Bofuri (The Strongest Shield Of Tensura)

Kaede once again found herself in her meeting chamber, this time alone, as Edward entered through the door accompanied by an unfamiliar group.

There were four of them, and Kaede's keen eyes immediately assessed their features.

At the forefront stood a tall, orange-haired woman with a sturdy, muscular build. She wore thick brown clothes suited for labor, and her height, nearly six feet, gave her an imposing presence. The three individuals behind her appeared much younger, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"Edward, welcome back," Kaede said, her gaze shifting between him and his companions. "I trust your task was eventful."

Edward dropped to one knee in a gesture of respect. "Yes, Lady Kaede. I was successful in my search and found a blacksmith willing to teach their craft. This is Mrs. Chibari," he gestured to the tall woman, "and she has agreed to join us."

Kaede's expression remained composed as she studied Chibari. "How did they perform?" she asked, her voice steady and expectant.

Chibari responded with a grin, wide and toothy, almost feral. "I've never seen anything like it," she said, shaking her head in disbelief. "They soaked up everything I taught like a damn sponge. Never get tired, never lose focus, and they work in perfect coordination. Not once did they repeat the same mistake. I don't know how you did it, but you've got yourself what might just be the best subordinates I've ever seen." She paused, her grin fading slightly. "They don't socialize much, though. You might wanna work on that."

Kaede considered her words for a moment before speaking again. "And you... don't mind what they are?"

Chibari met Kaede's gaze without hesitation. "Doesn't bother me one bit," she said with a shrug. "I work with skill, not appearances. If they can forge a blade better than the dwarves, I don't care if they're ants, lizards, or spirits. Talent's talent."

Kaede nodded. "And you're here because?"

Chibari crossed her arms. "Didn't pretty boy over here already tell you? I want to move to your city."

Kaede leaned forward, her expression serious. "That much is obvious. I want to know why."

The room grew tense, the air thick with an unspoken pressure. Chibari's grin faded as she sensed the shift. Realizing the weight of her next words, she dropped to one knee without hesitation. The younger ones behind her protested, their voices laced with concern. "Ma'a!" they called, but Chibari silenced them with a raised hand.

"I..." she took a deep breath. "I saw an opportunity to finally leave Dwargon, and I took it."

Kaede's sharp gaze darkened with doubt, and Chibari noticed. She quickly continued. "Now, don't get me wrong. I love my country. Dwargon means everything to me, and I'd die for it if I had to. But even so... I chose to leave."

She sighed, her voice laced with the weight of years gone by. "As a dwarf, I spent my entire life blacksmithing. It's all I've ever known. But there was a time I wanted more. I became an adventurer, saw the world, and eventually fell in love. My husband and I moved back to Dwargon, he joined the army, and I returned to the forge. Life was good... until the war took him from me."

Her hands clenched into fists. "After that, everything started falling apart. I had to raise my kids alone, which meant less time at the forge, less money coming in. I managed with the occasional orders, but it was never enough."

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Then Vester became prime minister. That bastard raised taxes on blacksmiths just because of his grudge against old Kaijin. My husband was close to Kaijin, so watching him get treated like dirt, it pissed me off. And thanks to Vester's so-called 'reforms,' I was on the verge of losing my blacksmithing license."

She glanced over her shoulder at her children. "My kids may look tough, but they've never set foot outside Dwargon. I was too afraid... and too drunk to prepare them for the real world. But they're my kids, and damn good artisans at that."

Finally, Chibari met Kaede's eyes, her gaze unwavering. "Lady Kaede, Dwargon is my home, but I have no future there. When I saw your girls, I didn't see monsters. I saw a rising power. One that's going to shake this world. As an adventurer, I don't fear the unknown. I want in."

Kaede maintained the tense atmosphere as her gaze shifted to Chibari's so-called children.

The tallest of the trio was a young man with brown hair, a solid, muscular build, and tanned skin that spoke of years spent in the forge. His expression was stoic, his posture disciplined.

Beside him stood the other two, nearly identical in height and features, twins, Kaede surmised. The girl had short brown hair and a physique that matched her mother's, her red goggles resting atop her forehead. Her twin brother, with vibrant orange hair like their mother, wore blue goggles in a similar fashion. Their expressions were serious, yet there was a spark of curiosity in their eyes as they studied Kaede in return.

Kaede's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer before she finally spoke. "You had no way of knowing whether we would be hostile. You might have just walked straight into enemy territory... and you even brought your family with you."

Chibari swallowed hard as Kaede's expression darkened, a flicker of doubt crossing her mind. Did I make a mistake?

