Toraya Inn

When Yukio left his office, Mephisto proceeded to watch Rin, undetected on his floating couch and following her.

Rin was on her way home after purchasing a ticket on the Shinkansen, when she came across Aoko. 'Sensei!' she greeted happily. Mephisto got a bit closer to see this woman his sister ran to meet and greet. A beautiful woman with unnatural shade of red hair and blue eyes, carrying a large trunk.

"She must be the introducer and teacher." he thought.

'I came to check on you for one last time.' said Aoko. 'Considering what I am, I have to be within reach.' she said wryly. 'People in the west are starting a lot of shit, so my carefree days are over.' she sighed miserably. 'I have a great backer with the El-Melloi Party, but that's not enough these days.'

'Too many amoral bastards who crossed many lines and got magecraft exposed?'

'Yeah. And in a world where cameras can get anything recorded quickly? Even worse.' said Aoko tiredly. 'And most traditionalists don't even know what a cell phone is or e-mail for crying out loud...they won't know what a CCTV camera is either.' she sighed unhappily. 'I contacted some people and we'll gather to help clean up the west to preserve secrecy of our society. Barthomeloi's furious, and snarky that Europe should be more disciplined than us Asians. Hah, they don't know discipline even if it bit them in the ass!' she sneered. 'We asians know better unlike them and we took secrecy seriously, thank-you-very-much.' she huffed with an armfold. 'Said asians got real angry with her, me included, made spiteful comments around sparking the local grapevine.'

'That's discriminatory against us you know.' Rin pouted unhappily.

'Sadly the people who govern our society are all like that.' Aoko sighed. 'What a pain in the ass!' she scratched her head furiously. 'One day we'll need you too OK? For now earn enough money to go to Europe and become a Freelancing Mage like me too. We're swamped!'

'Hai hai...' Rin giggled. 'Have fun~'

'What's fun about chasing reckless morons around the world?!'

'The pleasure of the hunt, and tanning their ass with your own hands before they're slammed shut by Milyonecarion as Sealing Designates for the rest of their lives?' Rin suggested innocently with a girlish coy pose. Mephisto wondered now what a Sealing Designate is as that seems to be heavy punishment...

Aoko looked thoughtful and grinned darkly.

'Sounds about right...' she purred in a vindictive light. 'I'm not getting any younger so punishment is warranted!'

'You know you can afford getting younger through potions, right because you're filthy rich? Last I checked you have no successor for your Magic. Not married, not even adopted a kid, nada.' Rin reminded her. Aoko was 31 when she met her. Seven years later she's now 38.

'I'll cross that bridge later.' said Aoko with a pinch of her nose. 'I prepared a failsafe in any case so the Fifth Magic will not disappear. So PLEASE get a ticket for England soon! You know where to go and job pays well!' and she ran off for her train, running back into the train station Rin just left.

'...today's mages must've gotten a dose of stupid. Haaa...' Rin sighed before going home. 'Well, gotta earn that plane ticket to score millions soon...' and she went home by commute.

'...interesting...' Mephisto mused, intrigued. 'Little sister is affiliated to another organization, huh?'

He thus followed Aoko all the way to England...and learned a lot about this society of Magi.

As he told Yukio, there's no such thing as perfect plans. There's always a Spanner. In this case, this lady is that very spanner.

xxx

At home, Rin packed up her stuff. Some clothes she would like to wear on her first week and simply have the rest sent over by batches over time, and her box of books into a nice big trunk. All set.

She has to bring with her, her magecraft books. Lucky Aoko was generous and never charged her since she was stinking rich anyway.

However, she did add some odd book as she grew up. She added Demonology. Books about demons and how to deal with them, as well as Onmyoudo to her repertoire. That's about it.

She mastered them all, of course!

But still, she would be saying goodbye to the place she called home for many, many years that made her sad.

Aoko approved of how she grew up, as brats these days take many things for granted. Growing up poor, made her and her brother appreciate things in life, and grew up with a high moral compass and humble. That, and due to being poor, they were fine with Rin being a Spellcaster instead of a Magus as Magus spend FOREVER researching to reach Akasha and obtain all magical knowledge of the world, hoping to obtain magecraft in the era of gods as modern magecraft is weak and inferior compared to days of old, evident in Caster-Class Servants in past Holy Grail Wars who used powerful ancient magic of their time, and they want that power. Spending money, and kidnapping people to experiment on them in their wake like cold-blooded scientists of old.

