I Became a Time-stopping Narrow-eyed Character

Chapter 12

After briefly introducing the mansion's exterior, Sawamura Sento was brought to the reception room.

Of course, I had a room assigned to me, but bringing her to my room seemed inappropriate. For a guest who brought another guest, the reception room was just right.

A tatami room with a large table in the center and porcelain neatly arranged along one wall.

A mansion that has existed since the Edo Shogunate era, starting from the grand gate, the vast yard, the large pond with koi fish, and now, this antique reception room.

Perhaps because it was exactly the kind of old mansion she imagined, Sento had been looking around the mansion with a bewildered expression since stepping through the door.

Even now, as we sit around the table waiting for the host, her reaction remains the same.

Though I was also a guest who brought her here, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride.

Moreover, when the reaction is this positive, it naturally makes one want to offer better hospitality.

I spoke to the retainer standing quietly in one corner of the room.

"Miss Dokomo, when will the head of the family arrive?"

"It seems they're occupied with urgent work, so it may take some time. Please wait a little longer..."

"No, not the excuse the head of the family mentioned. How much longer will it really take?"

When I pointed it out while waving my hand dismissively, Dokomo, the retainer of the mansion and my personal servant, replied calmly.

"The head of the family is hurriedly preparing after hearing the news of Mr. Shiki's arrival. Please wait a little longer."

"Eh, I'm not just an occasional visitor, so there's no need to prepare so much every time! Aren't we practically like family?!"

"If you're so quick to call yourselves family, why not actually marry the head of the family and officially join the household?"

"Haha! I'm still a high school student, just seventeen years old! Miss Dokomo, you're really joking!"

"I'm not joking."

Hearing this conversation, Sawamura Sento, sitting beside me, glanced back and forth between us with a strange expression.

She seemed to have many questions, but people are most beautiful when they keep their secrets.

As the most mysterious man in Tokyo, I chuckled and spoke to Dokomo.

"Hoho, anyway, Miss Dokomo, could you go and tell the head of the family that Ichimaru Shiki, the guest of the mansion, is eager to meet them?"

Dokomo, who had become more loyal to me than the head of the family, bowed her head and replied.

"Understood."

Creak─

As Dokomo left and the sliding door closed, Sawamura Sento's gaze grew even sharper.

Her eyes seemed to demand I explain everything.

Although I always wanted to remain beautiful, I had no choice but to provide some basic explanations.

"My dear partner, Miss Sawamura. You remember everything we talked about last night, don't you?"

"Most of it."

Sento answered while slightly furrowing her brows and looking upward, as if recalling the conversation.

Though she said that, considering her sharp mind, she likely remembered everything.

After all, it was late last night, and we only had a brief conversation due to her poor condition.

Among those topics, the one I wanted to address now was the story about the families handling the urban monsters.

"There are several exorcist families across Japan, but there are some particularly prominent groups."

The so-called Three Great Families.

"The founder family of curse techniques and elemental magic, Kyoto's 'Hashimoto.' Tokyo's martial family 'Kenju,' known for their steel-like bodies and lightning-fast movements. And Tokyo's 'Shihei,' which has recently risen to fame with summoning arts and comprehensive sorcery."

"...So?"

"You could join Kenju to learn martial arts, but sorcery suits you better. However, since you're a student and need to attend school on weekdays, Kyoto is too far. Hashimoto is also out."

Now, here's the point. So, what's left? I smiled confidently and declared.

"That's why I brought you to Tokyo's Shihei Family! Wow! Applause! Clap clap clap clap!"

"......"

Sawamura Sento looked at me with a baffled expression, as if witnessing something bizarre, as I clapped my hands with my mouth.

Gosh, looking at me like that is hurtful.

But having lived in Tokyo and developed a strong mental fortitude, I smiled brightly and said nonchalantly.

"Well, I brought you here because I have high expectations for your potential, Miss Sawamura. No need to thank me?"

"...You're not going to teach me yourself?"

"Haha, I did learn sorcery, but it's not really my thing. Besides, aren't there exceptionally outstanding teachers?"

"...I suppose so."

"The person you're meeting now is an excellent teacher who also taught me. Please get along well with them, my dear partner, Miss Sawamura."

Sento looked at me with a somewhat ambiguous expression before reluctantly nodding.

"...Alright. I'll try."

What a commendable child.

Feeling satisfied, I also nodded and looked straight ahead.

