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Tokyo Ravens - Volume 11 - Chapter 4.3




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Part 3 
Kagami had started to carry out 'exchanges' with Amami and Touji last fall. It just happened to be slightly after the time when Kogure transferred from the Exorcist Bureau to the Mystical Investigators. 
At the time, the Mystical Investigators had major issues. Tsuchimikado Harutora, who was viewed as the reincarnation of Tsuchimikado Yakou, along with the 'Shadow' of the Twelve Divine Generals, Ohtomo Jin. The two were to be arrested. But that wasn't anything simple. That was because both were powerful Onmyouji, and they led multiple powerful shikigami on the level of spiritual disasters. Even if their locations were found, teams of Mystical Investigators would have an extremely hard time capturing them. That was clear in the eyes of the higher-ups alongside the reports regarding them that were submitted regarding from the frontlines. 
So, the Onmyou Agency higher-ups decided to give that mission to powerful Onmyouji who could oppose them. They decided to place an Independent Exorcist of the Exorcist bureau in the Mystical Investigators. 
At that time, Kagami had raised his hand first. 
Kagami had quite a few connections with Harutora and Ohtomo. He craved a clear conclusion with the two of them. To Kagami, the mission of capturing Harutora and Ohtomo was a wish come true. 
Also, Kagami predicted two reasons for why he could be chosen. 
One was that Kagami had done Mystical Investigator work. 
Though it had been for a short period of time, Kagami had belonged to the Mystical Investigators when he had first entered the Onmyou Agency. He had worked under none other than Ohtomo. Because of that, he understood the basics of the Mystical Investigators and more or less had an understanding of the target of arrest Ohtomo. 
That ought to be quite a big advantage for his mission as a Mystical Investigator. 
But the most important factor was that 'there was no one else'. 
In the end, since the Onmyou Agency's reason for existence was the purification of spiritual disasters, Independent Exorcists whose power was renowned for being able to purify spiritual disasters alone were the aces of the business. Retiring these Independent Officers from the frontlines of spiritual disaster purification during this year when they had an increasing trend was a bold - or rather, quite a 'reckless' decision. 
But on that point, Kagami was the 'backup' of the Exorcist Bureau. After all, Kagami's daily work attitude was very poor. He basically acted alone, and never mind helping out on site, he even frequently refused the orders of the Exorcist Command Room. The reason Kagami was still able to be an Independent Exorcist was because of his outstanding power and the Exorcist Bureau's insufficient fighting power. Hence, the Exorcist Bureau could only treat Kagami like a reserve force in order to utilize his capricious self. 
In other words, Kagami was the best candidate for 'it's not a big problem even if we lose him'. 
He ought to be the most suitable person if one Independent Officer were transferred to the Mystical Investigators. Or rather, if an Independent Officer other than himself were moved, then negative effects that couldn't be ignored would appear in the originally-complete spiritual disaster purifications. Because he understood that, Kagami had believed undoubtedly that he would be chosen when he had announced his desire to transfer. 
However, before he knew it, Kogure was the one who had been moved to the Mystical Investigators. 
It seemed that Kogure was the same as Kagami in that he had also desired to transfer to the Mystical Investigators. Even so, Kogure was a pure exorcist. He didn't have any experience as a Mystical Investigator, and more importantly, Kogure's place on the frontlines of spiritual disaster purification was incomparably larger than Kagami's. Actually, Kogure was undoubtedly at the forefront of the struggle of spiritual disaster purification. 
Even if the person himself wanted it, the person asserted by many to be the Exorcist Bureau's young trump card couldn't be removed at the present. It wasn't just Kagami who believed this, anyone in the Exorcist Bureau did too. Even so, the higher-ups had chosen Kogure. 
The biggest reason was - Needless to say, the reason Kogure's transfer had become 'realistically possible' was the return of an Independent Exorcist to the frontlines. 
National First-Class Onmyouji, Shigeoka Shunsuke. 
One of the only five people appointed as Independent Exorcists. 
Shigeoka had temporarily left the frontlines slightly before the 'Great Hinamatsuri Purification' spiritual disaster terrorist attack happened the year before. Since then, the Exorcist Bureau had carried out spiritual disaster purifications with the system of four Independent Officers Miyachi Iwao, Yuge Mari, Kogure Zenjirou, and Kagami Reiji. In the end, although the burdens on each Independent Officer had increased, they had managed to maintain their normal business. 
But now that the fifth Independent Officer was returning, they calculated that they would still be able to manage their business with a four-person system even if they took one away. Room to choose had appeared. With that, even taking the lack of Mystical Investigator experience into consideration, the 'intensely passionate about completing his mission' Kogure was more suited than the 'it's not a big problem even if we lose him' Kagami. That was what the higher-ups thought. Kagami's usual work attitude became a stumbling block. To Kagami, it was truly hateful. 
Once the person was decided, it was irreversible even if Kagami opposed it vehemently. Kagami was extremely displeased. 
Hence, at the same time as he carried out his Independent Officer mission, he started searching for Harutora's and Ohtomo's whereabouts on his own. 
Of course, it was an action that wasn't thought out. Maybe he could manage with Harutora, but Ohtomo was a former Mystical Investigator. Moreover, his power was first-class. If he seriously hid underground, then Kagami definitely wouldn't be able to find him alone. He hurried over every time they sparked incidents, then swallowed his irritation in the empty vacated area. And so on. 
There was no one around Kagami that he could rely on to search, nor did he have any channels open to request that. Even his own information network wasn't worth mentioning. No matter how excellent an exorcist he was, in the end he was an outcast lone wolf. From society's point of view, he was just an approximately twenty-year-old 'youngster'. 
Kagami himself poured his heart into training his own strength, but he had never once thought of acquiring means to rely on others. Because of that, when he faced something that he couldn't deal with using magic, he became more and more conscious that he had no chance. 
Kagami's irritation and depression accumulated every day. 
Then, Amami's secret communication happened to come at this time. 
"Rin, hyo, toh, sha, kai, jin--" 
"...Slow as hell." 
Kagami mercilessly unleashed a water-element charm at Touji as he chanted the kuji-in. The magic torrent of water engulfed Touji, and the armor covering his body flashed with lag. 
