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

But Higashino Kanade's soul showed no trace of decay, and his body was unbelievably healthy, no different from that of an ordinary twelve-year-old child.

But what was with those utterly exhausted eyes, as if they had seen all the vicissitudes of the world? Don't make that expression at such a young age, you bastard!

Waver looked at Higashino Kanade with a touch of envy. Yes, he was jealous.

Waver envied every genius who was younger and more gifted than him. He often wondered whether that King might have won if he himself had possessed extraordinary talent.

But envy was envy; Waver did not resent them. He would only send off those geniuses whose rank as Magi had surpassed his at a young age with his blessings, then blame himself for not being stronger. He was that kind of contradictory person.

"Who are you? What is your purpose in coming here?" Waver asked.

"I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Kanade. I come from a small village in Japan called Konoha, and I came this time because I want to work with you."

"Work together?" Waver looked puzzled. "Why me?"

"Actually, I know absolutely nothing about magecraft. I never received any magecraft education, so I know nothing about the three questions Gryphon left behind." Higashino Kanade did not hide his intentions. His ignorance of magecraft was not something he could conceal anyway.

"But I am also extremely curious about unknown secrets, so I wanted to find someone knowledgeable and solve Gryphon's questions together. Of course, I have no interest whatsoever in the inheritance itself. Once we find it, it will be yours."

Faced with the goodwill Higashino Kanade had displayed, Waver did not immediately agree. Instead, he thought carefully for a moment before saying, "Forgive my bluntness, but I find it completely unconvincing that you have no interest in the inheritance. Everyone who comes here is after it. Why should I believe you just because of a verbal promise?"

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"Regarding that, I can sign a Self-Imposed Contract with you."

The moment Higashino Kanade said that, Waver revealed an incredulous expression.

"Master, what is a Self-Imposed Contract?"

Grea, standing beside him, tugged at Waver's sleeve in confusion, her beautiful eyes full of bewilderment.

"A Self-Imposed Contract is a spell contract used by Magi when making an agreement that absolutely cannot be broken. It is the most absolute guarantee against breach of contract." Waver steadied himself and explained, "The contract generally uses parchment as its medium. It includes the binding formula, the bound party, the formal terms of the oath, the conditions for fulfilling it, and the signature of the oathmaker—the person being bound. It directly affects the Mage Crests of both people signing it."

"It is a contract backed by Mage Crests. Once someone breaks it, not only will the breaching party die from the backlash of their Mage Crest, but any Mage Crest passed down through their lineage will also bear a curse. If the Mage Crest is inherited by the next generation, that generation will likewise be absolutely bound by the curse."

The more Grea heard, the more shocked she became. She had heard in her master's classes that a Mage Crest was a magecraft family's most important heirloom, something more precious than life itself. Yet this child before her was using his inherited Mage Crest and his life as collateral. How much courage did that take?

A Self-Imposed Contract was what Emiya Kiritsugu had used to trick Director Keneith to death during the Fourth Holy Grail War.

There were two reasons Higashino Kanade wanted to form a Self-Imposed Contract with Waver. First, he wanted to tie himself to Waver's chariot so he could cling to his thigh and coast all the way through. Second, he was not afraid of the contract's restrictions in the first place.

Higashino Kanade's strength came entirely from the Chakra provided by the system. Without that, he was a completely ordinary person with no Mage Crest at all. The punishment mechanism of a Self-Imposed Contract had no effect on him whatsoever, which was why he dared to propose signing one so boldly.

"Well, Lord El-Melloi II? What is your choice?"

"There is no need to sign a contract. I already believe in your resolve."

Waver rubbed his temples with a headache. Higashino Kanade's recklessness reminded him of some of his troublesome students, and thinking of them made his stomach hurt even more.

"Cooperation benefits both sides. I can provide you with sufficient knowledge of magecraft. What can you provide me?" Waver displayed the qualities expected of a Magus, seeking to secure greater benefits.

