Seraphim is a Bystander

Interlude: The Guardians' Drunken Debate

This chapter is from the Master's (Morimiya's) perspective.
 
A few days had passed since the memorial ceremony for the victims of the Dragon Calamity. I was attending a remote conference from my own residence.

Among the participants were several familiar faces, including Ichijou Michiya-sama, the head of the Ichijou family whom I had recently guarded, and Futaba Kōzō, Aoi’s grandfather, whom I’d also met not long ago. A few other people were present as well.
“Thanks for waiting, everyone. Morimiya here.”
“You’re here. That should make everyone now, right?”

“Took you long enough. I was getting tired of waiting, Morimiya.”
“My apologies, Futaba-san. Alright, shall we begin?”
“Indeed, then—”

“Cheers!”
I could hear the sounds of cans popping open and glasses clinking from the other participants. I raised my own glass into the air and took a good swig of the alcohol.
A few seconds later, I heard the familiar thuds of glasses and cans being set down. That’s when Michiya-sama began speaking.
“By the way, Morimiya-san, thank you for joining the security detail the other day.”

“Oh, not at all. It was just a job—I got paid, after all. Though I can’t say I fulfilled my duties all that well.”
“Ah, no need for formalities here. Speak like you usually do.”
“You sure? Well, honestly, I haven’t been able to relax since that day…”

By that, of course, I meant the attack during the memorial ceremony. Investigations had continued over the past few days, but there was still almost no information about the black-cloaked figure Aoi had encountered and I had failed to capture.
“Mmm… What the hell was that all about, anyway…”
“Security didn’t react at all, and from the surveillance footage, it looked like he just popped out of a blind spot in the corridor before the main hall. We couldn’t track the point of entry at all…”

“And none of the terrorists we apprehended had any powers that would’ve allowed for that kind of infiltration. It’s seriously baffling.”
“And for an attack on a venue that heavily guarded, their team was way too weak—aside from that cloaked guy.”
As Michiya-san and I discussed it while nursing our drinks and holding our heads in frustration, a thud boomed through the call—picked up from Futaba-san’s mic.
“Morimiya! I heard you let a criminal slip through your fingers?!”

“Yes sir!! I’m very sorry!!”
The sharp voice triggered a reflex. My body snapped to attention like I was back in the Anti-Virtual Task Force days.
“Your response to the banquet hall terrorists was… well, barely passing.
But to think my grandson fought desperately, and his master, Morimiya, let that bastard get away—what do you have to say for yourself?!”

“I have no excuse! You're absolutely right!!”
Ugh… I mean, he’s totally right. Aoi did everything he could, fought a superior opponent, and ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) still managed to protect Michiya-san’s daughter.
Meanwhile, I—the so-called master—completely failed to catch the guy…
“Uuuu… I’m such a failure…”

“Ugh… You two get so annoying when you’re drunk…”
I think Michiya-san said something under his breath, but I couldn’t make it out.
As Futaba-san continued to scold me and I half-sobbed into my drink, someone who had been quiet until now finally spoke up.
“Now, now, you two. We’re here to drink—let’s try to enjoy ourselves a little, shall we?”

“Ugh… Mitani-san…”
“Yeah, seriously! Oh, that reminds me—can we hear more about Futaba-san’s grandson? The one you mentioned earlier?”
“Hmm… You want to hear about my grandchild, do you?”

“Ugh… (This is gonna be a pain…) Y-yes, sir!”
“Actually, I’d be quite interested as well. For someone capable of facing a criminal that even Morimiya failed to apprehend…”
Looks like Mitani-san and Shinanaki-san had taken an interest in Aoi.
Can’t blame them. That black-cloaked guy managed to dodge my attacks even when I was going all out.
The idea that someone that skilled had stayed hidden until now is downright scary.

“That’s right. My grandson Aoi, despite being so young, started training when his younger brother was born. Said he wanted to get stronger.”
“Whoa, really? So how old is he now?”
“He’s ten, I believe… sniff”

“Ten?! And that kind of skill?!”
“He’s the pride of our family…”
…Honestly, I still don’t know how Aoi managed to not find out about the family background with Futaba-san like this.

“Right, he’s your disciple too, isn’t he, Morimiya-san?”
“Yeah. Aoi’s got grit, and plenty of talent. He’s only going to get stronger.”
“You really mean it, huh? Must be quite the kid.”

“He really is! Aoi’s just the best, you know?!”
From there, the conversation became entirely about Aoi.
His training, his background, and so on.
“Wait, wait—he didn’t know he was the heir to the Futaba family until recently?!”

“Ah, that was my son’s decision.”
“Then… that refined way he speaks—?”
“Hmph. I never taught him that directly. Probably picked it up from books. Kid loves to read.”

We started to piece together why Aoi hadn’t known about his family, and then—
“This is Aoi-kun? Huh? Isn’t… isn’t she a girl?”
“No! Aoi is a boy!”

“…He’s definitely going to break a few hearts someday.”
“He would never do something like that!!”
Even Mitani-san mistook Aoi’s photo for a girl.
And then—

“Futaba-san, what would you say to having my daughter betrothed to Aoi-kun?”
“Ichijou—do you not remember that I kept the family secret precisely to avoid situations like that?!”
“Fair point…”

Apparently, Michiya-san tried to recruit Aoi as a future son-in-law…
And just like that, the rest of the night spiraled into nothing but Aoi talk.
Eventually, we circled back to the black-cloaked figure Aoi fought, then to Ichijou’s daughter and how she was doing.
“Alright then… until next month.”