So that's it, the reason she's not at school at this time is because she's visiting the hospital for treatment?
From atop a tall building, Roy watched Fujino Asagami enter the hospital and finally understood why she was in the city at this hour.
Does she believe that her condition, congenital analgesia, can be cured by modern medicine?
That's a bit too naïve.
Now that he understood the reason, Roy didn't linger any longer and turned to leave.
Although he was somewhat concerned about Fujino's situation, he lacked sufficient information and wasn't a magus specialized in this area, so there wasn't much he could do to help for now.
Whether it was the root cause of her analgesia or the secrets hidden within Fujino herself or her family, he knew none of it.
Staying here wouldn't help in any way, and doing so would only be a waste of time.
If he truly wanted to assist this girl, it would be better to gather more information on the matter and then figure out a solution.
When he came to think of it, he knew a few magus who were knowledgeable about the human body. One was the Grand Puppeteer, Touko Aozaki, with whom he had dealings, and the other was the Einzbern family, who excelled in homunculus technology.
As for Touko Aozaki, there was no need to say much. He would explain the situation to her later and let her, as an expert, help think of a solution.
As for the Einzbern family…
They were one of the three founding families of the Holy Grail War.
Although he had only heard of them, visiting them was inevitable. After all, his connection to the Third Magic was closely tied to them. The family might possess many things related to him that would be helpful for his future, so a trip to the Einzbern Castle was necessary.
Of course, he also had to inform them that the Magician of the Third Magic had been born and that they should behave themselves in the coming days, abandoning any plans to reignite the Holy Grail War.
He decided to make the Einzbern family his second stop after leaving Tokyo.
With that in mind, Roy leaped from the high-rise building and left the area.
He had other matters to attend to next.
…
*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*
Roy gently knocked on the door of the Ryougi family residence. Although he had already stayed here uninvited for quite some time last night, for certain reasons, it was best to visit in person today.
Since Shiki Ryougi wasn't home, it was a good opportunity to discuss something with her guardian.
It might also be nice to surprise her when she returns tonight.
*Creak*
The gate was gently opened from the inside, revealing a calm man with short black hair and dressed in a black suit.
Roy had seen this man last night, standing watch over the courtyard from the rafters. Shiki's father had referred to him as Akitaka Suzurigi.
He seemed to hold a loyal position in the Ryougi household, possibly serving as a bodyguard of sorts.
"Who are you looking for?" Akitaka blocked the doorway, eyeing the young visitor with some suspicion.
As a long-standing member of the Ryougi group, he was well-acquainted with the appearance of all visitors. He was certain that he had never seen this young man before, and the head of the family hadn't mentioned expecting a guest today.
So who was this young man, and what business did he have with the Ryougi family?
This made Akitaka both curious and cautious.
"Hello, I apologize for the intrusion. I am a magus from Fuyuki City, someone from the hidden side. I'm new to this area and came to visit the family in charge of managing the leylines here."
Roy got straight to the point and handed over a business card, making sure to relay his message.
"I'm also aware of the Ryougi family's current predicament. I happen to have a solution that could help. Please inform the current head of the family that I have a proposal he might find interesting."
A magus, leylines...
Akitaka was slightly bewildered. Though he had some awareness of the existence of the world of magecraft, he had never truly encountered them.
However, the guard captain clearly knew that when faced with a visitor from the world of magecraft, he couldn't afford to show the slightest negligence. He quickly nodded in agreement.
"Please wait a moment." He said before closing the courtyard door and swiftly heading to report to the head of the family.
Seeing the wooden courtyard door close again and hearing Akitaka's footsteps gradually fade into the distance, Roy nodded without feeling any irritation over not being let in.
After all, the guard was fulfilling his duties and was responsible for the safety of the head of the family. If he let someone pass just based on their word alone, he would be failing as a bodyguard.
He wasn't in any rush, so waiting here for a bit was no issue.
After a while…
*Tap* *Tap* *Tap*
Accompanied by a steady set of footsteps, the wooden door of the courtyard opened once again. Akitaka calmly walked out, bowed slightly to Roy outside the gate, and said, "Please follow me."
