"The Seimei sounds like a pain in the ass bloodline..."
I muttered after hearing what Guren said.
From his words, I could guess that those with Seimei blood will 100% get stuck at the 7th level and need someone with a complete bloodline like mine to help them break through.
Oh, speaking of breakthroughs...
"Guren, give me a list of all the top brass that are trustworthy. I'll be giving them each a reward..."
I snickered as I thought of the future where we have an army of thousands of 8th-stage tamers with an activated taming system. It should become an unstoppable army!
"What? Why?"
Guren asked, and I was about to answer, but then the urge to speak vanished. The [Oath of Truthfulness's] effect duration finally ended.
I turned to Guren, then grinned.
"It's a secret."
---
A few hours later, we finally ended the coronation ceremony. It wasn't something fancy, as it was just an internal appointment where I was introduced to all the branch family heads.
Now, I officially become the Family Head of the Seimei on paper.
Although it should be a large achievement, I didn't feel any sense of accomplishment... Maybe because I was basically forced into becoming one?
After the ceremony, we were led to a large bedroom. It had a bed wide enough for all four of us to lie down without interfering with each other's space. In terms of size, it can be described as a double king-sized bed, I guess?
After changing out of my kimono, I lay down in the center of the bed and closed my eyes. I fell into a deep sleep almost instantly.
When I woke up, I thought that I had sleep paralysis. I can't move my body at all. When I opened my eyes, I noticed the reason immediately.
Ember was cradling my head in her bountiful bosom as she curled up like a cold kitten on a winter's night.
Fang was all over my right hand and leg, intertwined in a complex manner that made it hard for me to even move. Her fluffy tail, which extends just above her cute round butt, was waving softly from left to right. This means she's awake, right?
Igni was bolder, as she was clinging to my chest. Her thick tail was lightly wrapped around my leg, and my left arm was bent and used as her anchor to fix her posture against my body. Although my arm was buried deep in her cleavage, I honestly couldn't feel anything other than numbness.
"You three are awake, right?"
Through the link, I could feel that the three of them were in "that" sort of mood. However, it's hard to tell them, but all over the room, I could see the energies of people hiding. I'm thankful that they're protecting us 24/7, but our privacy...
"..."
I tried to think of a way to make them move without embarrassing them and realized one move that I could use.
"Girls, hurry up and move. My bladder's about to burst."
When I said so, I could feel the three of them flinch. Ember's embrace tightened, Fang's body became a lot more entwined with my arm, and Igni's chest was pressing harder on my body.
Rather than my bladder, something else is about to go boom.
"Please use this, Clan Head."
Suddenly, a shadow appeared at the foot of the bed carrying what looked like a portable pee bottle that I usually see in hospitals. From her voice, I could tell that this was Chiyome, one of Guren's shadows.
"Ahh, thanks..."
Although awkward, I still expressed my gratitude to her. The three girls, who realized that we were not alone in the room a tad too late, finally acted as if they had just woken up and moved away from me.
Still, I should praise the shadows hiding around the room for bypassing not only Fang's detection but even Igni's. Although I wanted to praise them, I rushed out of the room and went to the toilet. There, I relieved myself in peace before returning to the room, feeling refreshed.
"Master is unfair..."
Ember muttered with a cute pout.
Fang and Igni, who had a strong sense of smell, were staring down there with a frown too. It was kind of awkward, so I quickly changed the topic.
"We need to prepare for the duel next month, girls! Ember, Fang, I would need you two to reach the 4th level in 2 days so that I could formally contract Igni before the Faux Contract ends."
When I said so, the two quickly stopped their tantrums and smiled as they responded positively.
"Use our saved money to buy essence crystals from the government office. No, ask Guren first; maybe there's some stock here already."
Ember and Fang shouted "Roger!" before they ran out of the door in a hurry. Although they weren't showing it, I know that they, too, like to increase their strength.
I stared at Igni and thought about what to do.
"For you, Igni, come with me in going around helping the 7th stage tamers to break through. I'd need you to protect me in case anything untoward happens."
"As you wish, My Lord."
Seeing her nod her head, I smiled in satisfaction. I then called out to the empty space before me, where the familiar energy signature of Chiyome could be seen.
"Chiyome, guide me to the grounds where I'll be helping the 7th stage tamers."
After a few seconds of silence, a figure slowly reappeared from the shadows.
"To think that clan head could point out my exact location... I fail as a shadow..."
She seemed down for some reason. Was it bad for me to call her out? I guess I should be careful with the rest of the shadows too; they seem to be secretly proud of their concealment ability.
I patted her head out of reflex, saying, "Don't mind it," as I went out the door.
A moment later, Chiyome started walking ahead of me but was glancing in my direction every now and then. This continued all the way until we reached the wide space where thousands of tamers were already gathered.
"This is going to be a busy day..."
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