Chapter 51 The Blacksmith’s Burden
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I dragged myself home with Foolish Fox and Tengu-san in tow, burdened by the Acting Head of Family’s request. My place has enough rooms, but it’s a mess—cleaning’s been the least of my worries. Worst case, I’ll ask them to crash elsewhere for the night so I can tidy up in the morning. The real problem?
Tomorrow’s an academy day. No way I’m skipping it; I need to check on Shamir and Est. That leaves Yohira stuck at home during the day, but she’s barely gotten the hang of basic chores. I can already picture her fumbling through cleaning, making an even bigger mess and crying in frustration.
The two tagalongs aren’t helping either. They’re side-eyeing Tengu-san, whispering about how a royal guard shouldn’t be fussing over housework.
Foolish Fox, though? For some reason, I can see her handling chores with ease. No clue why I think that.
”By the way, Tatara-dono, may I ask something?” The Acting Head of Family’s voice cut through my thoughts, calm but deliberate, seizing a pause in our conversation.
”Uh, sure. What’s up?” I replied, caught off guard.
He leaned forward slightly. “When did you start calling my daughter by her name?”
Oh no. I froze.
I’ve been calling Yohira by her name for a while now, so casually I didn’t even think about it. Rookie mistake.
”You didn’t do that before, did you?” he pressed, his tone still polite but sharpening. “So, it must have changed over time. Tell me, Tatara-dono, you haven’t taken liberties with my daughter, have you?”
His refined speech peeled away, replaced by a low, menacing growl that carried an authority I hadn’t seen in him before—not even when his wife had smacked him upside the head earlier. This was the Acting Head of Family in full force, radiating a pressure that made my spine stiffen.
Telling him the truth—that Yohira asked me to call her by name—felt like pouring oil on a fire. No way that’d go over well.
”Uh, well…” I stammered, grasping for words.
”Come now,” he said, his voice softening but still firm. “I know you wouldn’t call her that without reason. Be honest. This teacher won’t get angry.”
”Rage flag, degozaru! Hilarious!” Foolish Fox chimed in, grinning.
”Idiot, don’t make this worse!” I snapped at her. They can hear everything, you know!
Damn it, Yohira, I’m blaming you for this mess.
I sighed, choosing my words carefully.
”She said being called by her family name felt distant. Lonely, even.”
It slipped out—more than I meant to say, but it’s what I figured Yohira felt. She’s bright and energetic, but I’ve seen it: the way being called “Torakuma” while everyone else uses first names makes her feel isolated. That first day we met, when her father let slip, “Finally, a friend?”—it wasn’t a joke.
Yohira might not have had real friends before. The two tagalongs call her by name, but it’s clear they see her as “the lady of the house,” not a peer. And with everyone else being “Torakuma,” first names are probably the only way to tell them apart.
The Acting Head of Family raised an eyebrow. “So, you call someone by their name if they allow it?”
”I’d never do it without permission,” I said firmly.
”Even if she’s an unmarried young woman, and your familiarity could cause misunderstandings?”
”Calling a married woman by her name would stir up more trouble,” I shot back, my tone rougher than intended.
He chuckled.
”You let your true self slip sometimes, don’t you? Your rough edges show.”
”Sorry,” I muttered. “Bad upbringing.”
”It reminds me of my son’s rebellious phase. Not entirely unpleasant, but mind yourself around others.”
Is he… being lenient? I couldn’t figure it out.
Had I done something to earn this kind of leniency from the Acting Head of Family? Parents are a mystery.
”Let’s shift gears to politics,” he said, his tone returning to its usual calm authority. “You plan to build a teleportation gate linking our houses directly. How will you manage the mana requirements?”
”My house sits on a dragon vein,” I explained. “I’ll tap into that for mana. If it’s not enough, I can craft a household Mana Reactor using an Alchemist’s Egg to cover the rest.”
”A household Mana Reactor…” he mused, stroking his chin.
”Dear,” his wife interjected, “if you start questioning Tatara-san’s ideas, we’ll be here past midnight.”