And so, she sighed as she went out one last time, to the playground she met Aoko in and saw her child self talking to a younger Aoko.

'And it all started here.' but she saw some Coal Tars floating around, making her twitch. In the books, they are a tiny, airborne Demon that possesses fungi, flecks of dust, and dirt. It is attracted to dark, dank places, as well as humans with dark natures. Wide-eyed ones are OK, nasty-looking ones are self-explanatory and must be killed. However, friendly or not, breathing them in causes lungs to rot...to deal with them, spray them with Holy Water. But in Rin's case, she can just burn them to death.

...and why is so many of them around?!

She can't handle it by herself, not without betraying statute of secrecy.

Only option: pretend they don't exist.

'Sigh...I don't wanna move to an apartment...'

Up above...

Mephisto took out Kurikara to inspect it.

...the seal has a slight crack.

Little sister can see the Coal Tars but due to vast numbers, she understandably played pretend. Not even she, can deal with all this herself.

This many? "Astaroth must have sent them out by the bulk...out of all brothers, he's the most loyal to daddy dearest." he thought dryly, shaking his head in sarcastic amusement.

xxx

At home...

'Yukio, okaeri!' Rin chimed, seeing her brother in casual clothes. She had seen him in seminarian garb once, and had to hold back laughter as it looked funny on him.

'Neesan, has anything happened around here so far?' Yukio asked her. 'Trouble started near here according to gossip, but nothing clear about it.'

'Ehhh nope. After buying a ticket, I went straight home, took out some money for shopping and cook dinner since you come home in the afternoon lately, unlike before so you'll eat dinner on time for a change.'

'Haha, that's true...neesan, before you leave, write some recipes OK? Goodness knows I don't think I can go back to childhood food!' Yukio complained, making his sister giggle. 'I compared food back then to now...uggghh...'

'Yes yes~! Go get me a pen and a notebook! Oh, and sticky notes, glue and scissors as adhesives on sticky notes wear off in time.'

'Alright!' Yukio went to his room to see Mephisto there. 'Sir.' he went all business instantly.

'There is now a crack in the seal.' said Mephisto as he took out Kurikara and showed Yukio a small crack. 'She can now see lowest-level creatures. She saw the flood of Coal Tars this afternoon and she ignored it as it's impossible for her to deal with them all, not without exposing magic to normal folk~' he chuckled. 'Astaroth is actively looking for her and who knows who else who are employing subtle means. Astaroth wouldn't know subtlety even if it came out doing the tap dance.'

'...noted.' Yukio groaned. 'I won't let neesan out tonight.' he swore. 'What about her trip to Kyoto tomorrow? Compromised?'

'I'll see what happens tonight as humanity sleeps.'

xxx

Meanwhile, in Kyoto...

'...so, are we all clear here?' the clone asked Suguro Tatsuma and Torako, as well as the heads of Houjou and Shima Families and their highest-ranking members.

They were naturally, stunned by the reveal.

The reveal that IT has a children - twins - with a human woman fifteen years ago. The one with the 'blood' is sealed and unaware of her lineage and lived a normal life under the current Paladin's roof. However, due to financial issues, Rin took on a job in the Job Centre, applying for the Culinary Industry and passed the exams.

She was originally to be signed to a French Restaurant in Tokyo, but due to circumstances, wants Rin near the Order as a precaution incase she awakens.

'It will be intense, so keep an eye on this sword...and it's important that you smack a few seals on the sword as well.' Mephisto took out a few paper seals. 'But! Should the crack grow too big with even a minor glow, get Rin out of Kyoto to the mountains as awakenings tend to be flashy.' he warned.

'But that would mean our deaths!' Mamushi burst out in horror. 'How on earth will we survive THAT?! Blue flames can even burn our souls! No afterlife not even reincarnation! Absolute death!' she freaked out.

'Rin was raised right by Fujimoto alongside her brother.' said Mephisto. 'She knew morals, conscience, humility, honesty, things demons will never know. Heck, even I learned those after a couple thousand years and had to self-discipline myself to stay constant, but Rin was raised into those since she learned language. The only times she was ever violent, was if Yukio is hurt by others. Nothing else.' he said, showing 'videos' of the past as otherwise that, she was normal albeit overprotectively-doting and caring for her very human twin. 'She will hold back and give you time to run and take cover at her own expense if need be and only let loose when she is sure you are safe from her. That is the kind of girl she is.'