"How about safety?"

A Kunai appeared in Higashino Kanade's hand at some point. It fluttered around his fingertips like a butterfly, tracing one elegant flourish after another through the air.

"So beautiful." Grea was stunned by the display and let out a sincere sigh of admiration.

"Don't let my age fool you. My strength has already surpassed that of most Magi. Even if a lower-ranked Servant came, I would still be able to fight them." Higashino Kanade spoke confidently.

Waver shook his head, clearly dissatisfied. "I may be weak, but my disciple is strong. Forgive my bluntness, but I do not need you to guarantee my safety. My disciple is more than enough. Your offer does not move me."

Startled by Waver's sudden praise, Grea hurriedly pulled down her hood to hide her flushed face. "I'm not as strong as Master says."

She's so cute. I'm almost jealous.

Grea's shy voice nearly melted Higashino Kanade. Waver, who had once been beaten senseless by powerful figures during the Fourth Holy Grail War, now had the fate of a protagonist. What was a veteran freeloader like Higashino Kanade supposed to feel about that?

"By safety, do you mean King Arthur's Holy Lance in your disciple's hands? Although she cannot wield even a tenth of the Holy Lance's power, it is indeed enough to deal with ordinary Magi or Dead Apostles."

The instant Higashino Kanade said that, both Waver and Grea revealed expressions of disbelief. Add, concealed within Grea's cloak, began wildly bouncing around inside his cage, shouting in a voice only Grea could hear, "Why does he know about the Holy Lance?!"

The loss of composure from Waver and his disciple was exactly what Higashino Kanade wanted. He needed to create an image of himself as powerful and mysterious, to reveal some heavyweight cards so he could win greater benefits for himself.

"Lord El-Melloi II—no, I should call you Waver Velvet. I know far more than you can imagine. Now, I hope you will stop with these pointless tests and get straight to the point. Shall we?" Higashino Kanade's words turned sharp. Waver felt as though the person sitting across from him was not a teenager, but a mysterious figure capable of exerting immense pressure.

"What exactly do you know?" Waver took a sip of water, doing his best to calm his shaken heart and present his most composed self at the negotiating table.

"Information about the Fourth Holy Grail War, as well as information about the Fifth Holy Grail War, which I am sure interests you greatly."

With a clatter, Waver's cup fell to the floor. The calmness and composure he had cultivated over so many years were effortlessly shattered by Higashino Kanade in that instant.

Only news of that King could change Waver so drastically. Only news of that King could make him lose his composure.

"Master, are you all right?"

Seeing her master panic like that for the first time since she had known him, Grea began to panic as well. At the same time, she became deeply curious about the Holy Grail War that could make her master lose control.

"Calm down, Waver. You have already resolved to follow in that King's footsteps. How can you still be as pathetic as you were in the past? The other party merely revealed information about the Holy Grail War. Think carefully—ever since Teacher Kaineth was killed, quite a few people at the Clock Tower have investigated the Holy Grail War. It is not impossible for him to know some minor details. In any case, test him first."

Waver encouraged himself inwardly, then regained his composure and asked, "Forgive my bluntness, but the Holy Grail War is not exactly a secret within the Clock Tower. If what you know is only a small amount of unreliable information, then it cannot be considered a bargaining chip at all."

"Then I will reluctantly reveal a little of what I know. Let us begin with the True Names of the Servants and the names of their Masters."

Higashino Kanade pointed at Waver. "First, you. Your Servant was Rider, whose True Name was King of Conquerors Iskandar. The Master's name was Waver Velvet."

"Next was Saber. Her True Name was King Arthur Artoria Pendragon, and her Master was Emiya Kiritsugu, known as the Magus Killer. By the way, your disciple's face looks exactly like King Arthur's. Could there be some blood relation between them?"

"Then there was Archer. His True Name was King of Heroes Gilgamesh, and his Master was Tohsaka Tokiomi—the one who defeated you."

