As a Ninja, I Only Want to Live Off a Rich Woman in the Nasuverse

"Ha ha, for your family to send someone as young as you, they must have a lot of confidence in you." The man laughed heartily, then dusted off his white robe. "My name is Fliyou. I'm a wandering Magus, and I came this time because I received an invitation."

"An invitation?"

"Yeah. A week ago, servants from Stripped City delivered an invitation. I was wondering at the time—why would a wandering Magus like me receive an invitation from the famous Lord of the Stripped City?" Fliyou pulled a black invitation with gold trim from his robe, then noticed Higashino Kanade's slightly unnatural expression.

"Don't tell me you didn't receive an invitation?"

The So-Called Repairer

Higashino Kanade covered his face in speechless frustration. The Sima System really gave him nothing at all! How was he supposed to enter the city without an invitation?

"Is there any way to get in without an invitation?" Higashino Kanade asked tentatively.

"Normally, anyone without an invitation can't get in no matter what. Unless you force your way inside, of course. But charging head-on into someone else's Mage's Workshop is no different from courting death."

"Is that so?"

Higashino Kanade's hand drifted toward his ninja tool pouch, and the thought of killing and robbing Fliyou rose in his mind.

As if sensing Higashino Kanade's movement, Fliyou hurriedly explained, "Of course, there's another way to get you inside."

Higashino Kanade's hand froze. Fliyou secretly let out a breath of relief.

From the moment he first saw Higashino Kanade, Fliyou had known that this beautiful youth was no ordinary person. He was clearly very young, yet his eyes carried the weathered air of someone who had seen through the world. His entire presence was terrifying. Though he was only in his teens, he made Fliyou feel as if he were facing an ancient monster. If not for the lack of any decayed aura around him, Fliyou might have truly taken him for an old Magus extending his life through a child-shaped puppet.

To possess such a terrifying presence at such a young age, he must come from some major family. I can use divination later to investigate his identity. Nervous sweat unconsciously formed on Fliyou's forehead.

If Higashino Kanade had known what he was thinking, he would have realized that Akatsuki's Red Cloud Robe had done its job. Wearing the Red Cloud Robe greatly elevated his aura, ensuring that no one who saw him would dare underestimate him.

"Actually, an invited Magus is allowed to bring one attendant inside. I don't have an attendant, so if you want to enter, I can bring you in as mine." As Fliyou explained, he held out his hand and rubbed his fingers together.

"Of course, I used to be a mercenary, so you'll need to pay a small fee."

Higashino Kanade readily pulled several gold bars from his backpack and tossed them over. Fliyou caught the gold and rubbed it with his fingers, seemingly checking whether it was genuine.

"Excellent quality. Very high gold content. Young Uchiha, you're certainly generous!" Fliyou chuckled as he put away the gold, looking at Higashino Kanade as if he had found a fat sheep.

Higashino Kanade did not care. To him, any problem that could be solved with money was no problem at all. Besides, the money belonged to his future wife, so he did not feel bad spending it.

"Aren't you afraid I'll compete with you for some inheritance after we get inside?"

"Rest assured, young man. I didn't come here for the inheritance of the repairer Gryphon Ashburn either. For a mercenary like me, money is what matters most. Even if I obtained that sort of thing, I wouldn't know how to use it. It's better to make some quick money while I have the chance, just like this." Fliyou did not hide his greed in the slightest, indirectly making it clear to Higashino Kanade that he meant him no harm.

A mercenary who acts for money... isn't that less like a Magus and more like a Mage Killer such as Emiya Kiritsugu? Higashino Kanade thought.

The magecraft faction in the Nasuverse could be divided into two major types. One type consisted of Magi like Tohsaka Tokiomi, who devoted themselves wholeheartedly to studying magecraft. Their ultimate goal was to reach the Root. To them, magecraft was the path to the Root, something sacred.

The other type consisted of Mage Killers like Emiya Kiritsugu. To them, magecraft was merely a tool to achieve their goals. They were not researchers of magecraft, nor did they wish to pursue the Root. Whether they acted for money or ideals, they were people despised by Magi.

"Lead the way."

Higashino Kanade did not stand on ceremony. Fliyou easily jumped down from the boulder and began clearing the way ahead of him.

