Chapter 571: Isayama Family's Relatives: This Top-Tier Game, Iinaga Noriyuki

The death of Tsuchimiya Mai of the Demon Hunter Family Tsuchimiya Family sent shockwaves through the exorcist world.

From last night to this morning, people came continuously to offer condolences; the mourning hall was already arranged, the coffin placed in the center, but inside the coffin there was no corpse, only a set of clothes Tsuchimiya Mai wore in life.

Regarding this, those who knew the Tsuchimiya Family's inheritance and came to offer condolences did not show any surprise.

Because of the Tsuchimiya Family's inheritance ritual, Tsuchimiya Mai's corpse still needed to wait until the ritual was completed before it could be buried.

Holding the funeral beforehand is both custom and a way to let people of the major exorcist families know of this matter, so they come to discuss subsequent affairs.

The visitors basically all wore solemn faces, but still quite a few people showed enthusiasm and ingratiation toward Isayama Naraku, especially after learning the other party would temporarily act as Exorcist Alliance Leader, presiding over the Alliance's daily affairs thereafter.

"Strange, why is the one following beside the Isayama Family Head not Miss Isayama Meifu, but a mere adopted daughter?"

Isayama Naraku received the visiting guests on behalf of the Tsuchimiya Family Head, while Isayama Huangquan escorted the guests who had finished offering condolences to their respective rooms.

During this time, she heard no small amount of idle gossip from guests connected by marriage or kinship to the Tsuchimiya Family and Isayama Family.

Isayama Meifu is Isayama Naraku's younger brother's biological daughter; most people feel the future Isayama Family Head position will be hers.

Only a small portion of people know that Isayama Naraku truly raises his adopted daughter as the successor.

And those people's attitudes are the same as most of the visitors offering condolences now — all feel astonishment at this.

"You really have it hard; clearly you're no longer the successor to the future Isayama Family Head position, yet you still have to be discussed behind your back by unknowing, nominal relatives."

Iinaga Noriyuki, brought by his father to the Tsuchimiya Family to offer condolences, walked over and struck up a conversation with Isayama Huangquan.

"This is also human nature; compared to talent, most exorcist families value bloodline more; Father teaching me the Isayama Family exorcism arts without reservation — that is the abnormal situation.

And in the eyes of them as normal exorcist family members, I, as the Isayama Family's adopted daughter, am merely an outsider with no substantive blood relation to them.

Them not understanding Father's choice, having objections to me personally — it's very normal."

"But you're no longer the successor to the future Isayama Family Head, right?"

"The matter of wanting to adopt Broly as an adopted son, Father hasn't announced publicly yet."

"But you're taking the fall; won't that make you feel unbalanced inside?"

"Unbalanced? I really don't feel that way.

Of course, if it were the previous me still treated as the Family Head successor, those relatives' words would indeed make me feel burdened, make me feel I absolutely must not betray Father's trust and expectations.

But for the current me, those words can no longer affect me; as you said, what they think happened isn't the truth, the future Isayama Family Head position successor is someone else.

As for taking the fall, a sister shielding her brother from wind and rain, taking a little blame — what does it count for? I couldn't be happier!"

"Uh……"

Iinaga Noriyuki was somewhat taken aback, looking at the girl's relaxed expression, and scratched his head.

"Then my worry was unnecessary; I thought you'd been struck a blow, didn't expect you to actually think like this.

Hmm, you really are a good sister; Broly having an adoptive sister like you willing to shield him from wind and rain is also quite lucky."

"Thanks for the praise, but it's better to say less of this kind of talk now, after all……"

Isayama Huangquan didn't continue speaking, because she had already returned to the mourning hall side.

And the Tsuchimiya Family's Thousand Gold Tsuchimiya Kagura knelt woodenly beside her mother's mourning hall.

The girl's face seemed to show no sorrow, but Isayama Huangquan felt this girl simply couldn't accept the fact of waking up to find her mother dead and not even being able to see the body.

Her father, Lord Tsuchimiya Yuele, to shoulder the Tsuchimiya Family's exorcism mission, is currently inside the Spirit Vein Node accepting the inheritance ritual, conducting soul imprinting, yet hasn't even met his own daughter or spoken a single word of comfort.

【This is a pitiful child who lost her mother and has no father by her side!】

Isayama Huangquan gazed at the girl, then went to the side, poured a cup of water and brought it over.

"Drink some water, and eat a candy; only then will you have the strength to face the people coming here."

One trouble with being from a great clan is that they always fuss over proprieties.

The girl's wooden behavior of not returning greetings to visiting guests, and not showing excessive grief for her mother's passing, has already led some visiting guests to make remarks behind the scenes.

Nothing good; it might lower the evaluation of the Tsuchimiya Family's future successor.

