Chapter 506 – I'll Give You One More Shot
On a moonless night, deep in the cold, silent mountains, a beast-shaped lump of filth oozed out from the thicket under Kaiser's watchful eyes.
Its whole body writhed like black sludge, dripping with miasma. Empty hollows where eyes should have been fixed straight ahead—locked onto Kaiser and Yoshino Tomotake. It didn't radiate killing intent, but the palpable malice pressing out from it was thick enough to choke on.
A curse—living, breathing, hateful.
"It's here!" Murasame squeaked, clinging to Kaiser's sleeve, her voice shattering the silence.
"Fffsshh!"
The beast-shaped Tatari-gami lunged, a blur of darkness slicing through the air, roaring straight at Kaiser, who stood calmly at the front.
"Not happening!"
Before Kaiser even moved, Mako Hitachi sprang forward. She snapped her wrist, sending a kunai slicing through the air toward the charging monster.
Thud!
The blade slammed into the Tatari-gami, knocking it back with a dull crash. The kunai clattered free and spun back through the air, landing neatly in Mako's hand.
"Shhhhk!"
The monster's body melted into sludge, then reformed unnervingly fast, rising without so much as using its limbs.
This time, it whipped out long, writhing tentacles. The air cracked as they lashed forward—not at Mako, but at Yoshino in the rear.
It ignored Mako completely, as though she didn't even exist. Its eyes only held Kaiser and Yoshino.
But Mako was ready. She slid smoothly in front of Yoshino, kunai flashing as the tentacle whipped down.
Thud!
Her blade met the strike, sparks of pressure scattering as she knocked it away.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
More tentacles whipped in from every angle. Mako's arms blurred as she parried each one, calm and precise. No matter how unpredictable their arcs, how they seemed to vanish into the dark and reappear, none slipped past her defense. Yoshino stayed safe behind her.
"…Impressive."
Kaiser couldn't help but praise her. He couldn't see her eyes in the dark, but from the way she moved without hesitation, he realized—she wasn't fighting with her sight. She was fighting with her hearing.
Every cut of the air, every whisper of wind off a tentacle—she read it all instantly, gauging direction, force, and speed in less than a heartbeat.
That kind of trained ear far surpassed anything Kaiser himself had achieved.
Thud!
Another parry. Mako's voice rang out sharp.
"It's coming in close!"
She'd caught the shift in sound.
Like a predator in the dark, the Tatari-gami had slipped into Yoshino's blind spot and lunged.
"…!"
Yoshino couldn't see it. But she trusted Mako. The moment the warning left her lips, Yoshino dropped flat to the ground.
The black shadow tore through the air above her head.
"My turn!"
As it landed, Yoshino sprang up, thrusting the Hoko-suzu forward.
Shhk!
The tip pierced the monster's forelimb, scattering it into sludge.
"———!"
The beast shuddered but immediately coiled for another strike, tentacles whipping up for a vicious trade of blows.
But before they could fall, Kaiser was already at its flank.
Thud!
His kick sent the Tatari-gami flying like a rag doll, smashing it into a tree trunk.
"K-Kaiser-san!" Yoshino gasped, her voice trembling.
"Are you all right, Lady Yoshino?" Mako stepped protectively in front of her again, kunai at the ready.
Kaiser stood firm, back in front of them both, eyes locked on the monster.
It writhed on the ground, sludge bubbling, but its shattered limb refused to regenerate. Even so, those hollow sockets never left him, filled with venomous hate.
"Come on."
Kaiser crooked his finger at it, cold and unflinching.
"I'll give you one more chance."
He was smiling, but his eyes were glacial. A judge, not a man.
"Last chance."
Whether or not it understood, no one knew. But the moment the words fell, the monster moved.
It slammed its tentacle into the dirt, propping its body up like a grotesque leg, then launched forward with shocking speed—faster than before.
"Kaiser-san!"
"Kaiser-sama!"
Yoshino and Mako cried out as one.
Because instead of dodging, Kaiser charged straight in.
His speed matched the monster's. His steps were steady, unshaken even on the rough, narrow mountain path.
Snap.
His palm closed around Murasame-maru's hilt.
Shing…
Light flared along the still-sheathed blade—cold, pure, ancient, sacred.
