Thus, the finals for the Squire realm officially came to an end, with Gifu's Spear Saint emerging on top. Yet, the victory didn't quite carry the flavor Hideyoshi had anticipated.
Thanks to the Warden's highly public, theatrical display, Hideyoshi was not only Gifu's most powerful Squire—they saw him as a righteous successor. Within minutes, the localized rumor mill had already crowned him with a new title: The Emergent Hero of Gifu.
During the post-match chaos on the arena floor, the chief announcer and local scribes swarmed the ring for a post-match interview. Through the gap in the crowd, Hideyoshi caught sight of Matazaemon Maeda.
The Kinzoku heir let out a long, quiet sigh to himself.
The man is... not the man I thought he'd be, Hideyoshi thought, but... he does have proper skill.
A few dozen paces away, the Warden of Sakai was already back in his element. Little Saika sat perched upon his armored shoulders once more, waving happily at the masses. They were completely surrounded by a dense wall of admirers, lower-ranking martial artists, and eager businessmen who were already shouting proposals to invest in the lucrative port town of Sakai.
Maeda was laughing boisterously, thoroughly pleased with himself and soaking in the adulation as if he had won first place.
For a split second, Maeda's eyes shifted through the crowd, locking onto Hideyoshi.
He offered the young heir a swift, knowing wink.
Hideyoshi's eye twitched.
Ugh. This win really doesn't feel like a win.
"Lord Toyotomi! Over here!" the announcer shouted, shoving the heavy brass acoustics horn toward Hideyoshi's face. "Tell us, what thoughts passed through your mind during that final, valiant struggle against the Savior of Sakai?!"
Hideyoshi forced his easy-going smile back onto his face, clearing his throat to play along with the script he had been dragged into.
"...It was legendary."
———
I walked calmly alongside the massive hoard of spectators filtering out of the grand archways of the coliseum.
That Matazaemon guy is truly someone special.
He reminded me of Arataka Reigen...
Still... it was impressive in its own right. The moment his weapon collided with Hideyoshi's, his brain immediately calculated that he had absolutely zero chance of winning, and he instantly engineered an escape route on the fly.
My thoughts drifted from the Warden back to my own family. Speaking of Hideyoshi... I wonder why my brother is still residing in the Squire realm? Last time we met he was already unmatched. As an apex Squire, he's practically taken one foot into the Senior realm.
Does he just need a small push to finally ascend? I wonder if I can help him with that.
As I navigated the dense sea of bodies, a sudden movement broke my focus. A firm hand reached out from the crowd, grabbing me firmly by the wrist.
I didn't flinch, nor did I pull away.
Beneath my clothes and wrapped around my waist, my tail remained perfectly loose and still, sending absolutely no instinctual warning signs of danger or hostility up my spine.
I raised a brow but allowed it to happen, curious to see where this was going.
The hooded figure slipped through the gaps in the crowd with surprising agility, guiding me out of the main thoroughfare and down a series of quiet, heavily segregated side streets. Eventually, the public noise faded entirely.
We came to a halt outside a heavily fortified, private pavilion. Standing guard at the entrance were four Martial Seniors which, after a swift check was just low-tier ones. Their postures were rigid and their eyes sharp as broken glass. The moment their gazes landed on me, their expressions turned deathly cold. To their senses, I looked like a completely ordinary, non-martial peasant who had no business being there.
I just shrugged, entirely unbothered by the pressure, and pointed a thumb toward the hooded figure.
My guide stepped forward, reaching deep into the folds of her silken robe. She pulled her hand back out, revealing a beautifully carved, lotus-like token made of an esoteric, pale jade.
One of the Senior guards stepped up, his expression deadpan. He drew a small, black-iron dagger from his belt and stabbed the center of the lotus token with the flat of the blade.
RIIIIING—
A clear, resonant, and remarkably warm chime echoed through the quiet courtyard. The unique frequency of the sound immediately verified its authenticity. The Senior guard instantly retracted his dagger, offered a sharp, disciplined nod, and stepped aside, allowing us through the heavy iron gates.
We walked a few dozen steps into the private grounds, passing beyond the initial threshold. Finally, I had enough of the silence. I pulled my wrist free from the guide's grip and stopped walking.
"Alright. Enough," I said, my voice flat but curious. "Who are you, where exactly are we, and what do you want?"
The hooded figure stopped. With a fluid, graceful motion, she reached up and pulled back her hood, revealing the striking features of a young woman with neatly tied brown hair. She immediately lowered her head, bowing deeply and respectfully toward me.
"Lord Merun, please accept my deepest apologies for the secrecy," she said whispering, yet her voice clear and trained. "We are currently within the private Gifu estate of the Iaiashin Household. The Mistress wishes to meet you."
I paused, letting my eyes drift past her shoulders to take in the surroundings. Beyond the courtyard lay a sprawling expanse of immaculate, manicured stone gardens, tranquil koi ponds reflecting the afternoon sun, and towering, elegant wooden halls built with traditional noble architecture.
