*Niam Henka*
„Are you sure you want go out in your condition?" Kagami asked.
„When was I ever undetermined?"
„I don't know. I have only known you for a few days."
„That was a joke. Yes I'm sure. I need my dagger and my gun. You said that they also sold ammunition, right?"
„I did. Is it even useful? Your gun?"
„For me, it is."
„I wish you good luck then. You might meet people from the Takeda family. And just so you know, the pure-blooded Takeda are arrogant and think they're superior to us. It would be good not to get us and yourself into trouble." Kagami advised.
"I will try my best."
We were at the stables and I was ready to set off. Kagami was there with me, he was the only one who seemed to care what I wanted to do. I already set on Gin, ready to take off. All I had on me, was water and some onigiri. And the only weapon I had, was a Katana that laid around somewhere.
"Don't slack." I said and took off.
Gin seemed more energetic than last time. I felt like he had missed travelling with me. Though it was for just 1 day of travel there and back, I knew that Gin would be satisfied.
I was given a map where the weaponry was marked on. 'Still need a map, huh? I need to memorize our territory's landscape.'
Gin's enthusiasm got me to the weaponry faster than I planned. 'Surprising as always, Gin. I just need to get your dagger back, then we are a pair again.'
Before I arrived, I expected the building to be sturdy and big, but what I actually saw, was a wooden hut that seemed to have a broken roof that led water inside when it rained.
When I walked into the weaponry, I was met with the stench of sake. Daitan's husband was a drinker, I realized quite fast.
"I am-" I was interrupted.
"What do you want?!" He asked annoyed.
"I am looking for my white dagger. It's foreign made and has a horse design on its handle and its sheath. I was told to get it here."
"Hmm...." He started to think. "Oh, yeah! I remember a dagger being brought here by father-in-law himself. He said to keep it here until someone comes to get it."
"Will you give it to me?"
"Why would I give it to you? I don't even know you. And also, I already gave it to some Takeda kid."
His ignorance angered me. I hated dealing with ignorant scum.
"I am-" I was interrupted yet again.
"He also brought a revolver, but didn't say anything about it."
'Damn bastard!'
"I can at least have that, right!?" I raised my tone.
My change of attitude seemed to have pleased him in some way. 'How much is he and Aunt Daitan alike?'
"For 20 credits, I will give you the revolver. And for another 20, I will throw in 24 bullets. How does that sound?"
'For fuck's sake... They're nothing alike'
"30 for both." I started negotiating.
"38."
"32."
"37."
"34."
"36."
"35."
"35 it is. Let me get your stuff. Prepare your payment." He said as he opened a floor door and went down through it.
Not expecting this situation, I didn't take my sack of gems with me. 'I will just take it and go to the Takeda estate.'
I used Galaxy-Sight to track his movements. And when I noticed him picking up the items I wanted, I sent Mana into them, preparing my payback.
When he appeared from behind the counter again, I used Supreme-Control on the items and made them gravitate towards me.
He, the drunken guy he is, couldn't react fast enough.
"Hey! What are-" I interrupted him.
"Fuck you! Next time, let a son of Henka talk." I said and walked out of the weaponry.
I jumped on Gin and signalled him to run as fast as he could. In the end, I was only able to get my revolver and some bullets. The dagger remained out of my possession. I had to get it.
The map I was given showcased the Takeda estate's location as well. A few hours and I would arrive at my new destination.
I used to time to think about excuses and reasons for my appearance. I could imagine how disrespectful it would be when a rivalling family appears at one's doorstep announced.
'Should I be direct? Should I tell them about the dagger and its meaning? Or should I lie about a small matter and then try to steal it?' I pondered.
I decided on the direct approach. Nothing hidden, the full truth. 'No lies, huh? Very unlike my usual self. Day by day, my old self becomes less apparent. If I was my old self, there would've been no doubts. I would've lied, hid my intentions. All for the sake of pride.'
***
Half an hour before my calculated arrival, I felt Mana signatures around me. A few Takeda were aware of my presence.
I immediately held my hands up and yelled out.
"My name is Niam Henka. I am here for a spontaneous matter that cannot wait. Bring me to someone in charge."
From the corners of my eyes, I saw arrows fly towards me. But their path was obvious. The arrows weren't meant to hit me.
Once the arrows had struck the ground around me - 4 in total - I was able to see that a thin rope was attached to 3 of the arrows. The arrow with no rope had a small piece of paper on its end.
The paper read: 'You must be Tsuki's partner. The arrows around you will determine the person who we will bring you to. If you want to talk about the families' relationship but from our point of view, pick up the arrow on your left. If you want to talk about Tsuki, grab the one on the right. If you want to talk about another matter, grab the arrow closest to you.'
I grabbed the arrow closest to me. Once I did, I felt the arrow being pulled, so I followed it. At the other side of the rope, a kid waited for me. He had brown hair and dark eyes. His eyebrows were furrowed and he wore an eye shadow. When I took a closer look at him, I saw that he was missing a tooth. 'From all the people I have met so far, he looks the youngest.'
„The name is Mink. Follow me, I will bring you to Master Takeda." The boy said.
„Which Takeda?" I asked in response.
„I don't know his first name. All the elder Takeda are called master. Same goes for your Clan, right?"
„It does. So, lead the way, Mink."
***
In a room that resembled the ones in my family's estate, I was introduced to an elder of the Takeda.
„Welcome, Henka. You must be the previously non-existent child that appeared together with Tsuki Shizukana." He paused. „Just like Tsuki had said, you only carry some features of your family. Whatever blood you also carry must be quite strong…"
„My name is Niam Henka. And I believe you have something that belongs to me." I said.
„She is here by her own free will." He responded.
„I'm not talking about Tsuki. I carried a set of weapons before arriving here. The main weapons I used were chipped, they became useless. Only 2 weapons had survived my journey. This," I showed him the revolver, „and a foreign-made, white dagger. And as you can see, I am missing my dagger. My Master told me that I would find it at the weaponry. The married-in-Henka was supposed to give these 2 weapons to someone who asked for it - me, in other words. But someone from your Clan was given the dagger because of that man."
"I see. Let me ask around. You should stay here for the night. I will tell Mink to bring you to our gest room."