The next day, I woke up feeling as if I were being crushed in a sleep paralysis dream. My eyes were open, but my body wouldn't move, and I realized it was because Naoya had climbed on top of me and sprawled out like a starfish.
"Naoya. Won't you get up...? I've lost all sensation below my neck."
When I finally managed to struggle enough to shake Naoya awake, he slid off to my side and then wrapped his legs around me, pinning me down like a spider wrapping its prey in silk.
"Mmh... Brother... Don't move. This is the perfect spot."
As Naoya pressed my head down and locked me in his embrace, the soft sensation was accompanied by my breath being entirely cut off. Just as I was flailing and patting his back to tell him to let me go, someone knocked and entered the room.
"Oh my. Is Naoya bothering Brother again? Let him go now."
I gasped for air once my body was finally freed, and Naoya stretched while saying,
"Ah~ I was sleeping so well. You and Mother woke me up."
"I nearly suffocated, Naoya. Are you trying to kill your brother?"
"Ehh. A little thing like that won't kill a person, don't you think? Don't make such a fuss, Brother. I'm just doing it because I like you."
Mother, who had been watching our heartwarming conversation with a smile, said,
"If you're both up, come eat. Since Touya is here, I prepared it myself. You know Mother is good at cooking now, right?"
"Of course. The meals you make are the best, Mother."
Mother covered her face in shyness, laughed softly, and said,
"Saying things like that now that you're all grown up... it suits you, my son. Honestly, even when you were little and spoke like a mature adult, I secretly thought it was cute. Like you were an old man trapped in a child's body."
"Haha... was I? I don't recall that clearly."
Feeling awkward, I feigned forgetfulness and asked,
"Should I go to the dining room?"
"No. Come to the Clan Head's office. Let us eat there among ourselves."
"Yes. I'll be down as soon as I wash up."
Then Naoya chimed in.
"Is Brother going to wash? It's been a while, you could just wash with me."
I was taken aback by that and shook my head while saying,
"What are you saying? I'm going to wash, so you need to wash separately."
Naoya clicked his tongue so softly it was barely audible and said,
"Ehh... didn't work, huh?"
Breaking out into a cold sweat, I grabbed fresh underwear and hurriedly headed for the bathroom.
"Don't follow me! Naoya."
Fortunately, it seemed Naoya was just teasing, as he didn't actually barge in during my shower. After washing and putting on my hakama, I headed to Father's office, where the table was already set with food, and Mother and Father were chatting.
"Ah, Touya. Take a seat. Naoya will be here shortly."
"Yes, Father. Did you sleep well?"
"No. I couldn't sleep because of the good news you promised to share."
"Haha... it wasn't quite that monumental..."
Just then, Naoya arrived and took his seat. His hair was still damp, as if he hadn't dried it properly.
"Well, since Naoya is here, let's eat. Enjoy your meal."
Father picked up his chopsticks, signaling the start of the family meal, during which we engaged in light conversation.
"So, Touya. What kind of gains did you make to rush back to the Zenin estate and go digging through the archives?"
Since Father was asking directly, I knew I couldn't dodge the question, so I answered.
"I haven't fully grasped it yet, but I think I've found a proper way to inherit the Ten Shadows Technique. When the Max Elephant was destroyed in yesterday's mission, it inherited into the 'Kama' (Cauldron), transforming into an incredibly powerful shikigami that symbolizes a mirror. According to the Ten Sacred Treasures, there are four categories of treasures: mirrors, orbs, jewelry, and swords."
"Ho-oh. So, you're saying that if you can use that inheritance to birth shikigami symbolizing the orbs and the jewelry, you could even tame the shikigami that symbolizes the sword—Mahoraga?"
"Hmm... I think it's possible, at least for now."
Father pondered this for a moment before speaking.
"My thoughts are this: if you end up with shikigami strong enough to tame Mahoraga through such an inheritance, is it really necessary to tame it? I think it would be more profitable to lure an opponent into your taming ritual and eliminate them instead."
Father's words hit the mark. It was something I had been considering repeatedly.
"That's why, truthfully, I haven't been able to make up my mind. Aside from taming, my remaining shikigami—the Divine Dogs, Round Deer, Piercing Ox, and Mournful Tiger—are all already quite strong. I'm worried that by inheriting and altering them, I might lose the unique versatility of my own technique."
