Tokyo Ravens - Volume 15 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

Part 1 

"Rebuilding the Onmyoudo u ?" 

"That is right." 

The young red-haired officer confessed with a cool look. 

"About the top  of the o nmyoudou, Tsuchimikado Yakō -dono, I want to leave it to you." 

For a while, Yakō  was looking at the young man sitting upright, stretching his back and facing each other. Then, he turned his face to the head of the Kurahashi family, who was sitting next to him, and after confirming that Takamitsu had a very serious expression, he returned his gaze back to the front again. 

The Lord seemed to be reading the other person's intentions, although it was rare. Also, it seems that he was surprised. Hishamaru observed Sōma  Satsuki, from behind Yakō . 

It didn't change the impression of the shadow that she felt when she first saw him. However, when she looked at him, she felt that it had something of a frozen, straight, classy thing. It may be said that it is a shadow nobleness. It, combined with a unique redhead, creates an atmosphere that is somewhere out of the world. To be honest, it was far from the vague image of a "military man" that Hishamaru had. 

However, of course, the military uniform was not fake, he seemed to be a real soldier. He was a member of the General Staff of the Imperial Army, of the rank of Lieutenant. Unfortunately, Hishamaru was not familiar with military matters, but being an officer at this young age, he was probably an elite from a military academy. 

An elite officer of the Army Intelligence Service and a young head of the fallen Onmyoudou. If you look only at the titles, they we re really contrasting. 

But, at the beginning, this man gave his first and last name, not his identity. 

Satsuki has already said that he was visiting with the intention of senior military personnel. In other words, this visit was a military service. 

Despite this, Satsuki presented himself to Yakō  as Sōma  Satsuki, not “Lieutenant Sōma  Satsuki”. Besides, he said that he was the same as Yakō , "a person who walks the path of o nmyoudou ." 

Takamitsu explained what that meant. 

Since ancient times in the Heian era, the Sōma  clan was a magical group that has inherited its blood and skills secretly but continuously. 

Satsuki was said to be the true ancestor. In other words, he, like Yakō , lived with the old "curse" as his destiny. 

For example, the sign of the "demon" that Kakugyouki sensed seems to be the protection that he used. Now, considering the cursed barrier laid in the Tsuchimikado residence, they were waiting outside the site. If it wa s a protection method that has been passed down to the Sōma  family for generations, it must have been "tough" as Kakugyouki said. 

However, for that reason, the visit with the reliant protection method outside the barrier should have been an act that carried a considerable risk for Satsuki. No, the problem before that was that the head of a long-established onmyo u ji clan asked for a visit to the head of another onmyouji clan alone, even if it was a formal military service. It was quite unreasonable. Takamitsu was the head of the Kurahashi family, even though the introducer, Takamitsu, was in between. He was not a third party, but a person who was completely on Tsuchimikado’s side. 

Magic was something that should be kept secret, and interaction with other schools was usually delicate, with some exceptions. Moreover, the person he visited was Yakō , a well-known master of magic, who was a member of the Onmyoudou sect. In addition, the Tsuchimikado family gathered in the residence. It was not exaggerated to say that if one of the practitioners of other schools made a mistake, it would have led to a crisis of life. 

He was not sad. He was not calm. The excitement could be felt. He had a slight sense of tension, but there was no fear. He rather felt self-confident, confident in himself, confident in fate and mysteriously confident about Yakō . 

“ … ” 

Yakō  remained silent for a long time. 

It was rare. It was an attitude that might be criticized, not bowing to the other party met for the first time. Takamitsu was choosing whether or not to interrupt. On the other hand, Satsuki did not see any slight upset and was quietly waiting for Yakō 's reply. 

Eventually. 

" …  Well …  what?" 

Yakō  muttered. 

The tense air loosened slightly. 

“I am very sorry to have you visit from a long way, but I’ll have to refuse, lieutenant. Please, leave!” 

After a few moments: 

“ … eh?” 

The voice of the elite officer who spilled like a surprise, contrary to the impression until just before, left a strangely defenseless and child-like attitude. 

 ? 

The tsunami-like rainstorm was getting rid of. 

The voices of cicadas were heard from all sides covering each other as if they were competing with each other. It was strange that its presence wa s so strong that it c ould n ’t  be touched by hand. It  also felt that the glimmering sunlight made the cicadas' big chorus even more apparent. 

The scorching roof tiles give off a dull glow. The gravel wet with sprinkling water reflected the sunlight from below. 

A muffled chanting voice echoed from the auditorium mixed with the rain. Moist grass drifting from the forest and a faint breeze that occasionally s hook  the heat. 

The ancient temple in Miyama was in the middle of midsummer. 

Hishamaru was drawing water from a well on the back side of the warehouse in a corner of the outskirts. 

The training ha d  just finished. After putting the water to a tub, she drinked it. The sharp coldness of the well water seemed to wake her up. Hishamaru suddenly close d  her eyes to the excitement. The hair covering the fox's ears and tail quivered and wavy as it shook. 

She soaked the towel, squoze it, and wiped off the sweat on her neck. 

“Huh.” and exhaled. 

It seems that the hot air and discomfort that the dragon had in the body melted from the cooled part and was discharged. She was finally comfortable. Hishamaru held her hand over her forehead and threw her gaze into the distance. 

The green ridges spread over. On top of that, a pure white cloud stood against the backdrop of a deep blue sky. It was a very summery, overwhelming sight. The village of Tsuchimikado was also rich in nature, but this temple was on a different scale. Nature, almost untouched by humans, was right next door, rugged, strict, but beautiful. 

“Hishamaru-sama.” 

Hearing the voice from behind, the tip of the f ox's ear moved sharply. When she looked back, a young man who was shorter  than Hishamaru approached her with a smile. 

Even though he was shorter , he seemed to be very agile, and his well-burnt skin, shinokake robe, and yamabakama made him feel like a small Tengu. Hishamaru laughed back and replied, "Sen-dono.” 

"What happened? You were playing Shogi with Yakō -sama?" 

"That's over. Now he is playing against Shinra-sama." 

"Is that so?  …  I'm sorry to bother you  every day." 

“What? Yakō -sama's shogi has a unique taste, so I often study a lot of things. I'm grateful.” 

When Sen responded loosely, Hisamaru's tail lifted up happily. 

“That's right? It's true that Yakō -sama is thinking about magic while he is playing Shogi. When he plays, he naturally becomes himself." 

"Why can't a person who is so smart improve at shogi? I'm playing with him when I have free time …  something different from what we see. Shogi …” 

“I don't think it's a bad thing. It is not a problem at all, but no matter how many times you lose, it is one more game, and if you are forced to persistently play it will certainly be easier.” 

“ … I'm sorry.” 

It was not limited to Sen. There was no excuse for the Lord's love of shogi, so Hishamaru, who went on to defend him for a moment, opened her mouth obediently. 

Sen was a temple man doing miscellaneous work at this temple. He was still young. He should be, he looked like a teen boy, but there  we re times when you’d think he was older than Yakō , Hishamaru, and so on. It was said that there were a few people who knew his true age even in the temple because he answered with a different age every time he was asked. Originally, it was an unwritten rule of the temple not to look into the past. 

When he said that he was a temple man, he was treated as a lower man, and he tended to be disregarded in the temple. 

