Chapter 481 – Marriage? Future Son-in-Law?
This time, Kaiser could read Yoshino Tomotake's eyes clearly.
She wasn't hiding it—her gaze was firm, even cold. Unlike her father's gentle demeanor, she looked resolute, distant, almost frosty.
"Sorry, Kaiser-kun." Yasuharu Tomotake gave a small, apologetic smile. "But this matter is extremely important to our family. Especially to Yoshino—she's directly tied to it. That's why she has to be here. I hope you'll understand."
"It's fine." Kaiser drew his eyes away from Yoshino and shook his head. "As long as you can clear things up for me, it's not bad to have more people in the know."
His composure stood out. Not only Yasuharu and Yoshino, even Genjuro Kurama looked at him with approval.
"Well, it seems my Master isn't just a rude brat after all."
Finally releasing Kaiser's arm, Murasame floated up into the air, sounding deflated.
Unfortunately, her words only reached Kaiser. The only other person to glance her way was Yoshino.
That caught Kaiser's attention.
"So the Head Priest, Yasuharu-sama, can't see Murasame. But Yoshino, as the miko, can?"
Remembering what Yasuharu had said earlier—"Yoshino is directly tied to this matter"—Kaiser began to understand.
"Then, Kaiser-kun, could you explain why you suddenly decided to draw Murasame-maru?" Yasuharu asked softly, careful not to sound accusatory. "From what I heard, you weren't even part of the official ritual. You just went straight up and pulled it out, didn't you?"
That was what puzzled them.
If Kaiser had drawn the sword during the normal lottery ritual, they wouldn't have been so thrown off. After all, countless people in Hoori had tried before, only to fail.
But Kaiser had simply walked up on his own, gripped the Divine Blade, and pulled it free. That was different.
Kaiser didn't try to hide it.
"…When I was little, I had a strange reaction whenever I got close to Mitake Shrine," he admitted. "My heart would suddenly pound, out of my control, like something was calling me. I thought it was a health issue, so I never went inside. I went straight home and got checked out, but nothing ever showed up."
"After that, I avoided the shrine. Until today."
He told them everything—how he followed the festival procession, how the same strange pounding returned. How it grew even stronger when he saw Murasame-maru, until he couldn't resist the urge to draw it. By the time he came to his senses, the blade was already in his hands.
"Looking back, it must've been Murasame-maru calling to me, both then and now."
He raised the sword upright.
Zheng—
Light shimmered faintly along the blade, as if to echo his words, proving him right.
The others widened their eyes.
They all knew Murasame-maru wasn't an ordinary sword. They knew the legends were real. But to see the Divine Blade respond so vividly—this was a first.
Even Murasame looked stunned.
"Murasame-maru is actually reacting on its own? Even I've never seen that!"
Her shock deepened.
In the past, the sword had only acted when she, as its Administrator, had entered it. Without her, Murasame-maru was just steel. No signs of life.
But today it had responded freely—to Kaiser alone.
"…How can this be, Murasame-sama?" Yoshino finally spoke, her voice tight.
Kaiser glanced at Yasuharu and Genjuro. Neither reacted.
"So. They can't see her, but they clearly know she exists," Kaiser realized.
No wonder the elders never doubted the shrine legends, even when younger generations dismissed them as superstition.
"This town's secrets just keep piling up…"
Meanwhile, Murasame gave Yoshino a helpless shrug.
"Even if you ask me, I don't know. I've been Administrator of Murasame-maru for centuries, and I've never seen this happen before."
"…Then why him?" Yoshino pressed, lips tightening.
"Who knows?" Murasame turned her eyes to Kaiser, expression softening. "Maybe… Master is special. Even compared to all the previous wielders."
Yoshino fell silent.
Yasuharu and Genjuro exchanged glances, then looked at Kaiser again.
"Thank you for explaining," Yasuharu said warmly. "Now that we know Murasame-maru chose you, and Murasame-sama herself acknowledges it, we can finally get to the real matter."
"Father," Yoshino interrupted, her voice firm, warning.
But Yasuharu only smiled wryly at her.
"No matter what, Kaiser-kun is Murasame-maru's chosen wielder. We can't ignore that. Even if we shouldn't drag him into our affairs… we can't pretend he doesn't exist either. Yoshino, this should have been your duty, but now…"
His tone sharpened, silencing her.
Then, turning back to Kaiser, Yasuharu spoke with a gentle smile.
"I know this is sudden. But, Kaiser-kun—would you be willing to live with us here at the shrine, starting today?"
"…What?" Kaiser blinked. "Live here? At Mitake Shrine?"
"That's right," Yasuharu nodded. "We'll prepare a room for you. We'll cover all your living expenses, even school fees and other costs, should you transfer here to Hoori."
"Transfer… to school here?" Kaiser was even more thrown off.
"Yes." Yasuharu chuckled. "I've already spoken with Genjuro-san about it."
Kaiser turned to his grandfather.
"Yasuharu-sama hopes you'll stay in Hoori. Ideally, at the shrine," Genjuro explained. "I'll handle your parents, explain the situation, and do my best to get their approval."
