{YUI'S POV}
I'm thirsty.

All night, I've been knocking on the metal to make sound and draw attention to myself, occasionally calling out. At first, I tried to free myself, but I was only making it worse, so I stopped.

Eventually, I fell asleep from sheer exhaustion. The sun is out and I just woke up, but my hips hurt.

This is so embarrassing! I'd be called a clown if a gossip monger saw this. Then again, I'm traveling with a bunch of circus-performers-but-maybe-also-mercenaries so they might have a point.

I sigh and rap on the metal. "Hello? Anyone there?"

No response. Then I hear Eon's voice. He seems to be walking down the row of carts. His voice sounds terrible, all hoarse and nasally.

"Check your equipment. We can be more thorough when we're setting up shop, but we need to make sure that the bandits didn't sabotage anything."

"Got it!" Several people shout.

Minutes later, the tarp is pulled up so I can finally see the unmuffled sunlight.

A minute later, Fuji's head pops into view as he makes sure the cannon he's routinely fired out of hasn't been sabotaged.

I can only imagine his surprise when he finds me wedged deeply into the barrel.

Fuji blinks at me. I grin back sheepishly. His eyes widen in disbelief. Fuji opens his mouth, sucking in a deep breath. I plug my ears in anticipation.

He loudly shrieks, "E-Eon-sama!"

I wince at the volume, echoing in the metal tube. Fuji topples backwards, out of sight.

His reaction is rather comical and I resist the urge to giggle, but I can't resist sighing in relief. A small part of me worried that Eon and the others wouldn't find until after I died from dehydration.

"What?!" Eon runs back into earshot. "What's wrong, Fuji? Another attack?!"

"She—here—ah!" Fuji splutters.

"Did one of the bandits escape?" Eon growls, and the cart moves as he jumps into it.

He glares into the cannon and we make eye contact. I feel my cheeks heating up. This is so mortifying. I can't believe Eon has to see me like this! I wave.

Eon gasps. "Yui?!"

Before I can respond, Eon dives head first into the barrel. I reach up and we clasp hands, nearly slamming our heads together, except Fuji grabs onto his feet and holds him in place.

The cannon is clearly not meant for someone my size. It ends up taking two of the weightlifters to help Eon and Fuji pull me out. I pop out of the cannon and basically fall onto Eon as he also collapses.

"You're okay!" Eon whisper-cries. He trembles like a leaf beneath me.

Alright. They're lying and keeping secrets from me, but I choose to believe that this isn't an act. Eon thought I was dead and it made him sad. If nothing else, I can trust that these people care about me, at least a little. Some tension leaves my shoulders.

Eon suddenly pushes me away, trying and failing to look angry. "What the hell happened?"

"Can I have some water first? I'm parched." I smile weakly and rub my throat.

I try to get up, but my legs are numb. I go right back down. Eon casually lifts me up in a princess carry and jumps out of the cart.

I decide not to resist and settle myself comfortably, wrapping my legs around his waist. Who cares? My navel is showing. Modesty is dead.

Eon carefully carries me to a stool that someone has set up. As soon as I'm seated, Aria brings me a fresh waterskin. Her eyes are rimmed with red.

"I think it's you guys who owe me an explanation." I demand. "I don't know what all you're wrapped up in, but my life was put in danger."

"You're right." Eon bows his head. "This is my fault. You're one of us now. I never should've hid the truth from you. I understand if you hate me."

"I don't have it enough information to make that judgment yet. So..." I probe hesitantly.

Eon takes a deep breath. "My family is very rich, very powerful, and very eccentric about inheritance. The heir must prove they are capable of leadership, by designing and successfully running a business. Only initial funding and personnel are provided."

I lean forward in anticipation.

I've already decided to trust Eon, so I'm mostly just curious at this point. For as much as I despise gossip, I quite enjoy hearing secrets.

"Because I did well in my studies and displayed a knack for leadership, I was bored and decided to leave home early, to get a head start. I started the Happy Mask Circus when I was eleven, with some of my family's guards and their children." Eon continues. "Everybody adapted quickly, because their battle prowess and athleticism translated well to many circus acts. We gained popularity rapidly."

I nod, recalling the modified Nalu ship cannon... the clown's mock sword fights which were a bit too good... all the acts involving weapons. I chalked their skills and precision up to professionalism.

"I mastered management of the circus troupe easily enough and I was bored again. Then we almost got robbed, brought the bandits to justice, and got a reward. I realized something: the adults who work for me are all highly-trained knights. There was another market I could tap into to make money, so I started a second business, in order to make use of everybody's combat skills and experience. Thus, the Sad Mask Mercenary Group was born."

Everyone cheers all of a sudden. Eon and I both jump. They all seem quite proud of their accomplishments, and their young master.

Jiro, one of the two weightlifters who helped me, pats Eon on the back hard, sending him face-first into the ground with an indignant yelp. He sits up, looks at me holding back my laughter, then scratches the back of his head and grins sheepishly.

Jiro continues for Eon, "We use popular roads while traveling to large cities, which are occasionally infested with bandits or outlaws who prey upon the innocent people using these roads."

Aria wraps a blanket around my shoulders. "We're paid to clear out the riffraff and making the roads safe again. No unsavory or illegal business. Not many know of our mercenary activities, because Eon-sama only chooses to associate with people who have a good reputation and can keep a secret. It would be bad if his alter-identity is known."

I suppose this explains why everyone is either a middle-aged adult or a young child. Everyone is either a knight of Eon's family or their children.

"So there were bad people attacking travelers in this area, and you were hired to stop them." I infer.

Aria nods. "Several Menadian merchants have been ambushed along this road, incurring great losses. Based on eyewitness testimonies and the locations of the attacks, we triangulated the most plausible location of their camp to be in this area. We took the job in Meno, after meeting with the king."

My eyes widen. "You have connections with the king of Menad?! He hired you personally?!"

Jiro nods proudly. "Of course. We're cheaper to hire and more efficient than mobilizing a knight circle just to subjugate one measly bandit group."

I tilt my head. "Then why were you tip-toeing around like it was a big secret?"

Eon clears his throat uncomfortably. "We—no, I thought you would be safer if you didn't know anything. I told everyone to keep quiet."

"Ah." So Eon is the heir of a very rich... merchant family? I wonder if he's nobility too. He doesn't act like a typical noble, but I'm gradually learning that nothing about Eon is typical.

I've never heard of a noble heir being required to start a business before their debut into high society, but it makes logical sense.

The heir proves they're capable of leading a business before inheriting the family merchant business.

Doing so also expands the power of the family. The heir forges new connections while gaining first hand experience with business and politics. If it succeeds, the heir's business can be integrated into the family business once they become the head.

Besides, Eon's been living on the road for years, running a circus troupe and mercenary group, so his noble etiquette is expected to be a bit rough.

Eon is amazing. He's achieved so much, despite not being much older than I am.

This makes me feel a little down. I've worked so hard to better myself, studying every day so I can help my family. Yet I haven't done anything!

Even now, I've been leaching off of Eon's good will, and all I've done in return is yell at him. I'm a terrible person. I hang my head in shame.

Eon seems to misunderstand my expression.

He was kneeling on the ground in front of me, but now he pulls back with a downcast look. "I'm glad you aren't hurt, Yui. Don't worry, I'll give you space so... please don't hate us. The kids really like you! Please don't hate us."