Once my mind was made up, I scheduled a meeting with the hotel owner.
I was an enigmatic VIP in his eyes.
My status was more than enough to grant me a direct line to the man running this establishment.
"Welcome."
The middle-aged man who owned the hotel greeted us in his private office.
He was slightly portly, but he possessed a genial face and an equally generous heart.
To let us continue staying in his hotel rooms for free simply because I had done him a favor? That wasn't an easy decision for a businessman to make.
Most humans are quick to forget a debt of gratitude but will carve a grudge into their very bones. That is the nature of the species.
"Hello," I said, offering a polite greeting.
"I was curious as to what business required a personal audience. Please, have a seat."
"Thank you."
I sat across from him. Fortunately, he wasn't particularly busy, so the appointment had been made on short notice.
Being a luxury hotel, the president's office was exquisitely decorated and opulent. Its high-altitude location offered a stunning panoramic view of the city.
"How has your stay been? Any inconveniences?"
"Not at all. The service, the cleanliness, the food—everything was exceptional. It was especially nice for a kid like me."
"I am glad to hear that," the owner replied with a warm, grandfatherly smile.
I returned the smile.
"Should we get down to business? You're a busy man, and I'd hate to take up too much of your time."
"Nonsense. Please, speak freely."
He continued to use formal speech, just as he had when we first met. His attitude was as respectful as his tone.
"Actually, I've started looking for a place to move. Staying in a hotel indefinitely will eventually become a burden on you."
"A burden? Not at all. But when you say you're looking for a house…?"
"I've managed to save up a bit of money. I'm looking for somewhere with lower property values. Not a rental, but a full purchase."
"You have been going out frequently of late. Is that the reason?"
"Yes. I happened to seize a good opportunity and have been consistently accumulating funds."
The money we had gathered was stored in one of Toji's secondary accounts—one his wife, Sae, didn't know about.
Because of that, I could check the balance whenever I wanted. It was… substantial. More than enough to buy a house.
'I didn't realize hunting Curse Users would be this lucrative.'
When I first saw the digits in that bank account, I realized why professional assassins existed. Whether in the Nasuverse or here, the fundamental nature of society was the same.
"Hmm. I suppose a hotel has too many prying eyes for your comfort. That is why I suggested you stay in the penthouse, but…"
"I definitely couldn't accept that."
Luxury suites varied, but they were all astronomically expensive. Multiple times more than a standard room. Living in a place like that for months or even a year for free? That was pushing it.
"As always, you are humble. If I possessed such power, I imagine I would be indulging in every luxury imaginable."
"I have more than enough right now. After all, I've managed to form a connection with someone as kind as you."
"I am the one who should be grateful. If it weren't for you, my family would be dead and I would have been maimed. My household would have collapsed."
I nodded silently. It was embarrassing to say it myself, but it had indeed been a dire situation. His missing daughter had been the victim of a Cursed Spirit, having her vitality drained while still alive. It had been a mess in many ways.
"Regardless, I owe you a great debt."
"Don't mention it. Anyway, have you decided which area you're moving to?"
"I'm planning on Adachi Ward for now. The property prices are low there."
Adachi was one of Tokyo's twenty-three special wards. It had a reputation similar to a slum, though far safer than a Western equivalent. There were reasons for the low prices, and in this current economic climate, it was even cheaper—the optimal time to buy.
"Adachi, I see. Given your capabilities, saving money isn't a bad idea. Public safety shouldn't be a concern for someone of your caliber."
The hotel owner nodded. We were on the same page; that was precisely why I chose Adachi Ward.
"It's actually preferable."
"I thought you might say that. Finding a good home there should be simple."
"Yes, I think so too."
"A wise choice. Still… to hear that you're leaving… it feels strangely hollow now that you've said it."
"Thank you for looking after us until now. It's not as if we're severing ties. Please, call me if you ever need help."
It's hard to find good people in life. When you do, you have to cherish them.
The hotel owner smiled, clearly touched by my words.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
"In that case, take this as a parting gift."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small medicine bottle. It was a concoction made from the blood of Ibuki-douji. It wasn't a fresh batch; I had simply set aside some leftovers from the medicine I'd made for Zenin Sae.
"This is?"
The owner picked up the bottle, his face clouded with curiosity.
"Think of it as a super-tonic. It's different from normal medicine. You can take it whenever you like, and storage is easy. It doesn't have an expiration date."
"This is precious indeed. I will use it well."
The president took the bottle with genuine gratitude. Since it was the same medicine that had cured a terminal illness, it would undoubtedly be useful.
"Since I have received such a valuable gift, I must provide a proper response."
Perhaps it was the favor I'd just granted, but the president offered an equally large courtesy in return. Specifically, regarding the house.
He offered to provide me with a unit in a luxury apartment building in Adachi Ward—at an incredibly discounted price.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Of course. I've been considering purchasing a property there for investment and rental purposes anyway."
The president explained his plan to buy an entire apartment complex near the station in Adachi. It was a win for me and a win for him; I wasn't just taking a handout.