The closer they came, the more clearly Higashino Kanade could make out Adra Castle.

It was an enormous castle enclosed by a circular wall, with a moat outside. The front courtyard was a lush forest, while the castle itself formed a massive U-shape that curved inward. Many huge angel statues stood along the walls as decorations. It was obvious that the castle's owner was obsessed with angels.

"The owner of this castle was Gryphon Ashburn, a famous repairer in the magecraft world. His status was extraordinary, and he was highly respected. However, he left no descendants behind before his death, so he summoned so many people here to choose someone who could inherit his legacy." Fliyou told the story of the castle as they walked.

Higashino Kanade listened carefully, then asked, "What is a repairer?"

"Huh? You don't even know what a repairer is?" Fliyou looked surprised, but he still explained patiently. "A repairer is someone capable of repairing Mage Crests. Unlike tuners, who can also repair Mage Crests, repairers can restore them in a very short time."

"You understand, Mage Crests are essentially like organs. And since they are organs, they naturally age and can become diseased. Many magecraft families declined because their Mage Crests were damaged. That's why Gryphon, who could repair Mage Crests, was so respected."

Mage Crests were the product of Magi solidifying mysteries in order to overcome the loss of Mystery. They represented the research achievements Magi accumulated over the course of their lives.

To a magecraft family, a Mage Crest was a precious heirloom. Through Mage Crests, Magi passed their research down from generation to generation, placing their hopes upon their descendants to complete the journey toward the Root.

And those who inherited Mage Crests had to be descendants of the Magus, because Mage Crests were essentially special organs. Organs caused rejection, and only children related by blood could lessen the side effects caused by rejection. This was also why Magi only accepted their own children as direct disciples, and why Magi always operated as family units.

"Young Uchiha, I'm seriously starting to suspect that you're a newcomer who just entered the magecraft world. Didn't your elders tell you anything?" Fliyou could not resist adding that jab after finishing his explanation.

"I used to live in a village called Konoha. I only recently began traveling, so my understanding of the magecraft world is still at the complete beginner level." Higashino Kanade lied calmly.

Fliyou smiled when he heard that and politely said, "If you want to know anything about the magecraft world, you can ask me. I'll only charge a tiny commission."

"Sure. I'll pay you according to the value of the information afterward."

Higashino Kanade casually wrote him an empty check. He had brought quite a lot of gold and jewels from the Ryougi Family this time, but not enough to spend recklessly. With someone as greedy as Fliyou, he would freeload whenever he could.

By the time they finished speaking, they had crossed the drawbridge beneath the city wall, passed through the front courtyard, and reached the castle gates.

An elderly man in a suit stood there, looking like a butler. Upon seeing Higashino Kanade and Fliyou, the old man bowed respectfully. "Do you two guests have an invitation?"

"Here."

Fliyou promptly handed it over. After checking and confirming it, the old man said, "Please enter."

The castle gates opened, and Higashino Kanade and Fliyou walked inside.

PS: These chapters will be a little more serious, mainly to introduce the setting. The silly tone will return afterward.

My Nowhere-to-Put Charm

All sorts of angel statues lined the corridor. There were Seraphim holding weapons, elegant Cherubim, winged serpents, and animal statues that were half-human and half-beast.

As Higashino Kanade walked, he felt malicious intent coming from all around him. The surroundings were filled with holy angels, yet it felt as though he were crossing the River Styx. An uncomfortable pressure made him nauseous and short of breath, and hallucinations even began to appear in his vision.

Higashino Kanade glanced at Fliyou. At the moment, Fliyou strode forward as though nothing were wrong, occasionally looking over at Higashino Kanade. He showed no intention of helping, instead seeming to enjoy the spectacle.

"Is this magecraft?"

Higashino Kanade noticed the mysterious patterns on the walls, and his estimation of Magi's methods rose another notch.

This was the second time Higashino Kanade had encountered the mystery of magecraft. Unlike Araya Souren's powerful barrier techniques, this magecraft was strange and impossible to guard against.

However, seeing Fliyou deal with everything so easily, this was probably only a method Gryphon had used to test the potential inheritors. It should not be any powerful Great Magecraft.

Sharingan, open!