”She’s already got him figured out,” the City Mayor (female) said with a smirk.
”Too true, degozaru,” Foolish Fox added, chuckling.
Oh, come on, give me a break. I shot a glance at the City Mayor, who was giving me a look like we were comrades in mutual exasperation.
”Could you build one of those Mana Reactors for our estate?” the Acting Head asked.
”If it’s a formal request…” I hesitated, turning to the City Mayor. “This wouldn’t fall under the city’s iron trade restrictions, right?”
”No, it’s an out-of-city commission, so those rules don’t apply,” she confirmed. “But… what’s the cost for an Alchemist’s Egg and the crafting expertise?”
I froze. She’s got me there.
When I made five Alchemist’s Eggs for the old man’s party and Calmys-san, the City Mayor covered the cost, but we never settled on a specific figure. I couldn’t quote a price on the spot.
”Let me give my take,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. “And don’t worry, it’s not that bad.”
”Sounds ominous…” I muttered.
She laughed lightly.
”Relax. An Alchemist’s Egg alone is easily over 90 million.”
”Ninety million and I’m supposed to relax?” I said, half-joking.
”It’s a bargain if it’s under a billion,” the Acting Head remarked.
”Ninety million at minimum,” the City Mayor clarified. “Depending on the technical expertise required, it could hit three billion. And if another crafter or country made it, patent fees would push it to five billion, with annual usage fees around ten billion.”
My stomach churned. “City Mayor, I’m getting a stomachache here.”
Passive income for life sounds nice, but… I knew I should save for the kids’ future, but that kind of money could ruin me if I’m not careful.
”And turning it into a household Mana Reactor?” she continued. “That’s a multi-billion project, the kind nations fund. Won’t that blow the Torakuma estate’s budget?”
”We have reserves,” the Acting Head said, though his confidence wavered. “Could we… arrange a loan?”
”Paying annual fees in monthly chunks sounds like a nightmare,” I said.
”It could bankrupt us,” he admitted grimly.
”But,” he added, “if we factor in the cost of buying Mana Stones, it’d turn profitable in a few years. And if we supply mana to, say, a thousand households and collect monthly fees, the annual cost becomes manageable.”
I’d promised a discount since it’s Yohira’s family, but I couldn’t undersell my tech. Dalma-san once warned me: cheapen your work, and the whole Whirlwind brand gets undervalued.
That could scale up to national levels. There had to be another way.
The Acting Head’s wife spoke up, her voice soft but calculated.
”What if… we made it a family matter? If Tatara-san and the Torakuma house became kin, we could gift a Mana Reactor as a bridge between us.”
Her husband’s eyes widened. “You mean…”
”I know it’s underhanded,” she admitted. “But with our finances strained, it’s practical. Tatara-san would receive something worth more than gold in return.”
Wait, what’s she getting at?
My gut twisted. Don’t say it.
”Tatara-san,” she said, her tone resolute. “We’d offer our youngest daughter, Yohira, in exchange for a Mana Reactor.”
”Don’t mess with me!” I roared, my voice shaking the room.
I couldn’t hold back. That crossed a line I wouldn’t forgive.
”You’re her parent!” I shouted, glaring at them. “How dare you treat your daughter like some bargaining chip?”
The Acting Head raised an eyebrow, his voice infuriatingly calm.
”This is hardly unusual among nobles. You may not see it, but even the City Mayor might’ve faced similar deals.”
”I’m not talking about nobles or the City Mayor!” I snapped, my fists clenched. “I’m asking you, as her father! Don’t you feel any shame treating your child like a pawn?”
He smirked, like it was all a game.
This was the man who’d poured love into Yohira for years—how could he even think of trading her for a Mana Reactor? Yohira, that kind, resilient girl, deserved better than being cheapened like this.
”Yohira’s not some tool,” I growled, my voice low but steady. “She’s not yours to trade.”
The room fell silent. The Acting Head’s smirk faded, replaced by a thoughtful look.