Mother, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
"Touya. Isn't it fine to take your time? I don't know much, but I've heard that there are only a handful of sorcerers in existence stronger than you right now. It is a blessing to be able to become even stronger, but that doesn't mean there is a need to rush."
"Exactly. Isn't Brother the strongest anyway? Why are you worrying so much? There's no way Brother could lose to anyone."
Along with Mother's words, Naoya's casual remark during our meal made me feel strangely lightened.
"And, thanks to you, I have acquired various pieces of information regarding the Ten Shadows. The Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga. The strongest shikigami that not a single sorcerer has managed to tame. They say it is the ultimate final goal of the Ten Shadows. Perhaps that is why there was a hypothesis that if Mahoraga, having been successfully tamed, were to be destroyed, the function of the Ten Shadows Technique itself would cease to exist."
'That... I confirmed that yesterday. I read about it when I was younger, but I filed it away as a story for the future and wiped it from my mind.'
Father continued, observing my thoughtful expression.
"Therefore, there is no need to take unnecessary risks. Though, I don't know if there is even a sorcerer capable of destroying Mahoraga. Unless it were Ryomen Sukuna, said to have existed way back in the Heian period, it would be nearly impossible."
'Sukuna... now that I think about it, I had forgotten. During the Shibuya Incident, Sukuna intervened in Megumi's taming ritual and destroyed Mahoraga, didn't he?'
"Yes, Father. Thank you for the advice. I feel like I'm beginning to grasp the situation. Mother, Naoya, thank you as well. This gives me strength. Shall we finish the meal? I need to return to the technical college soon."
I set aside the serious talk and finished the meal, shared some trivial anecdotes, and returned to my room to prepare for my departure. It would be better to head out early to make it back to Tokyo. I remembered something I had forgotten just before leaving, so I returned to the mansion, headed toward a corner room, and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Maki... you shouldn't say it like that... what people might say..."
I smiled at the sound of the children's voices from behind the door.
"Maki, Mai. It's me, Touya."
At that, I heard a thumping sound, and the door was thrown open with a bang.
"Brother! When did you come?"
Maki came running, immediately throwing her arms around me, and
"Brother... are you doing well?"
Mai approached stealthily, clinging to my leg. Unable to hold back a smile at the way they greeted me so in line with their respective personalities, I hugged them both.
"Yes. I arrived yesterday, but I was so busy I couldn't say hello. You've both been good, haven't you? Listening to Mom?"
"Yes! We listened to Mom!"
I patted the head of Maki, who answered vigorously, and Mai, who nodded her head slightly, then stood up.
"Well done, my twins. I was in such a rush to get here that I didn't buy any snacks for you. I'll buy you some delicious cake from Tokyo next time I come. You must keep listening to Mom. Brother has to head back to school now."
They looked disappointed, but they seemed to know it couldn't be helped; I gave a small laugh and waved goodbye as the two nodded and let go of me.
"Brother is heading out now. If anyone bothers you, make sure to tell Mother or the Clan Head."
Leaving the twins behind as they waved back, I left the room and boarded the prepared vehicle to exit the estate.
"Young Master. We will be going straight to the airport. The Clan Head has already prepared your ticket, so you can board immediately upon arrival."
"Yes. Thank you."
'At times like these, being called "Young Master" really is great. Very convenient.'
Arriving at Kansai International Airport after an hour, I boarded the plane without delay. As I stared blankly at the sky, I thought about buying gifts for my classmates; after arriving and using the car Father arranged, I stopped in the city and purchased a sweet strawberry cake for Satoru, salty senbei for Shoko—since she hates sweets—and candy for Suguru to refresh his palate after consuming cursed spirits, before returning to the college.
'I made it back to school and the sun still hasn't set. Isn't this great? I'll have to ask Father for this again next time.'
Just as I entered the dormitory building with both hands full of bags, I ran into Hime-nuna and Mei coming down the stairs.
"Oh? Touya! Where have you been? I heard you spent the night out yesterday. What is this? A gift? Do you have one for me too?"
"Calm down, Utahime. Do you really think he wouldn't have bought us anything? Obviously, he brought some back."
Stopping Hime-nuna, who was reacting as if we hadn't seen each other in forever when it had only been a day, Mei's gaze felt like it was piercing right through me.
"Haha..."
'I'm screwed.'
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