Chapter 4 — Stolidity

Chapter 4 — Stolidity

 

“I see...”

 

Shuunin's laconically responded after his grandmother told him about his mother.

 

“Your mother... after learning of his son and husband's death, her health deteriorated as she ate less and hope left her eyes. I was... I was the one who told her that my son had died. If only I didn't...”

 

Touka gravely states and tears swelled up her eyes.

 

“You are not to blame, obaa-sama. My mother was weak in the first place. Although she had passed away, she left something the clan can be proud of.”

 

Shuunin glanced at the twin girls sleeping in a crib in Touka's room. In Zehel clan, female offsprings is equivalent to treasure as they have unique body buildup of which their body can contain three times more mana than the bodies of male offsprings. Shoutarou, Shuunin's father, is a rare one as he got a body similar to that of a female offspring. That's why Shoutarou became the first male clan head of Zehel clan because of his mana cultivation and unique fighting attributes.

 

“Shuunin... Are you really fine?”

 

“Obaa-sama, I'm really fine.”

 

“Shuu-chan?”

 

“Obaa-sama, I'm not a kid anymore.”

 

Winging at the childish byname, Shuunin made sighed and drank his cold tea. Touka always have a good perception of others and her grandson never escapes her however, Shuunin's stolid indifference was new to her. As if a part of him has been gone.

 

«Just what did really happened at the dungeon?»

 

Touka continues to wonder even after Shuunin had explained everything to her. She was angry already at his stepbrothers but it just went off the limit of her patience so muchthat she decided to give punishments to the four young men befitting of the treason they performed.

 

Then again, even at the death of their father, the rest of Shoutarou's children are still part of the main family. The main branch will still keep an eye on them as reserves. That as well applies to Shuunin however, with the birth of the twin girls, the path of his life may be drifting off the rough roads.

 

“The elders are still doubtful of your abilities but I know you will rise up as the clan head in the future!”

 

“I'm not interested. Speaking of names, have you named those two.”

 

“Seri and Sera, your mother have told me about their names before. Ah! You tried to change the subject just now, didn't you!”

 

“No, anyways, obaa-sama I'll be taking my leave from the house.”

 

“Haah?! Why would you leave?”

 

“I just...”

 

Stopping at the door, Shuunin looked at the twins before making up his mind.

 

“I want to be away from the clan, for a while. Obaa-sama, I'm very grateful you saved me.”

 

Meanwhile, a tenebrous atmosphere surrounds  a room. Cooped in a single room as a form  of house arrest, the four brothers had a matching it with an aghast look on their face as they heard the news of Shuunin's miraculous survival in the cave. Souma and Shindou wore the worst look as their eyes went dim in memory of their btief adventure at the cave. They later learned the cave was a triple S-class dungeon which has the features of enabling any ranks to enter the place. As a mere rank D, they obviously fell on a trap and entered the dungeon without hesitation. Touka keelhauled them and stripped them off the name of Zehel. Their mother, Fii asked for mercy but Touka never tried to look at them and scoffed her incompetence as a mother. Seeing their mother writhe in pain, Souma planned of killing the twins however, now that Shuunin is alive, his resolve went solid and had prepared a thorough plan.

 

“So, Shuunin is currently in coma right?”

 

“This servant heard and saw that Young Master Shuunin is in the clan head's training room.”

 

“Huh?!”

 

“Why's that twig there?!”

 

Shika grabs the servant by collar and a sword was u sheathed on the left hand.

 

“Hiiiiii!!!”

 

“Don't joke with us! You think it's good to threaten us, huh?! Is it because we're not Zehel anymore?!

 

“N-No! Pe-Please, Young Master Shika I am telling the tr-trruth!”

 

“Shika! Calm down! Servant, I ask again when and where did you see Shuunin?

 

“Yo-Young Master Souma... This servant was sure he saw Young Master Shuunin entering the training room of the head clan's disciples. He was wearing a hakama and a wooden sword in his hand.”

 

“Hakama and a wooden sword? Is he sparring with someone?”

 

“Ye—”

 

“That weakling is sparring with someone?! Hahahaha! Did he think he's training to become the next heir? Is this what that old coot (Touka) plans? How hilarious!”