The host had arrived just in time.

A silhouette appeared beyond the door, and the voice of Dokomo, who had just left, was heard.

"Mr. Shiki, the head of the family has arrived. May I open the door now?"

"Yes, of course."

Almost simultaneously with my permission, the reception room's sliding door began to open.

Creak─

Through the gap in the door, Shihei Dokomo, the personal servant and retainer of the Shihei Family, appeared first. When the door fully opened, the head of the family came into view beside her.

The head of the Shihei Family and the Grand Sorcerer.

The head's gaze first fell on me, then scanned Sawamura Sento sitting beside me.

No, her gaze lingered on her face before dropping directly to her chest.

"...A technical victory, I suppose."

Muttering quietly, she took a step closer and smiled as she spoke to us.

"Hello, everyone. Mr. Shiki aside, it's been a while since we've had a new guest at our main house."

One of Japan's Three Great Families.

The head of the Shihei Family and the Grand Sorcerer.

Also, my sorcery teacher and the host, Shihei Rin, smiled brightly and extended her hand to Sento.

"I heard about you in advance, Miss Sawamura. I'm Shihei Rin, who will be your sorcery teacher from now on. Please take care of me."

Surprised by her words, Sawamura Sento looked shocked.

Having one of the top sorcerers in the country as her sorcery teacher was certainly surprising.

Still, such a surprised expression...

Feeling oddly proud, I praised myself for arranging this meeting and savored the moment.

***

Meanwhile, Sawamura Sento thought.

'They're ridiculously big.'

Honestly, she had many questions until just a moment ago.

Like, who exactly are you, Mr. Shiki, to so easily arrange a meeting with one of the Three Great Families?

And not just anyone, but the head of the family, after only a day of conversation with her.

...Just who are you?

Her mind was filled with questions, but for now, she decided to meet the person she was introduced to.

The head of the Shihei Family and the Grand Sorcerer, Shihei Rin.

Truly, an incredible person had appeared.

It was astonishing enough that someone so remarkable would become her teacher, but her appearance, surpassing common sense, momentarily overwhelmed her.

...Beautiful.

Yes, she was certainly a beautiful woman, but her 'physique' was particularly striking.

Like Sento, her gaze naturally dropped to the woman's chest after scanning her face.

Indeed, the head of the Shihei Family and Japan's Grand Sorcerer, Shihei Rin.

'...Strong.'

She had never encountered someone like this before.

She wasn't sure about her sorcery abilities, but at least here, she felt defeated.

Not that she had any particular pride in herself, but there was a certain charm that captivated her gaze.

'Is my teacher really a woman with such a large chest?'

Goodness, what an outrageous situation.

Now thinking about her sorcery teacher from a different perspective, she wondered.

Could Ichimaru Shiki, with his perpetually smiling face-mask, have also been captivated like her?

Glancing at Shiki beside her, Sento quickly gave up.

'...I can't tell because of his squinting eyes.'

When it came to looking at others, he was hard to read, unlike when he looked at himself.

Giving up on deciphering Shiki, she suddenly took a deep breath and composed herself.

Sawamura Sento, who had put her mask back on, clasped her hands together with a bright smile like an exemplary student.

"From today, I will be learning under the teachings of the Shihei Family. Please take care of me."

At last, the bond between teacher and student was established.

***

It was the point where they thought the introductions between them had been sufficiently made.

Yes, this should be enough.

After gauging various aspects, I stood up and spoke to Shihei Rin, the head of the family.

"Oh dear, Head of the Family. I have some business to attend to outside for a moment. Is that alright?"

"Shiki, you said we're like family, didn't you? I've heard everything from Dokomo. So from today, please feel free to move around as if you're truly part of the family."

"Haha, I'll do my best!"

Oh dear, if I let my guard down, it feels like a marriage registration might be filed at the government office within a few days.

Steeling my resolve once again, I gave a quick smile to Sento, who was staring at me with a blank expression, and stepped out of the reception room.

"Mr. Shiki, where are you going?"

"Ah, Miss Dokomo. I left something outside for a moment. Could you open the door for me?"

Following a similar process, I stepped out of the barrier surrounding the Shihei main house and looked around the eerie alley.

This place is one of the points used to conceal the barrier.

It's a location where human presence is rare, but even so, if someone were to follow a person, they could reach this place.

"Tracking is really troublesome, honestly."

Srrrng─ Drawing my sword, I slashed through the air.