Divine Power burst from his body, flowing down his arm into the sword, coating its edge in luminous spirit light.
Clang!
Steel cleared the scabbard.
At barely a meter's distance, the monster should have struck first. But the moment Kaiser's blade flashed, the air itself split—and the Tatari-gami was cut.
Shhk!
One stroke. The sludge scattered, cleaved clean in two.
Kaiser passed through its dissolving body, sliding his blade back into its sheath without a glance, calm from start to finish.
"…What?!"
Yoshino and Mako stared wide-eyed, frozen by the sight.
The Tatari-gami never touched the ground again. It turned to ash midair, scattering into nothing.
"…Haa."
Kaiser let out a breath, drawing his Divine Power back in. The glow faded. He stood human once more.
"Beautiful, Master!"
Murasame zipped forward at last, cheering. "Another instant kill! Even cleaner than last time! As expected of my Master!"
Kaiser frowned at her.
"You just watched the whole time? Didn't even think to possess the blade?"
She pouted defensively. "You were too fast! You didn't draw until you were already right in its face. How was I supposed to merge in time?"
Who else had a wielder who charged before the spirit could even activate? Only her.
And when the entire fight lasted less than a second, what room did she even have to help?
Kaiser shrugged coolly. "If I waited for you every time, I could've killed it ten times over by now. The Tatari-gami won't stand around while we go through the whole routine."
This wasn't a henshin sequence with invincibility frames.
Better to just end it himself.
"Next time, at least try to sync with me. If you keep spacing out, you'll be useless before long."
The teasing jab hit harder than any blade.
"…Useless…"
Murasame slumped to the ground, drawing circles miserably in the dirt.
"What's with you two?" Kaiser ignored her sulking and turned back—only to find Yoshino and Mako still standing there in a daze.
"N-no, it's nothing…" Yoshino muttered, lowering her head, her words caught in her throat.
"Kaiser-sama, that was incredible!" Mako's eyes shone with awe. "You defeated it so easily…! Too amazing!"
She'd known he was strong. But this was beyond imagination. That one stroke—so sharp, so absolute—it was like watching a hero from legend.
She remembered their spar in the bathhouse. He must have been holding back then. If he'd used this strength, she never would have lasted a second.
Her gaze glittered with admiration she couldn't hide.
"Didn't I say?" Kaiser chuckled. "Maybe this trip really was unnecessary. To me, these things aren't much stronger than wild animals. The only tricky parts are the tentacles in the dark and those unnatural bodies."
He glanced at her. "You parried them easily enough, didn't you? If you had Murasame-maru or Lady Yoshino's sacred tool, you could've finished it too."
But Mako only shook her head with a smile.
"Someone like me isn't rare. But people chosen by the Divine Blade or the shrine's sacred tools—those are irreplaceable. That's what makes you and Lady Yoshino precious."
Her voice carried nothing but conviction.
Yoshino, though, lowered her head. She said nothing, lost in thought.
"…Looks like the curse has lifted." Kaiser's eyes flicked upward—not at her face, but at the top of her head.
The beast ears were gone.
"The filth's been purified," Mako said with relief. "For now, it's over. Let's go back. Yasuharu-san's waiting."
Kaiser nodded without hesitation.
Chapter 507 – Lady Miko's Troubles
There was no question about it—this mountain exorcism had been the easiest one Yoshino Tomotake and Mako Hitachi had ever gone through. Not only were they completely uninjured, but their clothes weren't even dirtied. Compared to the desperate, life-or-death struggles they'd faced against Tatari-gami in the past, this had felt like a dream.
So when the group quietly descended the mountain and returned to the Tomotake household, Yasuharu Tomotake never imagined they'd be back so soon. Once he heard what had happened, his delight only grew, and he thanked Kaiser again and again.
Truth be told, he hadn't arranged the engagement between Kaiser and his daughter so that Kaiser would risk his life supporting her. But if his future son-in-law possessed this kind of power, this kind of ability, then of course he was overjoyed.
Yasuharu couldn't help but marvel in his heart.
"No wonder Murasame-maru chose him. He really is extraordinary."
Perhaps… the curse that had tormented the Tomotake family for centuries might actually be broken because of Kaiser?