His wife glanced at him, her expression unreadable. Foolish Fox and Tengu-san exchanged uneasy glances, while the City Mayor leaned back, watching the scene unfold like it was a stage play.
”I… misspoke,” the Acting Head said finally, his tone softer, almost regretful. “Yohira’s happiness matters more than any deal. I got carried away with politics.”
Did he just back down? I stayed tense, ready for another trick.
”We’ll find another way,” he continued. “The gate, the reactor—we’ll negotiate fairly. No need for… extreme measures.”
I exhaled, the fire in my chest cooling slightly.
”Good. Let’s keep it that way.”
The City Mayor broke the tension with a chuckle.
”Well, that was dramatic. Shall we move on to logistics?”
”Fine by me,” I said, still glaring at the Acting Head. Yohira’s worth more than your schemes.
”Don’t you get it?” I roared, my voice raw with fury. “Yohira loves you both! She treasures the dances you taught her, holds them close like they’re sacred! Do you have any idea how much it’d hurt her to be betrayed by the people she loves!?”
The Acting Head of Family leaned back, his expression calm but unyielding.
”That’s exactly why she’d be proud to serve her family and our lands. You may not understand, Tatara-san, but Yohira is a noble.”
”She’s a girl before she’s a noble!” I snapped, my fists trembling. “If you’re going to treat her like a pawn, then I’ll take her myself! I’ll give you as many Mana Reactors as you want! But never—ever—treat Yohira like a tool again!”
”Got your word on that!” his wife said, her voice sharp with triumph.
”…Huh?” I blinked, the air shifting around me.
”Tatara,” the City Mayor said slowly, her tone heavy with implication. “You…”
”Uh, wait—what?” My words replayed in my head, each one sinking like a stone. Did I just say something I can’t take back?
The Acting Head’s wife hid her mouth, but her eyes sparkled with amusement, like she was savoring the chaos.
Oh no. I really messed up.
”Offering multiple Mana Reactors worth billions for one young lady?” the Foreign Affairs Chief chimed in. “That’s a total loss.”
The cost wasn’t the issue—I could gather materials and craft them, and the annual fees were more hassle than they were worth. But… what did I just say about Yohira? I’ll take her myself? With Ethelena in my life, that makes me a traitor.
A filthy betrayer who’d trample Ethelena’s feelings. The realization hit like a hammer, and I sank to my knees, head bowed. I’m trash. I’ve ruined Yohira’s future with my reckless words.
”What a perfect orz, degozaru!” Foolish Fox laughed. “The pose of a defeated warrior, degozaru! Your honor lies dead here!”
”Meanwhile, Okusama looks like she’s about to applaud,” Tengu-san muttered.
Their voices buzzed around me, but nothing registered.
”I… betrayed Ethelena,” I whispered, tears welling up. “I’m sorry, Ethelena… I’m so sorry.”
”Kasumi,” the Acting Head said sharply to his wife. “This is too cruel, even for you. You knew his sincerity would make him react like that.”
”Oh, darling,” she replied, smirking. “You’re one to talk, acting so approving now. I don’t know whose word you wanted to trap, but I can’t defend this.”
Their voices floated above me, discussing my outburst like it was a diplomatic blunder.
All I’ve done is make things worse. Hilarious.
”Father! Mother!” Yohira’s voice cut through the haze as she burst into the meeting room.
What? Why’s she here?
The City Mayor caught my confused look. “What’s with that face?”
”Seriously, why?” I asked.
”I sent Calmys to fetch her from the dungeon ages ago,” she said. “Perfect timing, right?”
Divine timing, more like.
”Yohira!” the Acting Head exclaimed, his voice brimming with joy. “You look well! Is that armor from your culture? It suits you!”
He couldn’t hide his delight at seeing his daughter after so long. That’s the kind of warmth I like about him.
”Yohira, you seem healthy,” his wife added, though her tone carried a hint of scrutiny.
”Yes, Mother! I’m doing great!” Yohira beamed, her smile radiant.
But her mother’s eyes narrowed.
”One thing… that armor. Did Tatara-san make it?”