"No, no, that's a ruffian. He always laughs like a human herder, but he's a little different from Toshiyuki-san . The plot of shogi seems to be unpleasant one by one. If you think you've heard this "wait", it might be the next trap?” 

That  wa s Yakō 's comment on Sen. Aside from the example of shogi, the character of the master wa s considerable. You must be careful because Yakō  puts a glance at it. Nonetheless, his demeanor was "and good for people”. Hishamaru was a person who had a very good impression. 

In the first place, if you say “ruffian”, all the people in this temple must be ruffians. After all, this was not just a mountain temple, it was North Star Hill Temple. 

Although it was a temple formally linked to the Shingon sect, there is no strict doctrine. Rather, there we re various denominations of different doctrines, from Nanto Rokushu to esoteric Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, as well as mountain worship like Shugendo, Shinto, and even folk religion. It was a "temple" made up of people. On the contrary, there were also  "unbelieving" ones. 

The only thing they had in common was "magic". 

Known as "Dark Temple", this was one of Japan's leading "magic training grounds". 

"I'm really sorry for pushing you to be the Lord's opponent." 

"It's ridiculous. As I said earlier, it's an honor to be able to serve as a partner for Yakō . In the first place, the fact that a person like Yakō  can come to the mountain in a friendly manner is an honor. I'm happy for it too." 

“… but I can't open it up too much …” 

"Ha ,  ha. Of course, I know. However, I'm glad that he hasn't changed since he became the head of the family." 

Hishamaru returned a complicated bitter smile to Sen who laughed without hesitation. 

As Sen said, Yakō  loved this dark temple, and has been out of the village for many years before visiting. Here, spellcasters of various backgrounds were gathered, and that could be seen directly because of the unique spells they cast. For Yakō , it was a unique "school" of magic. And it was the same for Hishamaru. Every time she visited the temple as a companion to Yakō , she practiced a lot and improved accordingly. Shinra, who was mentioned earlier, was reluctant to admit, but he could be called a magician. 

To tell the truth, this is a story that is not very well heard. 

In many cases, magic has some faith in its base. In other words, "magic" is the technique of understanding the spiritual structure of the "world" from a religious perspective based on each belief and systematically approaching causal relationships. Therefore, the exposure of the magician to other magical systems leads to a reconciliation of different religious views. Also, the strength and effectiveness of magic was often replaced by religious "correctness". As a result, the view of religion was shaken, and the faith itself was often lost. This is the reason why the spellcaster, not only himself but also the spellcaster's group, is cautious about interacting with other schools. 

However, at  the d ark temple, the relationship between faith and magic wa s reversed. There wa s faith, and there wa s no magic as a benefit, but magic wa s emphasized first. 

Of course, they haven't professed to deny faith on the surface, but it wa s a tacit understanding that magic wa s prioritized above all else. It wa s a place where people who pursued  "curse" gathered  up. 

Inevitably, those who gathered there we re often outcasts from their original magical group. Most of them we re "practicalism", which d id  not appear on the "table". For that reason, while being awe-inspiring to a master of magic, it was also treated as a swollen part of the magical and religious worlds. This was the reason why North Star Hill Temple wa s c onsidered a dark temple . 

Yakō  has been immersed in such a place since his early teens. He was a very familiar customer. 

Of course, it was kept secret from the villagers, but now it can be said that Yakō 's visit to the dark temple was an open secret, just by not saying it to anyone except Kokage. Some may have hoped that he would calm down a little as the head of the family, but as expected, his behavior did not seem to change. Yakō 's grandparents had already seen it, but for Takamitsu it must have been heavy sighing. 

"By the way, Hishamaru-sama. Actually, the melon is chilled? I'm thinking of giving it to Yakō -sama, but how about Hishamaru-sama?" 

"Thank you very much. But, aside from Yakō -sama, could you please stop from calling me "sama"?" 

“No way. If you can learn the curse, I can't make a rough phase for the people of Tsuchimikado.” 

"So, even though I'm Tsuchimikado, I'm from a branch family, and after all, I'm a young person. Above all, I'm just a shikigami of Yakō -sama." 

"Even so, Hishamaru-sama is still an up-and-coming onmyouji, and it is my role to serve the practitioners who gather at the temple." 

"However…" 

"Furthermore, Hishamaru-sama is still young and beautiful. If you really have a good eye for living in the mountains like this, you will be passionate about serving." 

“…“ 

She was told very seriously, and Hishamaru turned red and closed her mouth. It was a line with teasing, but she could tell that it was not flattery. 

Hishamaru, who has been despised for being a beast possessed, was rather uncomfortable with Sen’s attitude. However, in the lower world, possessed who are repelled by their peculiarity are not uncommon in this dark temple. Rather, they had a strong spiritual power and may be evaluated on the contrary. 

At the dark temple , as long as the spellcaster had real ability, he would be recognized regardless of age, gender, or denomination. And Hishamaru was already one of the best onmyouji in modern times. 

“As I’ve said before, I don’t like how Hishamaru-sama is underestimating herself. Well, she grew up closest to that genius child. I think it's not unreasonable, but clearly. I tell you, Yakō -sama is exceptional.” 

"Well, of course, Sen, I know." 

“Is it true? With all due respect, Hishamaru-sama, you don’t know so many of the practitioners who live in the present time, other than Tsuchimikado. The mountain is one of the best in Japan in terms of magic. I believe that the ability of the Masters is the highest among all practitioners. However, even in the mountains, the talent of Yakō 's magic is too "different”.” 

Sen’s lines were exaggerated, but his words were very plain. He was explaining the obvious. Not only did he do the chores as a temple man, but Sen also practiced magic. That was his  view. 

“If you are in direct contact with him because of his calm temper, you will forget about him, but the technique that he has dedicated all of his life to, the practitioner who has been trained throughout his life, is in an area you can not touch. If you measure yourself based on such a person, you will lose sight of yourself no matter how good you are.” 

Sen said with clear eyes, looking straight at Hishamaru. 

He was genuinely concerned as a friend. It was only Kokage except for him who treated her like this. 

" …  Thank you." 

Hishamaru obediently thanked him. 

"I understand what Sen-dono says. I understand, I'm going to do it. However, I'm training for the Lord, not for myself. To help Yakō -sama is the one and only purpose. For example, I think it is necessary to think based on Yakō -sama, no matter how unfamiliar you are. Knowing Yakō -sama's power, and on top of that, even the slightest "addition", even if honest, I just train." 

“ As long as you have the genius of the century as master, it is reasonable for the ordinary shikigami to struggle. However, Hishamaru thinks it is a worthwhile effort. That's the hardship of being beast possessed and still living proudly. ” 

When he hears Hishamaru's answer, Sen keeps his smiling expression unchanged. 

"It's an answer that seems to be Hishamaru-sama’s… But when it comes to helping Yakō -sama, you should refrain from imitating himself. Yakō -sama said “Another”. I said a lot, but …  That's why he's just a little out of balance between his "talent" and his "heart." 

"Talent and heart?" 

"Yes. Rather, I shouldn't ask a living person for a heart that can support such a huge talent …  No, I'd like to say something like this, but that person is surprisingly fragile. In order not to overlook the fragility, Hishamaru must properly judge her own value, your value to Yakō ." 