"Enough!"

Waver roared in anger. Higashino Kanade's words had brought back that night's battle, the scene of the King he followed being killed by Gilgamesh. It was a nightmare that had never left him.

"Master?"

Grea's voice trembled slightly, apparently frightened by Waver's roar.

"My apologies, miss. I need a moment to calm down."

Waver lowered his head painfully and covered his face with his hand.

He had lost. He had lost completely. The moment he was defeated by his inner demons, he had completely surrendered the initiative in this negotiation.

PS: Third update delivered. Back to writing, back to writing.

"Do I need to continue?"

"No. I already understand the weight of your bargaining chip."

After taking a long while to recover, Waver finally raised his head with a haggard expression and asked, "How did you learn this information? Even the Clock Tower's investigators could not possibly know such detailed information."

"Because of my Mystic Eyes."

Higashino Kanade closed his eyes, then opened them again. In the next instant, a pair of bewitching and ominous two-tomoe Sharingan appeared.

"These eyes of mine possess the ability to see through the past and future. Whether it is information about the past Fourth Holy Grail War or the future Fifth Holy Grail War, I can discern most of it."

"...Future Sight? To be able to see so much, the rank of these Mystic Eyes is no lower than Jewel-level. They may even have reached the legendary Rainbow-level." Waver had become almost numb from shock. He could swear that today was the day he had felt the most shocked since the Holy Grail War ended.

"Master, I understand Mystic Eyes of Future Sight, but what do Jewel-level and Rainbow-level mean?"

The studious Grea curiously asked her question. Waver fulfilled his duty as a teacher and patiently explained, "The Magic Association has a ranking system for Mystic Eyes. From lowest to highest, they are Gold-level, Jewel-level, and the highest, Rainbow-level."

"Gold-level Mystic Eyes are not particularly rare. Many high-ranking Dead Apostles possess them, such as the Mystic Eyes of Charm."

"Jewel-level Mystic Eyes, on the other hand, are extremely rare and possess powerful abilities. Every appearance of one triggers a bloody scramble."

"As for Rainbow-level Mystic Eyes, they exist only in legend. For example, Balor, king of the Fomorians in Celtic Mythology, possessed the legendary Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. They are the ultimate Mystic Eyes, capable of sending an enemy to their death with a single glance."

Waver did not doubt Higashino Kanade's answer in the slightest. Of all the explanations he could imagine, this was the most reasonable one. As a character in the story, even until his death, he would never imagine that everything Higashino Kanade knew came from watching anime.

"Uchiha Kanade, since you possess the ability to see the past and future, why not obtain Gryphon's inheritance yourself? If you can see the solution, surely you could eliminate all of us with ease." Waver asked.

"My Future Sight is not absolute. In fact, I cannot control it. I can only passively receive sudden visions, and unfortunately, I have not seen anything concerning Gryphon's inheritance." Higashino Kanade lied without so much as a blush.

Waver nodded. The more powerful the Mystic Eyes, the greater the demands placed on their user. The young man before him was only in his teens, so it was perfectly normal that he could not control such powerful Mystic Eyes.

"I understand the situation. I agree to form an alliance with you. I hope you will keep your promise and tell me about the future Fifth Holy Grail War once our cooperation is over."

Waver's desire to participate in the Fifth Holy Grail War was especially urgent. He wanted to summon that King once more and walk toward victory alongside him, proving that he truly had the worth to follow the King.

To that end, Waver had accepted many commissions he had not wanted to accept at all, all so he could exchange his achievements for the Clock Tower's qualification to participate in the Holy Grail War.

Seeing that Waver had yielded, Higashino Kanade did not immediately agree. Instead, he leaned back comfortably on the sofa and slowly peeled an apple before taking a bite.

