Paying back what you owe is only natural. As a handsome guy with a surprisingly positive outlook on life, Ren Kuroda had no problem with that.
However—
—as a broke handsome guy, Ren also declared that the other party could beat him up, drag him off in chains, or throw him in a holding cell if they wanted……but if they expected compensation, then sorry—
Not.One.Yen.
He didn't even have enough money to pay for one of the shattered computers on the floor, let alone the entire mountain of high-end equipment scattered like electronic corpses everywhere. Even if he sold both of his "Apple-brand kidneys," it still wouldn't be enough.
"Compensation? Impossible. I don't have that kind of money, and this whole mess is Tuibi's fault anyway—what does any of this have to do with me? If you want damages, go find him. As for my bonus… please transfer it directly to my card."
That's right—The moment he realized he might be held responsible for paying for the destruction, Ren instantly shifted all blame onto his newly recruited underling.
Tuibi, who had been hiding behind Ren and was prepared to fight at his side, was left completely dumbstruck.
Moments ago, Tuibi had sensed that Kamishiro Isshin and Yamato Kuka were dangerous opponents. But Ren's earlier refusal to force a shikigami contract—something that had deeply moved Tuibi—made it ready to fight to the death to repay its master's "trust."
Who could've predicted that this allegedly benevolent lord would sell it out this fast?
Then Tuibi saw the long-legged shrine maiden—the one brandishing a sword—glance in its direction.
Instant panic.
That single glance told Tuibi everything: he wasn't a match for her. Not even close. Unlike Ren, she wasn't suppressing her spiritual pressure at all.
And Tuibi realized, to his horror, that her spiritual power vastly eclipsed its own demonic power.
"M-My lord, I've devoted myself to you! I've already pledged my loyalty! How can you abandon me now?! And wasn't the damage here caused by your attacks? How can you pin this on me? Doesn't your conscience hurt?!"
One look at Yamato Kuka's murderous aura, then another at the scruffy old man beside her—whose power actually outweighed even hers—was enough to convince Tuibi that escape was hopeless.
So it acted immediately.
It revealed its true form, shrank down, then threw itself onto Ren's leg, clinging tightly like a terrified barnacle.
Tuibi was betting everything on the hope that Ren wouldn't be this heartless.
After all, Tuibi had been prepared to offer up its own life to Ren. Once a yokai became a shikigami, its very existence would be controlled by its master. Sacrificing its body and soul would've been nothing out of the ordinary.
"You're the most spineless yokai I've ever seen! All that size and for what?! And didn't you realize I was just joking?"
Ren looked at Tuibi hugging his leg and grimaced. His first subordinate… was this pathetic?
He could already imagine it: the moment a battle turned against them, this guy would absolutely switch sides without hesitation.
Tuibi blinked twice, staring up at Ren suspiciously.
But when it saw the righteous, dignified expression on Ren's face, guilt washed over it.
Right, of course. How could a noble onmyoji—a master who didn't even bother forcing a shikigami contract—ever betray his loyal follower?
As Tuibi's guilt-ridden face trembled in apology, Hinano looked at it with pity. Based on her impression of Ren, she had a feeling he wasn't joking at all.
After spending more time with him, she had a clear grasp of his personality:
Ren Kuroda was—a shameless money-grubber.
He had said he would never come here again… until she waved a 100,000-yen appearance fee in front of him. He'd immediately slapped his chest and declared:"Helping my friends is my absolute favorite thing!"
He'd even said:
"If you're ever in trouble again, just come find me! I'll always go all-out to help a friend!"
…followed by:
"Of course, since I, Ren Kuroda, go all-out for my friends, it's only natural to get a little compensation for my kidney health, right?"
And if you didn't offer money for his kidney health?
"Well then, I don't need that kind of friend."
"That's how it is," Ren said now, lifting his chin defiantly. "I'm not paying anything. If you want to fight, I'm more than happy to settle this right here."
Just as Hinano had told Tuibi—Ren truly valued money above everything. Even if he had the funds, using his own hard-earned cash as compensation was absolutely impossible.
He'd already decided:
Beat them up first.Then take his mother and sister and move to a new safe place.
After all, now that this so-called Unnatural Phenomena Countermeasures Bureau had their eyes on him, peaceful days were long gone.
Ren even regretted accepting Hinano's 100,000-yen appearance fee. If he hadn't been greedy, he wouldn't have walked straight into this trap.
But there was no denying it anymore—Yamato Kuka and Kamishiro Isshin showing up at exactly the right moment wasn't coincidence.
It was a setup from the start.
"Money really is the root of all evil…"
Ren slowly drew his demon blade, Oni-Kujira, its edge gleaming faintly in the dim office.
Beside him, Nurikabe took on its true form—a massive stone wall—ready to defend him the moment a fight broke out.
Nurikabe never expected that even its cowardly nature wouldn't stop it from attracting so many powerful onmyoji tonight.
But at this point, it had no choice.
Following Ren offered a sliver of hope.Being captured by that sword-wielding shrine maiden meant obliteration—or being forced into servitude under someone else.
Compared to that fate, Ren seemed practically saintlike.
So it hardened its resolve. For the sake of survival, it would fight at his side with everything it had.
Meanwhile, across from them, Yamato Kuka's eyes were glowing with excitement.
Ever since witnessing Ren's swordsmanship—the rare technique of a true master—she had been itching to draw her blade.
Now that Ren raised his sword, she took it as a direct challenge.
In a burst of enthusiasm, she unsheathed her own katana—
Onikiri.
Its blade was long—at least twenty centimeters longer than Ren's Oni-Kujira.
And the moment it cleared its scabbard, the sword hummed, vibrating faintly in her grip.
Onikiri—the blade that severed the arm of the demon king Ibaraki-Dōji—reacted strongly to the presence of demons.
Right now, it had clearly sensed the half-demon blood flowing in Ren's body.
But Yamato Kuka misunderstood completely.
She assumed Onikiri was simply thrilled to face a worthy swordsman, which made her all the more delighted with Ren as an opponent.
"Wait, hold on! This is a misunderstanding!"
"Kuka-chan, calm down! Don't forget why we're actually here!"
Just as the tension was about to snap and swords were seconds from clashing, Hinano Kujo and Kamishiro Isshin jumped in to stop them.