Bab 44: CHAPTER 43 - The Affinity Dilemma (3)
Despite not seeing his family for weeks, almost a month, Ichiro had no choice but to attend the family gathering. It was a meeting to discuss various household matters, including issues related to family marriages.
"What do you mean I'm engaged?" Ichiro burst in anger, rising from his seat. The revelation blindsided him, and he couldn't fathom that his family would resort to such tactics to gain control over him.
"As your uncle, I am doing what's best for you. If your mother were alive, she would be pleased to see a lovely lady taking care of her son while she is in battle," Hiroshi stated, attempting to justify the unexpected announcement.
"Please, who would want me?" Ichiro mockingly reminded them of his status as the family's illegitimate child. It seemed inconceivable that any family would willingly marry him.
"Omori, my niece, would be happy to be your wife," Tomoko said casually, sipping her tea and disregarding Ichiro's evident turmoil.
After a moment of contemplation, Ichiro recalled meeting Omori once, back when they were children. As he dug into his memories, a realization struck him.
"She's older than me, and isn't she already engaged to someone else?" Ichiro questioned, pointing out the complexities of the situation.
Ichiro was already aware of the previous engagement, having met the potential partner before on a previous occasion.
"What engagement are you talking about, boy?" Hiroshi became angry, frustrated that Ichiro was privy to information from his past.
"Ichiro, I think you must be confused. Sister Omori isn't engaged to someone at all. Well, I mean, to you she is now engaged," Ayami interjected, attempting to help her parents clear up the misunderstanding, even though she was aware of the truth. Her parents had insisted that Ichiro needed to stay within the family for certain reasons. Unaware of the specifics, Ayami chose to support her parents in their decision.
"You're all crazy! Just because you're my current guardians doesn't mean you can decide what I want to do in life," Ichiro's voice echoed with anger. In his frustration, he slammed his fist on the table, knocking over some of the drinks.
Suddenly, the room fell silent. Everyone realized that the rumors of Ichiro's sudden increase in strength weren't just a joke. His ability to withstand Ryoma's beating in the past indicated that the person standing before them might not be the real Ichiro. The revelation left them shocked and bewildered.
"I knew it," Hiroshi mumbled to himself, observing the sudden change in Ichiro's behavior. The real Ichiro would have eagerly complied with their wishes, seeking attention and care. However, the Ichiro before them showed no respect at all.
"Ichiro, are you out of your mind?" Ayami shouted, shocked by the chaotic turn of events.
Kazuki, unsure of how to navigate the situation, was a loyal follower of his brothers and was willing to do anything to support their cause. "Ichiro, we are family, and we are only thinking what's best for you."
"That's right, Ichiro. Aren't you glad we are all thinking about you?" Even Yuta, who harbored strong resentment toward Ichiro, joined in to calm him. Beneath his feigned concern, Yuta was secretly pleased to see Ichiro in such a miserable state. A family engagement, in their eyes, was an agreement parents would typically make and could only be broken by them. Since Ichiro didn't have any parents, the family had the final say.
"Damn it, this is all a trap," Ichiro muttered, feeling unease settle over him. He sensed that his family was still after him, and he needed to understand why. There had to be a reason for their sudden insistence. A thought crossed his mind, "What if this has something to do with my mother's will?"
Ichiro began to ponder the possibility that his mother's will contained a clause stipulating that if something were to happen to him, the inherited wealth would be redirected to someone else. What if his mother's will explicitly stated that only Ichiro's descendants and his family had rightful access to the substantial sum?
Akihiko had often mentioned that Ichiro's mother likely left behind an immense fortune, enough to sustain him and his descendants in luxurious living for a lifetime. However, the exact amount remained shrouded in mystery.
"Ichiro, Omori will be here next month. I hope you can at least show your face," Tomoko remarked, shooting him a pointed look.
Ichiro realized that even if he were to secure his freedom now, canceling the engagement would prove challenging without a legal guardian to intervene. As the family meeting continued, delving into matters he was excluded from, Ichiro was finally given permission to leave.