"Alright."
Roy nodded slightly and began walking behind Akitaka.
The two of them started making their way through the courtyard of the Ryougi family.
Akitaka was not much of a conversationalist; in fact, he was rather reticent. Aside from the initial few words of greeting, there was no further conversation between them.
He led the way in silence, while Roy followed behind.
Both kept their distance and maintained a strict, formal demeanor, revealing Akitaka to be a rather rigid middle-aged man.
Or perhaps it was the entire Ryougi household that carried this repressive atmosphere. While the courtyard had a variety of greenery bringing life to the environment, and the decor leaned toward an antique style, the mood remained heavy.
The stone-piled rock gardens, the small stream, the courtyard, and the two yin-yang fish in the pond resembled the decorative landscapes of Edo-period daimyos' homes.
But the somber tones in the courtyard, along with the silent servants working diligently with their heads down, added to the oppressive atmosphere.
While it's true that order and rules are necessary, having too many isn't always a good thing.
At the very least, as far as underground organizations go, the atmosphere in the Fujimura clan was much more relaxed than it was here.
As they walked, Roy noticed a rather peculiar figure.
Unlike the others working in the area, this young man didn't seem to be bound by the same rigid rules. He appeared to be a teenager dressed in a red kimono, with somewhat messy hair, and his behavior exuded an air of casual indifference. The dark circles under his eyes gave him an added melancholic look.
Was he someone important in this family?
The youth, who was strolling, seemed to have sensed Roy's gaze. He looked up, and their eyes met for a brief moment.
The youth's gloomy gaze locked with Roy's clear eyes, and in that brief moment of eye contact, the youth seemed to see his own reflection in Roy's eyes.
"Hello." Roy greeted the young man with a slight smile.
"Ah… hello, sorry." The young man responded, snapping out of his momentary daze. Realizing he had been staring rudely, he quickly apologized.
"It's no problem, but you should try to perk up a little, young man."
Sensing that the youth had something on his mind, Roy offered him a word of encouragement.
However, this light remark clearly didn't have much of an effect on the youth.
Instead, the youth found himself curious about Roy.
"Akitaka, who is this?"
Upon hearing the inquiry, Akitaka bowed slightly and answered, "Kaname-sama, this is an important guest visiting the head of the family. I was just about to escort him to the reception room."
A guest visiting Father, huh…
"I see."
With that, Kasane Ryougi gave Akitaka and Roy one last look before turning and leaving.
"..."
Noticing Kasane's somewhat inappropriate manner, Akitaka hurriedly explained to Roy, "I apologize. Kasane-sama's mood is often not the best, so his behavior may come across as impolite. I ask for your understanding."
"It's alright. He seems like quite a unique person."
Roy was understanding.
As the elder brother of Shiki Ryougi and the eldest son of the Ryougi family, it was no surprise that Kasane would be in a bad mood. After all, his inheritance rights and the attention once meant for him had all been taken by his younger sister. His future had long been decided, leaving little room for joy.
But due to Shiki's special nature, along with the family's background in exorcism, the inheritance had already been determined. Kasane, as a member of this family, was well aware that he had no real standing to compete with his sister.
Moreover, Roy had already observed Kasane earlier. The young man clearly lacked the talent to become a magus, so he would likely be unable to advance in this world. It would be better for him to avoid getting too involved in the hidden world.
The two continued walking for a while longer, and finally, Akitaka stopped in front of a spacious wooden reception room. The door was open, and inside sat the figure of a tall man.
It seemed he was the head of the Ryougi family... Shiki's father.
"The master is waiting for you inside. I'll take my leave now."
Since he hadn't been given permission by the family head, Akitaka naturally couldn't accompany Roy into the reception room. He bowed slightly to Roy and the man inside before excusing himself.
Without any lingering curiosity or hesitation, he simply fulfilled his duties and left.
What a capable subordinate.
Roy couldn't help but admire him.
Without further delay, Roy stepped into the room.
