15 Chapter 15 Information And Knowledge

"All you want to know is my name?".

An expression of disbelief could be seen on the girl's face. To her, it might've just seemed easier to ask it at the beginning instead of going through the whole process about "hypothetical questions" and "ulterior motives".

However, to put it in modern terms, it did "break the ice".

I nodded.

"For a start".

To be perfectly honest, it was only now that I was sure of the flow of the conversation. I had captured this girl's curiosity, as well as her attention.

The techniques for picking up girls, or even just trying to chat with them was a pretty revolutionary idea in wuxia worlds, something that was never exploited by main characters or reincarnated individuals.

Most of the time it was just a situation where the main character and his love interest were forced into a situation together, in which the only way to get out alive was to work with each other. From that, feelings of dependence and trust bloomed and a relationship slowly formed.

..... Not to say that it wasn't effective, it was just that I didn't have a dangerous situation just lying around me to use, now did I?

The girl put down her glass of wine on the table beside her and extended her hand towards mine.

I noticed that it wasn't for a handshake, but rather a medieval form of greeting.

I smiled before taking the hand and kissing her just below her knuckles.

"My name is Yu Ning'er. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?".

I shrugged before taking her glass of wine and sipping on it without a care in the world. Despite the fact that she herself hadn't drunk from it, she turned a little red in the face at the rather abrupt act.

"I'm Rentaro. Jinsei Rentaro. But please, just call me Ren".

Yu Ning'er showed a confused expression, before suddenly nodding and showed a showed a small smile.

..... I think she recognised my name, I thought.

"Well then "Ren". If you don't have the same thoughts as the rest of the males present, then what do you want from me? I can't imagine my company being more pleasant than Tohsaka Rin's".

I rolled my eyes at the sudden jab. Even if I'd like to publicly state that as our actual relationship, doing that would probably make Rin give me the silent treatment. As cute as it would be, that couldn't happen. For the time being at least.

"Rin and I..... have a complicated relationship. I won't bore you with the details, but I assure you, your company is by no means less pleasant than hers".

I flashed a smile, receiving a healthy flush of pink to Yu Ning'er's cheeks.

My gaze became slightly more focused, although my tone started to change as the information probe started.

"Considering that this gathering is a time and place where the new disciples introduce themselves to each other, would you like to play a little game in order to spice up the conversation? Nothing to extreme, I promise".

Twenty questions was a great way to both spike someone's curiosity as well as tell someone about themselves. Depending on the questions asked, as well as how they were asked, one might get more than the information they were looking for, or potentially less.

"It's pretty simple. I ask question, then you ask a question. Try to be honest, or at least try to maintain some semblance of objectivity. Otherwise, I can't guarantee my questions will be so easily answered".

Yu Ning'er raised an eyebrow as she picked up another glass of wine. Her expressions made her look aloof, if slightly timid in front of me, but her eyes betrayed her curiosity.

She was amused. Or having fun. Or interested. Something along those lines.

At any rate, I had hooked the fish. All I needed to do was reel her in.

..... Man these metaphors were not making me look like any less of a predator.

I opened my mouth, but Yu Ning'er spoke first.

"Where are you from?".

"Japan".

I quickly responded. The sudden response, and the completely foreign location seemed to cause Yu Ning'er to tilt her head to the side in confusion.

"I've never heard of Japan before. Is it near the Crimson Sun Kingdom?".

I could tell that her curiosity had completely taken over at this point. She didn't even realise it.

I shook my head.

"No its not. But that's two questions Miss Yu. That means that I get to ask two in a row as well".

Yu Ning'er blinked, before frowning and opening her mouth to speak, but found that no words could come out. Eventually, she just sipped on the glass of wine and pouted slightly.

It was almost painful how easy this was.

"For my first question..... I'd like to know, how you came to the Heavenly Spring Sect?".

The broadness of the question seemed to cause Yu Ning'er to blink a couple times before responding.