A sharp pain suddenly shot through Waver's stomach. Higashino Kanade's behavior was all too familiar to him. It was exactly how his foster sister, Reines El-Melloi Archisorte, acted whenever she was about to exploit him. Only then did Waver realize that the boy before him was fundamentally the same as his foster sister: both were demons in human skin who devoured people without leaving even the bones behind!

"Mr. Waver, your bargaining chip is a little insufficient right now!"

Higashino Kanade smiled at Waver with the innocence of a heartless capitalist.

Waver clenched his fists, doing his best to suppress the suicidal urge to punch him.

His need was indeed greater now. The initiative had already fallen into Higashino Kanade's hands the moment he revealed his weakness. This was a true reversal of fortunes!

"Say it. What are your conditions? Let me make one thing clear first: our El-Melloi family is already drowning in debt. If you want money, we cannot give you any." Waver laughed at himself.

Higashino Kanade smiled. "Talking about money hurts our friendship! Actually, I have only one small condition. When I first came into contact with magecraft, I heard that Lord El-Melloi II's teaching was exceptional, so I wanted to enter the Clock Tower and study magecraft under you. But I am only a country bumpkin with no way of getting in, so I would like to ask you to introduce me to the Clock Tower and make me a real student."

Waver sighed in relief. Higashino Kanade's condition was not excessive. It was even quite easy.

With his authority as a Lord, bringing in a few outside students was not a problem. He had personally brought Grea in as well.

"Fine."

"Then here's to a pleasant cooperation, Teacher."

Higashino Kanade extended his small hand in friendship, and Waver took it without any guard.

The conversation ended there.

Night fell. After Higashino Kanade tactfully expressed that he did not have a room to sleep in, Waver surrendered the sofa he had been sleeping on with a stomachache expression and made himself a bed on the floor.

Grea felt sorry for Waver and suggested that she sleep in the bed with Higashino Kanade while Waver took the sofa, but Higashino Kanade strongly objected.

Are you kidding, little sister? Do you really think I'm a child with no sexual awareness? Aren't you afraid I'll lose control at night and make you a young mother?

A man with a fiancée had to know how to keep himself clean. For Ryougi Shiki's sake, Higashino Kanade had already resolved to keep his distance from other women.

Nothing happened that night.

The next morning, Grea woke up early. When she called her master and her new junior disciple to get up, she received similar answers.

"Master, junior disciple, time to get up!"

Waver: "Let me sleep another five minutes."

Higashino Kanade: "Let me sleep another day."

There was an old saying in the East: "The student surpasses the master." On his first day in the household, the new junior disciple had already surpassed his master in certain respects. Both of them had endless laziness to sleep through.

"But the servants said breakfast is ready. If we don't go soon, we'll go hungry." Grea looked troubled.

Only upon hearing the word "breakfast" did Higashino Kanade and Waver slowly crawl out of bed, both looking exhausted as they began washing up.

Watching their nearly synchronized movements, Grea could not help but sigh inwardly. In some ways, her junior disciple and master really did seem cut from the same mold.

After washing up, Higashino Kanade was as refreshed as ever, handsome and radiant. Beside him, Waver clutched his waist in pain and loudly complained that the floor was as hard as a coffin lid.

As the master and two disciples headed toward the dining hall, they soon encountered a familiar figure.

"Oh my, isn't this Lord El-Melloi II? Did you sleep well last night?" Adashino Riri's smile was sweet and exceptionally soothing.

Waver, meanwhile, wore a dark expression. Enduring the pain in his waist, he stubbornly replied, "I slept fine."

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Adashino Riri was a very beautiful woman. At first glance, she seemed gentle and had the qualities of an ideal wife, like a traditional Japanese beauty. Yet Waver could see the venomous heart hidden beneath her glamorous exterior.

This was not because Waver had met countless people and developed a sharp eye for character. It was because Adashino Riri's identity in the Department of Law and Politics and her past deeds were right there for all to see. Even an idiot could tell she was a vicious woman who killed without blinking.