Kaiser opened his mouth, but closed it again.
Transferring wasn't impossible. He didn't have close friends back home, and school there was nothing but endless pressure. Here it would probably be lighter. And Hoori… he'd always been comfortable here.
It wasn't a bad deal.
But…
"I came here to help you with the inn, Grandpa."
Genjuro waved him off. "Don't worry about Shinato-sou. I'll make other arrangements."
If Kaiser accepted the offer, the Tomotake Family would handle all expenses. He wouldn't even have to work part-time at the inn during breaks. Just live his summer freely.
Who wouldn't agree to that?
Still…
"I don't really have a reason to accept the shrine's hospitality," Kaiser said carefully. "Just because I drew the Divine Blade doesn't mean I should live off Mitake Shrine."
"That so?" Yasuharu's eyes curved in a smile. "Then what if you married Yoshino? Would that be reason enough?"
The entire room froze.
"…Huh?" Kaiser stared blankly.
"…Eh?" Yoshino herself was struck dumb, her carefully composed face cracking.
Did her father just say marriage?
""M-marriage?!"" Both Kaiser and Yoshino cried out at once.
"Ah, too sudden?" Yasuharu laughed lightly. "Don't worry—I don't mean an immediate wedding. Just an engagement. Live together, get to know each other, and when the time feels right, fulfill the marriage contract."
That didn't make it less of a bombshell.
"W-wait, Father!" Yoshino's icy mask shattered, panic flashing across her face for the first time. "You never told me about this!"
"Because I knew you'd object," Yasuharu said calmly. "But it's necessary. We can't just let Kaiser-kun live here with no explanation. Hoori is a small town. Rumors spread fast. Without a reason, it'd only bring him trouble. But if we declare him your future fiancé, training here as the successor to the Head Priest, no one will question it."
Kaiser's mouth twitched.
Right, because that wouldn't spark rumors? Returning to Hoori, drawing the Divine Blade, and suddenly becoming the Lady Miko's fiancé? That was headline gossip material!
Still, before he could voice his protests, Genjuro shook his head at him.
"Yasuharu-sama has his reasons. It's only an engagement, not an actual marriage. Just watch and wait for now."
Genjuro's tone was gentle, almost pleading. For the first time, Kaiser heard his grandfather ask him like this.
So he swallowed his retort and forced himself to stay calm.
Yoshino, however, wasn't nearly as composed.
"You can't just decide something like this! I don't agree!"
But Yasuharu's soft demeanor didn't waver. His words, however, were unyielding.
"Your mother's marriage was arranged the same way, Yoshino. By your grandfather. This is no different. It's only an engagement, not a wedding. Think about it before rejecting it outright."
"…I…" Yoshino faltered, speechless.
"Then it's settled." Yasuharu clapped his hands together, smiling like he'd just tied a neat ribbon around the situation. "I hope the two of you will get along."
Chapter 482 – Finding the Answers Myself
And just like that, Kaiser and Yoshino Tomotake's engagement was decided.
Genjuro Kurama seemed fully prepared for it—almost like he and Yasuharu Tomotake had arranged everything beforehand. Once the discussion ended, he went to fetch Kaiser's luggage.
Yasuharu was just as proactive. He personally carried Kaiser's bags off, saying he'd prepare a room so Kaiser could move in that very night.
Genjuro also left, saying he had to contact Kaiser's parents and explain the situation properly, hopefully earning their consent.
With both elders gone, only Kaiser and Yoshino remained in the room.
Well—Kaiser, Yoshino, and one "ghost" no one else could see, hovering nearby with a smug look, clearly eager to watch the drama unfold.
Kaiser and Yoshino locked eyes, neither speaking at first.
Finally, Yoshino broke the silence.
"…I'm sorry. My father tends to decide things on his own. Please don't take what he said to heart." She forced her composure back, her tone calm and polite. "I'll speak with him. I'll make sure he doesn't act so recklessly."
"…Honestly, I don't really care." Kaiser paused, then said evenly, "The engagement might have been sudden, but compared to everything else I saw today? It's nothing."
Yoshino understood what he meant.
Yes—compared to discovering that gods and yokai were real, that the Divine Blade was genuine, that it housed an Administrator… being tied into an engagement really was the lesser shock.
But remembering it all only soured her mood further.
"It's our fault for dragging you into something so unreasonable." Yoshino's voice tightened, her eyes fixed on him with seriousness. "If possible, I hope you won't let yourself get caught up in this any further."
"This won't bring you any good, Kaiser-san. So please—don't let curiosity draw you deeper."
Kaiser frowned faintly.
She wanted him to stay away from the Divine Blade's mysteries? From the supernatural entirely?
Impossible.
Now that he knew the world wasn't what he thought it was, how could he walk away?
Truthfully, his willingness to stay in Hoori, to accept even a forced engagement, even to transfer schools—was all because he wanted to know more.
And Yoshino was telling him not to. To stay ignorant.
"Wait a second, Yoshino."
Murasame, who had been happily watching from the sidelines, finally cut in.
"Master was chosen by Murasame-maru. By me. You're not actually planning to keep everything hidden from him, are you?"
