The Bounty Hunter
Chapter 56: An Unexpected Engagement

March 2nd, 2089

Apparently, I have been promised in marriage to Hikari.  It was her father who had first brought up this proposal a few weeks ago and my parents had accepted it after some consideration.  They were concerned about how I isolate myself from people.  The only two friends that I have are Reiji and Hikari after all.  My parents had been concerned that I would never fall in love and would be alone my entire life.  In addition, my mother was extremely fond of Hikari and had always hoped that the two of us would become a couple.  

Objectively speaking Hikari and I were as great a match as could be.  Our families like each other a lot, our fathers have business that would merge together really well, and we are already very close with each other.  Nevertheless, I was going to reject it immediately, but before I could say anything my parents told me to first talk with Hikari and only if both of us agreed to it would they respect our wishes and break it off.  So I have promptly gone over to Hikari to get some answers. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFirᴇ.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Hikari’s POV

Yes! My plan has worked!  Minato’s parents finally accepted the marriage proposal!  Now that we’re betrothed to each other I don’t have to worry about any bugs around him nor do I have to worry about getting married off before I win his heart!  All I have to do now is get Minato to fall for me!  The order of these events may be backwards but I don’t care!  But before I could even finish celebrating I found out that Minato was here to see me. 

*Shiver* He must have just heard about the arranged marriage.  AHHHHH!!!! What do I do?  Should I take this chance to confess?  But what if he rejects me?  I already have some excuses so he doesn’t try to break off the engagement, but that’s dependent on him not finding out that I was one the one who asked Father to do this.  What do I do?  What do I do?  What do I— “Hello Hikari.”  KYAAAA!!! 

Minato has appeared in front of me, as dangerously handsome as ever.  I think he may have become even more attractive recently, which right now is making it harder to focus.  “Hi M-Minato.”  “Did you know about this marriage arrangement between our parents?”  “N-no, I just heard about it now.”  “I see.  So if it was done without your knowledge as well, let’s get them to break it off.”  “NO!”  Oops, my response was a little too heated.  Minato is looking at me strangely, I have to use my excuse here. 

“Please Minato, let’s keep it for now.”  “Why?”  “I am concerned about Shirou-kun.”  Minato made an expression of understanding as he got the meaning of my words.  “Ah, you’re worried he might try and get his family to arrange a marriage with yours.”  “Yes, but he can’t do that if I am already spoken for.  So please Minato, let’s just keep it for now.  We just need to tell people we’re engaged and that’s it.” 

Minato gave a brief moment’s thought about it and then nodded “Okay, Hikari.”  He left immediately after, leaving me alone with my thoughts.  *Sigh* I didn’t have the courage to tell him the truth.  I’ll have to do my best to win his heart and then confess when the time is right.  If that doesn’t work…*Blush* I’ll s-s,seduce him and then force him to take responsibility.  It’s a despicable last resort, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make Minato mine.

Terra’s POV

I left Hikari’s with a better understanding of the situation.  This arranged marriage will be convenient for me as well by warding off all the girls at school.  I left to go see Kira and Veronica for our daily excursion and to explain to them the situation with Hikari.  In the other world there are binding ceremonies instead of marriages. 

Those are modest events and simply involve a Bound One blessing us and symbolically binding us together with the Chain of Blood.  At that point onwards we are considered spouses.  Before leaving the other world I had done those ceremonies with Kira and Veronica, much to their delight.  In order for them not too feel locked up while they study I have taken the liberty of showing them around Earth.  Teleportation is truly a convenient magic. 

Currently, we are in the Great Plains in the heart of the US.  We are sparring, like we have done every day since they came to my world.  I’ve used these spars to fully evaluate my augmentation and my conclusion is that I am an absolute beast.  Both Kira and Veronica are fully armed and are staring me down as they prepare to attack. 

I have no equipment on and will only be using my martial arts without any magical assistance.  Kira lunged forward at a breakneck speed while Veronica started blasting away covering fire with her repeating crossbow.  To my eyes however, it seemed like they were going in slow motion.  I casually dodged most of the bolts with a show of breathtaking flexibility while allowing a few to hit me.  The bolts exploded on contact, but as the smoke cleared I stood there unaffected. 

Kira closed the distance and struck with her butterfly swords, but I easily parried her swords with my bare hands.  The few small cuts they left behind started to naturally heal and by the time Kira regained her balance I was already as good as new.  Her swords started to glow as she activated their magic.  The swords became longer and more whip-like as she continued her frenetic assault and it felt like they were alive. 

The blades twisted, lengthened and contracted as they tried to strike at my vitals.  However, I was still able to predict their erratic movements and avoid them with ease.  I soon caught her swords between my fingers and no matter how hard she tried she couldn’t move them.  I then gave her a gentle push while she was struggling to pull free.  Kira flew back dozens of feet before gracefully twisting in the air to land on her feet.  How very catlike. 

I calmly turned my head to the side to avoid Veronica’s estoc as it stabbed at my head from behind.  My senses alerted me to her long before she attempted her surprise attack.  Veronica didn’t falter and sent a flurry of thrusts towards me.  Her elegant footwork made it seem like she was dancing as she tried to riddle me with holes.  I parried her blade with my hands as I waited for an opening. 

The blade started glowing as Veronica turned its magic on and dodging suddenly became much more difficult.  Every time she stabbed a small portal appeared in front of her blade.  A linked portal would appear somewhere else around me and as her sword went into the portal it exited out of the other one.  The blade of the estoc started coming from every angle and became near impossible to dodge.  To counter this, I stomped on the ground lightly, creating a crater around me and causing Veronica to lose her footing. 

I then gently tossed her away as Kira started flinging throwing knives that were vibrating at high frequencies.  They could easily tear through steel and even as I dodged them they flew back towards Kira like boomerangs.  Veronica recovered and now joined Kira in her ranged assault.  It looks like it’s time for me to go on the offensive.  I swung my arm at full strength, causing a fierce non-magical wind to knock Veronica and Kira over.  My body flickered for a moment and then I was on top of the two, ready to strike.

“Is the record now 17-0 in my favor?” I asked teasingly as my two girls stood back up panting and sweating profusely from their exertion.  My breathing hadn’t changed at all, nor did I have a single drop of sweat.  “Hmph, it won’t last forever!  I’ll win eventually!”  Kira said with a voice full of fighting spirit.  Veronica nodded in agreement “Yeah.”  Both of them would be considered top-caliber fighters in the other world in both pure physical ability and technique. 

I would not have been able to beat them unarmed before my augmentation, but now they are at a severe disadvantage.  I am not at the level of a cheat yet, but I must say I am starting to become rather powerful.  *Sigh* And again I ask myself why I couldn’t have had this almost cheat these past 3 years while working as a bounty hunter.  “Anyways, it’s time to head back.” “Already?”  I nodded to them “Yeah, I need to finally go back to the other world to tie up loose ends.”  I embraced the two of them before we vanished from the plains.

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