"Ruka."
That one word was all it took to capture Ruka's attention.
Ruka turned quickly to the origin of the voice. The voice of a young man with purplish-black hair and bright purple eyes. Ruka recognized that voice very well. Immediately, he ran over to that person.
Ruka stopped right in front of him. Both his body and voice began to tremble.
"I..."
"I..."
It seemed he could not hold back his tears.
The man in front of him smiled warmly. He stroked Ruka's head gently.
"Okaeri, Ruka. I'm glad you're okay."
"!"
Ruka's eyes were made watery by him. Still trembling and head bowed, Ruka wiped away his tears.
"Hnm!"
The boy nodded his head. Before long, he raised his head again, this time while showing a wide smile.
"Tadaima, Otou-san!"
Seeing the two men let go of each other's longing after not seeing each other for several months, Naeva felt something strange inside her.
".... Aren't they overreacting? They only haven't seen each other for a few months, it's not even that long."
Anu... Naeva-san... Could you not ruin the atmosphere first?
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****OOO****
Character Information
Name: Naeva WinterNova: X PlatinumRace: Ice PrincessAge: 30 [https://img.wattpad.com/1e65cb2642b52fe63eeee7c9c973110b1606e378/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f794c556b594731797955313536773d3d2d313338303038343732302e313739656230346332346135393264383734363339363931323638382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Naeva Winter
Nova: X Platinum
Race: Ice Princess
Age: 30.000+
Status: Irregular
Affiliation: None
-------------------------------------------------
Name: RukaNova: II RedRace: RokkaAge: UnknownStatus: UnknownAffiliation: Unknown [https://img.wattpad.com/cdcf5138348185eb2e6d6eb94ed20c2ee87b1130/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f4a5f69456a6735534548464276773d3d2d313338303038343732302e3137396562303439383736386437613531373838383539313138372e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Name: Ruka
Nova: II Red
Race: Rokka
Age: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Affiliation: Unknown
-------------------------------------------------
Artist: 6963SakiName: RakaNova: VI YellowRace: RokkaAge: UnknownStatus: UnknownAffiliation: Unknown [https://img.wattpad.com/ddc760917728f184a5aa94cc3f912c66b29e65b4/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f30547051574a385a3954434f30513d3d2d313338303038343732302e313738323031306166643734656139343539343731333636323831382e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
Artist: 6963Saki
Name: Raka
Nova: VI Yellow
Race: Rokka
Age: Unknown
Status: Unknown
Affiliation: Unknown
****OOO****
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Ruka's father, Raka finally gave his attention to the vaguely white girl his son had brought into Rokka Village.
"Thank you for bringing my son home safely, Winter-san," he said sincerely.
Naeva was a little uncomfortable being called "Winter-san", it was strange to hear. She was used to being called Winter in Japanese (Fuyu-san), but this was the first time she was called by her surname in English.
"I shouldn't have named myself by my real name (even in another language)," Naeva regretted belatedly.
Never mind, it had happened anyway. She just had to get used to it. More important than that...
"As expected. Rokka Village is not behind in information at all."
Ruka had never referred to Naeva as Winter. If there was a reason Raka called her that, it must be either Ruka telling him or... Rokka Village always monitored the information of the Rokkas outside the village as well.
"Hahaha, that's an honor," Raka laughed.
Raka gave Naeva a deep, penetrating look.
"Who would have thought that my son would be sponsored by an Unofficial Irregular Ranker like you."
Since Raka already knew everything, there was nothing for Naeva to hide. Good thing, Naeva had no intention of hiding anything from these Rokkas in the first place.
"I did help him, but I'm not his sponsor."
Raka was confused.
"?"
"Huh? If not, why--"
If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Raka might know about things that happened in general. But the specific information they were talking about, including the contract, was not that easily accessible.
"--Ruka invited a non-sponsored guest into village?"
Raka looked at Ruka questioningly.
Not without reason, so far, there were only 2 types of people allowed into Rokka Village. Those were Sponsors and Masters. If a Sponsor was a Conqueror who sponsored a novice Rokka to be personally employed in the future, a Master was a person who contracted a Rokka to be their personal Rokka. Other than those two, no Conqueror was allowed to enter Rokka Village, not even informed customers. Raka was sure his son understood that. Then why did he bring in Conquerors who were neither of those two types?
Ruka understood the meaning of his father's gaze. Immediately, he answered him.
"Naeva Nee-san made a contract with me. It's a temporary sponsorship contract until the 5th Floor."
"In exchange, I will introduce her to another, greater Rokka and help her tie a contract with that Rokka."
Raka stared at his son in disbelief.
"Are you serious, Ruka!?"
"You realize what you're talking about, right?"
"Yes, I know," Ruka nodded in understanding.
"But why--"
Raka decided not to ask that question.
After sighing heavily, he looked back at Naeva and Ruka in turn.
"Well, you've made your own decision. I won't interfere with it."
"Just who is the Rokka you want to introduce? Not many Rokkas would want to be their own Rokka, let alone by a Conqueror they don't know at all," Raka asked.
"Ah, about that..."
Ruka turned his head toward the house.
"I want to introduce Mika Obaa-san."
"!?"
Raka was instantly startled. The man immediately shook his son's shoulders.
"Mika did you say!!?"
"If you're joking right now, stop it! It's not funny at all!!" the father fumed.
It wasn't that Ruka didn't understand the reason for his father's anger.
"Otou-san, I--"
Raka didn't listen first. Instead, he turned his gaze to Naeva.
"If what you want is Mika, give it up! She's not a Rokka who should be affiliated with anything and anyone."
Naeva, "......."
"But, Otou-san! Mika Obaa-san was never really alive back in the Village! This is a good chance for Obaa-san to be free again!" Ruka cut in, this was the first time he had seen him like that.
