Chap 121: victory
"I certainly hope that you will adhere to our agreement."
"I will." Narime bowed her head.
"Good, so you can stop the charade now."
"What do you mean ?"
"Don't play with me, i know that this was a setup. Moreover." A huge surge of curse energy flooded the yard, dark and heavy.
Narime was almost paralyzed from shock as she witnessed his power blowing in every direction.
*crack* *crack*
The subtle sound of glass breaking can be heard coming from around them. At which Takumi immediately stops his action and lets out a sigh.
"Next time you wanna test me ? I suggest using a better camera." His words were cold and filled with dominance, threatening even.
"I am to assume our clan meeting will end here ?"
"Yes." Her tone was utterly composed in front of his overwhelming flow of curse energy.
"Then let us meet again on better terms the next time." He then walks away, exiting the room.
The clan head look at the shadow cast by Takumi back then at Kara's limp body. The Kamo clan leader could only shake her head dismally.
She didn't want to believe in what just happened; she wanted to deny it, but the reality is lying right in front of her.
Takumi walked down the hallway, his mind thought about the fight.
[Quest: completed]
[+10 free stats point]
'Tch,' his head skipped over the reward from how unrewarding they were.
To him the real prize was his new adaptation, being able to resist the limitless. His lip curled in just the smallest bit as he walked past a servant.
Entering the ballroom, where everyone stopped whatever it was they were doing and turned their gaze his way.
Takumi swept his eyes across the room, spotting his wife. He step confidently forward and everyone parted to the sides. Receiving respectful gesture by anyone that he came across.
"Master, you have returned." Naobita and the elders were standing from their seats to greet him.
"""Congratulations on your victory.""" Her voice and the other clanswomen all said in unison.
Everyone was performing a formal bow, properly showing their courtesy for him. And from what he can see is....joy ?
Naobita and the other clanwomen lead him to he table where Tojiko is.
'She looked pissed.'
At one glance, he could tell why no others dared to look at her. After all, he had witnessed it from the view of his clone.
----flash back----
The ballroom shimmered with crystal chandeliers and the low murmur of aristocrats drifting from table to table. The scent of expensive wine and polished marble filled the air. At the far end of the hall, a massive screen had been set up, broadcasting the evening’s entertainment.
While the match between Takumi and Kara was still ongoing, every clan member was watching intently, the younger member were expressing their own opinion openly, none believed that Takumi could win.
"Our clan is losing this fight."
"He shouldn't have accepted that fight, a man can't match a woman's strength, not to mention a clan head."
"That whore should learn his place."
"Cocky bastard."
"All of you shut it." Naobita's voice cut through the entire clan. It could be said that she was the only person genuinely caring for Takumi. "Disrespect toward your clanhead will be treated with severe consequences." In other words, she said: "Another word and I will kill you."
While the elders and Naobita are much calmer about this. Seeing the power of the ten shadow wielded so easily and being able to tell when the wheel spins is when the advantage leans toward their side.
"Do you think, he can actually win ? Mom." Naoya, the young girl asked with seriousness.
"Yes." Replied, her mother in a stern voice.
For the young girl of the Zennin, a man's position should always be below a woman's. Seeing Takumi fighting and her own mom's opinion, it changed her worldview and flipped it upside down.
No, to say it was flipped is an understatement, it got totally whipped into the dirt and got stepped on. Naoya was taught that the most important things for a sorceress are curse energy and the esteem of women using it.
Before today, she was the person who always smiled and mocked the worthlessness of the weak men and women who had less curse energy than her.
But here in front of her very eyes are two living examples of why that thought is wrong. She can no longer smile, her face is blank from gazing too deeply into these two creatures that defy everything she was taught to be right. One came from a man with curse energy more potent than anyone she ever imagined to have and a woman who is his wife.
From her side of the table, Tojiko was itching in her seat to draw her weapons. Had it not been for Takune next to her, who told her to cool down. She might actually start a killing spree right here in this place.
"Hey, let's cool down. How about we grab a drink ?"
"Sure, whatever." Tojiko needs something to take her mind off what's happening. They made their way to a nearby stand. And as Tojiko was pouring all the strongest alcohol she could take, a sight of a stranger caught her attention.
Tojiko leaned against the tall table where she and the clone body of her husband stood, swirling the amber in her glass with idle patience. Beside her, Takune holds Megumi in his hand while having a smug satisfaction of a man watching his own highlight reel.
A few tables away, a small figure leaned forward with rapt attention. She looked too young to be here, barely fifteen years, her snow-white hair shining under the chandelier light, hadn’t taken her eyes off the screen once. Her hands were folded under her chin, eyes sparkling with admiration as Takumi’s fight played out in full glory.
Then she said it. Loud enough for those nearby to hear.
“He’s so strong… and really handsome, too.”
Takune nearly choked on his drink, whipping around trying to hold back a grin so wide it looked painful.
The sound of glass grinding filled the space beside him. Tojiko’s grip on her drink was so tight it was a wonder it hadn’t shattered. His wife stiffened. Her head turned slowly, eyes narrowing on the girl like a guard dog who had just spotted an intruder. Slowly, deliberately, she set the glass down and reached for the hilt of her blade.
The girl, however was either blissfully unaware of danger or just didn't care, grinned proudly at her statement.
“Oi—what do you think you’re doing?” Takumi whispered sharply, eyes darting to her hand.
“She just flirted with my husband,” Tojiko said flatly, her killing intent rising like smoke in the elegant ballroom. Several nearby guests shifted uncomfortably under the weight of it.
“She’s a kid, Tojiko.” Takumi caught her wrist before she could take a step. His voice was firm, but his smirk hadn’t dimmed.
“Seriously? You’re jealous of a second-grader?” Takune rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but stifile a laugh.
“I’m just saying,” Tojiko said, feigning solemnity, “you can never let your guard down. They start young these days.”
"Babe, that's just a child. You can't kill a child because she complimented me."
Tojiko exhaled through her nose, reluctantly letting go of the hilt. She sat back down, her expression sour. “Brat.”
On the other side of the hall, the young teen tilted her head, watching the exchange with a little grin. Most children would’ve been cowed by that kind of killing intent. She wasn’t. Gojo Satomi just shrugged it off.
Her grin widened as she turned back toward the screen, an idea already planting itself in her mind.