Danmachi: Westward Cloud [Complete]

[Vol.4] Quest 328- A New…

The next day.

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Mairu and a guard named Koba were walking to the Kyūjouno’s residence.

"W-what do you think he will do?" Mairu asked, nervous about how it would go.

"I do not know, miss; if his father was here or even his mother, they would certainly have come to the head and straightened things out immediately," Koba said.

"Have you seen or met them?"

"In my youth... back then, we were still waging war with one another. They came and crushed everyone. It was to be expected when everyone was at least at level 2, at best. What can they even do when faced with level 6 and 8 adventures? We were..." They remember the olden days of war. "My how naive we were."

"That bad?"

"At the time we thought a bunch of level 4s could defeat a level 5 if there were enough of them. And in that thought process we figured even more would be able to topple a level 8. Little did we know that our years of isolationism had warped our perspective that adventurers of Orario are built different. Their overall status contributing to make a unstoppable force of nature."

"But if they're not in Yamato, why not take over when they are gone? Surely they can't be at two places at once."

"A foolish thought you should never entertain. I am surprised you said it at all." Koba shakes their head. "Lady Mairu, their power and might extend even here. Simply go and apologize, and all is forgiven. From what I have heard from the people of Fuyukusa, the Young Master is a kind boy who doesn’t wish to start any trouble if he could help it."

"You seem to know a lot given how unknown the heir to the DAMN KYŪJOUNO FAMILY LOOK LIKE!!" Mairu was angry that despite how famous and powerful the Kyujouno were their heir had the barest of bones of a description to identify them. "He is the son of Yamato’s most—Is the son of the strongest people in the world! L-like how?? Barely anyone knows of him! The best description of him was that he has fox-ears. Seven out of ten people here are Renards, and three out of ten are Half-Renards while the last are human!"

"The young Lord doesn’t like to draw attention. The shadows of the Kyūjouno made sure they kept his appearance private. All we know from the public is that he was a boy, and he was half-Renard."

"Shadows? Do they employ the Gojouno's?"

"Possibly. Word is that because Fuyukusa and, by extension, Fuyuhama are corrupt-free, the Gojounos have their hands busy with people who wish to try and get their hands on this treasure trove of an economy."

"Was that why Father sold his most valuable items and heirlooms to move us here?"

"Between you and my lady. It was a bit of both, but he wished that you and your brother received an education here. Along with a free education that will allow you to do many great things."

"Like to help run the Clan? The cost to move here wasn’t cheap, was it?"

"… No. We actually only arrived here because the Kyujouno’s needed specialized help on certain things."

"Seems our ties to other Western nations helped, huh?"

"Very. We even received a letter from the head of the Kyujouno’s long ago."

"And? What did it say?"

"To shorten it up, he said that he hopes our clan will help foster more cultural development of art, architecture, and the like. Your mother went on ahead and took this with pride."

"So as I was told by father. She left to foster more ties with other Western nations."

"She loves you very much." Koba smiles and nods. "I hope you know that."

"She sends me a letter every year on my birthday so yes I know."

Their walk came to sudden stop as Koba stopped.

"Ah, we are here."

They arrive at the home with a cloud on the gate. Mairu gazed at the gate of the strongest family in Yamato and technically the world.

"It’s pretty big."

"They like their privacy." He walks up and knocks on the door.

After a bit, the door opened.

"Hm? Who is it?" said a maid, a member of Susanoo’s Familia.

"My apologies, ma’am, but Lady Mairu of the Date Clan came to apologize for yesterdays events."

"Oh, is that so? Come in."

Walking in, they looked around the amazing home. It's style was a marvel to look at as it's architecture was unique even within the Fuyukusa where every building is unique special on their own.

"Wow!" Mairu said, impressed.

They walk around to the back to see Haku, Retsu, and Musashi fighting with one another.

Thud!! Swish!!

Swish-Swish!!

Thud-Thud-Thud!!

Swish!! Swish!!

A heated exchange of blows and swings came down hard enough that the sound of meat being hit rang through the backyard.

"Hakushika, you have visitors."

           Haku stopped and turned to look toward them.

"Oh, it’s you—Smack!!"

Retsu struck Haku in his face.

"Do not lose focus!" said Retsu.

"Hahaha!! You are always so—Bam!!" Musashi was also struck.

"You also lost—Smack!!"

"Got you!! You lost focus too!"

"It will not happen again!" They returned to fighting one another.

Mairu was shocked to see them all having fun fighting one another, especially considering Haku’s position.