Sen’s eyes looking at Hishamaru were sharp enough to see what she couldn't. Still, it was a gaze that made you feel something similar to compassion. 

Hishamaru had no clue about Yakō 's "fragility", however, Hishamaru did not let what Sen said go down. 

"Yes!" 

She wrote it down in the back of her chest. 

Sen suddenly wondered, "Oh?" And looked back at the main hall. 

"What happened?" 

"Yes, it looks like Hyakurobo found something." 

The next moment after he muttered, a big shadow jumped over the roof of the back of the warehouse. It floated softly high in the air, and then landed behind Sen. 

What appeared was a big man with muscular bones. Despite having a huge body, it is as light as a monkey. It was a shikigami. The name was Hyakurobo. He wore a straight spell on his body reminiscent of his duties, a hood on his head, and a strict tengu on his face. 

Hyakurobo was a shikigami with his own will. He was able to speak in one word, but it seemed that it was possible to communicate with Sen without using words. Before Hishamaru watched over, Hyakurobo turned the face of the tengu he was wearing toward Sen. Sen listened to the voiceless shikigami, and after a while, turned to Hishamaru with an "Fumu". 

"It seems that there is a person who climbs the mountain road on the front …” 

 "What?" 

"Yes. He seems to be a soldier to hear his appearance… Isn't this the "one" that  Yakō -sama said about?" 

"What? No way …  to such a place? 

Hishamaru rounded her eyes. After all, the place is hard to get to. It wasn’t just an isolated island on land, but a dark temple, an "otherworld". But that didn't mean it was impossible. Even after being refused at the first visit, he has repeatedly visited from Tokyo and repeated direct interviews. That Yakō  is closed, so it should be a great enthusiasm. 

For the time being, Kakugyouki was on the side of his master. 

"I'm sorry, Sen-dono. I'll check first." 

"Then, let us join. Hyakurobo, follow me." 

Hishamaru immediately headed to the front side of the temple. Sen seemed to be interested in following, and Hyakurobo chased after that. North Star Temple consists of multiple temples built in the forest. Hishamaru and his colleagues went around the back of the warehouse, passed by the auditorium, and went out to the square in front of the main hall. 

While basking in the sound of cicadas and bathed in the shining sun, they crossed the square and dove through the four-legged gates. Beyond that, it was a mountain road of stone steps which continued to the foot. 

Hishamaru, Sen, and Hyakurobo lightly descend the mountain path of yin and yang created by sunlight through the trees. 

Before long, in the forest, they saw an old-colored mountain gate painted on vines and moss. It was a wooden tower gate of two-story, the main house building. It was a boundary that separated the outskirts of North Star Temple from the lower world. When he reached below the gate, Hishamaru looked at a young man climbing up the stone steps. 

First of all, she observed the red which shined more vividly in the green of the mountain. It was red hair spilling from the military cap. 

After all, it was Sōma  Satsuki. 

The man also noticed the shadow under the mountain gate, raised his face, and met her eyes. Satsuki, who noticed Hishamaru, bowed with a cool face. She had no choice but to bow her head, too. 

Satsuki did not speed up his steps, but climbed the stairs at his own pace. 

He looked at the Hishamaru who stopped under the mountain gate. 

"It's as if the messenger of the Inari god, who was incarnated as a human being, brought in a small tengu and a large tengu. Long time no see, Hishamaru-san.” 

"It's not a long time, Sōma -sama. We just met at Tsuchimikado's mansion the other day." 

"Is that so? Excuse me. After all, I'm waiting for a good response every day with thoughts for the next generation." 

"I don't think the Lord's feelings will change even if the next generation falls." 

"That's why I don't just wait, I'm busy with it." 

"The military is surprisingly free." 

"Maybe Hishamaru-san didn't come to pick me up, but came to repel me?" 

As Satsuki smiled jokingly, Hisamaru frowned  silently. She knew it was rude, but in front of him, she was at a loss for what to do. 

The gaze that looked at her was calm but pressured, and was gentle and sharp. A strange young man like a crane. 

“…  To be honest, I didn't come to pick up Sōma -sama or to turn him back. I just received a report from the temple staff and came to check it. I thought …” 

" … I woul dn’t come to this place??" 

"Yes." 

S atsuki smil ed  softly again. 

"At first, I visited Tsuchimikado's mansion. While the people in the mansion were muddy, I asked them to come here because they were in the military, so I hurried to visit them." 

"That was …  it would have been difficult for those who were asked." 

“I think I had a good opportunity, right? Even though he’s the head of the family, Yakō  is still young, and it's only a short time since he has succeeded. In a mansion with the eyes of older people, it may be difficult to do. In that respect, in such a place, we  may be able to talk.” 

“…  If the Lord cares about that much, my hardship will be reduced a little …” 

She didn't know how serious he was, but Satsuki had a serious face. It can be said that the feeling of an honor student, the feeling in the air was similar to the shadowy nobility that she felt when they first met. 

"In the first place, Sōma -sama. Excuse me, but do you know what kind of place this is?" 

"Of course, I know. North Star Hill Temple. Speaking of dark temples, it's famous for its sources. It's my first time, but in the past, some people from Sōma  have visited." 

"Yes, as you say, some of Sōma 's blood relatives have been in the mountain in the past.” said Sen, who had been silent until then. 

After quickly looking at Hyakurobo for a moment, Satsuki corrected his posture toward Sen again. 

“Hello, can you be Ashiyari at the  Temple?" 

“No. I'm doing chores in the foreground. I’m a temple man.” 

"If even a temple man uses that shikigami, the reputation of The North Star temple seems to be genuine. As you may have already heard, my name is Sōma  Satsuki. I heard that Tsuchimikado Yakō  has come, and I will visit him. I hope you can see to it. ” 

"This is polite. My name is Sen. I will not refuse anyone who comes to the mountain. I don't mind at all. However, I can't arrange a meeting with Yakō -sama." 

"It's fine. If you can put it in, it's enough. Let's say I'll catch his neck by myself." 

After saying that, Satsuki returns his eyes to Hishamaru. Perhaps he had a moody face. 

"After all, this is my job. It's also military. Please understand." 

" …  Of course, I understand that it's a lot of work." 

She didn't intend to say anything about it, but she felt a sense of distress. Reluctantly, Hishamaru responded and moved the tail, as if shaking off the heavy feeling. 

On the other hand, Satsuki didn't care about it, but then he was a bit mischievous and muttered with little bitterness . 

“But… in this case, the “military” point seems to be a source of trouble.” 

Part 2 

"I'm not going to use magic in war." 

"It's a little too far ahead. The military is requesting the reconstruction of the Onmyoudou." 

The words of the two young men flew in the air, cut and sparked, like a sword dance. It was both beautiful and dangerous. 

"It's synonymous. I don't think the military will ask for astronomical observations or compilation of calendars in this age when Japan is fighting on the continent." 

"Even so, praying for the importance of the nation should be the right figure as an onmyouji." 

"Now, the times are all right. If the devotion of the world is different, the spiritual phase is changing. Of course, what o nmyouji should do is different from before." 

"As a person who controls yin and yang, do you have a series of efforts for your country?" 

"I'm not saying that. It's about the change in meaning of magic." 

"Excuse me. Certainly, what the military expects from you is not "prayer". It is a more concrete-practical spell that is required in the world today." 