”Aye, that’s right!” Yohira nodded proudly.
Her mother pressed a hand to her mouth, deep in thought. I glanced at Yohira and noticed the singed, curled tips of her hair.
”Yohira,” I said, my voice low. “Your hair…”
”Oh, this?” She laughed lightly. “Got surrounded by goblins. Couldn’t dodge a Fire Arrow from a pack of sorcerers. No big deal.”
Her casual tone didn’t fool me. My vision narrowed, her words barely sinking in.
”Foolish Fox,” I said sharply. “A chair.”
”Huh?” she blinked.
”A chair. Now.”
”Uh, okay—”
”Can you hear me?”
”Y-Yes, sir!” she squeaked, scrambling.
Yohira tilted her head.
”Ichika? Why’re you out of the territory?”
”She tagged along with Tengu-san,” I said. “Got chewed out by your dad and Tengu-san earlier.”
”Tengu-san… Hinagiku!” Yohira gasped. “Weren’t you an imperial guardian soldier?”
”Uh, I was ordered by the master…” Hinagiku mumbled.
”Right, got it,” Yohira said. “But… why’s Tatara so mad?”
”Mad?” I paused. I’d been furious earlier, but that was my own short-sightedness. “I’m fine now.”
”…Really?” Yohira asked, unconvinced.
”Here’s the chair, Master!” Foolish Fox announced, dragging it over.
I sat Yohira down and pulled a dryer from my inventory—one I kept at home for emergencies. “City Mayor, I need some mana.”
She sighed. “You’re really doing this here?”
”If I wait, it’ll be too late. Better now than never.”
”Tatara?” Yohira looked confused.
”Sit still,” I told her.
I drew mana from a nearby supply port and activated the dryer, spraying healing ointment onto Yohira’s hair.
But her oni physiology resisted standard potions. Figures.
”Tatara!” Yohira protested. “Why’re you so mad? Is my hair that big a deal?”
”Of course it is!” I snapped. “You’ve taken such good care of it, kept it beautiful! Don’t neglect yourself like that!”
”Why’s it always you saying that?” she shot back, exasperated.
I swapped the ointment for a blessed healing potion from my inventory. The effect was immediate—her hair shimmered, regaining its luster.
”Tch, Tatara! That’s rare stuff!”
”Shut it!” I said. “If you won’t take care of yourself, Ethelena and I will do it for you! I can get more from the church—two bottles, no problem. Just let me handle this!”
My words seemed to hit home.
Yohira stopped resisting, her head slightly bowed as I worked. Her ears and neck flushed red, her body trembling faintly.
”Your hair’s your pride, right?” I said softly. “Don’t treat it lightly.”
”…I’m not girly like Mother or Ethelena,” she mumbled.
”Are you kidding?” I scoffed. “You’ve got your own charm, and you don’t lose to either of them. You’re honest, kind, and strong in a way that’s all you.”
”…Really?” Her voice was small.
”Obviously,” I said. “You’re a radiant girl with a strength that’s more than just power.”
”…Okay,” she whispered.
I finished restoring her hair, combing it gently to smooth out the tangles.
”Flirting in front of her parents, huh?” the Acting Head said, half-joking.
”Oh, darling,” his wife teased. “You’re fine interrupting their moment, but now you care about propriety?”
I looked up, catching the Acting Head’s conflicted expression and his wife’s barely-contained amusement. Oops.
”Uh, yeah,” I said, scratching my neck. “Touching her hair like that was probably too forward.”
”No, it’s fine!” Yohira blurted, her face crimson. “I mean, I wouldn’t let anyone but Tatara do it, so… it’s okay!”
Her flustered attempt at reassurance only made me more aware of my mistake.
With Ethelena in my life, this closeness was crossing a line. I needed to keep my distance.
”Back to your question,” Yohira said to her mother. “This armor’s from Tatara.”
Her mother’s earlier scrutiny made sense now. She’d noticed something off about the armor—something I hadn’t caught.