"The hell are you lounging around for. You should have gotten nine syllables minimum in that kind of time." 
A leisurely charm magic with no formal chanted incantation whose spell was close to the default specification. Even so, it could be surprisingly effective as long as a practitioner of Kagami's level infused enough magical energy. In this situation, speed was the greatest strength. 
The speed of the battle in a magic battle against a high-level practitioner was decisively different from the speed of a battle against an ordinary practitioner. No matter how 'outstanding' a magic was controlled, it was meaningless if the practitioner was beaten before he used it. 
At the same time as he casually pointed out his slow reaction, Kagami quickly readied the next charm in his hand. A wood-element charm. Seeing this, Touji allowed his armor to lag while leaving the flow of water. He changed to a hand seal. A basic seal. Kagami snickered slightly, flicking out the wood-element charm with his finger like before. 
"?? ?? ?????? ??--!" 
Touji chanted Acala's Fire Realm magic. His thinking was extremely clear. He had seen Kagami take out a wood-element charm after a water-element charm and surmised that his intent was water generates wood of the Five Elements Mutual Generation. Water aura generated wood aura and grew into tendrils of vines. He planned on using the flame of the Fire Realm magic to counter it. 
His judgment wasn't bad, and his immediate and decisive actions also passed. 
But that was just a textbook [26] level of skill. 
"...Order." 
Kagami poured magical energy into the magic of the wood-element charm that left his fingers. Sparks flew from the wood-element charm with a crackle. Noticing this, Touji stopped his incantation in surprise, but at that time the wood-element charm had already burst into sparks of electricity and spurted forth electricity. Also, it used the prior water as a medium. The water aura generated wood aura that assaulted Touji in the blink of an eye. 
"Gaah!" 
The dark stadium lit up with flashes. Touji yelled and was knocked away by the impact. 
He dropped to the ground with a loud sound. Then, his limbs were momentarily paralyzed and unable to move. The armor wrapping his body lagged intensely and half had already disappeared. 
Amami, who observed in a corner of the stadium, moved instantly. But Kagami stuck his hands into the pockets of his jacket with an uncaring look. 
"......Wood-element charms are surprisingly convenient. Outside of lightning, wood aura has very good characteristics of 'wind', much like metal aura. In the sense that it conquers earth aura, it's also connected to 'earthquakes'. It has a very wide range of use. Of course, you have to watch out for the balance in water generates wood of Five Elements Mutual Generation." 
"......Really, thanks a lot......" 
Touji gritted his teeth, forcing the words out in a groan. Then, he put his hands against the ground and staggered up. 
Never mind the toughness at being okay after being unilaterally beaten down like that, it was incredible that his eyes still hadn't lost their fighting spirit. But if he wavered at this level, this kind of exchange wouldn't have any value at all. It had already been more than a whole year since he was requested to train Touji. The results of that showed clearly - at a pace slightly surpassing Kagami's expectations. Honestly, he was quite outstanding. 
Kagami cast a gaze in Amami's direction. 
The lights weren't on as usual, and hence the stadium was dark. Amami sat on the wheelchair on the other side of the darkness enclosing the vast space, gazing over at them. 
He wasn't 'seeing', he was purely 'looking' [27] . But even so, Kagami had no intent of looking down on him. There wasn't a single fool in the Twelve Divine Generals who would look down on the man Amami Daizen no matter what kind of condition he was in. 
Kagami indifferently recalled when he had first received Amami's communication. 
He had been thoroughly shocked at the time. He hadn't been able to believe it immediately. After all, Amami had suddenly vanished without a trace after the Twin-Horned Syndicate sweeping operation had happened last summer, and his whereabouts had been unclear since then. Amami had been the Chief of the Mystical Investigators at the time and had been essentially the second-in-command of the Onmyou Agency. It was a huge incident for that kind of VIP to suddenly vanish. Actually, a search led by the Mystical Investigators was still continuing. 
But it was a fact that the tremors within the agency had been minimized since Chief Kurahashi had managed the Mystical Investigators directly. Then there had been the overlapping incidents around Tsuchimikado Harutora and the movements of the Onmyou legal reform, and Amami's disappearance had slowly vanished from the memories of the Onmyou Agency employees. Amami had come in contact at that kind of time. 
A sudden contact in the silence five months after he vanished. Moreover, he had contacted Kagami. It was totally natural for Kagami to feel shocked and doubtful. 
But on the other hand, the instinct 'that's why it must be the genuine article' flashed by. That method of bluntly bypassing the surroundings evoked Amami's feel in Kagami. 
Kagami had directly met Amami afterwards through a number of stages. At that time, he also realized that Touji, whose whereabouts had become unclear after Harutora's incident, had also been moving with Amami. 
Also, he learned the reason for their hiding. 
'......So that's it? The mastermind behind the Twin-Horned Syndicate was none other than the top of the Onmyou Agency, Kurahashi Genji?' 
Amami had affirmed Kagami's confirmation with a serious look. 
He understood that it wasn't a simple lie or joke by seeing the magical mark carved into Amami's forehead. Because the same mark had been carved into Kagami's forehead. A seal laid by Kurahashi Genji. Also, Amami's completely cut off his magical energy. Since that kind of thing was on his forehead, then it was certain that at the least, Amami and Kurahashi were hostile. 
But if this wasn't a lie or a joke, then Amami's words were a truth that would shock the Onmyou Agency and the magic community. No, it wasn't just the magic community that would be shaken. The Twin-Horned Syndicate had led to two spiritual disaster terrorist attacks in the past and had brought many deaths and heavy damage to Tokyo. 
Amami also spoke of the connection between the Kurahashi family and the Souma clan. 
According to Amami's words, it seemed that the Kurahashi family and Souma family were old allies who had assisted Yakou together in the Pacific War era. That incident - the series of incidents where Harutora awoke as Tsuchimikado Yakou - was a plan of the Kurahashi and Souma to resurrect Yakou, but they had failed and ended up with Yakou opposing them. That wasn't just unrelated business to Kagami. After all, Kagami had confronted and fought Harutora before he vanished. He had witnessed the two shikigami gathering by Harutora's side - the scene of Hishamaru and Kakugyouki. 