"Really? You want to know that of all things?".

I shrugged once more.

"I'd like to get to know you better. There is a guaranteed chance of getting to know someone better after hearing about their past. I hope that doesn't bother you, Miss Yu".

The girl shook her head dismissively before letting out a deep breath and starting from the beginning.

It was a relatively interesting tale about her life back at her Clan, the Yu Clan, where she, the adopted daughter of the Clan Leader had been sent to the Heavenly Spring Sect in order to get her away from Clan Politics.

As non-blood related member, she would never hold an actual position in the Yu Clan unless she exceeded the Void Transformation Stage. Considering that she didn't want to become the Leader or even an Elder in the Yu Clan, she picked a Sect as far away as possible from the Yu Clan in order to try and make a name for herself.

In the event that she wanted to come home, she was always welcome considering that it wasn't like anyone hated her or anything, but she didn't feel any sort of connection to anyone other than her foster father.

After that, came a 6 month long journey from the Eastern Coast of the Green River Continent, all the was to the Western Side where the Heavenly Spring Sect was located.

It was a gruelling journey, one which expanded her world view greatly and which allowed her to truly see what "humanity" was capable of.

..... She went silent after mentioning that.

My expression became solemn.

"I see. Did you ever find out if that child found her mother?".

I didn't matter if I used my second question. Considering the situation, it seemed appropriate.

Yu Ning'er shook her head.

"As far as I'm still aware she still works in that place. Her mother, still waiting for her daughter to come home.....".

I bit my lower lip. Even if I was trying to focus on the new pieces of information Ning'er had given me, I had to take a moment to move the focus of the conversation.

"You've had quite the 6 months, haven't you Miss Yu? I can't say I've personally experiencing something similar, but I do know quite a few people who have".

"Really? You know girls that have been forced into such situations?".

I nodded.

"Two sadly. Both since they were children. Both were bought like slaves and similarly treated as such. One of them, an older twin sister whom tried to protect her younger twin sister from harm, and another younger girl, whom was sold by her father to a..... less than reputable family. I also know her older sister quite well. And she doesn't know of her younger sisters plight".

Yu Ning'er frowned at me, before nudging me on the shoulder.

"Why didn't you tell her? It's her own sister for god's sake!".

I shook my head, showing a sought of self-depreciating smile. I was pretty sure that Rin didn't know what happened to Sakura after she was given to the Matou. I wasn't sure what to say actually, but was glad I didn't say anything because-.

"Wow! Is she one of the new disciples?".

I heard a small whisper, echo throughout the room. Various mutterings and chats came to a halt as a certain black haired girl strutted into the room.

My mouth dropped the moment I saw her.

A mixture of shock and realisation rose up on my face.

The girl in question walked silently into the pavilion, her demeanour calm and tranquil, despite being unmistakably feminine. The girl's posture, walking speed, facial expressions, and even her very breathing pattern all screamed otherworldly.

Her long, silky black lock reached all the way passed her knees, swaying mystically in the warm summer night breeze. Blue eyes, that seemed more beautiful than any sort of precious gem or heavenly jewel glanced throughout the audience, passing over several hundred people before landing on me.

She smiled and caused dozens of mouths to drop all at the same time.

There was something ephemeral about her. Something transient that made you want to hold onto her beauty, lest if fades away in an instantly, appearing nothing more than a dream you didn't want to wake up from.

There were no crinkles in her flower pattern kimono. No loose strings of hair waving in her face. No sort of restrictions coming from the several layers of clothing she was wearing.

Nothing but perfection. Almost as if a goddess were standing right in front of me.

A goddess, that didn't want to be summoned without some sort of meaning or purpose behind it. After all, she was somebody that shouldn't be summoned. That normally couldn't be summoned.

She opened her mouth, letting the hundreds of people around her hear her heavenly sounding voice.

"Saber-Class Servant, Ryougi Shiki has answered to your summon..... I ask of you, are you my Master?".