Higashino Kanade activated his Sharingan. Two black tomoe spun within his blood-red pupils, and the malice and hallucinations he had been feeling immediately vanished. In their place, he saw Mana flowing through the surrounding walls.

It was not only the walls. Mana flowed everywhere his eyes could reach throughout the entire castle. The only difference was that Mana was concentrated in some places and sparse in others. The entire castle was Gryphon's Mage's Workshop.

It seems that after the system modified these Sharingan, they can see not only Chakra, but Mana as well. They can also defend against some mental Magecraft attacks.

"Mystic Eyes? They seem to be of quite a high rank."

Seeing Higashino Kanade easily dispel the surrounding mental magecraft after activating his Mystic Eyes, Fliyou completely discarded his previous underestimation. He now regarded Higashino Kanade as a Magus on equal footing with himself.

After passing through the angel-filled corridor, Higashino Kanade and Fliyou entered a magnificent, resplendent hall. Two people were waiting inside, and apart from them, a huge statue of an angel holding a sword stood in the center.

"Just how much does this castle's owner love angels?" Higashino Kanade questioned the man's taste.

When the two people in the hall saw Higashino Kanade, they walked over. Meanwhile, Fliyou hid behind a statue like a mouse seeing a cat.

The person approaching was a young man dressed in a white suit. He had dazzling long blond hair, handsome and refined features, and a perfectly proportioned body. He looked like a knight who had stepped out of a fairy tale.

Behind the man hid a girl in a long white dress. She was as beautiful as he was, with an exceptionally slender and graceful figure, and she cowered like a timid little bird.

The girl was around Higashino Kanade's age. She poked her head out to look at him, only to be captivated by his appearance. It took her a long time to regain her senses. Embarrassed by her behavior, she hurriedly hid behind the man again.

"Ha ha ha, please forgive my sister's rudeness just now. Roxanne has always been this shy around strangers." The man's smile was as warm as sunlight, and he was the sort of handsome man who inspired goodwill at a glance.

"It's fine. I'm used to it, considering I'm this handsome." Higashino Kanade sighed helplessly. "Sigh, this charm of mine has nowhere to go!"

The young man was stunned by Higashino Kanade's complete lack of modesty. After staring blankly for a long while, he finally laughed. "What an interesting person. My name is Heine Istari, and this is my sister, Rosalind Istari."

"Uchiha Kanade."

"Uchiha..." Heine repeated the name several times, seemingly searching his memories for the origin of that surname. But after thinking for a long time, he still could not recall any rumors concerning the Uchiha Family.

"My apologies, but I've never heard of your family. Still, for someone so young to possess such bearing, your family must be a powerful hidden clan."

There were quite a few low-profile yet powerful families in the magecraft world, such as the Einzbern Family, which specialized in artificial human technology. That was why Heine made this guess.

"No, my family isn't some famous clan. I grew up in a small village called Konoha. I only recently began traveling, and after hearing about this place, I came to take a look."

"Take a look? You didn't come for Gryphon's inheritance?" Heine looked surprised.

"That's right. I'm not interested in Gryphon's inheritance. I only came to broaden my horizons. I didn't have an invitation, and I only got in because of him."

Higashino Kanade pointed at Fliyou, who was hiding behind the statue. Fliyou slapped his face and reluctantly emerged as though he had seen a ghost.

"Knight Heine, long time no see."

"Teacher-killer Fliyouga. You came too?"

When Heine saw Fliyou, his expression immediately darkened, and clear hostility appeared in his eyes.

"Fliyouga... it seems I'm not the only one hiding my True Name." Higashino Kanade looked at Fliyou with an amused gaze.

Fliyou hurriedly explained, "Young Uchiha, I didn't mean to hide my name. My reputation is terrible. If I reveal my True Name, I'll lose half my business."

"Oh, so you didn't know."

Heine had initially labeled Higashino Kanade as Fliyou's accomplice because of Fliyou's appearance. After all, what kind of decent person would associate with someone as wicked as a teacher-killer? But Fliyou's explanation made Heine lower his guard, and his gaze toward Higashino Kanade became friendly again.

"This young Uchiha is like a savage who just came down from the mountains. He knows nothing about the magecraft world. If he knew what the famous Istari Family represented, his legs would probably be shaking right now." Fliyou explained on Higashino Kanade's behalf, while taking the chance to flatter Heine.

