Mob Yandere

[Part 1/4]

In the center of the Amaashi Plains. The fertile plain surrounding the very heart of the human world, the capital of Fusou. In a corner... an ornate brick building, blending Fusou-style and Nanban-style architecture, stands on the grand main street filled with luxury shops of wealthy merchants. Inside the 3-story office room, she was present.

The steady sound of her feather quill scratching resonated smoothly. The clicking of an abacus continued to ring. Seated at the high desk facing the glass window, commanding her subordinates to wait, she was a truly graceful girl.

Her honey-colored hair with a slight curl, jade-green eyes, and her very pale skin──more so than princesses inside the curtains or from the Northern region──are due to her Nanban bloodline. Bathed in gentle sunlight, humming softly, she swiftly took up her pen, stamping documents, then presenting papers for approval, sending them out. As more stacks piled on her desk, she sighed...

"No matter how much I do, it never ends. The higher I climb, the more work piles up... Thinking about it just feels pointless."

Don't you think so? Tachibana Kayo, the accountant of the Main Building of the Tachibana Trading Company, and the head of the Third Store and Kimono Shop, paused her work and cheerfully asked everyone as she lightly shrugged her shoulders.

"You're joking. I'm sure the accountant is happily busy with work, aren't you?"

"Exactly right. When the accountant is wielding her skill, she looks truly lively."

Everyone's words were half-based in flattery, but the other half were sincere. At first, she was looked down upon for being the daughter of the trading company's president or envied. But her contributions to managing the Northern region, building connections everywhere, promoting to the imperial court and common folk──these were real achievements that brought profit to the company, and no one could deny that anymore. She occasionally made bizarre splurges or odd judgments, but compared to her mountain of accomplishments, those were minor issues, and they faded into the background. Most of all, she was glad for the improvement in staff待遇...

Kayo puffs her cheeks ever so slightly, playing her adorable little tantrum, a performance that everyone sees through yet also recognizes as partly genuine. Above all, cuteness is justice, and everyone has grown fond of her. They can only silently smirk.

"Wouldn't you like someone to defend you, Leo-kun?"

"Ahahaha..."

The mixed-race boy, retaining his youth, simply floats a dry smile at the reception desk, unable to say anything imprudent. Everyone's eyes and ears are on him, after all.

Being relatively doted on by Kayo, the boy is allowed to help with office work and is considered promising, yet he's also among the lowest in status when ranked with those crammed in the room. Born to a courtesan from Dejima, he's a beggar with a known background. He can't afford to show off, and his master is aware of this, too. It's a light maliciousness that comes with the knowledge.

"Betrayal, of all things... it's sad, isn't it? After all, I've been taking such good care of you!"

A sigh heavy with acting, she shrugs dramatically, fanning herself in lament. Everyone turns their pitiful gaze to Leo, the one who seems to have cause for sorrow.

(Truly, a troubled gentleman...)

A sly smile, as if trying to mislead, a laughter polite and typical of a Japanese person. And the boy observes his master's mischief.

He knows he's being insolent. But she truly is the sweet, lovely beauty. This young lady seems like she lives in a house of sweets, deeply inheriting her parents' traits, condensed in appearance. Calling her a penny-pincher might be self-deprecating, but she surely has a strong business spirit. And... she's also deeply compassionate.

(Yes, deeply compassionate...)

With a sharp wit that cuts too deep, she's never one to trample the weak. She has a playful streak, strict in business, but the boy knows she extends kindness to the less fortunate, in visible and invisible ways. This, including picking him up and guiding him on the path of commerce, is just one example.

...Of course, there's also the plan to cultivate her own direct underlings, but it might be a case of bad faith over no good will at all.

"Keeper of the safe, it's nearly 8 o'clock. Should we wrap things up at a good stopping point?"

"Mmph, what a hassle. Let's have some tea with plenty of honey to sweeten it."