Her voice carried disapproval.
"Murasame-sama, please don't." Yoshino's tone hardened, her expression firm. "This is our burden. We can't drag an innocent outsider into it."
"But you need Master. You need Murasame-maru." Murasame's brows knit as she pressed back. "Finally, someone capable of using us has appeared. If he can wield our power properly, maybe—"
"Enough." Yoshino cut her off sharply. "This has nothing to do with Kaiser-san. Using him just because we need him would be too selfish." She bit her lip, her eyes flicking toward Kaiser. "So I've decided. This isn't something he should be involved in. And neither you nor my father should say otherwise."
Without waiting for a reply, Yoshino turned on her heel and walked out, leaving Kaiser no chance to respond.
He didn't call after her. He only watched, silently, as the Lady Miko's flawless figure disappeared beyond the door.
"…Honestly. Too rigid for her own good." Murasame huffed, frowning. "Things could go so much smoother. Why does she have to be so stubborn?"
"So…" Kaiser finally spoke, his tone calm. "The way it stands, I can't pry into Hoori's secrets anymore. Right?"
"…Sorry, Master." Murasame hesitated, then sighed. "If Yoshino refuses, then we can't just go against her wishes. She's the one most affected by all this. If she insists on keeping you out… we have to respect it."
"I see." Kaiser nodded once. Then, with quiet resolve: "But don't expect me to just act like I know nothing. I can't do that."
His fingers traced the flat of Murasame-maru's blade.
"This sword called to me. If it chose me this strongly… then it must want me to accomplish something. If you won't tell me, fine. I'll find the answers myself."
He had the entire summer free now—no shifts at Shinato-sou, no work tying him down. More than enough time to uncover Hoori's secrets.
No way he'd come up empty-handed.
"Just… don't be reckless, Master." Murasame's voice softened, almost pleading. "Yoshino's only being strict because she's worried about you. I don't agree with her taking everything on alone, but she's not wrong either. Involving you might really be selfish of us. There is danger in this. Sometimes… not knowing is better."
"I'll keep that in mind," Kaiser said lightly.
"…I hope you mean that." Murasame gave a small sigh, unconvinced.
But she didn't stop him. Because she knew—this was his choice. Murasame-maru's chosen wielder would never just turn his back.
And truthfully… she was curious too.
"Why is Master so different?"
Not just in how the sword had responded to him. Not just in how he could see her.
Her mind drifted back to their earlier bickering. On a whim, she poked his cheek with her finger.
"…What are you doing?" Kaiser blinked, his train of thought broken.
"Nothing," Murasame said quickly, pulling her hand back. But she stared at her fingertip in awe.
Because she'd touched him.
She could touch him.
For centuries, she had drifted through walls and floors, unable to touch a thing. To everyone but the Tomotake bloodline, she was invisible, intangible.
But Kaiser… Kaiser could touch her back.
In all her time as the Administrator of Murasame-maru, she'd never experienced anything like it.
"…Just what are you, really?" she whispered under her breath.
Time passed.
The long, chaotic night gave way to morning.
Kaiser had officially moved into Mitake Shrine—into the Tomotake household—as the Lady Miko's fiancé.
———
Dawn.
Before the sun fully rose, Kaiser was already awake.
The first thing he saw was an unfamiliar ceiling. The second… a head hovering close to his own.
"Awake already, Master?"
Murasame floated over him, eyes wide with curiosity.
"…Morning." Kaiser muttered. What else could he say, waking up to a ghost-like girl hovering over him?
"Good morning." Murasame smiled serenely. "Couldn't sleep in a new place?"
He sat up, looking around the simple Japanese-style room. Tatami mats. Modest but tasteful furniture. A low table in the center, and atop it, Murasame-maru resting in its sheath.
He hadn't slept in a bed, but on a futon laid across the tatami. This was the room Yasuharu had prepared—a guest chamber in Mitake Shrine.
Stretching, Kaiser rose from the futon. "No, I adapt easily. I don't mind different beds. Actually, this is the time I normally wake up. My body clock won't let me sleep past it."
"Really? You get up this early every day?" Murasame tilted her head in surprise.
"Pretty much." Kaiser changed into his clothes. "Since I was little, Grandpa made me follow a training regimen. Morning practice and running were the foundation. I've done it for more than ten years now. No way I'd break the habit."
"…Amazing." Murasame floated after him, her eyes shining with admiration. "My Master's so disciplined. As expected of Genjuro's grandson."
Kaiser paused mid-step, raising an eyebrow. "Wait, you just call my grandpa by name? You know him well?"
"Of course. I've lived in Hoori for centuries. Nobody can see me, but I wander around all the time. I've watched generations grow up. Of course I know Genjuro. He stood out even as a kid." Murasame puffed up with pride. "I still remember him writing a love letter to a girl he liked—so awkward and fidgety!"
…My terrifyingly strict grandfather… writing love letters?
Kaiser pictured Genjuro's stern, unyielding face and almost burst out laughing. If his grandfather ever knew Murasame had blabbed that, he'd probably want to kill him on the spot.
Though… I might actually be stronger than him now.