The thought stirred not only Yasuharu but even Murasame and Mako, filling them with excitement.
Only Yoshino seemed distant, her mind elsewhere, her expression vacant. But in the joy of the moment, nobody noticed her odd mood.
Afterward, Mako changed out of her ninja attire into casual clothes and returned to her own home. Yasuharu, finally able to breathe easy, retired to his room to rest without further worry.
Murasame, still sulking over something Kaiser had said earlier, huffed and left in a temper when Kaiser mentioned going to the hot springs, wandering off who-knows-where.
That suited Kaiser just fine. With peace and quiet all to himself, he soaked in a long, relaxing bath, then changed into a light set of sleepwear.
But just as he was about to head back to his room, he noticed someone slipping quietly out of the living room.
"…Lady Tomotake?"
He caught sight of her back, still clad in her miko robes and chihaya, her long sleeves swaying as she walked outside. His brows arched slightly.
After a moment's thought, Kaiser followed.
"So late at night, and not even changing before bed… where are you going?"
His curiosity piqued, he trailed after Yoshino.
He soon realized she hadn't gone far—only into the main hall of the shrine.
Mystified, Kaiser slipped in behind her, and before long he was standing in a place he knew well.
The vast inner sanctuary. At its deepest point stood a raised platform, cordoned off with shimenawa ropes. Inside that sacred space sat a massive boulder—the very one that had once held Murasame-maru, venerated by both Hoori Town and the Tomotake family.
The sword was no longer embedded there, yet the stone's importance had not diminished. It remained one of Mitake Shrine's sacred objects.
And before it, Yoshino Tomotake was dancing. One hand held the Hoko-suzu, the other a kagura bell.
That's right—this girl had snuck out in the middle of the night not to sleep, but to dance.
Ring… ring… ring…
The steady chiming of the bells echoed as her movements grew more graceful, each step purposeful, each gesture dignified. Her expression was solemn, her gaze unwavering. With the bells shaking in her hands, she offered a dance that was breathtakingly divine.
Kaiser found himself holding his breath, his movements unconsciously muted.
He didn't want to disturb her. In this moment, Yoshino wasn't just a girl in shrine robes—she was a miko offering a sacred kagura to the gods themselves. Holy, elegant, pure, untouched by the mundane world. To intrude felt like it would be a sin.
So he stood there silently, unmoving, entranced by her dance.
If Yoshino was already a perfect beauty in daily life, then in this moment—performing the sacred dance with such dignity—she was nothing less than a goddess.
Kaiser had experienced this before, at the Spring Festival. Back then, too, Yoshino's kagura dance had captivated him, making him lose track of time and place. And now it was the same.
By the time he came back to his senses, the dance was ending. Yoshino lowered her arms, letting the bells ring one last, clear note.
"…Haa."
She exhaled softly, not a trace of sweat or fatigue on her face.
Kaiser did not clap.
This wasn't entertainment. This wasn't a performance for festival crowds. It was a sacred offering to the gods. Applause would have felt shallow, even disrespectful.
Luckily, Yoshino didn't need anyone's applause. She walked slowly toward him, her steps light, until she stood before him.
"When did you get here?" she asked softly, her eyes meeting his.
"Right after you came," Kaiser replied, holding her gaze. "It's late. What are you doing out here, dancing alone?"
"…I had a lot on my mind." Yoshino instinctively looked away, her voice shrinking. "I couldn't calm down, so I came here."
For her, the kagura dance wasn't just ritual. It was vital.
It was an offering to the gods, yes—but also a way to slow the spread of filth in Hoori. It couldn't eradicate it completely, but by performing this dance each day, the accumulation of impurity slowed, and the curse took longer to take effect. The appearance of Tatari-gami was pushed back each time.
This was why every generation of the Tomotake family's miko passed it down—not only the mission, the curse, and the sacred tools, but also this sacred dance.
As the current shrine maiden, Yoshino had practiced the kagura since childhood. Once she understood her destiny and her family's fate, she had devoted herself even more. It wasn't just duty—it was a cornerstone of her life.
Because of that, she had long since grown accustomed to performing the dance daily—whether as formal offering, as practice, or for festivals. It was something she did wholeheartedly every time.
And whenever her heart was troubled, she would come here to dance. To focus, to forget her worries.
