Damn, They're Huge
After a brief introduction to the estate's exterior, I escorted Sawamura Cento to the reception room. Of course, I had my own assigned quarters, but taking her straight there felt off, and as the guest who'd brought another guest, the reception room was perfect.
It was a tatami room with fine china neatly arranged along one wall and a large table in the center. The mansion had stood since the Edo period, from the grand gate through the vast courtyard and the large pond teeming with silk carp, right up to this antique reception hall. It was straight out of imagination, and Cento had been gazing around in wide-eyed wonder ever since crossing the threshold. Even now, seated around the table awaiting the lady of the house, she was the same.
I was in the same boat as a guest, but I couldn't help puffing up with pride. When someone reacts this well, you just want to show them the best hospitality. I addressed the retainer standing quietly in one corner of the room.
"Dokomo, when might the family head arrive?"
"She's tied up with urgent business and asks you to wait just a bit longer..."
"No, not the excuse the head gave—how long will it actually take?"
When I waved it off and pressed her, Dokomo—the mansion's retainer and my personal maid—replied calmly.
"She heard you arrived and is hurriedly getting herself presentable. Please wait just a moment."
"Eek, I'm not some rare visitor—I drop by often enough that she doesn't need to doll up every time! Aren't we practically family?!"
"If you're so quick to toss around 'family,' why not actually marry the family head and become one of us for real?"
"Haha! I'm still a high schooler, just seventeen! Dokomo, what a joke!"
"No joke."
Sawamura Cento, overhearing our banter from the seat beside me, alternated stares between us with a bizarre expression. Her face screamed questions, but a person with secrets is at their most alluring. As Tokyo's most mysterious man, I chuckled slyly at Dokomo.
"Hehe, anyway, Dokomo—could you tell the family head that your guest, Ichimaru Shiki, is eager to see her right away?"
Dokomo, now more loyal to me than the head herself, bowed her head.
"As you command."
Shff— As she slid the door shut behind her, Cento's gaze sharpened beside me. It was a look demanding answers.
I wanted to stay enigmatic forever, but basic explanations were unavoidable.
"My dear partner, Sawamura. You remember our chat last night, yes?"
"Most of it."
She furrowed her brow slightly, eyes drifting upward as if recollecting. Despite the vague reply, with her sharp mind, she'd remember everything. Last night was late, and she wasn't feeling well, so we'd kept it brief anyway. The key point now was the family that handled urban yokai.
"Japan has many exorcist clans, but three stand above the rest."
The so-called three great families.
"The Hashimoto of Kyoto, progenitors of curse and elemental arts. The warrior house Kenju of Tokyo, famed for iron bodies and thunderous speed. And the rising stars of Tokyo, masters of summoning and comprehensive sorcery—the Shihei family."
"...And?"
"You'd excel in Kenju martial arts, but sorcery suits your talents better. Still, as students, we have school weekdays, and Kyoto's too far. Hashimoto's out."
Now, the punchline. What's left?
I beamed confidently and declared,
"That's why I've brought you to Tokyo's Shihei family! Ta-da! Applause! Clap clap clap!"
"..."
Sawamura Cento stared at me—clapping with my hands at my mouth—in a mix of shock and bewilderment.
Come on, that look hurts. But life in Tokyo had forged my steel mentality. I grinned brightly and continued nonchalantly.
"Well, I brought you here because I rate your potential highly. No need to thank me?"
"...You're not teaching me yourself?"
"Haha, I learned sorcery, but it's not my thing. Besides, don't they have standout teachers?"
"...Probably."
"The one we're meeting is an exceptional teacher I studied under myself. I hope my dear partner, Miss Sawamura, gets along well with her."
Cento eyed me oddly, then nodded reluctantly.
"...Fine. I'll try."
What a good kid. I nodded back in satisfaction and faced forward.
The lady of the house had arrived right on cue. A shadow fell beyond the door, followed by Dokomo's voice from earlier.
"Shiki-sama, the family head has arrived. Shall I open the door?"
"Yes, of course."
As my permission dropped, the reception room's sliding door began to open almost simultaneously.
Shff— First came my personal maid and Shihei retainer, Shihei Dokomo, then, as it fully parted, the family head beside her entered view.
The head of the Shihei family. A grand sorceress.
Her gaze landed on me first, then swept to Cento beside me. No—her eyes fixed on Cento's face before dropping straight to her chest.
"...Judgment: partial win for now."
She murmured softly, stepped closer, and smiled at us.
"Hello, everyone. Shiki's one thing, but it's been ages since we had a fresh visitor at the main house."
One of Japan's three great families. The head of Shihei—and grand sorceress. My sorcery mentor and landlady, Shihei Rin, extended her hand to Cento with a beaming smile.
"I've heard about you already. Sawamura. I'll be your sorcery teacher from now on. Nice to meet you."
At her words, Sawamura Cento froze in shock, her face a mask of astonishment. A top national sorceress as her teacher? Yeah, that'd surprise anyone. Still, that reaction felt oddly gratifying. I basked in the afterglow, patting myself on the back for arranging it.
Meanwhile, beside me, Sawamura Cento thought:
'Damn, they're huge.'
Honestly, up until moments ago, she had a ton of questions. Like, what the hell are you, Shiki, to casually arrange a meeting with one of the three great families after just one night of talk? With the family head, no less.
...What kind of person is he?
Questions spawned more questions in her mind, but she held off until meeting the introduction. The head of Shihei—and grand sorceress, Shihei Rin.
And what a stunner she was.
It was shocking enough that such a powerhouse would be her mentor, but her presence overwhelmed common sense, stealing Cento's gaze in an instant.
...Beautiful.
Yes, her beauty was stunning, but her figure especially astonished. Cento scanned the woman's face, then her eyes inevitably dropped to her chest.
Indeed—the head of Shihei, Japan's grand sorceress, Shihei Rin.
'...She's strong.'
Cento had never encountered anyone like this. She couldn't gauge her sorcery prowess, but here, at least, she'd lost.
She'd never prided herself on it, but there was some magnetic force stealing glances.
'A woman with tits this huge as my mentor?'
Good lord, what shameless twist of fate. From this new angle on her sorcery teacher, Cento wondered. Did that ever-smirking mask of a man, Ichimaru Shiki, have his gaze stolen too?
She glanced sideways at Shiki and promptly gave up.
'...Squinty eyes. Can't tell.'
She couldn't read his looks at others, only if aimed at her. Abandoning the probe, Cento suddenly drew a deep breath and straightened up.
Mask back on, the model student Sawamura Cento offered a clear smile and clasped hands.
"Sawamura Cento, here to receive the Shihei teachings from today. Pleased to meet you."
Thus, master and disciple were bound.
Sometime after mutual introductions wrapped up—or so I figured. Yeah, that should do it. Having sized everything up, I rose and addressed family head Shihei Rin.
"Aigoo, family head. I have some business—mind if I step out briefly?"
"Shiki, didn't you say we're like family? Dokomo passed it along perfectly. So from today, treat this like home."
"Haha, I'll try!"
Whoops—lower my guard, and we'll be filing marriage papers in days. Reinforcing my mental defenses, I flashed a smile at Cento—who was shooting me a blank look—then headed out of the reception room.
"Shiki-sama, where to?"
"Ah, Dokomo. Forgot something outside. Could you open the gate?"
After the same process, I exited the Shihei main estate's barrier and scanned the shadowy alley.
This spot was one of the barrier's concealment points. Hardly any foot traffic usually, but tails could still follow.
"Tracking me is a real hassle."
Shing— I drew my sword and slashed the empty air.