The link between the Onmyou Agency Chief and a fanatic terrorist group. Also, that link stemmed from a connection even before the war. This was no longer something at the level of a scandal. It was an incredible bomb that could blow the entire Onmyou Agency away. 
However, Kagami was more interested in the intent of Amami for disclosing this to him than that problem. 
"......What's your goal? Don't tell me you want me to tell the police and expose Kurahashi Genji's crimes...... You're not thinking that, right?" 
Since the incident had developed this large, even Kagami couldn't act recklessly. 
Most importantly, he had no interest. 
Even if what Amami said wasn't a lie or a joke, Kagami wouldn't take it as one hundred percent true. Because he had no actual evidence. But verifying its authenticity would take quite some work, and would be extremely dangerous, and there would be no benefit. Even more importantly, he didn't have the enthusiasm. 
If he opposed Kurahashi Genji and fought with him and the Souma clan - to be honest, he did think 'I want to try'. Targeting worthy enemies was the meaning of Kagami's life as well as the source of his strength. The stronger the enemy was, the more there was 'value in acting'. 
However, even so, Ohtomo was first, and then was Harutora. To the Kagami back then - no, it still hadn't changed now - coming to a conclusion with the two of them was the top priority. He had no thoughts of deliberately getting involved in the conspiracy within the Onmyou Agency. 
But it seemed that Amami had already realized Kagami's attitude. So, Amami brought an 'exchange' for Kagami. 
That was to 'train Touji'. 
It seemed that Amami had fled the Onmyou Agency - rather, Kurahashi Genji's eyes and ears - with Touji and hid underground to pursue traces of Harutora and Ohtomo. In other words, he had the same goal as Kagami in 'finding the two'. But in the end, he was the former Chief of the Mystical Investigators, so even if his magic was completely sealed, Amami was still better than Kagami in the field of pursuing fugitives. 
Then, Amami offered to inform Kagami of the information the two of them obtained in their search. 
Amami and Touji would inform Kagami of their information as they pursued Harutora and Ohtomo. 
In return, Kagami would train Touji each time. 
That was the 'exchange' that Kagami established with Amami and Touji. 
"......Ah, I can't find any motivation......" 
Right now, Touji was on alert for the next attack while watching for openings in front of Kagami. 
To be honest, Touji was 'pretty good'. The special training Kagami was carrying out now was like actual battle, even a professional exorcist wouldn't be able to keep up quickly. Even given that Touji was a living spirit, he had merit. 
But even so, that wasn't a reason for Kagami to help him. 
No matter how much of an exchange this was, Kagami couldn't confirm how much Amami was giving him of the information he obtained. Amami also ought to know that Kagami was searching for Harutora and Ohtomo in order to defeat them. Then he couldn't possibly straightforwardly give them all the information. Though he certainly didn't have any other sources of information, that wasn't to say that he would help Touji with special training for some unclear information. From Kagami's point of view, this wasn't worthwhile. 
However, that said, Kagami had agreed to the exchange and was teaching seriously. This was because of a certain 'condition' that Kagami had added on to the exchange. 
Also, there was another reason. 
That was that Ohtomo had once been a teacher. 
"......Then." 
Kagami muttered quietly. 
Touji had already released his own seal and wielded the strength of a living spirit. The armor covering his body was proof of that. 
In other words, he didn't need to worry that he would die easily. 
"I'm starting." 
Right as the words left his mouth, Kagami released consecutive magic. 
Unmoving Golden Chains. Charm magic. Various magical walls. First-Class Spirit Language. And Fire Realm magic. Touji desperately fought back against all of it. 
But it wasn't enough. Because Kagami was regulating himself - that said, even though he was throwing things out casually and although their magical energy outputs were balanced, Touji couldn't keep up in speed. 
"Hey. How many times do I have to say it before you understand. It won't possibly be of any use if you refine your magical energy after you finish selecting your incantation. Think while running, seeing, and continuously refining your magical energy. Ready enough for the next go when you're using your magic." 
As he said that, he also unleased Unmoving Golden Chains without an incantation or hand seal. 
When playing around with an excellent student from an academy, the most effective method was to use 'mixed' magic. 
That wasn't limited to the Onmyou Academy. The growing newcomers who weren't yet serious practitioners would always use magic 'carefully'. But that was natural, as if they made a mistake and let first-class magic lose control, the practitioner as well as the surroundings could easily be harmed. Hence, when mastering magic, one had to get used to being careful and attentive before a magic had been completely formed. That was common instruction. 
But in a magical 'battle', that carefulness would often become shackles. 
Even if 'accuracy' - or 'safety' - was the basic of the basics when using magic, a magic battle was only a magic battle with an opponent. If in the time that one readied an 'accurate' and 'safe' magic the opponent attacked with 'quick', 'imprecise', and 'dangerous' means, they would be the one to lose. At most they could only pray that the opponent's magic would lose control. 
One could only act crudely in order to win against such an opponent. You would have to use magic even at the cost of safety. Of course, at the same time, you would have to stay above the bottom line of not going out of control - or, even if control was lost, it had to be within an acceptable range. 
For a comparison, it was a technique like arriving at the destination without getting in a crash or letting the engine overheat. In the professional world, everyone was equipped with a high-performance engine. Given that, how could one win even a bit more speed than the opponent? 'Imprecise' yet 'quick' magic was the answer. 
Also-- 
"...Order." 
Kagami released a fire-element charm. Touji immediately pulled out a water-element charm to try to suppress it. 
However, the magic of the first-element charm that Kagami released didn't activate, it just floated to the ground. "Wha?" As Touji's eyes widened, the Unmoving Golden Chains that had been released without a sound caught the living spirit and sealed his movements. 
"Shit!" Touji struggled with all his might, exhausting his demonic aura to forcefully shake off the Golden Chains. During that, Kagami looked at Touji with a wicked smile. 
"You were slow this time. Reacting and using all your power wasn't bad, but you're done if you expose yourself like that, Touji." 
Honestly, he had just used a fire-element charm and chanted an incantation, but hadn't sent it any magical energy and had simultaneously thrown out a soundlessly-released Unmoving Golden Chains. In other words, it was just a simple diversion. But it was significantly effective against a newcomer rashly trying to keep up with the speed of the magic battle. 
Also, he did things like use fire aura instead of water aura to block fire aura. Or deliberately making a mistake in his Unmoving Golden Chains and diverting that spell onto wood-aura vines and such. 
