Why am I in a duel?! (4)
The reunion continued with warm laughter and familiar voices.
While the adults spoke among themselves, Mio stood quietly at her father’s side, watching the guests who had just arrived.
I see… Father was right.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Eiko, who was laughing a little too brightly.
She was the one, who had just called Mio’s father “Oniichan” earlier as a joke.
She’s indeed… a bit strange…
Then Mio’s eyes slid next to the man standing beside her aunt.
Takeshi Hayashi.
The man became a rock, the moment Gorou’s gaze brushed past him, beads of sweat forming almost instantly.
…Ah. Father was right about him too.
Mio folded her hands neatly in front of her.
My aunt’s husband… or should I call him uncle? He’s strange as well.
Mio’s thoughts were blunt, borderline rude.
But this was her first time meeting them. So she couldn’t help it.
Having completed her silent evaluation of the married couple, Mio searched for the person her father had mentioned earlier.
The cousin.
After a few seemingly careful glances, she spotted a faint tint of light blue beside Eiko.
Mm?
Just as Mio was about to focus—
“Ah, Haru sweetie, you should introduce yourself to your uncle and your cousin!”
Mio’s ears perked up instantly.
So that’s her.
The one that the ancient lake had noticed.
“Oh dear~ please understand, she’s a bit shy around new people.”
Eiko said it warmly—and then gave a small, unmistakable wink.
Gorou caught on immediately.
“…Ah. That is a shame.”
He sighed, deliberately matching Eiko’s tone.
“I’ve been waiting all this time to meet my niece.”
Gorou hit a nail.
Haru, who had been hiding behind her mother’s thigh, flinched.
Feeling a bit pressured, she first gathered enough courage and she peeked out.
Just enough for her face to be seen.
“H-Hello… I’m H-Hari!”
“(こーこんにちは、私ハーハリです!)”
There was a brief pause.
Then—
“Sweetie,” Eiko laughed gently,
“your name isn’t Hari. It’s Haru~.”
Haru froze.
Then immediately retreated even deeper behind her mother.
“My, this child really… fufu.”
The adults chuckled softly, charmed by her clumsy introduction.
Meanwhile—
Mio who finally saw Haru clearly.
“…uah.”
Had let out a strange sound.
Her mind failed to form a coherent thought, as if she’d been struck by an unknown status ailment.
** * **
Meanwhile—
Haru’s mind was in complete chaos.
오 마이 갓! 진짜 그들이야!!!
(Oh my god! It’s actually them!!!)
WAIT—
No.
No no no—
Inhale.
Exhale.
Okay. Okay. Calm down.
I almost blurted that out in Korean.
That was way, way too close.
She swallowed hard, keeping her face carefully neutral as the adults continued talking around her.
But seriously—
It really was them!?
At first, she thought she was imagining things.
But now that she was closer…
She peeked again.
Just a little.
That girl.
She might be smaller than she remembered.
But that posture.
That presence.
That blank, terrifying stare—
That’s definitely Mio…
Who would’ve thought she’d end up being my cousin?!
Her head throbbed.
And my uncle is actually that Gorou?!
Her gaze drifted, against her will, to the man standing beside Mio.
Tall.
Calm.
Too calm.
The same Gorou who, in the original story, taught his daughter all kinds of horrifying techniques—
To the point where it wasn’t even training anymore.
It was torture.
And he was very famous for it.
Cruel, and uncompromising.
A character whose enemies didn’t just lose—
They suffered.
Ugh…
Her temples throbbed harder.
My head…
…I’m really glad my special ability has improved over the years.
If it hadn’t—
She didn’t even want to think about it.
Back when she was three years old, faces were nothing more than vague shapes to her.
Blurred outlines, no details, no expressions.
Just… people, shaped out shadows.
Her surroundings were easier to perceive though.
Buildings, objects.
Those things, she could grasp.
But people?
Faces?
Those were always the hardest for Haru.
And moving around had been terrifying, and exhausting.
Because relying on the other feature of her ability drained an incredible amount of mana.
*(Author note: I forgot to explain that in chapter 2)*
That was why her mother had hovered so closely back then.
Why she’d bumped into things, why she’d been forced to wear that helmet.
But now—
It was different, her ability had grown.
Refined itself.
And she could finally make out expressions.
Subtle shifts in posture, tiny changes in breathing.
And she could walk without bumping into things.
Something she could never do back then—
“Haru, sweetie, please don’t hide.”
Eiko’s gentle voice pulled her back to reality.
“Your uncle has been wanting to meet you all this time, sweetie.”
…Eh?
Haru stiffened.
“A-Ahem… yes.”
Gorou cleared his throat.
“But it’s not just me.”
Huh…?
He gestured slightly to his side.
“My daughter seems to be very interested in you.”
Her heart skipped.
Slowly, very slowly—
Haru peeked out behind her mother.
And immediately regretted it.
Mio was standing there.
Completely still.
Hands folded.
Her posture completely perfect.
Eyes locked directly onto her face.
Not blinking.
Just staring.
Oh god.
She’s really staring at me!!!!
WAIT!—
ISN’T THIS WHAT SHE DOES WHEN SHE’S EYEING A VICTIM?!
Her mind spiraled.
This is bad. This is really bad.
