Aiko blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned by the sheer audacity of this human boy, she thought he was just trying to insult her, she didn't really expect him to mean what he was implying. 

Before she knew it, He skillfully scaled the thick trunk with surprising ease, suprisenly, his small hands were gripping branches like a seasoned climber. From the looks of it, this wasn't Hitoshi's first time nor was it his 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th....or 100th either, judging by his technique, he was practically far better than most seasoned veterans.

But any normal human who saw this couldn't help but wonder what sort of motivation could push a boy who was basically ten, to develop such a great survival skill.....if only they knew how many times Hitoshi had used this same skill to evade his furious father's clutches, one couldn't help but wonder just what sort of expression they'd have.

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"You seriously got scared from climbing this?, This doesn't even feel like anything....." Hitoshi's thoughts about her being a rebellious brat solidified even more. " Hey!, you better watch closely now cause next time I'm not coming to save you, you got that spoiled brat."

Aiko gritted her teeth, her nails digging into the bark beneath her. "This fool… he’s mocking me again, isn't he!."

By the time she recovered from her shock, Hitoshi had already reached her branch. With a triumphant smirk, he propped himself up and stood right in front of her, balancing effortlessly.

"See? Easy peasy," he boasted, folding his arms.

But then his smug expression faltered.

"Whoa…" he breathed in awe. "This place actually looks kinda cool from up here."

 His eyes widened as he took in the breathtaking view from the treetop. The eerie, twisted landscape of the manor stretched far beyond what he had imagined. The glow of distant lanterns painted the dark horizon with a strange, haunting beauty.

Just as he was enjoying the moment, a cold, irritated voice cut through the air like a blade. "So this is where you were?"

' Ho-how'd sh-she find me so quickly?!!' 

Hitoshi’s scalp tingled. His back turned cold. While shivering uncontrollably he slowly glanced down.

" O.. O-Onee-sa-san...." Hitoshi's teeth chattered in fright as he struggled to speak, his forehead covered with perspiration. If there was anyone he absolutely didn't want to be here right now, it was her.....

Standing below the tree was Eri Onee-san, her piercing gaze fixed directly on him causing his once inflated bravado to deflate like a whoopee cushion.

"Crap.....I'm dead."

Hitoshi’s face paled as he recalled her earlier threats of punishment. He inwardly cried

' This time for sure she's gonna kill me! '

Eri, however, looked displeased on the outside but was inwardly stunned. ' just how did he manage to get so close to the young miss and still remain in one piece?' 

It might've sounded like she was joking but if anyone knew how troublesome Aiko was, it had to be her since she was the one who had taken care of her most of the time, with the countess included.

' I better get him out of here before everything thing turns sour...' she winced inwardly, without knowing when, she had slowly developed a liking for this cute little human child, though she didn't know why, she just couldn't stand by and watch him get harmed before her eyes.

Taking a deep breath, she gracefully leaped into the air and landed effortlessly on the branch beside them.

"Young Miss," she greeted politely, bowing slightly toward Aiko.

Aiko, still stunned by everything that had transpired, unconsciously nodded in acknowledgment.

Turning her attention to Hitoshi, Eri’s eyes narrowed. She intended to quietly take him away before his ridiculous luck ran out and Aiko decided to tear him limb from limb. But before she could speak, Hitoshi suddenly burst into tears.

" Onee-san please don't be mad~, I didn't do anything!" 

"It’s all her fault!" he wailed, pointing an accusing finger at Aiko. "She forced me to climb this tree 'cause she was too scared to come down, I tried to get her to come down but she kept acting scared so I decided to climb up."

" I didn't mean to disobey Onee-san, I just wanted to help~" 

' That's it... we're doomed. ' 

Skeleton Number 4, who had been watching anxiously from below, collapsed into a pile of bones with a loud clatter the next moment.

Eri was completely speechless. 

"...." Though they didn't know it, she had actually been watching them from a distance as she approached so she was easily able to tell what was going on with her heightened senses yet, when she saw Hitoshi's genuine pleading gaze and heard what he said, she was stunned because she couldn't trace any deceit hidden within his words.

' This boy....' Eri Onee-san was at a loss for words, never did she expect to see someone so naive and innocent in all her life yet her gaze couldn't help turning shard when she sensed an ominous aura behind her.

 

Crack.. Crack...Crack.... The thick branch beneath her feet suddenly began trembling as multiple cracks began growing on its surface.

' Well she's definitely mad now...' Eri Onee-san didn't need to turn back to tell that the dark, sinister aura she was sensing was definitely emanating from Aiko. It was clear that Her patience had finally snapped due to Hitoshi's accusing word's.

"There's definitely no stopping it now.....He's dead." Below the tree, Skeleton No 4's detached skull head said in a helpless tone as he watched the growing tension atop the tree.

Sensing imminent danger, Eri moved swiftly. She hoisted Hitoshi onto her shoulder, his upper body facing backward.

" I'm sorry young miss, please allow me to punish this disrespectful servant." 

 " Disrespectful, but I didn't do anything, she's the spoiled one here~" Hitoshi mumbled.

"Be silent!" Eri Onee-san hissed at him. "Do not slander the young miss!" She added, causing Hitoshi to whimper in fear, hurriedly shutting his mouth. 

Aiko watching Hitoshi get scolded felt a bit better. ' That's right!, I'm the young miss and your but a lowly servant, Know your place.' she thought to herself smugly, unconsciously puffing her chest like a certain someone.

Though Eri looked completely irritated, Inwardly, she was feeling a rare sense if helplessness, not knowing what to do with this naive little boy atop her shoulder. ' it doesn't matter if the young miss is wrong or not, what matters is that you keep silent and avoid yourself some trouble' 

' just how stupid can this boy be.' She wondered, nevertheless, she found his bold and courageous antic's a bit admirable, it wasn't everyday you'd meet a servant so brave as to go against it's master, even if they were wrong.

Hitoshi, however, seemed completely unfazed by the danger he had narrowly escaped.