SC1 14.2 – Sudden Peril

Days went by swiftly, and another Sunday arrived. As usual, after Kato cleared their ears Yunno and Yui immediately went to play with Bonnie-01 and her sisters. Yunno and Yui literally changed the chicken pen into their playground, and their laugh now and then would fill the morning air.

‘Well, as long as they are happy I’m happy too, and after I built the green house they will have bigger playground,’ I muttered to myself.

At the same time, Kato skillfully cleaned my ears and the sensation was superb. I didn’t know which one I like more, Kato’s lap or her skillful way of cleaning my ears. One thing that I knew for sure was that I couldn’t get enough of both.

“Dear, does you not worry that Sotora still hasn’t put the first order for rice-bowl dish yet?” Kato asked without stopping her nimble fingers from cleaning my right ears.

“They don’t reject it, so let’s just wait a bit longer,” I calmly replied.

“What about your young sister?”

“What about her?” I curiously asked back.

“Do you know why she doesn’t come here again?”

“Actually, for the last few days she begs me to bring her here,” I calmly replied, “but I rejected her.”

“Why did you do that?”

“I’ll explain it later. As for now, let me enjoys the ear cleaning to the fullest.”

“It’s done,” Kato said as she stopped her fingers.

“How can it is already done?”

“It’s done meaning it’s done. I have cleaned your ears two times longer than normal time.” Kato replied while moving my head from her lap to the bamboo bench. “It’s time to take Yunno and Yui for happy stroll at Rokube.”

“Okay. Have a nice stroll.”

It was regrettable that the ear cleaning session had to come to an end, but I didn’t argue. Happy stroll at Rokube was a good thing for Yunno and Yui. They had spent every single one of their weekday for working, study, and training in remote and quiet place, so recreation to cheer up their mind was necessary.

A moment later, Kato, Yunno, and Yui had left the hut. As for me, while lazing around in the bamboo bench, I calmly listened to the bird’s chirps, wind, and bamboo leaves that grazing each other gently. It was really relaxing. No doubt, the bamboo forest around the hut was one of the best soundscape I had encountered.

Not to mention the location was rather hard to reach, so I didn’t have to deal with unnecessary guess. It was truly a good decision to build the hut here. Then, slowly but surely I fell asleep.

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When there was a stranger or dangerous animal approaching the hut, the Alert Rune I carved on the hut’s fence would warn me. Therefore, I could sleep peacefully. When I woke up it was already around four in the afternoon.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I saw Kato was preparing dinner in the dining hut, but I didn’t hear or see Yunno and Yui. Without delay I immediately walked over to Kato.

With a gentle smile Kato looked at me, and then she continued peeling a carrot in her hand. “You slept so peacefully, so I didn’t wake you up.”

After slightly nodding my head I asked, “Where are Yunno and Yui?”

“Why do you look so worry?”

“We can’t let them go beyond our sight,” I worriedly said after I couldn’t find them even after deploying Essence Pulse.”

“Sanno, you are too over protecting,” Kato casually said.

“Of course I’m over protecting,” I sternly said. “Yunno has potential to become calamity that can destroy the whole planet, and one mishap will trigger the start of her demonic path.”

“Sanno, my master already died. You need to relax a bit,” Kato said, still in casual tone. “And honestly, I have some doubt on the vision that Yunno will become a calamity. That girl is too kind hearted.”

I knew that it was very hard for an outsider to believe the weight of Grand Elder’s vision, but I was the living witness that his vision always came into reality if no one tried to prevent it. However, I had no time to explain it to Kato. All I could do was giving her a stern warning.

“Listen to my words carefully,” I said in a drop dead serious tone. “If you can’t take my intention to guard Yunno and Yui seriously, you have no business to stay with me here, let alone help me looks after Yunno and Yui.

Now, tell me, where are Yunno and Yui?”

It seemed my heavy tone startled Kato. After taking a deep breath she immediately said, “Yunno and Yui went to your house and they will sleep there tonight.”

“Huh?” In an instant, I felt the world was spinning wildly. “How could you let them go to Tadaoka Household unescorted?”

“Sanno, you truly need to relax a bit.” After taking another deep breath Kato added, “Yunno and Yui are under protection of two warriors. Your family won’t dare to harm them.

On the other side, unlike me who had only bitter memory about my parent and my old house, Yunno and Yui have tons of cherished memory with their parent. We should let them to recall some of it by letting them visit your household once for a while.”

“…”

I ignored Kato’s words as suddenly I saw a small figure in the distance, nimbly darting and cutting through the bamboo forest in high speed. In a glance and I could tell it was a perfect application of Wind Step. Soon, I recognized this little figure. She was Yui.

I could see that Yui didn’t wear her sandal and was sobbing while trying to arrive at the hut at the fastest speed she could muster. After entering the hut’s front yard she immediately went straight to me, and as soon as she arrived before me her sobs exploded into a thunderous cry.

“Huuaaaaaaa……. Uncle Deitoro, please help Big Sis Yunno.”

I instantly kneeled before Yui. While gently holding her small shoulder I asked, “What happened?”

“Grandma Kazuyori beat Big Sis Yunno. She keeps beating her if Yui didn’t tell her the recipe heuuuuu……”

‘Silly kid, she is not your Grandmother anymore,’ I muttered as I gently wiped Yui’s tears. “Where is Yunno right now?”

“She is with Aunt Yuko heuuuu….. but her back and calf heuuuu…. are hurt so much. Please help her,” In the middle of her heart wrenching cry Yui kept begging me. “You can kick Yui out of your household, but help Big Sis Yunno first heuuuu….. Pleeeease…… Yui will pay with anything…. Huaaaa…!!!”

I didn’t get what had happened. I also still didn’t fully grasp how Kato ended up let them go to Tadaoka Household, but I knew for sure what I had to do. Without delay, I gently tapped Yui’s nape and put her into asleep. Then, I gently put her head on my shoulder and held her using my left arm before examining her.

Yui had brush, small cut, and blister on her feet, knees, elbow, and palms. I guessed she fell a few times on her rush to the hut. Fortunately, she suffered no fatal injury. However, I found a palm mark on her swollen left cheek. Someone had slapped her with full swing.

As I casted Healing Spell on Yui, I swore I would return the favor ten folds to anyone who put her into this misery. Then, I got up and started the journey to Sendai at highest speed I could muster.

Without any word Kato closely followed me. I got a glimpse of her pale and worry face, but I didn’t give a single damn. I would deal with her carelessness later. Right now, I had to get Yunno out of the peril first.

After calming my breathing, I then use Soul Bind to access Yui’s latest memory. I had to know what had really happened to ensure I could take proper action.

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