With the intention of changing the subject, Leo prompted her, and Kayo, staring intently at the clock, resumed her work with a resigned sigh, swiftly sorting through the mountain of added documents, signing and sealing with a flowing hand....

"...A new request for warehouse space? This is from the fifth branch?"

The sound of the stamping ceased abruptly, and along with Leo, the other young assistants working on various tasks also stopped in their tracks. A subtle tension filled the air as the beloved young lady's demeanor shifted to one of unease....

"...Yes. To pile up goods as directed by the Bantō (head clerk a merchant house)."

The middle-aged servant who had brought the documents answered timidly. Without missing a beat, Kayo continued her interrogation.

"The west wing already has the large warehouses for Hashisuji and Ikaya assigned to it. So, what exactly are you planning to store there?"

"That would be... sacks of rice."

"Rice sacks... it's not the harvest season yet, is it? Is it old rice?"

"That's right."

"I've heard that the futures market for rice is rising again. You couldn't have failed to sell last year's stock. Rather... are you buying?"

"Indeed. We've been actively seeking out and purchasing old rice from various sources."

"It's appreciating in value. It should sell well. So why store it in a warehouse?"

Sensing the inquiry turning into an interrogation, the servant shifted uneasily but continued to explain.

"That's precisely it. There's an expectation that this year's harvest and distribution will be below average. We plan to hold onto it until the market price stabilizes. Similar actions are being taken at other stores..."

"Immediately propose the sale to the imperial court."

Cutting off the servant's explanation, Kayo issued her command coolly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"My lady, that's..."

"Ahh, I almost forgot. We must first pass it through Minister of The Right before making any pitches."

"No, that's not what I..."

The others around tried to calm her, but Kayo simply stayed still with her hand, refusing to move.

"Half of it will go to the imperial court. As charity for the common people... and we'll announce it loudly. The rest will be spread out secretly to each shop. Never let them find out. We need one more ledger book."

"Th-that's..."

The merchants trying to stop Kayo trembled as they listened. Her words showed it wasn't just kindness ── she had deeper plans.

"Could it be... that you're preparing ahead of time in case they requisition us?"

"It's not just that. It's about breaking in and making sure the workers aren't starving too."

"No way... there can't be that much crop failure..."

This is the Central region. Not the frontier. Requisitioning rice and causing unrest ── it's unlikely. Riots aren't even in their plans. The city should always prioritize gathering food. Even in the outskirts, no one should be starving.

"People are pouring in from all areas, seeking work."

"That's right. But there are no signs of serious rice shortages yet. The harvest season is near."

The Tachibana Trading Company always keeps a close eye on the market, with huge amounts of past data stored. Prices are high, but still within acceptable limits compared to history. Looking at other stores, they'll likely sell off all their stored rice in September. Rice prices are expected to drop quickly after, along with fresh rice. Isn't fearing riots over this somewhat excessive?

"It's not impossible that they will happen in the future. Even now, we can't be sure the harvested rice will reach the market. Isn't that right?"

"No... surely not..."

The workers exchanged glances, understanding what she meant but not fully believing it. Their vague reactions annoyed the lady, who frowned in displeasure. With a snap, her fan closed as if to cut off the talk.

"I'm not asking for a favor. I am giving an order. Do you understand?"

"..."

Calmly, like a cold-hearted queen, the treasurer makes an announcement. Everyone is forced into silence by her imposing presence... then, as if transformed, the girl smiles sweetly like a sugar candy.

"Arrange a meeting with the head of the branch tomorrow... oh, and tell him, 'You're doing a fine job balancing the numbers.'"

With such a nonchalant remark, she handed over the branch's financial statements. The meticulousness with which she had marked circles and lines made everyone shudder as they understood its implications.

"Make sure to give him a satisfactory explanation, won't you?"

With a truly angelic, loving smile, the honey-haired treasurer issued a warning....

"My Lady, you are indeed overdoing it with the jokes."