"Haku!! Do not make me repeat myself, Retsu! Musashi! Go and meditate for now." The maid shouted.

The three stopped and straightened up.

"Y-yes Maka!"

As Retsu and Musashi go to meditate, Haku comes up to them.

"Sorry about that, so, oh, it’s you again."

"Y-yes um, I came to apologize for yesterday."

"Oh, that… Tell me, who do you think I was? Your reaction at the time told me you didn’t know who I was."

"I assumed you were a thief or some beggar."

Haku looked at her for a second. There were beggars within the streets of Fuyukusa and Fuyuhama, but he never really paid them mind.

‘Hm? I should ask Dad why that is that we have them. He got mad at what happened to the orphanage. I doubt he wouldn’t do something to help the homeless people around the city.’

"Hmm... well, apology taken."

Truthfully, the city had no beggars; they were a kind of secret task force. Created under Cirrus to keep the city safe and ensure no "rats" infest the city and corrupt it somehow. They established it after the whole Tsukuyomi Orphanage incident. It is also under Susanoo’s command, adhering to a very strict code of conduct and procedures, making them more restricted than the actual police force within the city. They are also very well paid, with all the benefits one wishes they could have for themselves and their families to remove any possible influence of them turning on them.

"Thank you, Young Lord—" As she bows, Haku speaks up.

"On the condition that you continue to have more spars with me," he says with a slight smile, and she slightly blushes. "Is that fine with you? I enjoyed our little spar; I've never seen someone wield more than two swords with both of their hands."

"Y-yes!" she bows again. "I would like to have more spars with you as well, Young—"

"You can just call me Hakushika or Haku if you like. I don’t like to be referred to as young Lord or master. Well, go on and pick up your swords. That’s fine with you, Maka?" Haku looked up at the maid.

Maka is a member of the Susanoo Familia, and she has known Ai since she first joined the Familia.

"That is your choice." She said.

"Koba?" Mairu looked at her guard.

"Go on, have fun." He nods.

Her eyes lit up. She turned to Haku.

"Very well! Another spar!"

The two engaged in another spar, and Musashi and Retsu came back and joined in as well.

Later that night, outside.

"You know Haku; you have your father’s face." Said Maka, sitting next to Haku.

Both of them were drinking tea and looking at the moon.

"Hm? What do you mean about that?" Haku says this with a cup of tea in hand.

"Your father would always make that face when he was with your mother. That charming smile always made her blush."

"W-w-what are you getting at!?" he said, looking intensely at her.

"Ah~ youth… so innocent and plain to see. If Kushida or your grandma were here, they would have sat you down and had you tell them everything."

"!!!" Haku’s face begins to turn red from embarrassment.

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep it from Ai and everyone else."

"I-I really don’t know what you’re talking about!" Haku looked away, his eyes darting and his ears perking up.

"Look at that. You even have the way your mom blushes as well, ears twitching. It's really adorable." She smirked, filling her cup with tea and drinking it.

"…." Haku looks away. "I now know why Aunty Kushida sent you as the caretaker."

"Perhaps. You are lucky your grandparents are busy people."

"Yeah, but grandma and grandpa don’t burn the food."

"Yes, but they won’t give you shit when you stay late at night reading." She takes off her tea. "Or yell at you for leaving your clothes around like some slop."

"Fair enough. I am glad you are here to watch over me and Retsu."

"Wonderful. We are getting along swimmingly. By the way, you should hide your dirty books in better places, preferably hidden behind some wall or something."

"…" Haku’s face turned red as he looked away. "Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind."

"You know you have similar tastes too—"

"Have you read the story of the sailor lost at sea?" Haku changed topics. He does not want to know what she was going to say.

"No, what’s it about?"

Maka went along with the new topic; she made her point.

‘He certainly has his father’s taste. I can see a bit of Ai in that one-eyed girl.’

Date Clan’s home.

"…"

Mairu lays in her futon with her eye open.

She reaches out and gently touches her missing eye.

"… If only I had two eyes." She thinks of the fun she had today and the expressions Haku made. She grinned with a slight blush. "M-maybe he likes girls with one eye?"

Heaven in ■■■■■.

"Thank you again," Nyx says in an empty realm.

I am not looking forward to him arriving here.

Said an omnipresent voice.

Your request is accepted. Now leave. Or do you wish for Ananke to see through your veil?

"I am leaving. Thank you again for your time." Nyx then disappeared.

Her veil is remarkably strong. I did not notice her until she was already here.

The presence returned to silence.