(Bonus Chapter)
Chapter 31: Nakiri Senzaemon's Request for Help
Kazuma Yumesaki was currently unaware of the events that unfolded at the shrine after his departure.
Because right now, he was inside a restaurant, eating heartily and continuously sampling Italian cuisine.
These dishes were crafted by a Totsuki graduate, Fuyumi Mizuhara. The taste was absolutely delicious. Yumesaki had to admit that the alumni of Totsuki Academy indeed possessed remarkable skill.
Their upper limits were unpredictable, but their lower limits were incredibly high. As long as they belonged to the Totsuki Elite Ten, not a single one was subpar. The dishes prepared by each individual carried distinct characteristics capable of thoroughly satisfying Yumesaki's palate.
While savoring these delectable creations, Yumesaki had completely forgotten his previous displeasure and fatigue.
Inside his mind, only a single thought remained.
Eat, eat, and just keep eating.
This dining session lasted for over an hour before Yumesaki finally brought it to a close, feeling deeply satisfied.
With this, a wonderful day had at long last come to an end.
Over the next few days, keeping his promise, Yumesaki took Nero out to the amusement park once again. They rode every single attraction countless times until Nero eventually grew bored of them.
Afterward, they visited the aquarium, the game center, and various other spots. At the game center, Nero quickly plummeted from being an Emperor to a total game geek. Out of twenty-four hours a day, at least eighteen were spent entirely on electronic gaming.
This development was something Yumesaki had never anticipated.
But thinking about it carefully, it didn't seem like a bad thing.
In truth, it wasn't just Nero—even Yumesaki found himself hooked. After all, playing electronic games was genuinely a lot of fun.
Yumesaki even purchased a PS5 specifically for gaming. Once in a while, he would also take Medea out to play for the whole day, and whenever they felt hungry, they would head to a restaurant owned by a Totsuki Elite Ten member to eat.
The days passed beautifully and filled with absolute laziness.
Before anyone realized it, ten to fifteen days had slipped by.
During that entire period, not a single person came looking to cause trouble for Yumesaki. His daily life proceeded in supreme comfort.
One morning, after Yumesaki finished his breakfast, he sat down in front of the television, turned on the PS5, and started playing the latest game.
The residence he occupied now was a luxury complex apartment located in Ginza, Tokyo, spanning an area of over three hundred square meters.
This place had been prepared for him by Nakiri Senzaemon.
Yumesaki moved in with a perfectly calm and unburdened mind. After all, Totsuki Academy was currently under his protection, so accepting a little protection fee was only natural. If he didn't accept it, Nakiri Senzaemon would actually become anxious.
Knock, knock, knock...
Right when Yumesaki was deeply immersed in his game and couldn't stop, the sound of knocking on the door suddenly echoed.
Yumesaki paid it no mind, remaining completely absorbed in the playthrough.
At that moment, a Shadow Warrior with a beautiful silhouette crawled out from Yumesaki's shadow, walked over to the genkan, and opened the door.
Standing before the entrance were two people.
Nakiri Senzaemon and Nakiri Erina.
"You are..."
Seeing that the one opening the door was a woman with an exquisite figure, dressed like a samurai, yet whose face could not be clearly discerned, Nakiri Senzaemon felt momentarily bewildered.
"I am My Lord's Shikigami," the Shadow Warrior spoke. "Please enter, My Lord is waiting for you inside."
As she spoke, she stepped aside to clear the path.
Nakiri Senzaemon snapped out of it, then led Nakiri Erina inside.
Upon entering the living room, Yumesaki cast a nonchalant glance at Nakiri Senzaemon before shifting his attention right back to the television screen.
"What business brings you to seek me out?"
Nakiri Senzaemon spoke with utmost reverence: "Yumesaki-dono, we require your assistance."
"Speak," Yumesaki said shortly and concisely.
"The truth is, just yesterday, the Nakiri family's Zashiki-warashi informed us that Hagoromo-Gitsune's subordinates had located her. They demanded that she submit and join under Hagoromo-Gitsune's command. If..."
Reaching this point, Nakiri Senzaemon paused for a moment, then continued: "If she refuses, she will be deemed an enemy of Hagoromo-Gitsune. Hagoromo-Gitsune will eradicate her along with our Nakiri family down to the very roots, erasing us entirely."
"Therefore, we were forced to come seek out Yumesaki-dono, begging for Yumesaki-dono's help to aid us through this crisis."
Yumesaki pressed the pause button, turning his head to look at Nakiri Senzaemon, whose face was grim, as well as Nakiri Erina, whose expression was fraught with anxiety.
Ever since learning that this was a crossover world blending monsters, yokai, Cursed Spirits, Evil Spirits, and the like, Yumesaki had already mentally prepared himself.
Now that Hagoromo-Gitsune had suddenly surfaced, Yumesaki wasn't surprised in the slightest.
"Hagoromo-Gitsune, huh? No wonder you came pleading to me."
"With her power, she can indeed wipe you out down to the roots."
"But speaking of which, if I recall correctly, Hagoromo-Gitsune's power base is in Kyoto. Why has it reached all the way to Tokyo?"
Nakiri Senzaemon shook his head and spoke with a bitter smile: "The exact details are unclear to me as well, but our family's Zashiki-warashi mentioned that Hagoromo-Gitsune appears to be planning an invasion of Tokyo."
Yumesaki let out an "oh" and began to find it interesting. He inquired: "How much time did Hagoromo-Gitsune's faction give you to consider it?"
"One day," Nakiri Senzaemon stated in a heavy tone. "Only a single day. If the Zashiki-warashi does not give them an answer tonight, they will begin the slaughter."
