Fireflies of the Dark Night

In a corner of a vast mansion, two small figures huddled together, whispering to each other while holding a scroll filled with writings and drawings.

"Hey hey, let's think about the plan again!!"

"Quiet! Speak softly... If someone hears us, it'll be trouble."

The girl, who had just been scolded by the adults for her wild behavior, spoke up. The boy thought to himself that she was up to her usual antics again. Still, it was his job to go along with her. Since the topic wasn't something they should be overheard discussing, he placed a finger to his lips, urging her to lower her voice.

"Hehe, got it. The plan is our little secret, right?"

"Do you really understand...? Here, this is the draft we came up with last time. What are we thinking about this time?"

"Where we'll live after we escape! Oh, and how many people should be in our family?"

The boy understood that the girl's whimsical, far-fetched plans were impossible to realize. He also knew that, considering their future, such things shouldn't even be entertained. However... given her circumstances, he thought it was only fair that she had the freedom to dream. Even if it was dangerous for him to indulge her from his own position... in a way, he was bound to this unfortunate girl. Though, he chose to ignore the latter part of her question.

"Alright, alright. Living in a village would be a bit difficult. There are few people, and it's quite closed off. So, we'd either have to live in a bustling town or settle quietly in the mountains and farm."

The boy offered practical suggestions. He knew the girl was a dreamer, simple but neither foolish nor clueless. By giving serious proposals, he hoped she would feel that he was genuinely engaging with her whimsical ideas.

"Let's make a rice field together!! I love peaches, so I'll plant lots of peach trees!!"

"Is that what you want? Hmm, living in a town would be easier, though..."

"No way! I don't like being around lots of people."

The girl pouted, clearly dissatisfied. Given her circumstances, it was no surprise that she would be scared of being around too many strangers. She didn't need a crowd; just a few reliable, important people were enough for her... at least at this point in her life.

It would be later, after she awakened to her powers and saved many people, earning their gratitude, that she would develop a sense of responsibility to help others. Only then would she gain the self-confidence to do so.

"Alright, alright, we'll do as you say, Princess. Well, with just the two of us, we could survive on mountain resources at first... Huh? So, how many family members do you want? Princess, even if the mountains are abundant, they can't feed more than two people. Adding more companions is... Wait, no? Don't change the subject! Good grief, what am I supposed to do? Alright, alright, Hina, don't get so angry..."

The boy apologized, trying to soothe the sulking girl. But his attempts to placate her only made her angrier, as she felt he was treating her like a child. Of course, she would soon forget her anger and cling to him again, her only reliable companion.

"Sorry, really, forgive me, Hina..."

"Hmph, fine. I'll forgive you. But you have to pet me more, okay?"

Using his secret technique—head patting—the boy resolved the immediate issue. He recalled that in the game, she hadn't been petted by anyone since her father did so when they lived in the village. Though she appeared strong, she had a hidden soft side, and in the game, she would ask the protagonist to pet her head once her affection meter maxed out. Well, now she was just a child with no burdens, so she easily allowed him to pet her and even asked for it herself.

"...Heh."

The boy smiled softly at the girl's joyful expression. After all, this was just their childhood. Once they grew up, these moments would fade, and she would likely be drawn to the protagonist's charm instead.

But even so, for now, he could selfishly enjoy her smile without any consequences. As a fan of the game, he genuinely believed that. He consciously ignored the fact that his feelings might be tinged with something more than just affection...

To an outsider, it would seem like a heartwarming scene between two children, with the boy being slightly more mature. It was a clumsy display of affection between kids who couldn't yet distinguish between fondness and love. But at least both of them were pure-hearted.

And unbeknownst to them, a bat-like shikigami was quietly observing the two children from the shadows...

---

When one thinks of ox-drawn carriages, many imagine the ones used by nobility during the Heian period.

Historically, influenced by ancient Chinese customs, ox-drawn carriages were used by the elite from the Heian period to the mid-Muromachi period. Naturally, they also appear in "Fireflies in the Dark Night," a game with a Japanese fantasy theme. The Onizuki family, who pride themselves on being an ancient lineage of exorcists tracing back to the mythical era (though this is a blatant lie), also use these carriages in their daily lives.

