As the three elders took turns tempting Roy—
The aura of the seventh elder in the corner once again leaked uncontrollably, as if infuriated by their shameless behavior.
"I object!"
"Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"
"You're embarrassing Japan itself!"
The other three elders, meanwhile, were so incensed they nearly jumped, pointing fingers and shouting at the trio.
"Oh? Is that truly how you feel?"
"After all, your origins are humble, and your numbers few."
"Your families likely lack suitable candidates of the right age, don't they? If you had any, you wouldn't be speaking like this now."
The other three showed no signs of backing down either, either smiling coldly or sneering as they hurled their taunts.
Having been colleagues for so long, they knew each other all too well.
Had their own families possessed suitable candidates, they would have been just as shameless.
At their core, they were all power-seekers, willing to go to any lengths for it. Superficial dignity was merely for show—when it came to personal gain, who among them wouldn't rush ahead of the others?
"So it seems we're at three against three?"
Roy observed the almost farcical scene before him.
Though exasperated by the situation, he wouldn't let any opportunity slip by.
"In that case, it comes down to the opinions of Principal Yaga and Principal Gakuganji..."
The elder who had recommended the Zenin twins frowned at Roy's words.
As long as they could obtain Roy's genes, they wouldn't mind if the heirs of all three families participated—after all, the three great clans still practiced polygamy to this day.
Each of the three elders attempting to entice Roy shared the same thought.
The competition for Roy himself would depend on their own abilities—but that was contingent on Roy joining Japan's jujutsu society.
Thus, these three naturally stood on the same front.
The other three opponents formed another faction.
Six elders: three in favor, three against—a deadlock.
Now, the decision rested with the two jujutsu high school principals.
"Call them now. I'll wait here."
Roy glanced around.
"Got a chair?"
"One moment, I'll have one brought in."
Soon, a chair was delivered.
Roy sat down comfortably, pulling out the phone gifted by Yaga and browsing the internet.
The elders each contacted their respective principals.
"Yaga Masamichi... He's too straightforward. I doubt he'd agree to such a request."
"Yaga already agreed. Strange—he consented before I even finished speaking."
While playing with his phone, Roy kept an ear on their conversations.
On his way to the higher-ups, he had already explained everything to Yaga.
Yaga's choice didn't disappoint him.
This was the condition he had set for joining the school.
Now, if only the Kyoto principal would also agree—
"Principal Gakuganji refused."
"He is, after all, a stubborn traditionalist..."
"That makes it four against four now."
"Only the Chief can decide this!"
Roy frowned slightly.
The Kyoto principal.
If he recalled correctly, his name was Gakuganji Yoshinobu.
I'll remember you.
With the deadlock restored at four in favor and four against, the elders had no choice but to contact the Chief of the Jujutsu High Command, the supreme leader overseeing all jujutsu sorcerers in the nation.
An hour later, the Chief stood before Roy.
He was an elderly man with long silver-white hair, the strands at his forehead forming a distinctive draconic whisker that he occasionally toyed with in his hand.
"Of course, this old man welcomes with open arms any foreign sorcerer wishing to join our Nihon Jujutsu society."
The Chief Elder wore a kindly smile, proactively extending goodwill toward Roy.
"However, this old man has heard that during the battle two nights ago, you managed to capture a Special Grade cursed spirit alive? If possible, please hand that cursed spirit over to me. In exchange, I'll personally recommend to the Prime Minister the addition of a seventh Elder seat in the Jujutsu High Council. What do you say?"
"Where did you hear that from?"
Upon hearing this, Roy's face mirrored the Chief Elder's benevolent smile.
"Didn't you yourself admit this to the Elders?"
The Chief Elder smiled knowingly, feigning surprise at Roy's apparent forgetfulness.
"Did I say that?"
Roy looked genuinely astonished, pausing in thought before sighing.
"I must have been joking! What cursed spirit could I possibly have? Apart from two that escaped, all the cursed spirits from that night were destroyed by me. I don't know any cursed spirit manipulation techniques—how could I possibly keep one with me?"
