Hearing this, Nobunaga simply pointed above. Reyoma followed the direction of Nobunaga's finger and saw Rook's head impaled on a branch of their camp's tree. "Ishin is out monitoring if we have any more of these ugly beasts around us. As to what happened last night..."
Nobunaga began to explain, "When you injured Rook's leg and fainted close to it, Rook was still furiously swiping its claws around, unable to stand. Since I was quite close to it, I saved you. You better be grateful, Omen."
"Don't worry, I will compensate you after the exam is over," Reyoma said, knowing exactly what would motivate Nobunaga. Their team, even though not perfect, was somehow working quite well. Nobunaga dragging Reyoma out of danger was proof of it. If Reyoma wanted this temporary companionship to keep working, he had to give up on some things. Not that he cared—as the son of an elder of a clan, Reyoma had a lot of money to spend. It was just that he didn't really care too much about spending it.
"Tsk tsk, what are you even saying, you Omen fucker? Are you looking down on me? The reason I saved you is because of what you did previously. I don't keep others' favors. Now that I saved you, I owe you nothing."
'*Snort*. Quite a talk from someone who didn't even look back when he was running for his life, leaving me to die'.
"Continue."
"Umh... where was I? Oh right. After I dragged you out of danger, Ishin was already throwing stones into small puddles of water, making Rook's feathers wet. Sure did work; it slowed it down. When it was wet enough, Ishin came to me and gave me the wooden arrows he had created yesterday. He told me, 'My life depends on you,' with a serious look, and then went to fight Rook on his own. Of course, I volunteered to fight with him, but the only reason I wasn't able to was because we had to take care of you. Yes, it was because of you, Omen. It was because a clan's man was in need of help..." Nobunaga went on, bragging about his courage and how he protected Reyoma while he was unconscious. But unknowingly, what he said struck Reyoma's mind very deeply.
'Clan's man, clan member... *Sigh*. Is what he said even true? The people who see me just as an object of gossip, who ignore my being only to look at my shadow, who blame me for things I have never done—would they ever come to protect me when I am in danger? *Snort*. Don't make me laugh. All you care about is your own personal interests. You, Nobunaga, and other clan members want me to trust in you, rely on you? Screw off. Only goddess Alpame is worth putting my faith into,' Reyoma thought, unknowingly letting rage surface in his heart as he thought about his past.
Nobunaga kept on talking. "I didn't disappoint Ishin one bit. I saved him multiple times as well."
'Really? How much are you going to brag about yourself when you weren't even facing it, and now you're even bringing Ishin as your favored?' Reyoma thought, listening while looking stern and composed.
Nobunaga continued, oblivious to Reyoma's inner turmoil. "...Oh, but one thing was different though. Although I knew Ishin was strong, I didn't know he was that strong. He was even using different movements from what we have been taught, and when he breathed, it was like he was smoke. Smoke came out. How much air was he even inhaling..."
Hearing this, Reyoma's pupils shrunk.
...
Previously...
Elders' meeting...
Meeting hall...
A silhouette could be seen through the shoji partitions. Walking out of it was an old man wearing Akatsuki's guard outfit with a demonic smiling mask and a chonmage, his eyes blurry. It was Hakuryoku."I did what you said. Did any one of them catch your eye?" Akihiko inquired, a note of anticipation in his voice, followed by a resigned sigh.
"No," Hakuryoku replied curtly. His answer was short, almost dismissive, creating a palpable tension in the hall. To the Swords, this response seemed disrespectful. Akihiko had gone to great lengths to honor Hakuryoku, even executing his requests meticulously. Yet, when asked a direct question, Hakuryoku offered no elaboration.
Sensing the rising tension, Hero, who sought clarification, and Daiki, who wanted to defuse the situation, both attempted to speak up. Their intentions were clear: one sought information, the other peace.
"Hakuryoku do—" Hero began.
"Hakuryoku do—" Daiki echoed simultaneously.
Their voices overlapped, creating an awkward silence as they looked at each other, both startled by their synchronous attempt to intervene.
Hero, managing his curiosity, coughed lightly. "Please," he said, deferring to Daiki to ask instead.
"Hakuryoku-dono, why do you think none of them are capable of being a leader? And why didn't Elder Masaru's daughters even get a chance to prove themselves?" Daiki asked, unaware of Hakuryoku's perception of leadership among the youth.
Hakuryoku glanced at Daiki, then at Akihiko, who also looked at him with questioning eyes. Seeing their confusion, Hakuryoku began to speak.
"A leader of any clan should always side with their clan members, even if those members are at fault. It is the only way for any clan to survive in Thalasor. That's why I asked you to be harsh to the elder without reason," Hakuryoku explained, his tone steady and authoritative.
Ryota's son, Takeshi, might be a good commander in the forces, but leading common people and commanding the warriors of Akatsuki is different. When his father was scolded, even if he might have been internally upset, he showed nothing on the surface, like any soldier would. Would you want a leader who will simply obey others without question?
Ayaka's son, Ryoma, although he spoke up against Akihiko's accusations, obeys and believes his mother too much. He is still like a chick in the nest, living under his mother's wing. Until he moves out and experiences life outside his home, he can't be trusted, nor will he trust you."
And as for Masaru's daughters..." Hakuryoku looked at Akihiko, signaling him to continue the explanation from here.
Akihiko nodded and took a deep breath before speaking. "Masaru's daughters are indeed talented, but they can never become leaders of this clan. Never. How can a cannibalistic family ever be given authority over our clan?" Akihiko concluded.
Hero, deep in thought, stroked his chin and nodded, seemingly oblivious to his surroundings. 'Cannibalistic... Was it true? Were the rumors really true? If so, why is Masaru still one of our clan's elders? Shouldn't he be thrown out of the clan?' he pondered silently.
Daiki, noticing Hero's contemplative state, shrugged his shoulders. 'I hope he doesn't go barging into Masaru's residence to purge him,' he thought, a hint of concern crossing his mind.