Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 9 Chapter 2 (section)

==Part 3==

“Yes, it’s nice to see you sir.”
Basara bowed as he greeted the Elder. Then Atsuta and Kumano also chimed in. “I guess it’s been 5… no, 6 years.”
“We were receiving reports, but you look like you’ve been doing well.”
“…Yes I have.”
Basara was controlling the way he spoke. Not just to show politeness to the Elders who he hasn’t seen in a long time, but also to keep his own feelings in check. There will be nothing gained by having the Hero Clan as their enemy.
But there was indeed something strange.
While it was strange enough that the Ceremonial Chamber was chosen for this meeting. But there was a more pressing issue.
Where were the guards?
If they were to count Yuki and Kurumi on Basara’s side, the Hero Clan only have the Elders and Shuuya. And while the chamber will negate a lot of attacks, that still didn’t remove Mio and
Takigawa as threats. And with Basara’s Banishing Shift was the very reason he was driven out of the Village in the first place.
There is absolutely no reason as to why they wouldn’t have guards. Especially with the Elders being unable to fight. This wasn’t because they were powerless however. After all, they did rise to the position of Elder through their strengths. It was because their powers being used to uphold the various dimensional barriers to protect the Village from the outside world.
But that meant that the only one capable of fighting was Shuuya. Of course, Shuuya was no pushover. In the war he was second to Jin in strength, and that was the reason for their close friendship. So, they had to avoid fighting Shuuya at all costs. But Basara knew that Shuuya had taken a back seat from combat ever since he lost his eye in the war, the eyepatch on his left eye a testament of his loss.
The worst-case scenario for the Elders would be if Basara and the rest all decided to attack them at once.
While Basara had no intention to do that whatsoever, was it really wise for the Elders to leave Shuuya as the sole individual responsible for their well being? In order to maintain the dimensional barriers and to protect the Village, the Elders are supposed to prioritize their own safety foremost. But currently, the only ones in the chamber were the Elders themselves and Shuuya.
In that case…they must have prepared some sort of “insurance”.
And so, Basara started to think of the various plans he would have made if he were in the Elders’ shoes.
“You don’t have to be so alert.”
Fuji spoke as if looking right through him.
“It is true that we have had our ‘disagreements’ in the past… and it is true that we have invited you here to this place. I can understand that there are a lot of things that are going through your mind at the moment.”
“But I hope you believe us when we say that we no longer have any intention to draw our blades on you.”
“Well…at least for now. If the situation arises, that will be a matter for then.” Kumano chuckled at Atsuta’s joke at the end before staring at Basara.
“It’s been 8 months since you and Jin took in that girl… and your circumstances have been changing and we too, have been adjusting to your situation.”
“…I see.”
“We have been receiving reports from Yuki and Kurumi. But living with you and spending time with you, their feelings are bound to become softer.”
Fuji continued.
“And so, for things to continue, we decided that it would be for the best if we saw for ourselves how you guys are, in order for us to pass any judgement.”
“I understand.”
Basara nodded in understanding. Of course, he wasn’t just going to take what Fuji just said with open arms. He was certain that the Elders were definitely plotting something from this. But he will find a way out of this.
Atsuta took over from Fuji.
“Well then… why don’t you tell us about the things that have happened so far? The things you’ve been doing since you left the Village and how you’ve been living your life.”