Should he tease him about it later?
…Better not. He valued his life.
Still, Kaiser decided to keep this little gem in mind—and to chat more with Murasame when he could. A spirit who'd lived in Hoori for centuries must know countless secrets outsiders never heard.
So, as he washed up, he started gently steering the conversation.
And Murasame, ever talkative, happily spilled.
"Your childhood friend Roka is actually hiding some serious curves—bounces like crazy when she runs."
"Koharu might look petite, but she's surprisingly stacked."
"Rentaro pretends to be a hopeless flirt, but he's dated several girls before."
On and on, she revealed embarrassing little secrets about his friends, leaving Kaiser more and more dubious.
She even let slip that Yasuharu and Yoshino's mother hadn't been forced into marriage at all—they were genuinely in love. Yasuharu had married into the Tomotake Family, and he was even related to Genjuro, meaning Kaiser and Yoshino shared a distant blood tie.
She added that despite Yoshino's serene, flawless image, she was clumsy and prone to silly mistakes. And apparently, she'd had a childhood companion raised specifically to be her guard as Lady Miko.
Piece by piece, Murasame kept dropping things Kaiser had never known.
By the time they left the shrine together and walked into the streets of Hoori Town, Kaiser's head was full of secrets he never expected to learn.
Chapter 483 – What Do You Mean, "A Little Scared"?
Morning in Hoori Town wasn't as lively as yesterday. The air felt chilly, the streets quiet. The sun hadn't fully risen yet, so there were no tourists around—barely even any residents. Only a few shopkeepers had woken early to haul in goods or prep their stores, their lights pushing back the darkness.
Jogging down the empty street in a tracksuit, Kaiser wasn't moving particularly fast, but definitely not slow either.
"How long are you planning to run, Master?"
Murasame floated behind him like a shadow, keeping pace with ease. Seeing him maintain that steady rhythm, she finally piped up.
"Mm… let's circle the whole town a few times."
Kaiser's breathing stayed even, his stride smooth. Just watching him made it look effortless, even pleasant.
"The final stop'll be the dojo."
He hadn't been back to Hoori for years, but he'd grown up here, trained here. No way he'd just run aimlessly.
"The dojo?" Murasame blinked, then realized, "Oh—you mean Ukayama Academy?"
Ukayama Academy had started life as a dojo, once the heart of Hoori's kendo scene. Locals used to train there until the town turned into a tourist hotspot. As kendo fell out of fashion, the place was abandoned… until the town decided to repurpose it into a school.
Still, Kaiser couldn't shake the old name. After all, that's where his grandfather, Genjuro Kurama, had drilled him and Rentaro in kendo as kids.
"Back then, Grandpa made us get up at this exact hour for a morning run, ending at the dojo. Then we'd practice swinging bamboo swords." Kaiser kept jogging as he reminisced. "He called it warm-up. Rentaro never stopped whining."
No wonder—who the hell called running laps around the entire town a warm-up? Even most adults would've been dead tired after that. But to Genjuro, it was nothing but prep work. Complaints were inevitable. Kaiser himself had moaned plenty when he was small, until eventually he got used to it.
"Typical Genjuro—strict to the bone," Murasame said with admiration. "But you too, Master. Sticking it out under training that harsh? Impressive."
"Well, I was into it." Kaiser chuckled. "No—truth is, I've always been fascinated by weapons. Any kind."
Gifted in ways that defied logic, Kaiser had been obsessed as a child, constantly testing the limits of his strange talent. Kendo, spear fighting, even gun-kata out of some novel—he tried everything. He'd even shown too much interest in kitchen knives, once seriously wondering if he could learn butchery at a slaughterhouse.
In every other respect, his life was painfully ordinary. He hadn't become a genius student, a business prodigy, or a martial arts prodigy overnight. But the moment a weapon was in his hands, something awakened. He could pick up the basics instantly, fight as if it were instinct.
Kendo stood out the most only because Genjuro had trained him directly. Everything else, he mostly taught himself—still absurd by normal standards, but not quite as polished.
That burning curiosity drove him to keep learning, one weapon after another. But skill alone wasn't enough. Without a body tough enough to handle it, he'd burn out too quickly.
So he ran. So he trained. So he endured.
Even when it hurt, even when he wanted to quit, that irresistible urge to swing a blade—or even just a stick—made him grit his teeth and push forward.
And just like that, ten years had passed.
Now, his physique wasn't superhuman, but at school his athletic scores crushed everyone. Not even PE teachers or pro trainers could keep up. He'd already been scouted by sports colleges and universities, some offering early admission despite him only being a second-year. Even the national team had taken notice.
For context—on the international stage, the men's 100-meter world record still stood at 9.58 seconds. Kaiser's personal best? 9.89.
A high school sophomore, reaching that level just from daily training—of course he drew attention.
Murasame gave a small sigh. "I never knew Hoori had such a hardworking kid. My impression of you as a boy was just… always trailing after Roka."
"Hey, not my fault." Kaiser winced. "Mom kept pushing me to hang out with Roka."
"Oh, of course I saw you as a child," Murasame puffed her chest proudly. "I've watched all of Hoori grow up—including you, Master."
