Chapter 15: Acceptance?
After sorting everything and planning what he could do to make his stay in the butterfly mansion longer, he went to sleep not before having the dinner that one of the triplets brought for him.
He knew that Shinobu barely trust him but he didn't have to make a relationship with her permanently. Even though he felt pathetic he knew that using fake stories and emotions was the only way. After all, he wasn't doing all this for his selfish sake.
The night already has fallen with the slow buzz of nocturnal creatures and slow howls of the wind echoing inside the room. Ijin's eyes were closed with pupils continuously moving signifying how restless he was.
Finally, after some minute, he decided to train his breathing since he had the time so sitting on the bed cross-legged he closed his eyes again.
*Haah*
With a loud inhale he focused his senses at a fixed point and kept it lingering constantly. He circulated each every tissue of his body with a surge of raw strength. This process was slightly tough and highly complicate so until he wasn't in complete concentration this feat would have been unachievable.
He was feeling it...
The pure strength being channelized in each fiber of his body and his core getting at its best. Not only that but while in this state he was able to perceive what he normally couldn't.
He could faintly hear some passers walking out of the mansion and the something scrubbing against the wooden surface probably dishes. The sound of leaves falling and the whisper of winds echoed profoundly in his ears. It was like a new world was introduced to him.
"Hmmm!?" With his sensed alerting at its fullest Ijin instantly held his katana and turned his body toward the window only to get startled.
There sat the young woman who brought him here and was the most powerful being he has ever met in the mortal realm. She was swaying her feet leisurely with a faint smile on her face. Her beautiful violet eyes, devoid of any obstruction were staring down at him like peeking inside his soul.
A gasp left Ijin's lips before he calmed down and released his agitated breathing.
"...you really surprised me." He shook his head as he loosened his grip from the hilt and leaned back on the latch of the bed.
"There are countable people who can detect my presence so flawlessly. To say you were surprised would be half of the truth." Listening to her honest words Ijin felt complicated as well as delighted.
"So I indeed saw right. You know about the breathing technique." There wasnt any hidden intent in her words which helped Ijin to relax around her. She jumped from the windowsill and sat on the same stool she acquired in the morning.
"Are you feeling anything strange Niriyama-san?" With her jasmine scent wafting in all his senses Ijin subconsciously shook his head.
"Hmmm...then can you tell me your reason to visit my butterfly mansion." Ijin felt his breath choke as he heard her deliberate statement.
"Visit...I dont understand..." Even being in the shade of suspicion Ijin didn't let his tone falter.
A giggle escaped her lips with her small hand covering her mouth which for some reason made Ijin embarrassed with himself.
"Okay let me rephrase it. Can you tell me your motive for coming here all the way from west lands?" Ijin collected himself not so long after as he heard the question. It was weird and somewhat problematic how the lady of the mansion was still wary of him. But instead of convincing her, that there wasnt any chance of him staying here.
"I want to be a slayer that is why I came here and luckily I got to meet you Kocho-san". Ijin honestly stated his thoughts which made the woman in front of his eyes a little wide.
" It seems you know me better than I thought."
"Yes, Kocho-san. I know something about you that's why when I found myself in the mansion I became a little selfish and despite being fine I wished to live here. I sincerely apologize for this." Ijin has already sorted out that the woman in front of him was overwhelmingly powerful and cunning. He knew lying at this stage would be like a stain on a white sheet so he chose the honest path. Of course, he would never confess his origin to her.
There was a long pause on the other side. Her violet eyes were staring down at Ijin as she tried to find a single intent of something which she was finding since the start. But alas, her search was in vain.
"Can I ask you a question Kiriyama-san?" Without hesitation, the other one nodded.
"Why do you want to fight those mindless creatures?" This question was something that Ijin didn't anticipate nonetheless he answered with the utmost integrity.
"I want to save as many people I could in my lifetime by fighting those creatures and want to devote myself so I could stop all this chaos once and for all....or that would I have said if I was to lie." Shinobu was genuinely surprised when Ijin shook his head with a light sigh as he continued speaking.
"To be honest I decided to become a slayer because I want to avenge my family. I have grown up watching them...however unstable our life was they never faltered from the right path and even helped people if they could. They never did anything wrong but fate doesn't care about one's selflessness." As he said he clutched the crook of his bedsheet which didn't go unnoticed by the lady beside him.