"I don't know. If you're looking for a concrete benefit, Lieutenant, you shouldn't be looking for a relic of the last century like this, but for engineers and scientists with cutting-edge knowledge." 

"Of course, we're asking them to help, of course, but we always have to look for different ways, and magic still has great potential." 

"Looking at the current situation where magic has declined so far, I don't know why it is judged so." 

"It is the old magic that has declined. As Yakō -dono said, the times are different now. Therefore, the magic of old has declined  and the new is required in the present world. That spell doesn't exist yet." 

“…  If it's a new thing that is required in this world, magic won't perish?" 

"Of course." 

“…  But relying on non-existent magic …” 

"You already know that you are an onmyouji for that purpose, Yakō -dono." 

Then, Satsuki leaned forward and looked  straight at Yakō eyes . Even Hisamaru, who was behind him, realized at that moment that something like a cold electric current was flowing through his spine. 

A turning point of fate that he will look back on later. 

At that time, what kind of future did they foresee behind each other's eyes? 

"We want you to come up with a new magic system, r ebuild the Onmyoudo u . We are requesting the appointment of the Onmyoudou head for that. The military will fully support you, Tsuchimikado Yakō . Please, a new generation of spells, open a new door o f magic  with us." 

It was an enthusiastic demand for the future. The line that was spoken at that time must have been like a great "curse." 

 Still, Yakō  didn't occupy it. 

Tsuchimikado refuses Sōma , but Sōma  continues to challenge Tsuchimikado without pulling. 

The season changed from spring to summer, with no sign of compromise between the two. 

“How many times has it been?” 

“Well… Sorry, I haven’t counted.” 

"How many more times do you want to continue?" 

"It depends on Yakō -dono." 

Yakō  was no longer trying to hide his disgust. Satsuki, on the other hand, had a cool look as usual. 

Hishamaru sighed for a long time, looking at the two of them. 

 ? 

"Hahaa, I see. It's a new magic system  in a new era. It's a magnificent thing, and it's a big thing, and the government will take the lead. As a person who takes the curse as a living business, I'm really sick. ” 

“…  Okay, Shinra-san should keep silent." 

Yakō  grumbles at Shinra, who wa s arrogantly amiable. Satsuki replied "I'm sorry", but he couldn't read anything more than sociable and diplomatic etiquette from his expression, at least with Hishamaru's eyes. 

The Japanese-style room with about 10 tatami mats was a room of a shukubo in the temple. This was the room where Yakō  always slept when visiting the dark temple. The poor tatami mats stood up and the drafts blew  in calmly, but they were  kept clean by careful cleaning. 

Yakō  reluctantly invited Satsuki, who gave a greeting to Shinra and obtained permission to stay, to the room. And he responded to the discussion, which he didn't know how many times it would be. Hishamaru was present, but Kakugyouki, who disappeared early without notice, should be said to have made a wise decision. 

It's been 5 hours. 

Shinra, who popped out said. 

"Well, you guys. Have you done it yet?" 

He even rounded my eyes. 

Then, this time, the interest ed  Shinra joined the seat. Perhaps because of her imagination , the luster of Hishamaru's tail seemed to be a little weakened. 

Hishamaru glances at the window, sitting behind the Lord. The sun was already tilting and the sky was being dyed with amber. Smoke was rising in the back of the warehouse, and medicinal meals should be prepared. 

"There are already rare visitors to the mountain today. I'm gonna give you a big hospitality." 

"Hospitality, hey? I didn't think that Shinra-san would refrain from Hannya Tou on days when there were no customers." 

"No. No, you're saying that you're shaking a big company? The taste is different between the sake that you sip in the room and the liquor that everyone enjoys." 

Grinning, really happily saying. 

From the beginning, Shinra of the dark temple wa s more or less a fishy priest, but far from being the number two of the temple, now that the current president wa s old and half retired, his attitude  wa s actually at the top. Even though they were outsiders, Hishamaru and others thought that something was … 

However, it wa s a fact that the dark temple has come to life since Shinra took charge of its operation. 

"A lover of sake, of woman, and song will lose his life, this is what Luther, a Western priest, said, as a priest of the book of the day." 

Since he was the actual top, he was about to loosen the rules. Shinra was a high priest of the Dark Temple. 

He was bald and wore glasses. He seemed to be around 40 years old, but like Sen, he looked older and younger. He was a man with white skin who you could not believe that he lived in the mountains. His eyes were strangely long, and his thin lips were always filled with a blurry smile. Anyway, he was a person who didn't feel the "core", and even though he wore a Kasaya in a satoichi robe, he looked like a playboy who immerses himself in the Yukaku. 

Although he was a priest who did not feel the style of the temple, he was still a top-class magician of the present generation who was afraid of being a "ghost of the dark temple". In fact, even Yakō  was a person who admitted that he couldn't compete in actual battles. However, Yakō  said that a year before Kakugyouki became his shikigami. 

“Even so, if you say o nmyouji, there is an impression that it is elegant, and when the army is said to be onmyoudou, it feels strange.” 

"The grand marshal, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial Army and Navy, is now His Majesty. In the sense of serving the Lord, the foundation is the same as the former onmyoudou.” 

"It's fragile. Regardless of whether it reports directly to the imperial family, if it is placed under the command of the army, it will be moved with the interests of the army as the highest priority." 

“Hey, boy, be careful? In this day and age, if military people talk too well, it's going to be a mess.” 

"Don't worry. I'm not saying that there is no such thing, but at least you can trust yourself." 

"Ah, patience. Of course it's a joke." 

Shinra pats his bald head in good condition. 

"Anyway, a person who can come to a remote place when he is at most 20 years old to head down. Now, there was a National Mobilization Law? Even if you bother to welcome him with a thank you. If you feel like it, you can force it as you like." 

"It's ridiculous. We are the ones who invite Yakō -dono." 

“Is it good? As expected, there is only the head of Sōma , and there is no fault in the emperor . Well, from a monk's point of view, it's much more quiet than a soldier who just rots.” 

That said, he smiled with a grin. 

It's called a humming, a gesture and a facial expression, and each one wa s exaggerated and played . However, Shinra was always like this. There wa s both sincerity and lies in the reaction. This monk's characteristic was not so much the volatility of the truth as it was confused with the truth. 

On the other hand, Satsuki only smiled calmly at him, who seemed to be arrogant. 

Basically, Satsuki did not reveal emotions. All emotions are rational choices. No matter how bad Shinra was, he would be caught by it. 

If you think about it, Satsuki showed a change only when he first met. It was when Yakō  declined the request to take office on Onmyoudou without considering it. At that time, Satsuki was strangely surprised. 

"Actually, it's a big deal because of your youth.” 

"We have received a great deal of effort from Kurahashi-dono regarding the reconstruction of the Onmyo u dou." 

"Oh, Takamitsu-san? Kurahashi's house is always like that, but he's especially concerned about making connections, but only politicians and business people. The military I don't think works. I wonder if I dug into it before I knew it." 

He twists his neck exaggeratedly and glances at Satsuki. 

Satsuki once again smiled, sociable and diplomatic. 

"There are several Sōma -related people at the General Army Staff. For example, Colonel Satake in Section 8 is one of them." 

"Then, what about Sōma 's breath in the upper army?" 

"It's not that exaggerated, but it takes some politics to do things inside the military." 