"…Why can't you calm down?"
Perhaps it was the lingering aura of her dance, but Kaiser's voice came out softer than usual, his demeanor gentler. Yoshino's heart skipped a beat at the unexpected warmth.
Until now—even with their engagement—he had always been detached, distant. Whenever the secrets of Hoori were involved, he acted on his own, ignoring her warnings and reproaches. Cold, aloof, even mocking.
And yet, she owed him her life. Twice, he had slain Tatari-gami with ease. His strength was overwhelming, undeniable. Compared to him, she felt inadequate, a burden.
So when this man, whom she had placed so far above herself, suddenly spoke with such kindness… the contrast struck her deeply.
Before she knew it, the words slipped from her lips.
"I… I just feel useless." Her voice was low. "Kaiser-san can wield Murasame-maru and easily exorcise Tatari-gami. Even Mako is amazing—if she had the right tools, she could handle them alone.
"But me… I can only exorcise Tatari-gami under Mako's protection. The last time I went up the mountain alone, I dragged you into danger. I almost got you killed."
That was the truth weighing on her heart.
If Kaiser joked about Murasame being dead weight this time, then what about her? Wasn't she the same?
Mako had blocked nearly all the Tatari-gami's attacks. It was only under her cover that Yoshino had managed to land a single blow—and even then, she hadn't been able to finish it.
Kaiser, on the other hand, once freed from worrying about her safety, had slain it in an instant.
The gap was crushing.
Exorcising Tatari-gami was supposed to be the Tomotake family's mission. Hers. She had always carried it as her own responsibility, never wanting Kaiser involved. And yet, the moment he was involved, he had accomplished what she never could—effortlessly.
It made her feel like everything she had struggled for was a joke. That she herself was nothing but a clown.
And still, she had the nerve to claim she would protect him? That she would shoulder this mission to keep him safe?
What right did she have to say such things?
That bitter thought had gnawed at her all night, driving her here to dance until her heart calmed.
But now, voicing it aloud, another realization struck her.
If she had dragged Kaiser down before… hadn't she been dragging Mako down all along too?
Was she… unnecessary?
The thought pierced her, leaving her chest tight with pain.
Seeing her like this, Kaiser fell silent for a while.
Then, suddenly, he spoke.
"In that case… how about training with me?"
"Eh…?" Yoshino blinked, startled. "Training… with Kaiser-san?"
She was left completely stunned.
Chapter 508 – Just Training Together
The next morning…
The sky was still dim, touched only by the first haze of dawn, when Kaiser woke as usual, his body clock pulling him up on time. But instead of heading out right after washing up, he sat down in the living room and waited.
"Gooood mor~ning…"
The sliding door creaked open a little while later, and a soft, lazy voice drifted in.
There stood Yoshino Tomotake, shuffling in with half-lidded eyes, dressed in sleepwear, looking like she hadn't fully woken up.
It was the exact same scene Kaiser had walked in on back when he first started living with the Tomotake family.
He couldn't help but smile.
"Morning."
"…Kaiser-san?" Yoshino blinked heavily, struggling to focus on him.
"Yeah, it's me." Kaiser's lips curved, and on impulse, he teased, "You were amazing last night. I was really impressed, you know?"
Yoshino froze.
Smack!
She slapped both cheeks hard enough that her face instantly turned red and swollen.
"Oww…" Tears welled in her eyes as the stinging pain sank in—she hadn't held back at all.
"…You okay?" Kaiser twitched at the corner of his mouth, half exasperated. "Don't tell me you're into self-punishment or something?"
"I-I'm not!" Yoshino protested, eyes watery. "I just… didn't want to look pathetic in front of you, so I had to wake myself up!"
"Pretty sure you overdid it."
"…Yeah, I regret it already."
Rubbing her cheeks and drying her tears, she managed to pull herself together at last.
"Anyway… good morning. I'll be in your care today." She bowed deeply.
"We agreed on it, after all." Kaiser chuckled. "Go wash up and change first, then meet me back here."
"Got it! I'll be quick."
She hurried off toward the washroom.
Watching her disappear, Murasame—who had been floating nearby since Kaiser woke up—finally snapped out of her daze.
"What's going on, Master?" she asked, surprised. "Why's Yoshino up this early? Did you two plan something?"
