Ren listened carefully.
With his Traits, steady growth was guaranteed.
Precisely because of that,
he must never grow conceited; that's how accidents happen.
Slip up,
and when the time comes to show off, you won't even know how you died.
[Purple • Mastery of All Arms: Lv 3 (Growth)]
Staring at the Trait, he thought, "If I study more, I should be able to raise its quality. As for the level… that probably climbs slowly. Still, dropping this far feels rough."
Before the merge, none of his skills were below Lv 6—and now?
The consolidation left him at Lv 3.
On second thought, it made sense.
Before, they were separate Traits. Now they'd been fused into one.
Reasonable.
"Yu, Kaguya—you're back." Machiyoi's smile looked almost tangible as the big one and the little one walked in hand-in-hand.
"Oba-san."
"Oba-sama."
They greeted in unison and took their seats.
Machiyoi soon set out a spread of delicate dishes.
No stuffy rules here about eating in silence; they chatted as they ate.
"Yu," Machiyoi said softly, "give it three to five days—the kappa clan from the Lake of the Black Tortoise will arrive."
"The gold's ready too. These past two weeks, Kaguya's been sending more and more," Ren nodded, a little rueful. He really was living off his daughter.
"Heh-heh~"
Kaguya covered her lips like a proper young lady. "It's only gold. This humble one doesn't care. In the Lunar Capital, some even call it defilement."
Ren let it pass.
So he wasn't like "those people." He was a simple man—and liked simple things.
"Yu, once the city's built, will you recruit from outside?" Machiyoi asked.
Normally,
a city lord who raises a big city opens the gates: scattered yokai, struggling humans, and all manner of other races.
If they fit, they move in.
Building a city costs dearly; everyone needs subjects to recoup.
Ren shook his head. "No need, Oba-san. 'City lord' is just a label. If the right people show up, they can stay. If not, we leave it empty."
Not to say he'd build a harem, a crystal palace, a tower of gilded rooms—
he just didn't want the hassle. If they weren't a fit, forget it.
"That's fine," Machiyoi said. This was all just "something to do" anyway.
Like a retired rich guy taking a security gig for fun—same idea.
"Father, this humble one can have Eirin send some moon rabbits to serve," Kaguya offered, thinking the place could use more life.
"I don't mind, so long as it doesn't get in the way," Ren said.
"Very well. I'll contact Eirin now."
Kaguya set down her chopsticks, sent word, and in the blink of an eye picked them back up. "Father, it's arranged. Tonight in the bamboo grove, everything we need will be delivered."
Ren nodded, not sure what to say.
It really did feel like freeloading—and off his own daughter, at that.
Then again… if it's my daughter's—fine!
He specialized in mooching with a straight face.
"Work hard, Father. This humble one has high hopes," Kaguya laughed—sweet and dazzling, the very character for "beauty" fit her perfectly despite her small frame.
"I will."
His daughter's only wish was for him to charge the Lunar Capital, snatch her other "Father," and toss him into a basement as a plush ball.
That idea? Hard to rate.
Night fell.
Ren led Kaguya to the bamboo grove. As moonlight poured down, chest after chest—luxuriously crafted even at a glance—appeared on the ground.
And it didn't stop.
In the pale glow, figures took shape: girls in JK uniforms with black over-knee socks and short black boots, lively and fresh, eighteen or nineteen by the look of them—each with a pair of rabbit ears.
Roughly a hundred.
"Kaguya-sama!"
The moon rabbits bowed as one.
Kaguya shed her casual air from home; now her noble bearing as a princess shone through—elegant, proper, threaded with a hint of authority. "As Eirin doubtless told you—beginning today, you are struck from the rolls of the Lunar Capital. From now on, you will serve this humble one and this humble one's Father."
"As you command, Kaguya-sama!"
They lowered their heads, meek and unquestioning.
Kaguya nodded slightly, then turned. "Father, please arrange them as you see fit."
Ren studied the moon rabbits in silence, impressed. Truly the Lunar Capital's specialty.
He knew the basics.
Up there, moon rabbits handled complicated work—combat and service both. They were more numerous than most, yet ranked the lowest, serving the moonfolk who looked down on them.
"Expendables" wasn't far off.
"Bring everything," Ren said, and led the lot back to the manor.
(End of Chapter)
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