”Tatara-san,” the Acting Head’s wife said, her tone measured. “What exactly is that armor made of?”
”It’s custom-made for Yohira’s body, but it’s not just any armor,” I said, scratching my head. “The process involves forging, but it’s a bit more… involved.”
The Acting Head’s wife tilted her head. “Using mithril silver thread for the fabric makes sense, but… you forged mithril silver?”
”Yeah, it’s delicate work—tricky, but if you want durability, this is the way to go. It’s pure mithril, so it only carries the properties of that metal.”
Her hand lingered at her mouth, deep in thought, while the City Mayor pressed her temples like she was nursing a headache. Guess I forgot to mention my magic metal forging technique.
It’s a brutal process—without an Alchemist’s Egg, I’d burn through my mana and collapse. It’s not something I’d whip up unless the situation demanded it.
”Tatara-san,” the Acting Head said cautiously, “one question.”
”Sure, what’s up?”
”Your armor… it doesn’t have an inscription. More than that, Appraisal doesn’t pull up any information at all.”
”Oh,” I said, blinking. “I haven’t gotten around to naming it yet.”
Yohira nodded.
”He’s right. Never heard an inscription when I got it.”
I’d assumed the world would log its stats once it was used, but maybe it needs an inscription to register properly? Weird.
”An inscription, huh…” I muttered.
”What’s wrong, Tatara?” Yohira teased. “Bad at naming things?”
”Terrible,” I admitted. “Everything I name ends up sounding basic.”
”Basic, huh?” Calmys-san piped up, smirking. “I quite like the inscription on the sword you gave me.”
I appreciated the sentiment, but that sword’s name—Pride—was just a lazy pull from some foreign word in my past life.
Tatia’s armor was Wings. My naming sense is nonexistent.
”If I had to pick… maybe Hydrangea?” I suggested.
Yohira laughed. “That’s definitely getting called basic.”
”Then you name it,” I shot back.
”No way! It’s your creation, like your kid. You’ve gotta name it.”
”That’s not how it works,” I grumbled.
But as we bantered, a familiar sensation clicked—like something had locked into place. The inscription must’ve registered.
”Hydrangea, is it?” the Acting Head’s wife said, raising an eyebrow.
”Yeah, super basic,” I admitted.
”You knew Yohira’s name ties to it, didn’t you?” she asked, her tone curious.
”Well… yeah,” I said, dodging the fact that my past-life knowledge of flower meanings helped. No need to admit I dug into the lore of fate’s lost children.
”Forging magic metal, though—that’s astonishing,” she continued.
”The method’s common enough,” I said. “It’s just the mana control that’s a pain. Gotta keep it steady the whole time, but the results are solid.”
”Solid?” she echoed, incredulous. “This is beyond solid.”
”Tatara,” the City Mayor cut in, “how are you forging magic metal?”
”It’s an extension of demonsteel crafting,” I explained. “You know I treat all metals the same—different approach, same principles. I’m a living forge, right?”
”You’re not even calling me a living thing anymore…” she muttered.
”That’s just how you treat me these days,” I said with a shrug. Might as well lean into it.
The Acting Head cleared his throat.
”We were discussing sending a blacksmith your way. Is that still necessary?”
”Absolutely,” I said. “I’d love to share techniques. I’ll teach what I can, and we’ll both push our nations forward.”
”Very well,” he agreed. “I’ll send a stubborn but skilled blacksmith. How long will the teleportation gate take?”
”Sorry, tomorrow’s an academy day, so I’m tied up. Earliest I can start is tomorrow evening.”
”When will it be done?” he asked.
”Tomorrow evening.”
”…That’s too fast,” he said, stunned.
”With all due respect, Torakuma-sama,” Calmys-san interjected, “he made my sword in three hours. This is just how he operates.”
”And my armor and iron fan were shaped in one night, adjusted by morning,” Yohira added.
”…Too fast!” the Acting Head exclaimed.
”Tatara-san,” his wife said, leaning forward, “why not come to our country? We could discuss forging… and perhaps have you, ahem, spread your lineage with a few partners?”