"Ruka! You know yourself that your aunt can't leave this village! Don't promise something you can't keep!" her father snapped.
"Tsk."
For whatever reason, his father and uncle often warned his aunt not to leave the village for her own safety. But from his experience with his aunt, she was always half alive, not enjoying anything and only putting on a fake expression. He who was often with Mika understood very well how much Mika longed for the outside world. And how much she was afraid of it at the same time.
".... Does Otou-san also want to differentiate because Mika Obaa-san is a half blood? Like other villagers?" annoyed Ruka.
Raka sighed heavily.
"Haahh... Of course not. You don't know the problem, Ruka."
"So what!?"
"Emm... Why are you making me sound like I want Mika?" Naeva wondered in the middle of the argument.
"Any Rokka is fine, I can carry it and make it a Top Informant. It doesn't have to be Mika..."
"The other half of Mika's blood strengthens her hacking abilities. Because of this, your aunt had a bad experience with Ranker. I don't want her to go through that again, understand that son," Raka replied.
"That again. How great is Erato's blood that Obaa-san has to be locked up in Village!" Ruka's anger startled Naeva.
Naeva, "!"
"...Erato's... blood...!?"
Naeva retracted her earlier thoughts. She wasn't interested in any particular Rokka, any Rokka was fine. That was what she had been thinking, and even now it was still the same. But it was a different story if the Rokka in question had her student's blood. Moreover, the blood of Erato and Urania was too scattered to have a special floor to look for it.
"Great enough to make you find a mate from a certain 'something'," Naeva interrupted in the middle of the father-son argument.
Raka and Ruka suddenly turned to Naeva. Naeva pulled Ruka back, as if telling him to stop this pointless argument.
"I don't know what the result of combining Erato's blood with Rokka's abilities will be."
"But if that Mika is indeed of Erato blood, she should be able to see paths that other Rokkas can't."
Raka was frozen in place.
"You... know Erato?"
Unlike the other Grand Families, Erato and Urania did not publicize their status as Naeva's disciples from the start. That was why, many Conquerors did not know that the Grand Families consisted of 9 Families. Erato and Urania were simply forgotten in the Tower. Only their descendants and certain people knew of Erato and Urania's connection to the Grand Families.
Answering Raka's question, Naeva just nodded.
"Erato... Has lived in my homeworld for quite some time. I know one of them."
"Ever?"
Raka didn't know what to say now. Little did he know, Naeva's identity was more complicated than he expected.
"......"
The man thought for a moment. His sister of Erato blood, Naeva who knew Erato and her son who brought Naeva to Mika.
"What a strange fate."
"Otou-san?"
Raka had already decided after thinking for a moment.
"..... I still don't agree with you bringing Mika. But since you know Erato... you could at least meet her. She deserves to know that too."
Naeva nodded. She was quite satisfied with that. It was true that she had become interested after learning that Mika was of Erato blood. But she also had no intention of pushing further.
"And you Ruka, we'll talk at home," her father glared.
Ruka nodded lazily, "Okay..."
Raka let out a small sigh.
"Winter-san, I'm sorry to greet you in such an atmosphere."
"Ruka's guest is Rokka's guest too. We have prepared a welcome party for Ruka. Please join us," Raka was gracious.
"You might also get to meet Mika there."
"Although that's if Mika comes. That kid... Where did she run off to?"
"A welcome... Party...?" Naeva asked herself.
Ah, here we go. Something very unusual for her. A party, something very crowded, noisy and full of expressions (of all kinds).
Exactly as Raka had said, as soon as they set foot in the Rokka village square, the Rokka citizens immediately welcomed Ruka's return with laughter. Ruka looked distressed, but also quite enjoyed it. Raka introduced Naeva to the Rokkas. Contrary to Naeva's expectations, the Rokkas were very friendly to her and welcomed her with open arms.
Before the party started, the three of them went to Ruka's house first. It was a simple house with enough space for a few people. Living there were Raka and his wife, Ruka, and Mika who lived there. When Naeva visited, Mika was not at home. Raka apologized that it happened because he argued a little with Mika before Ruka's arrival. He also said that sooner or later Naeva would meet her, so don't worry too much.
Saka and Moka went straight to Ruka's house as soon as they got home from school. Moreover, their house was right next to Ruka's. These two cousins were the children of Youka and his wife. The three of them grew up like siblings. So it was no surprise to see them that close.
The husbands chatted about heavy things, the wives chatted casually while cooking and Ruka was forced to play with his two younger cousins. While that was going on, all Naeva could do was watch the Rokkas or take a leisurely walk around the village. But not for long, whenever Naeva was seen, the loli shota would be friendly and make small talk with her. Even though they all knew that Naeva was an Unofficial Irregular Ranker, but that didn't diminish their friendliness at all. To Rokka, one Rokka's guest was another's guest. And the Rokkas always treated their guests well. It was good, very good, but also very tiring. So Naeva went home again shortly afterward.
Really... Compared to other places Naeva had seen, Rokka Village had the warmest family atmosphere.
The party started as soon as the sun began to set. The villagers were in high spirits. They decorated the square with simple party trinkets, lit lamps around the square, played songs and danced together. Okay, this was exhausting for the two introverts.
Naeva was offered to dance many times. Of course, she always refused. Naeva preferred to sit with Raka and Youka on a chair near the square, accompanied by a few beers and food.
You have no idea how excited the shoutas were when they saw that Naeva could finish a few beers and not get drunk at all. They were trying to outdo Naeva for their male pride. And well... The result was predictable...
Not a single Rokka managed to maintain consciousness after the seventh glass.
All of them got so drunk that they passed out because they couldn't take it anymore, making it difficult for the loli to take them home.