One Hundred And Seventy-One
The doors revealed a large open-plan area, richly decorated and illuminated by hanging crystal and gold chandeliers, which cast a brilliant warm glow over the proceedings. Around the sides of the room a dozen Fujiwara Security personnel were lurking unobtrusively, the n and won dressed smartly in expensive suits, looking like servants if one wasn’t able to see the trained readiness they carried themselves with.
The actual servants were moving to and fro, with silver trays stacked high with glasses of expensive champagne, whiskey and more, or wheeling carts containing plates of richly-appointed food such as wagyu beef, bluefin tuna and more.
Impressive. I’m starting to feel a little nervous… beside , Shaeula still had my arm, and with a gentle tug she drew my gaze away from the crowd as we stepped out into the festivities. Behind us the lift doors slid shut, no doubt descending to bring more guests up to this event. There must be over a hundred… no, maybe even two hundred guests…
“Stand tall and proud, my Akio.” Shaeula spoke quietly. “You are as worthy as any-any to be here today. The chosen of Shaeula Tu Shae Dannan, princess of the Seelie is as noble as any-any mortal!”
“You’re right.” I smiled back, resisting the urge to stroke her head, as we were in public. “Well, since we are here, we might as well mingle, right?” Looking around at the crowd I spotted a couple of familiar faces that I recognised from the TV or newspaper articles.
“Indeed.” Shaeula said, reaching out her free arm to snag a couple of glasses of champagne from a passing server. Normally, grabbing two glasses one-handed would lead to a catastrophic spillage and the server paled, but Shaeula’s dexterous and strong fingers, boosted by her obscene stats, ant that she handed one with ease, while retaining the other for herself, taking a sip with a satisfied sigh.
As we walked away from the confused server, who quickly rembered her place and dashed off, still carrying her tray of drinks, I also took a sip. The champagne was sharp, but not unpleasant, it was definitely an expensive flavour. Fujiwara-san is sparing no expense tonight it seems.
As we walked around the room, savouring the fine alcohol and exchanging casual nods with other guests, I noticed we were drawing the gaze of many of the attendees. It was actually becoming a little uncomfortable the way that the won were looking at , but what was even worse was the way that the male guests looked at Shaeula. I could see the lustful stares and barely hidden intentions a mile away, and my grip on her arm tightened, causing her to snicker, amused.
Yeah, I’m such a shitty hypocrite, since I have Shaeula and Eri, but I still hate it when people ogle them. But I have to admit, Shaeula is beautiful, even before you take her stupid-high Charm stat into effect.
“You shall need to beco used to this-this.” Shaeula muttered. “A handso male or beautiful female always draws attention, and the partner of such much envy. Still-still…” she seed satisfied at my transparent jealousy. “… you should be proud-proud to have claid for your own. The stares of these other males are aningless to .”
“Proud? I am indeed.” I agreed, taking another sip. Looking around the room again I noticed one oddity. There were a handful of people, five of them that I noticed anyway, that seed ill at ease and out of place. Three n and two won. Following my lead, Shaeula used her Mystic Eyes, the glow dazzling for a mont, looking at the nearest man.
“I see. Yes, your instincts are correct. His chakra network is an abomination, I do not-not know how it even functions, but the density of aether he contains is only a little less-less than that filthy monster Kazuo Kondou possessed.”
“Makes sense. After all we found out from the Fukumoto’s that the noble houses are looking for Candidates, right? It seems impossible that with their resources we’d be the only ones they’d find.”
Shaeula agreed. “So, do you wish to talk to him?”
I shook my head in denial. “No, not yet. Until I have a firm grasp on what Fujiwara-san wants, it’s best to keep our own counsel. I wonder if… ahh, over there.” Thinking of the Fukumoto’s I wondered if they were in attendance, so I scanned the room and noticed them, the three we had t in that restaurant lurking in one corner. “Looks like we’ve found so people we are acquainted with.”
Strolling over towards them with Shaeula, I admired the daring purple dress Fukumoto-san was wearing, with a slit up her legs and a deep neckline, showing off her slender body. Beside her, the other girl, her bodyguard… Onoue-san, I think it was, right? … was wearing slim-fit trousers and a tight top, giving her ease of movent. Besides them was her older brother Hiroto-san, who brightened up as he saw us coming. Well, as he sees Shaeula coming anyway… don’t think I can’t see you ogling her.
On seeing Tsumura-san, the older girls’ expression brightened, and she strode over, her long legs giving her a wide step. Even so, she moved gracefully, like a dancer or a warrior. “Grandfather. I’m pleased to see you again!” she gracefully bowed, more as a man would than a girl.
“Motoko, my dear. And Natsumi-san too I see.” At that greeting the younger girl also bowed, comical under her burdens. “We are just finalising the details, so be patient.”
“I will, grandfather.” She smiled, before turning to , her dark eyes looking over, as if weighing up. Shaeula was then examined in the sa manner. “So, are these the ones?”
The ones for what? I’m confused, although considering we were talking about training… no, surely not… beside , Shaeula was smirking once more, clearly thinking the sa as .
“Allow to explain. I have already sought out assistance from an old friend to call upon shrine maidens and priests to train the daughters and sons of nobility in the ways of faith.” Fujiwara-san elucidated . “Now more than ever, that is important. But… faith alone is not enough. I wish for the nobility to grasp these new powers, to act as a balance to the shrines and temples. Only then can we all work together to safeguard Japan from whatever threats may co.”
Yeah, I was right. Oh wow, this is going to be such a pain. So much so I’m going to say it again. Oh wow.
“So, let guess. You want and Shaeula to train these five, right?”
At the word train, Motoko-san and Natsumi-san perked up, and judging by their hakama, I could see they were martial arts fanatics. Damn, if only I could drop them on Ulfuric, I could get so peace and quiet. No such luck though.
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