"No, the people of Sōma  are a big deal. It's said that they are so digging into the military at this time. There is a foresight." 

"I'm afraid." 

Shinra seemed to be interested in him and his family as well as the content of Satsuki's story. But that's not unreasonable. 

The existence of the Sōma  clan was not well known in the magical world. At best, there were rumors that there was a clan in the Kanto region that had a certain origin for a long time. In the past, even at this dark temple Sōma  people were enrolled and no one was familiar with their substance. This wa s because the Sōma  clan has not shown any obvious movements for many years and has secretly prospered their lives. 

That Sōma  suddenly appeared on the front stage, at the center of the nation, the military. If you look at the magical world from behind, you can't ignore it …  But in the case of Shinra, most of it was pure curiosity. 

Sōma 's "certain origin" wa s related to their ancestors. 

Taira no Masakado, a legendary lord who once caused a great deal of turmoil in this country and aimed to become independent from the imperial court by calling himself the "new emperor" was considered to be their ancestor. 

"If you think about it, does the historic enemy enter the center of the Imperial Army? No, it smells so disturbing." 

The statement was suspiciously insensitive, but Satsuki nevertheless showed no emotional reaction. Should it be seen as steel self-control, or was he a considerable actor? 

However, Shinra's utterance, if inappropriate, was not wrong. It  wa s certainly a strange cause, if not disturbing. 

"That's right? What kind of new spell is it? Is it a kind of sculpture? Or is it a more direct one, like a grudge?" 

" …  all kinds of magic will be required. The only thing I can say is that it should be a free form of magic that is not bound by denominations or schools." 

"How? 

"Overall …  Still, it seems to be based on a system that is "different" from the existing framework." 

"Huh? That's also …” 

When Shinra snapped, she gave Yakō  a strangely meaningful, asking gaze. Yakō  overtly silently kills it, noticing his gaze. It was a silence that pierced Shinra with a nail saying "Don't say". 

Shinra had a cheerful face 

“… New, I don’t think so …” 

And continued. 

Shinra's gaze extended to Hishamaru, but the faithful shikigami quickly turned away. Shinra returned to the conversation with Satsuki as if nothing had happened. 

" …  It's a bit of a rough story, but it's not a rough story. When it comes to questioning sects, there are a lot of problems. And, as the monk says, it's like this mountain. If the army says, it will be a ladder ruler, but is it all right?" 

"Of course, there may be problems, but it is until they are resolved. In that sense, the state of the temple is really helpful." 

"Oh, do you think Sōma -san?" 

While saying that, Shinra cast his eyes again, but this time Yakō  ignored it. A funny smile passes on the lips of a fair-skinned monk. 

"I see. No, as you can see, this mountain has a nose pinch not only in the Buddhist world but also among cursed masters. 

"The people of the dark temple are all free. Socially, personally, emotionally, customarily, and ethically. In a good way, against magic. It's pure." 

"Oh. I'm happy about this. Did you hear that?" 

" …  I'll say something." 

" Correct , it's the basis of the curse." 

Shinra smiled. Yakō  has a bitter face and a sword in his mouth. 

"Shinra-san, I'm not as enthusiastic as ever. If you're so interested, why don't you give your name? Don't bother to rebuild the Onmyoudou. I should have it." 

"No, no, this story is about o nmyouji …  it's also a story about the fact that the "fallen” o nmyouji sect i s “ the flagship ” . ” 

"What do you mean? ” 

"Well, if you're going to carry it in a bowl, what's the easiest thing to do? In that respect, the current Tsuchimikado is ideal. It doesn't have much real power, but the history and name recognition are perfect." 

"It was bad because it  didn't have much real power." 

"And, do you say that you don't care about i t …?  Early on, if you want to boil the area, the idea of using the o nmyoudou as a "vessel" is bad. At the root of the Onmyoudou is religion and technology. Even if the Yin-Yang idea and the Five Elements idea are underlay, if you do the Onmyoudou, it is easy to incorporate it into a strange prejudice, such as the magic of other schools." 

Yakō  finally bit the bitter worm to Shinra, who grinned and exaggeratedly apologized. "Of course", Satsuki supplements from the side with a bitter smile. 

"I'm not ignorant of the current state of the Tsuchimikado family, and the depth of Onmyoudou's bosom isn't out of the question, but they're all trivial. This plan is more than anything else. First of all, it starts with the invaluable talent of Yakō -dono. Unless he puts his magical talent at the center, it will not be possible in the first place. " 

Satsuki's explanation was not flattery. Of course, it's no wonder that Yakō  was a genius, and there was no room for complimenting  the facts, but Hisamaru sighed loudly and shook her head. Even if she wasn’t good at it, she didn't feel bad if the Lord was evaluated lightly without being in the city. 

And Shinra, too: 

"I see, i see …” 

He deliberately and deeply dominated it many times. 

"I'm so fascinated by this, but the boy says he doesn't like the army and runs away. I'm sorry, but it's about time for the boy to conscript or go to the army anyway?" 

" Sōma  has turned his hand to temporarily stop the collection of Yakō ." 

"Huh? It's your first time hearing?" 

"We have received permission from Kurahashi-dono. It is a loss for the military, such as treating a person like Yakō -dono as a soldier." 

To Satsuki, who said calmly, Yakō  looked amazed and turned his eyes around. 

Shinra grinned and returned to the story. 

"No, but then you can make a new spell, but the problem is how to make use of it. I see, this person may be a rare genius, but it's a little hard to use in the military. Rather, it's not very suitable for you? It's hard to stand up in the second place, after all it's an individual. It has only one body. However, the Tsuchimikado family is not required to have the same layer thickness as in the past, and even if you take it from the field, it's just like a recluse nowadays." 

Shinra folded his arms and twisted his head. 

Then Satsuki said. 

"At the Onmyo u dou to be rebuilt, we are also considering training the next generation of magicians, the o nmyouji." 

"Haa, is it from the beginning? There are also good ambitions and ambitions, but is it really tough? How many years will it take to grow up to a full-fledged person? It's not always possible.” 

" …  Isn't it a new magic for that?" 

As expected, Shinra was amazed, but Yakō  added. 

"If we want to create a new system of magic, which is also a general one, in this age, it should be a more rational and academic system of magic  that is not based on personal experience or feeling, but for everyone. It has to have a universal theory and mechanism that could be understood." 

It was a soliloquy-like counterargument. After saying it, Yakō  suddenly raised his face, and noticed Shinra staring at him seriously and Satsuki's joyfulness, and hurriedly added, "It's a hypothetical story. ” 

"As Shinra-san says, it's unavoidable to make a spell that has no one to use. Then, there is no choice but to make it as "easy to use" and a "simple" spell system as possible, right?" 

"But, boy. No matter how easy and simple it is, it's useless. ” 

"Easy to use, simple, but "useful" magic works well. A spell can be expected to have a certain effect if you have the minimum ability, even if it does not depend on your individual skill. If there is such a standard, or a magic that becomes "standard", it will lead to raising the level of the entire magic world. If that happens…" 

Yakō  answered and returned to him, reminding him again, "It's just a hypothetical story, right?" 

You can see that the seat wa s getting hot. Hishamaru didn't know how far she could keep up with the story, but she still listened and focused on the questions and answers of her master.  