However, the carriages in this world are quite different from their real-life counterparts.

First, the oxen are different. The two oxen pulling the carriage have blue skin and horns growing from their heads. They are said to be descendants of the legendary beast Kuiniu, but over generations, their bloodline has diluted, leaving them with only high intelligence and the ability to understand human speech to some extent.

The carriage itself is luxurious and dazzling, but what catches my eye more are the highly intricate spells woven into it. At a glance, there are over a dozen spells—barriers, curse reflection, soundproofing, anti-corrosion, strength enhancement—all meticulously and carefully arranged to protect the occupants from any situation without interfering with each other.

Moreover, the interior has been transformed into a "Mayoiga" (Lost House) using the exorcists' long-researched technique of artificially "demonizing" objects. This is the most striking feature.

The original concept comes from tales like those in the Tono Monogatari, where a mysterious house in the mountains grants wealth to its visitors. But in this world, it's slightly different.

The setting of "Fireflies in the Dark Night" is modeled after the Hokuriku and Tohoku regions, but in this world, the "Mayoiga" is, of course, a demonic entity. And not just any demon—it's a major or even a calamity-class menace.

To put it simply, imagine something like the moving castle from a certain Ghibli film. The core is a mass of demonic energy with consciousness—not exactly a demon, but close. The building is just an accessory; in fact, the entity controls not only the building but the surrounding land as well. It's like a map boss, or rather, the map itself is the boss.

It lures humans into the mansion through rumors and illusions, leaving them in a trance as it absorbs their spiritual energy, much like a carnivorous plant. And if its illusions and hypnosis don't work, the mansion itself attacks. The interior of the "Mayoiga" is transformed into a different dimension by a kind of barrier, making the space inside much larger than it appears from the outside, with time flowing abnormally. Physical laws can be altered to some extent, and countless traps ensure that anyone who wanders in will be lost forever in a vast maze, eventually going mad.

...Well, a top-tier exorcist wouldn't bother entering the mansion to play such games; they'd just destroy it with a map-wide attack. As one of the seven exorcists who devised this tactic, Kanjin Shonin once said, "There's no need to fight on the same stage as your enemy." But then again, challenging a close-combat specialist like an oni or a giant monk to a duel, luring them to flat ground, climbing a mountain, and blasting them with an unavoidable proton beam seems a bit excessive.

...I digress. In any case, the exorcists, especially those from the northern families where many "Mayoiga" reside (if that's the right word), understood its nature and utility well. Through extensive research, some families even succeeded in developing the technology to artificially "manufacture" them.

Thus, the carriage, utilizing this technology, boasts an interior space more than ten times its actual size, with multiple independent spaces connected within. If monsters or bandits try to attack the occupants, forcing their way inside would only lead them to a different space filled with demons subdued (brainwashed) by the Onizuki family. Of course, if the carriage itself is destroyed, the occupants would be trapped, but destroying a "Mayoiga"-transformed carriage reinforced with layers of protective spells is no easy task.

Incidentally, the Onizuki family's mansion is similarly designed, and it's said that there's even a shy, tea-haired ponytailed zashiki-warashi (house spirit) created through artificial and inhumane experiments. While she's not a romanceable character and only a minor one, her childlike personality is a breath of fresh air amidst the madness. She's like a soothing balm.

---

...Now, I apologize for the long preamble. Anyway, as I was saying, even if you were to ride in the ox-drawn carriage, the interior is quite spacious. In fact, you could even wait in one of the alternate spaces created by the "Mayoiga" if you wanted. No, actually, that would be the more normal thing to do. Given the relationship between the daughter of the Onizuki main family and a mere servant like myself, it would be far more appropriate for me to stay in a separate space.

That's why, under normal circumstances, a situation like this would never have happened.

---

"What's wrong? I've prepared a place for you to rest. There's no need to hold back. Lie down. I'm aware of your injuries. Sitting like that will only reopen your wounds."

"However, even given the circumstances, such impropriety is..."

Kneeling and bowing my head, I responded to the calm words of the girl my age who was sharing the carriage with me. Without my mask, the intense pain in my legs and shoulders was still severe, even with the healers' anesthetic. I couldn't let it show on my face, so I kept my expression as neutral as possible, though beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

(Damn, this has really turned into a mess...!!)

