Owari No Seraph-Ichinose Guren, 16-sai no Catastrophe Volume 5 & 6

Chapter 3 (Part 1)

In the depths of a quiet residential site in Shibuya, there was such a building.

A place which could be called the headquarters of <Mikado no Oni>.

This was the first time Guren was called here. Apparently, it was said that no matter what happened, there was a need to report to <Mikado no Oni> about becoming the new Head of the Ichinose House.

After the stringent security check and identity verification, he was brought to stand in front of a large, black door.

The lady who received him,

"Please wait here to be called."

She left.

Guren nodded and waited there for the time being.

It seemed like the Head of the Hiragi House, Tenri Hiragi, who was also Kureto, Mahiru and Seishirou's father, was present in the room.

The figure of authority who ruled over the entire of <Mikado no Oni>.

Apart from him, the nine Houses which decided Guren's father's execution was said to be present too.

"......So slow."

No one seemed to reply him. In this empty place, 10 minutes, 20 minutes passed like this.

Was this to reinforce the difference in his status, or was he being totally forgotten? He had no idea. Just when an hour had passed–

".....Come in."

Someone called out.

He entered the room.

There was a round table. A few men and women around the age of forty were sitting around the table.

A total of ten people.

Probably Tenri Hiragi and the nine Heads of House. In other words, Goshi and Mito's father or mother should be present. But Guren was not sure who they were.

The man sitting at the innermost area of the round table spoke.

"Are you Sakae Ichinose's son?"

The man made one feel oppressed. A large, sturdy body, cold pupils. He was probably very strong. From the aura he emitted, it could be inferred that he as the master here.

In other words, Tenri Hiragi.

Guren nodded and lowered his head.

"Indeed. That is right."

Tenri maintained his cold expression and said.

"Oi, what's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong?"

"Don't you understand your status? Kneel down. Lower your head more. Lower it till it was enough to shatter your boring self-esteem."

He was ordered.

Ordered to kneel.

Ordered to go into a position to show complete servility to the bastard who killed father.

Guren lifted his face, looked at Tenri and,

"This is indeed, impoliteness on my part."

As he said that, his knees touched the ground.

"Not willing to resign?"

".....No, how could I?"

"Impossible. You did not hide the fury in your eyes."

"....."

"Your father was stronger than you. Even when ordered to dance naked over there, he was all smiles."

Guren felt his fist clench immediately. If he did not hide his wrath, then it would be like this. He had yet became as strong as father.

Tenri said.

"Well, rather than strong, I should put it as useless."

"....."

"But I heard that, you are, more or less, a little intelligent. It seemed like you managed to trick Seishirou once right?"

He did tell such a lie. He said something like, in order to investigate Kureto's actions, he received special orders from Tenri. Afterwards, he told Seishirou to keep it a secret. But it seemed like that stupid son's mouth was leaky.