"I want to slay them. One after another...until I dont find peace in my heart. It's not I am finding a specific demon but my grudge is built against the whole race. I know it might sound childish but I have sworn on the name of my parents that I would never stop before ending the root of all this by annihilating..."
"Muzan Kibutsuji." Ijin nodded with his pulse becoming stronger as he stared aimlessly with determination and rage burning his nightshade pupils. To say Shinobu was moved would be an understatement but as an expert in hiding her emotion, she gently smiled and rose from her seat.
"Kiriyama-san." She leaned forward bringing her hand over Ijin's shoulder, a slow whisper reached Ijin's senses. Her scent became profound around the guy who barely has been so intimate with any woman so he subconsciously straightened his back and didn't let any single hair move on his body.
"Requital clouds one's mind and restricts future insights. Until you let that feeling become your reason to fight but not the backing for your strength, you will always find yourself lacking in various aspects." By the time her words registered in Ijin's mind, he became speechless without any other thought inside his mind. It took him not long to understand what she was saying which naturally made him startled in the many sense.
"Kocho san...are you too.." The lady didn't let him talk more before she stood up again and interrupted his words.
"Stay here Kiriyama-san." Without letting the man complete any of his sentences, she flew away like the gentle breeze which doesn't ask anyone's permission before swaying away.
Ijin sat at his place dumbfounded. His muscles were frozen but it wasnt from any foreign substance. He was just purely confused about what happened in the course of just 10 minutes of time
'What just happened...'
[She gave you a green ticket to use her amenities. I must praise your acting skill. It seems she somehow has started believing in you.]
Upon hearing the similar voice inside his head, Ijin snapped back to reality before a chuckle left his cold lips.
'It seems you dont understand mortals completely. She's far from believing me...more like she just subdued the wariness she had against me.'
[...then why did she allow you here...?]
Upon the hearing, the question which he was also troubled about Ijin just shook his head.
'I dont know and I don't want to know. I just have to finish what I am meant to and leave this world. And it helps that she doesn't trust me as betraying someone is not something I prefer...'
___________..._________
The next morning Ijin woke up before sunrise as he felt someone approaching him. He has trained himself like this, so even in sleep, he doesn't show his complete vulnerability.
As he sat up he saw a certain raven-haired girl who was younger than Shinobu walking inside. She had two blue butterfly clips attached to her twin tails. Her clips were comfortably matching with her dark blue eyes which contained a level of ferocity.
"Ijichi Kiriyama?" Ijin nodded upon being questioned by the stern younger girl.
"If you have woken up please come with me." Ijin couldn't help but smile upon noticing how her words were betrayed by her expression. Nevertheless, he got up and straightened his clothes.
After walking toward the garden which Ijin came across first time after coming into this world, he became astonished. He barely has seen such beautiful greenery in his both life that's why he thoroughly admired the scenery in front of him.
*Cough*
Upon hearing the deliberate coughing sound, he turned to look at the same girl who had just gone inside the mansion for some reason.
She extended her hand forward which had a piece of brown colored paper clutched between her fingers.
Ijin took the paper wordlessly and started reading it.
It was surprising how he was able to understand Kanji without a single knowledge of the Japanese language. He wasnt surprised when he was able to communicate in Japanese but reading it fluently did feel impressive.
[ Binchotan logs ×> 8
Water container ×> 6
Matsuske ×> 20
Mioga ginger ×> 15
Wild rabbit ×> 5 ]
(A/N: The first one is wood logs and the third one is mushroom)
His brows were raised as he read the list and just upon finishing he heard the girl handing him something again.
"Here bind this around your ankles". He instinctively held the pouch she offered and upon realizing its weight, which was more than 20kgs, he became baffled.
"Three things you have to remember. First, you will find everything within the northeastern forest so you dont have to buy any of thing and water also can be found at the foot of the hill so don't wander needlessly. Second, concentrate your breathing while run for the chore. And third..." By this time Ijin was already sweating buckets as he heard the absurd amount of work he was getting but the final bomb was dropped by the little girl who had a devilish smile right at the moment.
"...you have to bring everything before sunrise which would be two hours from now."
___________...__________
A/N; Ah this chapter was short so sorry about that. The next chapter would be centered on his training in this world and some interaction with the other main character.
Anyway, if you are liking the story then drop a comment.
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