'Had she been a normal human too, I would have let her go to that French Restaurant to work in as the judging panel deemed her skilled enough to work there but sadly, given dear ol' dad is her father, she's unlucky in that regard.'

'Excuse us for not being a French Restaurant.' Torako grumbled at him. 'We will be on a watch-and-see basis.' she said. 'And the lot of you will pretend to be kitchen workers too just to keep an eye on her since I'm not an Exorcist like you guys.' she told the monks behind her before looking at Mephisto. 'How good is she to be sent there?'

Mephisto replayed the Applicant Exam Event. They watched her cook like a pro, accomplishing the challenges with no sweat nor hint of nervousness caused by anxiety and pressure. When judging came, her work was highly praised.

'...she specializes in Japanese and French, but is limited by funds, so she perfected what she currently can afford to make, that's well within Fujimoto's affordability.' said Mephisto. 'And given what she is, her tongue is very sensitive to flavors and flaws in food, driving her to cook at a young age to eat perfect food leading to years of study. And she makes cheap fare classy. However...if she grows to care for those who cares for her, her food gains a side effect.'

'Side effect?' Kinzo frowned.

'What is that, sir?' Juzo questioned. Mephisto took out a photo of Fujimoto and Yukio. Their old selves as stressed, gaunt and skinny. 'This is before...and after three months, this is after.' another photo showing younger, glowing-in-health males who look like they ate well. 'For exorcists, their pay is high and you're aware of that as you get paid high monthy too.' Mephisto told them. 'However, majority of humans, don't know how to budget, and economize so they overbuy supplies in bulk, leaving barely enough for themselves till next payday. Honestly, haven't they heard of strategic usage so they won't waste anything? Knights and Arias are the richest Exorcists by far...unless they got multiple meisters to overspend on, that is.'

'By the looks of things, Fujimoto-kun overspends too.' Tatsuma commented, looking at the photos.

'Ammo for dragoons isn't cheap.' said Mephisto sagely. 'In order of poor-ness, Dragoons at the lowest of the low in poverty, followed by Doctor, followed by Tamer, then Aria and Knight who are financially-stable.'

The monks look utter deadpan at that.

'We wish we can say that for ourselves! We're Knights/Arias!' the three families yelled at him, making Mephisto laugh. Sure they got high paychecks, they hardly spend on other stuff as most of their money goes to keeping their ancestral lands and temples. Since the blue night happened, they lost their tourists and parishioners which was where their income comes from. So as a last ditch effort to keep money coming, they built this Inn.

Toraya Inn has forty rooms that can be adjusted as needed.

They were barely getting by thanks to the Inn. If they didn't build the Inn before things got really bad...

xxx

On a trip to Kyoto...

Yukio accompanied his sister on the trip there the next day via Shinkansen.

'Wow, never rode a shinkansen before, I'm a little excited!' Rin said as they brought bento with them to have lunch onboard.

'Well, dad saved up for this, so we can afford a one-way and a two-way for me.' said Yukio. In truth, it's HIS money as he is a paid Exorcist but she doesn't know that.

'Heee...'

And the ride was so smooth that she marveled over in amazement.

'Had we taken a bus, we'd take until sunset to get here but we got here during lunch...incredible!' Rin marveled as they got off the station as Yukio took out a paper map next. He knows where Toraya is, but he had to put on an act.

'Here we are, neesan.' said Yukio while they STILL ignored the Coal Tars. 'Toraya Inn. Your workplace.' they went inside to ask the sweeping old man where the boss was, Mrs. Suguro Torako.

'Oh, you finally came!' Torako greeted as everyone pretended NOT TO KNOW Yukio as she ushered Rin into her office for an interview.

'Okumura-kun, that girl...?'

'She's my older twin sister not in the know.' said Yukio. 'No idea father and I and the other priests in our home are Exorcists and we'd like to keep it that way. No masho either.' he said.

'Oh...'

'Well, working here WILL get her a masho and she'll find out eventually...'

'That's what I'm afraid of, but it's for her safety that she works here until we deem it safe.'

xxx

The Interview Panel were those in the know of her identity.

Rin revealed she wanted to help her brother's school fees as they're too poor only one of them can move on to high school and she had to move out anyway, due to a viral news on the Religious Channels about Pedophile Priests abroad preying on little kids and teenagers and Rin is a girl living in an all-boys' monastery...as a kid it can be overlooked as the news only happened a few days ago. Had Rin stayed in the monastery with news let out, the neighbors' tongues will wag and get her foster family in trouble, falsely accused they're keeping her 'for fun'. Yukio also had to hide during the day, making sure nobody sees him go home in the Monastery as he's 15 despite how tall and muscular he looked.

