*Creak* The sound of opening doors resounded beside us and Ichika with Kurome walked out of the cottage with the only towel wrapped around them.
"Huh? Young lord?" Ichika immediately narrowed her eyes when she sensed a little tension between me and newcomer, namely Babara.
"You can calm down, Ichika, Kurome, this is the one we were looking for, Babara Oarburgh." I introduce them.
"Oh? What a nice young looking girls, a pleasure to meet you." Babara said with a polite smile.
Ichika nodded while Kurome took hold of Ichika's hand but still lightly nodded.
"You two can go ahead and follow the young lady who led us here to the hot springs." I said with a small smile.
"Huh? You won't be joining us, young lord?!" Ichika asked with a shocked expression.
"I will, probably. It's just that I still have some business here so I will join you later. Enjoy your bath, girls" I said and waved at them. They simply looked towards Babara before nodding and leaving while waving at me. Kurome kept glancing at me while they were leaving.
I stood in silence while I was watching their backs disappear.
"...Now, I still have little advice to give. I am pretty sure that assassins don't usually travel alone. And those two are pretty important to me..." When I no longer could see their backs, I turned back at Babara who was patiently waiting with a smile.
When she heard my words she slightly frowned after sensing my tone that shouldn't belong to any kid.
"I am aware of how proud Oarburgh clan is so please don't take what I am about to say as a threat, it's just a little warning, advice. My family, neither I have any problem with Oarburgh clan and I hope you feel the same way about us but if you plan to do anything to those two with your partner...Please quickly stop before you will cause the demise of your entire clan" I said with a voice devoid of any emotions while my red eyes started to glow. Even the air around us started to take a red hue and started becoming heavier and heavier. This was probably the first time I released almost all of my killing intent in 1 place.
---
'This kid is not normal! His bloodthirst is even greater than mine! But if you think that I will be intimidated by this...' Babara thought with wide-open eyes in shock but she still released her own aura to push Akashi's aura away.
---
It was battle of auras and it took more than 2 minutes before we both decided to stop this childish behavior.
"Don't worry kid, I am traveling only with my pupil and we have no interest in those girls, however, I can't say the same about you right now...Of course, if our leader met those girls, it would probably end up differently, haha." Babara finally broke the awkward and heavy atmosphere with a small smile.
"Your pupil? And why the thing with your leader?" I asked with a calm smile once again.
"My pupil is named Taeko and she is around your age so don't worry but also don't underestimate her, heh. As for our leader...she is probably older than you by a few years but that's not the main thing...She is very fond of girls...and she also hates men. Maybe it is because of the environment where she grew up, our clan consists mainly of women with only a few men as an exception." She explained with a forced smile.
man-hater and lesbian, huh? What a great combo. I already don't want to meet that bitch but if I want to make deals with them then I guess our meeting will be inevitable.
"I see, I hope your partner is doing well. How about we talk about the business now?" I asked, not wanting to talk anymore about their leader.
"You can see for yourself by going to the hot springs. Since I already invited you here, we can talk about business later, I am sure it's something that can wait a few hours." She said with a smile while pointing to the direction where girls went.
...It looks like girls will meet with her pupil first. I hope they won't start a fight.
"Alright, I will go change inside. Will you...eh..." I said but when I wanted to ask if she will be joining her own pupil, I had a problem to voice it out.
It's extremely awkward to ask that someone so old...
"No, I won't be joining my pupil in hot springs but I will be there...with my clothes on." She said with a straight face and left for the direction of the hot springs.
Ugh, that was weird.
I thought and went inside the cottage to take off my clothes. I wrapped the towel around my waist and took my sword with me before leaving for the hot springs.
...
When I arrived at the place...
"He sounds like an interesting person." A girl with long dark grey hair and green eyes said with a small smile.
"Haha, he definitely is!" Ichika immediately replied with a relaxed laugh.
"..." I immediately frowned after hearing this.
To think that I would be worried about them but she is relaxing here as if we weren't in constant danger. We don't even know where we are and she is so relaxed.
"Ichika, are you enjoying yourself?" I asked with an irritated tone and twitching bright smile, making everyone turn their attention at me.
"Eek, I mean...Welcome, young lord! We have been waiting for you to join us!" Ichika immediately replied with a panicked expression.
*Splash* The unknown girl immediately stood up when she saw me, her towel has fallen down but she acted as if she didn't notice it and approached me.
"Wha-?!" Ichika immediately exclaimed with a shocked expression before glaring at the girl while Kuroke just looked away.
I watched her approach me with calm eyes, guessing what she wants.
"You must be Akashi. I have heard a lot of things about you. I hope we can be friends." She stopped in front of me fully naked and extended her arm for a handshake with a stoic face.
Is she stupid?
"Sure but I would like to know the name of the one who is trying to be my friend first." I said with half-open eyes.
"Oh? I am sorry, my name is Taeko!" She replied with a slightly surprised expression so after hearing her reply I accepted the handshake.
