“Sizzle!”
In a secluded corner far from the bustling crowds, a motorhome exuded a chilling aura, as if it had been pulled straight from a freezing cold storage facility.
“Bang!”
The door shuddered, but the layer of ice on the outside didn't even budge.
“B A N G !!!”
A more forceful impact from inside finally flung the door open.
Inside, a blonde-haired girl stumbled out, her exposed skin already tinged with purple, a sign of the chilling influence. She crashed to the ground, shivering uncontrollably. Her hands rubbed frantically against her arms, attempting to generate some warmth and quickly raise her body temperature back to a safe level.
Thankfully, the outside was significantly warmer than the cabin, otherwise, she might have already fainted from hypothermia.
After the girl, another figure emerged slowly from the cabin. One half of her body was frozen solid into a pristine white block of ice. Yet, she seemed unaffected by the chill, moving her body freely.
“Hayasaka…”
“K-Kaguya-sama…”
On the ground, Hayasaka Ai weakly raised her hand to prevent her mistress from approaching. She felt the air around her become colder with every step Kaguya took.
“Y-You… control… yourself…”
Kaguya's face, usually devoid of warmth, now held a semblance of it. But, in contrast, her body temperature was alarmingly low. Her exposed skin alone was frigid enough to instantly freeze any living being it touched.
It was all due to the special reward granted by the diary.
Seeing Hayasaka's reaction, Kaguya couldn't bring herself closer, instead focusing on controlling the newfound power to freeze. She could feel the strength responding to her will, but achieving complete mastery would take time.
Slowly, Kaguya's half-frozen body returned to normal, and the temperature around her visibly stabilized.
During this time, Hayasaka Ai gradually recovered from the near-frostbite, regaining her body temperature. However, the lingering chill was still noticeable.
“Achoo!”
As her body warmed, a sneeze erupted. Hayasaka glanced at the still-frozen motorhome. It seemed this vehicle was out of commission for now.
“Thankfully, the parking spot is quite secluded, and there are no cameras around. Otherwise, Kaguya-sama's situation would be exposed.”
“Exposure, perhaps not a bad thing.”
Kaguya's expression was no longer as icy as before. With no one else around, perhaps only in Hayasaka's presence could she relax.
Hayasaka paused, understanding the implication of Kaguya's words.
“Kaguya-sama wishes to let the Head of the Family know about your condition?”
“No, is that not possible?”
“It’s not impossible, but the timing is too early.”
Hayasaka knew that Kaguya had gained a power capable of turning everything upside down, but it was still too early.
“Kaguya-sama, will you choose to relinquish your inheritance or strive to take it?”
“I…”
Kaguya remained speechless.
Hayasaka continued.
“Kaguya-sama, you possess the right to inheritance. In the past, the chances of you inheriting the Shijo family were slim because your brothers controlled everything.”
“But now, Kaguya-sama has acquired enough power to turn everything around. Inheriting the Shijo family is now guaranteed for you.”
“So, do you wish to be the Shijo family's heir?”
“Are you ready?”
Hayasaka's series of questions left Kaguya in silence.
The question of inheritance was something Kaguya had never considered. She understood she was just a princess waiting to be married, and family inheritance was never a concern for her.
But now, the situation had flipped.
A princess waiting to be married unexpectedly acquired terrifying power. The princess was no longer a princess but an empress.
The moment she became Empress, she was destined to inherit everything from the Shijo family, even if her personal abilities were inferior to her brothers.
Kaguya only needed to reveal her newfound power, and she would automatically gain the right to inherit the Shijo family. No other qualifications mattered. All she needed was the capital to become Empress, and everything else would crumble under her feet.
The problem was, was she really ready?
“...No, let’s put it on hold for now.”
Kaguya didn't make a decision immediately. The question was too monumental for her.
“Only with this power can I have such confidence, but I haven’t fully mastered it yet. It’s too early to talk about these things.”
She was aware of the source of her confidence, and she wasn't fully prepared to expose herself.
“Kaguya-sama, it’s too early for you to ponder this now. When you’re truly ready to make a decision, then think about the issue of exposure.”
“And today was your first day with this power. No matter how strong it is, you can’t be half-baked when you need to show it off.”
Hayasaka's advice made sense.
The power was freshly acquired, and half-baked strength couldn't command respect.
Only when one possessed the power to awe all and an unwavering heart would one have the capability to decide whether or not to inherit everything from the Shijo family.
“Kaguya-sama, the key right now is that person.”
“That person was the key to your power, and that person is also the one who granted you the right to choose.”
Kaguya suddenly snapped out of it, realizing that the person and the diary were the key to everything.
“That’s right, that person is the key.”
Kaguya took a deep breath. At this moment, she understood the crucial role that person played.
“Hayasaka, what do you think about contacting that person directly?”
“No.”
Hayasaka immediately shook her head.
“Please think carefully, Kaguya-sama. Why did that person reveal their name? Why reveal their location? If you can get power through the diary, what about the person writing the diary?”
“!”
Kaguya was slightly taken aback. She hadn't considered this question. Now, with the power in her hands, she understood the strangeness of the other party's actions from the start.
It was true, they didn't have to reveal their identity. If writing diaries could grant power, then the person could have easily concealed themselves, no need to expose themselves.
“So, what is their purpose?”
PS: New book seeking data