Therefore, Isayama Huangquan made the move of offering water and candy, and quietly reminded the girl.

"Wuu, Mama……"

Tsuchimiya Kagura looked at the black-long-straight girl who had squatted before her, like a child just startled awake from a nightmare; her sorrowful emotions could no longer be suppressed, she hugged the girl before her and burst into tears; Isayama Huangquan hurriedly raised her hand, barely preventing the water from spilling onto the girl.

And for this somewhat improper situation, the visiting guests all expressed understanding.

Madam Tsuchimiya just died; how could one harshly blame a child who just lost her mother.

Open sorrow and propriety — there must be at least one, or people will feel it's improper.

Isayama Huangquan had Iinaga Noriyuki beside her hold the water in her hand, then embraced the girl, letting the other's tears wet her collar, lightly patting the girl's back to comfort her.

Tsuchimiya Kagura cried for a while; not long after she fell into a deep sleep in Isayama Huangquan's arms.

"This child was woken up in the middle of last night, came out and was told by the servants the news of her mother's death.

The whole person froze like a marionette, changed into mourning clothes by the family maids and brought to the mourning hall; crying now counts as a good thing……"

Isayama Huangquan carried the girl to an empty room to rest, then explained the girl's situation to Iinaga Noriyuki who followed carrying the water cup.

"I originally thought you were just a brat with a bit of skill, didn't expect you to actually have such a mature side."

The maternal radiance the girl revealed while holding the child was a bit dazzling to Iinaga Noriyuki's eyes, making this person subconsciously speak the truth.

"Hah?"

Isayama Huangquan raised an eyebrow, and looked at the youth with a somewhat unkind gaze.

"My meaning is, you're very pretty, your temperament makes one's heart move."

Sensing the girl's unkind gaze, Iinaga Noriyuki hurriedly tried to salvage it.

"Do you think your words are very funny, playboy — not allowed to stay in this room, now, get out for me!"

Iinaga Noriyuki is a frivolous-tempered fellow; Isayama Huangquan usually feels he's a playboy, but as a senior at her workplace she couldn't say much.

But now, Iinaga Noriyuki's sincere words of praise were taken by Isayama Huangquan as frivolous flirting regardless of the occasion; the girl directly put on a stink face and chased this person out.

Looking at the room door slammed shut before him, Iinaga Noriyuki's mouth corners twitched a bit.

That's just how he talks normally, can you blame him?

Alright, he really is to blame.

Iinaga Noriyuki returned to his father's side, told him he was going back to work, and then left the Tsuchimiya household.

As for the Iinaga Family Head, because he saw his son just now interacting and conversing with the Isayama Family's adopted daughter based on their acquaintance and colleague relationship, he thereby produced some different thoughts.

Of course, during Madame Tsuchimiya's funeral period, bringing up some things would be inappropriate.

The Iinaga Family Head decided to wait until later, to probe the Isayama Family Head's attitude first before speaking further.

Iinaga Noriyuki didn't know what his father was plotting; after returning to the Supernatural Countermeasures Bureau, he was assigned a task by Shen Gongji Shobu.

"Regarding the whereabouts of that child Broly's contracted spirit's wife and daughter, we've already investigated and cleared it up. Iinaga, you take the materials and go find that child to complete the contract."

"Eh, Director, I only just got here, my chair hasn't even warmed up yet."

"You came to work just to warm a chair and freeload coffee on the side?"

"Aren't the others also free with nothing to do?"

"Sakuraba has a neck injury, Nabu-brother is currently preparing to go with the Spirit Power Field Detection Team to the place where the Tsuchimiya couple were attacked last night, to investigate the traces of those attacking evil spirits.

And my legs and feet are inconvenient, Nikai-do has to assist me with some work, the only one left is Mr. Iwahara, do you think it would be appropriate for me to send him to find that child Broly?"

"If you're unwilling, I can go in your place!"

Iwahara Kōji raised his hand, volunteering himself.

"I'll go."

Iinaga Noriyuki's mouth corner twitched, but he still took the document envelope Nikai-do gave him and accepted this task.

After all, Iwahara Kōji is a same, in case he also has a child's preference, and further in case the other party has insufficient self-control, it could evolve into a miserable case.

Of course, ultimately who would be miserable is hard to say, after all, on Broly's side, there is an Upper Spirit present.

"Properly display the advantages of your external appearance, get closer to that child Broly, understand?"

Regarding Director Jinguuji's words, Iinaga Noriyuki was somewhat speechless, but still waved his hand.

"It's just winning over a child, deepening his sense of identification with the Countermeasures Bureau, leave it to me."

"Ding-dong~"

Iinaga Noriyuki arrived at the front of the Isayama house, pressed the doorbell at the side.

"Eh, you're from the Countermeasures Bureau, right?!"