'Unconventional' tactics, and undoubtedly tricks. But tricks had limited methods of use depending on the time and occasion. Things like conventions were only effective in a battle of similarly-skilled people. If the opponent changed their fighting style, then the balance would instantly change. That was the concept of yin and yang that comprised the Five Elements. 
"How is it? It's tough to keep up your pace against a high-level opponent, huh? But you won't be able to win against anyone stronger than you right now as long as you can't do that." 
"............" 
"Ha. You finally don't have any of that frivolous talk you're so good at anymore, huh? Your friend's gonna lose his other eye if you're slow, you know." 
An intense fighting spirit ignited in Touji's eyes again when he heard that. 
Kagami had fought Harutora and cut his left eye with his blade 'Higekiri'. He had already told Touji about that - or rather, he had actually been lured by Amami's wordplay and inadvertently gave it voice. After Touji learned of that incident, he had buried their past relationship in his heart and had asked Kagami to teach him. 
But it seemed that his anger at a friend being wounded still hadn't vanished. That unconcealed anger reached him from Touji as he started to attack again. Kagami dodged while continuing to speak. 
"Listen, Touji. You're basically the power-hitter type. I said before to always keep refining magical energy. Just like breathing. It should be natural, not conscious." 
Kagami frankly taught Touji everything he thought of without any modification. Though he didn't know whether it was the correct answer, he was instructing him extremely seriously. 
Kagami thought this way. He knew that Ohtomo had been a Mystical Investigator. But after Ohtomo resigned from the Mystical Investigator, he had become a teacher at the Onmyou Academy. 
Then what exactly had that person been thinking while he had been teaching students as a teacher? That kind of things had he been thinking about? What had the man who had climbed into the Twelve Divine Generals been pondering as he taught immature students about magic? 
Maybe that was completely useless thinking for the purpose of defeating Ohtomo. 
However, it was worth a try. 
It wasn't all because of Touji. He had to try everything in order to win against a high-level opponent. 
And as for the other reason Kagami accepted the exchange. 
"......Well. It's about time. That's enough warm-up." 
After he said that, Kagami stopped the battle and slowly moved away from the area in front of Touji. 
He moved to the wall of the arena and took off and tossed aside the down jacket he wore. 
He stretched his neck, returned to the center, and said: 
"You've piled up quite a bit of resentment, right? Let me help you vent that." 
"......Thanks a ton. Putting aside getting hurt, try not to die, alright?" 
Touji was still short of breath as he waited for Kagami. But a dazzling thirst burned in the eyes glaring at Kagami. 
Anger and irritation at himself were held in Touji's eyes. Along with a crude destructive impulse. The strength of the 'oni' eagerly awaiting release. 
Kagami confronted Touji again, making the many rings on his fingers hit each other to make a jangling sound. 
His eyes sharpened, and he announced in a voice colder than ice. 
"......Come. Let me teach you." 
Kagami had added a 'condition' to the exchange. 
That was that if Touji fell, Kagami would take his oni as a shikigami. 
Touji gritted his teeth so tightly that his fangs ground. 
The horns extending from his forehead grew even longer and wider. 
Then, Touji chanted an incantation. 
"Second seal, purge!" 
That was something that had happened the first time Touji received Kagami's special training. [28] 

The dead of night. This was the location, the stadium of the old Onmyou Academy's training area. 
"In any case, the current you isn't worth mentioning. But one trick is better than nothing. Let your oni out." 
Back then, Kagami had abruptly opened his mouth with an undisguised attitude of evaluation. 
Touji couldn't possibly have any objections either. He felt a quiet tension in his heart while wordlessly taking off the bandanna wrapped around his forehead. 
In a position farther away from the two of them was Amami sitting on his wheelchair along with Suisen who pushed the wheelchair. Though Amami never showed it on his expression, his mood was probably very complex. That was also because it was actually Touji who had proposed this exchange, not Amami. 
I have to train myself. Touji had told Amami this when he had mentioned hiding underground with him. Of course, those were his true feelings. Poignantly true feelings. 
The night Natsume died. Touji had done almost nothing at all. If someone else heard this, they might hastily deny it, but Touji himself had said with sincere feeling that he had just frantically run around. He hadn't been able to intervene at all. 
Useless. His anxiety depressed him. 
If things were like that back on that evening, then it didn't even need to be said that even more difficult situations waited ahead in the future. Becoming strong was Touji's priority. He had no room to choose for this. 
The Divine General Kagami Reiji's nickname was 'Ogre Eater'. That stemmed from the strength from a captured oni that Kagami used. He had heard that once before from Principal Kurahashi. But according to Amami's words, Kagami had was only called that because he had purified several oni up to now. In any case, Kagami was used to oni - or more accurately, used to 'Type-Ogres'. 
Touji had been possessed by an oni because of the first spiritual disaster terrorist attack in history, the 'Great Hinamatsuri Purification'. Since he was a living spirit possessed by an oni, he was close to a 'Type-Ogre'. 
The oni had brought Touji spiritual encumbrance, but now it was a valuable 'strength'. Kagami didn't need to describe it as his 'one trick'. Touji definitely had no way to immediately increase his strength other than by using the oni inside his body. 
The most effective way to learn how methods of using an oni was by learning from someone familiar with oni. Even if that person was a senior who ought to be spat on for many reasons. 
"...First seal, purge." 
That incantation was the keyword that lifted the seal cast on Touji's body. 
Immediately, Touji's oni who had been firmly suppressed by the seal slowly moved and awoke. Demonic aura mixed with his entire body's aura spurted forth, and the density grew and then took form. 
A pair of lagging yet ominously-flashing horns extended from his forehead. Inauspicious, sharp fangs appeared between his lips. 
At the same time, ancient-looking armor [29] appeared. Also, a helmet symbolizing the oni. This armor wasn't completely materialized; instead, it was flashing and half-transparent as it covered Touji's body. 
An ancient samurai flashing with crackling lag overlapped with Touji. It was a form like an undead fallen warrior. 
This was Touji's 'oni'. 
This ought to be the first time Amami directly saw this form. Maybe he didn't have any spirit-seeing ability at the moment, but he understood that feeling of pressure and danger and the solemnity of his expression increased. Suisen also seemed openly surprised from behind him. 
