Chapter 31 - #31 Return (2/2)

”She really is but I have a feeling that fate won't be so nice to her.” I commented with a poker face.

”Is something bad going to happen to Taeko?” Kurome asked with a confused expression, ever since the last night, she was keeping close to me and no longer had any problem with talking to me.

”I am not sure, it's just a feeling...Not to mention that she is infamous Oarburgh, they are pretty hated here because they don't side with anyone and have their own beliefs. They don't care whether they have to kill a ”good” person or ”evil” person, the death will come for both.” I said my opinion and picked up the pace.

...

When we finally arrived at the Capital.

”*sigh* Finally, next time, we better take horses.” Ichika sighed in relief when we finally arrived and stretched her arms.

”...” Kurome's jaw dropped while she was looking around the streets.

”We don't have enough time to walk around, we need to first meet my parents and then we can walk around, Kurome.” I reminded her when I saw her curious expression.

”Akashi's parents...?” She muttered and started to fidget with a nervous expression.

”Don't worry about anything, my mother will definitely accept you as for my father...he will accept my decision even if he will have some problems.” I said with a confident smile while patting her head.

Now that I think about it...there is still that noble family with Blue Dragon as insignia leading some kind of bandit group inside this city. I wanted to take care of it once I return but...maybe I will leave them to train Kurome later.

...

”Here we are.” I muttered with my half-open eyes to inform Kurome when we arrived in front of the gate leading to the enormous mansion.

”Whoa, the garden is so big...there is even a fountain” Kurome muttered with a surprised expression but her expression didn't change the entire time since we arrived at the Capital.

”Oh?! Young lord, welcome back! I hope your trip was fruitful.” One of the guards immediately noticed me and welcomed me with a smile while occasionally glancing at Kurome with a curious look.

”Thanks, can you...?” I replied with a polite smile.

”Oh! I am sorry, excuse me!” He apologized and quickly went to open the gate for us.

...

”Sweetie!! You don't even know how I was worried that something happened when you didn't return last night.” My mother immediately got up and run up to me and tightly hugged me.

On the other hand, my father was only sitting with his eyes closed and serious expression.

”Oh? And who is this little cutie?” When my mother let me go, she immediately noticed Kurome and crouched down to have a better look at her.

”Umm...Kurome” She answered with a weak voice while fidgeting under my mother's gaze.

”Where have you been?” My father finally spoke out with narrowed eyes and a serious tone.

”We had to make a little stop at one of the villages. Kurome was too tired from the exam.” I explained with a stoic face while facing my father's narrowed eyes.

”...She isn't even strong enough to undertake a little journey?” Father directed his glare at Kurome while asking me with a suspicious tone.

”She didn't have any rest after that exam. Cut her some slack, will ya?” I narrowed my eyes and raised my voice a little.

”?! Akashi! Jun!” My mother immediately shouted at both of us.

”...hahaha, to think that you would stand up for that girl only after spending 1 day with her...Good, Kurome was your name, right?” My father laughed after a moment of silence and stood up to approach Kurome who was shaking while standing before my father.

”Y-yes!” Kurome raised her head with a determined expression and answered.

”I will be frank with you. I don't see much potential in you and I doubt that you were the strongest one from all kids out there but since my son chose you, I will trust his judgment. I hope you will not disappoint him.” My father said with a serious expression before a small smile appeared on his face and patted Kurome's shoulder a few times before leaving for his office.

”*sigh* He is always like that...Little Kurome, don't be afraid of him, he won't do anything to you and if he will try, I will teach him a lesson!” My mother said while clenching her fist which made Kurome smile a little.

I proceed to introduce Kurome to everyone in the mansion and when I showed her own room, she immediately pled me if she can't sleep in my room with me so I compromised that if she will give her 100% into training, she will be allowed to sleep in my room which she immediately accepted by furiously nodding her head, making her twintails fly around.

I ordered Aiko who also enthusiastically welcomed me to tell someone to bring additional bed to my room which immediately shocked her. She started questioning me while she was cleaning my room who it is for and other things so I simply introduced her Kurome and she immediately nodded in understanding with a relieved expression.

I let Kurome wander around the mansion for the rest of the day and told her to go sleep earlier today because her training will begin the next day. Although I told her that she is free to wander around, she didn't want to leave my side in the unknown environment so I started to wander on my own so she could see everything for herself and by her guilty expression, I judged that she was aware of why I was doing it.