"Haha, sister, has Grandpa Kenji done something to make you this angry?" Hiroshi called out, trying to use humor to diffuse the situation and address the presence that haunted them.
Kenji, however, had reached his limit. His anger and frustration surged, and he allowed his aura to envelop his entire body, a defensive measure he had honed over the years. This aura acted like a protective shield. If anyone were to strike him, they would receive a counterattack in return. In addition, he invoked a magical water shield, a unique skill he had developed, to detect the attacker's presence and use it as a tracker to locate them.
But Kenji's hopes and plans were shattered when he was unexpectedly sent flying across the courtyard by an unseen force, his defensive measures proving futile. He landed in a heap, disoriented and still unable to locate the attacker.
"Sister, enough of this game!" Hiroshi shouted angrily. He realized that prolonging this bizarre encounter would only lead to more danger, and he feared that one of them might not survive the ordeal.
As if the situation couldn't get any more complicated, more people arrived on the scene, their presence only adding to the growing sense of dread and uncertainty.
"Father, what are you doing here so late at night?" Ayami's voice broke through the tension-filled atmosphere, her presence a surprise and a relief to Hiroshi. He looked delighted to see his daughter, who was known for her strength and courage.
"Ayami, what are you doing here?" Hiroshi inquired, concern etching his face. He knew that his daughter had the capabilities to face whatever threat they were encountering. "Be careful, something is attacking us."
Others present at the scene also expressed their concern for Ayami's safety, as they explained the servants' earlier claims that Lady Takahashi was haunting the estate.
"What nonsense..." Ayami began to say, but her words were abruptly cut short when a stone struck her forehead, drawing blood.
"Miss!" one of the servants exclaimed.
"Ayami!" Hiroshi screamed in horror, witnessing his daughter's injury.
But Ayami's reaction was unexpected. Fueled by anger and frustration, her aura emitted from her body, and the ground itself seemed to shake under her raw power. "Come out, you bastard!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage.
Hiroshi watched in confusion as his daughter confronted an unseen adversary. The other servants urged caution and suggested tending to Ayami's wound.
"Shut up!" Ayami retorted, her anger unabated as she glanced at everyone present. "I know only one person who has the guts to do something like this." Her words left them all in suspense, wondering who she was referring to and what lay ahead.
Ayami, seething with anger, stormed toward Ichiro's small cottage home. She used her earth manipulation abilities to lift a large boulder from the ground, preparing to hurl it at the house. The others present watched in shock, unsure of what was about to unfold.
However, their attention was abruptly diverted when a voice called out, "What are you all doing here?"
Startled, everyone turned around to find a person they would have never expected to see so late at night.
"Lady Sato?" one of the servants exclaimed in surprise.
Ichiro, who had been standing next to Emi behind them all, watched the unexpected arrival of Lady Sato with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
Hiroshi, still reeling from the bizarre events of the evening, hurriedly got up from the ground and approached Lady Sato and the group.
Nobody paid any attention to Ichiro's earlier question; all eyes were fixed on the unexpected visitor. It was clear that Lady Sato held a position of great importance.
Ayami, who had been moments away from throwing the boulder at Ichiro's home, was now dumbfounded. She had assumed that Ichiro was inside the house, but to her surprise, he stood right behind them. What's more, he was in the company of someone they couldn't possibly challenge.
"Ichiro, what is the meaning of this?" Hiroshi demanded, his voice filled with a mix of fury and concern as he addressed his nephew.
"I came to get my phone," Emi replied, causing a collective sense of anxiety and worry to permeate the group. Her words revealed that she had ventured here not only to retrieve her phone but also out of curiosity to see where Ichiro was staying.
"You shouldn't have come; we could have sent it back for you," Hiroshi said, his tone friendly as he addressed Emi, though he cast a disapproving glance in Ichiro's direction.
Emi quickly countered, "No need, it's my phone, not his fault." She made it clear that it was her own carelessness that had led to leaving her phone behind and that she was thankful that Ichiro had found it.
