Chapter 90

It's not fair to blame Gojo Satoru for not believing that Kazuma Hatori was the instigator.

After all, the whole thing is very mysterious when it gets out.

Hasegawa Kazuma, who has never been exposed to the world of sorcery, is sixteen years old and a level three sorcerer (currently). He is unable to use spells but can frighten powerful vested interests into fleeing in disarray.

Although using this word to describe them might be a bit disrespectful to the elderly, judging from the way Kamo Chokichi and the others quickly left, and the way their legs were moving more and more frequently, it's hard to say that there wasn't an element of "escape" involved.

Even Gojo Tatsuo doesn't want to see Gojo Satoru these past two days.

No, let alone two days, as long as that black-haired boy is around, it's as if some inviolable territory has been drawn up around him, which is frightening.

In short, I feel both repulsed and afraid, but I can't do anything about it, so it's best to just keep him out of my sight.

As for Gojo Satoru, this kid who doesn't understand hierarchy and always looks down on others just because he's strong, Gojo Tatsuo would give him a few words of advice every now and then, to teach him a lesson—no matter how strong you are, this world isn't a place where you can be ranked solely by strength.

A vast network woven from interests, status, and personal connections is the foundation for possessing power and winning people's hearts.

But ability does come in handy at times.

This statement does not mean elevating it to a position where it can participate in the power struggle, but rather using it as a bargaining chip in negotiations with other forces.

Therefore, Gojo Tatsuo did not intend to truly antagonize Gojo Satoru. On the contrary, he would arrange the best resources and treatment for him and had long ago established the rule that after the previous head of the family passed away, he would succeed as the next head of the Gojo family.

Those reprimands, in a sense, were nothing more than strict demands to strictly adhere to family rules.

However, Gojo Satoru was tired of this kind of discipline that restricted this and that, and he disliked those power-hungry schemes even more, which led to his impatience with the elders.

If a more adaptable successor were to come along, they could probably get along well with these old men—or, to put it bluntly, "collude with them."

After all, if Gojo Satoru thinks this through, he can completely become a beneficiary in this network, looking down on everyone from a high position.

But it is precisely because of this rejection and disdain that Gojo Satoru is Gojo Satoru, and not someone else.

Those who can thrive within the rules are nothing more than the next outdated and feudal [Gojo Tatsuo] and [Kamo Chokichi].

Kazuma Hatori also liked Gojo Satoru, who saw those blue eyes full of expectation and said to him, "I hope the world of jutsu can become something like this."

—This quality was not given or imposed on Gojo Satoru by others, but was entirely due to his own growth, reflection, summarization, and the things he ultimately decided to do.

Even if Gojo Satoru, who has just enrolled in the junior college, doesn't have such thoughts yet, it doesn't matter. Hato Kazuma is willing to stay by his side and wait for the day when this seed sprouts and breaks through the soil.

However, now...

Kazuma Hatori is playing games with Satoru Gojo.

Since the elders ignored them and didn't bother him, Gojo Satoru simply asked his servants to move a television set into his bedroom, where he spent his days playing video games without eating or sleeping.

Yay, that's awesome!

Anyway, although it's called a sleeping quarters, the space is actually quite large. It can be divided into two or three more rooms, which is more than enough for playing games, reading and studying, and even for Hatori Kazuma to sleep here.

Moreover, they didn't actually stay up all night. Kazuma Hatori would silently stare at him with a disapproving look until he turned off the TV.

Gojo Satoru muttered to himself.

In some ways, the black pea's gaze was far more effective than the old men's scolding...

But all in all, he had a super fun time at the beginning of the holiday!

However, Gojo Satoru still couldn't find the answer to the mystery of why the elders, including Gojo Tatsuo, were so frightened when they first met them.

Surely they're not really afraid of Kazuma Hagoromo...

But this doesn't make any sense. He's not afraid of those old men who could be killed with a single [Cang] shot, so why would he be afraid of Yizhen?

Gojo Satoru pondered for two days, and whenever he felt that this was the truth, he only needed to glance at Hato Kazuma, who was staring blankly back at him, to immediately deny the guess.

I really don't think there's anything about him that he needs to be afraid of to the point of having a conditioned reflex.

Do you have any passive skills that are constantly active and can intimidate the elderly, with the effect increasing as they get older?

Gojo Satoru stroked his chin and asked Yuuto Ichishin with a wildly imaginative question.

"……No."

Kazuma Hatake was helpless, but he couldn't bring himself to tell the truth that this was a game, and that in his first playthrough he had done many things that would leave the old NPC weak in the limbs, with a sore back, lumbar muscle strain, or even die...

The favorability rating is so negative that it can't even be displayed in the game.

If we use another more popular adjective—"So, did he confess?"—it would be something like, "How about it?"

Therefore, Kazuma Hatori could only reveal it in a very subtle and tactful way.

"Maybe he's seen someone who looks similar to me and he's really messed with them."

Gojo Satoru thought about it and realized that this explanation was actually quite possible—bullshit.

"If anyone could have left such a deep psychological scar on so many high-ranking people, he would still be the Great Demon King of the sorcery world right now."

Gojo Satoru was speechless and narrowed his eyes. "How could I have never heard of it before?"

While it's true that Kazuhito Hatake might not be the Great Demon King, the title "Living Yama" is indeed one they once used to call him.

Unable to figure it out, the clever Xiaowu simply applied the same principle to other situations and used Hagoromo Kazuma as a kind of deterrent weapon that was very effective against old men.

For example, after returning to the Gojo family, whenever he planned to eat at home, Gojo Satoru could never avoid Gojo Tatsuo and the others.

