is generally only possible in totalitarian or dictatorial states.

The state forcibly controls production, distribution, circulation, and finance, managing the economy.

Primarily communist or socialist countries implement it, though totalitarian states also favor it.

If started about ten years before a total war, it can be very effective, in some cases.
In alternate history works, Japan is sometimes forced to adopt it. 

However, considering pre-war Japan as it was, it would normally be an impossible task.