" … That's right. It may be a little different from what Yakō  says, but in short, it's the Minister of Science." 

With that said, Satsuki placed a black iron block on the tatami mat. Hishamaru reflexively hardened her expression. 

It was a pistol. Browning M 1910. 

"Turns a mere civilian into a soldier in an instant. In that sense, there aren't many "curses" that are so easy to use, simple and useful." 

"Hmm …  well, from the military's point of view, that's what I mean. Sōma -san, can you make a cursed gun for a boy?" 

"If you say so, there's a bad word for it. For example, a curse that can be used by all people, or an expression that can be used by all people. If such a thing can be done, isn't this just revolutionary?” 

"Everyone …  is that something that has no inspiration or legal power?" 

"It's a so-called demon talent, of course, that's ideal, but it's not realistic at present, but it's an absolute requirement that even those who don't have a demon talent can realize its effectiveness. That's just like this pistol." 

Satsuki replied, puting back his pistol. 

Hishamaru secretly set herself up and admonished herself. Now that Kakugyouki wa s out of his seat, she was the only one who protected Yakō  in the event of an emergency. However, if Satsuki had his gun pointed at Yakō , she was not confident that she could stop the assault. Of course, it  wa s an unlikely story, but it  wa s not a matter of how much she  trusted Satsuki, it  wa s a matter of possibility. 

The person carrying the gun wa s on the side of her master. That  wa s what it meant  to associate with military personnel. 

Then, when Shinra heard Satsuki's story, he twisted his head annoyingly, while listening to Satsuki's complexion. 

" …  I don't even hear about things that don't come." 

"Now the Army should be on the continent, isn't it? It's not just China. I'm talking about the Soviet Union. Isn't it really a big struggle?" 

As expected, the priest, even in a remote mountain temple, seems to be familiar with the world. 

"It's ridiculous, I know … . But, in such a harsh situation, why do you dare to put effort into the curse? Sōma , aside from that, it's a curse. It's a mysterious, suspicious thing. " 

Shinra, at least on the surface, asked with a really mysterious shooting face to tell the truth, it was the same with Hishamaru. 

Now that superstitions have been dispelled and scientific and rational ideas were becoming "common sense", why did the military seek "curse" again? The "curse" will not be what the military needs. To put it very frankly, it wasn’t necessary for military personnel living in the Showa era. 

"That's why." 

Satsuki answered quickly. 

" …  What do you mean?" 

"That's why it's a mysterious and dubious thing. The military, to be precise, has some people in the upper army emphasizing magic. This is not just Japan. For example, Nazi Germany, led by Hitler, who is showing the momentum in Europe, still has a sect that is devoted to magic at the upper level." 

"Huh, Germany? I thought it would be a country with strong tanks and cannons." 

"That's right. But that's not all. You might think that the military is a scientific and rational organization, and I'm not saying it's wrong. It's not the right answer. It's the army that acts scientifically and rationally, but is surprisingly superstitious and stubborn. It's not just the end soldiers, but the officers and seniors. If you know how spiritual and very seriously you are "relying on God", all the "curse" experts will be greatly surprised." 

Satsuki laughed elegantly but sharply, saying plainly. 

"In places where life and death are involved, people will inevitably hammer into the gods and Buddha." 

It may be said that it is a feeling unique to a witch doctor belonging to the army. Shinra did not return anything in particular, saying "Fumu", and was stroking his chin. 

“ … but .” 

Satsuki continued. 

"As expected, just "God's request" does not work for the current military. That's why, as I said earlier, it's important that everyone can feel the effectiveness." 

"Even if you look at it, you can see the effect, don't you?" 

"Yes. Technology that is unknown but found to be effective. People project their own imagination on such things. And technology is something that is recognized by many people only when it has a "shape". It can be a "thing" or a "person"." 

Said Satsuki from Shinra to Yakō . 

Yakō  silently cached Satsuki's line of sight. 

"I mentioned earlier that we're also looking to train magicians, to be honest that's a story for the future. Now, what we're looking for first is a combative magic force consisting of a small number of elites. A group that has obvious power in everyone's eyes and evokes various imaginations around it just by being present, and leads them, a charismatic magician who symbolizes magic." 

Satsuki's gaze looking at Yakō  was tinged with a hard light like cold iron. Even Hishamaru, who refrained from behind, seemed to be swallowed by the sign of Satsuki. 

"A spell like a pistol isn't necessary to shoot a person with it. There is such a spell, and there is a spellcaster who created it. That fact is important. That fact is important. It will have the power to change the upper ranks and even the entire army." 

Satsuki's tongue has no stagnation. Then it slips into your pocket and "fills" your head. When you realize it, what he says was not something peculiar, but something that was very common sense. 

"In the first place, magic has blossomed since  ancient times. Now that the world situation is turbulent, isn't it natural for  the military and magic to be connected?" 

Satsuki said. He was right. 

But : 

" …  Even if." 

Yakō , who was silent, responded with a strong voice, slowly pushing back Satsuki's entwined lines. 

"Every change must eventually lead to war. Lieutenant Sōma . I can't." 

By the time Sen visited the room and told him that he was ready to eat, the dispute between Yakō  and Satsuki had turned into a muddy affair as usual. 

Shinra, who didn't try to hide his tired face, forcibly disbanded the place and left the shukubo with everyone. Meals were often taken in each room, but as said at the beginning that night, Yakō  and his friends were supposed to drink sake. 

I was just before sunset, and as the night was falling, magical fires were occupying the stone lanterns in various places. The air has cooled. At the end of the day, a relaxing air was floating around. 

On the way to the back of the warehouse, Shinra casually walked up to Yakō . 

With a whisper that Satsuki could not hear: 

"Honestly, I lost my soul." 

Hisamaru's ears responded with a small snap. As Yakō  walked forward, he casually asked, "What are you talking about?" 

"Well, we had met many times before I came here. Did you get any guidance from the boy?" 

"It is a joke. Isn't that the case?" 

"Then, it's a strange story or a strange story. It transcends the boundaries of denominations and schools and controls all magic. 

A completely new magic system, a story that I heard somewhere. I want to refer to this mountain. It looks exactly like that." 

" … " 

"However, it seems that Sōma 's young head is unlikely to end up with dreams and delusions, just in case with someone who was enthusiastic about it." 

" …  That's why it's troublesome." 

The two whispered as they walked forward. Shinra squeezed his shoulders. 

"It's hard to understand when it comes to this. O nmyoudou 's story, to fulfill the long-standing ambitions of the boy? Why? " 

"That's exactly what I said to the lieutenant. I don't want to get magic involved in the war." 

"I've said that to Sōma , but since ancient times, hasn’t there been “curse” in the war?" 

"Past examples and what I will do is a different issue." 

"I see. You are pretty stubborn." 

"And…" 

"Oh, what else?" 

" …  My idea was previously denied by Seimei-sama. The road is bad." 

Yakō  said plainly, but the last word was mixed with a frustrating sound that seemed to come together for no apparent reason. Shinra rounded his long eyes behind the lens of his glasses. 

"Is that …  the Taizan Fukun Ritual?" 

To confirm this to Shinra, Yakō  silently nodded. 

Yakō  had learned the mystery of Tsuchimikado, "Taizan Fukun". It was not just learned, but various "improvements" were added with his own interpretation. One of the results was communication with Abe no Seimei, the ancestor of the Tsuchimikado family. Since then, Yakō  occasionally said, "I held the Taizan Fukun Ritual” and asked Seimei for advice. 

