Yet even with Shuki's current level of youki, she could still sense a clear threat emanating from the seemingly youthful woman before her. That alone was enough to make it obvious just how terrifying Yamato Miku's true strength must be.
"Shuki, I believe Miss Yamato—ah, Madam Yamato—doesn't have any ill intentions," Ayami quickly interjected, stepping forward to smooth things over as the tension between Yamato Miku and Shuki sharpened almost instantly."But these gifts are far too valuable. We really can't accept them."
Ayami could tell that while Yamato Miku acted with a certain high-handed confidence, she didn't appear to harbor any malicious intent.
"That's quite right," Yamato Miku said calmly. "I truly came today only because there are important matters to discuss. The Yamato family is not like certain other exorcist clans—we have no intention of causing trouble for the Kuroda household."
"As for these items, they're nothing more than ordinary gifts. Since this is my first visit, arriving empty-handed would have been terribly rude. And I heard that your health hasn't been the best lately, so most of them are simply nutritional supplements. The rest are toys for Ruki."
Before coming to Ren's home, Yamato Miku had naturally conducted a thorough investigation. Once she learned what the two people most precious to Ren needed, she had these gifts prepared with great care.
Of course, one shouldn't be fooled by the casual way she spoke.
The medicinal ingredients she brought had been gathered by the Yamato family through countless channels and immense financial power. As for the toys prepared for Ruki, none of them were cheap either—either limited editions or custom-made by specialists.
Take any single item out, and judging by Ren's salary at the Countermeasures Division, he'd have to work himself to the bone just to afford it.
Although Ayami came from an exorcist family herself, the treatment she'd received growing up was nowhere near enough to give her a real sense of just how extravagant the Yamato family truly was. Hearing that these were merely supplements and toys, she accepted the gifts and invited Yamato Miku inside to sit.
To be honest, Yamato Miku's sudden visit left Ayami feeling rather troubled—because there were already quite a few other guests in the house.
When Ayami led Yamato Miku toward the reception room, the lively chatter drifting out from behind the door made Yamato Miku's brows knit slightly.
The matter she intended to discuss clearly wasn't suitable for an audience.
And what surprised her even more—
Someone had actually arrived at the Kuroda household even earlier than she had.
"I'm terribly sorry," Ayami said with a wry smile. "I don't know why, but there seem to be more visitors than usual lately. The people inside are some old neighbors and friends—we were just having a tea gathering. If Madam Yamato doesn't mind…"
Ayami looked genuinely troubled. Given how formally Yamato Miku had come to visit, Ayami really should have received her with equal formality as the host.
But for some reason, those refined ladies she had rescued before had developed a habit of coming over to hold tea parties at her house.
Ayami was soft-hearted by nature, and years of living in solitude had left her yearning for human companionship. And since Yamato Miku had come bearing gifts in such a formal manner, asking her to come back another day would have been even more impolite.
So in the end, Ayami could only grit her teeth and bring Yamato Miku here.
"Just call me Miku," Yamato Miku said with a gentle smile. "And may I call you Ayami as well? We're about the same age, and with the relationship between Ren and Kyoka, there's no need for such formality between us."
"A tea party hosted by Ayami? Then please, allow me to join. I truly was abrupt in coming today—I should have sent a formal notice beforehand."
Hearing this, the slight frown on Yamato Miku's face immediately eased.
If the people inside were truly just Ayami's neighbors and friends, then this was different from what she'd initially imagined.
Relieved, Ayami smiled and led Yamato Miku into the reception room.
The room was filled with laughter and lively conversation. Women with striking looks and graceful figures sat elegantly throughout the space, chatting about various topics or subtly comparing jewelry and handbags.
In truth, the reason these so-called refined ladies were now clinging so desperately to Ayami was simple—they were interested in her status.
Aside from a small few, such as Jingu Saori, most of the people here had decidedly impure motives for getting close to her.
Saori herself had repeatedly advised Ayami to keep her distance from these opportunistic women. Unfortunately, like sticky glue, they always found a way to latch back on.
