Chapter 139: Kazama (風間)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: Kazama (風間)
We followed Fuma-senpai's grandfather into the main building of the estate.
A glance around revealed a classic Japanese-style mansion. It possessed the quiet, simple elegance unique to traditional houses. Moreover, unlike Karen's home, which had been renovated with modern interiors, this mansion seemed to be preserved in its original, historical state.
As we walked along the creaking wooden corridor, a well-manicured indoor garden came into view. Though artificial, it was as beautiful as a natural landscape.
Sensing my gaze linger on the garden, Fuma-senpai, who was walking beside me, offered a brief explanation.
"This is my grandfather's prized garden. He's tended to it himself since he was young, so almost every part of it has felt his touch."
It seemed Fuma-senpai's grandfather was as meticulous about raising plants as his strict appearance suggested. The perfectly arranged garden seemed to be a direct reflection of its owner's personality.
Soon, we arrived at an eight-mat tatami room. Perhaps in a display of minimalist beauty, the spacious room was bare of any decorations, save for a hanging scroll and a vase.
Fuma-senpai's grandfather entered first. As I followed him awkwardly into the room, he glanced back and asked, "What will you have to drink?"
The question was directed at me, so I answered quickly.
"I'll have whatever you're serving."
"...Very well."
With a slight nod, the old man slowly sat down on a cushion. He cleared his throat softly, his eyes shifting between me and Fuma-senpai.
"Have a seat."
"Yes, sir."
Fuma-senpai and I slowly knelt on the tatami across from her grandfather.
Just then, the old man shook a small bell that was placed next to his cushion. A sliding door opened, and a middle-aged woman in a maroon apron entered the room.
"Please prepare some tea."
"Right away, Master."
The way she bowed deeply before quietly exiting was a gesture one would expect to see in a historical drama.
Afterward, as if all preparations for conversation were complete, Fuma-senpai's grandfather finally spoke.
"I have heard much about you, not only from my granddaughter's letters but through many others as well, Kim Yoo-Sung."
Her grandfather already knew my name, though I had never told him.
But... many others?
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. A high school student who defeated Ivan, the God of Destruction, with his bare hands. It would be stranger if you didn't become a topic of conversation. Furthermore, after you appeared in my granddaughter's letters, many of the elders have grown quite hopeful. They believe that with your Extreme Yang Body, you could learn our family's secret martial art—which was on the verge of being lost—without the need for grueling training."
"I didn't realize you knew my name, let alone such specific details."
"It is only natural. I took the liberty of gathering information on you myself."
Fuma-senpai's grandfather stated this rather terrifying fact nonchalantly before fixing his sharp gaze on me.
"Now then, enough with the pleasantries. Let's get to the point. I hear you asked if there was a way to learn Hayate (Gale) without becoming my granddaughter's adopted son-in-law, is that correct?"
"Ah, yes."
At this point, the more martial arts I could learn, the better. Though I'd stumbled a bit along the way, there was absolutely no downside to learning more.
"For now, I can only give you the standard answer. Fundamentally, Hayate is an extremely dangerous fighting style created during the Sengoku period for the sole purpose of killing people. I cannot teach such a thing to an outsider, someone who is not of our clan."
"I see."
To be honest, I'd already heard as much from Fuma-senpai, so I wasn't getting my hopes up.
"However."
As he said this, Fuma-senpai's grandfather presented a new condition.
"Not far from our village, there is an abandoned Western-style house. Recently, a Yukionna has taken up residence there. If you can drive that Yukionna away, I will make a special exception and permit you to learn Hayate."
"Grandfather!" Fuma-senpai exclaimed, looking at him with a shocked expression.
But her grandfather simply stared at me, his face impassive. It seemed this staring contest would only end when I gave my answer.
Since I wasn't in a position to be picky, I decided to gladly accept the offer.
"Alright. What the hell, I'll give it a shot."
*
"You idiot!"
On our way out from meeting her grandfather, Fuma-senpai scolded me with those words.
