Chapter 86: You are the Miracle of Tokyo
"—In summary, Oyakata-sama."
"The sources of the rumors regarding the 'Miracle Doctor' and the 'Tactical
Unit' have been confirmed. They both point to the Hei-rank swordsman currently
residing at the Rengoku estate: Kokonoe Natsuya."
The Kakushi reported respectfully to Ubuyashiki Kagaya. A helpless yet gentle
smile flickered across the refined young man's face.
"I knew Natsuya-kun was here, but I didn't expect him to cause such a stir even
in the capital..."
"He truly is a swordsman who never ceases to surprise us."
Kagaya had originally come to visit the long-depressed Shinjuro, but finding the
boy he had been monitoring for months was an unexpected bonus. He was genuinely
curious to see how far Natsuya had progressed on his path of mastering the five
basic styles.
Since he is with Lord Shinjuro, perhaps...
His gentle eyes shimmered with curiosity. He didn't understand the "Sword
Intent" the Slayers spoke of, but if Natsuya was being hailed as The
Five-Colored Radiance, it meant he had reached at least a basic level of mastery
in styles other than his primary Wind Breathing.
With this curiosity in his heart, the 97th leader of the Ubuyashiki family
stepped into the Rengoku courtyard.
To him, Shinjuro Rengoku was not just a Slayer; he was a respected elder. When
Kagaya took over the family at the age of four following his father's suicide,
Shinjuro was already a pillar of the Corps. He had effectively watched Kagaya
grow up.
Watching Shinjuro sink into a spiral of despair over his wife's illness had
weighed heavily on Kagaya's heart. He had hired the best doctors in the country
and even Western medical teams, but none could help Lady Ruka. Eventually, he
could only dispatch the Butterfly Mansion periodically to manage her pain.
Lord Shinjuro, I hope you can find your fire again... Kagaya thought.
But as he entered the house, he was stunned. Although the gloom hadn't entirely
vanished, the aura of stagnant rot around Shinjuro had dissipated. The man was
actually sitting calmly, sipping tea.
It seemed... he didn't need a motivational speech after all. He was already
standing back up.
Even more surprising was Lady Ruka. Though her face was still pale, her
breathing was noticeably steadier than during his last visit. The "Scent of
Death" that usually clung to terminal patients was much lighter.
"Lord Shinjuro, Lady Ruka's health seems to have improved?"
The Flame Hashira offered a small smile—one filled with a mix of relief and
helpless tenderness.
"She's more than 'improved,' Kagaya. She's actually put on a few pounds."
Last night, his wife had even whispered to him, asking if he could tell Natsuya
to make the meals "a bit less delicious" because she was worried about her
figure. It was the kind of mundane, "womanly worry" that would have been
unthinkable a month ago.
"It was Kokonoe... that child brought a miracle to our house," Shinjuro said
softly.
To him, seeing a glimmer of hope for Ruka's recovery was nothing short of a
divine intervention.
Kagaya smiled broadly. "It seems the child everyone is talking about truly is a
harbinger of change."
Then, his gaze drifted to the corner of the garden. He saw Natsuya engaged in a
"sparring" session with Shinobu and Kyojuro—which mostly involved Natsuya
delivering "educational" blunt-force impacts to the two juniors.
Noticing the group in the house, Natsuya raised a hand and called out casually.
"Yo, BOSS. Here for a performance review?"
The Kakushi standing behind Kagaya nearly had a heart attack.
This man... he addresses Oyakata-sama with such disrespect?! No bow? And what
kind of title is 'BOSS'?!
One of the Kakushi stepped forward, ready to scold the boy for his insolence in
front of a Hashira and the Master. But Kagaya raised a hand, stopping him with a
genuine, fascinated smile.
"It is quite alright. Natsuya-kun is... unique."
The Kakushi stared at Kagaya, then at the Flame Hashira, who sat there looking
like he found the whole thing normal.
Kakushi A: Is this Kokonoe kid the secret son of some high-ranking noble?
Kakushi B: He's a prodigy the Master and the Hashira are personally scouting,
you idiot. Kakushi C: You're both wrong. Lord Kokonoe is clearly the next
Pillar! Kakushi D: Wait, I thought his name was 'The Rainbow Guy'?
The logistics team held a silent debate through their eyes.
Kagaya turned back to Natsuya. "'BOSS'... that is the word Westerners use for an
employer, isn't it? An interesting title. Natsuya-kun, please, come join us."
This core NPC has a pretty good temperament, Natsuya thought. He's nothing like
the stiff, arrogant generals or CEOs I usually see in these games.
Ending his "guidance" (beating) of the two Slayers, Natsuya walked toward the
porch. He gave Kagaya a nod and sat down cross-legged, naturally grabbing a
handful of dried fruit from the guest tray.
Just like visiting relatives during the holidays, Natsuya mused. All we're
missing is a mahjong table to make it a real party.
He took a moment to scan the Master's stats.
[Ubuyashiki Kagaya (Power Level: 6)]
That's the lowest stat I've ever seen on an adult NPC. Is he suffering from a
debuff too?
"Though I have heard much of you, this is our first formal meeting,
Natsuya-kun."
"I heard about your exploits in Tokyo. I expected a massive, hulking warrior,
but you are quite the handsome young man."
Is he complimenting my character model? Natsuya thought. Since he's giving me
'Face,' I should probably be polite back.
Natsuya sat up a bit straighter and put down the snacks.
"The rumors are just talk, Oyakata-sama. People like to exaggerate."
"Mostly, I'm just staying here because Lady Ruka's treatment requires a
long-term schedule. I'm just crashing here and handling some of Lord Shinjuro's
local side-quests to pay for my room and board."
Kagaya let out a light laugh. "The Five-Colored Radiance, the Phantom Physician,
the legendary Section 9... those titles have already spread far beyond the city
limits."
Natsuya: "..."
I'm sweating a bit here. The first two are fine, but how did my fake agency name
get back to the CEO? Is he going to dock my pay for a PR violation?
Seeing Natsuya's internal panic, Kagaya offered a warm reassurance. "Do not
worry. I do not mind the rumors. At the end of the day, you are the one on the
front lines saving lives. I owe you my thanks, more than anything. Especially
for what you are doing for Lady Ruka."
He offered a slight bow of gratitude.
Natsuya waved it off. "Don't sweat it, we're on the same team. Besides, the
quest rewards—I mean, the salary—is good. I'm just doing my job."
Then, he focused on Kagaya's forehead. He noticed the strange, branching purple
scarring at the hairline.
His eyes lit up. Wait... is this another Hidden World Quest?
"Hey, Boss. You look pretty frail yourself. Do you have some kind of incurable
disease debuff?"
"Want me to take a look? I know a thing or two about medicine."
A thing or two? He's stabilizing Lady Ruka and he calls it 'knowing a bit'?
Kagaya blinked, then nodded with a gentle smile. "If you are willing."
The Kakushi, Shinjuro, and even Shinobu and Kyojuro (who were watching from the
yard) all stared at Natsuya with wide eyes. Those who knew the destiny of the
Ubuyashiki bloodline felt a spark of desperate hope.
If he can help Lady Ruka... maybe he can bring a miracle to the Master!
☆☆☆
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