 

Sadou laughed along Shika while Shindou is silent the whole time. Souma was getting impatient for some other reasons and told the servant to continue with his observation on Shuunin and his twin sisters. However, it seems their plan already failed before they could execute them. 

 

A group of guards enter the room and enters two of the elders. Two women entered the room with a smile that entrances the boys, covering their murder intent, the four can't utter a word however, Souma straighten himself and began to ask why they had entered their room. 

 

“Cheva-sama, Ease-sama, what can we do for you, is what we would normally ask but to enter the room of boys is an oddity.”

 

“Souma Zehel—no, I should call you now Shika Baccan, I throw your words back to you. How dare you leave your brother to die in the dungeon?”

 

That question struck a nerve to Shindo and Souma.

 

“On what basis did you acquire such idea?”

 

“Shuunin-sama told everything to Touka-sama and even though Shuunin-sama bear no grudge to you, however as we have scrutinized and impugned you all for what you have done is a treacherous actions.”

 

“That's—!”

 

«To have us house arrest is just a deception to keep us from running away.»

 

[BOOOOM]

 

“An explosion?”

 

“What's wrong? Are you ready to admit defeat?”

 

Touka teased as she enters the training ground. Due to some serious argument, Shuunin ended up having a sparring with Touka.  This was what the clan called the “swordsman's way” of which when two cannot agree to each other, they would use swords and whoever wins will follow the latter.

 

As Shuunin gives up on making his grandmother understand, he steps into the ground and a barrier was then casted around the grounds to guarantee that no one gets​ hurt.

 

Eno was still unsure if what the two will be doing is alright. If the elders hears about this, Touka will be scolded but then again, since when did her master ever listened to the elders? She sighed deeply and gave a sad look at Shuunin who's handling a wooden sword. From his posture, gesture and stance she can see Shuunin's vacuousness on sword play.

 

“Uwaaa... Shuunin-sama...”

 

Another servant appears behind her, wearing a white collared shirt and a black sleeveless suit, he can be seen as a typical kind of butler. Another one appears, similarly, he wears the same set of clothes. Seeing their face clearly, Eno realized the two were twins.

 

“He's alive! Young Master Shuunin!”

 

The twins cried in unison after seeing Shuunin walking inside the training ground. He saw two and gave them a smile which gave a contradicting aura to them. His eyes were void with feelings and lips curled in an arc was a combination of a cold smile which the twins wondered for a while if he was indeed the boy they were tending for.

 

“Freon, Fruin, I heard you two travelled back to your town? How was your momentarily freedom from this burden?”

 

“The-there's no way Shuunin-sama is a burden! We​ we're—”

 

“Fuun... I was just joking. Also, Grandma...”

 

“Hmph! Do not look at me like that! Even with just the shinai, I can kill you.”

 

A sweat trickled down Esoj's face as he poses as a referee for the duel.

 

“Fight!”

 

“Haah!”

 

Touka swiftly moved, aiming for the throat i a single strike (hikibana waza). Her swordsmanship doesn't only stick to one style, as a master of swords, Touka yields a lot of techniques. Although, having a soft spot for his grandson she cannot bear using her killer techniques but then again, she had to hold on to Shuunin.

 

Seeing as how he was able to avoid her strikes, Touka was amazed to see Shuunin fighting back against her. A smile still lingers on her face. As a beginner, Shuunin has never trained with swords before moreover he has never even once held a sword judging from the way he handles a sword.

 

“Admit your defeat, Shuu-chan.”

 

[“Shrii Consienum, Frieren!”]

 

An unstable, cobalt corkscrew of particles surrounds the area which surprised everyone as they never expect Touka use one of her spells to her  grandson. Frieren is a water and ice  spell, which created a circle on Shuunin's feet which continued to grow to his torso.

 

“Kuuh!!”

 

Starting to loose his senses on his torso down to his feet, his face dimmed and suddenly his mind went blank then strange memories envelopes him. As he calmly breathes in anf opens his eyes, his slitted iris began to glow into different colors and the ice melted dow . Touka opened her mouth in astonishment and before she could make a move to Shuunin, his Shinai reached​ for her throat and a his lips curled up.

