The first day passed and the second day came around. The banquet went well. Better than any Christmas or New Year's Dinner. Everyone was talking to each other genuinely.
The other children still avoided Ayato but they talked to Kiara for a change. Since they didn't want to get near Ayato, Kiara left them for her brother and Shoya.
The three of them had a lot of fun.
The second day was a day of relations. It was disguised as a rest day before the third, however, the true purpose was to talk to each other.
The children didn't have much to be involved with.
"Saya, good morning."
Maenis said in a white suit. She yawned. The woman had cut her hair slightly shorter. Before, her hair wouldn't pass her shoulders but now, her hair extended down to the nape, at most.
"Good morning, Maenis. Are you ready?"
"Yup, can't you see that I'm dressed?"
"Let's go then."
The two of them opened the door to a room on the 20th floor. It was the meeting room. As the door opened, the women inside looked over.
They all winced when they saw Saya. As they did, that brought a smile to the woman's face. Maenis walked behind her like a bodyguard. From her white hair, her choker, her suit and her posture, Maenis appeared like a veteran guard.
There was a seat in the middle of the meeting room. That seat was empty. So, Saya decided to take it. As she sat down, groans of discomfort washed over the room.
There was a reason as to why nobody took the seat. If any of the concubines took the seat, then it would state that they were better than others. It would spark a war among concubines, perhaps even forming factions.
Saya took the seat and crossed her legs as if she ruled the place.
Well, technically she did. As the main wife, she had the most power in the room. Of course, if she was attacked by any of the concubines, a magician like Saya probably wouldn't be able to win but no one would dare do so. Not as long as they were a concubine to Goto Kyouya.
Yuna Kyouya was the only exception but she ended up dying. No one dared to physically abuse her after that. Even the concubines who were following Yuna were now wagging their tails.
"Hello, now, today we'll be talking about the future of the Kyouya Family."
Saya said.
"Future? Are you sure you're not going to use us to elevate your position?"
A woman named Arisu growled. Saya looked over at her with a nonchalant expression. Everyone else joined in with her.
"You're just a witch!"
"Don't get cocky because you were first!"
"We won't have anything left at this point!"
The woman sighed and looked over at Maenis. The dark-skinned woman raised her leg, stamping the ground. The ground beneath her feet cracked—it spread across the floor with a loud THUD!
The concubines quieted down. Maenis had intimidated them. Saya was finally able to speak.
"I'm saying this with complete confidence. Ayato and Kiara Kyouya, my children, will not become the heirs to the Kyouya Family."
"What?"
They couldn't believe what they had just heard. Most of them didn't. They began shouting once more at Saya.
"What do you mean?!"
"You're not going to trick us, are you?!"
"I don't know how the next heir will be decided but it won't be my children. I don't want them to be the heir. And so, I'll announce this officially after the end of the Midnight Banquet."
They were all shocked by Saya's announcement. The intent behind her actions was unclear, however, it was clear that what she was saying was the truth. Every single one of them in the room knew that.
"Why are you doing this?"
A white-haired woman called Mashiro asked. Saya sighed and laid back on the chair.
"Do I have to explain myself again? I said that I want neither of my children to become the heir. That will only bring them sorrow."
"I know you're their mother, but are you sure? You don't know, it may make them happy."
Another concubine suggested. Saya had enough of the concubines' complaints. She facepalmed and glowered at the women.
"Shut the fuck up. None of you have been heirs to any of the Seven Great Families, so shut the fuck up and take the opportunity."
She cursed at the women. That was when they started to become rowdy again. As Maenis raised her foot, the entire room rumbled, causing some of the concubines to fall onto the floor. Even Saya fell off her chair before Maenis caught her.
"Are you okay?! Saya?!"
"I'm fine. What happened, though?"
Saya used her Blue Eyes. Her eyes glistened.
The Blue Eyes possessed by the daughters of the Asanagi Family were stronger than the others. This was because of the blood of the original patriarch. Whoever has the blood of the original patriarch can use it to a great extent. What's more, with the family's secrets, the heir can further enhance the Blue Eyes.
"Fuck! This isn't good!"
"What happened?!"
"A terrorist attack! From the looks of it, it's Noir!"
"Noir?!"
"Those bastards are in Japan?!"
Noir. They're a terrorist group who reject the current structure of the world. They want a world without magicians, although, they don't mind having black magicians around since they are also persecuted by magicians. (NEXUS is an extension of Noir.)
"We need to fan out!"
"Why should we take orders from you?!"
One of the concubines shouted. Saya clenched her teeth.
"Because lives are in danger, you fucking swine! We don't have time to waste when our children may be in danger!"
Even though they didn't appreciate the way she said it, the concubines instinctively knew that she was correct.
"Get the security guards to protect the lobby and any guest rooms that send requests!"
"If it's Noir, then they should be wearing anti-magician equipment. That doesn't work well for us. Let Maenis and I take the frontlines."
A blonde-haired woman stood up and said. Both Saya and Maenis smiled.
"Mumei!"
"Thanks, Mumei, that would be a great help!"
Saya had a determined look on her face.
"We'll need some of you searching the building for your children too! If you have any way to contact them, tell them to come to the meeting room! This will be our haven!"
She shouted.
"We need to hurry!"
·———·
The lobby had already been taken. There were about 50 people in black suits. Only two were without helmets. Both of them appeared to be foreigners.
"Are you having fun, Orfan?"
The man asked the black-haired woman. She was the only one without a gun. Her right arm and cheek were bathed in blood. The woman licked her lips.
"Yeah, of course, I never thought I'd find a way to do some proper killing. Serving that youngster isn't for me."
The man chuckled slightly.
"Why don't you come work with us then?"
He instantly regretted those words. The man staggered upon feeling Orfan's sharp glare.
"Are you serious? You guys? The cowards that you are?"
She sighed.
"Don't get me wrong, I love killing but that's only when the opponent can fight. I killed the security guards who fought back meanwhile you guys meaninglessly murdered the bystanders. You're lucky that the bread you paid was good, otherwise, I would've already had all of your heads, Ryan."
The man, Ryan, gulped his saliva while breaking into a cold sweat.
"W-well, that's fine."
"If you try to kill any more people who don't fight back, I'll murder you."
As she said that, a soldier was putting the barrel of his gun on a child's head.
"Ah, shit,"
Ryan muttered as he watched Orfan cleanly decapitate the man with a roundhouse kick.
"Get going, Ryan,"
"R-right! Follow me, troops!"
He shouted. They stormed the hotel. Orfan crouched in front of the child.
"What's your name, kid?"
Despite all of the killing, he wasn't crying. He looked like he was used to it. It wasn't ignorance, rather, it was acceptance.
"Ayato Kyouya."
He answered.
Ayato was trained in close combat. Although his skills with magic were subpar, he was a good martial artist. There was one thing that his instinct as a martial artist told him.
This woman... she was dangerous. This situation seemed like a giant lion looking down at a skinny cat.
"Okay, Ayato, I'd rather you not die since I saved you. I love kids too. I'll send you off to your parents. Wherever they are, stay with me for a while."
"N-n—I mean, yes..."
He stuttered.
Orfan smiled and picked Ayato up by his hand.
"Come, let's search for them."
"R-right..."