From the sound of it, that was the only explanation.
"More or less." Kaiser took a sip of water. "Starting today, Lady Tomotake's joining us for morning training."
Last night, when he'd suggested it, Yoshino had been stunned at first. But almost immediately, she'd felt the pull of it. She didn't want to keep being powerless. She didn't want to be a burden anymore.
So she had agreed, and promised to wake early and meet him.
"Yoshino's actually going to train with you?" Murasame muttered, more shocked than relieved. "Since when did the two of you get close enough to do that kind of thing together?"
Not knowing the details of their talk, she found the idea baffling.
"It's just training. Don't read into it." Kaiser rapped her lightly on the forehead.
"Ow! Bad Master!" Murasame winced, glaring at him.
The two of them bickered playfully in the living room while waiting.
Yoshino really didn't take long. Soon she returned, changed into simple workout clothes, ready to move. Together, she and Kaiser left the Tomotake household.
"Let's warm up first, loosen your body." Kaiser guided her like a teacher with a new student.
"Okay."
Gone was the distant, aloof Yoshino of usual. She was obedient, earnest, following every instruction.
Once they'd finished stretching, Kaiser explained the plan.
"Since it's your first day, we'll keep it simple. We'll jog through a few streets in Hoori, nothing complicated. The endpoint's Ukayama Academy—about ten kilometers. A slow run, but for a girl it'll still be tough. For you, though, I think it's just right."
And he wasn't flattering her.
Yoshino might belittle herself, but her stamina was impressive. Years of kagura training had kept her body conditioned. She'd climbed the mountain countless times to face Tatari-gami. Her endurance was better than most boys her age.
That's why she could perform a long, intense kagura dance without breaking a sweat. Why she'd kept up with Kaiser on mountain trails without so much as flushing.
So even for her first training session, he didn't hold back. Ten kilometers it was.
"Just stick with me." With that, Kaiser took off at an easy pace.
"Yes!" Yoshino answered firmly, following without hesitation.
The two ran almost shoulder-to-shoulder. Even when she lagged a little, she never fell far behind. From a distance, they looked perfectly in sync—like a pair meant to be together.
"…If this doesn't end in marriage, I'll eat my words," Murasame murmured from afar, watching them.
"Mm. I'll give them some space to bond." She chuckled knowingly and faded from sight.
Neither Kaiser nor Yoshino noticed, focused only on their run as they left Mitake Shrine and headed into the streets of Hoori.
At this hour, the streets were deserted, the whole town seemingly theirs alone. The quiet air, the empty roads—it felt like freedom.
"So this is what Hoori looks like in the morning?" Yoshino whispered in wonder.
"You've never been out this early?" Kaiser matched her pace, speaking casually as they ran.
"Never." She shook her head. "Father always wakes early to work at the shrine. Even if I wake up, I stay there. I've never had a reason to go out."
Her life was simple—almost stifling. Shielded by both her father and Mako, she was excused from chores, from burdens, living like a sheltered princess.
If she wasn't practicing kagura at the shrine, she was at home studying. She had no friends, no outings. Her world was small, solitary.
So this—running through the town in the dim morning light—was entirely new to her.
"If I ever tried to go out at this hour," she added, "Father would've sent Mako with me. Even if I said I wanted to do something alone, both of them would have worried too much."
That was why she never bothered. Even without a strict curfew, Yoshino never strayed beyond safe hours. Never lingered outside. Never risked worry. Except, of course, when Tatari-gami appeared. Then she would fight, no matter how late.
"So… neither Yasuharu-san nor Mako knows you came with me this morning?" Kaiser raised a brow.
"They don't. Is that a problem?" She looked at him in confusion.
He laughed. "No. Nothing shady about it. Now stop talking, focus on your breathing. Don't lose your rhythm."
"Okay."
She nodded, lips pressed shut, and the two of them ran on.
Street after street, the distance piled up.
By five kilometers, Yoshino's breath was already uneven, sweat dripping down her brow.
At eight, she was gasping, drenched, her body nearly spent.
"Keep going." Kaiser, unchanged from the start, encouraged her calmly.
Gritting her teeth, Yoshino pushed on.