"As if I'm interested in your disgusting plans," Ichiro grumbled as he made his way out of the office, determined to return to his place and navigate the tumultuous situation that had unfolded.
"Brother, are you sure this will work?" Kazuki asked, his worry evident in his voice. He wasn't certain if their latest plan would be successful. Despite numerous attempts to harm Ichiro in the past, all had ended in failure.
"This time, it will surely work. All we need is for them to spend one night, and make sure Omori gets pregnant," Hiroshi replied, a twisted smile playing on his face. He was excited about the prospect of their plan succeeding.
"Can he even make it stand?" Yuta jeered, mocking Ichiro's capacity for adult activities.
"Yuta, you..." Ayami started, clearly annoyed by the distasteful comment. She didn't want to hear such vulgar talk from him.
"Hey, did I say something wrong?" Yuta retorted, looking annoyed at Ayami. He was well aware of her own secret, and this was his way of getting back at her.
"Whatever," Ayami dismissed him, choosing to focus on her phone and searching for gossip.
"Anyways, Satoshi and his children will be coming to stay here soon," Hiroshi announced, holding back from divulging more about the situation.
"Great, another mouth to feed," Tomoko remarked dryly. She wasn't one to care for others or share what she had. Already struggling with their current living expenses, the addition of more people was unwelcome.
"Only the kids are staying; Satoshi will return to the battlefield with his wife," Hiroshi clarified, highlighting the difference in financial stability between their family and Satoshi's. "Moving on, Master Danjuro has said he'll prepare the necessary potion to ensure that Ayami will be able to conceive a child without any problem."
"That's great, brother," Kazuki agreed enthusiastically, envisioning their family's triumphant return to greatness.
"Ayami, make sure to be careful from now on. We can't have anything happen to you, dear," Tomoko advised, reaching out to pat her daughter's head. She eagerly anticipated the day when Ayami would be praised as the mother of a powerful child.
In their twisted plans, once Ayami gave birth to the child, they would assert that it was her child, not Ayami's. The next step in their strategy involved arranging Ayami's marriage to a strong and influential family, one that could elevate their own family status. They hoped that the family they became connected to would agree to their future plans. This included having Ayami's child, conceived within that family, marry her firstborn and continue the cycle of family connections and alliances.
"How sure are we that this will work anyway?" Ayami voiced her skepticism, her discomfort evident. The plan didn't sit well with her, and the prospect of being intimate with her cousin Yuta was particularly repulsive.
"Ayami, your master stated that other families have done it. You have met them as well, haven't you?" Hiroshi calmly explained to his daughter.
Ayami was well aware of the people who were slowly gaining more than two affinities because of such a disgusting method. But she was also conscious of the countless lives lost due to these experiments. The pursuit of power through unethical means had consequences, and Ayami couldn't easily dismiss the toll it took on others.
Hiroshi, unfazed by Ayami's discomfort, replied confidently, "Master Danjuro is a renowned alchemist. His potions have never failed us before. Once the potion is prepared, you and Yuta will need to follow the instructions precisely."
Kazuki chimed in, trying to reassure Ayami, "It's for the family, Ayami. Think about the power and influence our family will gain once we have a child with such potential."
Tomoko added her support, "You're sacrificing for the greater good, Ayami. You should be proud of your contribution to our family's prosperity."
Despite their attempts at reassurance, Ayami couldn't shake off the feeling of discomfort and repulsion at the thought of going through with this plan. The twisted dynamics of her family's ambitions left her feeling trapped and conflicted.
In Ayami's eyes, the situation was far from ideal. The prospect of Yuta being a potential candidate for her was nothing short of a nightmare. She couldn't fathom the idea of being with someone she despised to such an extent. To her, the thought of having a relationship with Ichiro, whom she regarded as a loser, was more bearable than being forced into anything with Yuta. She was so averse to the idea that she would have preferred a servant over Yuta, a testament to the depth of her hatred for him. The circumstances seemed to be pushing her into a corner where all options were undesirable, and Ayami found herself resenting the situation even more.
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