She also targeted fields of her specialty which was cooking or she's even OK with working as a maid for a rich family. But considering she read a lot of manga in how can that go wrong...yep, restaurant it is!

Next is a practical exam.

'Our selling point is washoku. Particularly Omotenashi-Washoku using seasonal ingredients.' said Torako as they took her to the kitchen. 'You may use anything you like as long as it's a dish that will satisfy all of us. You have one hour, to make a set meal...starting now.' they stayed out of Rin's way as the girl moved in large strides to get to what she needed.

She washed the rice first before steaming it on a pot, and gathered ingredients. Vegetables, herbs, fish and meat. The way she cut them all with knives and a cleaver was utterly smooth, quick and no effort at all because she was too strong that there was no physical resistance from ingredients, before preparing to cook them in skillets and woks, effectively multitasking...but on the last ten minutes, she made the soup, and plated everything else while waiting for the soup to be done...with a minute to spare.

'Done!'

The plating was gorgeous, smells divinely mouthwatering and matched aesthetics. The rice was very fluffy! The supplementary pickles she chose, were rakkyo.

'Let's eat starting with the fish dish!'

Fish dish alone brought a great flavor impact they wondered about the meat, and she used pork ribs...then the vegetable dish with soup last. It was flavor harmonic balance and the pickles of choice sweetened the deal.

'W-wow!' Juzo exclaimed. 'And you're 15!'

'Yup.' Rin nodded.

'Hey how about I take you out on a date?' Kinzo, like any typical man, goes for girls who can cook.

'E-Ehhh?!'

'You monkey, she's only 15!' Mamushi yelled, tripping him.

'Ow! What wazzat for you snake woman?!' Kinzo yelled indignantly, rubbing his nose.

'For being a lolicon!'

'It's a five year gap, five!'

'...is this normal?' Rin sweatdropped.

'Nevermind those two,' Uwabami coughed awkwardly while Yaozo twitched. 'But nonetheless, good job.'

'You're hired, Okumura-san.' Torako smiled. 'It's currently spring season so lots of tourists here. We'll task you with the desserts booth, OK?'

'Desserts booth?'

'Yes, when it's 'the season', lots of foreigners come in this side of Kyoto for cultural experience.' said Torako. 'And they want to bring some sweets a lot, and it's where our money comes from.' she said. 'Your job is Wagashi Production, supporting our craftsmen who shape it up for sale as a probationary period, before you move into the main kitchen.'

'Yes!'

And so...

'Yukio, I got in!' Rin told Yukio. 'I even got a room and everything, so it'll be OK!'

'You'll do fine neesan.' Yukio smiled. 'So what job did you get in the kitchen?'

'It's peak season right now so I got shunted to Dessert Production since it's the attraction here for souvenirs.' Rin grinned. 'Maybe I'll get to see how it's done since we're too poor to afford those! Hahaha...'

"Wow," Juzo thought, eavesdropping on the twins. "HIS daughter living in poverty, this is a story to tell in years to come." he thought wryly.

With Rin settling down, Yukio went home. '...time to explore this inn.' she mused. 'It'll be bad if I get lost while on the job...'

And so she explored.

On the first floor were administrative offices and unlabeled doors that have western doors that need keys to get into close to the front entrance. The actual guest rooms were far from those rooms. The first floor rooms were made for large groups that has close access to the garden views and near the segregated baths. There's separate toilet rooms per gender, all toilets with bidets. And like any mall, it has five stalls per room and a ventilator. The air conditioning, different types of cctv in and outdoor, lights and toilets and phones for calling room service were the only modern thing about this ryokan or there could be computers and security system behind closed doors. Everything else, japanese-y!

Second floors were where the more private rooms are.

Rooms for solo, and rooms for couples and small groups. There's also toilet rooms here.

And now, rules:

Sure, junior high graduates can work, but showing you're a working student at such a young age, is a big no-no. You are to remain hidden from guests, particularly foreigners who frown at underage part-timers. It was why it was great Rin chose a position in the kitchens! She is to be a stay out of sight, until shift out! And when guests have begun to sleep, they are to quietly clean public areas. Quietly.

And so...

In employee living quarters...her room was small, but she's used to it. She only packed her clothes and books, that's it.

Upon settling down, she is to explore more, so she knows where to go upon starting tomorrow.