Ari shot to her feet, her blue eyes fshing with indignation. "Mother! You ’t be serious! Me and… this insufferable brat?" She gestured sharply toward Momiji, who looked just as flustered.

  Kaede sipped from her cup, suppressing an amused smile. 'Aren’t you just over a year old yourself?'

  Momiji, her face as red as a ripe tomato, turo her mother in protest. "M-M-Mother! What are you talking about?! You ’t just decide something like that for me! Besides..." she poi Ari, her expression exasperated. "’t you see she’s a girl?"

  Kaede(T) chuckled, gracefully c the lower half of her face with her sleeve. "And I don’t see the problem. In my long life, I’ve seen many unions. As long as you are itted to your spouse…"

  "Ahhh! But Moooom!" Momiji wailed, lunging forward to grab her mother, only to be effortlessly kept at arm’s length with a single fluid motion. "You ’t just do that!"

  Kaede(T) remained perfectly posed. "Like I said, I will agree to all of your proposals, and the Tengu will bee affiliated with your nation. But only on that sole dition."

  Ari visibly paled, while Kaede chuckled softly, clearly enjoying the situation. Acer smirked, feeling mischievous while the you sister simply smiled.

  Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Momiji straightened. "Mother, it’s all well and good that you think she’s a suitable suitor for me," she said, sneaking a g Ari, who looked as if she might pass out. "I mean… I see why. She’s very strong. But even so…"

  Momiji’s expression suddenly hardened with determination.

  "I haven’t approved of her yet."

  Kaede and Ari blinked in unison, both equally baffled by the statement.

  "Really?" Kaede(T) tilted her head, intrigued.

  "I admit she’s strong," Momiji tinued, crossing her arms. "But I don’t wao be with me just because you said so. I wao fall in love with me first! Then we get married!" she decred boldly.

  'What the hell is this bitch talking about?!' Ari’s right eye twitched violently at the absurdity of the versation.

  Momiji ched her fists, vi burning in her gaze. "A good woman makes her man-err, woman-fall in love with her every day! That’s what you always say, right?!" With that, she turned on her heel and bolted out of the room, her long sleeves fluttering behind her.

  The remaining three octs sat in stunned silence, watg her dramatic exit.

  Ari’s eye twitched again before she finally exploded. "What the hell?! Why’s she talking like it’s a done deal or something?! Mom, why aren’t you saying anything?!"

  Kaede finally finished her drink, setting the pte down with a soft cck. "I’m assuming there’s a story here."

  Kaede(T) smiled knowingly. "Indeed. You’re far more perceptive than I gave you credit for."

  Sensing that the versation was about to turn serious, Ari exhaled sharply before sinking bato her seat.

  Kaede(T) then began to speak, retiory, the years spent training under her master, the bond she had shared with her fre servant, the path that had led to their union, and ultimately, how she had e to have Momiji.

  When she finally finished, she turned her gaze to Ari, her expression calm yet expet.

  Kaede houghtfully. "I think I uand."

  Kaede(T) smiled. "She’s grown strong, but she’s only fifteen. With your try at our doorstep, I saportunity for her. So," she asked again, "what do you think of my daughter?"

  Kaede, despite being an imposing figure herself, somehow made herself shrink ever so slightly as she g her own daughters, who, teically, weren't even two years old yet.

  Feeling the weight of the versation shift onto her, Ari flinched. "W-Well... I won’t deny that she l-looks... C-Cute..." she muttered hesitantly, her voice growing quieter with each word. "B-But she’s a brat. Prideful and way too snarky for her own good!"

  Acer let out a quiet cough. "Ah. The irony."

  Ari snapped her gaze toward her sister. "What was that, Sister?"

  "Nothing, nothing." Acer quickly poured herself another drink, hiding her smirk behind the rim of her cup.

  Ari turned back toward Kaede(T), her fingers fidgeting slightly. "And… just like she said, I’d o get to know her first. And... You know… make her fall in love with me first," she admitted, her voice trailing off as her face turned a deeper shade of red.

  Kaede eyed her daughter curiously. "So… you’re fih it? All you need is time?"

  Ari recoiled instantly. "W-WHAT? No, no, no... Y-YES! Maybe? Just, Aaaagh!" Uo hahe mounting embarrassment, she bolted from the room, steam practically rising from her head.

  Acer chuckled. "We'll go che her." She said before following after Ari. Hanae nodded before doing the same.

  Now left alone, Kaede and Kaede(T) calmly sipped their drinks, watg the Antari flee in exasperation.

  Kaede chuckled softly. "Definitely an iing dition."

  Kaede(T) chuckled softly. "So, what are your thoughts?"

  Kaede sighed, setting down her cup with a small k. "They grow up so fast," she said with a wry smile. 'Seriously, they grow way too fast. And now we’re already talking about marriage?'

  She shook her head before adding, "But it’s her choice. Whatever she decides, my job is to support her."

  "As is the job of all mothers," Kaede(T) agreed, rising from her seat. She moved gracefully toward the baly, her gaze distant.

  Kaede watched her for a moment before standing as well. "What’s the real reason you wao see me?" she asked, following the older Tengu outside.

  Kaede(T) didn’t turn, instead keeping her eyes fixed ahead. "So… you don’t se?"

  Kaede frowned. "Sense what?"

  Now standing beside her, she noticed the baly overlooked a breathtaking view of the waterfall. Mist from the casg water filled the air, cool and refreshing.

