Chapter 104: Parting Gifts
"Wait... is there a problem with me leaving?"
Seeing Natsuya turn back and noticing everyone's gaze had shifted to her,
Shinobu shrunk into herself slightly. A faint, nearly imperceptible blush crept
up her neck.
"I—I'm just surprised Senior Kokonoe is leaving so soon," she whispered.
Natsuya shrugged. "It's not my house. My training here is done, so naturally,
it's time to log out. I mean, depart."
Kyojuro spoke up in his booming voice, "Natsuya-aniki! You can treat this place
as your own home anytime!"
Shinobu rolled her eyes at both of them. She walked over to Natsuya, pulled out
a jar of ointment, and began applying it to the fresh bruises on his face
without asking.
"Hey, listen, you block of wood." Her tone was still a bit sharp. "I'll probably
be heading back to the Butterfly Mansion in a few days myself. When you have
some downtime... make sure you come visit me."
Natsuya: "?"
Seeing his blank expression, Shinobu's hand suddenly applied a bit too much
pressure to a bruise on his cheek. The boy winced, his eye twitching from the
sharp sting.
The girl's face was red, but her tone became dominant.
"If you are in the area, or if you get injured, you must come to the Mansion!"
"Demon hunting while injured is dangerous. Instead of doing your own 'Field
Expedient' first aid, recovery at the Butterfly Mansion is much safer."
That "must come" seemed to cost the girl all the courage she had. She stared
Natsuya down, her wisteria-purple eyes brooking no argument, yet hiding a sliver
of nervous expectation beneath the surface.
Seeing how serious she was, Natsuya gave a slow nod.
"Got it. If the quest route allows it, I'll hit up the Butterfly Mansion."
Shinobu corrected him instantly: "Not 'if'. You must."
Though slightly annoyed by his casual attitude, the promise seemed to let the
tension in her chest dissolve.
"Anyway... don't go around promising that to just anyone, okay?"
Natsuya: "?"
Shinobu finished the ointment and pulled a small, exquisite scented sachet from
her sleeve. She shoved it into Natsuya's hands and stood up quickly.
"Here. A protective ward. Use it."
Having completed her "Mission," Shinobu retreated a step, tilting her head away.
Her tone returned to normal, as if the bossy, awkward girl from a second ago had
never existed.
"Well then... safe travels, Mr. Kokonoe."
"Please try... not to die needlessly."
Natsuya looked at the sachet. It carried the scent of Wisteria and a faint
lingering warmth from the girl's hands.
"Oh. Thanks."
I wonder what the stats on this accessory are, Natsuya thought. Luck? Crit rate?
Poison resist?
Shinjuro watched the exchange with a knowing look. Young people nowadays... they
grow up so fast.
He cleared his throat and looked at his wife, Lady Ruka, who was sitting on the
porch. The woman he loved most in the world smiled and gave him a gentle wave,
looking much like she did in her youth.
"Ah, the vigor of youth," Shinjuro muttered. He turned to Natsuya.
"Since you've finished your training, Kokonoe, please accept this parting gift."
Shinjuro gestured to a servant. Soon, an exquisite wooden box was presented to
Natsuya. Inside was a haori—a formal outer robe made of specialized fabric.
It was the same weave as the Demon Slayer uniform—breathable, fire-resistant,
and durable—but crafted with far higher quality and thicker material. This was a
high-tier, custom-tailored legendary item.
"I had this prepared recently," Shinjuro explained. "Every generation of the
Rengoku family inherits the flame-patterned haori."
"You are not a Flame-user by blood, but you have done a great service for me and
my wife. Therefore, I had this made for you using the same artisan techniques."
"Try it on. See if the 'Hitbox' fits."
Natsuya didn't decline. He draped the haori over his shoulders, looking left and
right. It felt right. The weight was perfect.
The design was almost identical to Shinjuro's, but instead of the jagged flame
patterns, it featured sleek, aerodynamic lines that looked like flowing wind and
lightning.
Wearing it... he felt like he had finally achieved the [Hashira] aesthetic.
Natsuya wondered what he should put on the back. Should I write 'Fourth-Gen' or
'Justice'? Maybe just 'Squad 9'?
"Excellent," Shinjuro said, approving. "You have the presence of a true master
now. With that robe and those blades, your aura rivals my own."
Kyojuro and Obanai watched in silence. They saw Shinobu give her sachet. They
saw Shinjuro give the robe.
The two boys looked at each other.
Kyojuro (Internal): Crap! I didn't get Aniki anything! Obanai, did you?! Obanai
(Internal): How was I supposed to know we were doing gifts?
The snake-boy looked incredibly fidgety. He couldn't exactly give Natsuya a shed
snake-skin from Kaburamaru. As the awkward silence stretched, Kyojuro decided to
handle it his way—with volume.
"NATSUYA-ANIKI! I FAILED TO PREPARE A GIFT TODAY! I WILL COMPENSATE YOU NEXT
TIME WE MEET!" Kyojuro shouted.
Obanai winced. Don't say it out loud, you moron! It makes me look even more
incompetent!
The snake-boy looked around nervously before mumbling, "Um... Senior... me too."
After leaving Tokyo, Natsuya didn't head straight back to Master Kazami. He
unfurled the map Kagaya had given him, marking the five Final Selection grounds.
He traced a route with his finger. "Okay. To get back to the Old Man, the path
goes through Lake Ashi."
That was the dungeon he had already cleared. He wondered how many mobs had
respawned in the last few months.
"But if I take a slight detour..."
His finger moved to another landmark on the map. His eyes shone with a
calculative, gamer light.
Mt. Fujikasane.
Based on the game clock, the next recruitment cycle should be starting there
soon.
If I don't hurry, the experience points and elite heads will be taken by this
year's batch of rookies, Natsuya thought. He picked up his pace.
But as he ran, he kept reminding himself: "Restraint, Natsuya. Restraint. Focus
on the 'Over-leveled' Mobs. Don't wipe the whole map or the Master will take my
Jade Crest back."
A few days later. At the foot of Mt. Fujikasane.
Natsuya stared up at the mountain. It was shrouded in a dense forest of purple
wisteria. The fragrance was so heavy it felt like a physical barrier.
I wonder what secret fertilizer the Ubuyashiki use to keep these blooming
year-round, Natsuya mused.
As he prepared to step past the entrance, two figures in Shinto robes stepped
out to block his path. Even with Natsuya wearing the official uniform, the
priests looked cold and unyielding.
"The Final Selection is currently in progress. No unauthorized personnel may
enter," the senior priest stated firmly.
If he were a civilian, they would have chased him away already. Even Slayers
delivering new demons were required to wait at the base until the exam
concluded.
Natsuya didn't argue. He reached into his robes and pulled out the smooth, white
jade tablet. It featured the intricately carved crest of the Ubuyashiki family.
He flashed it in front of the priests.
"Tokyo Special Service Section 9—"
Wait, wrong script.
Natsuya cleared his throat and adjusted his tone. "My name is Kokonoe. I am here
on behalf of Lord Kagaya. I've come for a safety inspection."
☆☆☆
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