A wry smile touched my lips.
So this is the place my family has been staying?
After a few seconds of genuine awe, I looked back down at the guide and let my expression harden into a focused, serious demeanor.
"Take me to her, please."
———
Following the brown-haired girl through the winding corridors of the estate, my body was tightly strung. I found myself flinching every single time a sliding door rattled open in the distance.
I didn't want to bump into my family just yet. I don't know what it was, but a strange, gnawing anxiety was eating at me. Was I afraid they'd be angry because I had vanished for months without a word?
As we walked, my guide must have noticed the tension in my shoulders. She looked back over her shoulder with a reassuring nod. "Lord Merun, you needn't worry. The entire Furutsu family is currently attending a grand banquet hosted by the Toyotomi Household to celebrate Lord Hideyoshi's victory. It is just you, me, and the Mistress on the grounds right now."
Hearing that, a massive wave of relief washed over me.
The Toyotomi Household, huh... One of the premier noble houses vying for the clan seat.
The fact that my family was invited to an exclusive victory banquet meant they were building serious high-level connections. That was a good thing. The more backing they had, the safer they would be.
Finally, we reached a secluded pavilion at the heart of the estate. The brown-haired girl stopped outside a polished wooden door, softly announced our arrival, and slid it open, stepping aside to let me pass.
I walked inside. The room was a pristine tatami hall, completely open on one side to a breathtaking, private rock garden framed by blooming cherry blossoms.
"Do you find this place beautiful, Merun?"
The voice was serene, drawing my eyes back to the center of the room. Sitting gracefully on a woven mat was Master Iaiashin, dressed in a flawless white kimono. Her sharp, calculating eyes flashed with a deep, silent intensity as she thoroughly observed me. Resting horizontally on the floor right beside her knee was a masterfully sheathed katana.
"It is... quite a lovely place," I replied, keeping my voice steady.
If memory served me right, my father once told me that the people of the Kinzoku Clan treasured their weapons above all else—treating them more like extensions of their own souls than tools. Katsui and his Onyx Tiger Masakari, Hideyoshi and his massive Dragonfang Naginata, and even Noritsugu... well, until he literally sacrificed his saber to defeat me.
Aiming to break the ice and ease the thick atmosphere, I nodded toward the weapon beside her.
"What's the name of your partner?"
A faint, rare smile touched her lips.
"...Nanatsusaya," she murmured softly. "The myriad-branched blade."
Cool. I didn't entirely get the historical or esoteric reference, but just looking at the pristine craftsmanship of the scabbard, I could tell the weapon bore the immense, lethal weight of her strength.
"So... why ask for me?" I asked, shifting my weight. "I've already registered for the Senior bracket tomorrow, just like you wanted."
"I mostly wanted you to see the estate where your family had been living in for the past few months," she said, her smile remaining polite but shifting into something far more serious. "But also to give you a definitive warning. You are to show the world exactly what you are capable of tomorrow..."
"I was planning on doing that anyway—"
"Never use the Divine Arsenal."
She cut me off instantly.
The atmosphere in the room completely froze.
Her eyes flashed with a sudden, perilous edge, and beneath my clothes, my tail instantly stiffened in raw, instinctual warning.
"Do not dare use the Divine Arsenal tomorrow," Master Iaiashin commanded, her gaze piercing directly into my soul. "If you reveal that power now, everything we have orchestrated to secure your alibi and your placement will have been for naught. Do you understand me?"
The sheer, crushing pressure of her psychological presence was suffocating. It felt like an invisible weight pressing down on my chest, but I forced my muscles to relax, doing my absolute best to hold my ground and act completely chill.
"Got it," I managed, keeping my tone casual. "I promise not to use it."
Just as quickly as it had appeared, the suffocating aura vanished. The air returned to normal, and I secretly caught my breath, keeping my expression neutral.
"Good," she said, her regal composure fully restored. "Now, you are welcome to stay the night here. You have my permission to use the private training halls and whatever resources you require to prepare for tomorrow. As I mentioned, your family will be staying at the Toyotomi residence tonight."
She picked up a small cup of tea, taking a slow sip. "Remember, Merun. Tomorrow is your official debut. Make an impact. Understood?"
I nodded firmly. "I know a few things I can do to put on a proper show."
"Good. If there isn't anything else, you may leave."
I gave a polite nod and turned around to walk out. As my hand reached for the sliding door, my fingers brushed against the scouter resting in my pocket.
I hesitated. Should I scan her right now? Get an exact reading on a true Martial Master?
The moment the thought crossed my mind, I glanced back over my shoulder. Our eyes met, and a violent, icy shiver shot straight through my tail, screaming at me to abort.
Master Iaiashin raised an eyebrow, sensing the sudden shift in my focus. "What is it?"
I cleared my throat, forcing a small smirk onto my face. "...Nothing, hehe. Just thought it's nice to see you again, Master Iaiashin."
She rolled her eyes in mild annoyance and dismissively gestured with her hand for me to get the hell out of her room.