"It's been a long time since I've had Auntie Kazuo's coffee. I'm really looking forward to it."
Kenmei sat in a living room decorated in a distinctly European style, while a busy figure moved around in the open kitchen.
Who would have guessed this house was four hundred years old? Unlike other ancient families that stuck to austere, traditional Japanese decor, the interior of the Isayama main house was refined and luxurious in a Western way.
This was mainly because Naraku Isayama—the man sitting across from Kenmei, who looked forty but was actually over sixty—preferred this style.
Kenmei's uncle, Naraku, dressed like a proper gentleman even at home: vest, black trousers, leather shoes, white gloves, and a cane to complete the look.
He was a burly man, but the scar at the corner of his right eye was prominent, giving his dignified appearance a fierce edge.
Naraku radiated the aura of a stern authority figure, but having known him for over a decade, Kenmei knew his uncle was actually a gentle elder underneath the scary exterior.
Unlike his second uncle, Yuu Isayama, who always kept a straight face, interrupted Kenmei, and scolded him using his seniority as a cudgel.
But regarding Mei, Kenmei couldn't really say anything.
The choice of family heir wasn't something Kenmei, a child brought back from outside the main line, had any right to dictate.
"Young Master Kenmei, you really know how to sweet-talk."
Auntie Kazuo, who was hand-grinding coffee beans, laughed. She was a woman with a sharp, handsome look, her hair tied back in a single ponytail, dressed in something resembling a butler's uniform.
Kazuo was the head housekeeper of the Isayama main family, roughly forty years old. Since Naraku had suffered a severe leg injury during a Cursed Spirit exorcism years ago, leaving him with a permanent disability, he required constant care.
"Master's black coffee, and for you, Young Master, a raw coconut latte."
"Thanks."
Kenmei took the coffee and thanked her. Compared to bitter flavors, he preferred something sweeter these days. Life was already bitter enough; torturing his taste buds too seemed cruel.
"If Young Master Kenmei could visit the Master and Miss more often, I'm sure they'd both be very happy."
As Kazuo placed the cups down in front of Naraku and Kenmei, she couldn't help adding a comment.
"Kazuo!"
Naraku, who was sipping his coffee next to Kenmei, glared at her.
"Hahahaha, Auntie Kazuo, there's cake in the fridge."
"I bought it before coming over. There's enough for everyone."
Most of the servants in the Isayama household had been working here since Kenmei was a child, so they were familiar faces.
"Then thank you very much, Young Master Kenmei."
Kazuo took the cake and thanked him.
"If you need anything, please call me."
"Okay, thanks for your hard work."
As her footsteps faded away, the spacious living room was left with just Kenmei and his uncle. His cousin, Yomi Isayama, was out on a mission.
"Kenmei-chan, you haven't visited in a long time."
Naraku still didn't know the purpose of Kenmei's visit. The Isayama family's intelligence network was honestly trash.
There was no helping it. The family had declined. With only five members left, the intelligence gathering was the first thing to collapse.
Yomi got her info directly from the Sorcerer Association, but Naraku, a retired sorcerer, had to wait for official notifications.
Accident investigations take time. Unless the Association informed him of the final report, he was in the dark.
The news lag was significant. Even now, Naraku didn't know his brother was missing or that his niece was in a coma (technically dead).
He still thought Kenmei was just here to hang out with Yomi.
"If you're looking for Yomi, she won't be back until tonight."
Kenmei took a deep breath. This was the troublesome part.
Strictly speaking, he was the first to discover the incident. He had gone there on a whim to confront Mei, never expecting things to blow up this badly.
He couldn't hide it forever. It was better to confess the situation himself, especially since he was the last person to visit the branch family.
"Uncle, the Isayama branch family is gone."
Kenmei's opening sentence made Naraku think his hearing was failing.
"I just came from there. The branch house has been wiped off the map. Second Uncle and Sister Mei... are both missing."
Internally, Kenmei knew exactly what had happened. It was crystal clear.
His second uncle, Yuu Isayama, hadn't gone to visit a friend like Mei had claimed. He was already dead.
When the white-haired brat's head was snatched away, Kenmei had specifically checked the basement of the ruins.
He found Yuu. The body had five fatal wounds, all from sword strikes. He had died peacefully—or at least, quickly.
Decomposition had already set in, meaning he was dead as a doornail.
Most likely, he was killed by Mei while she was controlled by the Killing Stone.
Kenmei had cleaned up the mess for Mei. He disposed of his second uncle's body.
He burned Yuu's corpse to ash with fire. Just to be safe, he even disposed of the ashes.
After all, patricide is an ugly story. Kenmei decided to report both father and daughter as simply "missing."
Otherwise, imagine the headline: "Eldest Daughter of Exorcist Clan Isayama Possessed by Killing Stone, Murders Father, Currently at Large."
The Sorcerer Association would inevitably issue an execution order for Mei. The scandal would destroy whatever reputation the Isayama family had left.
And the executioner would likely be Yomi. The fragile Isayama family couldn't survive that kind of trauma.
But the problem was, Kenmei had already contained Mei. Where would Yomi find her to complete the mission?
The whole thing was shameful. So, Kenmei decided to go all the way—he bombed the branch house again to erase every trace completely.
This was his way of giving an explanation.
Seeing his nephew's serious expression and lack of joking demeanor, the smile vanished from Naraku's face.
He became incredibly solemn, the hand gripping his cane trembling noticeably.
"What happened?! Kenmei."
"Tell me everything that happened when you went to Yuu's place."
Naraku's voice shook. Even though he wasn't particularly fond of his brother, hearing that both his brother and niece were missing struck a heavy blow to his heart.
In this era where Cursed Spirits ran rampant, "missing" was just a polite way of saying "dead."
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