While I thought this, I lowered my head to hide the pain, but my eyes darted around, observing my surroundings.

Thanks to the "Mayoiga's" reality-altering abilities, the interior of the carriage, which should have been no larger than six tatami mats, had been transformed into a spacious room of over thirty tatami mats. The floor was covered with tatami mats, and there was even a shoe rack by the entrance, as if to emphasize the carriage's luxurious design.

She—Onizuki Hina—was seated formally on a cushion. In front of her was a lacquered writing desk adorned with gold leaf patterns, an expensive-looking inkstone box, and some documents. It seemed she had been working. The carriage was completely free of vibrations, neither hot nor cold, making it the perfect environment for work.

Behind her hung a scroll, and to the right was a magnificent folding screen. To the left was a silk-dyed curtain with an armrest nearby. Looking around, there were shelves, stands for swords, and other dazzling furnishings. For a mode of transportation, this was absurdly luxurious...

---

"It's not my preference. I wouldn't have minded camping outside. But it wouldn't look good for the esteemed direct descendant of the Onizuki family to sleep outdoors... By the way, weren't you camping during your journey with Ayaka?"

With a serious, almost stern expression, she spoke, a hint of awkwardness and a stiff smile on her face. It was clear she wasn't used to smiling.

"Yes, that's correct," I replied flatly, careful not to show any emotion. Of course, when there were inns or villages along the way, we stayed there, but when there weren't, we naturally camped outside. Onizuki Ayaka, while far stronger than the servants, was still a low-ranking member of the family and not particularly powerful by the clan's standards. She didn't have the privilege of using a "Mayoiga"-transformed carriage, so she camped just like us servants.

Well, even so, her status was different. We prepared her sleeping arrangements and meals, and while we took turns keeping watch and slept in shifts, she had a tent and could sleep soundly. Yeah, it was kind of cute when she tried to help set up the tent but failed, or when she tried to take a watch shift but ended up nodding off.

---

"...I see. Have you ever ridden in a carriage like this before?"

"I've been assigned as a guard on occasion, but I've never entered the carriage. After all, I'm just a servant."

I've been tasked with escorting several members of the Onizuki family before. However, while maids and attendants might ride in the carriage, a lowly servant like myself would never be allowed inside, whether as a guard or for any other reason. This wasn't just my personal experience—it was the norm for all servants. Though, I'm sure a few have snuck in unofficially.

---

"I see. So this is a first for you as well."

Putting down her brush, she looked at me with a somewhat amused expression and continued.

"This carriage is soundproof. You can hear the outside, but no sound from inside escapes. If you're worried about external threats, there's no need to strain your ears. Besides, you're seriously injured and exhausted, aren't you? I won't demand formalities from someone in your state. The best thing you can do is focus on recovering. Don't you agree?"

Her reasoning was logical. I had to admit that. But still...

"...Then, at the very least, could I move the bedding further away?"

Come on, lying down just a few meters in front of the young mistress while she's working? That's practically a punishment!

At first, I thought I'd be resting in one of the alternate spaces within the "Mayoiga." Even if I were to stay in the same space as her for guard duty, I assumed I'd be in a separate room or at least in a corner of the main room.

...But lying down right in front of the eldest daughter of the main family while she works? That's unthinkable! Just one glance, and it's game over. It's far too disrespectful, and even if it weren't, it could easily lead to twisted rumors.

The truth is, while it's not exactly a pleasant fact... I've often been the subject of such gossip.

---

I was originally born into a farming family. A poor, harsh village where winters were brutal and crops were scarce.

When it was discovered that I had a faint amount of spiritual power, I was bought by the Onizuki family. At the time, I was somewhat lucky—I wasn't immediately thrown into the servant ranks or used as an experimental subject. Instead, I was assigned as one of the caretakers for Onizuki Hina, who had just been brought into the family.

Long hair, sharp eyes, a slender build, and a proud, stern personality... In the original game, Onizuki Hina is a character who's been through a lot. She's the child of a man from the main Onizuki family and a farmer's daughter he eloped with. Until she was seven, she lived as a tomboyish, lively child in the countryside. After her mother died of an illness, her father brought her back to the main family's mansion, where she lived with him. However, her treatment there was far from kind.

