Vol 2 Chapter 3 Part 6

We gave the assistant head priest our courteous thanks and received a few souvenirs. He asked us to keep what had happened a secret.

We left the head priest’s residence and walked in a leisurely way through the temple grounds. Holmes had a serious look on his face and didn’t say a word the whole time. He probably had a lot on his mind.

“He said to keep it a secret, but you’re going to tell the owner, right?” I asked.

Holmes looked up. “Yes, of course. I’ll report it to the owner…although I’m reluctant to do so.”

“How come?”

“If he finds out that a master counterfeiter challenged me and I let him get away, he’ll definitely scold me. Loudly, like ‘What the heck are you doing, you halfwit?!’” Holmes sighed dejectedly. I imagined the owner bright red with anger, lecturing him endlessly, and winced.

“That’s a shame. You might’ve caught him if the assistant head priest hadn’t stopped you.” Holmes had flinched for a moment when the priest called his name.

“No. As he said, that man has incredible physical ability and excels at imitation. Calling him a ninja wasn’t an exaggeration. Even if I chased him, it would’ve been futile.”

“Huh. Guess he’s pretty amazing.”

“Yes. He’s the worst counterfeiter I’ve encountered so far. However, he once tried to repent and become a priest. I feel conflicted thinking about how my existence prevented that.” Holmes cast his eyes down, looking sad.

Yeah…his existence revived a genius counterfeiter who was going to disappear from the world.

Holmes suddenly looked up and said, “Well, either way, I just have to keep doing my job. No matter what fakes appear, I’ll take them all down.” His fearless smile sent chills down my spine. I know Ensho’s abnormal, but so’s this guy.

“Man, I was really spooked when you threw that fan at Ensho. It looked like a knife, and I was seriously too scared to move. I didn’t think you were violent like that.” It happened in the blink of an eye. Ensho really was amazing for being able to catch that.

“‘Violent’ isn’t a very nice way to put it. Ever since I was little, my grandfather pestered me to get stronger, and now I’m essentially his bodyguard. Sometimes we go to countries with poor public safety to buy valuable antiques.”

Oh, so buying expensive antiques in foreign countries is more dangerous than doing it here. He might’ve actually been in some scary situations, then. No wonder he got offended when he was called a “sheltered boy.” I couldn’t help but laugh when I remembered his annoyed face.

“What’s so funny?” Holmes looked sideways.

Knowing him, he can read my mind anyway. “Sorry, I was just thinking I should try not to make you angry.”

“Yes, please don’t. If you do, I’ll dent your head with a folding fan.”

“Wait, that didn’t sound like a joke.”

“It wasn’t.”

“Hey!”

“Anyway, Akihito, do you have plans after this?”

“No, not really.”

“Could you stop by Kura? Since we received so many sweets, I’ll make coffee.” Holmes smiled. It was the best thing I’d heard all day.

“Sounds good. Hey, can you tell me more about the Nanzen-ji ghost while I’m there? I really wanna know.”

“Sure. Aoi’s working today too, so I’ll tell both of you the story, as well as other Kyoto mysteries.” Holmes smiled, looking a bit excited.

“I’m okay with mysteries, but nothing super scary, please. I seriously can’t handle that stuff.”

“Ah, I see. Have you heard about Ichijo Modori Bridge? It’s a rather disturbing tale, but the famous Abe no Seimei…”

“You’re starting already?!” I whined.

Holmes laughed. The sightseers we passed by also glanced in our direction and chuckled lightly.

I frowned, then looked up, suddenly remembering something. “Oh right, Holmes. Could you do me a favor?”

“A favor?” He grimaced as though he had a bad feeling about what I was going to say.

“Don’t make that face. My aunt’s looking for a place that’ll appraise and buy some stuff.”

“Oh, if that’s the case, then she’s more than welcome.”

As we talked, a cool breeze blew through the temple grounds. While the tree leaves still had a way to go, the wind was very much “autumn.” I got the feeling that more things were going to happen as the season progressed, but at any rate, my heart was stolen by the beautiful temple grounds on that fall afternoon.

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