Chapter 120 - Family Ties (2/2)
Yurika glared at Gray and was probably saying, ”Whose side are you on?” in her head.
”Speaking of happiness, my team and I quickly discovered Yurika's martial prowess and were wondering about where she received that training.” Gray asked sincerely.
Yurika's father replied, ”Gray-san, you are Diamond-tier as well, yes?”
Gray nodded.
Yurika's father then looked up and said ”Shiro, please secure this room.”
A male voice resounded throughout the room, ”Affirmative sir.”
”That's the AI that runs the daily operations of the estate. I was originally against that sort of thing, but it honestly makes things so much easier around here.” Yurika's dad said.
Gray nodded in agreement, ”Yeah, I didn't like the idea of a computer managing any part of me, but now I feel like I can't live without it.”
”Anyways, the Winchester family volunteered for The Alterra Project, our youngest generation would be brought up as pilots and as such we were given preferential treatment in this virtual world. The youngest generation still believes this is the real world though hence the need for secrecy. Our family randomly selected Yurika to be a Diamond-Tier among our family since we received one Diamond-Tier pass for free.”
”Just one seems a little light for what you gave up.” Gray said analytically.
”Indeed, but also considering we were given this estate in this virtual world, I think one is plenty.”
”Good point, so where did Yurika get her training from and go to school?”
”We pull most children from school at around 7 or 8 years old and begin privately educating them. Yurika showed a lot of promise so we pulled her a little earlier and focused on martial training. My family used to belong to a long line of soldiers for the Russian Confederation before the last Great War. My family almost always has superior physical traits and thus I was paired with my wife who also has extreme martial talent.” Yurika's father said slightly nostalgically. Gray figured he probably was wishing he was around before or during the Great War from 70 years ago.
”Wow, so Mrs. Winchester here is also a martial artist?”
Yurika's Dad laughed aloud and said proudly, ”Yes! She can kick my ass! Don't be fooled by her appearance and demeanor, she could kill you in an instant!”
Gray opened his mouth and was about to say that he didn't believe it, but he suddenly saw a pink flash and then the floor up close. After a pinch in his arm, he then felt his legs get twisted over his head and then his back slam on the table as he looked up at the ceiling. Yurika's mom was standing in front of him with his wrist in her hand and one foot extended out slightly from her yukata.
”She looks at it as a challenge when you question her abilities based on her appearance, I probably should've warned you first.” Yurika's dad said apologetically.
Yurika's mom looked like it was perfectly natural for her to flip Gray over on his back faster than he could comprehend and Yurika herself looked envious of her mom's speed.
Gray suddenly understood why Yurika called him the wife and imagined that Yurika's mom might have done the same thing to her husband at one time. From Gray's viewpoint of lying on his back on the table, he could see how Yurika and her mother looked similar, but at the same time noticed that Yurika was much more 'abundant' in certain areas than her mother.
”Do you want to die?” Yurika said to Gray when she noticed where he was looking at on her.
”Sorry, I thought I had died and was at heaven already with 2 angels in front of me.” Gray said with a smile.
”He's good with words at least.” Yurika's mom said softly then she helped Gray back up.
Gray was amazed at her arm strength since she seemed even stronger than her husband who is built like a bear. ”Thank you ma'am, did you personally teach Yurika?”
Yurika's mother shook her head and added, ”No, she's not ready for me yet, soon though. We have several instructors that taught her previously. We also provide private tutoring and monitor the children's diet so we can develop every bit of their talent. Once they are old enough, we arrange for them to meet marriage candidates and let them pick from one of them.”
”Not to sound ignorant, but what if they want to marry outside of that?” Gray asked.
”They can plead their case and if their desired mate is shown to be genetically acceptable we can sometimes approve of it, but so far we've only had a handful of children succeed with that process. I myself failed, but I am glad since I consider my husband here the love of my life.”
”It's not that we don't get what you, and many others, have brought up in the past, but the council of elders will be overturning this rule at the end of this year as it will no longer be necessary as long as their marriage candidate meets certain requirements.” Yurika's father said as he somewhat understood what Gray was getting at.
Gray thought about it for a second and then said, ”I can understand that somewhat, while I think that giving a person full control over their own life is for the best, I also understand that some people might have all of the talent in the world and yet still lack common sense when deciding on a life partner and fall for someone that won't let them grow.”
Yurika's mom and Dad both smiled at this and her Mom said, ”I am glad you understand the logic, so at least now you understand why we can't let you be with Yurika.”