020. After Work, Then Transforming into a Dotting Father (Part One)

After the conversation ended, the family patriarch, Masamune Tachibana, invited Kiyotsugu Toyokawa to select a weapon from the clan’s sacred armory:

“As a worthy son of the eight Tachibana families, how can you not have a proper weapon?”

“It would be a shame to let those long-cherished swords fall into the hands of ordinary people. If they find their way to you, that would be the perfect destiny.”

Kiyotsugu Toyokawa smiled faintly.

“No need. My battle blade shattered on a rainy night long ago, and I haven’t wielded a sword since.”

“It’s better for me to carry a briefcase and business cards when I visit clients. After all, my current position as manager of the Toyokawa Group calls for such weapons in the world of business.”

Masamune laughed heartily. “I knew I wasn’t mistaken about you.”

That same day, Kiyotsugu received all the information regarding this mission, along with alchemical explosives prepared by the family, and a stack of exquisitely crafted business cards.

On them was printed Kiyotsugu Toyokawa’s name, his official title, and his work contact number—just like genuine business cards.

Masamune explained, “These cards are made with a special material so that when you slit an enemy’s throat, the blood won’t soak through.”

“You are an A-grade bloodline recognized by Kassel Academy. It would be a grave disrespect to let the tainted blood of a ‘ghost’ cover you.”

Kiyotsugu meticulously studied all the information provided by the eight Tachibana families. Using techniques taught by a former operations department professor, he deduced that these people were beyond redemption.

Armed with the stack of cards, he eliminated all life within the factory and retrieved what the family required.

Unexpectedly, he encountered Masamune Tachibana once again that day.

Kiyotsugu had assumed that the patriarch, who oversaw the affairs of all eight Tachibana families, was too busy to spend much time with him. The previous long meeting had already been rare.

Yet this time, Masamune himself came to meet him.

Masamune smiled at Kiyotsugu and said, “Truly worthy of being a top student at Kassel Academy, to stand your ground against one of the ghost faction’s masterminds, the ‘Dragon King.’”

“We only recently uncovered changes in the ghost faction’s hierarchy. On the surface, a figure codenamed ‘Ryoma’ handles trivial matters, but in truth, the two most malevolent ghosts still hold the reins behind the scenes.”

“The fact that you forced one of them to act proves not only your strength but also the fear you inspire in the ghost faction.”

Kiyotsugu humbly replied, “That half-blood called ‘Dragon King’ far surpasses my strength. This time, I was merely lucky to escape.”

Nonetheless, the patriarch recognized his ability and praised him highly in front of Kiyotsugu’s father-in-law, Teiji Toyokawa, the nominal head of the Toyokawa Group.

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Kiyotsugu felt as if he were living in a dream these past few days.

He remembered when his wife, Mizuho, was still alive, and their daughter, Sachiko, was still young.

Despite graduating from Kassel Academy, he had been harshly scolded by his father-in-law, Teiji Toyokawa:

“If this continues, forget the company—I won’t even trust you with my granddaughter.”

But recently, everything seemed to have changed. Since catching the patriarch’s attention, the Toyokawa Group treated him better and promoted him several ranks in quick succession.

Even Teiji, who had long looked down on him, had grown cordial and occasionally chatted about Sachiko’s studies.

Kiyotsugu had initially thought this was just a stroke of luck following the dark accident that had plunged him into despair after graduating Kassel.

Yet, deep down, a feeling warned him that he was being drawn once again into a world he wished to avoid—a world that stirred an unspeakable vortex.

At that moment, Kiyotsugu reached the second floor and noticed the side room still brightly lit.

He paused, calling softly, “Little Sachiko, aren’t you asleep yet?”

“Father, you’re back,” Sachiko Toyokawa came running out from the room.

“I just finished playing the piano and haven’t had time to wash up.”

“Oh,” Kiyotsugu gently stroked his daughter’s hair, “How was school today?”

“Not bad, I guess,” Sachiko thought for a moment. “A new transfer student joined our class.”

“He seems to get along well with Wakaba Mutsumi and is quite good academically.”

“That’s good—try to interact with him more,” Kiyotsugu encouraged. “Is he part of that batch of male transfer students the school board mentioned?”

“Yes,” Sachiko nodded.

“Oh, that’s fine.”

Kiyotsugu saw no issue with Tsukinomori Girls’ Academy admitting a few male transfer students.

When he attended Kassel Academy, he had even been a member of the student council.

He had gotten through that, so having more boys at school was no big deal.

Smiling, he said to his daughter, “Father was busy today, handling some errands outside, which is why I came home late.”

“Thank you, Father,” Sachiko said, blinking her eyes.

Kiyotsugu glanced at her golden eyes and inexplicably saw a reflection of his wife, Mizuho.

Like him, Mizuho had at least an A-grade bloodline according to Kassel Academy’s standards.

However, her bloodline was somewhat unstable, and she had little contact with the outside world until she met him, fell in love, and married him.

Kiyotsugu had married into the Toyokawa family, dismissing the academy’s rule requiring high-level half-bloods to apply for marriage permission.

They had a daughter, Sachiko Toyokawa.

He had thought his life would finally settle, and he would no longer be involved in the conflicts among half-bloods.

Until that day, when he saw his daughter’s pupils turn golden and never revert.

He sighed inwardly, striving to mask his emotions from Sachiko.

He had always worried that unions between high-level half-bloods might result in offspring with overly concentrated dragon blood.

At best, the bloodline might be somewhat unstable; at worst, the child could degenerate into a ‘ghost’ or even a death servant.

Kiyotsugu felt a pang of guilt.

Now, all he wished was for his daughter to live a peaceful life, free from tragedy.

Most half-bloods among the eight Tachibana families are trained from a young age once their bloodline talents are detected.

Though Sachiko’s golden eyes lacked the distinctive aura typical of half-bloods, she was the product of two A-grade bloodlines; her lineage naturally held a high rank.

Still, Kiyotsugu chose to send his daughter to a traditional school.

After careful selection with Mizuho, they settled on Tsukinomori Girls’ Academy, an integrated twelve-year institution.

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End of pages 1 to 3.