Things changed about three years after she moved into the mansion. While playing outside, she was attacked by a demon—actually sent by her jealous stepmother—and awakened her unique ability.

Her power, "Annihilation," is downright broken. It's not just ordinary fire—it's a special flame that "burns away" concepts and phenomena.

It can nullify conceptual attacks, render intangible mental assaults useless, and even burn away the concept of her own "death."

For demons, especially calamity-class ones, her power is a hard counter. Even if they manage to kill her, she'll simply burst into flames and revive like a phoenix, as if nothing happened.

If there's a weakness, it's that her spiritual power drains at an alarming rate. Still, being effectively invincible for several hours is more than enough to make her overpowered. If her mother had been from a prestigious family, her spiritual power would have been even greater, and some of the elders lament this fact. She's skilled in all five elements of magic, as well as martial arts, swordsmanship, and summoning, earning her the title of prodigy. However, it's later revealed through her interactions with the protagonist that her abilities are the result of relentless, backbreaking effort.

Back then, I still held onto some kind of naive fantasy about this world. Or perhaps I harbored ambitions of climbing out of the miserable bottom rung of society. That's why, when I was chosen as one of her caretakers, I tried to flatter and curry favor with her, hoping to benefit from the fallout when she awakened her unique ability and her status in the family changed drastically. And then... I failed at the most critical moment.

When the event of her awakening her ability occurred—when she had to fight a monster—I ran away from the creature right in front of her. I even ignored her cries for help.

I was too scared. Terrified, in fact. Just because it was a game event didn't mean I could feel safe. I mean, where was the guarantee that I'd be the only one left unharmed while the guards and other caretakers were being turned into mincemeat and devoured one after another?

In the end, Onizuki Hina awakened her power and killed the monster on her own. And that was the last time I saw her as her caretaker. Whether it was because her status had changed or because I had run away—likely a combination of factors—shortly after, I was demoted to a trainee servant and subjected to grueling daily training.

Moreover, with her sister Gorilla (a nickname, of course) still in power and the factions of the young mistress and Gorilla maintaining a delicate balance within the Onizuki family, my relationship with the young mistress was particularly delicate, as I was seen as being aligned more with Gorilla's faction.

---

"...Fine, I understand. But as my guard, don't leave my sight, alright?"

After a moment of silence, during which I was lost in memories of the past, Onizuki Hina calmly accepted my request. I bowed to her and moved the bedding to a corner of the spacious room, sitting down there.

(What is this? This indescribably awkward atmosphere...)

It felt like running into an old acquaintance from childhood after a falling-out and meeting them again as an adult. Well, actually, it was much more serious than that.

I don't think the young mistress holds much of a grudge against me... probably. Despite everything, in the game, she was (relatively) a person of integrity, fair and just even to the clueless protagonist of unknown origins. While her route had a bit of a possessive streak, compared to other yanderes, her level of obsession was still on the milder side.

"Tch..."

I endured the pain in my right leg without changing my expression. Damn, keeping a straight face is harder than I thought. As soon as we get back to the mansion, I'm getting that mask issued to me first thing.

Placing the spear with its blade wrapped in cloth beside me, I sat down, ready to fulfill my guard duties at any moment, and let drowsiness take over.

(At least it's better than the cave, where there's no risk of being picked off.)

I must have been more exhausted than I thought, as my heavy eyelids slowly closed, and I surrendered to sleep.

"Goodnight, ■■. Sweet dreams."

Just before I completely lost consciousness, I thought I heard her call me by that nostalgic name, the one from our childhood.

Whether it was a dream or reality, I couldn't tell, but at the very least, it wasn't as unpleasant as being called by that mad oni from before...

---

...Ah, it was such a good opportunity, and yet I ended up letting him fall asleep without being able to talk properly. Onizuki Hina gazed at her childhood friend, who had fallen asleep in the corner of the spacious room, still in a position ready to guard her at any moment, and thought this. And she realized once again that she was still lacking in strength.

She didn't resent the servant. In fact, she even felt a sense of responsibility. She knew that it was her own shortsightedness that had driven him into this situation.