But the composure of Kagami who stood in front of him was calm. 
He endured the demonic aura gusting from Touji's body as if it were a breeze, looking over expressionlessly. 
Then, his face staying expressionless, he spoke. 
"......You can still keep going." 
It wasn't doubtful, nor was it confirmation. It was a tone of 'certainty'. The corner of Touji's eye twitched. 
Touji accurately understood the meaning in Kagami's words. 
The one who had placed the seal on Touji was his primary physician and Harutora's father, Tsuchimikado Takahiro. In the first place, a seal had been placed on Touji's oni because Touji would have been consumed by the oni if it hadn't been suppressed. The oni would instantly gnaw away at Touji when the seal binding it vanished. Then, it would appear as a Phase Three spiritual disaster using his body as a vessel. The so-called 'Type-Ogres' referred to mobile spiritual disasters that materialized with humans as vessels. 
Hence, Takahiro had overlapped several heavy seals in order to keep Touji from becoming a spiritual disaster. Right now, Touji was in a state where one of those was released. In other words, he was extracting strength from the oni inside through a gap in the seals covering it. 
Also, Kagami had said 'you can still keep going' at a glance after 'seeing' this state. 
Great. A daring smile emerged on Touji's face. 
"......Second seal, purge!" 
Touji chanted an incantation again. With that as the trigger, the second seal was released. 
The change was rapid. 
The spiritual pressure over his body instantly grew, and more and denser demonic aura poured forth. The armor that had continued lagging before settled down and more than half-materialized. In addition, there was the illusion that Touji's body itself grew larger. His internal pressure swelled, seeming about to burst. 
Also, the presence of the oni in Touji's body suddenly swelled greatly. 
It touched the freedom it had been separated from for a long time and howled in dreadful happiness. It tried to immediately engulf its host and seize control, extending its ominous fangs towards Touji. 
A violent and ferocious destructive impulse slowly tainted his mind. At the same time as it desired everything, it tried to abandon everything. An intense thirst for that kind of hedonic destruction. He hadn't experienced 'this' since the Nue. Touji intently maintained his own consciousness, resisting the rising oni with all his spirit. 
But as he desperately resisted the oni, he noticed it. He noticed the 'strength' that constantly poured forth. Completely incomparable to the state when he had released the first seal. A far, far stronger spiritual power. 

Suddenly, Touji thought of the Five Elements Mutual Generation using a spiritual disaster as its basis that Harutora had shown in his battle with Shaver. At the time, Harutora had made the wood aura of a 'Type-Worm' generate fire aura, and had used that fire aura to defeat Shaver. Touji clearly remembered the astonishing magical energy Harutora had released at the time. 
Five Elements Mutual Generation using a Phase Three. 
He should be able to do the same thing with the 'Type-Ogre' in his body. He could use this spiritual disaster - and moreover, it was a mobile spiritual disaster - that was concealed in his body. 
If. If he were able to use this condition for battle, then he might be able to 'get through' the battles in the future. Touji thought this as he tried hard to endure the oni's pressure. 
But-- 
Kagami's opinion was different. 
"......You can still keep going." 
Kagami said coldly. 
Touji couldn't help but be speechless. 
"......What's wrong? You can still keep going, right? Do it." 
Kagami's expression hadn't changed at all since he had started releasing the seal. It was indifferent, as if this was nothing special. And then, seeing Kagami like that, Touji realized. 
Actually, what Touji was currently doing wasn't much to Kagami. Kagami was an Independent Exorcist. He had witnessed countless spiritual disasters up to now and purified every single one of them. Of course, it was the same for 'Type-Ogres'. Wasn't that why he was the 'Ogre Eater'? 
Supposing that he would have to fight an opponent of Kagami's league, this level of strength wasn't worth mentioning. 
"...Wait." 
Amami interrupted from where he sat on the wheelchair. 
"Stop there, Kagami. ...Touji. Put the seal back." 
"You wait by the side, old man. Don't interrupt if you don't even have spirit sight." 
"Hah? Don't joke around. If you plan on making Touji fall and become an oni, I won't be able to fulfill the 'condition' from before, right? Touji, reseal." 
Amami didn't flinch. He ignored Kagami's words, ordering Touji again. 
Amami bore the greatest danger in this exchange. After all, Kagami was an Independent Exorcist. He was a person belonging to the Exorcist Bureau - or, the Onmyou Agency. Amami would have trouble even escaping alone in front of a person belonging to his enemy's side, but he had especially come out to meet him. He was in a position where he could be taken away helplessly if Kagami betrayed him in this moment. 
Even so, Amami had agreed to Touji's proposal in the end. Amami's own plans were probably in this, but that still didn't reduce the danger that he was captured. 
Since Amami had burdened himself with great danger to do this, Touji couldn't just go back without anything to show for it. 
"Touji." 
Kagami ordered Touji again. 
"Do it." 
Touji tightly gritted his teeth. 
Then, just like before, a daring smile appeared on his face again. 
"Third seal, purge!" 
Touji bellowed. 
The third seal was released. 
The oni leaped. 
His vision was tinted black. His entire body froze and ignited simultaneously. The oni gnawed at his mind, filling him with an ominous feeling. 
His body seemed as if multiple bombs were constantly exploding without stopping. The spiritual pressure leaped up faster and faster, trying to whip 'Touji' to bits from the inside. Touji - the samurai armor becoming flames of raging demonic aura that wrapped around his body - roared. 
He struck. 
At Kagami. At his prey. 
Kagami's movements were also completely different from before. He immediately clawed the air with his fingers, making a grid appear in the air. Touji collided with it. The flames of demonic aura streaked through the darkness, hitting the magic wall like bullets. Smash. An intense feeling of contact emanated as demonic aura and flickering flames danced wildly. 
Kagami's magic wall tried to repel Touji. But Touji's feet braced against the ground, opposing the magic wall head-on. 
He roared and put strength into his arms. The breath that leaked out of the gaps between his fangs was a miasma that would make a normal person faint upon contact. Even the line of sight of the burning eyes behind the iron helmet was filled with powerful magic. 
"Graaah!" 
The armor that was currently completely materialized shuddered and made a clattering noise as if dancing and laughing. 