"...You do enjoy lying, don't you?"
"Heh, sometimes it's necessary."
"What a shame."
Seeing Roy remain unmoved by both soft and hard approaches, the Chief Elder could only sigh in resignation.
"If they're already destroyed, then so be it. As for the seventh seat, this old man will speak with the Prime Minister. You'll have your answer within three days."
"Then it's a pleasure doing business."
Roy's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
His expression seemed to say, "Good job."
It was hard to tell who was the newcomer and who held the higher position here.
Having achieved his desired outcome, Roy turned and left the Jujutsu High headquarters.
Watching his retreating figure, the Chief Elder's smile vanished, replaced by cold indifference.
"Where's Yuki?"
"She should have already left."
One of the Elders searched the vicinity but found no trace of Yuki Tsukumo.
"Shall we recall her?"
"...No need."
After some thought, the Chief Elder shook his head.
"If she chose not to intervene, she likely has no intention of getting involved."
Yuki Tsukumo was the most free-spirited among the three remaining Special Grade sorcerers.
She wandered abroad constantly, often making herself untraceable even to the Jujutsu High.
"This old man will visit the Prime Minister's residence. Handle affairs here among yourselves."
"Understood."
Regardless, now that they'd struck a deal with this sorcerer possessing Special Grade capabilities, they had to follow through.
At the very least, they couldn't leave any openings.
If given cause for complaint and he came knocking, finding another Special Grade to protect them would prove difficult next time.
Still.
This overseas sorcerer named Roy...
Clearly had some scheme in mind...
...
"What exactly are you after?"
The black luxury sedan cruised down the highway.
Masamichi Yaga sat expressionless in the passenger seat, addressing Roy in the back.
"What could I possibly be after?"
Roy laughed it off, his face the picture of amiability.
"Since I'm about to join the jujutsu world anyway, I might as well get some benefits for myself. Plus, it'll serve as my foothold in Japan. If I ever establish a family in the future, all this will become my descendants' inheritance! With my abilities, surely I'm qualified for at least one Elder seat in the Jujutsu High Council, right?"
He intended to establish a family in Japan, and seeking an Elder seat was for the sake of his family's interests.
Yaga simply couldn't believe what he was hearing.
This explanation was perfectly logical, leaving no room for doubt or suspicion. Even Yaga Masamichi's rational mind found no issue with the stated purpose—yet he simply couldn't bring himself to believe it.
But there was nothing he could do.
He had his own vulnerabilities to consider.
Now, he had to do everything possible to retain Roy, bring him into his faction, and quickly establish his reputation.
Otherwise, the delicate balance in Japan would be shattered in an instant.
The entire human society would undergo earth-shaking changes.
Fortunately, just as Roy had promised—"I won't make things too difficult for you"—Yaga indeed didn't find this situation overly troublesome. All he had to do was help secure a seat among the Elders for Roy. Only such a position would match the status of a Special Grade and make a Special Grade willingly stay.
"...I hope it ends here."
Yaga sighed imperceptibly.
His expression remained unchanged, but his heart was filled with unease.
In the back seat, Roy lowered his eyes slightly, carefully plotting his next move.
"I thought I'd have to resort to extreme measures, but it turned out to be so easy... Next, I'll just have to find a way to reasonably remove the other old fogeys until only I remain."
"Sometimes, procedural legitimacy is a necessary thing."
...
Three days later, the Jujutsu Headquarters announced that Roy had joined Japan's jujutsu society as a teacher at Tokyo Jujutsu High. After undergoing an evaluation, he was designated as a Special Grade, becoming the fifth Special Grade sorcerer in modern Japan—and the fourth currently active.
At the same time, the Jujutsu Headquarters added a new Elder seat, to be filled by the newly promoted Special Grade sorcerer, Roy.
This news spread rapidly, reaching the ears of countless sorcerers, curse users, and even cursed spirits within just a day or two.