Inside, the middle-aged man wore a black kimono, his hair neatly tied behind his head. His strong physique and sharp eyes clearly showed that he had undergone rigorous martial training.
Though middle-aged, he gave Roy the same feeling he had when facing the head of the Fujimura clan.
Do all yakuza leaders have such an imposing presence?
"Mr. Roy… is that right?"
The middle-aged man spoke Roy's name in a low but authoritative tone, his demeanor that of someone accustomed to holding power. Even when faced with an unfamiliar magus, he maintained an equal stance, not letting his aura waver.
Very impressive. As expected, Shiki's father was no ordinary man.
The man's demeanor earned Roy's respect. It was clear that the head of such a large family was never a simple individual.
"You can just call me Roy."
"Alright, Roy, I'll get straight to the point. What business brings someone from the hidden side to visit the Ryougi family?"
"Could you explain the deal you mentioned in more detail?"
He really didn't mince words, skipping any pleasantries or testing.
This guy really is...
"I'm here to help you resolve the predicament you're currently facing." Roy said expressionlessly.
"The Ryougi family's predicament..." Mr. Ryougi repeated the phrase for a moment before asking, "What predicament does the Ryougi family have?"
"A shortage of talent. Despite being one of the four major demon hunter families, you can't find a single demon hunter to represent you, and you can't even manage the ley lines beneath your feet properly. Isn't that enough to be called a predicament?"
"...You're right. The Ryougi family is indeed facing such a situation. But what's the reason?"
Mr. Ryougi sighed, acknowledging Roy's words, but he didn't agree so easily. He started pressing for the reason.
"I don't believe in things falling into one's lap, nor do I think that a stranger, a magus, would help us out of nowhere at this particular time. So, what do you want? Or what do you stand to gain from the Ryougi family?"
"As for reasons, I could give you as many as you want." Roy chuckled softly. "Whatever you think the Ryougi family can offer to sway me, that would be it."
"..." Mr. Ryougi fell into deep thought.
"You don't need to be overly cautious with me. On the hidden side, I'm considered one of the strongest. Your family, which has fallen to the point of being unable to manage your ley lines, really has nothing worth coveting."
"Then what is it that you want?"
"Maybe I'm returning a favor, or perhaps it's out of a little selfishness. Interpret it however you like. The future of the Ryougi family depends on how you, as its head, decide."
"…"
Faced with Roy's enigmatic answer, Mr. Ryougi sank into contemplation.
While he was indeed troubled by the decline of the Ryougi family, he was also wary of accepting help from an unfamiliar magus. After all, who knew what this magus truly wanted? What did Roy intend to gain from the Ryougi family? He couldn't recklessly risk the family's future and make himself the Ryougi family's sinner.
But this could be the turning point for the Ryougi family. As things stood, gradual decline would be the best-case scenario. The situation was heading toward an even more dangerous path.
The greedy eyes of those from the hidden side and branch families were constantly looking to carve up the Ryougi family. Even if they refused Roy's offer, the Ryougi family was still on a path of slow death.
For the first time, this typically tough head of the Ryougi family found himself in a dilemma.
Sensing Mr. Ryougi's anxiety, Roy decided to speak again.
"Anyone from the hidden side has heard of the once-formidable demon hunter families, and the Ryougi family was one of them. But with the decline of the mana, it's no surprise that your family, being a demon hunter lineage, has also fallen. As the head of the family, I'm sure this is no secret to you."
"…"
Mr. Ryougi nodded, acknowledging Roy's words.
Since the seventh generation, the Ryougi family had been on a steady decline, and by his generation, it was nothing more than a flickering candle.
Apart from Shiki, no one else in the family had talent, and even his eldest son was an ordinary person.
Noticing the deepening contemplation on Mr. Ryougi's face, Roy pressed on.
"If three generations ago, you could still find a few demon hunters in your family... what we'd now call magus to keep up appearances... then in this generation, it's likely you wouldn't even find one, would you? Otherwise, you wouldn't have had to replace your eldest son with your talented daughter as the family head."