Touji's strength exploded and he tore apart the grid-patterned magical wall. The magical wall dispersed and demonic aura and magical energy raged. Of course, by that time Kagami had already changed positions. "...Order!" He cast charm magic from the side. A water-element charm. There wasn't even time to avoid it as it hit right on target. But Touji no longer even felt this slight pain. As the permanent barrier of the training area creaked loudly, he roared and kicked off the ground to pursue Kagami. 
His mind was filled with hunting his prey. The soul-shaking impulse didn't stop urging his heart forward. 
Pricking anger. Offensive impulse. A dazzling sense of release. Terror and happiness shaded dark. 
The feelings of the released oni. 
But the oni wasn't completely free. Even if the 'oni' was committed to rampaging, 'Touji' didn't release the last reins. 
He controlled the oni like driving a galloping horse. If he let up just a bit - or if he gave it anything less than his full concentration - the reins would be stolen from him. But the remaining rationality of 'Touji' bet its existence on continuing to grasp the reins. 
In any case, he couldn't stop. The demonic aura spurting forth like a volcano was released outwards by the battle. He had to reduce it, even if just a bit - he continued to lower the internal pressure. Also, he turned the consciousness of the oni towards the 'enemy' instead of 'Touji'. You could say that the oni's innate destructive impulse itself was being used as his weapon. 
"...Graaaah!" 
Touji punched out sharply. An uppercut slanting obliquely up. The demonic aura swirled loudly, approaching Kagami like a mixer trying to crush him into bits. Kagami put up multiple barriers that he had never seen before, using them to gradually sap the attack's power. 
In that lull, Kagami counterattacked. Four original creation shikigami charms transformed into the forms of bestial skeletons. The skeleton beasts worked together and formed a hunting pack to assault the armored warrior. 
One bit his calf, while one sank its teeth into his arm. One circled around behind his back to look for an opening, and one leaped at his throat. 
An oni's smile emerged on Touji's lips. 
First, he smashed the one leaping at him to bits with a straight punch. Then, he kicked the one on his calf, hurling it into the one behind his back. He gripped the body of the one hanging on his wrist with his other hand, and then forcefully shredded it. 
The oni - Touji - absorbed the magical energy scattered from the shikigami. He sucked in deeply and exhaled with a shudder-provoking ominous presence. He savored its blinding anger alongside its joy. 
He couldn't stand it. 
"Graah!" 
He wasn't completely suppressing the oni's explosive power, he was just letting it burst out in the direction of the enemy. He raced to Kagami with a pure hunting mentality. Kagami also immediately stopped holding back. The Divine General continuously released magic, battering the oni and Touji. 
The armor flashed with lag and the flames of demonic aura were sent into disorder. 
But he wasn't afraid. He charged through the center of the magic, heading straight for Kagami. "Ha!" Kagami made a joyful sound. Touji did the same. Joy. Battle, hunting, destruction, devastation; how joyful. 
No, this wasn't enough. He still hadn't experienced the final thing. So he had to vent himself. His displeasure, his anger, his desire. He would show his fangs, kick the ground, release his demonic aura, split the air, and immerse himself in battle. That moment, the oni and Touji became one, becoming a ferocious warrior-- 
His consciousness instantly cut off. 
The rationality that was left alerted him like a screech. 
"...Reboot!" 
His body chanted the incantation before he was conscious of it. 
Instantly, the three released seals activated together. They forcefully cut off the oni's interference. The rapid resealing magic worked several times faster than the seal-releasing process. The oni was sealed and bound once again, leaving Touji alone. 
...Ugh!? 
The oni's demonic aura dissipated and the materialized armor also vanished. The horns on his forehead and the fangs splitting apart his lips did the same. After Touji returned to his original form, he was carried along by his inertia and tumbled to the ground with an exclamation, unable to even stop himself. 
Kagami clicked his tongue sharply, cancelling his magic at the critical moment. On the other hand, Touji still lay on the ground, panting roughly with his entire body covered in sweat. 
It was as if he had been thrown completely nude from a scorching hell into the snow. Before he was conscious of it, his spiritual power had been quietly taken away. A fierce feeling of exhaustion and lack of energy. Also, his skull was assaulted by an intense, crushing pain. Breathing was also painful. He couldn't even move a finger as he lay sprawled on the ground. 
Kagami's shoulder moved up and down as he breathed hard, and he stood gazing at the immobile Touji for a period of time. Then, he snorted and turned his back to Touji to pick his jacket back up. 
On the other hand. 
"Suisen, have you stabilized?" 
Amami, waiting in the corner of the stadium, checked with Suisen behind him. 
Suisen heaved a sigh, replying "Yes". 
Though Suisen was responsible for taking care of Amami, she was spiritually Touji's shikigami. When Touji trained, she would move using the magical energy supplied prior, and would cut off her spiritual connection with her master as much as possible - but she couldn't possibly remain unaffected when her master was so close to transforming into an oni and thrashing around with all his power. Especially after Touji released the third seal, even Suisen herself had flickered with slight lag. 
"Honestly, I can't even see spirits, but it seemed like my lifespan shortened just from watching. Or maybe that only happened because it was something I couldn't see. ......Anyways, Suisen, if you're stable, then you've got some work." 
"Alright." Suisen smiled slightly at Amami's request and shook the hem of her clothing, moving to Touji's side. 
She said to her master that was fallen on the ground: 
"Touji-sama? Is it alright?" 
"............" 
He didn't even have the energy remaining to reply. Suisen took out several healing charms after he managed to groan deeply from his throat, perhaps taking that assent, and started to gently stick them on Touji's body. 
The magic of the healing charms activated and his body's pain melted bit by bit. But he still didn't have any intent of moving. Touji sprawled there in an unsightly manner, slightly changing the direction of his neck and shifting his gaze. 
The jacket-wearing Kagami had returned to his normal unchanged appearance. 
"...Old man." 
He spoke to Amami, approaching the wheelchair. 
He planned on hearing information about the battle today between Ohtomo, Kogure, and the others according to the terms of the exchange. No damage from the battle up until now or even traces of fatigue could be seen from his back. Should he be angry or remorseful - however, this was reality. 
Of course, there were results. 