But Heine did not buy it. Instead, he kindly told Higashino Kanade, "If you encounter anything you don't understand, you can ask me. I would be happy to explain. Let me offer you one piece of advice: stay away from mercenaries without any bottom line, like Fliyouga. People like them have no restraint whatsoever. When they harm you, they will never show mercy."

"Thank you. I'll consider it carefully." Higashino Kanade nodded seriously.

"Heine, how can you slander me out of nowhere? Young Uchiha, don't listen to him! I did you the favor of bringing you inside!" Fliyou hurriedly defended himself.

"But I paid you."

Higashino Kanade was not falling for that.

As the three spoke, another pair entered the hall.

When the man in front saw Higashino Kanade and the others, he let out a breath of relief and said between pants, "Looks like we made it in time."

Higashino Kanade's eyes lit up. That familiar appearance, that familiar pair—they were none other than Lord El-Melloi II, also known as Waver Velvet, and his disciple Grea.

People of Every Kind

Lord was a title of extraordinary status. It was not a rank of Magus established by the Clock Tower, but an independent title.

Within the Clock Tower, there were twelve ancient prestigious families. From the very founding of the Clock Tower, they had provided funds and land for its operation, gaining immense authority in return. The leaders of those twelve great families were known as the Twelve Lords.

Other than the Department of Law and Politics, which was not under a Lord's jurisdiction, the Clock Tower's other twelve departments each corresponded to a Lord. A Lord was effectively the dean of a department, holding a position beneath only one person and above countless others within the Clock Tower.

The man before him wore a black suit, had faint wrinkles between his brows, and smooth long hair that reached his waist. He was Lord El-Melloi II, the Lord of the Department of Modern Magecraft among the twelve departments. His real name was Waver Velvet, whom Higashino Kanade knew even better.

Beside Lord El-Melloi II stood a petite, slender girl wrapped entirely in a black cloak. Though she had a remarkably beautiful face, she seemed desperate to hide it beneath her hood. In Higashino Kanade's memories, her name was Grea, and she possessed King Arthur's Holy Lance.

She'd make a good target for living off a rich woman! Higashino Kanade stared at Grea and began calculating.

Family background: 0 points. Wife potential: 8 points. Potential: 8 points. Average score: 5 points. Though she's poor, her shy personality is a charming trait. And with King Arthur's Holy Lance, she has the power to protect me. If I hadn't met Ryougi Shiki, perhaps I would have pursued her.

After considering it, Higashino Kanade decided not to do anything unnecessary. Grea was a good girl, but he already had Ryougi Shiki. He did not want to go around flirting with other women.

As though she had noticed Higashino Kanade's gaze, Grea was startled by how handsome he was. Then she nervously pulled down her hood, seemingly not wanting him to see her face.

Realizing that he had frightened Grea, Higashino Kanade offered her a friendly smile to show that he meant no harm.

"Isn't this Lord El-Melloi II? I've heard much about you." Heine stepped forward to greet him like a seasoned social butterfly.

"Heine Istari!" Lord El-Melloi II looked somewhat surprised. It was clear that Heine's background was significant.

"Fliyou, is Heine's status very high?" Higashino Kanade leaned closer to Fliyou and asked.

Stroking his beard, Fliyou said, "Knight Heine, also known as the Former Monk. The Istari Family is a prestigious alchemy family. Their alchemy is so advanced that the weapons they create can even rival lower-ranking Heroic Spirits. Heine was originally the designated heir of the family, and his talent surpassed everyone's imagination. But instead of inheriting the family business, he joined the Holy Church."

"The Holy Church!"

Higashino Kanade knew that term. The Holy Church was an ancient organization capable of standing against the Mage's Association. On the surface, they were messengers who praised God, but in the hidden world, they were a large armed organization created for the purpose of "hunting heretics."

They recognized no heresy other than demons and absolutely refused to tolerate any existence contrary to their doctrine. Dead Apostles and Magi alike were within their hunting grounds. Countless Magi had died at their hands, making them an existence deeply hated by Magi.

"Yeah, I have no idea what he was thinking. But he returned to his family some time ago. The Holy Church dispatched twelve Executors to bring him back, but they failed. And now, he possesses qualifications that everyone wants to seize."