Calm down.
Calm down, calm down—
Phuuuuu~
Okay.
Don’t look weak, don't look weak!!
That’s what she does to people when she thinks they're weak.
Haru straightened her back.
Forced her feet to move.
Step by step, she emerged behind her mother.
Her legs felt stiff.
Her hands shook slightly, but she moved anyway.
“H-Hello…”
Her voice wobbled.
She swallowed.
“My name is Haru… and I hope we can be best of friends!”
She bowed deeply.
Too deeply.
The words hung in the air.
Then—
Gorou covered his mouth.
“…Your daughter is really something.”
“Fufu~”
Eiko laughed softly, as if she understood what Gorou meant.
While Haru didn’t.
Haru lifted her head, confused.
What does he mean by that…?
Then she glanced at Mio.
Mio’s eyes were closed.
Her face was pale.
And she was completely still.
Like she had just passed away.
…Eh?
And just like that—
The moment passed.
“Ah—!”
Eiko clapped her hands lightly, completely unaware of the mental collapse that had just occurred a few steps away.
“Well then, now that everyone’s met properly, shall we head inside?”
She turned toward Gorou, smiling.
“It’s been so long… I’m sure Mother and Father are waiting.”
At those words, the mood shifted.
Not sharply, not suddenly.
But unmistakably.
Gorou's posture straightened.
It was a subtle movement, barely noticeable.
But the air around him subtly changed.
His relaxed posture disappeared, replaced by something firm and grounded.
“Of course,” he replied.
His voice was calm, and steady.
“Please. Follow me.”
He turned without another word and began walking toward the mansion doors.
As he did, the servants who had been standing at a distance moved in perfect synchronization, opening the massive doors with practiced ease.
The interior of the mansion revealed itself.
And Haru felt it instantly.
…This place.
It wasn’t just big.
It wasn’t just old.
It was heavy.
The moment she stepped inside, the atmosphere pressed against her senses like deep water.
Her special ability reacted on its own.
Lines.
Patterns.
Flow.
Everything around her felt layered—like time itself had settled here and never left.
The walls were lined with displays.
Weapons.
Paintings.
Artifacts.
Some were cracked, some were chipped.
Some radiated a presence so dense it made Haru instinctively step closer to her mother.
This wasn’t wealth.
This was history.
“...owah”
The words slipped out before she could stop herself.
Gorou noticed.
“Did you feel it? ” he said quietly, not turning around.
“These items aren’t decorations.”
He gestured to a long spear encased behind glass.
“That weapon alone predates modern Japan.”
Eiko nodded gently beside Haru.
And then Eiko added.
“Our family didn’t start with the gates,” she added softly.
“We were already… different.”
Haru’s heart skipped.
…Different?
Gorou stopped walking.
Everyone halted with him.
He turned to face them.
His expression was no longer warm.
Nor was it cold.
It was solemn.
“Our bloodline was blessed long before the first gate ever appeared,” he said.
“Before hunters. Before rankings. Before systems.”
He walked toward a stone pedestal near the center of the hall. On top of it rested a blue crystal.
rough, uneven, and unpolished.
It looked like an ordinary rock.
“This,” Gorou said,
“is the oldest relic in this mansion.”
Haru swallowed.
Her ability screamed.
Not out of danger—
But depth.
“Long ago,” Gorou continued,
“Our ancestors encountered an injured water spirit near the ancient lake.”
“and they nursed it back to health.”
His gaze sharpened.
“And in return, our clan was blessed.”
Silence filled the hall.
Not a single servant moved.
Not even Mio spoke.
Haru felt it then.
Something subtle, yet unmistakable.
The pressure in the room was getting heavier.
And Gorou's gaze settled on Haru.
“Since that day,” he said, “Our clan has carried the abilities of water.”
“Passed down. Guarded, and with utmost secrecy.”
Eiko’s expression hardened.
As if she had already heard these words before.
“Power like water,” Gorou went on,
“can nurture life...”
“But it can also take it away.”
The temperature seemed to drop.
Haru’s fingers curled into her sleeves.
Her heart thudded loudly in her ears.
Then Gorou spoke of the family motto.
Slowly.
Clearly.
“Like water, everything must be used with purpose.”
He paused.
Long enough for the silence to grow heavy.
“But should one wield it for personal pleasure…”
His voice lowered, as if growling.
“…they shall drown in it.”
The words settled like stones sinking into deep water.
Haru’s breath hitched.
Her special ability reacted violently.
Patterns twisted.
The air felt suffocating.
…Drown?
That wasn't a metaphor.
She could feel it.
The weight of those words.
It was a verdict.
Her knees felt weak.
She instinctively took a half-step back, bumping lightly into Eiko’s leg.
Eiko immediately rested a hand on her head.
“It’s alright,” she whispered.
But Haru couldn’t relax.
Her chest felt tight.
This clan…
This place…
The history…
It wasn’t in the original story.
Haru felt fear.
Gorou exhaled slowly, the heaviness easing just a fraction.
“That is the law of the Mizugami,” he said.
“And the reason we rose to power.”
Only then did the servants move again.
Only then did the mansion feel breathable.
But Haru remained frozen.
And Mio not that far away, was laughing softly.
How cute… hehe~
