After entering the house, the guard led me down a quiet hallway. Stopping in front of a room, he straightened his posture before announcing, "Lady Akyuu, Mr. Carl has arrived."

  A soft but slightly hoarse voice answered from inside, accompanied by a light cough. "Let him in."

  The guard slid open the paper door for me, and I stepped inside. Once I was in, he quietly closed it behind me, leaving me alone with the girl sitting on a cushion in the middle of the room.

  She was young. Too young. She looked no older than thirteen, around the same age as the students Keine taught at the vilge school. I had expected the head of the Hieda family to be more... mature.

  I took a brief gnce around the room. It was simple yet refined, with neatly arranged scrolls, books, and inkstones. No one else was here—just me and this girl.

  I turned back to her and asked, "Are you Miss Akyuu?"

  She nodded with a polite smile. "I am Hieda no Akyuu. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Carl."

  I hesitated before asking, "You look really young... Are you a youkai?"

  Her smile didn't fade, but her expression turned slightly amused. "What makes you think that?"

  "Well," I said, scratching my head, "most of the youkai I know look like young girls."

  She let out a small ugh but quickly covered her mouth as a coughing fit took over. She reached for a small bamboo tube and took a sip of what I assumed was medicine. After a few moments, her coughing subsided.

  Concerned, I asked, "Are you alright?"

  She gave me a reassuring nod. "I'm fine. I've had this condition for as long as I can remember. But tely, it's been improving thanks to a medicine I bought from a traveling peddler."

  Since she said she was fine, I didn't see the need to use my ability. I simply nodded and took a seat when she gestured for me to do so.

  Once I was seated, she leaned forward slightly. "I heard you can use magic."

  I shook my head. "No, I only use tricks."

  Akyuu tilted her head, unconvinced. "But I read in a newspaper that you can make people's clothes disappear and that you had yourself bound with steel chains before being burned alive."

  I blinked, completely thrown off by what she just said. What kind of nonsense is that?

  She got up and fetched a newspaper, handing it to me. As I took it, my eyes fell on the title.

  I had a bad feeling about this...

  "Scandal in the Human Vilge! Mysterious Magician Makes Women's Clothes Vanish in an Instant!" – Bunbunmaru Newspaper

  Witnesses cim Mirage Carl performed an unbelievable trick, making the clothes of several women disappear in the blink of an eye! Was it just an illusion, or is this magician hiding real magic? Some victims demand an apology, while others are too embarrassed to comment. What is the truth behind this shocking spectacle?

  "Madman or Genius? Magician Mirage Carl Sets Himself on Fire While Bound in Chains!" – Bunbunmaru Newspaper

  In a death-defying act, Mirage Carl had himself tightly bound in steel chains before setting himself abze in front of a shocked audience! Witnesses were horrified as fmes consumed him, yet moments ter, he emerged completely unharmed. Is this simply an eborate trick, or does this mysterious performer have a death wish?

  When I saw the news, I wanted to go outside immediately, catch that stupid crow, and turn her into crow soup! My hands twitched as I imagined stuffing her into a pot.

  But I took a deep breath and forced myself to stay calm.

  "Nope," I said, smiling stiffly. "All of these news reports are fake."

  Akyuu raised an eyebrow, looking unconvinced.

  "I don't make women's clothes disappear," I crified. "It was a simple trick where I changed their outfits into new ones for the show! A quick swap, nothing indecent!"

  Akyuu tapped the newspaper with her finger. "That's not how it looks here."

  I sighed and continued. "And I don't like to set myself on fire. That was just another stage trick. It was meant to amaze people, not to turn me into a roasted magician!"

  Akyuu's lips curled into an amused smile. "I see. So, what you're saying is... Aya exaggerated things?"

  I crossed my arms. "Exaggerated? More like completely made up!"

  Akyuu chuckled, then set the newspaper aside. "Well, you'll have to get used to that if you're making a name for yourself in Gensokyo. The more interesting you are, the more stories the tengu will write about you—whether they're true or not."

  I groaned. "Great... Just what I needed."

  She folded her hands in her p. "Still, I called you here for a reason. I'd like to talk to you about something important."

  I refocused, pushing my frustrations aside. "Alright. What is it?"

  Akyuu's expression turned serious. "I want to record your existence in Gensokyo's history."

  I blinked. "...Huh?"