Yumesaki understood, "No wonder you came looking for me so early in the morning in such a rush, it turns out the situation is already incredibly pressing. Very well, I will head back with you tonight."
Hearing those words, Nakiri Senzaemon instantly felt a wave of relief.
"Umu, will there be a battle, Praetor?"
At the exact same time, Nero's voice suddenly drifted down from upstairs. She had been awakened by the sound of knocking earlier and was walking down the steps.
Nakiri Senzaemon immediately bowed in respect toward Nero.
"Greetings to Your Majesty, Emperor Nero Claudius."
"There is no need for such formality, you are not my subject, you do not need to bow to me." Nero waved her hand, her gaze locking onto Nakiri Erina as a smile graced her face.
"You came along too, Erina."
Compared to an old grandfather, Nero vastly preferred Erina. Aside from being beautiful, she was also highly skilled in cooking. Who wouldn't like such a lovely woman?
Nakiri Erina promptly offered her greetings to Nero, "Nero-sama, good morning."
"No need for such stiffness, no need for such stiffness." Nero skipped over to Nakiri Erina's side cheerfully and asked: "Just now I heard you discussing something about Hagoromo-Gitsune and a deadline, what exactly is going on?"
Nakiri Erina explained the details of the incident in a quiet voice.
Once Nero finished listening, her brows furrowed and her anger flared up, "Merely a yokai, to dare display such insolence, it infuriates me."
She grasped Nakiri Erina's hand and comforted her: "Rest assured, leave this matter to us. Praetor, tonight, I shall blow all those discourteous yokai away with a single strike."
"Sure," Yumesaki nodded with a smile. "Tonight, come along with me to the Nakiri residence, we'll meet Hagoromo-Gitsune's subordinates."
"No problem," Nero agreed readily.
Nakiri Erina and Nakiri Senzaemon exchanged glances, both catching a glimmer of joy in each other's eyes.
With the assistance of Yumesaki's group, their family would be safe.
Time moved swiftly, and nightfall arrived.
Yumesaki, Medea, and Nero—the three of them arrived at the Nakiri family residence.
There, they met the Nakiri family's Zashiki-warashi.
This Zashiki-warashi appeared to be around six or seven years old, clad in a kimono, with an okappa bob haircut, looking exceptionally adorable.
The Zashiki-warashi seemed incredibly shy. Upon seeing Yumesaki, she walked over hesitantly and bowed to show her respects to him.
"Kazuko greets Yumesaki-dono."
"So your name is Kazuko, what a cute name." Yumesaki smiled and reached out, gently patting the Zashiki-warashi's head. It felt springy, soft, and smooth, very comforting to the touch.
Nakiri Senzaemon remarked: "The name Kazuko was actually bestowed by my great-grandfather. Her full name is Nakiri Kazuko."
"Nakiri Kazuko?" Yumesaki turned his head and stared at Nakiri Senzaemon.
Nakiri Senzaemon asked: "Yumesaki-dono should know what kind of yokai a Zashiki-warashi is, correct?"
Yumesaki did indeed know. According to folklore, Zashiki-warashi were mostly the spirits of children who passed away due to poverty or illness. Because they harbored a powerful desire to bring happiness to others, they remained behind in the human world.
Nakiri Senzaemon explained: "Genealogically speaking, Kazuko is actually my ancestor, she was my great-grandfather's daughter. Due to illness, she passed away tragically. Perhaps due to the mercy of the gods, Kazuko died and then transformed into a Zashiki-warashi, returning to us."
"Our Nakiri family also flourished because of Kazuko, allowing us to possess the assets we hold today."
Yumesaki understood now; no wonder the Nakiri family possessed a Zashiki-warashi. It turned out this Zashiki-warashi was originally a member of the Nakiri family themselves.
"In that case, your family is truly incredibly fortunate."
"I believe so as well," Nakiri Senzaemon stated with conviction.
Afterward, the group moved to the main hall. Nero seemed to have absolutely no resistance against a cute little girl like Kazuko, and quickly hit it off with her.
Meanwhile, Nakiri Erina headed into the kitchen along with Medea to begin preparing a lavish dinner and desserts for Yumesaki.
Yumesaki sat on the sofa, waiting while watching television.
Not long after, the delicious cuisine was served.
Yumesaki naturally didn't stand on ceremony and began to eat heartily.
He hadn't expected that in just a few days of not seeing her, Nakiri Erina's cooking skills would have improved yet again. This left Yumesaki thoroughly astonished. No wonder Gin Dojima claimed that Nakiri Erina would become the strongest monster in the history of Totsuki Academy.
Her growth was undeniably plain to see.
If she could maintain this kind of progress every single day, no one could fathom just how powerful she would become upon graduation.
"Excellent, absolutely excellent."
Yumesaki didn't hold back his praise in the slightest, flashing a thumbs-up to Nakiri Erina. This gesture caused Nakiri Erina to feel immensely joyful, her face lighting up with a radiant glow.
Nakiri Senzaemon watched this scene unfold from the side with a smile, his eyes twinkling as if he were contemplating something.
Right when everyone was immersed in the joyous atmosphere, uninvited guests arrived.
A faint, chilling draft suddenly blew in from the outside.
Accompanied by a loud booming crash, the front gates of the Nakiri residence were forcefully thrown open by an immense power.
One after another, streams of Cursed Energy from the yokai, their yoki, surged inside like a rising tide, permeating every single corner of the main hall.
Following that, the sound of footsteps echoed.
The sound originated from the direction of the entrance—not loud, yet it felt as though it were stomping directly upon everyone's hearts.
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