45 Mentor

Hibana Village, the homes for those who were saved from the fall of the Five Principal Clans. It's filled with members and servants, though there's hardly a distinction between them. They're all people in my eyes, and I do my utmost best to make sure that remains. I won't let another cruel social hierarchy crop up like it did before.

It's built deep into the earth, the space held in place by giant roots that crawl along the dome-shaped walls, covering all but the blue crystalline ceiling above. The buildings themselves are a mixture of mystical wood and cement, styled in fanciful houses similar to the ones the nobles of ages past would have lived in.

Those who'd been slaves or servants of the clans were befuddled to be given houses so big, but they got used to it over time.

The whole thing began six months ago. I'd gathered representatives of those that came from the Five Principal Clans, and several more people to represent the servants. It was clear they couldn't stay in Kyoto for much longer, not unless they began incurring both suspicion and malice from some of the Youkai.

Eventually, we decided to build a village. Except it couldn't be any normal village.

If we'd built above ground, there's a chance Kagutsuchi could cause something. The god may lack a physical shell to descend into, but that won't stop him from creating another one eventually. We needed a place that's both hidden from the god's eyes and heavily secured.

I decided to build one underground. Those who'd listened to me had stared like I was insane. I'd just grinned back then.

So, with the help of those from the Nakiri Clan, I helped them carve deep into the earth. Using their magic, they cut meters into the soil and stone. And once we reached a suitable distance, they began carving out a massive space for the village.

Then, once everything was ready, in a show of both force and willingness, I used my control over flora to build the village in a single day. Of course, the village still lacked important infrastructures, but the buildings were there.

That's when it settled in their minds, I think. They'd silently been debating over who would rule this new village. But once they saw that, they decided I was the one to do so.

Now, let me say this: I didn't want to do this. I already had enough issues with Kuoh. I did not want to add even more work onto my plate. Alas, there was little else I could do. I was the impartial party, the one who bore no connection to the politics of the village they came from. And so the job got hoisted into my hands.

Which brings me to today, walking across paved streets, going past homes and shops run by those I helped save. They smile and wave at me and the entourage following me, and I wave back.

As we walk, I turn a quick glance at the crystalline ceiling. It's actually a fairly thick layer of lapis lazuli, infused with Primal Energy, Ki, and Divine Energy. It's acting as a faux sky, glowing bright blue at daytime and turning dimmer when night comes. It's an idea I shamelessly stole from the Devils of the Underworld.

Constructing the ceiling was…painful, and tiresome, and arduous. A couple months of bone-shattering work.

I mean that literally. I don't know how many bones I pulled from my body and ground up to make sure the thing works permanently.

Before long, we make it to one of the taller buildings in the village. It's a pagoda built of wood and stone, painted in gentle reds and greens.

We enter, and immediately my ears are assaulted by various shouts and roars as I come into a room filled with fighting. There are over thirty people inside, all wielding weapons of some kind and sparring with one another. They stop for a moment to salute me when I enter, and they continue sparring after I wave back.

We head to one of the corners of the room, and we walk onto the teleportation array drawn on the carved stone floor. It lights up once we're all standing inside, and in seconds we're suddenly teleported to the floor above.

This one's similar to the one below, with walls of enchanted wood and a floor of smooth stone, but this time it's filled with people pouring over books and scrolls. They're all deep in their own studies. I don't bother having them greet me.

We silently walk to another corner. This time though, only I walk onto the array. Suzaku and the other servants bow, and I wave as I vanish in a blast of light. I reappear on the floor above, and this time the room I come to is vastly different.

Instead of a utilitarian training room, it's a classroom. It has everything, from desks and chairs, to a whiteboard and a case filled with markers. There are even windows on the walls, though they only lead to fake skies built from enchanted lapis lazuli.

And sitting behind one of those desks is Doumon Genbu, dressed in a school uniform. It's a uniquely tailored uniform, strung together from enchanted cloth.

I happen to have appeared right in front of the whiteboard, and the girl immediately stands and bows. "Good evening, Hyoudou-sensei."

I hold back a wince. Even now, it still feels weird to get called that. "Good evening, Doumon-san." I say in return, gesturing to her to sit back down. She does. "I hope you haven't been too lonely." I grimace. "My trip outside had gone on for longer than I first thought."

She shakes her head with a smile. "It's okay, sensei. I can always wait."

I chuckle. "Well then," I smile. "Have you done your homework for today?"

She nods, and she brings her hand forward. And slowly, a ball of mist begins forming over her palm, slowly spinning. It isn't entirely stable; there are tendrils of mist trying to escape the confinement, but it still looks like a sphere of mist.

I grin. "Good job." I say, and she smiles brightly as she pulls her hand back. The ball of mist fades in an instant. "It isn't quite perfect, but I have no doubt you'll gain absolute control sooner or later."

She nods shyly. "Thank you, sensei."

"Now," I take a marker out from the case. "Let's get today's lesson on the way."

She nods once more, and with that, our lesson begins.

It's a harsh course today, filled with complex math, all sorts of science about molecular theory, and various lessons on Human Magic. I have no doubt that many would've gotten lost if this was their first time. But Genbu has gone through courses like this for the past few months; she's quite used to it now.

Now, of course, I can't use Human Magic. I can't control Mana yet, at least not until I find someone capable enough to awaken my own Mana pool. But I don't let that stop me from teaching others.

Because though I can't use Mana, my eyes give me all the knowledge I need. I can teach Genbu all the intricacies there are about Water Magic, about its limits and how to bypass them.