And finally—just as the morning sun broke fully over the horizon—Ukayama Academy's school building came into view.
They'd reached the goal.
Chapter 509 – Training and Free Time
"Haa… haa… haa…"
Under the shade of a tree at the edge of Ukayama Academy, Yoshino Tomotake collapsed to the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath.
"Here."
Kaiser walked over, a water bottle in hand. He was sweating too, breathing a little heavy, but he hadn't collapsed like she had. He held the bottle out to her.
"Thanks…" Yoshino managed weakly before taking it and drinking.
"Don't chug too much. We've still got some drills left. If your stomach's full of water, it'll only make it worse." Kaiser dropped down beside her with an easy reminder.
"…There's more?" Yoshino couldn't help asking.
"Relax, just basic endurance stuff." Kaiser waved it off. "Your stamina's not bad—you'll handle it fine. Once you get used to it, we'll start footwork. Should be easy for someone who's danced her whole life.
"After a few days, we'll work on reaction training. Then I'll get you practicing thrusts. That Hoko-suzu of yours doesn't work well for slashing, but thrusting suits it just fine.
"If you get all this down, dealing with Tatari-gami will be way easier than it is now."
It was clear he had already thought this through. Yoshino felt a surge of gratitude. They'd only agreed to this last night, but he already had a whole plan mapped out. He must've stayed up late preparing.
"…I'm troubling you, Kaiser-san." Her voice was soft, full of thanks. "You've got your own training to do, but you still worry about me."
"It's nothing." Kaiser took the bottle back when she offered it, drinking casually before adding, "The stronger you get, the less I have to worry. Saves me effort too."
It was true. From here on, all exorcisms would involve Yoshino and Mako Hitachi. Helping Yoshino train wasn't just for her sake—it benefited him too.
"Do you… train like this every morning?" Yoshino asked shyly, her face tinged pink. Her gaze flicked restlessly—away, then back to Kaiser, more precisely to the bottle in his hand. She bit her lip, hesitating.
That bottle… she'd just drunk from it.
Indirect kiss…?
The words popped into her mind, and her cheeks burned hotter.
If Kaiser knew what she was thinking, he would've laughed. Forget sharing a bottle—he'd already given her mouth-to-mouth once.
"Pretty much." He looked straight ahead, answering casually. "I've dialed down the intensity a lot lately anyway. You can keep up, so don't worry about slowing me down."
In the past, this routine was nothing for him. But now, ever since he'd begun incorporating Divine Power into his training, things had changed.
Just before they reached their finish line, he'd quietly activated Divine Power. By the time they got to the academy, he was breathing hard, body prickling with pain from keeping it up for twenty minutes straight.
There was no way to keep the same intensity as before. But lowering the intensity hadn't hurt him—if anything, it helped.
Because triggering Divine Power forced stress on his body, it was like training with weights. His physique was improving every day, and the time he could sustain Divine Power had steadily grown. Its quality, too, had improved—roughly a ten percent increase since he started.
Less time, greater gains. Kaiser was more than satisfied.
"What about you?" He turned toward her. "Waking up this early every day for training—it won't cause problems?"
"I-it's fine." Yoshino, still flustered from staring at his lips, quickly turned her head, fussed with her hair, and forced herself to answer calmly. "As long as I don't have to purify filth at night, I usually sleep early. It won't affect me.
"My kagura practice is after school anyway, and studying's just the same as always."
In truth, she had more free time than most. Shielded from chores and burdens, she lived like a princess. Spending two or three hours a day training was no issue at all.
"That's good." Kaiser nodded and got to his feet. "Break's long enough. Let's finish the rest before we run out of time."
Today was a school day. They'd need to run back, eat, and get ready for class. Waste too much time and things would get messy.
At least Ukayama Academy wasn't strict. Classes started at eight-thirty and ended by eleven-thirty in the morning, then from one to three in the afternoon. Just five hours a day. Students could head home or join clubs afterward. Fridays were even shorter, with some classes ending early or canceled altogether.
Compared to the grind of Kaiser's previous school life, it was practically heaven.
Back then, he had to be at school by seven for morning study, classes ran until noon, then resumed from one to five-thirty. Ten hours straight. If you were in the dorms or had night study, that stretched to nine-thirty or even ten. Twelve hours a day at school, with only five hours left for yourself if you slept seven. And most of those "free" hours vanished under mountains of homework.