Broly, who came out to open the door, looked at the youth at the doorway and said with some surprise.

"You wouldn't happen to have not remembered my name, would you?"

Iinaga Noriyuki was somewhat suspicious.

"If you're looking for Sister Huangquan, she's not at home."

Broly shifted the topic.

"I know where she is, I'm not here to find her, but to find you."

"Come to find me?"

"Your contracted spirit's wife and daughter situation has been investigated, this is the materials Director Jinguuji had me bring to you."

As Iinaga Noriyuki spoke, he passed the document envelope in his hand over.

Broly heard it was this, and after receiving it, said thanks.

Then, seeing the youth at the doorway still standing there not leaving, he couldn't help but ask: "Do you still have something?"

"Director Jinguuji's meaning is to have me help you together settle your contracted spirit's requirements. I drove here, so I can conveniently bring you over to Saitama Prefecture."

Iinaga Noriyuki revealed what he thought was a kindly smile, only to discover the boy looking at him with some difficulty, his eyes seemingly even carrying a meaning of dislike.

"Uh, Little Brother Broly, are you uneasy going out alone with Big Brother me?"

Iinaga Noriyuki squatted down, and asked.

But Broly simply didn't want to ride in a car, this kind of slow transportation tool.

He himself could fly there in an instant, but if together with someone else, he'd still have to pretend to be an ordinary child.

And ordinary children cannot fly at supersonic speeds.

Of course, probably also cannot subdue an Upper Spirit just by relying on a fist attached with spiritual power.

"Mm, I want to go together with Sister Huangquan."

Broly followed along with the other's words, nodded and replied.

【Huangquan Miss is truly amazing, in just these few days' time, she's turned a little boy into a sister-con who likes sticking to her~】

Iinaga Noriyuki sighed in his heart, thinking of Director Jinguuji's entrusted task of getting closer, and put on a serious face.

"Little Brother Broly, do you like your Sister Huangquan?"

"Mm, like."

Broly didn't know why this person asked this, but still decisively nodded and gave an affirmative answer.

"Then do you know that liking a person requires considering more for the other party?"

"What do you want to say?"

"What I want to say is, your Sister Huangquan will be very busy recently, the pressure she needs to bear isn't small either, and something like this merely going to see the contracted spirit's predeceased family, you actually can completely go together with Big Brother. Don't look at me like this, but Big Brother is also a reliable person."

Iinaga Noriyuki pointed at himself, and said in a Wang Po selling melons, self-praising way.

"Busy, I know Sister Huangquan will be comparatively busy recently, but what pressure does she need to bear, could it be someone wants to be unfavorable to her?"

Broly ignored Iinaga Noriyuki's latter words, and regarding the information the youth revealed earlier, pursued the question.

"Squeak~"

The pipe fox on Iinaga Noriyuki's shoulder suddenly cried out, then nervously shrank behind his neck.

This kind of spirit beast, the pipe fox, has perception of danger far stronger than humans', yet it sensed the danger hidden within the boy's attitude.

"Ah, it's not that someone wants to do her harm, just... Little Brother Broly, do you know what kind of situation your Sister Huangquan is in within the Jianshan Family?"

"What situation?"

"Namely, the matter that she is not the Jianshan Family Head's biological daughter."

"I know that, but does it have anything to do with the pressure she has to bear?"

"It does."

Hearing that the boy clearly knew the girl's identity in the Jianshan Family, Iinaga Noriyuki breathed a sigh of relief.

This way, things became much easier to explain.

However...

"Let's still go handle proper business together; I'll tell you on the road."

Iinaga Noriyuki invited the boy into the car, and Broly, who wanted to know just what pressure Jianshan Huangquan was under, did not continue to refuse.

"As an adopted daughter of the Jianshan Family, your Sister Huangquan was cultivated by the Jianshan Family Head as the successor to the future Family Head position, which has caused many relatives with close or distant ties to the Jianshan Family to have quite a few complaints..."

Driving toward Saitama Prefecture, Iinaga Noriyuki did not reveal the boy's transcendent talent or the matter of him about to replace Jianshan Huangquan as the Jianshan Family heir; he merely explained the situation Jianshan Huangquan had faced up to this point.

"Wait, you mean those Jianshan Family relatives are the ones who pressured Sister Huangquan?"

Broly asked in a hostile tone.

Meanwhile, the Jianshan Family relatives currently mourning Mrs. Tsuchimiya at the Tsuchimiya Family home — this group with high spiritual sense and intuition better than ordinary people — felt a chill down their spines at this moment, just like being targeted by an evil spirit, yet seemingly not.

"Do you all feel a chill?"

"There is a bit."

"Have we been targeted by an evil spirit?"

"Haha, with this many exorcists here, what evil spirit would dare target us?"

(Chapter End)