Ling Qi 2 (Spiritpact 2)

~Bond of the Underworld~

Episode 5 Mirror of the Underworld

How long are you going to keep following me?

It is my duty to protect you.

But nothing is really happening.

Then do not mind me—

Shinryuu Shouken.

Descendant of the Shinryuu family,

well-versed in medical science, and with a body that is resistant to poison.

He has also mastered various martial arts

which makes him an incredibly skilled bodyguard.

Not really, but I am enough to protect the young master.

Give up being his bodyguard and protect me instead.

Jiun...

Don't act so familiar with me! You are to address me as "my lady."

M-My lady.

Hmph, you're so full of yourself for an outsider.

Why do you need a bodyguard instead of me?

You stole my hair ornament, didn't you? I know you did.

M-Me?

Don't try to play dumb.

Not even one of the servants would care about such a cheap thing.

Who else would steal it but you?

It wasn't me.

Well, whatever.

You probably try to get your hands on so many things

because your mother was never able to buy you anything.

You're the Youmeishi for heaven's sake.

I'll just give you the stupid hair ornament if you want it so bad.

I didn't steal it! And don't talk badly about my mom!

Are you trying to put the blame on me?

I'm really not.

Still defying me? If you don't admit it, I'll—

I had heard that the young master had not been accepted by everyone...

Let go of me.

But I did not think it was this bad.

What was that?

How dare you hit me?!

Protecting the young master is my duty. Please forgive me.

Do you have any idea what you've done, bodyguard?

Yes, and I am sorry.

I will apologize for raising a hand against you,

but you also need to apologize to the young master.

Don't be ridiculous!

I am being serious.

Please apologize.

I-It's fine. Don't be mean to a girl.

Should I give her special treatment because she is a girl?

I raised my hand to her because she made a mistake.

I apologized for my own misdeeds.

Mistakes are not beholden to gender.

Do you not think so, young master?

Looking for something?

Jiun was upset because the hair ornament she lost was probably important to her.

She comes here a lot to read, so I figure she might have dropped it here.

You are going to help her even though she falsely accused you?

I knew it'd be here.

See? Just like I thought.

Please excuse me.

We have a favor to ask of Ki-sama.

Will you give this to Jiun for me?

Yes.

He's shady, throwing away the hair ornament like that.

Why did you eat it if you are not supposed to eat food made by other people?

She is a distant relative and she was begging to see the Youmeishi.

We have been blessed with good weather thanks to the Youmeishi.

The mistress of the household permitted me to bring you this as thanks.

Thank you.

I thought it'd be fine if I just ate a little bit.

She came from so far away, so I didn't want to disappoint her.

Please refrain next time.

I'm fine.

This happens all the time. I'll be better after some rest.

This always happens?

I don't want to be thought of as a special person with a weird diet.

What are you talking about?

It is not a weird diet. It's just your constitution.

You do not need the same things other people do!

It is not something to feel so humble about.

But...

Did you think such things when you were standing at the altar?

Is it worth sacrificing yourself for the happiness of someone else?

I have never thought of it as a sacrifice.

It makes me glad when everyone feels happy.

My heart is full when I am offering up my prayers.

I am content when I can listen and respond to everyone's wishes.

So I enjoy it.

Is that so?

What's wrong? Why did you ask me that?

I did not mean anything particular by it.

I will manage your diet and daily life from now on,

so that nothing like this ever happens again.

This is the first time I've had someone so concerned about me.

It is my duty to protect you.

It's just like you said, brother. He is the natural-born Youmeishi.

You're so good at everything.

I am not so impressive compared to the power of your memory.

Why do you burn my hair that has fallen out?

The body of the Youmeishi is divine.

Anything that leaves your body must be burned so that no one can misuse it.

It is my duty to protect you.

Shouken, you kind of remind me...

of my mom.

I remind you of your mother?

I didn't really know you that well at first,

and I didn't want to be a bother, so I didn't think I needed a guard.

But now I'm grateful to the Tanmoku family.

I'm glad you're by my side.

Burning secret letters.

Shinryuu Shouken, why did you get so close to Tanmoku Ki?

Young master, do you want to become the head of the family?

Huh?

You could have that position, if you so desired.

I'm not fit for it.

They already have the acting head and Jiun too.

Is there anything you want to do?

If you became the head of the family, you could gain your freedom,

live your life like a normal person, and even go to school.

Do you not want to see the outside world?

If I could ever leave this mountain, there are definitely things I want to do.

But it doesn't matter.

The future head of the family is Jiun.

And I don't want to fight for it.

This is a storehouse management problem, right? So stop trying to blame my store!

The medicinal ingredients are bought all at once

and the main Tanmoku family is also using the same things,

so it's clearly an issue on your end!

Are you trying to say we switched out the medicine?

I heard the people who took medicine from the shop died.

Try asking your conscience.

Really?

I would say the same—

Stop it.

I will have the acting head investigate.

That will not do!

The supervisor for the medicine shop is the acting head's uncle.

He cannot do an official investigation!

And you're the mistress's niece!

All the people working in this household are connected.

Have you realized something, young master?

Do you know something?

Well...

All the people who took the medicine seemed like they were possessed by evil spirits.

Do you mean that there is an evil spirit in this mansion?