“I can surmise what course of action you have in mind, but…… I recommend you give up, Erika.”
“Are you saying that it’s impossible for me?”
This was not the unconsciously expressed fury from before.
Tatsuya didn’t even bat an eyelid as he absorbed this intentional display of wrath.
“It is impossible. Not because of talent, but from a results perspective.”
“……What do you mean?”
The first half of that that phrase was still buoyed by fury, but the latter half was switched for astonishment.
“You saw the news this morning, correct? It doesn’t matter if it was the images or the words.”
“I did. Which one are you talking about?”
“The news about the small USNA vessel left adrift.”
“That one…… You can’t mean?”
“How astute of you.”
Upon seeing the change in Erika’s facial expression, Tatsuya’s words were not simple courtesy, but honest praise.
“Though this remains a mere possibility…… But “Sirius” will likely not appear again. Even if both sides remain in a standoff, there is no benefit to be gained here for either side.”
Erika didn’t have an answer or rejection for Tatsuya’s suggestion.
“Tatsuya-kun……”
In comparison, she was staring in all seriousness at Tatsuya as if she beheld a completely unidentifiable stranger.
“Who….. What are you……?”
No, not “as if”. She actually saw him as an enigma.
“That sort of thing, at least for my family…… That is beyond the Chiba Family.”
“Is that so?”
Tatsuya wasn’t playing dumb here, but he had no other options at this point.
“Not just our family. This is definitely impossible for families like Isori, Chiyoda, and Tomitsuka. I don’t know exactly how this happened, but the only ones capable of getting that kind of result would be the Ten Master Clans. And even then, only……”
“I believe that’s far enough, correct?”
“A lineage of incredible power. A family whose power base surrounds the capital, or a family who has free reign to act regardless of territory or jurisdiction.”
She couldn’t stop speaking.
“Erika, enough.”
“Removing the Ichijou Family station in the north…… Then there is only Saegusa, Juumonji, or…… Yotsuba. Tatsuya-kun, you can’t possibly be……”
“Silence!”
“Ah!”
Erika shut her mouth not because of coarseness of Tatsuya’s voice or the volume, but the intent mixed within.
“Any further would only result in things getting awkward for everyone.”
Tatsuya calmly made that declaration.
Erika was not lacking in experience when it came to walking though the valley of death.
She was not falling quiet because she was overawed by his manner.
Rather, her extensive experience told her to do so.
Especially because she was about to recklessly cross over the line.
“……I’m sorry.”
“As long as you understand.”
The phrase was similar to the ones before. As usual, his tone was light.
However, cold sweat dripped down Erika’s back.
“Erika, even if you wanted to find out who Sirius is, there is nothing for it now. Thus, let’s just end things here.”
“……You’re right.”
She understood that half the reason why Tatsuya changed the subject was for herself, so Erika acknowledged Tatsuya’s proposal.