 

“Admit defeat, Obaa-sama.”

 

“Don't get fresh with me.”

 

The moment she responded, Shuunin felt his body moved floated in the air and his body was glued to the floor. Lifting two fingers, Touka used a spell.

 

“Apeariseo Padlentus, Bind.”

 

Vines sprouted from the ground and locked his moves even more, he can also feel his senses dulling any minutes.

 

“Haah, folly of youth. Now, that this fight is over, shall we go?”

 

Shuunin's face contorted in disdain. He was too full of himself! If he only didn't hesitate to use the techniques he vividly remembers.

 

“Tsk, do what you want.”

 

“Ohoh, of course I'll do.”

 

An evil grin plastered on Touka's face as her plans finally moving. After cancelling the spell, she ordered Shuunin to go back to his room and prepare his things. Seeing Shuunin's back, Touka sighed walked to the Clan's hall.

 

“This is—?! How is this possible? Is he really that weak boy, Touka-dono?”

 

Anereh was dumbfounded as he saw a video of Shuunin and Touka having a duel. When he saw Shuunin melting the ice, he muttered something incomprehensible.

 

“In-Inferno! That spell is Inferno, a sixth star spell!”

 

“As I thought, it really is Inferno. What's​ more is he skillfully controlled the fire to only burn the ice and not his body.”

 

“Touka-dono, how on earth did—is it the Ancient Dungeon?! Don't tell me... He really did killed the dragon?”

 

Touka was silent as he looked at Shuunin in the video. The other two elders were not present and only Anereh, Kane and Nevele saw the video. The two were silent for a whil when Nevele gestured her servant behind her. 

 

“Touka-chan, that kid, if I remember it, his mental power is his strength is it not? This servant of mine is a unique master of black magic. It seems he tried to use multiple layer of magic.”

 

Nevele deducted, she was the 2nd elder of the Zehel Clan and uses enchanted swords when fighting. Calling Touka in a dearly way is her expression of fondness to her as she trained under Nevele.

 

“That's... No wonder I felt a chill. So it was black magic. However, Shuunin's attribute is indeed mental magic, a pellucid​ eyesight is one of his forte. To remember everything he sees in one look but then he couldn't have any other attribute unless he...”

 

“He ate the dragon's core and gained another magic. Dragon's body can contain many mana cores. Since he used fire spell, it could be that he ate a fire mana core too probably from the dragon, no wonder there's a lot of mana orbs in his body. I do not know about the kind of monsters dwelling inside the dungeon but the fact Shuunin defeated a dragon is a huge deal. He could be in an intermediate level now!”

 

Kane, the head doctor of the Zehel clan and the one who examined Shuunin's body. He was bewildered to see such body who is cold like a corpse.

 

“4th Elder, what does your words mean?”

 

Nevele asked Kane, it was not impossible to obtain two mana orb but for a mere F rank student it's an overstatement to judge him to be at intermediate level already. That would put all the ranked adventurers into shame.

 

“2nd Elder, I know it may sound preposterous but that brat owned seven mana orbs! I almost bawled out my eyes when I examined him!”

 

While Shuunin was being discussed by the Elders and Touka, Shuunin made his way back to his room as he wasn't even interested to know where their destination is, Shuunin never gave it a thought where they would depart to. On his room, his clothes were already prepared before hand by his servants, Freon and Fruin who both followed him unceasingly, as if any minute he'd disappear before his eyes.

 

“Can you two do me a favor?”

 

“Uhhh... Does Bochama hates us for leaving him behind that he doesn't wants us now?!”

 

“Bochama! Please do not forsake us!!!”

 

Shuunin sighed as the two kowtowed before him. Scratching his head​, he formulated his words more carefully.

 

“What are you even saying... Maa... I just want to ask you two if you could prepare knives for me.”

 

The twins looked at him as if he was joking. Shuunin never was the type to carry swords nor does he like hurting whilst using magic spells to hurt. He was he kind of young master who would sit in the library and read books.

 

“Come on. Don't give me that look. I at least need to fight for myself.”