"But I rarely wandered around this early. So while I remembered you, I never realized how hard you trained every morning. Thinking about it now… I feel like I missed out on so many of your best moments."
She really did look regretful. Then, just as quickly, her eyes lit up again.
"But no matter! From now on, I'll train with you—and we'll get stronger together!"
Eh… I'm not even training to get stronger anymore. It's just habit at this point.
These days Kaiser wasn't chasing growth—he was just maintaining. He knew he'd never surpass human limits to become some kind of Superman. He only needed to stay sharp enough to wield whatever weapon he wanted.
That's why his build hadn't turned into anything bulky. Lean and wiry, with muscles balanced in golden proportion—fit, but not exaggerated. The only giveaway was the calluses on his hands, rough enough to look out of place on a high schooler.
Well, that and the fact he had a full set of eight-pack abs, which Murasame had very obviously noticed earlier when he changed. Her reaction—screaming, blushing, but still peeking through her fingers—had left Kaiser speechless.
"You think you can wake up this early every day?" he asked dryly.
"Did you forget? I'm not human! I don't need sleep."
That shut him up. He recalled waking up this morning with the girl already hovering above his head, chatting cheerfully. Meaning… had she been floating there all night, watching him sleep?
…Okay, that's a little creepy.
"Master," Murasame's eyes narrowed, "are you thinking something rude again?"
"Nope. You're imagining things."
"Look me in the eye and say that."
"…"
"Ah-ha! You looked away! Guilty conscience!"
"Ow! Don't bite my head!"
The two bickered all the way down the street. To anyone passing by, Kaiser looked like a lunatic, arguing with himself. Luckily no tourists were around to spread rumors. In a town filled with Curses, the last thing he needed was more gossip.
———
By the time Kaiser finally stopped running, the sky was bright and the day had fully begun. He hadn't rushed, keeping a steady jog the whole way, so it took a while.
Ukayama Academy, his finish line, stood empty in the holiday quiet. No students, no staff. He circled the grounds once, familiarizing himself. This would soon be his school, after all. Yoshino Tomotake was already enrolled here, as were the Kurama siblings. Roka Maníwa had graduated and now ran her family's sweet shop.
After wandering a bit, Kaiser headed back to Mitake Shrine.
There, sweeping the courtyard, was Yasuharu Tomotake.
"Oh, Kaiser-kun, you're back?" Yasuharu greeted warmly, smiling with crescent eyes as Kaiser jogged up.
"Morning, Yasuharu-san." Kaiser smiled back. "You're up early."
"Always am. Someone has to clean the shrine grounds and prep for the day's work." Yasuharu's tone was gentle. "Yoshino's still sleeping, but she should be up soon. Breakfast'll be ready in a bit. Go ahead and wash up first."
He added kindly, "Later I'll introduce you to someone important. If you plan on going out, let me know first, alright?"
It was the way he said it—with the care of a father-in-law treating him like family—that struck Kaiser.
"Got it." Kaiser nodded.
"I'll take a walk till breakfast," Murasame announced quickly, already slipping away. If her Master was about to bathe, she wasn't about to tag along. She might not be human anymore, but she still had her pride as a girl.
She vanished in a blink. Kaiser didn't mind. After exchanging a few more words with Yasuharu, he stepped inside.
Just as he was about to head into the bath, passing through the living room, the sliding door slid open.
"Gooood morniiiing~"
In shuffled a girl in pajamas, voice lazy and soft, hair tousled, eyes still heavy with sleep.
The sight made Kaiser freeze in his tracks.
"…Morning." Out of courtesy, he returned the greeting.
"…Kaiser-san?"
At the sound of his voice, Yoshino Tomotake jolted awake.
They stared at each other in silence, across the living room.
Pa!
Yoshino suddenly slapped her own cheek, hard.
"Ow…" Tears welled up instantly, spilling down her face.
Chapter 484 – The Pillar of the Tomotake Family
Yoshino Tomotake must've really slapped herself hard—her cheek was bright red with a handprint.
Kaiser twitched at the sight, instinctively taking a step back.
"…A masochist?"
"Of course not!" Yoshino's face turned crimson. "I just didn't want to look disgraceful in front of a guest!"
"Fair enough." Kaiser blinked, eyes drifting back to the mark on her cheek. "But maybe not that hard next time?"
Thanks for the reminder. Already regretting it.
Yoshino drew in a deep breath, forcing down her fluster. When she finally spoke, her tone had shifted back to the cold, formal mask from yesterday.
"Please disregard what you just saw. Let's start over. Good morning, Kaiser-san."
"Mm. Morning." Kaiser mirrored her politeness, treating her like a stranger—or maybe just matching her attitude. "Yasuharu-san said breakfast will be ready soon. You should probably wash up and change first, then come back."
And with that, he headed straight toward the bath without waiting for her response.
Yoshino bit her lip. Aren't those words supposed to come from me, the host? She was the one who lived here, after all. But Kaiser was already gone, leaving her staring at his retreating back, her practiced coldness cracking a little.
With a complicated look, she turned toward the washroom to clean up.
