At this moment, Rowan did not know what had happened at the shrine after he left.
Because right now, he was inside a restaurant, eating heartily without stopping and tasting Italian cuisine.
These dishes were the cooking of Fuyumi Mizuhara, a Totsuki graduate. The taste was quite good. Rowan had to admit that Totsuki Academy graduates truly had ability.
Their upper limits varied, but their lower limits were very high. As long as someone had been part of the Totsuki Elite Ten, not one of them was bad. Each person's cooking had its own distinct characteristics and could satisfy Rowan's taste buds.
As he tasted these delicious dishes, Rowan had already thrown all his previous displeasure and fatigue to the back of his mind.
There was only one thought in his heart.
Eat. Eat. Keep eating.
This meal lasted for more than an hour before Rowan finally ended it in satisfaction.
Thus, a pleasant day finally came to an end.
Over the next few days, Rowan kept his promise and brought Nero to the amusement park again. They thoroughly rode and played every attraction in the amusement park several times, continuing until Nero finally grew tired of it.
After that, the group went to places like the aquarium and the arcade. In the arcade, Nero quickly degenerated from an emperor into a gaming otaku. Out of twenty-four hours in a day, at least eighteen of them were spent immersed in video games.
This was something Rowan had not expected.
But after thinking about it carefully, it did not seem like a bad thing.
In fact, it was not only Nero. Even Rowan became somewhat addicted. After all, video games really were fun.
Rowan even bought a PS5 specifically for playing games. Occasionally, he would also bring Medea outside to play for a day. When they got hungry, they would go to restaurants run by Totsuki Elite Ten graduates to eat.
Their days were both wonderful and decadent.
Before they knew it, ten days to half a month passed just like that.
During this period, not a single person came to trouble Rowan, and Rowan's little life was extremely comfortable.
One morning, after eating breakfast, Rowan sat down in front of the television, turned on the PS5, and began playing the latest game.
The place he was currently living in was a luxurious duplex apartment located in Ginza, Tokyo. It was over three hundred square meters.
It had been prepared for him by Nakiri Senzaemon.
Rowan lived there with complete peace of mind. After all, Totsuki Academy was now under his protection. Taking a little protection fee was only natural. If he did not take it, Nakiri Senzaemon would be the one getting anxious.
Knock, knock, knock…
Just as Rowan was immersed in his game and unable to pull himself away, a burst of knocking suddenly sounded.
Rowan ignored it and continued being immersed in his game, unable to extricate himself.
At that moment, a graceful shadow warrior emerged from Rowan's shadow, walked to the entrance, and opened the door.
Two people stood at the door.
Nakiri Senzaemon and Nakiri Erina.
"And you are…"
Seeing that the one who opened the door was a graceful woman dressed like a warrior, yet whose face could not be clearly seen, Nakiri Senzaemon was momentarily confused.
"I am Master's shikigami," the shadow warrior said. "Come in. Master is waiting for you inside."
With that, she stepped aside.
Nakiri Senzaemon suddenly understood and brought Nakiri Erina inside.
After entering the living room, Rowan casually glanced at Nakiri Senzaemon, then pulled his attention back to the television.
"What do you need from me?"
Nakiri Senzaemon said respectfully, "Lord Rowan, we need your help."
"Speak," Rowan said concisely.
"In truth, just yesterday, our Nakiri family's zashiki-warashi told us that Hagoromo-Gitsune's subordinates have already found her and demanded that she submit and join Hagoromo-Gitsune's command. If…"
Nakiri Senzaemon paused slightly here, then continued, "If she refuses, then she will be making an enemy of Hagoromo-Gitsune. Hagoromo-Gitsune will uproot her, together with our Nakiri family, and erase us all."
"That is why we had no choice but to come find Lord Rowan and beg you to help us survive this crisis."
Rowan pressed pause and turned his head to glance at the gloomy Nakiri Senzaemon and the uneasy-looking Nakiri Erina.
Ever since learning that this was a crossover anime world, mixed with yokai, cursed spirits, and evil spirits, Rowan had already prepared himself mentally.
Now that a Hagoromo-Gitsune had suddenly appeared, Rowan was not surprised at all.
"Hagoromo-Gitsune, huh? No wonder you came to ask me for help."
"With her strength, she really can uproot all of you."
"But then again, I remember Hagoromo-Gitsune's forces are in Kyoto. Why has she come to Tokyo?"
Nakiri Senzaemon shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"I am not too clear on the specific situation either. But our family's zashiki-warashi said that Hagoromo-Gitsune seems to be planning to advance into Tokyo."
Rowan gave an "oh," becoming interested, and asked, "How long did Hagoromo-Gitsune's people give you to consider?"
"One day," Nakiri Senzaemon said in a heavy voice. "Only one day. If the zashiki-warashi does not give them an answer by tonight, they will begin slaughtering."
Rowan suddenly understood.
