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The Sword Shaman girl quickly left after receiving her mission.
Inside the tatami room, the bamboo blinds that had been blown by the fierce wind were smoothed back into place. The three figures behind the curtain remained silently seated.
After a moment, one of them—a girl wearing glasses, who at first glance resembled a quiet literature club student—adjusted her glasses slightly.
"Endō Yukari, how confident are you in this plan you proposed?"
"One hundred percent."
The golden-haired elven woman answered instantly, without even the slightest hesitation.
"You could already tell from that gust of wind earlier. That boy is one of the few in the world today capable of slaying Gods..."
"I'm not talking about that."
Before Endō Yukari could finish, Koyomi Shizuka cut her off calmly.
"I'm asking—how do you expect someone like him, whom even the Keikain Main Family can't control, to obediently listen to a request from the Lion King Organization to monitor the Fourth Progenitor? How high is your success rate for that?"
"Oh, you mean that."
Endō Yukari paused briefly, then offered a completely irresponsible answer.
"Honestly? No clue. Let's just say it's zero."
"What?!"
Koyomi Shizuka stared at her in disbelief.
Sure, such an answer was technically understandable—after all, if even the Keikain Clan couldn't control him, how could the Lion King Organization? But still—this plan was her idea! And when pressed, she answered there was "no success rate"?
If there was no chance of success, why propose it in the first place?!
"We might as well try."
Endō Yukari sounded remarkably casual.
"Or do you have someone better? Someone guaranteed to defeat the Fourth Progenitor and obediently follow our commands?"
"That..."
Koyomi Shizuka hesitated.
Of course not.
If they had someone like that, they wouldn't even be having this conversation.
"Right?"
Watching her conflicted expression, Endō Yukari simply shrugged.
"Besides, it's not like I have no preparation at all. The Schneewalzer we're sending with Yukina is one of only three successfully crafted with a 'Divine-Vibration circuit.' And among those three, it's the only one engraved with the Divine Oscillation Effect."
"If the Fourth Progenitor goes berserk, as long as it doesn't spiral into the worst-case scenario immediately, Yukina should be able to contain it with her strength alone."
Then she added meaningfully—
"Also... Shizuka, have you ever seen a photo of the Keikain Clan's Successor?"
"Successor?"
Suzune blinks. "Successor" and "Acting head" are normally the same person; this generation split them into two. The successor is younger—still middle school age.
"No... but I recall this generation of the Keikain Clan is a bit unusual. Historically, the acting head and successor were always the same person. But this time, they're two separate individuals—and the successor is still in middle school."
"They're siblings by clan law, not blood,"
Endō Yukari's tone implied something more.
"From what I know, Bokue Keikain has always been indifferent to most things within the clan. But when it comes to his 'adopted' younger sister, he's particularly indulgent.
In fact, official data shows that just last month, Bokue voted 'must be able to defeat me first' regarding his sister's future marriage partner on a public video site."
"Wait—you're not planning—"
Koyomi Shizuka's expression twitched as she realized what the woman intended.
"Exactly. We're gambling on that."
Endō Yukari spread her hands casually.
"After all, Yukina isn't bad, is she? A bright, youthful middle schooler—cute and charming. Surely that's enough to trigger his protective instincts?"
Are you seriously planning this?!
Koyomi Shizuka wanted to rebuke her for being utterly shameless, but...
Thinking carefully, it really might be the only viable approach.
"Relax—if Yukina doesn't hook him, I have backups."
?
The literature girl blinked.
That sounded reasonable—at least there would be a Plan B.
But then she immediately realized she'd misunderstood.
Endō Yukari continued nonchalantly:
"If Yukina doesn't work out, we can send Sayaka next. And if that fails, we can borrow someone from the Bureau of Astrology. We have plenty of Sword-Shamans and Attack Mages—one of them's bound to fit his taste."
"..."
Suzune's shoulders slump.
So Plan B, C, and D are all… serial seduction. Twenty-six letters won't cover the alphabet soup you're cooking, woman!
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While the Lion King Organization was still busy scheming—
Meanwhile, within the Keikain Clan's territory in Kyoto, Bokue and the others had just been led to their accommodations for the night.
For Kuroka, Irina, and Xenovia, this was simply a "place to stay."
For Bokue Keikain, it was "home."
The scene shifted.
The group had passed through the main hall and now stood before a mansion located at the northernmost end of the Keikain estate.
"Whoa—what a huge house!"
That was Xenovia's immediate, heartfelt reaction.
And it wasn't wrong.
Although the Keikain Clan's properties were separated by bamboo groves and streams, most houses they'd passed by were still normal-sized family homes.
But the mansion before them now— This was a true aristocratic estate.
A sprawling courtyard complete with bamboo forests and koi ponds—A luxurious residential area—A private dōjō and outdoor training grounds beyond.
There were few places in all of Japan that could rival it, except perhaps the main halls of the greatest kendo schools.
Irina steps across the threshold, breathing a nostalgic sigh.
"Feels exactly the same. Bokue lived here when we were kids—I used to sneak over from the Church dorms to play."
"Well, it's the Main Clan's residence after all. Can't have it looking shabby."
Bokue, however, didn't seem the least bit sentimental. He casually handed his luggage to the black-haired girl who had been guiding them.
"Yura, sort our rooms. I have to meet someone—back by dinner."
"Huh?"
"W-wait, who are you—" Kuroka pivots to grill him, but the boy has already taken one light step and vanished like morning mist.
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The next instant—
Bokue's figure appeared high above Yasaka Shrine, descending leisurely with the wind.
There, standing calmly before the shrine gates, was a beautiful woman dressed in a classical kimono, nine golden fox tails swaying gently behind her.
She smiled radiantly as she raised her face to meet him.
"Long time no see. I knew you'd come, Bokue."
"Likewise, Yasaka-nee." He smiles.
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