The members of the formerly demon-exorcising Isayama Family and their decline were truly equally bleak. Including Kenmyo Isayama, the total population was only five people (not counting servants).
Kenmyo Isayama's mother, Kamo Hatsuho, had two older brothers: the eldest, Isayama Naraku, and the second, Isayama Yu.
The eldest brother, Naraku, had stronger Jujutsu talent than the second brother, Yu, and Yu's personality was also timid.
Therefore, the eldest brother, Isayama Naraku, naturally inherited the Isayama Family and became the family head. He is now a gloriously retired former First Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer due to injuries. Meanwhile, Kenmyo Isayama's second uncle, despite his old age, retired as only a Grade 3 Jujutsu Sorcerer.
Isayama Naraku had no sons. He originally considered adopting either his sister's child, Kenmyo Isayama, or Isayama Sakura as an heir, but neither of them possessed Jujutsu talent, so he had no choice but to adopt Isayama Yomi.
Although Kenmyo Isayama's second uncle, Isayama Yu, wasn't very strong, he personally contributed to the continuation of the Isayama Family by having a daughter.
That is the Sister Mei Kenmyo Isayama mentioned to Isayama Yomi earlier.
She is their mutual cousin, Isayama Mei.
The second uncle's Jujutsu talent was terrible, but his daughter's talent was excellent. She became a First Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer by single-handedly exorcising two Grade 1 Cursed Spirits, earning a senior title from the Jujutsu Sorcerer Association two years earlier than Isayama Yomi, so it's normal for her to have some savings.
Actually, Kenmyo Isayama always wanted to say that the decline of the Isayama Family might be related to the names these people were given. How could such a small family possibly gather names like "Naraku," "Yomi," and "Youmei"? But he was the youngest and couldn't say anything, especially since his own name, Kenmyo Isayama, also contained the character 'Mei'.
Kenmyo Isayama's second uncle's family did not live with his eldest brother, Isayama Naraku, in the Isayama Family's ancestral home in Tokyo's Nakano Ward; instead, they moved to Setagaya Ward.
Incidentally, Kenmyo Isayama's home is in Nerima Ward, so he had to travel through two wards of Tokyo to reach Sister Mei's house.
When Kenmyo Isayama arrived in front of an old mansion, a figure was already waiting there.
The young girl, Isayama Mei, wore an elegant light-blue kimono embroidered with orchids, her long white hair styled into an updo and adorned with white butterfly hair ornaments, giving her a somewhat Taisho beauty style.
She held a small white parasol to shield herself from the sun, looking quite elegant.
Isayama Mei's naturally indifferent face carried a hint of the eldest daughter's seriousness, yet also a touch of closeness upon seeing a long-unseen relative. She watched her cousin slowly approach, a slight smile gracing her lips.
When he was little, Kenmyo Isayama was a bit intimidated by Isayama Mei. He didn't know why her face was always so cold, so he spent more time with Sakura and Yomi.
"Sister Mei, long time no see."
Kenmyo Isayama was the first to speak.
Meeting again, things had long since changed.
What Kenmyo Isayama knew made him feel quite uneasy deep down.
People truly grow more burdened as they get older. When they were children, the four of them were close in age, and they used to huddle together, innocently whispering secrets.
But at this moment, Sister Mei stood amidst the blooming wisteria flowers at the doorway, giving Kenmyo Isayama a feeling of being both real and illusory, ethereal and unpredictable, as if she might transform into a blue butterfly and fly away in the next second.
However, due to not having seen her for a long time and recalling childhood memories, Kenmyo Isayama was unwilling to break the current "long time no see" atmosphere with his first sentence.
"Mm, long time no see, Mei."
Isayama Mei and Kenmyo Isayama exchanged a few simple words and greetings.
"Mei, come inside first."
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Kenmyo Isayama followed behind Isayama Mei. The courtyard here looked very comfortable, with lush green vegetation and a waterwheel in a small pond creating the sound of a flowing stream, truly a charming Japanese garden style.
"Where's Uncle?"
The reason Kenmyo Isayama asked Isayama Yomi to make the introduction before visiting Isayama Mei was because Kenmyo Isayama didn't particularly like this uncle, or perhaps they simply didn't see eye to eye.
Isayama Yu had strongly opposed Kenmyo Isayama and Isayama Sakura returning to the Isayama Family and being granted the Isayama name. Although they were his sister's children, lacking Jujutsu talent made them unfortunate mortals. It would be better for them to stay far away from the Jujutsu World and live with an ordinary family.
There was no need for them to get involved with the Isayama Family, which was like a sinking ship. Isayama Naraku also thought this made a lot of sense, so Kenmyo Isayama and Isayama Sakura were essentially semi-fostered, which was why they had a harder time; they weren't overly interfered with.
"Father has gone to visit an old friend. He won't be back for a while."
"So Mei, you don't have to worry about him suddenly returning."
Isayama Mei said indifferently. She also knew that for some reason, Mei was always cool towards her father, Isayama Yu.
Hearing Isayama Mei's words, Kenmyo Isayama also smiled helplessly.
They finally sat down on the open-air balcony near the courtyard, with sliced watermelon brought by a servant beside them.
"What's wrong, Mei? Don't you love eating watermelon the most?"
Isayama Mei moved the plate of watermelon closer to Kenmyo Isayama and asked, puzzled.
Looking at the watermelon he loved, Kenmyo Isayama remained unmoved, because although faint, there was always a subtle scent of decay emanating from the girl beside him.
After calming down for a while, he finally looked at Isayama Mei beside him and decided to lay his cards on the table.
"Sister Mei, can you tell me..."
"Why did you have to kill Sister Yomi?"
Hiring the Heavenly Restraints Tyrant meant there was no intention of letting Isayama Yomi live.
"Sister Yomi has always respected you and looked up to you as her role model."
The one who spent over eight million yen to hire Fushiguro Toji to carry out the assassination request against Sister Yomi was this seemingly serene girl sitting next to Kenmyo Isayama.
Isayama Mei, it was impossible to tell that this was someone who would hire a killer.
When he heard that name from Fushiguro Toji's mouth, all he felt was absurdity. Kenmyo Isayama never imagined that a scene of "familial strife among the wealthy" would one day occur in his own home.
If Isayama Yomi died, then Isayama Mei would be the first in line of succession.
Just as Kenmyo Isayama said, Sister Yomi looked up to Sister Mei as a role model. This was the main reason Kenmyo Isayama couldn't tell her the truth.
"Mei, although I don't know how you found out..."
Isayama Mei did not refute Kenmyo Isayama's words. She merely stated a fact with a calm tone.
"It's unfortunate, but that's just the kind of person I am."
A gleaming blade was already close to Kenmyo Isayama's neck, as if to behead him.
"Why did it turn out like this?"
The next second, a steel blade, much faster than hers, pierced directly through Isayama Mei's chest, and defiled blood stained her elegant kimono.
It was Fushiguro Toji, who spoke to Kenmyo Isayama with a mocking tone,
"Boss, you're chatting with a Cursed Spirit, calling her 'Sister this, Sister that.' Doesn't that creep you out?"