"How elegant. The Ryougi Family truly lived up to its reputation as a distinguished family with an unbroken heritage."
Fully dressed, Roland sat on the wooden floor, which did not creak in the slightest, leisurely holding his hot tea and taking a satisfied sip.
Before him stood an encircling bamboo grove, which rustled pleasantly whenever an occasional breeze passed through.
The swaying bamboo resembled wave after wave of green surf, a thoroughly pleasing sight.
Although they were one of the Four Exorcist Families, the Ryougi Family's origins were closely tied to samurai, leading them to recognize very early on that abilities beyond ordinary humans would ultimately lead to their eradication by civilized society.
Thus, while pursuing power and eliminating distortions, they had also continually considered how to acquire esper abilities that would allow them to outwardly live like ordinary people.
Ultimately, they arrived at a technique for achieving multiple personalities within a single body, thereby attaining omnipotence.
This concept, straddling the hidden and public worlds, meant that even when its successors were corrupted by demonic nature, they would often merely be regarded as mentally disturbed. Combined with the Ryougi Family's own underworld background, it was easy to cover up.
As a result, with the arrival of the modern age, not only had they avoided declining like the other exorcist families, but they had actually flourished, owning houses and land and presenting the image of a distinguished family with connections on both sides of the law.
For Roland, who had grown accustomed to living in castles, Western-style mansions, and even high-rises with Western or modern styles, this ancient yet luxurious Japanese courtyard felt rather fresh.
Of course, in terms of spectacular scenery, both the sea of clouds made from an entire planet and the Infinite Temple of Time far surpassed what