Kagami had instilled knowledge and methods for actual battle into Touji. That was undoubtedly hard-to-obtain experience. 
Moreover, he hadn't been able to withstand the third seal release for the first several seconds, but he had become gradually able to 'hold on'. Also, he was mastering the tricks of pushing the oni transformation to that degree and methods of fighting in that condition bit by bit. Touji was gradually mastering a powerful strength that couldn't be compared to what he had a year and a half ago. 
But half of that was consolation for himself. Though he could hold on, even so, it was for at most two minutes. Three minutes was the absolute limit. The time just now had been an extraordinarily dangerous bottom line - or rather, it had already been unreasonable. But his luck was good. If he hadn't performed the reseal before his consciousness cut off, the seal would have had no meaning. 
But if he released the third seal, not only his body, but even the oni's pressure would encroach substantially on his mind. As if he would be 'consumed'. Keeping calm and clearly seeing his limits during that time was extremely difficult. If things were already like that in training against Kagami who was already used to battle, what would it be like when a real fight started? 
Also, most hatefully, he had done this much - he had raised his strength with something like doping - but was still unable to touch Kagami. More importantly, even that Kagami couldn't match up to Ohtomo and Kogure. 
...He really detested himself...... 
Harutora, who was evaluated as spiritually tough by those around him, and Touji, who had fought freely before and who had an excellent physique. Natsume had been hailed as a genius. But their 'student' benchmarks meant nothing here. 
The power of the highest-skilled Onmyouji. Now that he was this far, Touji finally started seeing their true value in his eyes. Honestly, give me a break. 
"......Ugh." 
The stadium's chilly ground was very comfortable for his hot body. But Touji gathered all of his resolve and spirit to raise his body up on his arms. After thanking Suisen who immediately supported him, he finally staggered up to a stand. 
He breathed deeply multiple times, waiting for his physical strength to recover a bit, and started walking towards Amami and Kagami. Suisen intended lend him a shoulder, but he fully refused this time. Even if it was stupid vanity - no, because it was stupid vanity - there was no meaning if he couldn't do it all himself. 
But the talk had already ended by the time Touji made his way to the two of them. 
"Oh, thanks for your work." 
Touji managed to smile back at Amami who laughed and said this. Suisen, following behind him, circled naturally around to Amami's back as if proclaiming that this was her post. 
On the other hand, Kagami glared sharply at Touji out of the corner of his eye as he drew close. 
"I heard from the old man. You were the one who saw the incident; do you have anything else to say?" 
He asked in a brusque tone. 
"......I already reported everything that happened there to Amami." 
"Even so, you ought to have some feelings about it. For example, was that bastard Kogure going 'all-out' against Ohtomo?" 
"At least it seemed that way to me. ......But I don't know what kind of level Kogure-san is when he goes 'all-out'." 
Touji had witnessed Kogure's strength directly when Ashiya Doman had attacked the academy building. At the time, Kogure had worked with Ohtomo to defeat Doman, and his final big move at the end had claimed victory. It was the most powerful move that Touji had ever 'seen', surpassing what Harutora used to defeat Shaver. 
But Kogure at the time had been aided by his subordinate exorcists. There had been large Yamantaka magic seals painted in the distant sky. The strike that cut Ashiya Doman in two had probably included the magical energy of that large magical array. Then, he wasn't sure how great Kogure's individual strength was. It was also possible that Kogure himself hadn't used all his power at the time. 
But-- 
"...Scattering oni, splitting buildings, disrupting the spirit flow...... If even then he was still holding back, then I guess he wasn't going all-out." 
Touji shrugged his shoulders after saying that. A slightly challenging attitude. But Kagami didn't react. He thought about something, staying silent. 
Actually, it was unexpected to Touji too. He hadn't imagined that Kogure would be pursuing Ohtomo so stubbornly. 
Kogure and Ohtomo were classmates from their Onmyou Academy days, and their relationship ought to be quite familiar. He hadn't hesitated to abandon his Independent Officer job, expecting a position where he would pursue Ohtomo, and tonight he had tried mercilessly to chase him down. It was a fact that Ohtomo was moving through the underground, and there was undoubtedly a reason why he was being pursued. But even so, it felt too...... 
In the first place, why was Kogure so under Chief Kurahashi's evil influence? 
On the night of the incident a year and a half ago, Kogure and Ohtomo had confronted each other around Harutora, who was attempting to use forbidden magic. He had heard that after that, Doman had brought the imprisoned Amami to the scene, and upon seeing the wounded Amami - the figure of the Mystical Investigator Chief who ought to be missing - Kogure had sheathed his sword. 
At the time, Amami hadn't been in a state where he could explain in detail, and Kogure hadn't heard what had happened behind the scenes. But he had to have noticed various things for him to have retreated quietly. 
However, in the end, Kogure remained in the Onmyou Agency, had now transferred to the Mystical Investigators that Chief Kurahashi was the chief of, and was obeying his instructions. As if he were turning a blind eye to the Kurahashi darkness that he had peeked upon and pretending that it didn't exist. 
But on the other hand, Kogure seemed to not have reported Kyouko's divination incident during his confrontation with Ohtomo to Chief Kurahashi. Though there was no proof of that, it was the only thing he could believe judging by the attitude Chief Kurahashi had towards Kyouko and the principal - that was Amami's judgment after an impartial investigation of the circumstances. In other words, he couldn't assert that Kogure was completely on the Chief's side. 
... 'Honestly, that stubborn bastard. Is there still any way for us to pull him over to this side...... Or is he trying to tell us not to come.' 
Amami had once complained this to Touji, unable to grasp Kogure's mindset. 
There would be no one more reliable than Kogure if he rebelled against Kurahashi and helped fight with them. However, if they freely came in contact with him, then in the worst situation it was very possible that they would be captured and brought to the Onmyou Agency. 
...What's really going on? 
The image of Kogure he had confirmed today was extremely far from the straightforward, cheerful Independent Exorcist that Touji knew. He was like a silent, cruel, and completely cold machine. As if he had become someone else. 
What was Kogure thinking right now? That was a source of worry to Amami as well as Touji. Maybe it was the same for the silent Kagami. 
But Touji understood something after actually seeing the event. 
...Kogure-san isn't 'lost'. 