Meanwhile, Kaiser swung by his room, grabbed a fresh set of clothes, plus yesterday's laundry, then made his way to the bath. He planned to wash himself and rinse out the sweaty tracksuit at the same time.
"Shhhk."
By now, he'd memorized the Tomotake house layout. Without hesitation, he slid the bath door open.
"—!"
Something shifted inside.
"Thud!"
A heavy round log dropped straight from above, slamming onto the floor with a dull whump.
"…The hell?" Kaiser stared at the log rolling across the floor, momentarily stunned. But almost immediately, his expression hardened.
Someone was coming up fast from behind.
"Don't move."
The voice was cold, the threat even colder. A sharp edge pressed against his neck before the words even finished.
Kaiser didn't need to look to know what it was. The whistle of air alone told him—a double-edged weapon, about the length of a dagger. A kunai.
And having a blade at his throat? Unacceptable.
The instant that icy voice rang out, Kaiser moved.
He whipped the clothes in his hands backward, wrapping the assailant's arm in one swift motion and yanking hard.
"—!?"
The attacker hadn't expected such a fast counter. In a blink, their arm was tangled, their body pulled forward—slamming right into Kaiser's back.
He felt something soft and unmistakably round press against him before he seized the intruder's slender wrist and hurled them over his shoulder.
"Haah!"
Wind roared as the figure was thrown toward the ground. But they weren't helpless. Twisting midair with incredible agility, they wrapped their legs around Kaiser's neck, locking his head.
"Haaah!"
With a sharp cry, the intruder spun, trying to flip Kaiser instead.
The world tilted, his body whipped through the air. But Kaiser caught himself at the last second, planting one hand on the floor and flipping into a clean landing.
At last, he saw his attacker clearly.
A young girl. Long black hair down to her shoulders. Roughly his and Yoshino's age. Her face was striking—delicate, beautiful, but her eyes shone with sharpness and grit, so unlike Yoshino's fragile gentleness.
Kaiser froze for half a beat—not from her beauty, but from something else.
She was naked. Completely.
No clothes at all.
Her figure was stunning for her age—ample chest, lithe waist, shapely hips—and Kaiser had seen every inch. All of it, laid bare.
This… is seriously bad.
The girl's cheeks twitched, realization dawning. Panic flared, but she quickly snatched the shirt he'd dropped and pulled it on. Just one piece, but it hung long enough to cover her thighs, hiding the most critical parts.
"You bastard—!"
Now it was pure fury. She lunged, a gleam of steel flashing in her hand. A kunai.
She closed the gap in an instant, slashing.
"Shhk!"
Kaiser jerked back just in time. A strand of his bangs floated to the floor.
"Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!"
She pressed the attack with lightning speed. To an ordinary person, it would've been nothing but silver flashes—impossible to react.
But Kaiser wasn't ordinary. Narrow as the space was, he twisted, ducked, rolled—barely slipping past each deadly arc.
"Who the hell are you?" he snapped, dodging another strike.
"That's my line!" she shot back, furious and unyielding, like a guard protecting her home.
This time, Kaiser was ready. His hand flicked, tossing something dark toward her.
She instinctively slashed it apart.
The log from earlier, split clean in two.
And Kaiser was already moving. His foot slammed off the floor, bursting forward even faster than her. As the wood split, he shot past, closing the gap.
"You—!"
Her eyes widened, but he wasn't aiming at her body. His hand clamped her wrist, twisted, and the kunai flew free into his own grip.
The moment it touched his palm, Kaiser changed.
His eyes sharpened—cold, merciless, like steel honed to a razor's edge. The harmless boy vanished. What stood there radiated killing intent, like a god of war descending.
The girl froze, heart hammering. With and without a weapon, he was two different beings.
Before she could recover, Kaiser's hand clamped around her throat, pinning her against the wall.
"Don't move."
His voice was like ice—echoing her own words from before.
"Right now it's just my hand on your neck. But believe me—if I want, in less than a second, it'll be this."
He lifted the kunai in his other hand.
She believed him instantly. Something in her gut screamed truth—if he willed it, the blade would cut her throat before she could blink.
The kunai danced between his fingers like it was alive, spinning effortlessly.
"Didn't think people still used these," Kaiser said casually. "What are you, some ninja sneaking into Mitake Shrine? Who sent you?"
She bit her lip, glaring back in anger. "You're the intruder! Who sent you here? What's your purpose in breaking into the Tomotake Family's home?"
That clinched it. Kaiser's earlier suspicion solidified.
"I'm no intruder." He cut her off flatly. "I was invited here—as a potential heir, in fact."
Her eyes flickered.
"My name's Kaiser. I moved in yesterday. And if you must know—I'm Yoshino Tomotake's fiancé."
Her breath hitched. "Lady Yoshino's… fiancé? You—you're Kaiser-sama!?"
"So you've heard of me." Kaiser released her, smoothly returning the spinning kunai. "Looks like this was just a misunderstanding."
She accepted the weapon with trembling hands, still shaken. Before she could reply, footsteps pounded outside—the commotion had drawn others.
———
Fifteen minutes later, in the living room.
