47. Let me know if you guys see any major typos or grammatical errors. It'll be a huge help.
(Back with Cain)
[Five Days Later]
Standing outside the Azuma estate are Cain, Kyoka, Tenka, Himari, and Yachiho.
"So this is your home, huh? Not going to lie, I'm a bit disappointed," Cain remarked.
The estate resembles a typical traditional Japanese home, but it's significantly larger and more spacious.
"What the fuck did you expect?" Yachiho retorted, "A mansion made of gold or something?"
"With your family's superiority complex, I would've figured it to be made of diamonds."
"I mean... he's not wrong," Himari muttered quietly.
Yachiho wanted to be offended by Cain's remark, but she knew he was ultimately right, so she wisely chose not to press the issue further.
She rolled her eyes dramatically. "Whatever, let's just head inside already."
Before the group could enter, Tobera appeared between Himari and Yachiho.
"I'm so glad to see you've come to the banquet!" she exclaimed, scaring the shit out of the two and causing them to jump back in surprise.
"Fucking hell! When the fuck...!" Tobera pulled her into a hug, making her freeze mid-sentence.
"Yachiho, the treasure of the Azuma family. It's so good to see you," the older woman said, rubbing her cheek affectionately against her granddaughter's, which made Yachiho uncomfortable.
"Grandmother, look." She pointed at Himari. "Himari is here too."
Tobera finally released her, much to Yachiho's relief, and turned her attention to her youngest granddaughter with a cold smirk. "I've heard from your mother that you've become strong. I'm glad to see she wasn't exaggerating. I have you to thank for that."
She then shifted her gaze to Cain.
The Azuma matriarch was about to continue, but Cain interrupted her.
"I swear to God, if you insult her, I'll put a bullet between your eyes," he said, regarding the older woman with a cold, eerily calm expression.
"Cain!" Kyoka, Tenka, Himari, and Yachiho exclaimed in unison, ready to reprimand him.
However, they paused when they heard Tobera chuckle. "Fubuki mentioned that you were feisty." She looked at Cain with genuine respect. "Not many have the nerve to threaten me. If only I had met you when I was younger. Such a shame."
At her comment, Cain's lovers shot the woman a glare, and he had to suppress a gag.
"Even if that were the case, nothing would have EVER happened between us." He looked the older woman up and down, clearly unimpressed. "I prefer my women to be more... developed."
The moment the last word left Cain's lips, a tidal wave of killing intent washed over him and the others.
"What... did... you... just... say?" Tobera questioned through gritted teeth, glaring murderously at Cain.
Kyoka, Tenka, Himari, and Yachiho, sweating nervously, wisely stepped several feet away from the older woman. Meanwhile, Cain remained where he stood, looking at Tobera with amusement, unfazed by her killing intent.
"I said you're underdeveloped. Flat as a board. Chest with no booty. Legal jailbait. Wannabe loli." The more insults he dished out, the heavier and more suffocating Tobera's killing intent became. "Shall I continue?"
Tobera glared at Cain for several seconds, her eyes narrowing dangerously before she closed them, took a deep breath, and exhaled. Her killing intent vanished, allowing the others to breathe again.
The older woman opened her eyes, her glare still fixed on Cain. "If I weren't in such a hurry, I would've taught you some manners." She turned around. "Let's go. Everyone is waiting for us."
A few minutes later, the group arrived at their destination: a spacious room filled with vegetation and a koi pond. Eight people stood at the center of the area, waiting for them. Once they gathered, Tobera wasted no time and began speaking.
"Let's get this show on the road!" she exclaimed before vanishing and reappearing before a double-sided door. "All ten of you will go to another dimension and fight! If you can no longer continue or give up, you're out!" A portal appeared behind her. "The last one standing will be the next head of the family!" Everyone except those already in the know looked at the older woman in confusion.
"Who the fuck is the tenth person?"
The question came from a tall, attractive woman with shoulder-length turquoise hair, golden eyes, and a slender yet well-endowed figure.
She wore a white tank top, a partially zipped off-shoulder black jacket, and matching black pants and shoes.
Tobera smiled and pointed at Cain. "That would be him."
All the contestants, except for Himari, Yachiho, Fubuki, and the turquoise-haired woman, erupted in outrage upon learning that a foreigner would participate in the banquet.
They voiced their complaints loudly.
"WHY IS A MAN PARTICIPATING?!" Homare exclaimed, her voice filled with rage and incredulity as she pointed accusingly at Cain. "HE'S NOT EVEN JAPANESE OR AN AZUMA!"
The other contestants opposed to Cain joining nodded in agreement and hurled an array of insults at him. The Latino, for his part, remained completely unfazed by their comments and smiled in amusement.
However, Himari, Kyoka, and Tenka looked far from pleased, as if they were on the verge of committing several felonies. Their brows were furrowed, their eyes gleamed with anger, their lips pressed into thin lines, and their hands clenched into fists.
Cain felt the volatile emotions radiating from them and sensed they were about to explode. As much as he would enjoy seeing them confront the participants, especially the loud one, he knew he couldn't allow it—at least not yet.
Before he could address the two, Tobera spoke up in a commanding voice, silencing the crowd instantly.
"SILENCE!" she shouted, and the room fell quiet. "I'm the one who invited him to participate in the banquet," the older woman revealed, shocking those unaware of this fact. "If any of you have a problem with this..." She narrowed her eyes and emanated a chilling aura, causing most of the unnamed contestants to break out in a nervous sweat. "Do something about it."
When no one dared to respond, Tobera scoffed. "Pussies... If that's all, proceed into the portal one by one, and may the strongest win."
