While everyone was eating in seemingly "harmonious" silence, Erioh suddenly lost his restraint and slammed both hands onto the table with a sharp удар.
The impact made the dishes tremble.
All eyes turned toward him, confused, expectant.
"Eh? What's wrong, Grandpa?" Karura asked, startled by her grandfather's sudden outburst.
Instead of calming down, Erioh's expression darkened even more at her words.
Erioh Kure was a man of pride and iron principles, fiercely protective of his family and its reputation.
And above all else… of his beloved great-granddaughter, Kure Karura.
"This is your fault," he said, his voice heavy with anger.
"Me? What did I do, Grandpa?" Karura asked, genuinely confused. She had no idea why she was being blamed.
"How could you be with this bastard?" Erioh spat, indignant.
"Hey, old man, don't talk to my boyfriend like that," Hitomi snapped, glaring at him for insulting Derek.
"She's right. You can't talk to Derek like that. He's the man I chose," Karura added firmly.
"Grandpa… your words hurt me," Derek said, clutching his chest and pretending to look wounded.
However, anyone paying close attention could see the faint amusement gleaming in his eyes.
"Don't worry, darling," Karura said as she turned to comfort him.
"My grandpa is old… he's just confused."
Erioh was this close to spitting blood from sheer rage.
"Don't call me Grandpa," he snapped.
"I accept him—" he pointed at Derek, "—but I do not accept you being with my precious granddaughter. I will not allow her to be with a womanizer like you."
"Grandpa!" Karura shouted angrily.
"He's not like that! He's kind, affectionate, and loyal!"
Erioh nearly had a stroke hearing the word loyal come out of his granddaughter's mouth.
"It's true, old man," Hitomi added without backing down.
"Besides, having my dear call you Grandpa is already an honor for you."
Derek kept up his hurt expression, but inside he was laughing.
'Perfect… keep going.'
"Ahem… enough nonsense," Erioh said at last.
He took a deep breath.
As a martial artist and Patriarch of the Kure Clan, he quickly brought his emotions under control, even if the anger still simmered beneath the surface.
Trying to change the subject, he added:
"But seriously, Derek-kun… I'm surprised at how quickly you adapted to civilization."
"Oh…" Derek raised an eyebrow, immediately catching the subtext.
Erioh had noticed something.
"It's nothing special," Derek replied with a shrug.
"I guess I'm adaptable."
Inside, however, he clicked his tongue.
'Tsk… Shidou Reiichi. I knew he wasn't completely reliable.'
"Don't worry," Erioh continued, smiling in a way that didn't reach his eyes.
"Even if Shidou Reiichi kept it well hidden, there are very few things that can be concealed from the Kure Clan."
Derek rolled his eyes at the obvious boasting… then narrowed his gaze, thoughtful.
Even if Erioh was exaggerating, there was truth in his words.
If he played his cards right, he could make use of the Kure Clan's power to gather crucial information about this world.
After all…
'As the Kure Clan's son-in-law… asking for a little help isn't too much, right?'