"Give me a good deal, then."
"Of course. I'll make it as affordable as possible. Honestly, I'd prefer to give it to you for free, but you'd refuse, wouldn't you?"
"I would. I'm counting on you."
I smiled at him. This was an more than satisfactory deal. The hotel owner acted immediately, acquiring the building within days and selling me one of the units.
Just because he was the 'landlord' of the building didn't mean I could be evicted easily. In Japan, buying a 'mansion' unit meant owning that specific slice of the building. In other words, that home was officially mine.
"Wow…"
A week of resting at the hotel had passed, and we were finally moving. It was a top-floor unit with a magnificent view. Even the train station was nearby.
"This is excellent. It's more than sufficient."
Koyanskaya of Light, the Assassin, murmured as she surveyed the interior. Wide-open spaces, plenty of rooms—it was a high-end unit that would easily cost hundreds of millions of yen even in the suburbs.
"With this much space, we can accommodate all of the others as well."
Koyanskaya of Darkness, the Foreigner, added her thoughts.
I agreed. There were six Servants in total whose links to me had remained intact upon arriving in the Jujutsu Kaisen world. They were the ones with whom I had reached Bond Level 15 back in Chaldea.
Everyone else was capped at Bond 10. I hadn't yet distributed any Lanterns of Chaldea to increase the caps for the rest of them.
'With this many rooms, partitioning will be easy.'
Four could share a room, or we could split them into pairs. A 3x2 configuration seemed reasonable.
"Yeah, it's really nice."
I liked the house, and I particularly liked that we only had one direct neighbor. Fewer prying eyes. I'd considered a detached house, but they often had too many neighbors close by. Not everyone is a saint, and I wanted to avoid potential trouble if possible.
"Master, what should we do about furniture? The house is grand, but as you can see, it's empty."
The Foreigner looked around. The basic construction was finished, but the lack of decor made it feel hollow.
"For now, let's get seven beds and some wardrobes. We can handle temperature control with Magecraft."
"That sounds fine. Heating and cooling bills for a place this size would be exorbitant anyway."
The Foreigner nodded in agreement. The Assassin felt the same way; to them, saving on unnecessary expenses was a key trait of a competent secretary.
"Sorry, but could you two discuss the furniture? I'm going to head up to the roof for a bit."
"By yourself?"
The Assassin's eyes widened. Her expression made it clear she didn't approve of me wandering off alone.
"It's fine. I'm going to perform a summoning up there."
"Ah. In that case, I am relieved. Please, be careful."
The two Koyanskayas let me go. If I hadn't mentioned a summoning, they probably would have shadowed me to the roof.
I left the unit and stepped into the long hallway. I scanned the central elevator and the stairs on both sides. To the right was the path to the rooftop.
Clack. I slowly climbed the stairs and pushed the door. Thankfully, it was unlocked.
"Phew—"
As I stepped onto the roof, the biting wind filled my lungs. The view was invigorating.
'I need moments like this.'
Being with the others was great, but everyone needs a bit of solitude. This was that time for me. I stood by the safety fencing, looking out at the city lights flickering like lonely stars.
The side effects of modern society. From this vantage point, the glow of 'black companies' where employees worked through the night was glaring. Chaldea had been a 'black' environment too, but that was a necessity born of desperation. These buildings represented a different kind of misery.
'It's grim.'
A sudden flare of social reformist zeal burned in my chest for a moment. If the cold wind hadn't cooled me down, it might have boiled over.
Once I regained my composure, I closed my eyes and called the name. I had already decided who was next. There was no need for hesitation.
"Ibuki-douji."
As the name left my lips and I opened my eyes, the new Servant manifested. Ash-gray skin, flowing blue hair, prominent horns, and strange, elegant ears. Her height was imposing, her figure defined by a scandalous bust and powerful, thick thighs. Even among Servants, her physique exuded a monstrous sense of health and vitality.
She wore a gentle smile—the image of a charming elder sister, but that was a deceptive mask. Her martial prowess was absolute.
"Master~. You kept me waiting way too long!"
The child of the multi-headed serpent, Yamata-no-Orochi. A terminal of a god. The Divine Spirit Ibuki-douji, who had been both enemy and ally during the Heian Singularity, whined playfully and pulled me into a crushing hug.
My head was promptly buried in her immense cleavage.
"Mmph."
I patted her exposed waist—taut, firm, and flawlessly toned. It had been a long time since I'd felt that divine level of physical presence.
"Oh, sorry! Were you suffocating?"
Ibuki-douji slid back a few steps, finally allowing me to breathe.
"It's fine. More importantly… what is that outfit?"
I tilted my head, looking her over.
She was wearing a crop top that barely covered the undersides of her breasts and denim short-shorts. It was a purely modern, casual look.
"Ah, this? I figured Master likes modern styles, so I put in a little extra effort. Does it look good on me?"
Ibuki-douji twirled in place, seeking my approval.
I had to admit—it was a perfect score.
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