Homare, standing next to Himari, spoke in a condescending tone filled with sadistic excitement. "So, a Battle Royale, huh?" She rested her arm on Himari's shoulder, clearly annoying her. "Guess I'll kick some weakling's ass and ride that wave, right? Remember when I made you cry like a little bitch plenty of times in this courtyard?"
The reactions of everyone listening to the spiky-haired woman mock the youngest member of the Azuma family varied widely. Fubuki, Tobera, and Maia were indifferent. The unnamed participants chuckled in amusement. Yachiho, Kyoka, and Tenka glared daggers at Homare. And Cain—
He was still smiling, though the expression lacked genuine amusement. It was cold and hinted at retribution. He didn't need to speak or act; he saw what was about to happen and couldn't have been prouder.
Himari's face remained neutral, showing no outward emotion or killing intent. Yet her eyes and body told a different story; her beautiful golden orbs gleamed with simmering anger, and her fists were clenched so tightly they turned white.
She breathed quietly through her nose before exhaling and looking at Homare with determination.
"You seem similar, but you're nothing like Yachiho," she said, earning a look of confusion from Homare.
"Eh?"
Himari slapped Homare's arm off her shoulder and turned to face the spiky-haired woman, her fist hovering just inches from Homare's face. "You're just an arrogant bitch whose ass I'm going to kick!"
It took several seconds for Homare to process the fact that Himari, the embarrassment of the Azuma clan, dared to talk back, much less throw an insult her way. A moment later, Homare's brow furrowed deeply, the veins in her eyes bulged, and she opened her mouth to snarl.
"What the fuck did you say to me, you worthless cunt?!" Homare roared, cocking her fist back and swinging it toward Himari's face.
Himari, quick on her feet, ducked beneath the punch and delivered a devastating strike to Homare's liver. Homare's eyes widened in shock, and spit flew from her mouth as Himari's fist buried deep into her side.
A moment later, Homare's head jerked back when Himari's fist connected with her chin. To finish it off, Himari spun around and delivered a powerful kick to Homare's sternum, sending her crashing to the ground a few meters away.
Everyone, except for Cain, Kyoka, Tenka, Fubuki, Tobera, and the turquoise-haired woman, blinked in surprise. The sequence of attacks on Homare had been so sudden that the other contestants could barely process what had just happened. When they finally did, they regarded the youngest member of the Azuma clan with wary, newfound respect.
'Not bad,' Tobera thought, glancing at Himari with a hint of respect. 'But will it be enough to defeat Fubuki? I guess I'll have to wait and see."
Homare quickly got back on her feet, slightly stumbling as she glared at Himari. "You got lucky, you little bitch!"
Before a full-blown fight could break out, Tobera intervened. "Enough! Everyone in the portal now!"
Homare appeared ready to defy the older woman's orders, but one look from Fubuki made her think twice.
With a huff, Homare glared at Himari, a wide, psychotic smile twitching on her lips. "I hope you're ready to get your ass kicked again because this time, I'm not stopping until you're barely recognizable. AND YOU!" She redirected her fierce glare at Cain. "I couldn't care less who you are! You're just a man, and all men are pathetic, disposable breeding stock. After I'm done with her, I'm coming for you. I'll kick your ass and then use you for the only thing you're good for."
The older man regarded her with an unimpressed look. "I'd rather fuck a bottle of sulfuric acid," he retorted dryly, earning a laugh from his women and a few of the other participants.
Homare growled but didn't respond. She turned and was the first to enter the portal. The other participants followed one by one, leaving Cain and Himari as the only ones.
Himari frowned at Cain. "Why didn't you tell me you'd be participating in the banquet?"
"I was told not to," Cain replied, looking at her with sympathy. "I'm sorry about that."
The sea-green-haired woman sighed. "It's fine; I was just surprised, that's all." She glanced over at her grandmother. "But seriously, why did you invite him? I thought the banquet was only for Azumas."
Tobera regarded her granddaughter with amusement. "I thought that was obvious, Himari-chan. What does our family value above all else? Strength." She gestured toward Cain. "He possesses that in abundance. With his superior genetics, the Azuma clan can achieve new heights. As long as he fathers a child with one or more of our clan women, his ethnicity and lack of Azuma blood become irrelevant."
Himari processed her grandmother's words, nodding slowly as she took it all in.
"I understand." She looked at Cain. "I know I won't win against you, but that's okay. I'm not here to become the head of the family." Her eyes narrowed in determination as she clenched her right fist. "I'm here to prove my strength, but I intend to do it alone."
Cain, Kyoka, Tenka, and even Tobera nodded in approval.
"Then what are you waiting for?" Cain asked. "Go kick some ass."
Himari nodded, her resolve solidified as she headed toward the portal. Before stepping through, she suddenly grabbed Cain by the collar of his shirt and pressed her lips against his for several seconds.
She broke the kiss, her face flushed. "T-That's for good luck..."
Cain raised an amused eyebrow. "For you or for me?"
"I..." Stammering, Himari rushed into the portal.
The older man chuckled softly. "You'd think she'd be used to this by now."
"So you and Himari, huh?" Tobera questioned. "How long?"
Cain met her gaze. "About two months, give or take."
"I see..." She was still processing everything that had just unfolded before her. "Well, I approve." A grin spread across her face. "Just make sure to give me plenty of grandchildren!"
He smirked. "I plan to." He looked over at Kyoka and Tenka. "I'll see you two in a bit."
"Have fun," Tenka waved flirtatiously.
"Try not to kill anyone," Kyoka added.
"No promises."
With that, he stepped into the portal.
End.
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