At this point, Gojo Satoru will make a dazzling appearance with Hato Kazuma, instantly silencing any dissenting opinions these people might have.

"This is a guest of our Gojo family, so hurry up and serve the food."

Gojo Satoru opened his blue eyes wide, his face full of "[I'm doing this all for the sake of the Gojo family's reputation]".

"How could you neglect your guest and arrange for him to eat alone in the side hall?"

Kazuma Hatori glanced coldly at Tatsuo Gojo.

Even without uttering a single word, it was enough to make Tatsuo Gojo's hand holding the chopsticks tremble, and he reflexively wanted to find something to hide behind.

For example, shoji doors.

"…………"

The rebukes I wanted to say were forced to be swallowed back, and I became a little cautious.

"Not at all, of course we will treat our guests well, especially since this is, um, your friend."

He became meek and submissive, glancing left and right but refusing to look at Kazuma Hatori, while waving his hand to signal the servants to add a dining table for him.

This is how meals are eaten in large families. They don't sit around one table. Instead, the senior members of the main family who are qualified to sit at the table are arranged in two rows according to their rank and the host's seat, and everyone eats their own portion of food.

The portions and types of food are all fixed; the rice is pitifully small, the vegetables are pitifully small, and the soup is gone in just a couple of gulps.

To paraphrase Gojo Satoru's complaint, he was simply not getting enough to eat.

He's still growing!

Therefore, Gojo Satoru usually didn't like eating in silence with these old men, and instead took Hatori Kazuma around Kyoto looking for good restaurants.

However, he has come to enjoy eating with them now.

"By the way, Grandpa Chen Xiong."

Gojo Satoru took a couple of bites of rice, then, as if suddenly remembering something, he spoke to him thoughtfully.

"When I came last time, didn't you have something to say to me?"

He held the rice bowl in one hand, while gesturing in the air with the other hand holding chopsticks, perfectly imitating the other person's voice and tone.

"It's that one, something like, '[The next head of the family should act like the next head of the family, what kind of behavior is it to show up in public and participate in variety shows]'. I've almost forgotten it, could you repeat it to me again?"

Kazuma Hato sat next to Satoru Gojo, also turning his gaze toward Tatsuo Gojo.

He was also quite curious to hear what this old NPC would say to the pretty Xiao Wu.

Although the videotape of that variety show last time allowed Gojo Satoru to act arrogantly in front of them for a while and thoroughly enjoy watching these old men make fools of themselves, he was definitely scolded in the end.

After all, Gojo Satoru is currently only the "next head of the family".

As long as the head of the family is still alive, the true power of the entire family will still belong to him.

Furthermore, the head of the family himself must also serve the "Gojo family"—in the traditional Japanese family concept, the concept of "family" is supreme, and everyone in the family must dedicate everything to maintaining the family without any objection.

Individuals are not important; what is more important is the "family" that relies on the spirits of ancestors, inherits the family name and bloodline, and completely transcends individual existence.

Therefore, while Gojo Satoru's actions might seem insignificant to ordinary people, in Gojo Tatsuo's eyes, they were actions that showed a complete disregard for the Gojo family's reputation and caused the family to lose face.

As an elder with the authority to make decisions and of a higher seniority than Gojo Satoru, Gojo Tatsuo naturally had the right to reprimand such unruly behavior.

Unless Gojo Satoru truly becomes the head of the Gojo family—according to the family head succession system, at that time he will not only inherit the right to control and possess all the family's property, but also the "patriarchal authority" that requires all other family members to unconditionally obey the head of the family.

Only then will Gojo Satoru be able to do whatever he wants, free from the constraints of old men like Gojo Tatsuo.

Although he still does things his own way, it's still annoying to be constantly scolded by the old man.

But at this moment, Kazuma Hatake is there.

Under the gaze of those dark eyes, Gojo Tatsuo felt the hairs on the back of his head stand on end.

"…………"

Help! Can this kid please stop mentioning him?!

Why can't we just finish eating and leave? He was trying his best to ignore the black-haired boy who made them feel disgusted and fearful, but who they couldn't do anything about because of the presence of that adult!

Even Kazuma Hato probably didn't expect that the villain who caused him to be constantly schemed against until his death in the previous game would become his talisman in this game.

"Is that so?"

Tatsuo Gojo managed a forced smile, but every wrinkle on his face was filled with unspeakable bitterness.

"I've forgotten what I said before... But then again, it's not bad to occasionally show the public the approachable image of the Gojo family."

Every word was dry and forced, and it sounded like it was forced out with extreme reluctance.

"Yes, that's what I think too!"

Gojo Satoru smiled broadly and pulled out a fashion magazine he had prepared beforehand from under his seat.

"So, you see, I even went to a magazine interview to show off our approachable image from all angles!"

Gojo Satoru emphasized the words "all-round" and "approachable image," clearly indicating that he was deliberately challenging Gojo Tatsuo and his group.

Tatsuo Gojo stared at the low-class, commoner's magazine that was kept in the Gojo family home, and his temper flared up instantly.

Isn't variety shows enough? Now they're going to do interviews with magazines like this. Do they look like the next head of the Gojo family at all?

Outrageous, absurd, utterly ridiculous!

If Kamo and Zenin saw this, they would probably laugh at them!

Gojo Tatsuo was instantly enraged and was about to reprimand someone when he glanced away and received a cold gaze directed at him from the side.

The deep-seated anger was colder than him, and the oppressive force of his glare was stronger.

"…………"

The anger that had just begun to rise was immediately extinguished completely.

He opened his mouth, then opened it again, and finally, unable to bear the fear in his heart, Gojo Tatsuo weakly spoke.

"Ah, um, it's actually quite good."