Now capable of walking on my own two feet, I grasped my mother's hand and finally ventured outside my room to explore the estate. The traditional architecture, with its endless stretches of corridors and sprawling rooms, was as magnificent and beautiful as a palace where kings of old might have resided.
As I walked slowly, anchored by my mother's hand, countless attendants bowed their heads in greeting. While I was surprised by the sheer number of staff, I was even more stunned by the deep respect my mother commanded from them.
Mother had told me she was born into a non-sorcerer family. She had lost her parents in an accident, a tragedy that awakened her Cursed Energy, leading her to work as a servant for a jujutsu household before eventually meeting my father. For someone with meager talent as a sorcerer to be so highly regarded within the Zenin Clan was no small feat. It meant her bright, inclusive personality had managed to touch even these people who lived solely to worship power. I truly hoped her virtue would continue to cast a positive light on the Zenin estate.
"Good morning, Lady Saya. And to you, Young Master Touya."
"Yes, good morning to you as well. You've all been working so hard since early morning. Thank you. Thank you for always doing your best for the clan."
"'Lo!"
When I echoed her greeting, the attendant looked at us with a startled expression before bowing with a warm smile. Resuming our walk, we eventually reached the clan's training grounds, where the Kukuru Unit was currently undergoing drills. As I stared intently at the scene, Mother began to explain it to me.
"Those people are the Zenin's military force, the Kukuru Unit. Well... some joined of their own accord, while others were recruited based on certain criteria. They are the ones who deploy first whenever trouble befalls the clan."
Mother omitted the complicated, darker details she felt were too heavy for a child, but I already knew the reality of this unit.
It was a squad comprised of men born without an Innate Technique, or those whose techniques were too weak to be useful. They were forcibly conscripted to serve as the clan's cannon fodder. Among the many shadows within the Zenin Clan, I considered this one of the most egregious. And yet, even these men were individuals who tacitly agreed with the clan's doctrine of male supremacy and the absolute priority of Cursed Techniques. I didn't particularly pity them. In the end, they were all destined to fall at Maki's hand. Still, if I were ever to become the Clan Head, this would be the first thing to be reformed, right alongside the rampant misogyny.
I had seen enough. I wanted to head back; walking for so long had drained my stamina. I signaled for my mother to pick me up, and I was carried back to our quarters. Since it was my first time walking such a distance since birth, my body was exhausted. The moment Mother laid me down on the bed, I drifted into a deep sleep.
------
Before I knew it, Mother was in the late stages of her pregnancy, and her visits to my room became less frequent. Occasionally, I would walk over to her room on my own, but those visits were limited. Access was strictly controlled to ensure the mother had total stability.
A few days passed, and I was jolted awake by the wailing of an infant. Had the time finally come? As I struggled to climb down from my bed, a recently entered attendant noticed and immediately helped me down. I looked up at her and spoke.
"Mama. Papa."
"At this hour...? I understand. I will take you to them, Young Master."
Though the attendant hesitated, she took my hand and led me toward my mother's chambers. As we walked, the vigorous crying grew louder and louder. My heart fluttered with excitement at the thought that my sibling had finally been born. Surely, it was a boy. If it was my father's child being born now, it had to be Naoya.
I wanted to see my sibling's face as soon as possible. I pulled at the attendant's hand, urging her to move faster. As we arrived at the door, I could hear my father's voice from inside.
"I trust Saya won't need an extended recovery period this time, Physician?"
"Certainly, Clan Head. As long as she rests and avoids overexertion for about a month, she should be able to return to her daily life without issue."
Father let out a sigh of relief. When the attendant opened the door and I walked in, he looked at me in surprise, then stepped forward to scoop me into his arms.
"Touya. What brings you here? Did the crying lead you here? It seems you were also eager for your sibling's arrival. Fortunately, both your mother and your sibling were born healthy and without trouble. Here, let me show you your sibling's face."
Still holding me, Father walked toward the infant cradled in Mother's arms.
'Wow. They're ugly. I guess newborns are always this wrinkly. But... huh? Is there something missing?'
"Oh, Touya. Meet your sibling. Beautiful, isn't she? Her name is Naoya. Your father chose it. You're a Big Brother now, Touya. Now that you have a younger sister, make sure to shower her with love, alright?"
Beg pardon? A younger sister?