"What do you want to do now?"
Mirai asked the question with clear interest as he looked at Chino.
He was genuinely curious. Faced with this kind of situation, what choice would this little loli make?
Chino was silent for a while before she finally spoke, her voice steady but quiet.
"I want to see En Oyashiro."
"No problem."
With a snap of his fingers, Mirai transported them all into a grand, ornate hall.
Standing there, in a suit and sunglasses, was En Oyashiro.
"Chino? Nowaki?"
"You two—how did…"
Oyashiro was so startled that he nearly spilled his coffee, quickly setting it down on the table.
Chino looked straight at him, her voice cold.
"I'm your daughter, aren't I?"
Oyashiro froze for a moment before giving a bitter smile.
"So… you found out."
With that response, all the hope Chino had been clinging to vanished.
She took a deep breath. "How did my mother die?"
Oyashiro motioned toward the sofa. "Sit down. Since you already know the truth, there's no reason for me to hide it anymore."
Once they were all seated, he took a sip of coffee before continuing.
"Back then, the Chinoike Clan had a rule—women weren't allowed to leave Hell Valley."
"But your mother… she always longed for the outside world. Every time I came back, she'd ask me to tell her stories about what I'd seen out there."
"One day, while I was away, she tried to sneak out. But the clan caught her."
"When I returned, she was already dead."
A sorrowful look crossed Oyashiro's face as he sighed softly.
"She just wanted to see the world outside. What crime was that?"
"Her death drove me over the edge. One night, I lost control and wiped out the entire clan."
Everything Oyashiro said matched what Mirai had told her earlier, so Chino wasn't particularly surprised. She simply asked the next question.
"Then why did you hide my identity?"
Oyashiro met her eyes and answered slowly.
"I knew that one day, the truth about what I did would come to light. I'd be labeled a murderer and condemned."
"I didn't want you to suffer because of me. So I kept my identity a secret."
"That way, when you eventually learned the truth about the Chinoike Clan, you could come after me with no emotional burden."
"I'd go to see your mother, and you'd become the hero who avenged her."
Everyone in the room was silent, moved by the sincerity in his words.
Even just from the story alone, it was obvious how deeply Oyashiro cared for Chino.
Only Uchiha Mirai scratched his nose thoughtfully.
Why did this whole story feel so familiar?
Oyashiro walked over and suddenly dropped to his knees before Mirai.
"Emperor, that's everything. I'll take full responsibility for what happened. I'm ready to pay with my life."
Mirai said calmly, "At the time the Chinoike Clan was destroyed, Hell Valley wasn't under the jurisdiction of the Divine Nation. This isn't my concern."
"Get up."
Oyashiro looked up, surprised.
Did that mean… he was off the hook?
Chino quietly let out a breath of relief.
Now that she knew the truth, her hatred for Oyashiro had already faded.
If Mirai had insisted on killing him for what happened, she knew she would've regretted it for the rest of her life.
Mirai stood up. "Now that everything's settled, I'll be going."
He turned to leave with Kazamatsuri Moegi.
...
"Emperor, wait!"
Chino's voice rang out from behind.
Mirai turned back, giving her a puzzled look.
"Can I stay with you from now on?" she asked.
He raised an eyebrow. "What brought this on?"
Chino explained, "You forgave my past and told me the truth. I can never repay you for that."
"Please let me stay by your side. Let me serve you."
Although she no longer hated Oyashiro, she couldn't bring herself to live with him, either.
So she made her choice—to follow Uchiha Mirai.
After all, to her, he was practically a second father.
Mirai looked her over and nodded. "Fine. You can follow me from now on."
The moment he agreed, Chino lit up with joy and ran to stand behind him.
Oyashiro didn't say anything more.
Honestly, following the Emperor was far better for Chino than staying with him.
Nowaki also seemed tempted to follow, but the moment he snuck a glance at Mirai, his eyes glazed over and he froze on the spot.
Mirai let out a small snort.
What are you thinking, kid?
Get lost.
...
On the way back, Kazamatsuri Moegi spoke hesitantly.
"Lord Mirai, I really owe you for this mission. If it weren't for you, I might not have made it back."
"And I doubt I could've uncovered the truth on my own."
Mirai chuckled and clapped her on the shoulder. "Moegi, you did great. Just keep it up."
Moegi's eyes lit up with joy. "Yes, I'll do my best!"
"You must be tired after all this. Go get some rest in your room."
She bowed respectfully and obediently left.
Mirai's gaze then turned to Chino. He pointed at the bed.
"Warm it up for me."
Chino froze, her cheeks instantly turning bright red.
She hadn't expected the Emperor himself to make such a bold request.
Seeing her reaction, Mirai smiled. "Do you know why I agreed to let you stay?"
Chino mumbled, "N-no…"
"Because little lolis like you are just too damn cute."
"Eh?!" Chino's face turned an even deeper shade of red, completely flustered.
She lowered her head and stammered, "U-um… actually, Lord Mirai… I'm already an adult."
"I just… I just look a little small, that's all."
"Even better," Mirai grinned. "A legal loli? I like that even more."
With that, he scooped her up into his arms.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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