Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

'I've always wanted to say this.'

.

.

.

"Arise."

A suffocating darkness spread through the chamber as shadowy figures emerged from the floor, crawling out of the void like specters summoned from the abyss.

Momiji's eyes widened in horror. Behind every Tengu warrior, a phantom loomed, pressing a blade or claw to their necks, their glowing eyes flickering like embers in the dark.

Ari took a slow, deliberate sip of her tea, her expression unreadable. Then, with a deafening crackle, black lightning struck the ground behind her, illuminating the chamber in eerie flashes. A towering form rose from the swirling darkness, an ant-like creature, standing at an imposing eleven feet, its carapace wreathed in shadow.

A shiver ran down Momiji's spine. 'Such power...'

Wisps of darkness flickered across the room's interior, coiling like living tendrils. The oppressive weight of an unseen force pressed down upon the gathered Tengu.

In their eyes, Ari, still seated, seemed to grow to monstrous proportions, her very presence stretching impossibly high, casting an overwhelming shadow over them.

"I... I can't move," Momiji gritted her teeth, the cold press of a spectral axe resting against her throat. The shadow holding it bore the unmistakable shape of a Bovoid warrior, its empty gaze fixed upon her.

The soft clack of porcelain echoed as Ari set her cup down.

With slow, deliberate ease, she rose to her feet. Her free hand slipped into her coat pocket, and in response, the shadows standing at her side pulsed, faint blue light gleaming in their joints, mirroring the glow in Ari's own piercing eyes.

For the first time in her life, Momiji felt like she was staring at a true Demon Lord.

Then, a smooth voice cut through the tension.

"Now, what could be the problem?"

Momiji blinked in surprise as an older Tengu woman entered the room. Like Momiji, she had white hair, but unlike her daughter's crimson-tipped strands, hers remained completely white, untouched by color.

"Oh. G-Good morning, Mother," Momiji stammered, her earlier confidence wavering.

Ari narrowed her eyes. 'She's unaffected by my [Queen's Aura].'

The new arrival lifted a sleeve over the lower half of her face as she spoke, her tone composed yet firm. "Lady Ari, my name is Kaede. I apologize for the foolish actions of my daughter and her council."

A brief silence settled over the room before Kaede shifted her gaze toward Momiji.

"Put down your weapon, child. That goes for the rest of you."

A moment passed, then the shadows melted away, retreating into the ground like ink dissolving in water. At the same time, the Tengu warriors hesitated before finally sheathing their weapons.

In the blink of an eye, the warriors vanished, departing the room without a word.

Kaede then turned back to Ari, a soft smile gracing her lips. "Will your companions not join us for tea?"

Ari's crimson eyes widened slightly, though her expression remained composed.

Meanwhile, Momiji frowned in confusion. "What do you mean, Mother? She came alone."

Kaede merely smiled, while Ari allowed herself a satisfied smirk.

A moment later, Ari's shadow rippled, and six figures leaped out, landing soundlessly behind her. These were six of the first seven she had personally named, like her, they bore humanoid appearances but had distinct antennae sprouting from their heads.

"Now, that wasn't so difficult, was it?" Kaede chuckled lightly. "Now, let's put this unpleasantness behind us and have a proper discussion."

Ari gracefully lowered herself onto the woven mat, her movements smooth and composed. "Yes… ma'am."

Momiji, her face still slightly flushed from embarrassment, followed suit. "Yes, Mother."

Seeing everyone seated, Kaede joined her daughter, settling onto the mat with practiced elegance. "Once again, my name is Kaede."

Ari's eye twitched slightly at the introduction, something Kaede immediately caught.

"Is something the matter?" she inquired, tilting her head slightly.

Ari hesitated before shaking her head. "Forgive me, it's just… You bear the same name as my mother."

Kaede chuckled softly. "Is that so? It's not uncommon for people to share names. Although… it seems that's not the only similarity."

Ari frowned, a hint of confusion flickering in her crimson eyes. "What… do you mean by that?"

Before she could react, Kaede's hands were suddenly cupping her face, gentle, warm, yet so subtle that Ari hadn't even registered the movement until it was already done.

"It's faint, but it's there," Kaede murmured, her voice soft, almost a whisper. "Lingering around you... So similar to my kind... Yet vastly different."

Ari's entire body tensed. 'When did she move?' Her thoughts raced, struggling to make sense of what had just happened. 'I didn't see her shift, didn't even sense her presence closing in. It wasn't speed… My mind simply ignored it until it was too late.'

