BXBX NOVEL Chapter 358: Koyuki Advice
"Of course they didn't teach me. I'm an orphan after all," Daniel replied with a smile, as if it were a mere triviality.
The revelation left the old man stunned. He had been unaware of Daniel's background, knowing him only as a powerful mage and ingenious inventor, coupled with his skill as an artificer creating Atlantean artifacts. Daniel's reputation had overshadowed any inquiries into his origins.
Moreover, Daniel had orchestrated much of the confusion himself. By adopting the Emberweave family name, purchased at a steep price, he had effectively obscured his true lineage. Many researchers, focused on the Emberweave name, had been led astray by false information.
Mayumi had also kept Daniel's family background hidden from her grandfather, further contributing to his ignorance.
The old man realized he had unintentionally touched on a sensitive topic for Daniel. Although stubborn and sometimes insensitive, he wasn't malicious. He simply struggled to express his pride in Daniel, often resorting to criticism instead.
"Well, anyway, a no is a no! Maybe you can wait for five more years, then you can get married. As a mage, you have more time than normal people. Why rush into marriage anyway?" the old man suggested, his hostility somewhat diminished, though he remained hesitant to readily approve of Daniel and his great-granddaughter's marriage.
The old man remained hesitant, feeling he hadn't yet had the opportunity to truly get to know his great-granddaughter-in-law. He feared that once married, she would reside in Daniel's household, leaving him with even less time to spend with her. Thus, he remained unwilling to consent to their marriage.
"But we already have a daughter together. Wouldn't it be appropriate for us to get married?" Daniel asked, feigning confusion.
"What? You already have a daughter? Why didn't you bring her here then!?" the old man exploded once more, his temper flaring.
Observing her grandfather's outburst, Mayumi sighed. She knew that if she allowed him to continue speaking with Daniel, they would never reach a resolution. Now aware that Daniel had a knack for provoking the old man, she realized that their personalities clashed, making productive conversation nearly impossible.
"Excuse me, but may I take over from here? Grandfather," Mayumi spoke with a smile, her eyes conveying a firmness that brooked no argument.
"Fine then…" The old man reluctantly agreed, falling silent.
"Daniel… can I call you that?" Mayumi asked Daniel with a smile.
"Yes, of course you can, Mayumi-San." Daniel's nerves were apparent, his breath uneven and his posture tense.
"There's no need to be nervous, Daniel-San. Also, please call me Mother. Since you are going to marry Koyuki, it's only appropriate," Mayumi said gently, seeking to ease Daniel's tension.
"Yes, Mother," Daniel agreed, nodding with understanding. Mayumi glanced at the old man, Seichuro, who remained silent.
"Since my grandfather doesn't want Koyuki to quickly get married because he still didn't have enough time to pamper his great-granddaughter, I propose that Koyuki should stay here first, at least until your business in North America is concluded," Mayumi offered.
Daniel hesitated, looking at Koyuki. He was reluctant to leave her here, fearing for her safety.
Sensing his concern, Mayumi smiled reassuringly. "I know what you're thinking, Daniel-san, but please rest assured. Since you have already defeated the Hojo clan, there's no one stupid enough to make a move on us.
Besides… You can just build a portal in the castle basement or wherever you want in this castle so that you and Koyuki could meet at any time while this lonely old man could stay with his great-granddaughter and pamper her anytime he wants," Mayumi said, smiling at Daniel.
"Hey! Who's a lonely old man!" The old man, Seichuro, immediately protested
After considering Mayumi's offer, Daniel nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, that can be arranged. May I use one of your secret rooms or any place you prefer for me to build? I'd like it to have enough space, at least a 5x5 meter room and a height of 5 meters, so that we can easily move a pre-made portal from Oceanos to here," Daniel requested.
"That's wonderful! You can start after we've had dinner. And please, stay here for the night. I have a lot to discuss with the two of you," Mayumi said with a smile.
Daniel didn't object and nodded at Koyuki, his expression filled with love. They both began to enjoy the tea and sweets that the Mori clan had prepared for them while chatting and reminiscing about the old days when they lived in Tessia Kingdom.
It's important to note that Mayumi is a rather strong woman, despite her delicate appearance. She has endured hardships, including the loss of her soul mate, Koyuki's father, in an accident related to the Tokugawa clan. Then, the Tokugawa clan itself was eradicated by the Hojo clan.
While her father played no role in her husband's death, her uncle, the former Tokugawa Shogun, surprisingly ascended to the throne after her father's demise.
In summary, it was the result of political machinations for the shogunate position. Despite these challenges, Mayumi has remained remarkably composed. Perhaps she's done feeling sorry for herself and now simply wishes to reconnect with her only daughter, Koyuki. If that's the case, Daniel can empathize with her, and that's why he finds it difficult to refuse Mayumi.
After that, both Daniel and Koyuki was welcome to a banquet, to be precise, a Japanese traditional banquet that the Mori clan had prepared for them, It was a small but sumptuous banquet as the entire Tuna fish Sashimi was artistically arranged and they can eat to their heart content while listening to the music that the musician play during the banquet with great skill while talking with Mayumi.
As for the old man, he engaged with Daniel throughout the evening, their exchanges growing increasingly awkward as time passed. Daniel couldn't resist teasing the old man, which inevitably led to another outburst.
Eventually, the banquet came to an end, and the two lovebirds retired to the chamber prepared for them by the Mori clan. However, despite the long day, Daniel found himself unable to sleep. He walked to the window of his room and settled onto the tatami floor, gazing out at the moonlit landscape.
The stars twinkled brightly in the night sky, a rare sight for Daniel accustomed to the light pollution of the city. He couldn't help but ponder the contrast between the traditional mindset of this place and the encroaching modernity, symbolized by the illuminated entertainment district below.
With Koyuki safe and sound beside him, Daniel finally had a moment to contemplate his future. Would he establish a mage clan and assert dominance over a region like the powerful clans of the Hightower? Or perhaps he would pursue nation-building?
Or maybe he would simply enjoy life as it came, knowing he possessed enough power to turn any country or organization who dared to mess with me back to the stone age.
"What are you thinking?" Koyuki's melodious voice interrupted his thoughts. She had awakened, noticing his absence from their bed.
"I'm thinking about us... no, more precisely, our future," Daniel confessed, turning to face her with a mix of uncertainty and determination in his eyes.
"How so?" She inquired, embracing him closely as they sat together, their cheeks touching.
"Koyuki…" He gently held her hand. "You should know that I have enough power to change the world. Enough to propel us into the space exploration age, to eradicate energy crises and world hunger in underdeveloped regions," Daniel began.
"But...?" Koyuki interjected, her voice laced with a knowing smile, fully aware of his cautious nature.
"If I were to do that, we'd never know peace. If anyone dared to challenge me and I responded harshly, Envy would surely intervene. And you know me…" Daniel trailed off, his expression reflecting his internal conflict. "So, the cycle of threats and challenges would persist unless I set a strong precedent. Otherwise, they'd think they could walk all over me."
Koyuki smiled and chuckled softly. "You care for her, don't you? Will Envy become one of my sisters then? And who else? Greed? Given your efforts to assist her," she teased, hugging him tighter and placing a kiss on his cheek.
"I'll share something with you. Envy's sympathy is reserved for humans, and those who don't harm her loved ones. Perhaps you could use something non-human as an example, or..." Koyuki paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Oh— I see!" Daniel's smile widened as he grasped Koyuki's suggestion, a newfound clarity dawning upon him for their path forward.