"You were the one who suggested coming to an izakaya, yet you are not drinking. What a buzzkill."
Naobito Zen'in wore an expression that said, you are no fun.
"Are you sure you want a kid who has not even started high school to drink?"
Eichi looked at him as if he were scum.
"Haha, you are right. Wait until you are older to understand the joys of drinking."
After speaking, Naobito raised his cup and drained it.
Although the drinking vessels in Japan look like small dishes, they are still called cups.
A cold smile played on Eichi's lips.
While the statement seemed normal, it could also be interpreted as, you are still young, the adult world is too early for you.
Subtly, he used age to assert dominance over Eichi.
"It is not your era anymore, old man."
Eichi looked up at Naobito.
"Today's young men do not really like alcohol."
"Oh?"
Naobito narrowed his eyes.
He detected the dissatisfaction in Eichi's words.
"That is a pity, but alcohol is a treasure passed down by our old ancestors. One day, they will come to like it."
This is actually very normal.
People who want to gain something usually lose something else.
Just as young men from the lower class must abandon many things to enter the upper class.
The upper class has its own rules. To join, one must integrate into their group and understand the joys of alcohol.
"Indeed, but that is for ordinary people. There are always some geniuses who can forge their own Way, are there not?"
Eichi met Naobito's gaze without flinching, a confident smile on his face.
"Hahahahaha, you are quite something, kid."
A moment later, Naobito suddenly burst into laughter.
Knock, knock, swish.
A waiter slid open the door and placed several brightly colored drinks on the table.
Afterward, the waiter bowed and exited the room.
"What is this, juice?"
Naobito stroked his chin, intrigued.
"It is a new popular drink. Care to try?"
"Why not?"
Hearing it was new, Naobito unhesitatingly picked up a glass and drank it.
"Ha."
Naobito burped and set the glass back down.
"It is certainly a taste I have never had before, with a strong impact. But ultimately, it only attracts attention with its novelty. Once the novelty wears off, it cannot compare to traditional alcohol."
Naobito poured traditional sake into the empty cup.
"Indeed, many new drinks do not last long, but there are many types of new drinks, you know."
Eichi gestured to the colorful drinks in front of them.
"As long as one survives, it will impact traditional alcohol. When enough new drinks survive, traditional alcohol will naturally be forced to change."
Eichi poured a blue drink into Naobito's sake.
"Interesting, but the people from those old breweries will not agree."
The old breweries naturally referred to the Zen'in Family.
"It does not matter. Even in breweries that produce traditional alcohol, there will be people who like new drinks. Just poach them and bring them together. If the people from the old breweries dare to stop us..."
Eichi stared directly at Naobito, the meaning in his eyes self-evident.
"Hahahaha, interesting, truly interesting. That is not something a young man would say."
Naobito laughed and drank the sake mixed with the blue drink.
Seeing Naobito drink, Eichi's smile softened.
"Then I will talk to you in the way a young man would."
Eichi relaxed and leaned back, his once inscrutable expression instantly becoming that of an approachable young man.
"The times are changing. The Jujutsu world once said that Gojo Satoru's birth shifted the balance, but this era is not just about Satoru."
"I am stronger than Gojo Satoru."
Eichi's face showed a confident smile.
The current Satoru is different from the Satoru at the beginning of the story, the gap in strength between the two is large.
If Eichi went all out now, he was confident he could defeat Satoru.
Even if Satoru grew as powerful as in the story, it would not matter.
Eichi was not afraid of Satoru getting stronger, because he believed his own growth rate would never fall behind Satoru's.
"You are a truly arrogant brat, but you certainly have the right to say that."
Naobito looked at Eichi with satisfaction. Putting everything else aside, Eichi had already surpassed Satoru in terms of personality.
Plus Mahoraga.
In the past duel between the Zen'in Family head and the Gojo Family head, the Zen'in head could not control Mahoraga.
But even so, Mahoraga still fought to the death against the Gojo Family's Six Eyes.