"No wonder you came to find me so urgently early in the morning. So the fire has already reached your eyebrows. Fine. I'll go back with you tonight."
Hearing this, Nakiri Senzaemon immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Umu. Are we fighting, Praetor?"
At the same time, Nero's voice suddenly came from upstairs. She had been woken by the knocking just now and came down along the stairs.
Nakiri Senzaemon quickly bowed to Nero.
"Greetings, Emperor Nero."
"No need to be polite. You are not my subject, so there is no need to bow to me."
Nero waved her hand, then her gaze fell on Nakiri Erina, and a smile appeared on her face.
"You came too, Erina."
Compared to an old man, Nero preferred Erina. Not only was she beautiful, she could also cook. Who wouldn't like such a great beauty?
Nakiri Erina quickly bowed to Nero.
"Good morning, Lady Nero."
"No need to be polite, no need to be polite."
Nero walked to Nakiri Erina's side with a smile and asked, "I heard you discussing Hagoromo-Gitsune and some deadline just now. What exactly happened?"
Nakiri Erina softly explained the whole matter in detail.
After listening, Nero's brows shot upward, and anger burst forth.
"A mere yokai dares be so rude? I am angry."
She held Nakiri Erina's hand and comforted her, saying, "Do not worry. Leave this matter to us. Praetor, tonight I shall send all these rude yokai flying."
"Sure."
Rowan nodded with a smile.
"Come with me to the Nakiri family tonight. We'll meet Hagoromo-Gitsune's subordinates."
"No problem."
Nero agreed readily.
Nakiri Erina and Nakiri Senzaemon exchanged a look and saw a trace of joy in each other's eyes.
With Rowan's group helping them, their family was safe.
Time passed, and soon it was evening.
Rowan, Medea, and Nero all arrived at the Nakiri family.
They met the Nakiri family's zashiki-warashi.
This zashiki-warashi looked about six or seven years old. She wore a kimono and had a bob haircut, looking extremely cute.
The zashiki-warashi seemed very shy. After seeing Rowan, she timidly walked over and bowed to him.
"Kazuko greets Lord Rowan."
"So your name is Kazuko. What a cute name."
Rowan smiled and reached out, gently patting the zashiki-warashi's head. It was fleshy, soft, and smooth, very comfortable to touch.
Nakiri Senzaemon said, "The name Kazuko was actually given by my great-grandfather. Her full name is Nakiri Kazuko."
"Nakiri Kazuko?"
Rowan turned his head and glanced at Nakiri Senzaemon.
Nakiri Senzaemon said, "Lord Rowan should know what kind of yokai a zashiki-warashi is, yes?"
Rowan really did know. According to legend, most zashiki-warashi were the souls of children who had died young from poverty or illness and remained in the human world because they retained the obsession to bring happiness to others.
Nakiri Senzaemon said, "In terms of seniority, Kazuko is actually my ancestor. She was my great-grandfather's daughter. Unfortunately, she passed away from illness. Perhaps due to the favor of the gods, after Kazuko passed away, she returned as a zashiki-warashi."
"Our Nakiri family also prospered because of Kazuko, eventually gaining the foundation we have today."
Rowan suddenly understood. No wonder the Nakiri family had a zashiki-warashi.
So this zashiki-warashi had originally been a member of the Nakiri family.
"Then your family really is lucky."
"I think so as well."
Nakiri Senzaemon deeply agreed.
After that, everyone moved to the main hall. Nero seemed to have no resistance toward a cute little girl like Kazuko and quickly became close with her.
As for Nakiri Erina, she went to the kitchen together with Medea and began preparing a lavish dinner and desserts for Rowan.
Rowan sat down heavily on the sofa, watching television while waiting.
Before long, delicious dishes were served.
Naturally, Rowan did not stand on ceremony and began eating heartily.
Unexpectedly, in just these few days, Nakiri Erina's cooking skill had improved again, leaving Rowan extremely surprised. No wonder Gin Dojima had said that Nakiri Erina would become the strongest monster in Totsuki Academy's history.
This progress really was obvious.
If she could maintain this kind of progress every day, no one would dare imagine how strong she would be by the time she graduated.
"Not bad, not bad."
Rowan did not hold back his praise and gave Nakiri Erina a thumbs-up, praising her so much that Nakiri Erina's heart blossomed with joy, her smile as bright as a flower.
Nakiri Senzaemon watched this scene from the side with a chuckle, his gaze flickering as if thinking about something.
Just as everyone was immersed in joy, uninvited guests arrived.
A faintly discernible cold aura suddenly blew in from outside.
Along with a muffled boom, the gate of the Nakiri residence was heavily pushed open by a powerful force.
Strands and wisps of yokai aura surged in like the tide, flowing into every corner of the hall.
Then, the sound of footsteps rang out.
The sound came from the entrance. It was not loud, but it seemed to step on everyone's hearts.