Chapter 16

[Age 9: Your daily life was incredibly fulfilling. The heavy load of studies was not a burden for you, but a joy.]

[This year, you also began learning martial arts.]

[The Kamisato Clan head brought in Domon, a master of the Meikyo Shisui style, to train Kamisato Ayato and you for a month.]

[At first, you were no match for this highly respected sword master.]

[His attacks were far stronger than anything your third-rate samurai father could muster.]

[His power greatly exceeded your defense, so at first, you were left battered and bruised.]

[You knew that having Domon-sensei guide you repeatedly was a rare privilege, so you never once complained.]

[Kamisato Ayaka, however, was often red-eyed as she applied medicine to your wounds.]

["This Domon-sensei is just too much. How could he be so heavy-handed with a child? Father hired him primarily to train my brother, so why does he keep targeting you?"]

[This situation changed within a few days.]

[At first, you could only stand and endure his attacks. But soon, you were able to exchange a few moves with the master.]

[You realized that after every bout, your stamina, reflexes, and skills improved.]

[Could it be that you had a unique talent? That you grew stronger the more you got beaten?]

(Passive talent "Masochist" triggered: +5 to overall strength for every hit taken)

[A month later, Domon-sensei left. Before departing, he had a private conversation with you that lasted all night.]

[He told you that you were a genius in kendo, and it would be a waste for you to remain confined to the Kamisato Clan. You should seek higher levels of swordsmanship. If you ever changed your mind, you could always come find him.]

[Age 10: The Kamisato Clan head began to subtly increase your interactions with Kamisato Ayaka. It seemed he intended for the two of you to marry.]

[Faced with this situation, your response was…]

[1. Strongly oppose it, stating that you only saw Ayaka as a sister and had no such intentions.]

[2. Accept it, as you had already decided to join the Kamisato Clan, and marrying in would be a shortcut to securing your position.]

"Number two."

Thinking about how Kamisato Ayaka would look when she grew up—she was destined to become a classic beauty with wealth and status.

Even marrying into the family wouldn't be a loss.

With the Kamisato Clan's position in Inazuma, marrying Kamisato Ayaka would save you decades of struggle.

Still, Kael felt a bit guilty toward Ayaka.

Given the system's nature, any character with a romantic connection to him would surely end up facing some tragedy.

[You did not resist the family head's arrangements. Although you had only ever seen Ayaka as a sister, the Kamisato Clan had essentially rebuilt your life. If marrying in was how you could repay that debt, you wouldn't feel any resentment.]

[Age 11: In an attempt to rectify a major error, the Kamisato Clan head strained himself to the point of an early death. His passing left the Kamisato Clan's position in the Yashiro Commission hanging by a thread.]

[At age 15, Kamisato Ayato succeeded his father as the new Kamisato Clan head.]

[As his personal retainer, you also concluded your studies in the Kamisato Clan and followed the new clan head into the treacherous political arena of Inazuma.]