Taiki tentatively stepped through the gate. Looking around but finding nobody in sight, Taiki could not but cross the front yard, and went to the next building for a look.

“Taiho”

Climbing up the foundation, Taiki peered into the inside of the building and the middle garden deep inside, and quietly spoke. “Sorry for intruding.”

“Ta...Taiho!”

Taiki turned around.
“But there are nobody around. We can do nothing but try calling for attention, right?”
“But...”
“Sorry, anybody home? Sorry for intruding.”

Seirai and others stared with widened eyes at the unexpectedly bold kirin. But that is not anything strange; Taiki was just using his habits when he visited people’s homes in his homeland.

“There seems to be nobody around. What shall we do?”
“Even if you ask me...”
“Shall me be rude and walk all the way to the garden?”
“That is a little too...”
“But we cannot just leave like this, can we?”
“No, I guess, but...”
“It would be okay as long as we don’t enter the rooms, I guess. I’ll go then."

But that’s..., Seirai muttered, and suddenly tightened his fist into a ball.
“I will accompany you. --Sougen and others, please wait here.”

“But...”
“Above all, Taiki is the kirin of a kingdom, so they cannot put harsh punishment on him I believe. I am prepared.”

Me too, Tansui said, but Seirai stopped him.
“The gates are open like this, so there shouldn’t be any danger. Also, Taiho has his Shirei (使令). So I am going with Taiho.”

***

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