 

The twins continued to cry and not wanting to continue the tsukomi, Shuunin left the two. As per his Grandma's order, he was prepared a bath of which he willingly do so. Entering the bathroom, Shuunin felt that he indeed missed the water as scrubbed himself thoroughly. Entering the hot water, he then saw his reflection and saw his eyes slit like that of a demon and dragon's eyes. He then remembered that his features have changed, his arms formed some muscles, his skin were pale like a corpse and his hair turned from blonde and somehow he remembered it turned maroon in color but then his hair now is bloody in color and his eyes had different colors, golden and amethyst as his grandma described while looking at him in a daze. He took began to touch his own face, thinking as if everything was a dream; the dungeon, the dragon, his death, the weird memories and the power inside him of which he sensitively feels even now that his mana is in turmoil.

 

“Nyu?”

 

He loses his train of thoughts as his eyes fell on the beast swimming towards him. With a face as if asking him angrily why Shuunin left him suddenly alone. His hands extended at the beast and he sees how it hasn't grown a bit at all. If he remembers it clearly...

 

“A book of how to grow a beast? You don't need one at all. Just let it eat relics and it will grow.”

 

“Hmmmm.....”

 

Shuunin has no relics and he has never touched one before. It was due to his stepbrothers taking everything before him. Just then, the beast scratches it's hand and bits his thumb. It's pointy ears droop down and wails at him like a puppy.

 

“What does this fox even want...”

 

His words trailed as he scooped the fox to his hands and got out of the water. Shuunin word a bathrobe and went to his room and finds the twins ready to groom him. Without any complaints he changed into clothes that his obaasama picked. Shuunin wore a red and green Chinese long gown adorned with sakura petals along with a while pants. Shuunin's hair matched well with his pale skin giving him an even more a dazzling look, “bishounen” is the word that carved on the twins mind as they dressed him.

 

“Weird, huh. My hair even matches my clothes.”

 

“No way! Bochama, you're stunningly handsome!”

 

“Indeed! Very!”

 

The twins extolled Shuunin like parents trying to lift their child's mood. It never lifted his mood and though his left hand extended to his pocket and the little fox was found.

 

“I told you to behave.”

 

The fox bared it's little fangs as if mocking his recent alligation.

 

“You little...”

 

Picking it by it's little tail, the fox wailed in the air but then escaped Shuunin's grasp. It feel on his lap and laid down silently.

 

“Bochama, by chance have you not given him a name?”

 

“Name?”

 

“Yes, bochama when you tamed a beast, naming it is the first step to make it obey.”

 

Shuunin was silent for a while when he suddenly hears some knocking on the door and Esoj's voice was heard. Esoj wears a white shirt and black pants similar to that of a butler and so did the twins. As they made their way to the entrance of the main house where their car was parked, Shuunin inside how happy he was to be out of the huge mansion. Living at the torturous mansion for 15 years, he just fel the need to get a grip of his pwn life and leave his dark past along with the clan however, his grandma was still there and so is his new sisters. As walk in turns and turns, Shuunin began to hear gossips and felt piercing eyes towards him. He already knew it was the four brothers that ditched him in the dungeon. Not giving them even a look nor a word he continues to follow behind Touka.

 

“Touka-sama, please take care on your journey.”

 

“Shu-Shuunin-sama! It was good to see you in good health!”

 

“How are you faring, young master Shuunin?”

 

“Shuunin-sama, have you received my gifts? My daughter, Cecilia personally picked it for you!”

 

“Aiya, Shuunin-dono, I am really happy to see you! Please visit my house and my daughter will gladly serve you teas.” 

 

Shuunin gave them all a cold look but then he decided that if he acted rudely it might affect his grandmother. He nodded and answered their chocolate-box greetings.

 

“I apologize for making you all worry. I'll be careful from now on.”

 

With his curt words they all shut and in a blink of an eye left the place. With the succession of his mother to bear two girls, the clan felt that a huge burden has been lifted from their shoulder. Shuunin was supposed to be disregarded too but it seems his grandmother has stealthily moved to save him from being moved to the branch clan. Finally seated in the car, Shuunin was silent, as his hands unconsciously petting the fox.