Even if his thoughts were unclear, Kogure's actions themselves were clear and thorough. He would undoubtedly continue pursuing Ohtomo from now on. No, it wasn't just Ohtomo, there was also Harutora. In that case, Kogure had become a 'competitor' to Touji and Amami who were also pursuing the two of them. 
...Well, it'll be hard to win from now on. 
There was no helping it even if he worried. But even so, it was quite an anxiety-inducing matter. Touji was already putting everything into his lack of development right now. 
"Well then, although there's still some time until dawn, nothing's going to come from wasting time in this kind of place. Let's separate for today--" 
Amami sneezed loudly halfway through after saying that much. 
A stadium in the middle of winter without any heating equipment. Putting aside for now Touji and Kagami who had been in battle, Amami was definitely cold. "Ahh, that won't do." Suisen circled around in front of him, crouching down to tighten Amami's scarf. 
"Oh, thank you, Suisen." 
"That's why I told you to wear more. You'll get a cold, you know?" 
"You can care for me when that time comes. That won't be bad either." 
"Daizen-sama, that joke is too much." 
"It's not a joke at all. You can make gruel and feed me by hand saying 'ah--'. ...Oh my, that's bad, why do I feel cold all of a sudden?" 
"Is that true, Daizen-sama?" 
Suisen gently reproached him, but Amami laughed 'hehe' unabashedly. Strangely, Touji's and Kagami's temples both twitched from displeasure at the same time. 
"Judging by how they were before...... Are those two always like that?" 
"......Yeah, pretty much." 
"......You have it tough too." 
"......Well, I've gotten used to it." 
Touji and Kagami talked in cold voices, moving away from Amami and Suisen. 
Then. 
"Touji, Ohtomo brought two oni. Those things were Doman's shikigami and not Ohtomo's, is that right." 
Kagami changed his attitude completely, confirming again. "Yeah." Touji replied blandly. 
"Though I wasn't able to go as far as confirm the spiritual link, I don't think there's any mistake judging by the onis' attitudes. Both of them are quite strong." 
"Ho. How are you measuring that strength? Eh, brat?" 
"......That's true. That explanation just now wasn't completely. At least, to me, they were incomparably strong." 
Touji honestly revised his wording at Kagami's sharp jab. Unfortunately, he didn't have the energy to respond to each and every jab right now. 
It seemed that several reports regarding the two oni had reached the Mystical Investigators. Both of them were seen as stabilized mobile spiritual disasters that had existed for a long time. In other words, 'true oni'. It was believed that these two oni were the ones who had commanded the group of shikigami that attacked the Onmyou Agency building when Doman had attacked the Onmyou Academy before. 
Though it was astonishing that Doman used these two oni as shikigami, it was hard to say whether the combined strength of Ohtomo leading Doman and these oni together might even be higher than Harutora with Hishamaru and Kakugyouki. In any case, they were out of reach for Touji. 
...I can't win against either of those oni. I'm not sure if I would even be able to stop them. 
Touji didn't think he would fight with Ohtomo. But that didn't change the fact that he wouldn't be able to win. The 'situations' that Touji would dive into from now on would probably be far more difficult 'situations' than even the one from the night one and a half years ago. 
Just then. 
"Incomparably strong? Hey. You're getting pretty candid, Touji. As if you're getting used to losing to your lack of power. Commendable." 
Kagami snickered with a low voice. Touji looked wordlessly at him with a scathing gaze. 
But the next words were surprising. 
"I came in close contact with one of those oni when the Agency building was attacked. Just in terms of my feeling from that time...... If you were able to maintain your last form, you'd be able to match it." 
Touji couldn't keep his eyes from widening when he heard this. He inadvertently stared intently at Kagami. 
He wasn't ridiculing him. Nor did it feel like he was lying. Then, perhaps finding Touji's surprised appearance laughable, Kagami laughed loudly a couple times. 
"Surprised? You can't win against a true oni by relying on a living spirit - is that what you believed, brat?" 
"Well......" 
"Hey, the resurrected Dairenji Shidou said it too, right? The oni in your body isn't any normal oni. I'm also pretty sure of that. Even only considering its incompleteness, it's completely out of the league of a simple 'Type-Worm'." 
That was something Kagami had often pointed out to Touji since before. 
Amami had also conveyed the business with Yashamaru to Kagami. Along with the 'same boat' phrase that Yashamaru had used. 
But Kagami had been watching the oni inside Touji's body before he heard about Yashamaru's business. The condition Kagami had brought up - the condition that he would take the spiritual disaster as his shikigami if Touji transformed completely into an oni - seemed to have been added only because he was interested in the oni possessing him. 
Kagami had said this at some time. 
'It was the spiritual disaster given rise to by the National First-Class Onmyouji known as the 'Professor', Dairenji Shidou. Also, at the time, that guy belonged to the Lingering Spirit Division of the Imperial Household Agency. Like their name, the Lingering Spirit Division's focus was lingering spirits - 'ara-mitama' like Doman, for example. In that case......" 
Dairenji Shidou had summoned a mobile spiritual disaster using himself as a vessel - and there was a very high probability that this oni hidden in Touji's body was an ara-mitama. Kagami believed this. 
Of course, he couldn't investigate the truth. Only Yashamaru knew the truth. 
.........No, that was wrong. 
Touji negated his own thoughts. 
Maybe that guy was still investigating right now. She was the one in a position closest to that answer. 
"Hey, Touji--" 
Kagami spoke casually, but like a carnivorous animal watching prey. 
"I said 'become an exorcist' to that Harutora before. If that happened, I'd kick him flying to my heart's content. In the end, that guy went farther than becoming an exorcist and became a terrorist. But he became unexpectedly strong. It's a rare opportunity, and I plan to find that guy in the future and enjoy kicking him flying. Until I get tired of it." 
"............" 
Touji stared at Kagami without saying anything. Kagami chuckled and glared at Touji. 
"So, Touji. You become stronger for me too. You're far from enough as you are right now. There's no value in it." 
He didn't need anyone else to say that. Becoming strong was Touji's top priority. 
Touji stayed silent, quietly clenching a fist. 
Amami spoke again, ending the exchange for tonight. The outside of the windows was still enclosed by darkness. 
It was still far from dawn, and the night air was still cold.



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