I looked at her, wondering what had suddenly set her off, and she spoke with clear frustration.
"The Yukionna my grandfather mentioned is a yokai that normally only appears in winter. But for one to be wandering around in the middle of summer? It must be a major power, at least a Great Yokai. I know you have an Extreme Yang Body, but fighting a creature like that is suicide. My grandfather only gave you that condition to make you give up."
A Great Yokai, huh.
I couldn't quite grasp how strong a "Great Yokai" was, so I asked, "So, how strong are they, roughly?"
Hearing my question, Fuma-senpai clutched her forehead as if in disbelief.
"Hah... You're probably the only person in the world who would even think of fighting a Great Yokai. First of all, the terrifying thing about them is that they can speak, think, and act just like humans. Low-level yokai, which are born from human negativity or rumors, are not that difficult to deal with because they move purely on instinct. But a yokai that has spent hundreds, or even thousands, of years accumulating power and wisdom becomes a threat to humanity in its own right."
"Try to explain it using that masked guy I fought last time as a benchmark."
Fuma-senpai hesitated for a moment before answering.
"You'd probably need ten of those things just to have a chance of holding your own against a single Great Yokai."
"In other words, they're incredibly strong."
"That's right."
I clenched and unclenched my fists.
"Then there's even more reason not to give up."
I had to be careful when fighting humans, lest I end up with a criminal record, but I had no such reservations about fighting a yokai.
If possible, I wanted to find out my own limits. I could feel myself getting stronger in real-time, but I'd had no place to truly test this power.
"...I guess it can't be helped. Since it's come to this, I'll see it through with you. I couldn't face your parents if you died doing something so reckless."
"If you'd do that for me, I'd be grateful."
When I offered this bit of lip service, Fuma-senpai let out a small smirk.
"I think I've digested lunch by now. Tonight, I'll cook you a feast so big the table legs will break."
"Wow!"
As I feigned a look of surprise for her sake, Fuma-senpai confidently swiped a finger under her nose and said, "You'd better look forward to it. The food at my house is delicious."
*
To get straight to the point, Fuma-senpai wasn't lying.
After I took a quick wash in the bathroom and returned, a dinner table was already set up in the room where I was staying. There must have been some kind of misunderstanding, because there was alcohol on the table.
I usually avoid drinking, since it negates the effects of a workout, but I figured if not now, when? So I accepted it without protest.
The pleasantly tipsy feeling, which I hadn't experienced in a long time, made me momentarily forget that I was in a ninja village deep in the mountains.
In any case, Kim Yoo-Sung's body seemed to have a low tolerance for alcohol. After just one bottle, the world was spinning, so I ate and drank in moderation before asking for the table to be cleared.
After that, I decided to go to bed earlier than usual to make up for the fatigue of traveling all day.
I spread a futon on the floor, changed into comfortable clothes, and flopped down. The cotton quilt was so soft and fluffy that I knew I'd fall asleep easily once I was under it.
The room didn't even have a proper fluorescent light; a candle served as illumination instead. I blew it out with a puff of air and looked around the pitch-black room.
The only source of light was the moonlight streaming in through the window.
Lying down on the futon in the tranquil atmosphere, I drifted off to sleep before I even knew it.
*
Rustle— Rustle—
It happened while I was deep in a sweet slumber.
A sudden rustling sound from nearby forced my heavy eyelids open.
"......"
Standing by my pillow was Fuma-senpai, dressed in a light yukata—an unusual sight.
Startled, I was about to sit up, but I stopped myself with superhuman patience. I wanted to see what Fuma-senpai was up to, sneaking into my room in the middle of the night.
And then—
Fuma-senpai brought her hands to the sash holding her yukata closed.
No way...
And just as they say, the unexpected is what gets you. Fuma-senpai untied her sash without a hint of hesitation.
Swish!
Revealed underneath were black underwear and a fatal expanse of skin.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
A moment later, Fuma-senpai whispered from beside my head.
"Kim Yoo-Sung, you're awake, aren't you?"
But I couldn't say a word.