Ichiro couldn't resist a taunting remark. "What's the boulder for, Ayami?" he mockingly asked, provoking a chorus of glares and angry looks from those present.
Ayami, realizing the folly of her earlier intentions, swiftly disassembled the large boulder into pebbles. She approached her father, Hiroshi, and explained, "We came looking for you. Someone is trying to destroy your house."
"Huh? Weren't you about to destroy my house?" Ichiro continued to mock and challenge his family, a smirk playing on his lips as he pushed the boundaries of their patience.
"No, what Lady Ayami stated is true. Something strange has been happening," another servant chimed in.
"That's right, even Head Butler Kenji was attacked," another confirmed.
"That's right, your mother is haunting us," a third servant boldly claimed.
Hiroshi shot a stern look at the servant who mentioned his sister, clearly displeased. He was about to make an excuse, but Ichiro cut him off.
"My mother?" Ichiro feigned confusion, acting like an innocent bystander who couldn't believe what everyone was saying.
Hiroshi, not wanting to appear vulnerable in front of Emi Sato, calmly deflected the claims. "Well, Ichiro, the servants are spouting nonsense here. It's late; we should all head back. Lady Sato, please excuse us."
Emi, unfazed by the strange occurrences and the servants' superstitious beliefs, simply nodded in acknowledgment.
Once everyone had departed, Emi let out a heavy sigh and turned her gaze toward Ichiro. "If I hadn't come, you might have been in serious trouble."
Ichiro, still trying to maintain his innocence, replied with a casual tone. "Please, how is that even possible?" He avoided making eye contact with Emi, unsure of how much she might have figured out about his true nature and actions.
Emi wasn't one to easily buy into Ichiro's innocent facade. She knew he was involved in the commotion happening in the household, and her curiosity was piqued. She wondered what he had been up to, as it had clearly caused quite a stir, even leaving a mark on his cousin's forehead.
"So, what's the story this time?" Emi inquired, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. She wanted to get to the bottom of Ichiro's involvement in the unusual events.
Ichiro, wearing a cheeky smile, attempted to deflect her suspicion. "Nothing, what are you talking about? I went to give back your phone."
Emi, not willing to press further, shrugged it off. "Fine, whatever. I'll be leaving then."
Ichiro offered to see her out, and Emi agreed. They walked to the main gate together, where her car and guards were waiting.
As Emi prepared to depart, she rolled down the window and looked at Ichiro. "Well done," she praised him, acknowledging his resolve in standing up for himself and not allowing them to mistreat him any longer.
"Okay?" Ichiro replied, a bit puzzled by her words but still smiling. Despite the odd circumstances, Emi had proven to be a supportive friend who didn't judge him as harshly as some others. "See you in class."
"Yeah, see ya," Emi responded with a wave before her car drove away, leaving Ichiro standing at the gate, wondering about the mysterious events that had unfolded and the changes they had set in motion.
Ichiro returned to his small cottage after seeing Emi off. He couldn't help but wonder if someone would be waiting for him there, but to his relief—or perhaps his disappointment—his place was empty. He hadn't expected things to escalate so quickly, with even Ayami getting involved in the chaos.
As he sat down on the porch, he gazed up at the sparkling stars in the night sky. It brought back memories of his childhood, when his grandfather used to tell him that his mother was among those stars, a brilliant and great person. It was a bittersweet recollection that stirred mixed emotions within him.
He sighed heavily, and as he clenched his fists, a determination welled up inside him. What had transpired earlier should never have happened. The mere mention of his mother by the servants had unleashed something in him, a desire to break free from his past and the abuse he had endured for so long.
They had feared his mother, but they showed no fear of him. That would change. He was no longer the weak, submissive boy they had once known. This time, he would make them experience the fear and suffering they had inflicted on him. What had occurred earlier was just the beginning of his plans, a small taste of what was to come.