The Great Elder never once questioned the authenticity of Tōga's report. The longer he spent around the youth, the more astonished he became by his ability.
It was as if this boy were the very treasure the heavens had bestowed upon the Dog Clan after the era of the Dog King.
If not for Tōga's remarkable knack for survival, and the duty that bound every clansman to fight for the tribe—the Great Elder would never have allowed him to take on such missions. In his heart, he longed to keep the boy hidden away in the safest core of the clan's territory, protected until the day he rose as a true daiyōkai. Only then would he proudly present him to the world.
When Tōga finished delivering his intelligence in crisp, clear order, the Great Elder gave a solemn nod and spoke gravely:
"Fiery demonic energy… that must be Chiyan, the leopard cat elder who has slain so many of our clan's elite."
His eyes narrowed, brows knitting as he recalled their past clashes. "Defeating her would not be difficult. But killing her quickly—that is another matter."
As one of the foremost warriors below daiyōkai, the Great Elder had crossed blades with the leopard cats' Fifth Elder many times and knew the creature's powers well.
Chiyan's flames were brutal and overwhelming. When unleashed, they could turn the world itself into a sea of fire. The scorching heat and explosive force were manageable. But her vile trick of dissolving into flame could tie an opponent down indefinitely.
Among high-ranking yōkai, unless one fought to the death or held a crushing advantage, the weaker side could usually survive a while—or escape.
The elder's tone grew heavier.
"This is the border between our clans. If we clash here with such power, more leopard cats will be drawn. Should that escalate into full-scale war, our people are not prepared."
At that, Tōga immediately understood. The Dog King, the pillar of their tribe, was still gravely wounded.
With their ruler not yet recovered, a reckless war against the leopard cats would throw their clan into dangerous peril. Yet both sides' high command also knew: no one dared push the Dog King too far. If a daiyōkai set aside his pride, even their enemies would suffer for it.
And in this world, they were not the only daiyōkai in play.
If the Dogs struck swiftly, killing Chiyan cleanly, the leopard cats would have no choice but to swallow the loss.
"Therefore," the Great Elder declared, eyes burning, voice ringing with resolve, "to keep our clan from danger, I will summon the Second Elder. Together, with preparation on our side, we shall kill Chiyan and ease the pressure of war upon the Dogs!"
The thought of seizing this once-in-a-lifetime chance to eliminate the leopard cats' Fifth Elder filled him with an almost boyish excitement.
That excitement soon translated into action. He reached out and ruffled Tōga's carefully groomed hair into a bird's nest, then growled in mock ferocity:
"And you, brat, keep yourself put! No wandering off. If you stumble into Chiyan, your scrawny hide will be roasted to ash before you can blink. I've only just petitioned our king for your betrothal—don't make me lose you before Lady Shirayuki gets her groom!"
"Great Elder!"
Shirayuki—who had been listening quietly until now, flushed scarlet at the sudden turn of the conversation. Shocked and flustered, she cried out in protest, voice crisp and trembling with indignation.
"I haven't agreed to anything yet!"
Her eyes darted toward Tōga even as she hurriedly tried to defend herself, cheeks burning. "Those are baseless rumors, Elder, don't you go spreading them!"
Her glance flicked to the two squad captains present. Terrified, Seiten and his companion bolted from the cave without a word.
The Great Elder ignored Shirayuki's rebuttal. Instead, he withdrew his hand from Tōga's hair and fixed the boy with his massive, bronze-bell eyes.
Tōga, long familiar with the elder's signals, caught the meaning at once. Turning toward Shirayuki, he inched closer on his own.
The elder, satisfied, clasped his hands behind his back and departed. At the cave mouth, his form dissolved into a glowing orb and streaked away toward the Dogs' heartland.
Now, only a boy and a girl remained within the cavern.
Their eyes met. The silence deepened until they could almost hear one another's heartbeats.
Tōga lowered his head slightly, gaze resting on her peerless face. Before he could stop himself, the words slipped free:
"Shirayuki, after we defeat the leopard cats… will you marry me?"
The sudden, direct strike of his confession froze Shirayuki's frantic heart. Strangely, it calmed her instead.
She raised her eyes to him, emotions tumbling in those luminous depths—surprise, shyness, and, hidden beneath it all, an irrepressible joy.
But Shirayuki's pride and stubbornness were a fortress. She would not so easily bare her heart.
With a soft huff, like a kitten feigning anger, she turned away, voice sharp but sweet.
"Do you think marriage is child's play? Something you just declare and it happens? And besides—if the leopard cats aren't all defeated, then you… you…"
The words caught in her throat. Her ears flushed pink like peach blossoms in spring. Fingers twisted at her sleeve hem, wringing little folds into the fabric. Her tsundere denial was utterly adorable.
Tōga, bewitched, pressed gently, "Then what? What happens if I fail?"
The instant it left his lips, he regretted it. Shirayuki's expression shifted, her tender gaze flashing with irritation.
"Hmph. Then you can just go die!"
With a scornful toss of her head, she rose. Smoothing her rumpled robes with elegant grace, she stood like a swan in full poise.
At the cave mouth, she half-turned, glancing back at him.
The dying sun draped her in a veil of crimson light, outlining her in a dreamlike radiance. For a heartbeat, Tōga couldn't tell whether the blush upon her cheeks came from the sunset or the shy warmth in her heart.
Her voice drifted to him, soft as spring wind:
"I wonder… what sights the underworld holds."
Then she was gone.
Staring after her, Tōga lifted a hand to his cheek as if to banish the daze. He paced the cavern, restless, each hurried step echoing his tangled thoughts.
At last, his hand found the hilt at his waist. His fingers traced the familiar ridges of the fang-forged blade, and its steady presence calmed him.
He exhaled a long breath, head tilting back.
In his heart, he carved a new goal alongside destroying the Leopard Cats:
He would forge a new Underworld.