Officially, Genbu is my student, just so I can work around some potential legal issues regarding my connection to the Youkai. I teach her as much as I can, on every subject I think she'll need. Whether it be Math, or Physics, or Magic, or even Philosophy.

Unofficially, she's an…experiment, to put it lightly. I want to see the limits of a normal person. Of just what heights a human can reach if they're given the perfect guidance and tool and every instance. Reports on her progress are noted down in my journal.

Personally, I'm just happy to share some of the knowledge crowding my brain. It's always nice to teach someone, and I'm even happier that Genbu is such a willing student.

Right now, we're trying to get her to master the manipulation of Mist. Her clan may be blessed with water magic, but 'Water' means a lot of things. From liquid water, to mist, to ice, and even to plasma if we're going to really stretch the definition.

She's learning to master controlling mist. And once I'm satisfied with her progress on that, we'll move on to manipulating ice.

I'm also teaching her how to fight, but that's a lesson for another day.

Our course today stretches far past midnight. Today's especially harsh; it's the final leg before she reaches sufficient mastery over mist. I can never know of course, but I had faith that she could do it today.

And just as dawn breaks, she does. The previously chaotic ball of mist she first shows me is now calm, spinning slowly as a perfect globe. The girl's beyond exhausted at this point, the whites of her eyes slightly red from exertion. Still, the smile she sends my way is positively blinding.

So, for once, I decide to forgo our standings and scoop her up into my arms. She yelps slightly, but then stares as I put my hand over her eyes. "Sleep." I say. "You've had a long night. Rest."

She seems a little embarrassed, but she does. And it doesn't take her long before she eventually falls asleep. When she does, I attach an 'Invisibility' Ofuda onto my torso, and I begin making my way out of the building. I walk out without anyone knowing.

And once outside, I take to the skies, leaping off the air itself as I fly towards Genbu's residence. It's one of the smaller houses, built at the edges of the village. She lives alone, this girl, despite many from her clan protesting otherwise.

She hasn't explained why, but I know it's because she likes to be alone. Past her experience with her own parents, something happened within her own clan. I don't know what; I don't feel like prying in too much, but if she wants to live alone, then so she will.

…

Well, no. That's a lie. I know exactly what happened. It's relatively minor compared to what she went through under her father, but it still makes the girl fear.

And as I slip into her room and lay her on her bed, once more I regret not personally killing the rest of her clan myself. I'd been too focused on the Himejima; I hadn't delved too much into the ongoings of the other of the clans.

Oh well. At least now she's peaceful, and I smile slightly as I pat the sleeping girl on the head.

"Aw." I hear someone say. "Your sibling's energy is off the charts."

I chuckle. "That's a good thing, I think. Gives me practice before our new family member comes." I turn around, and I see Akeno standing by the wall. She's dressed in an oriental dress, and there's a slight grin on her face. I smile. "That 'Invisibility' Ofuda you made worked pretty well too."

She huffs. "Didn't stop you from knowing I was here the entire time, though."

I smile and say nothing back.

It's true though. Had it been anyone else, the 'Invisibility' Ofuda Akeno personally drew would've fooled them. But my eyes are superior, and I immediately noticed her faint outline when I entered Genbu's bedroom.

Still, it's impressive that it works so well, considering I had no involvement in the creation of that particular Ofuda.

…I just don't quite like how she made it in the first place.

"Still," I grimace. "Did you really need to use me as your binding agent?"

She shrugs. "I mean, it works with Kanada, and it works with Yasaka, so why shouldn't it work with you?"

I sigh. "You can use your own name."

She grins. "Well, but I'm not as well known as you are, aren't I? You're 'The Heir'. Your influence stretches far past mine."

And that's the crux, isn't it? I've essentially become a pseudo-kami, with my existence allowing others to create Ofuda using my name. It only works with certain people, and only for those who know how strong I really am, but still. The fact that Akeno can use her faith in me to create Ofudas,

Well, such is the power of 'Faith'.

It's kind of unsettling.

I force a smile. "Urgh, don't call me that."

Her grin grows. "Why not, Seicho-sama?"

I actually shiver. That title-, that damned title…! It was just a running joke about my control over flora; why does it have to become an actual title!?

"That's even worse." I bite out, before I sigh. "Ah, whatever. I'm too tired to make a retort right now." I then ask, "You hungry? We have some time before we need to go back."

She winks. "Oh? Are you asking for another date? Right after cheating on me?"

I groan. "Rias and Sona are friends. And this isn't a date." I say once more, though I quickly turn a grin her way right after. "Unless you want it to be?"

She giggles. "Whatever you want, Seicho-sama." I flinch at the title, and she only giggles more. "Well, I'm more than up for some food." She smiles wryly. "I haven't eaten anything in quite a while."

And so we do. We head out from Genbu's home, and buy ourselves several bowls of udon from the nearby noodle stall. It's a fairly small establishment, but I'd say it sells the best noodles in all of Hibana Village.

Normally, I'd have some reservations about eating anything in this village. I'm the leader, and I don't want to sock the poor place with too much attention. Thankfully, this noodle stall is far away from the village center, and the kindly old lady that runs this place is far too humble to speak about us being regulars at her place.

We finish our meal, and before long, we teleport back to Kuoh. Akeno then leaves though, since her excuse is that she's having a sleepover in her friend's house.

Morning comes, and I head down to have breakfast. A simple bowl of milk and cereal.

And then, once I'm fully dressed and ready, I bid my family farewell as I leave for school.