"Thank you for all your help, sir."
A beastman from the Redfox family dressed in an open suit jacket without a shirt said as he bowed to the master of the house before taking his leave.
He was bowing down as he sat on his knees.
"Shual, lift your head. It has been almost three years since you got here. I am happy to see that you are alive and that our deal with the Yokai god didn't put you through any harm."
An old beastman from the Redfox family, who was sitting in front of Shu on the tatami mat, said.
The old beastman looked very similar to Shu but way older. So his fur had gotten lighter in color due to his old age. The reason for the remarkable resemblance between the two was that he is, in fact, Shu's great-grandfather on his mother's side.
During Shu's training in the land owned by his ancestors, he learned he grew up in the demon god's realm because on the day of his birth. His mother died. His grandfather was too sad to take care of him, so the old beastman decided that it was time to repay the Yokai god, Danniel, for requesting the divine swordsman, the Oni king, Momotaro, to forge a katana and give it to his ancestor, so he could save the beastmen from Hector Akui who wanted to kill all of the beastmen and was about to do it because of the actions of a particular member of the Vulpini branch who practically forced Hector into a position where he had to kill his brother. And so he gifted the dying Shu as a baby to Danniel.
The ancestor was nearly three hundred years old during the last tournament and wasn't a participant. He is the grandfather of Shu's grandfather.
"So, where are you going now?"
The old beastman asked his grandson.
"I'm not sure, to be honest. Master Chaos told me that the training will end three years after it had started, and we are nearing the three-year mark, but aside from that, I don't know where he wants us to go now."
Shu answered.
"Well, tonight, we shall hold a banquet to say goodbye to you and your friends before you leave."
The old beastman said and smiled.
Shu thanked him, bowed, and was about to leave the room.
"Wait!"
Shu's grandfather yelled at him, and he stopped in his tracks. One of the first things Shu learned after coming here is "never make the old beastman angry," he is rather dangerous for his age.
"Please, as the only direct descendent left from the main branch of our family, take this sword. You can do whatever you want with it, but please accept this gift."
The old beastman spread his hand open and stretched it toward the wall. A katana that always hung on it was pulled through magic to the old beastman's hand.
On the katana's sheath was the sigil of the family. A fox whose tail was close to his head in a circular shape. This is the sword that was gifted to the family by Danniel.
"I can't accept this, it's too valuable to the family, and I don't even use swords..."
Shu started saying.
"It's okay. I'm sure one of your companions will enjoy this sword."
The old beastman said, and then Mary's face flashed in his Shu's head.
Shu grabbed the sword, smiled, bowed thankfully to his great-grandfather, and left the room.
********
As Shu walked in the hallway, on his way to his room, he met his master, the demon god's right hand, Chaos.
"Do you feel that you are ready?"
Chaos asked. He asked this question once a month, and Shu never gave a straight, serious answer.
Was he ready? How could He know?!
Did he ever truly contemplate such things before arriving at this realm? Surely, no.
And what of it? Does he have the right not to be ready? No.
So, was He ready?
"Yes."
Shu answered decisively at once.
"Good, just don't forget the mask and the brass knuckles."
Chaos said and went in another direction, probably the library.
During their time together, Shu learned a few things about his master.
First, contradictory to his name, he is a stern, by-the-book person who avoids going along with the "chaos" around him as much as possible.
Second, he likes books enough to sell Shu to someone to get a book he wants on the assumption that Shu can see the way how to get out of that situation and everything will be okay.
Third, he is good at teaching how to get one's powers under control. Since he can control chaos, a primal force that contradicts reality itself, he is good at teaching others how to do similar fits, something which has helped Shu get his future sight ability under control.
Contrary to Shu's expectations, Chaos didn't go to the library. He went to the training grounds to inform their allies to prepare to leave.
"Hey, kids! It's time to pack your bags. Tomorrow morning we are leaving."
Chaos said, and the three of them stopped their training.
"Master Chaos, thank you for your help with the sword."
A young man wearing a blend of a tuxedo and samurai armor without a helmet said as he bowed his head.
It was Dam Cahol. His sword was a replica of Chaos' sword that he inherited from his family, and it had similar but weaker capabilities.
While Dam was training in the training grounds of the Redfox family, he saw the family members use different types of swords than the ones he was familiar with, and he wanted to learn their technique. Chaos changed his sword into a katana, still possessing the same powers as before, but now it was more suitable to practice the local sword techniques.
"No need to thank me, your family are some of the few in this world that see me as their patron god, so I'm happy to help you."
Chaos said and looked at everything around him with a disappointed expression.
The god locals saw as their patron is Momotaro, the Oni king, the Demon god's left hand, the divine swordsman, Chaos' rival...
When Emilia heard Chaos' words, she went to her room to organize her things.
These days she was wearing completely different clothes than before. Before, she usually wore a maid's outfit, but these days, she wears clothes that resemble a party dress modified for fighting.
They all wore business suits, tuxedoes, and dresses because Danniel, the Demon god, made it "company policy" that everyone under him would wear formal clothes, even while fighting. Danniel is the most powerful magic user alive and can manipulate divinity pretty well, so all of their clothes have defense spells and spells meant to make those clothes stretch easier mid-battle. Danniel cast all these spells.
********
"Yo, Shu! How are ya?"
Dasheng Zhizi said. He was dressed in a suit that looked weird... It's made out of the same golden dragon scales as his old armor, and he still wore the same cape and red boots, so it was a golden business suit with a red cape and red boots.
"I'm great. We are finally going to see Alexander and Mary again. How are you doing?"
Shu said.
"I am doing great. We've been couped in this small place for so long. I can't wait to see what the world looks like now."
Dasheng Zhizi answered.
Shu stared at him for a bit and then said.
"You need a shorter name."
"What do ya mean?!"
Dasheng Zhizi asked, confused by the sudden remark.
"Like, what about... Shí Shèngrén?"
Shu said.
"That's longer than my current name!"
Dasheng Zhizi argued.
"Then what about Shímáo?"
Shu asked.
"If you are not giving me a good option, then I won't go along with this..."
Dasheng Zhizi said, and it was clear to Shu that he had only one more chance to think of a good name.
"What about Shí Hóu?"
Shu asked, and from the look on Dasheng Zhizi's face, he could see that it was a success.
'Shí Hóu, eh? Maybe he could fix the legacy of this name.'
Dasheng Zhizi thought to himself.
"Fine, Shí Hóu, it is."
Dasheng Zhizi said and renamed himself Shí Hóu.
********
The newly renamed Shí Hóu left Shu to pack his things and went to tell the others about his new name and was surprised to see how easy they took it, and Dam explained to him that it's just easier to pronounce.
They all packed their things, and later at night, they partied as if there was no tomorrow. Shí Hóu drank so much that he passed out, and Shu, who drank just as much as him but was a better drinker, helped his friend to his room.
Emilia, the mightiest drinker at the party, kept baiting people into losing money to her in drinking contests.
Dam was not a light drinker either, but he wanted to keep watch so that none of his friends would do anything stupid.
Chaos didn't drink on the premise that he liked wine better. And while it wasn't a lie, it was a terrible excuse.