However, it should be said that he was a legendary onmyoji, but a personality like a hermit was not straightforward, and it was rare when he answered properly. 

"In any case, I'm not going to trust the army or Sōma . No matter how many times I'm asked, I won't shake my head." 

Shinra and Yakō  affirmed. It was just a tone to convey the decision. In fact, Yakō  has already reached a conclusion on this matter. No matter how enthusiastic he was, he would not reverse his decision. 

However, 

" …  Bo y,  I will say it with an old woman's mind, but it is already sweet." 

Yakō  turned his face involuntarily in a more serious way. Hishamaru, who was quietly listening to the conversation shook her tail and paid attention to Shinra. 

Shinra continued. 

"That's right. For example, four or five years ago, at least before the Chinese incident began, it might have been a demand of the country for the army, and it was bruised, and I might have been able to run away. But I can't do it anymore. It's impossible now. I don't think it's an era when you can make a good statement." 

" …  Shinra-san . " 

Shinra looked at Yakō  with a surprised face with some anxiety. The look is like a grandfather looking at his grandchildren and a teacher looking at his disciples. 

"Boy,  b e careful. In the future, the world will be a world where various values and common sense will be overturned. Don't lose sight of what is important to you. ” 

Part 3 

After all, a banquet called hospitality was held until late at night. 

Yakō  was actually quite a drinker, and even if he drinked with an adult heavy drinker, he has never been drunk. On the other hand, Hishamaru was not accustomed to drinking, so she was not a strong drinker. That's why she refrained from doing so, but as a result of being entangled by the drunken Shinra and being squeezed and stacking cups, she sank. Fortunately, Kakugyouki returned to the liquor table with a grinning face, so with the permission of the Lord, she decided to take a rest. 

Hishamaru was assigned to the room next to Yakō , a shukubo. When she got out of the banquet, she still felt like she could afford it, but when she returned to the room and laid out the futon, she completely lost consciousness. 

And she woke up. 

In the darkness and silence, she  couldn’t grasp the situation. The fox's ears move violently with the upper body raised. 

Then her memory returned, and she hung her tail. 

" …  What are you doing … " 

She was lying on the futon without changing her clothes and without staking her hair. She wondered if the area where the face was lying down on the futon was damp. It was too bad. As expected, the banquet was over, and she thought Yakō  was back in the next room, but why wasn't there any snoring? 

- No, Yakō -sama is better than that. 

Anyway, she had to confirm of her master. Hishamaru gently escaped from the room, careful not to make any noise. 

She sneaked down the corridor and stopped in front of Yakō 's room next door. There was a barrier in the room that Yakō  seems to have put up. Still, when she concentrated her consciousness toward the room, she felt the spirit of her master in a stable state. 

It seemed that he was already sleeping. After confirming the whereabouts of the Lord, Hisamaru was relieved. Then, instead of returning to the room, she went straight down the corridor to the entrance of the shukubo. 

She went outside and felt the night in the mountains. She raised her arm and stretched it. 

There were clouds in the sky and she couldn't see the moon or stars. It was a dark night. However, the fire of the stone lanterns dimly illuminated the area. It was a different world with a different atmosphere from the daytime. 

"… Now." 

She thought if she could fall asleep, seeming that there was still time until dawn. She was wondering if she should go to bed again or stay up until morning. 

However, even if she didn't go to the bath from now on, she just wanted to get rid of the sweat. Hishamaru headed towards the back of the well. 

Thinking of that man, she stopped and looked back on the way she came. Sōma  Satsuki should be staying in a room somewhere in the shukubo. 

At the banquet, it seems that he was talking to Shinra and other temple men without being particularly noticeable, but after Hishamaru left, he might have tried to persuade Yakō  again. In the first place, he would continue to persuade him hopelessly. 

“I can't understand the true meaning…” 

She remembered the tension when Satsuki casually took out his pistol. Apparently, she was unknowingly diminishing her alertness to him. But when she thought  about it, she didn't know his magical ability. She hasn't even seen Sōma 's protection, which Kakugyouki described as "tough." 

“I have to tighten my mind.” 

The cool air, not present in the sunlight, becomes a night breeze and shoke the treetops, stroking the tail of Hishamaru. Hishamaru unknowingly pressed her long, fluttering hair with her hand. 

" …  Shall I go back?" 

Hishamaru was alone. 

To be honest, she didn't need to be wary of Satsuki at this time. But this is a matter of attitude. She’d cleanse her body with magic and put up with it. The spiritual power has already been fully restored. Even if the next arrived as it is, there would be no problems. 

She wanted to be the "addition" of her master, even if only a little. For that reason, what she could do as an ordinary talent was the accumulation of trivial efforts and the utmost care on a daily basis. She makes sure to fill the small gaps that the Lord tends to miss. 

Hishamaru tried to return to the shukubo, however, she suddenly stopped and moved her ears. 

- Now … ? 

She was suspicious. Hishamaru quickly entered a combat stance. With fox ears sharpened, she quickly explored the area for spirits. 

There was only a training ground for magic, and there were many large and small barriers in the outskirts of the dark temple. As a result, there were many places where the senses were blocked and the spiritual shadows were formed. The magical power of the scattered stone lanterns also misled  the senses, and there we re many shikigami and protection methods released by the occupants . Also, because it wa s in a deep forest, nocturnal beasts sometimes c o me and go with their own faces. Even after people have fallen asleep, it wasn’t spiritually quiet. 

Still, it was because of the discomfort that Hisamaru felt suspicious. It was something she didn't feel during the day. There were multiple signs. 

- Intruder? 

The next moment, the sign she felt closest to her swelled. The other party removed stealth. A spellcaster. It was in the back of the forest. She already knew this. 

Hishamaru was stunned by the thought, and devised the magical power anyway. Then, the other side came first. 

In the woods of the dark night, she could hear intruders casting spells. The pale light burned to form a shape. What appeared was a giant tiger formed by a blue flame. It dropped to the ground, flew sparks and ran. 

It's a kind of shikigami. The structure of the technique was simple, but the movement was fast and powerful. Hishamaru shook her tail sharply and rolled the tiger on its side. 

Flame tiger. However, Hisamaru was keenly aware that the magical power that formed the tiger was water, not fire. She quickly pulled out a spell and slammed it against the flame tiger while pouring in the spell power. 

" Break the enemy, earth and water, and hide the urgency, law!” 

Light plays from the spell. The blue tiger turned to water and something fell to the ground. A small wood-carved tiger was in the water. It was the shape of a magical tiger. 

From the depths of the forest, she heard a tongue-in-cheek. And, two more human-like drifted, and each swelled up, and it changed into a tiger of the dazzling flame. 

No, not just two. Two more and two more. Intruders shoot tigers one after another and siege Hishamaru. 

"Do you remember one?" 

Even if it turned out that it didn't work, she used the same technique. Certainly, as long as she fought against an unknown opponent, it was not a bad tactic to take the initiative and push through with her own eighteenth. (*?) 