Holidays? Half-gone with even more brutal assignments.
Honestly, Kaiser thought it was a miracle he'd managed to run every morning back then. No wonder he hadn't come back to Hoori for years—it wasn't unwillingness, just no time. Especially around entrance exams, when competition was suffocating.
That was why, after getting into high school, he had thrown himself into kendo. He couldn't stand being buried under endless academics. He wasn't hopeless at studying, but he wasn't a prodigy either. At best, average. In his last life he'd scraped into a middling college. This time, with his interest in weapons and now the supernatural, studying held no appeal at all.
So yes, a relaxed high school life here was perfect.
Now, his days followed a rhythm: up at five, training until seven, then shower, breakfast, school. After class, no clubs, just free time until dinner. Another hour of Divine Power training before his meal and bath. If there were no night exorcisms, he'd finish his homework and get to bed.
It was a good life.
The sun had only just risen. Around six. They had an hour before heading back. Time wasn't much—better to get moving.
But just as Kaiser and Yoshino resumed their training, someone appeared quietly.
"Kaiser."
The voice was deep, familiar. Kaiser froze mid-stretch and turned.
An elderly man stood there in a worn kimono, a wooden sword in hand.
"Genjuro-sensei." Yoshino quickly got to her feet.
"…Grandfather." Kaiser straightened.
It was Genjuro Kurama.
Chapter 510 – Feels Like Meeting the Parents
On the narrow path leading to Ukayama Academy, an elderly man in an old-fashioned kimono walked slowly forward, a wooden sword in hand.
His features were sharp, his gaze bright and piercing. Though clearly advanced in years, there was no hint of frailty—no stooped back, no faltering steps. His stride was firm, his posture straight, carrying a vigor and presence that outshone many men in their prime.
"Grandfather? What are you doing here?" Kaiser stepped forward, surprised.
"I figured I'd find you around here, so I came to take a look." Genjuro Kurama answered calmly, eyes sweeping over Kaiser. Seeing that his grandson looked well, he finally gave a small nod. "It seems your time in Hoori hasn't been wasted."
He had always kept Kaiser in mind, but between his own obligations and the lack of opportunity, he hadn't managed to see him until now.
"And Lady Miko as well? Good morning."
Genjuro's gaze shifted. Yoshino Tomotake stood at Kaiser's side, dressed in simple workout clothes just like him. Together, they looked surprisingly natural. Genjuro's lips twitched almost imperceptibly before he inclined his head in greeting.
Though Genjuro was a respected elder in Hoori, even Yasuharu Tomotake was technically his junior, the position of the Tomotake Family's shrine maiden was special. Even he had to bow to Yoshino Tomotake, despite her being young enough to be his granddaughter.
"G-good morning, Genjuro-sensei." Yoshino's composure wavered, her cheeks faintly coloring as though embarrassed to be caught alongside Kaiser.
After all, Kaiser was not only her housemate, but her official fiancé—and also Genjuro's grandson. Standing here under his sharp gaze, she couldn't help but feel as though she were meeting her in-laws. If not for her role as Lady Miko, her nerves might have gotten the better of her.
Genjuro, however, had lived long enough to read people with ease. Even though Yoshino tried to keep herself calm, he still picked up on her tension. His eyes softened slightly, shifting toward the look of a grandfather appraising a future granddaughter-in-law.
"How is it? Living with Lady Miko's family—have you gotten used to it?" he asked Kaiser.
"It's fine." Kaiser scratched his cheek, shrugging. "Been over a week already. I'd say I'm used to it."
"If anything troubles you, tell me." Genjuro nodded. "I've already promised your parents I'd keep an eye on your well-being. If you're not comfortable here, I can't exactly explain myself to them."
At those words, Yoshino glanced at Kaiser, her chest tightening. His answer mattered to her too—after all, he was living in her home. If anything went wrong, she would bear responsibility.
"I'm not a kid anymore." Kaiser waved it off. "Even if I'm under someone else's roof, it's not like I can't take care of myself. Don't worry, Grandfather."