Her eyes widened slightly in realization. 'Just like Shifu… and his Haze Style.'

It took a moment for Kaede's words to fully register in Ari's mind.

"Your kind?" she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Kaede simply smiled as she gracefully returned to her seat beside her daughter. "Yes. The touch… of an angel."

The room fell into an eerie silence.

Ari's confusion deepened. "The only magic that could possibly be intertwined with my own is my mother's."

Kaede raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Now I'm quite curious. I would very much like to meet your mother, Miss Ari."

Ari hesitated, then sighed, crossing her arms. "Well… that's…" She exhaled again before nodding. "I can have that arranged."

---

"Whoa… This is beautiful. An actual pocket dimension. Amazing." Kaede whispered in awe as she stepped into the Tengu village.

Behind her, three of her daughters followed closely, Ari, Acer, and as of yesterday,... Hanae.

"Please, this way," their Tengu guide said, leading them toward one of the largest buildings in the village, positioned gracefully beside a cascading waterfall.

Inside, waiting for them, were Momiji, her council, and her mother, Kaede(T).

---

"You must be Lady Kaede. I welcome you to our humble village," Kaede (T) said with a gentle smile, lifting her sleeve to cover the lower half of her face as she spoke.

Kaede returned the smile, her expression warm and composed. "Ah, thank you. You are very kind. I must also extend my sincerest apologies for my daughter's behavior during her visit. She deeply regrets her actions. Isn't that right, Ari?" She turned her gaze toward the platinum-haired Antari beside her.

Ari flinched slightly under her mother's pointed look, her crimson eyes shifting to the side. "...Yes," she said stiffly. "Allow me... to apologize. I am... truly sorry for my actions in your home."

Her voice was strained, as if the words physically pained her to say.

Kaede sighed, shaking her head with an amused smile. "She's really sorry."

Kaede (T) chuckled softly. "It's no trouble. They are still young and have room to grow. Momiji here is also ashamed of her behavior toward our guest. Aren't you, daughter?"

Momiji, sitting rigidly beside her mother, visibly tensed. Beads of sweat dotted her brow as she forced herself to respond. "Y-Yes... Truly... That was… very unbecoming of me. Please accept my... sincere apologies."

Her words carried the same strained reluctance as Ari's, and for a brief moment, the two locked eyes in mutual understanding.

Kaede (T) let out an amused sigh. "Well, with that out of the way, let's put the past behind us. There's much to discuss, after all."

Kaede nodded. "Yes, let's."

With that, the tension in the room eased, if only slightly.

With that, Kaede began to explain the current state of her nation, the unfolding events within the Great Forest of Jura, and her desire to form an alliance with the Tengu.

Kaede (T) listened attentively, her gaze eventually shifting to Momiji. "So, you seek to establish an alliance with our village?"

Kaede nodded, her expression calm yet confident. "I do. While it might be easier to simply claim the mountains as our own, I believe it would be far more beneficial to forge a friendship with the powerful Tengu."

Kaede (T) chuckled, the sound soft and melodic. "Sweet with words, Lady Kaede."

Kaede grinned. "I'm just speaking the truth."

At that moment, a Tengu servant entered the room, carrying a lacquered tray. She gracefully set it down before retrieving several slightly curved red plates, placing them before each representative.

Shortly after, another servant arrived, carrying a small yet exquisitely crafted jug. With practiced movements, she poured the jug's contents into the plates, the liquid releasing delicate wisps of steam as it met the cool air.

Kaede picked up her plate with a smile, offering a polite "thank you" before taking a sip. A pleasant warmth spread through her as the rich, fragrant alcohol coated her tongue.

"Delicious," she remarked, setting the plate down gently.

Kaede (T) took a sip as well before returning her gaze to Kaede. "The Tengu will accept your offer of alliance. In fact, we are willing to go a step further, we shall pledge ourselves under your banner."

Kaede raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? That's certainly generous."

Kaede (T) held up a single finger. "On one condition."

A brief silence settled over the room as the Tengu leader paused, her sharp gaze sweeping across the gathered individuals.

Then, with a knowing smile, she declared, "Young Ari here will take my daughter's hand in marriage."

.

.

.

""WHAAAAAAATTTTT??!!!!!""

Ari, who had just taken a sip of her drink, promptly choked, coughing as her plate nearly slipped from her grasp.

Momiji's face turned a deep shade of crimson in flustered panic.

Kaede blinked, then calmly took another sip of her drink. "Well, now that's an interesting condition."