With Yasuharu Tomotake mediating, the misunderstanding was cleared up.
"I—I'm so sorry! Truly, I'm so sorry!"
The girl, now properly dressed in Hoori-style casual wear, bowed repeatedly. White kimono with red trim, a yellow-brown sash, pale green underlayer, shorts beneath—far more decent than before.
"I thought you were a thief sneaking in… I didn't realize you were Kaiser-sama! Really, I'm sorry!"
Kaiser rubbed his cheek, laughing awkwardly. "Honestly, the blame's on me. I should've knocked before opening the bath. That one's my fault."
Yasuharu spoke up gently. "Actually, she's the one I meant to introduce you to today—the guardian I mentioned before."
The Tomotake Family had always held high status in Hoori. They weren't just shrine caretakers; they were once the ruling family, nobles overseeing this land. Yoshino, the rightful Lady Miko, was essentially the town's princess.
And this girl's family had protected them for generations.
"I—I am Mako Hitachi, daughter of the Hitachi Family. Please take care of me, Kaiser-sama."
She bowed again, this time as a greeting rather than apology.
For centuries, the Hitachi Family had raised protectors for the Tomotake shrine maidens. Mako had been brought up to be Yoshino's guard. In modern times, the role was less about combat and more about helping with the Tomotake household's daily life—chores, duties, everything that kept them running.
With Yasuharu being a man and Yoshino sheltered by her sacred status, Mako had naturally become the one holding the household together. She was, in every sense, the pillar of the Tomotake Family.
Which explained why she'd been naked in the bath earlier.
She had, quite simply, been bathing.
Chapter 485 – A Suffocating Atmosphere
Even after his bath, Kaiser couldn't stop flashes of the scene from replaying in his head—that girl standing there completely bare, her youthful beauty seared into his memory. He'd actually ended up taking a cold shower just to cool himself down and avoid embarrassing himself in front of the others.
To keep his thoughts from wandering, he cleared his throat and forced a change of subject.
"Honestly, hearing that someone was raised specifically to guard the Tomotake Family's Lady Miko sounds kind of outdated in this era… but the way you handled yourself, I believe it."
He didn't doubt Mako Hitachi's lineage.
"My master sure adjusts quickly," Murasame teased, having returned and already caught up on the situation.
"…"
Yoshino Tomotake sat silently off to the side, now changed into casual clothes. Even saying nothing, her presence was striking—beautiful enough that eyes naturally gravitated toward her.
She wore a pale yellow long-sleeved top with a bluish-purple skirt, black undersleeves peeking from beneath, and black tights on her legs. Her snowy-white hair, usually loose when in shrine maiden garb, was tied into a side ponytail with a red ribbon. It stripped away some of her divine aura, replacing it with something more everyday.
Unfortunately, her beauty was matched by her chilly expression. Yoshino radiated a "don't come near me" aura that even made Yasuharu Tomotake sigh.
Kaiser, for his part, wasn't the type to force conversation with someone clearly unwilling. So he ignored his so-called fiancée and directed his words toward her attendant instead.
"She really is skilled," Kaiser said evenly in response to Murasame's remark.
It wasn't flattery. Even without a proper weapon in hand—where his strength truly shone—he'd still held his own. Given his years of training across multiple disciplines, that said a lot. Among their generation nationwide, there were probably very few who could match her.
He remembered last year's national kendo tournament. The prodigy he faced in the finals—third-year from a famous academy—wasn't nearly this strong.
So if Mako said she'd been raised as a protector, Kaiser believed it.
"No, no, Kaiser-sama's skills are the unbelievable ones," Mako quickly waved her hands, half modest, half sincere. "Even if you've been recognized by Murasame-maru, I never imagined Lady Yoshino's fiancé would be this strong."
At that, Yoshino finally broke her silence, muttering in protest.
"He's not my fiancé…"
No one acknowledged it.
"Is Kaiser-sama from some famous martial arts family?" Mako asked curiously.
"He's Genjuro Kurama's grandson, and kin to the Kurama Family," Yasuharu supplied kindly.
"Ohh… then that makes sense." Mako nodded. In Hoori Town, everyone knew Genjuro was a master of kendo.
"Well, what matters is the misunderstanding's cleared up." Murasame grinned mischievously. "Neither my master nor Mako probably want to keep talking about what just happened, right? So let's leave it at that."
Her sly tone made both Kaiser and Mako glance at each other awkwardly. Especially Mako—just the thought of her master's fiancé having seen her entire body made her face flame red. She wanted to dig a hole and disappear.
Now, every time Kaiser so much as looked her way, she felt itchy all over, like she was still naked under his gaze.
(I'm a kunoichi, not a concubine! I didn't sign up to give that part of myself away!) Mako silently screamed inside.
"…I really am sorry," Kaiser said at last, feeling at least a little guilty since he'd definitely been the one to benefit.
"No, it was my fault too. I forgot Lady Yoshino's fiancé was living here now," Mako laughed awkwardly, then, fidgeting, added, "As Murasame-sama said, let's just drop it. Please, Kaiser-sama, never bring it up again."