Yoshino lowered her head, guilt weighing on her. He said he was fine, but it hadn't been long since he'd nearly lost his life because of her. Barely a week into staying in Hoori, and already he'd been dragged to the edge of death. How could that be called "comfortable"?
Genjuro didn't know the details. But as one of the few who understood the truth about Hoori and the Tomotake Family, he could guess well enough. Kaiser's time here had likely been anything but easy.
So instead, Genjuro said something else.
"It's been a while since we've crossed blades, hasn't it?"
He extended the wooden sword in his hand toward Kaiser.
"Well then, how about it? Care for a match?"
Kaiser's eyes lit up.
"Sure!"
Without a second thought, he accepted.
——
In front of Ukayama Academy's school building, the grounds were quiet, the morning still too early for students. The silence of the empty campus lingered, heavy and still.
And in that silence, grandfather and grandson stood facing one another.
Each held a wooden sword in middle stance, eyes locked. The air itself seemed to tighten, a pressure forming between them.
"…."
The tense atmosphere spread, but neither man was shaken. Instead, it was Yoshino, watching from the side, who swallowed nervously.
Kaiser's eyes gleamed with rare intensity. He knew exactly how strong the old man before him was.
Genjuro Kurama wasn't just his grandfather—he was his teacher. The one who had taught him every stroke of swordsmanship he knew. A man who had survived the turbulent samurai era, a true master.
Kaiser had never met a swordsman stronger.
Back when he trained under Genjuro, he'd challenged him countless times. He had never won once.
Yes—Kaiser had never beaten Genjuro.
Even though his talent was extraordinary, his sword instincts natural, his learning speed phenomenal—his grandfather still bested him every time. The reason was simple: back then, Kaiser was too young. Even at eleven or twelve, his body couldn't compare to the hardened strength of a man who had trained his whole life.
Skill without the body to carry it meant nothing. Though Genjuro himself admitted that Kaiser's sword technique rivaled—or even surpassed—his own, the difference in raw physique always dragged Kaiser down. He lost, again and again.
That was why Kaiser had thrown himself into training. He didn't need to be the strongest. He just needed a body capable of drawing out one hundred percent of his technique.
Now, years later, facing his grandfather once more, Kaiser was no longer a boy. His body had grown, his strength tempered. He wanted to know—at last—if he could stand on equal ground.
"Mm…"
Genjuro's stance was steady, his grip unshaken, his face calm and eyes sharp as blades. He was unmoving, like a mountain.
Despite his age, his posture was flawless, his aura swelling until it seemed his very presence filled the space, as though he loomed larger with every heartbeat.
Most people would have broken under that pressure before a strike was even swung.
But Kaiser held firm, unflinching. His stance was just as perfect, his presence quiet yet unyielding. His aura was smaller, but no less unshakable.
If Genjuro was the immovable mountain, Kaiser was the rock battered by endless waves—never crumbling, never retreating.
"Ah!"
The tension was shattered by a startled cry.
Yoshino's water bottle slipped from her hands and clattered to the ground. Her gasp rang out across the silent courtyard.
That sound became the signal.
"Haa!"
Genjuro's eyes flared as he let out a shout that ripped through the air like thunder. His spirit surged, pressure exploding outward as he stomped forward.
In that instant, the old man's body seemed to blur—like he had closed the distance in a single step.
"Fwoosh!"
His wooden sword cleaved the air, a blow as sharp and swift as lightning.
It was a strike worthy of the man who had once survived countless battles. A strike that rivaled Kaiser's own blade when he felled Tatari-gami in an instant.
And Kaiser didn't back down. He stepped forward to meet it.
"Clack!!"
The crash of wood-on-wood rang like steel. Kaiser's blade rose at the perfect angle, deflecting the strike. The impact resounded through the courtyard, so sharp and heavy it sounded as if the blades had snapped.
But they hadn't. Both wooden swords rebounded, springing apart.
Kaiser immediately surged forward, his sword lashing out like a bolt of thunder.
"Clack!"
Genjuro blocked, twisting his hips to turn the force aside, then spun and countered with a fierce strike to Kaiser's shoulder.
"Clack!"
Kaiser parried, then struck back in turn.
"Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack! Clack!"
In the quiet yard before Ukayama Academy, the sound of wooden swords clashing filled the air, sharp and unending.
—End of Chapter—