  Kaede(T) finally spoke, her voice calm yet carrying a weight of history. "Lady Kaede… do you know how the Tengu came to be?" Her gaze remained locked onto the falling water as if the answer y hidden within its depths.

  Kaede furrowed her brow in thought for a moment. "I… have an idea." Then, realization dawned on her face. "So that's what you meant when you told Ari you sensed something simir."

  Kaede(T) smiled warmly. "Yes. Your essence… Even now, it surrounds you, somehow purer than my own." She extended her hand toward Kaede.

  Kaede hesitated, uainty flickering in her eyes. Artificia?

  < I deteo hostile i. >

  Taking a deep breath, Kaede reached out and grasped the older Tengu’s hand.

  The world around her fshed white.

  ---

  Ari and her sisters burst bato the room, her expression frantic. "Mother! Are you alright? There was a fsh of..." She froze mid-sentence, eyes widening in shock.

  Momiji hurried in after her. "Mom, what happened..." She, too, fell silent, her jaw dropping.

  Standing beside the eldest of the Tengu was a breathtaking figure—a blonde woman with pure, rge white wings, stark blue eyes, and a radiant golden halo floating above her head.

  Ari's voice came out as a whisper. "Mother…"

  Momiji could only stare in awe. "How…?"

  Kaede remaiill for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle. "Ah, so this is what you meant after all." She flexed her wings once, sending a gentle gust of wind flowing through the eengu vilge.

  "Mother, you're... The Tengu Elder was right? You're... an Angel," Ari whispered in disbelief.

  Hanae suddenly dropped to her knees, hands csped against her chest. "Such magnifice..." she murmured, eyes wide with reverence.

  Kaede(T) took a sharp breath, her usually posed expression faltering. For a brief moment, the tips of her white hair flushed red before fading back to their inal color. "To think... My strength just now. I thought I had seehing, but this...?" Her voice trailed off, filled with awe.

  This was the effect of Kaede’s ultimate skill:

  || Guanyin: Lord of Mercy ||

  ? Loving Sacrifice – Allies within range, tered on the caster, are always uhe defensive subskill [Cover]'s effects.

  ? Aegis – A dome of light surrounds the user and her allies, rendering all attacks iive against them.

  ? Self- Love – As long as allies remain within the circle of prote, all damage aive effects directed at them are transferred to the user instead.

  ? Presence of the Heavenly King – Creates a sacred zone around the user. All skills inating from 'evil' sources within its range, including those of the user, are disabled.

  ? Glow of Deliverance – Increases resistao status effects for allies within range, reduces damage taken, and applies a tinuous healing effect over time.

  ? Apotheosis – Seraphim – By maing divine essehe user transds mortal limitations, asding into the form of an Argel. This transformation grants immense power, drastically enhang all attributes and unlog unique divine abilities.

  Effects:

  Angeli – The user takes on the radiant form of an Argel, adorned with golden wings, a halo, and a divine aura.

  Stat Enha – Increases all attributes by 500%.

  Divihority – Grants resistao all status effects and curses below Mythical rank.

  Heion – Restores 30% HP & MP per sed while active.

  Seraphic Wrath – Unleashes a devastating holy attack that deals true damage based on the user’s Magicules.

  Across the eengu vilge, flowers bloomed in full radiaheir petals shimmering with newfound vitality. The air felt lighter, fresher, as if infused with pure divine energy. Birds and animals stirred with renewed vigor, their instincts reizing the presence of a higher being. Life itself seemed to flourish.

  Kaede chuckled, folding her glowing wings slightly. “It seems yic reacted with one of my skills.”

  Kaede(T) was dumbfounded. "A... A skill? But something like that... Such a skill would have to be..." She g Kaede, her eyes silently asking the unspokeion.

  Kaede nodded. "It is as you suspect."

  Kaede(T) stumbled back, her eyes widening with realization. 'Is this what happens when an angel inates in a human? No, her essence is still different from those of my kind. Just... what is she?'

  Acer stepped forward, her expression filled with admiration. "Mother, you look beautiful. Nothing in this world pare." She closed her eyes in bliss as Kaede gently patted her head.

  Kaede looked over and was surprised to see Hanae leaning slightly, as if expeg the same treatment. With a soft chuckle, Kaede pced her hand on Hanae’s head, rubbing it affeately.

  Kaede then noticed that several Tengu had arrived, silently the exge with curiosity.

  Turning to Kaede(T), she extended her hand with a knowing smile. "Kaede, how about it?"

  Kaede(T), seeming to uand the unspoken invitation, wore a pained expression. "I... I made my peace with it many years ago."

  Kaede smiled warmly. "And? Don’t you want to see how far your daughter go? This way, you won’t have to leave her behiually."

  Momiji, uanding the i behind Kaede's words, started nodding vigorously. "om, please!"

  Kaede(T) turo her daughter, her gaze softening. "Does this mean you accept yagement with Ari?"

  Momiji nodded, and Ari, slightly flustered but resolute, answered. "We've... e to realize that it... may work. And we're willing to... give this a try. Well, you uand."

  Kaede chuckled at her daughter's awkward response befng back to the older Tengu, a ge persisteure apanying her outstretched hand.

  Kaede(T), after a long moment of ption, shook slightly but slowly took Kaede's hand.

  Kaede smiled warmly, her voice steady with vi. "Wele to Maple Tree, Kaori."

  The moment she spoke, the elder Tengu was engulfed in a brilliant explosion of light, a radiant aura surrounding her as the transformation took its full effect.