Kaede rose from her seat, and for a brief moment, it felt as if the room itself had shrunk under the weight of her presence. The dwarves stiffened instinctively, a primal sense of caution gripping them as Kaede approached. With each step, the pressure in the chamber grew, her narrowed eyes drilling into Chibari.

"That was reckless," Kaede said, her voice sharp but not unkind. "Don't put your family in unnecessary danger just because of a hunch."

The oppressive tension dissipated in an instant, replaced by a scolding yet concerned tone that caught Chibari off guard. The larger woman exhaled, nodding as she scratched the back of her head. "Yeah... I suppose it was a bit reckless."

Kaede sighed and crossed her arms. "Reckless doesn't begin to cover it. You're lucky we're not what you feared we might be."

Kaede's expression softened into a gentle smile. "That said, Chibari, I would be happy to have you in my city."

Stepping forward, she placed a reassuring hand on the older woman's head, stroking her hair with the tenderness of a mother comforting a child.

From Chibari's perspective, the room seemed to brighten, the oppressive atmosphere lifting. When Kaede extended a hand toward her, an overwhelming warmth filled Chibari's chest, a long-forgotten feeling she hadn't realized she missed.

Tears threatened to spill from her eyes as she gazed up at Kaede, who, in that moment, appeared to her like a beacon of golden light, offering hope and a new beginning.

Chibari blinked rapidly, struggling to compose herself as Kaede's gentle touch lingered for a moment before the young ruler withdrew her hand. The tension that had weighed down on her shoulders slowly lifted, replaced by a cautious sense of relief.

Behind her, the twins had no such reservations.

"YES!" the girl, Kira, practically shouted, pumping her fists in the air.

Her twin brother, Kegan, was just as enthusiastic, bouncing on the balls of his feet. "I can't believe it! We're gonna work with the ants! This is so awesome!" He turned to one of the guards standing near the doorway, pointing excitedly. "Hey, do you guys actually eat metal? Or was that just a rumor?"

The Antari guard, clad in polished chitin armor, blinked in surprise at the sudden outburst but remained silent, his posture unshaken by the energetic dwarves.

Kaede, observing the scene with a faint smile, glanced at the eldest sibling. Unlike the twins, he stood with his arms crossed, his expression a careful mask of seriousness. He bowed respectfully. "Lady Kaede, I am Kain, eldest son of Chibari. Thank you for granting us this opportunity. I assure you, we will not disappoint."

Kaede studied him for a moment, noting the rigid tension in his stance and the weight of responsibility that rested on his shoulders. He was clearly the pillar of the family, the one who bore the burden of keeping everything together.

"Kain," she said softly, "you don't need to carry everything on your own. You have your family. Let them support you, and let us support you as well."

Kain's eyes widened slightly before he quickly bowed again, his voice steady. "Understood, Lady Kaede."

Meanwhile, Kira and Kegan were already fawning over the Antari, peppering them with questions at a rapid pace.

"Do you really work day and night without breaks?"

"How strong are you guys compared to dwarves?"

"Can you show us your forging process? I heard it's super precise! Ma'a won't let us see when when those other ants worked."

Edward coughed lightly into his hand, stepping forward to rein in the energetic twins. "Apologies, Lady Kaede. They're... eager."

Kaede chuckled softly. "I can see that." She shifted her gaze back to Chibari, whose expression was a mix of fond exasperation and pride. "Your children will do well here. They'll have ample opportunity to learn and grow."

Chibari nodded, smiling for the first time since entering the room. "Thank you, Lady Kaede. I won't let you down."

Kaede gestured to one of her attendants standing nearby, because that was something she had now. "Prepare accommodations for our new guests. Make sure they have everything they need to settle in."

"As you command, my lady," the attendant replied with a respectful bow before swiftly exiting the chamber.

As the conversation began to wind down, Kaede's expression grew thoughtful. "Now, Chibari," she said, stepping back toward her seat, "let's discuss the future. Your skills and knowledge will be invaluable in shaping our city's industry. Are you ready to take on that challenge?"

Chibari grinned, her earlier nerves replaced by a spark of excitement. "More than ready, Lady Kaede. Show me your forges, and let's make some history."

Kaede nodded, pleased with the answer. "Then let's get started."

With that, the meeting came to a close, and the group left the chamber. Kira and Kegan's excited chatter echoed down the halls, while Kain silently followed behind, his mind already working through the logistics of their new life.

Kaede watched them go, her gaze lingering on the retreating forms. "Edward," she said quietly.

Edward turned, attentive. "Yes, Lady Kaede?"

"Good job." she said softly. "I don't know how you did it... But good job."

Edward nodded. "Understood."

Kaede leaned back in her chair, her gaze sweeping across the chamber. "With this, our work here in this part of Jura is complete," she said thoughtfully. After a brief pause, she added, "It's time to leave the alcove."