Some of them had even mocked Saori behind her back, implying that her close relationship with Ayami existed only because of Ayami's current standing.
After experiencing what had happened before—and after realizing just how dangerous the world had become—these women had finally awakened to reality.
In this era of chaos, it was no longer about who had more money or whose family wielded greater political influence.
What truly mattered now was who you knew—who had the strength to slay powerful yokai.
Yokai numbers continued to rise across the world. Humanity had retreated into limited safe zones, barely managing to catch its breath, yet their situation grew more precarious by the day.
No one dared to guarantee that tomorrow they wouldn't become a yokai's next meal.
The refined ladies gathered here were no exception.
Before the chaos, they had lived privileged lives through their families' influence or their husbands' positions. But once the world changed, that way of life shattered.
The families they came from were either struggling to survive, or the husbands they once took pride in were now unemployed.
Even Ayami's close friend, Jingu Saori, was no exception.
She had already broken off her engagement.
On one hand, her former fiancé believed that with the world in chaos, the Jingu family could no longer offer meaningful support. He wanted to use his connections to marry into an exorcist family instead—someone who could secure his future.
As for Saori herself, she accepted the broken engagement without hesitation. She had never even met her so-called fiancé; the arrangement had been made entirely by the family.
And after witnessing his conduct, Saori had grown thoroughly disappointed. If not for her friends, she wouldn't even be able to stand here now.
Society's structure had completely shifted.
In the past, the true elites were tycoons and political powers.
But now, the most revered figures were members of exorcist families.
Back then, bureaucrats and financial dynasties stabilized their positions through marriage alliances.
Now, their preferred marriage partners were no longer other elites of wealth or power—but exorcist clans.
This was precisely why Saori's engagement had been annulled.
Anyone with a functioning brain could see it: the future of this world would be decided by exorcists.
When Ayami brought Yamato Miku into the reception room, Yamato Miku's striking beauty and commanding presence immediately drew every gaze.
It couldn't be helped—everyone present had once held some measure of status. From Yamato Miku's manners and attire alone, it was obvious she came from an exceptionally wealthy household.
And judging by Ayami's attitude toward her—so different from the lukewarm politeness she showed the rest—it was closer to how she treated Jingu Saori.
"Ayami, who is this lady?" one of the women asked eagerly. "Aren't you going to introduce her to us?"
The moment they saw Yamato Miku, the sharp-minded ladies immediately began chiming in with cheerful enthusiasm.
No one here was foolish enough to think Yamato Miku was an ordinary person based on her age and demeanor alone.
And even if she were, the fact that she was so close to Ayami made her someone worth befriending.
As for Yamato Miku herself—
After sweeping her gaze across the room, she couldn't help but let a faint look of disdain flash across her face.
Just as she had expected, everyone here was an ordinary person without even a trace of spiritual power.
Frankly speaking, not a single one of them was worth fighting.
Under normal circumstances, Yamato Miku wouldn't have deigned to sit in the same room as people like this. In her eyes, none of them were even qualified to converse with her.
The Yamato family had been wealthy and influential even before the chaos. Afterward, their status had only risen higher.
Still, as a guest—and in front of Ayami—she didn't reveal her disdain openly.
Instead, she put on a warm, refined smile and introduced herself to everyone present.
"My name is Yamato Miku. I am the current matriarch of the Yamato family, and also Ayami's friend. I'm delighted to be able to join everyone for tea today. I look forward to your acquaintance."
Her etiquette was flawless, beyond reproach.
And the moment she finished speaking, the room fell completely silent.
"The Yamato family…? Could it really be that Yamato family?""You mean the top-tier exorcist clan? And she's their matriarch?""And she's… Ayami's friend?!"
These refined ladies had long since shifted the focus of their tea gatherings—from comparing wealth to comparing connections with powerful exorcists.
To add to their conversational capital, they naturally made a point of learning about prominent exorcist families.
And without a doubt—
The Yamato family stood among the very top.