"But have you thought about it? If this continues, generation after generation, can you guarantee that the next one will produce someone with talent? And if not, how will you deal with it then?"
Roy's words cut deep, striking Mr. Ryougi's sore spot.
He had considered this. Although the Ryougi family claimed to have withdrawn from the hidden side, they couldn't just leave as they pleased. The enemies they made in the past, the debts left by their ancestors... all of that was a burden they, the descendants, had to bear.
For many years, the Ryougi family has been attacked by the hidden side more than once or twice. Every time, they had to spend a lot of money hiring people from within the hidden side to resolve it, but how long can they rely on others to help? If one day, the Ryougi family loses even their wealth, can the family members truly survive?
Most of his life had been spent fighting and killing in the underworld, but as the current head of the Ryougi family, he had also witnessed many of the world's hidden secrets.
He had seen both the overt and covert struggles of the secular world, as well as the unpredictability of the hidden side.
After living and fighting for so long, he was actually tired. Since the day he took over as the head of the Ryougi family, he hadn't had a single peaceful night's sleep.
Every day, he had to tread carefully to avoid making wrong decisions, constantly calculating and competing with those in the secular world for wealth, while also guarding against prying eyes from the hidden side.
He was indeed exhausted, but even so, he feared more about failing the old head's trust. He was even more afraid that after he stepped down, his daughter wouldn't be able to handle the heavy burden, which would crush her and shatter the family.
So, he had to grit his teeth and keep going. He had to hold on and ensure that he left a relatively safe and stable family for his daughter, without betraying the old head's trust.
However, Roy's words today had completely awakened him. Even if he kept pushing forward like this, what was the point? It was merely delaying the inevitable demise, not finding a way to revive the family. What good was that?
After a long period of contemplation, this man, who had spent his entire life scheming and calculating, sighed and made up his mind.
Perhaps, as this magus in front of him had said, it was truly time for them to make some changes.
He believed that if the person sitting here now wasn't him, but the old head, the same choice would have been made.
After all, even on his deathbed, that old man was still longing to lead the family back to its former glory.
Clenching his fist, he asked seriously, "Then, sir, do you have a way to save us?"
Hearing this, Roy smiled, knowing that the man had already been swayed. He seized the opportunity to present his solution.
"Of course, saving your family is simple. First, you need a powerful enough backer to deter those who have ill intentions toward the Ryougi family. Then, you need to train new demon hunters to fend off those magus or Dead Apostles who might attack."
"..." Hearing this, the head of the Ryougi family fell silent.
It seemed like Roy had answered his question, but it also felt like he hadn't. What he said was nothing more than the simplest truth.
But if it were that easy, the Ryougi family wouldn't have fallen into such a state.
However, holding onto his last shred of hope, he asked Roy, "Can you solve these two issues, sir?"
"Of course, I can handle both." Roy responded confidently, smiling. "Whether it's helping your Ryougi family find a suitable backer or helping you train new magus, or even drawing up a complete inheritance plan, it's all a piece of cake for me."
"Of course, if you think my words alone aren't convincing, why not sign a geis? That should put your mind at ease, right?"
"..." The head of the Ryougi family felt a surge in his heart upon hearing this. He was well aware of the binding geis. They were contracts sworn by magus to the world and carried severe consequences if broken.
Whenever he hired magus in the past, he always ensured a geis was in place before proceeding.
With the conversation reaching this point, it would seem ungrateful not to accept.
He couldn't deny that Roy's offer had indeed moved him.
If Roy could truly achieve everything he said and lead the Ryougi family back to its peak, then any terms would be acceptable.
As long as the family name remained unchanged, even allowing him to take over the Ryougi family wouldn't be out of the question.
Compared to other demon hunter families that had been torn apart by stubbornness and mutation, and were now on the verge of being consumed by their branch families, the Ryougi family still had a chance to change!
The tremendous opportunity lay right before him. Whether to seize it or not was entirely up to his choice.
After a brief moment of silence, he slowly rose, bowed respectfully to Roy, and said, "Please, sir, help me."
"Very well, then."
A smile appeared on Roy's face.
----
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