Clack

  Noah & co saw the guest room when they opened the door to this cabin .

  A familiar figure who regularly appeared on television greeted them .

  He was an old man in white hakama . He stood with a straight back and he also sat at the couch with perfect style . He waited there with closed eyes . He looked like a disciplined warrior who is meditating . He gave off a sharp feeling just by looking at him .

  Looking at the old man who they haven’t seen for quite some time now, Rentaro and Kisara had tense expressions . They weren’t treating each other like family members, it’s like they were faced with their arch-nemesis .

  Compared to Kisara and Rentaro, Noah who had the pleasure of fighting against the old man for a whole year looked rather composed . He told the other girls .

  "Kayo, go play with Enju and Tina . "

  Kayo who knew about the relationship between Noah and Kikunojou nodded without delay . Enju who more or less knew about this also sighed in relief . They were glad they didn’t have to deal with this .

  Tina doesn’t know about the animosity between Kikunojou and Noah . She is also unaware of the implications of Kikunojou’s visit . However, she can tell something’s not right .

  Kayo led the other two girls out of the guest room .

  Kisara and Rentaro stayed, rather, they looked like bodyguards when they stuck by Noah’s side . They also kept their eyes trained on Kikunojou .

  Kikunojou is Kisara’s grandfather, and, the enemy she can never reconcile with .

  Kikunojou is Rentaro’s adoptive father, he’s also his master who taught him battle skills . Due to Kisara’s bad blood with Kikunojou, his relationship with Kikunojou soured as a result . However, he doesn’t hate the guy as much as Kisara .

  Noah didn’t ask them to leave . Instead, he sat down with the two in tow .

  Time froze, the room just felt so tense .

  Noah sat with crossed legs . Meanwhile, Kikunojou, Kisara, and Rentaro sat in Seiza .

  Kikunojou said nothing for a full 5 minutes . He just sat there with shut eyes . Finally, the old man spoke with a hoarse voice .

  "I never thought I would visit this sanctuary . "

  The mood immediately turned hostile .

  "Really?"

  Noah grinned .

  "How do you feel?"

  "As you would expect . "

  Kikunojou opened his eyes, he used his sharp gaze on Noah .

  "I’ve been to many places over my long life . I even ventured into Gastrea monster dens . But, this is the worst place I’ve been to . "

  Indeed .

  As the poster child of the one who hated cursed children, this figurehead of the Stolen Generation abhorred the idea of coming to Fairy Tail, a place brimming with cursed children .

  Noah just laughed Kikunojou’s harsh words off .

  "Good, it would upset me if you found this place cozy . I like what I am hearing . "

  The two wasted no time going at each other, making the already tense mood basically dry powder waiting to ignite .

  Watching the two composed monsters going at each other made Kisara and Rentaro sweat . They finally got a good look at the animosity between them .

  They assumed they were just on bad terms .

  Kisara and Rentaro didn’t think they would unabashedly jab at each other with no signs of compromising . They were like water and fire .

  Anyone watching them would get nervous no matter their nerves .

  Yet, the two were unperturbed .

  Apparently, verbal blows like these were customary between them .

  Kikunojou got tired of this uncultured exchange of hostility . He looked at Kisara and Rentaro .

  "You two, so this is the kind of place you two visit?"

  Rentaro said nothing, he endured Kikunojou’s scrutinizing gaze .

  Kisara narrowed her eyes and she smiled back at him .

  "Tendo-dono, long time no see, I missed you so very much . "

  Kisara’s words carried no warmth . In fact, her tone and look were bone-chilling .

  "Hmph . "

  Kikunojou snorted, his gaze turned frosty .

  "You realized your own weakness and you came wagging your tail at an abominable place like this?"

  "Oh, I came here on a whim, that’s all . "

  Kisara smiled .

  "Relax, Tendo-dono . "

  Kikunojou stared at Kisara’s passive-aggressive grin .

  "It seems time has only worsened your bad habit of not watching your tongue . "

  "If Tendo-dono doesn’t like that, I can present my honest self . "

  Kisara stored away her fake smile and she glared at him .

  "Just so you know, I am still planning on killing all Tendo members, I will see to it that I bury them all in the ground!"

  Kikunojou’s sharp gaze turned dangerous .

  This conversation is between a grandfather and his granddaughter .

  Rentaro felt chilly, he knew about the background between Kisara’s feud with the Tendo clan .

  Noah drank his tea sip by sip, letting the two go at each other like it’s not his business . He looked like he had all the time in the world .

  Kikunojou turned his attention back towards Noah . He mused out loud after seeing Noah’s reaction .

  "You’re calmer than I thought, do you not wish to know my aim in coming here?"

  "I just want to know if you’re done with whatever you wanted to say or do . "

  Noah sipped his tea without looking at Kikunojou .

  "If you’re finished you should leave soon . Leave while you still can . "

  Noah said something that almost made Rentaro jump in astonishment . Kisara tightened her grip on her sword . She is ready to join in the moment a fight starts .

  "What a bold brute . "

  Kikunojou replied .

  "Is this how you influenced Seitenshi-sama?"

  "Seitenshi-sama?"

  Kisara and Rentaro gasped .

  Noah raised his head, he looked at Kikunojou for a second and then he grinned .

  "What’s the matter? Someone’s falling out with Princess-sama?"

  "I heard you acted as Seitenshi-sama’s guard while I was out of Tokyo Area on official business . You also sent Saitake packing back to his own Osaka Area . "

  Kikunojou brushed off Noah’s sarcastic comment . He stated his piece .

  "After that, Seitenshi-sama slowly changed . She devoted more of her energy to politics . She even took some duties off my hands, I am simply astounded . "

  "Ah, so you admit you’re losing the princess’ favor?"

  Noah continued jabbing at him with raised eyebrows .

  "The previous rulers were not experienced enough to handle political power . Now, the current ruler is taking initiative, she’s growing and making her own decisions . Does that intimidate you? To know that your days are numbered and your position isn’t as solid as you thought . Did you come here to have a consulting session with me?"

  Kikunojou showed a very rare look of anger .

  "Don’t give me that hogwash!"