"Oh, really? I'm being quite serious about my work, you know?"

The 8 o'clock bell rang. In the room where the attendants hurriedly excused themselves as if fleeing, the elderly maid's reprimand and the girl's response took place. With a purely innocent smile, Otsuru let out a small sigh.

"He is a branch head who boasts sales that rank among the top 5 within the trading company... and he is also part of a collateral branch of the Tachibana family. Even if you are the lady of the house, you cannot so brazenly belittle him."

The discrepancy in the numbers on the statements wasn't overt. Just enough to raise suspicions... if it were an outright complaint, it would have been masterful. One would have to investigate thoroughly to even be surprised. The possibility of innocence couldn't be ruled out. Such a minor flaw. Like a sack of rice, it's a weak card to sell a fight. Is it imprudent?

"I don't intend to fight or belittle him, you know? I just want to have a little chat, that's all."

"Is that sort of behavior going to alienate people?"

Faced with the relentless, calm criticism, Kayo could not argue further. The beloved, sweet girl had a harsh, sadistic side that the maid understood. It was true that this side was linked to her shrewd business acumen... but sometimes, Otsuru felt she went too far.

"...Perhaps you're being a bit hasty? There's no need to rush, is there?"

Otsuru offered tea and sweets, speaking soothingly, chidingly, reassuringly, and then admonishing. She'd already tasted the tea for poison. Kayo drank the crimson liquid without hesitation. It tasted of honey, just as she'd requested.

"You're right, Otsuru-san. Even now, the treatment is exceptional, and the achievements are plenty. Most importantly, she is deeply favored, so there's no way she'd appoint anyone else as successor."

Leo, also enjoying the tea, agreed with Otsuru's words. The last point was the most crucial. It was unthinkable that the trading company head, who was also the lord's father, would appoint anyone other than his daughter at this point. Given time, the lord's success was assured; this grace period was essentially a means to solidify the lord's position. There was no need to rush.

"...The blossoming time passes in a blink. There's no time to dawdle. A brilliant, beautiful girl as trading company head──isn't that a rather tempting subject?"

"Tempting..."

Taking a bite of the tea-soaked pastry, Leo was unsure how to respond to the playful words of the Nanban girl. Otsuru, however, sighed deeply again and calmly pointed out the obvious.

"After ruining several marriage prospects, that's quite a thing to say, isn't it? It's become a rumor, you know? That Lady Tachibana doesn't feed the men she catches."

Leo had heard about that, and in fact, had even witnessed it. Lady Tachibana, whose lineage traced back to the esteemed court nobility, had countless men vying for her attention in various ways. Regardless of actual achievements, she appeared as a sweet, youthful girl, which only intensified the effect. But that's how she digs her own grave.

Her skillful tactics, every action, her education, and calculated behavior, even the noblemen who approached her with ulterior motives were quickly charmed by her. Yet, she gently rejected their next advances, and moved on to tea with other men. Letters are always sent in abundance, but she is never answered right away. She takes an exquisitely long time to respond, not being impolite, but keeping them in suspense... They go mad with love, trying to get her to notice them, offering favors and competing to give her gifts. It's no wonder some of the princesses are extremely jealous.

"That's an unexpected thing to say. All I'm doing is trying to be gentle and not hurt them. Really, it's quite troublesome, isn't it?"

Her tone showed not a shred of remorse, proving the girl's thick skin. Otsuru sighed again. How many times had it been today...?

"My lady, all things in moderation. Talent, beauty, pride──they're traps waiting to trip you up. Don't let greed run wild."

It was Otsuru's warning, born of a merchant's wisdom. Money breeds hatred. Beauty breeds envy. Holding everything invites negativity. That's why she urged patience, humility──even if it made her sound like a nagging old woman, even if her words were dismissed as nonsense, even if it meant being disliked. It was her duty as the maid who'd raised this girl since infancy. She couldn't bear to see her suffer.

"I understand what Otsuru's saying."