Yes, he was one of a kind. After her mother died and she could no longer see her father, she was alone in the vast mansion with no one to rely on.

...Well, strictly speaking, there were adult caretakers and children to play with. But they weren't what she was looking for. The adults were distant and untrustworthy, and the children she played with were too different in sensibility from her, having grown up in the countryside.

At that time, he was the one brought into her life. Born in the same rural village, and perhaps because it was a poor village, he was hardworking, caring, and always willing to adapt to her needs. For her, this boy was the only person she could rely on and trust. Even as a child, it wouldn't be wrong to say she had a clumsy affection for him. She had no interest in the power or status of the Onizuki family. In fact, she even fantasized about running away from home and living a simple life with this dependable boy, tilling the fields together. They even half-jokingly discussed plans for it. Of course, he probably only saw it as playful talk, but for her, it was a source of joy.

Everything changed when she was nearly killed by a monster due to a conspiracy, and in the process, she awakened to a hidden power. This event completely transformed the world around her. No, it was more than that...

"Yes, that's not the issue. The real problem is my own foolishness..."

Onizuki Hin closes her eyes and recalls. The change in her surroundings, the fact that her life was now in danger, the swarm of adults who began to flatter her—all of it was too terrifying for her young and naive self. So, she turned to the boy she always relied on, pleading for his help. She wanted to escape the mansion.

That was her mistake. Her words were far too careless. When the boy didn't immediately agree to help her, she was disappointed. She lashed out at him, cried, and then left. The very next day, the boy was removed from his role as her caretaker.

Ah, how foolish. She was utterly foolish. She didn't even stop to think why he, who was always calm and far wiser than her, had worn such a look of despair.

"Looking back, it was only natural. His presence was an eyesore to them."

It was unseemly for a poor farm boy to be by the side of someone who had suddenly become a leading candidate for the next family head. Especially if he were to be treated as a retainer, or worse, as someone she held affection for.

What Hin did was a stroke of luck for those who wanted him gone. Her actions—crying and running away while badmouthing him—were seen as proof that she disliked him. And their discussions about escaping the mansion? They were all overheard because of the shikigami surveillance. Later, she learned that the escape plan they had jokingly created years ago had been discovered. It was surprisingly detailed and well-thought-out for children, and that was what sealed his fate.

To avoid scandal, the official reason for his punishment was that he, as her caretaker, had abandoned her and fled from the monster. In reality, his memories were partially altered through a spell. He was then given the name "Tomonobe" and demoted to the lowest rank of servants... with the hope that he would simply die somewhere. Though, when they tried to kill him along with Onizuki Aoi, he somehow survived and was taken under her protection—something the conspirators hadn't anticipated.

"How pathetic. I couldn't do anything to help you, even after gaining this much power. And to think that despicable woman...!"

After letting out a self-mocking laugh, she recalls Aoi—her detestable younger sister—and her face twists in anger.

If being protected by her sister had saved him, it might have been fine. But the reality was the opposite. She couldn't understand what that twisted woman was thinking. Time and time again, she failed to protect him, leaving him in a state where it was unclear whether he was alive or dead, battered and broken.

"After all he did to save her, what grudge could she possibly hold against him...!?"

She grits her teeth, suppressing a storm of rage. Letting her anger spill out and wasting her immense spiritual power wouldn't be good for his condition.

"I won't ask for your forgiveness. But just wait a little longer... just a little longer."

For over a decade, she has devoted herself to learning, training, and gaining power. Not just in combat, but in wealth, knowledge, and influence. All of it was for one purpose: to save him. To rescue him.

"I'll find a way to break your curse, restore your memories, no matter what it takes. Even if I have to sacrifice everything else. So, please... just wait a little longer."

She murmurs in a trembling voice, as if confessing or apologizing. She couldn't bear the thought of the person she cherished suffering through near-death experiences over and over because of her.

"I'll end it all. I'll save you. So... so..."

So, when it's all over, please keep that old promise. Live quietly with me. I'll protect you from any threat, from anyone, with everything I have.

"Even if it means going against anyone... no matter who it is..."

In her eyes, as she gazes at the man she loves, a quiet madness burns with a passionate flame...

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