"Fair enough. If you're not pushing it, I've no reason to." Kaiser shrugged, then tilted his head. "By the way, Mako-san—can you see Murasame too?"
"Just call me Mako," she said, forcing her embarrassment down. "Because my ancestors—"
But she never finished.
"Don't tell him too much, Mako," Yoshino cut in, her voice cool and clipped. The air immediately grew colder.
"Yoshino," Yasuharu sighed, rubbing his temples. "Kaiser-kun is living with us now. He's at least nominally your fiancé. He deserves to know the basics."
But Yoshino's reply was firm.
"Father already said it—we're only fiancés in name. Neither of us plans to marry. If we're just going to part ways later, why burden him with secrets that'll only cause trouble?"
That was her stance from the start: keep Kaiser out of Tomotake affairs. Don't drag him deeper than necessary.
The others clearly disagreed.
"You're too stubborn," Murasame sighed. "Master pulled out Murasame-maru. That alone makes him entitled to know. Keeping him in the dark is no good."
"Yoshino-sama," Mako added carefully, "I think Kaiser-sama can be trusted. With his strength, plus Murasame-maru in hand, he'd be a huge help to us. Maybe even help us fulfill that wish we've carried for so long—"
"No." Yoshino cut her off sharply. "This is our burden. We can't selfishly drag someone else into it. He's just a student who happened to spend his break helping at my mother's inn. Because he drew Murasame-maru, we forced him to stay, transfer schools, even live apart from his parents. That's already too much of a burden. We don't get to demand more."
Her words silenced the room. And in a sense… she wasn't wrong.
Of course, Murasame couldn't help but mutter under her breath.
"Didn't Yasuharu basically marry you off to Master for that exact reason? You're already engaged. If you just go through with it, it's not really dragging him in, is it?"
Yoshino's stern expression nearly cracked.
"Murasame-sama! Don't mutter nonsense! Please cooperate with me and stop complicating things!"
"Yes, yes," Murasame waved her off, exasperated. "But honestly, this is about your life. How can you be so rigid?"
"Father, Mako—same goes for you. Stop saying weird things in front of Kaiser-san," Yoshino pressed, then turned directly to him, her tone iron-clad. "Kaiser-san, just live an ordinary life here in Hoori. Don't get involved in dangerous matters."
Her eyes bore into him.
Kaiser's expression didn't flicker. Like he hadn't even heard her.
"…Breakfast is ready."
That was all he said, in a calm, almost detached voice.
The room dropped several degrees colder.
"I'll get the food!" Mako shot up, too loudly, desperate to break the tension.
"I'll help." Yasuharu rose too, sighing, though his usual gentle smile quickly returned.
"As for me, I'll go take a walk again," Murasame announced, floating away. She couldn't eat anyway, and staying only made people uneasy. She always left at mealtimes.
But even without her, the mood at the table was unbearable.
Kaiser and Yoshino sat side by side, but not once did they exchange words. Not even a glance. One calm, one cold, both eating in silence. They didn't look like a newly engaged couple. If anything, they looked like a married pair on the verge of divorce.
"…This isn't good."
"Not good at all."
Mako and Yasuharu exchanged a helpless glance, sighing in unison.
And so breakfast ended under suffocating silence.
———
Afterward, Yoshino left for her daily dance practice. No one followed. Mako stayed behind for chores, while Yasuharu went to meet some elders in town. Murasame didn't return either, wandering who knows where.
Kaiser went back to his room, fiddled with his phone for a while, then quickly got bored. He had few friends, no one to message. This wasn't the age of smartphones with endless apps. And out here in the countryside, entertainment options were scarce. Even the TV barely had channels worth watching.
"I wonder what Rentaro and Koharu are up to right now…"
Unable to sit still, he decided not to stay cooped up in the shrine.
"Come to think of it, Sister Roka should be at her family's sweet shop now."
Should he visit? The thought barely lasted a second before he nodded to himself.
"Yeah. Let's go."
He stepped out of Mitake Shrine and back onto the streets.
———
By now, Hoori's main street had come alive again. Not as crowded as during the Spring Festival, but full of tourists, shopkeepers hawking wares, and the bustle of daily life.
Walking the town's "Little Kyoto" street this time, Kaiser blended in seamlessly. No suitcase, no traveler's air—just another local.
He didn't wear the town's traditional garb, though. He'd never been comfortable in kimono. Just modern casual clothes. Still, that alone drew attention.
"That's him, right?"
"The one who drew the Divine Blade…"
"I heard he's living at Mitake Shrine now."
"Wait—does that mean he's living with the Lady Miko?"
"So the rumor's true? Yasuharu-san's really marrying him into the family?"
"The one who drew the Divine Blade… marrying the Lady Miko?"
"Honestly… they'd look good together."
Kaiser caught bits and pieces, enough to make him sigh.
"…So it's already spread this far, huh?"
No surprise, really. In a countryside town, news traveled fast.
Shaking his head, he followed his childhood memories until he arrived at a quaint Japanese-style confectionery shop.
The sign read: Tadenshiya.
This was Roka Maníwa's family's store.
(End of Chapter)