"Oh-ho? It's so amazing! As expected of the richest magician family in the world~!"
With a slightly fractious voice, Yakumo, dressed in his monk get-up as usual, watched the scenery of the suburban area that worked as a serf trench within the headquarters of the Isshiki family in Tokyo.
"How much money do they have, by the way?"
While Yakumo asked such a question, his eyes kept observing his surroundings, and he couldn't help but feel a cold sweat due to the modern and magic protections that were placed within the area. The most advanced weapons and security measures were obviously placed in various vital locations, giving a zero chance for anyone to enter and be killed directly.
Yet, compared to modern technology, Isshiki's knowledge of all types of magic, including ancient, shook him to the core.
'Do they even learn ancient magic, too?'
While it was subtle, Yakumo could tell that the area was designed in a particular pattern, as if creating a large magic circle, and a certain effect similar to Feng-Shui and various ancient magics that were related to geomancy, a form of divination that interprets geographic features, markings on the ground, or the patterns formed by soil, rocks, or sands, which created an invisible gigantic barrier that surrounded the area mysteriously.
"A lot."
"...yeah, I can see that."
Yakumo somehow sighed in relief when the driver who was in charge of picking him up was quite friendly. Still, before he said anything, the driver asked, "As a shinobi master, can you infiltrate this place?"
"...if I say "yes," what will you do?"
"No, my boss said that he would pay you if you could."
"...really?" Yakumo was dumbfounded.
"Ten billion yen. That's the reward."
"...if I fail?"
"Nothing happens. You just can't get the money, and your reputation as a Shinobi master will probably be damaged."
"Oh~! That's a great thing~! Let me do it~! I will infiltrate this place~!"
Ten billion yen could be easily received if Yakumo could infiltrate this place, so why shouldn't he do it?
It was easy money!
Yet—
'Is it really easy money?'
Yakumo felt a bit nervous somehow, especially after he saw how complicated and strong this place was.
"...say, do you want me to search for a loophole in this place so you can modify this place?"
"Yes."
"...doesn't that cost a lot of money?"
"The only thing that we lack in this world is money."
"...."
How arrogant!
Yet, Yakumo knew well that the Isshiki family had the right to be arrogant, especially after their feat of short-selling all companies that were related to their enemies who messed up the broadcast. Even after so much time had passed, he trembled in fear, thinking about how the Isshiki family could still be seen as saints despite massacring all of their enemies and completely destroying the "Blanche," one of the biggest anti-magician organizations.
Instead, the anti-magicians, who had been on a rampage lately, were in jeopardy after the incident with Blanche.
Aside from the other magicians, especially the majority who couldn't even properly wield their magic, messing up with the Isshiki family would also destroy all of their sponsors and make all of those sponsors bankrupt and have their careers destroyed, whether it was politicians, athletes, actresses, actors, and many others, all of them were destroyed.
Yet, even after all of that, the Isshiki family was still seen as a saint by the public and the majority, causing many to tremble in fear of their might, especially those who had power, as they couldn't do anything.
This was why, even though Yakumo didn't really want to, he had to give up the magic that he had to keep since if he didn't, then he and everyone that related to him would disappear, vanish from this world, and leave heavy infamy.
Being killed, then humiliated after their death.
If Yakumo had to say, then it was like how his wife was being fucked in front of his grave by his enemy.
Meanwhile, this time, even if he lost his life, he should still be able to keep his life and everything.
Still, this was just a metaphor since he didn't lose his wife, but it was easy to understand how much meaning all of those magics that he inherited from his master meant to him, right?
However, even if he didn't want to, he had to give all of that magic to the Isshiki family.
Fortunately, this wasn't the first time something like this happened, yet he had to say it was so humiliating.
So, should he just give his everything without doing anything?
Yakumo smiled, then asked, "The boss that you mean... is it the head of the Isshiki family?"
"It's better if you don't ask too much."
"Sorry! Sorry! I have talked too much, but as a ninja, I can't help it since this is a habit that I caught up with my profession."
"Then, why didn't you say "nin-nin" at the end of your words?"
"...do you think that all ninjas will say "nin-nin" like in the anime?"
"Are you not?"
"Of course not!"
Somehow, with how clowny this guy was, Yakumo understood why this guy could be chosen as the driver of the Isshiki family.
Regardless, this thought of him stopped when the driver said, "We have arrived."
"Thank you."
"No problem."
As the two walked out of the car, the automatons quickly went to retrieve the car and take it to the parking area.
"...there are no living men here?"
"There are, but if we can use the machines, then we will use the machines."
"I see!"
Yet, inwardly, Yakumo thought that the driver's position shouldn't be low in the Isshiki family. Only, when they entered the building, he saw three girls who were looking at—
'The driver?'
"Masa, what are you doing dressed like that?"
As Airi asked in confusion, Yakumo felt his soul shiver in fear as something that shouldn't exist in this world suddenly emerged from behind, wishing to swallow him whole.
"—?!"
Yakumo was about to use his magic, but this pressure somehow swallowed his being, dominating him and making him completely weak as a baby.
Then, somehow, on Masa's side, a katana appeared all of a sudden, and—
Swoosh!
All Yakumo could see was a blue flash, tearing open his flesh, before the red color eclipsed everything as he fell—
"Nice to meet you, Kokonoe Yakumo. My name is Hiiro Masa."
"...."
'An illusion?'
If so, then what kind of attainment had this young man achieved with his blade?
Yakumo felt intense fear and awe for someone to be able to master the path of the sword to such a realm before he forced himself to smile. "Y-Yeah. Nice to meet you."
Still, he understood why Tatsuya lost.
"Okay, can I get all of your techniques now?"
"...."
What could Yakumo do except for helplessly agreeing?
"Ah, sure."
However, due to this, Masa also became a ninja master.