"It's a pleasure but please go back and sit down in the water or make sure that your towel is wrapped around your body." I said with a straight face and glanced at Babara who was sitting on the branch of the nearest tree to the hot springs and she simply just shook her head with a helpless expression.
"Hm? Ah, I am sorry." She looked down and when she noticed that her towel was gone she immediately covered herself with her arms while blushing a little but her expression didn't really suggest that she is embarrassed.
This girl is extremely strange...but I could feel just from her palm that she is extremely experienced with a sword. A lot of people with great talent tend to be born with some weird aspects.
When she returned to her position I soaked my body between Ichika and Kurome who apparently left a space for me.
Aah, to be honest, this is totally different from the bathes at home.
Peaceful expression immediately appeared on my face as I fully relaxed my body in hot water.
"Aren't you too relaxed, boy?" Babara asked me with an amused smile.
"Maybe I am simply acting like before..." I answered with a smirk and narrowed eyes.
"Heh, good point." She replied and stopped paying attention to us.
All 3 of them looked at us with a confused expression since they didn't see a little show how Babara tried to "surprise" me just to fail.
We all continued to talk about regular things except for Babara who simply played around with her kitchen knives.
...
Once Ichika and Kurome left to get dressed back inside the cottage, I waited inside the hot springs to have my talk with Babara and Taeko also stayed.
"So, what kind of business do you want to talk about? I must inform you that our Oarburgh clan doesn't have a good relationship with the Empire." Babara asked with a serious expression.
"Don't worry, I know that the Empire detest you for a lot of assassinations on governments. I am also aware that you are in contact with the Rebel army for some time already. My business is very different from other people who come to you." I said with a teasing smile while soaking myself in a totally relaxed position.
My words made Babara narrow her eyes, trying to see through my intentions.
"Say it." She said after a while of observing me.
"First of all, I want a lot of different kinds of poisons. Second, I am kinda interested in your clothes and lastly...I heard that your Oarburgh clan is somewhat skilled in controlling Danger beasts." I said what I want with a calm smile.
"I see, this is definitely an unusual business. I can provide you those first 2 things but as for that last thing...you will have to talk with the leader and I really doubt that she will make any deal with you. Not to mention that only those of Oarburgh clan can control them but ultimately, only the leader can actually hatch them." She explained with a thoughtful expression.
Hatch them...So it's the truth that I have heard. They like to use insects like Danger beasts.
"Alright, we can talk about that last thing later. As for those first 2 things...Can you describe the special effects of your clothes?" I asked with a curious expression.
"Heh, sure. They are made from a special material from our Oarburgh clan that can wash away the blood and remove its smell immediately." She replied with a small chuckle.
My eyes immediately shined when I heard her words.
No wonder I couldn't smell any blood on her even though she is an assassin. These types of clothes are must for an assassin, it would be annoying to always wash your clothes and even if you wash them, there is still that lingering stench of blood. Someone with a great smell will be able to notice it immediately.
"Good, I definitely want that. Tell me...how much do you want for those things?" I asked with a serious expression.
"...Since I will be providing those items as an individual and not on behalf of our clan, I want you to owe me one. Our leader would definitely not want to trade our resources with any men." Babara replied after a few seconds of thinking with a sly smile.
Taeko immediately snapped her head at her teacher with a shocked expression.
"...Are you sure you don't want to accept gold like you usually do? I don't really like the idea of owing to someone" I said with a furrowed brows.
"There are things that even gold can't buy, right?" Babara said with a smile. Hinting that I can't buy their resources with money and that she knows that she also can't buy my favor.
"...Owing to you is a very broad condition. I hope you will provide me a lot of your poisons and also enough clothes even for my companions." I stood up and said with narrowed eyes while holding my sheathed sword.
"Of course, if you will accept this, I will also provide you other things. There are many things that are exclusive to our clan. For example vials with a mixture, when consumed it can immediately heal wounds but can't be used repeatedly. I might also drop a few good words about you to our leader so you might be able to even get that last thing you want, however, as I told you before...you would have to become Oarburgh to fully control them." She explained with a more relaxed expression as if she just won something good.
"Are you hinting something with me becoming Oarburgh?" I frowned and looked at her before glancing at Taeko.
---
'...Heh, this kid can easily see through what I am trying to do here. Although Taeko is a little strange, she at least isn't like our leader. If I can tie down someone like him to our clan, he will definitely be a great help for our clan. There is only one last remaining thing to see...I have seen his ability to calmly analyze a situation and play around with his enemies when he lured me into a trap. But I have yet to see his actual fighting power and skills. If he will be able to match Taeko or even defeat her, keeping a good relationship with him will be beneficial.' Babara thought with a sly smile on her face.
---
"Not at all. You can give me your answer this morning but for now...Taeko was just about to go train, would you be interested in sparring with her?" Babara said while pointing at Taeko who had confused expression on her face from our entire exchange but when she heard sparring she snapped her head at me with pleading eyes.
"...I see, I see. I have no problem with showing a bit of my skill if it's so important for you, hehe" I said with a small smile and creepy laugh.