CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 92: THE GRAND DECEPTION

Creating automatons required an immense amount of time.

However, the true time sink wasn’t the construction itself, but the preparation.

To craft a training automaton tailored to a swordsman’s unique breathing technique inheritance, one needed a profound understanding of both their swordsmanship and breathing technique.

Otherwise, the resulting automaton would be nothing more than an empty shell.

Therefore, before even beginning construction, one had to spend countless hours observing various breathing technique-based swordsmanship styles, meticulously studying each step until they could perfectly replicate it on the automaton.

But... Shinobu now believed it was all a lie!

A fabrication!

A grand deception concocted by the treacherous Sosuke to monopolize her sister!

The results spoke for themselves.

Since the Automaton Incident, the one who has benefited the most is undoubtedly not the former Water Pillar or the Flame Pillar, nor their disciples...

But Sosuke!

He has gained countless opportunities to be alone with her sister.

As for what such private moments might ultimately lead to, Shinobu dared not even imagine!

She and her sister had walked straight into Sosuke’s trap, completely unprepared and utterly unaware.

Now, she was alone at home, guarding the Butterfly Mansion, fully aware that those two were running wild across the world, sleeping together every night, yet utterly powerless to do anything about it!

Every day, every moment, Shinobu’s heart bled!

How she wished she could storm up to Sosuke right now and cleave that ambitious schemer in two with a single strike!

But she knew this was nothing more than a pipe dream.

Even if she could go, her sister would never allow it.

Though her sister had told her that Sosuke slept on the floor every night, Shinobu had believed her at the time.

But how could a man be so easily trusted?

Even if he had initially agreed to sleep on the floor, what about now?

He’d been away for so long. What if one night his primal instincts took over, his fangs lengthening under the moonlight, and her gentle sister... half-resisting, half-yielding...?

"No!"

In her room, Shinobu, who had just fallen asleep after dinner, suddenly woke up in a cold sweat.

Her mind was flooded with images that needed to be censored, accompanied by her sister’s desperate screams and Sosuke’s maniacal laughter.

She gently patted her face, gritted her teeth, and finally grabbed a bowl from beside her pillow.

Inside were needles, thread, and scissors.

Picking up the scissors, her youthful and radiant face twisted into a sinister, witch-like grimace under the lamplight.

Her fingers gently spread, the scissors glinting with a sharp, cold light. Finally, she picked up the fabric and needle from the bowl and began sewing under the moonlight.

"Why do I have to do this?" she thought, tears welling up as she sewed. "That bastard is probably mistreating my sister, and here I am, making clothes for their future child! Though he probably wouldn’t go that far... but what if? They’re both first-time parents—what if they haven’t prepared any clothes for the baby? As the child’s aunt, this is my duty! And with my sister so heavily pregnant, he’s still dragging her around everywhere! He has no conscience!"

Lost in her delusions, the girl sewed a few stitches before realizing she was doing it wrong.

She stuffed everything back into the bowl, shoved it aside, and wished she never had to see it again.

With that done, she began plotting against Sosuke.

"I can’t let his schemes continue unchecked! And I can’t let my sister keep running around with him so carelessly."

The girl resolved, "If they return this time and everything seems normal—if my sister shows no signs of pregnancy—I’ll demand a replacement! I’ll go with him next time and see how he tries to harm her then! Yes! That’s settled!"

Having made up her mind, Shinobu felt a sense of satisfaction. She threw herself onto her pillow and tried to fall asleep.

But humans are strange creatures. Sometimes, the harder you try to do something, the more difficult it becomes.

After lying there for ages, nothing happened. She opened her eyes again and gazed at the moonlight streaming through the window.

"Maybe it’s not as bad as I thought? Hmm... there’s definitely no baby yet. It’s not that easy to get pregnant, right?"

Leaning against the wall, she couldn’t help letting her thoughts wander again. "If they did have a child, what would we name it? Sosuke? What a terrible name! I can’t possibly name my little nephew that. Tetsu no Tetsuro? Tetsu no Oohammer? Tetsu no Shusuke... hey, that one’s not bad!"

Her eyes lit up slightly, but she quickly shook her head. "What nonsense! We’re not even at that stage yet. Why am I already naming their future child?"

"Aaaah!"

The girl howled at the moon like a wolf. "I can’t think about this anymore! My head’s going to explode! Sister, please come back soon! I miss you so much!"

Whether Shinobu’s cries truly worked or not, Kanae, who had been fast asleep, suddenly awoke.

She gazed around in confusion before turning to Sosuke beside her. The familiar scent washed over her, bringing a wave of comfort.

A gentle smile touched her lips as she nestled deeper into Sosuke’s embrace.

Perhaps tickled by her movements, Sosuke instinctively pushed her away.

Kanae pouted, but stubbornly burrowed back into his arms.

The more she wriggled, the more ticklish it became, and the more Sosuke pushed her away. Kanae seemed to find this a delightful game, wrapping her arms around his waist and burrowing relentlessly, her mouth emitting triumphant giggles.

Half-asleep and perhaps a little annoyed, Sosuke suddenly tightened his grip on Kanae, yanking her firmly into his embrace.

His arms wrapped around her from behind, trapping her against his chest and preventing any further mischief.

Kanae, however, wasn’t one to give up easily. Just as she was about to resume her antics, she sensed something amiss.

Something dangerous behind her... was awakening!

She froze instantly, curling up like a quail, feigning perfect obedience.

Stealing a glance back at Sosuke, she saw him sleeping soundly and finally exhaled in relief.

She couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, "You can’t threaten people like that! It’s so underhanded."