”Total chaos,” I muttered.
”They’re trying to turn you into a breeding stud, degozaru,” Foolish Fox whispered.
”I’m not safe from that either, am I?” the City Mayor groaned.
The meeting room erupted into noise, with Calmys-san as the only voice of reason—and she wasn’t even trying to rein it in.
If we bring up Yohira’s Appraisal issue now, this’ll spiral out of control. Better save it for next time.
”But, you know,” I said, my voice softening, “once the teleportation gate’s up, Yohira’s going back home, right? It’ll be… lonely.”
”I’m not going back,” Yohira declared.
”…What?” the Acting Head and I said in unison, our voices overlapping.
”Come on,” I said. “You should take time with your family.”
”Exactly, Yohira!” her father added. “I’ve been waiting for you with bated breath!”
”No way,” she said firmly. “I don’t want to. Ethelena and Tatia are hard to leave, and knowing Tatara, he’d probably seal the gate while I’m gone and not open it until everything’s settled.”
Damn, she’s got me pegged.
”Tatara-dono,” the Acting Head said, his tone sharp, “what’s this ‘everything’ you’re settling?”
I glanced at the City Mayor, who sighed and steeled herself. Sorry for making you clean up my mess.
”This is a shameful issue for our city,” she began. “Discussing it might mean relying on Yohira-sama’s strength.”
”City Mayor-sama,” the Acting Head said, “is it serious enough to need Yohira’s help?”
”Yes,” she replied. “And ideally, we’d involve both of her escorts as well.”
So, not hiding it as a city secret but sharing it to request cooperation? Politics are beyond me, but maybe this’ll get Yohira home. The City Mayor explained the looming coup at the knight school—a student-led uprising.
I expected the Foreign Affairs Chief to lose it, but he stayed calm. Guess he already knew. Not a department head for nothing.
”You’d involve my daughter in a civil war?” the Acting Head said, his voice tight.
”I’m sorry,” the City Mayor said. “We’d prefer to send Yohira home swiftly, but—”
”I already said I’m not going!” Yohira interrupted. “If you force me, Tatara’ll have to get me pregnant to give me a reason to stay out of the fight!”
”Don’t use babies as an excuse!” I snapped.
”And if possible,” the Acting Head’s wife added, “we’d love to take Tatara-san and his fiancée, Ethelena-san, into our fold.”
”Stop trying to poach us in the chaos!” I shot back.
The Acting Head fretted over Yohira, while his wife schemed to snag me and Ethelena without a shred of concern for her daughter. Talk about a temperature difference.
”Father,” Yohira said, facing the screen with resolve. “My choice hasn’t changed.”
She gripped the sleeve of my shirt, seemingly unaware of the gesture.
”I want to live with this man. Please, let me.”
The Acting Head let out a heavy sigh. “You’re as stubborn as your mother.”
His wife, meanwhile, watched Yohira intently, her expression unreadable. The contrast was stark.
”Yohira,” she said softly. “Come home safely.”
”Yes, Mother,” Yohira replied, her voice steady.
I met the Acting Head’s gaze, his eyes heavy with unspoken pressure.
”Tatara-dono,” he said. “Take care of my daughter.”
”I will,” I promised. “I’ll make sure she gets home safe. And for the teleportation gate, I’ll set it up so it collapses automatically if Ethelena or I die—to prevent any invasions.”
”That’s… an extreme precaution for a student,” he said, taken aback.
”I’m the Chief Crafter,” I said. “I take my responsibilities seriously.”
As the conversation wound down, Yohira spoke up, her voice curious. “By the way, why was Tatara yelling before I came in?”
The room fell silent.
Cold sweat trickled down my back as the Acting Head’s wife smirked, her eyes gleaming like a fox’s. Is she the real tengu here?
”Uh, well…” I stammered.
”Just a bit too much love, Yohira,” she said, her tone dripping with mischief. “Don’t make him feel bad about it.”
Her “support” felt like a kick to a corpse.
The Acting Head stayed silent, his face a mix of guilt and exasperation. Please, someone stop her.