If someone were controlling it, with Eichi, this generation of the Zen'in Family could continue its glory and not be ridden over by the Gojo Family.
"What do you plan to do with the old brewery?"
"How about Naoya?"
Eichi's words made Naobito look incredulous.
However, Naobito quickly composed himself.
"Oh? Are you sure? He is far inferior to you."
"I am not interested in that rotten place. I will take some young men who are willing to brew new drinks and form a new brewery."
"As for that decaying old brewery, while Naoya cannot compare to a few of us, there is one thing. He is suitable to be a blade, an obedient and useful blade."
Initially, Eichi wanted to say dog, but the old man's cooperation made him think of the saying, one does not strike a smiling face.
Naobito laughed after hearing this.
Eichi's words were undoubtedly what Naobito most wanted to hear.
The most ruthless are the imperial families. Although the Zen'in Family is not an imperial family, in essence, it is not much different.
Naoya is his son after all, and if not for circumstances, who would want their son to fare poorly?
As for being a blade?
In the Zen'in Family, not everyone is qualified to be a blade.
Some people are not afraid of being a blade, but of not having the opportunity to be one.
"What about Toji?"
The first time they met, Eichi was with Toji.
"Toji will join me. And by the way, Toji's son, Megumi, also has the Ten Shadows Technique."
"Hm?"
Naobito paused his drinking.
Two Ten Shadows Technique users? Shouldn't that be impossible?
One Ten Shadows Technique user can threaten a Six Eyes, two Ten Shadows Technique users... "Haha, that is really good, gulp gulp."
Naobito downed another cup.
The days ahead would be much better.
Although Eichi did not intend to return to the Zen'in Family, he had already made his stance clear.
And this approach was actually much better than the answer Naobito had hoped for.
Eichi wanted a new generation of sorcerers, while the older generation would remain in the hands of people like him.
His son could also become family head as desired, although the place he was in might become a branch family in the future.
But the head of a branch family is still a family head.
This way, the transition of power would not be too intense, and the Zen'in Family's strength could be preserved and utilized to the maximum.
The new generation has not yet grown up, so they cannot be counted as part of the Zen'in Family's strength for now. And even if they grow up under Eichi, what then? Is that not still the Zen'in Family's strength?
Before they grow up, Eichi and Toji are enough to protect these new sprouts.
Thinking of this, Naobito felt incredibly refreshed.
Ever since the birth of the Gojo Family's Six Eyes, the Zen'in Family had felt pressure.
After Satoru displayed his terrifying genius, Naobito's life became even more difficult.
But now there were no problems. The Gojo Family had the strongest Six Eyes, and the Zen'in Family also had Eichi, who could tame the strongest shikigami.
And in the future, there might even be a second sorcerer capable of taming Mahoraga.
Next, it would be the Kamo Family's turn to suffer.
Naobito revealed a hearty smile.
"Oh, right, help me with two things."
"What?"
The delighted Naobito indicated that two things were no problem, let alone twenty.
"My friend and I need to register for Jujutsu Sorcerer ranking. Help me find four Grade 1 sorcerers to be our recommenders."
"Hm? Does the Gojo kid need it too?"
Before coming, Naobito had already investigated Eichi's connections and knew the three of them needed to be evaluated for Grade 1.
"Not Satoru, someone else. I will give you the details later. You can look for them first."
Eichi did not elaborate.
"Is that so? That will take some time."
Grade 1 sorcerers are not common. Four is manageable, he, Ogi, and Jin'ichi make three. But finding six at once would take some time, even for the Zen'in Family.
"It is fine. Tokyo Jujutsu High does not start for several more months."
"The second thing is this."
Eichi pulled several Fate/stay night posters from his shadow.
"Use the Zen'in Family's power to help me promote them."
Naobito took the posters and immediately opened them.
"No problem."
It is just promotion. The Zen'in Family only needs to say the word and people will help. At most, he will give them some extra benefits.
(To be continued.)