”Sounds like the usual Tatara,” Yohira said, nodding as if she’d cracked some grand mystery.
”What’s that supposed to mean?” I shot back, exasperated.
Yohira just grinned, completely satisfied with her assessment.
I let out a sigh, only to feel a hand patting my back. Glancing over, I saw Foolish Fox rubbing my shoulder with a mischievous look.
”Master, I’ve got some stomach medicine,” she said, holding out a small vial. “Wanna take it, degozaru?”
”What’s with the dirty catchphrase disguised as concern?” I grumbled, but I took the medicine with a nod of thanks. It was the kind you could swallow without water, and Foolish Fox’s choice was surprisingly thoughtful. The minty flavor cleared my throat and settled my stomach—perfect for post-meal heaviness. This world didn’t seem to worry about overdosing like my past life, so medicines here skipped the usual numbing agents, making them refreshing and easy to take.
Yohira tilted her head, watching me. “Tatara, you don’t mind Ichika’s weird way of talking?”
”Huh?” I blinked.
Her question caught me off guard.
Sure, Foolish Fox’s speech was rough around the edges, but she was easy to talk to. It actually helped.
”I’m not exactly a poet myself,” I said. “Her words aren’t aggressive or anything, so why would I care?”
Yohira’s eyes lit up.
”See? That’s just so you, Tatara.”
”Which means Master’s a silver-tongued charmer, degozaru!” Foolish Fox chimed in.
”Why’d you bring up Emile?” I groaned, catching the reference.
Is that novel even a thing in this world? It showed up in games sometimes, so maybe it existed here.
Not like it was part of mandatory schooling, though. The Acting Head of Family was giving me a strange look, and I realized the hour was getting late—tomorrow’s academy day loomed. Time to wrap this up.
”Sorry, but I’ve got to head out,” I said. “Tomorrow’s packed.”
”Of course,” the Acting Head said, nodding. “The academy comes first.”
”Yohira, don’t cause Tatara-san too much trouble,” his wife added.
”Got it, Mother!” Yohira replied cheerfully.
”Good,” the Acting Head said. “Tatara-san, my daughter might be a handful, but please look after her.”
”I’ll probably cause my share of trouble too,” I said with a wry smile. “We’ll keep it mutual. Thanks, and goodnight.”
With a final bow, I left with Yohira in tow. Foolish Fox and Tengu-san trailed behind, and it hit me—I’d forgotten they were staying at my place too.
Problem was, I hadn’t prepped any rooms. Guess they’d have to crash in Yohira’s room or the living room for now.
When we reached the house, Ethelena and Tatia were waiting outside, looking a bit lost. Their faces lit up the moment they saw us.
”Tatara!” Ethelena called, beaming.
”Tatara-dono,” Tatia said, her voice tinged with alarm, “why does the house look like a fortress!?”
Oh, right. I hadn’t told Tatia about the security upgrades.
”Hey, you two. Welcome back,” I said. “And, uh, welcome home.”
”Yup, I’m back!” Ethelena chirped, returning my greeting with her usual energy.
Then she noticed Yohira and the two strangers behind me, her expression shifting to confusion. “Torakuma, welcome back… who’re they?”
”Oh, these two?” I gestured to Foolish Fox and Tengu-san. “They’re Yohira’s escorts.”
”…What?” Ethelena’s face fell, her eyes glistening like she was about to cry.
Notes:
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name.
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
• Dalma – A massive, rugged Explorer with a burly frame and a presence that overshadows others, long considered a battle comrade of Rogas, Calmys, and the mayor. Straightforward and loyal, his trademark is entrusting everything to his allies—“makaseru otoko,” the kind who leaves even the forging of his great axe entirely to Tatara’s hands.
• Hinagiku – Karasu Tengu warrior appearing during Julon’s test battle. Fights him under Acting Head’s orders to gauge his skill. Later assists in arresting Ichige. Serves Torakuma clan. Allies with Julon. Fastest Tengu, proud but fair.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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