Hishamaru was in full swing. At that time, the magical power was released not only in the opponent in front of her, but also in many places in the outskirts. Other intruders. Also, it seemed that some of them were set on fire. Beyond the forest, a red light was twinkling in the dark night. Illuminated by the light, black smoke was rising. This was a complete night-raid, however, while witnessing such a situation, Hishamaru was still not able to believe it. 

Why? … 

"No, no, no! This does not make sense." 

A corner of the tigers’s siege suddenly blew away. 

After the blue flame of the Tiger disappeared, a soft light was lit. The one who appeared with a lantern was Sen, having a gentle smile as in the daytime. The man who came in from Yokote with tremendous momentum was a big man with a tengu mask. It's Hyakurobo. In addition, the two tiger shikigami, which had been thinned to Hishamaru, suddenly disappeared without warning. A wood-carved tiger that was exposed in the air burned and instantly turned into ashes. 

The sudden reinforcements, and the unknown ability of Sen made the intruder clearly frightened. However, Sen did not even try to look at them. 

"I troubled the guest a lot, Hishamaru-sama. I don't know what to do." 

"Sen-dono. I don't mind, Yakō -sama." 

"What? Yakō -sama …  what is it?" 

"So this is …  a talisman!" 

"A talisman? Is that Yakō -sama? Is there Sen?" 

Far from being confused, Sen made his eyes black and white without hiding his dismay. In the meantime Hyakurobo simply destroyed the enemy's shikigami. He found that the intruder was very uplifting. Sen had a troubled face, laid-back out of place, 

"Joke …  Rather, please forgive me. On the day when it was known that  Sen rushed to help Yakō , Shinra will laugh at him for the next year." 

"It doesn't matter if you don't bother the guests ! ?" 

"No, in the case of  Yakō-sama , if you inadvertently reduce the number of enemies, you may be scolded not to imitate." 

Sen answered very seriously. Although the attitude and lines did not seem to be the side of the night attack, Sen was definitely serious. 

After all, Hishamaru was unbelievable for the same reason. After all, this was the North Star Temple, a training ground for magic, a dark temple, the highest training ground. Most of the people who lived here were masters of magic with a lot of experience in combat. It can be said that this temple was the place in the magical world that should be attacked the least. 

In fact, the suspicious magical power that was rampaging in the surroundings was already calming down one after another. Apparently, the other invaders were as good as the tiger spellcasters. They were not weak at all but in order to deal with the dark temple, it was necessary to have quality and numbers. 

For Hishamaru, this wasn’t a good reason to neglect Yakō 's defense. 

"Then, Sen-dono, I'll leave it to you here." 

After she said this, Hishamaru left the place without waiting for a reply and hurried to the shukubo. 

Fortunately, she wasn't disturbed anymore, but as she approached, the shukubo burst with magical power. A battle was held. Hishamaru speeded up further through the forest. 

" Yakō -sama!" 

"Hishamaru, are you safe? It was good." 

Next to the shukubo, in an open place just like a garden, there was Yakō  in a yukata. On the side it was a man in black ,  fallen to the ground unconscious. 

It was the intruder. Yakō  was still half-sleeping and had no signs of tension. 

For the time being, Kakugyouki stood in a place a little far away, and kept scanning the area. 

"I am terribly sorry, when it matters I am not by your side … " 

"Ah, don't worry. It seems that you've come into contact with them. The other party?" 

"I left it to Sen-dono." 

"Well, I don't think it's a problem …  Did that caster use strange marks?"  

"Spell? Expression marks?" 

"No." 

When Hishamaru was confused, Yakō  crouched down and lifted the man’s right hand. A spell sign was formed between the index and middle fingers. However, it is unfamiliar, at least to Tsuchimikado. 

"What is that?" 

"Oh. He fainted just before using it. To be clear, he was a second-rate magician, but this mark is strangely old. It seems that the mark itself has a strange spiritual power. What kind of technique is it? I have no idea." 

"You also, Yakō -sama?" 

Surprised, Yakō  fluttered happily and waved a spell. 

While raising: 

"The spell I heard a little was strangely fence-filled. I failed. Anyway, I should have used it and then suppressed it." 

"Please stop. It's dangerous." 

"Hmm …  Anyway, I don't think it's this man's own work, and it's hard to think of it as something that can easily be found on the market. Th e  attack itself is poor, but there may be something behind it." 

"In the first place, I don't know the aim of this attack. Who are these guys and what did they come to do?" 

"Well, there should be no shortage of grudges that the temple  bought, and there are a lot of things to think about… Oh, of course…" 

Yakō  mischievously laughs. 

"I think their aim is us." 

Rather, he wanted it to be so, thinking it was interesting. Hishamaru sighed involuntarily. 

"Oh, Hishamaru, your face looks like Kokage’s." 

"How does my face look like Kokage-sama’s?" 

"That's right. The chicks on the forehead and the top of the nose." 

"When I return to the mansion, I will report to Kokage-sama." 

"I was saying that face expression has a luster, or to say that you have matured a lot recently and become beautiful?" 

Yakō  who muddy his mouth. Hishamaru's blue eyes were staring at the master, but eventually she gently relaxed. Anyway, he was safe. She didn't say it, but everything else was not a big problem. 

"Anyway, it doesn't sound like we've been able to put it down completely yet. It wouldn't be too good for us to come out. Would you like to go back to your room once?" 

With that said, it was when she tried to evacuate Yakō . Hishamaru's fox's ears shook. 

She heard the spell chanting. This is also this. 

"Oh, this is the same chant as before." 

Maybe Yakō  could hear it, and his face shined. 

The sound was coming from the other side of the shukubo. Someone, perhaps one of the intruders was trying to cast the spell. Was the chant Shinto magic? The knowledge turned to him. Yakō  was wary and focused. 

Suddenly, the chanting was cut off. 

At the same time, a mighty spirit was appearing. 

Hishamaru's ears and tail were all tense, and even Yakō  was standing up for a moment. It was a sense of urgency that set it apart from the series of night attacks. 

"Kakugyouki." 

"…Ah." 

Kakugyouki, who was between the two, grinned while looking at his fangs. 

"It's an example." 

It wasn't the chanting of a spell. The words to activate it have been erased. Rather, this spirit arose in order to stop it, or by being invited to attack the enemy with a chant. 

The spirits were strange. 

The number  wa s four. Not persons. Probably protection. They were  not simple  protection. There we re four old, peculiar, and powerful protection methods. 

“It can’t be…” 

The four spirits that defeated the enemy turned around Shukubo and came towards them. Hishamaru jumped to shield Yakō . 

It was Satsuki that appeared. 

The place where he was sleeping may have been attacked. Unlike Yakō , he changed into his military uniform, but he just put his arms through his shirt and jacket, and he didn't even fasten the buttons and he was also without the cap. The disturbed redhead was bouncing like a flame. 

Satsuki didn't care about his appearance at this time. Hishamaru's eyes were fixed to the four guards he had behind. 

It wasn’t just the matter of the spirits, but rather, their appearance. Ochimusha. They looked like fallen warriors who have turned into ghosts. However, their physiques were as dignified as or even better than Kakugyouki’s. They wore tattered armor that was typical of old times and had swords on their waist. One had mane-like hair, another was bald and the other one was wearing a helmet. Unlike the other three, only the remaining one had the appearance of a woman who also wore an old armor. 

The whole body of the guardians made a crunching noise, and their appearance was violently disturbed. It was as if they could disappear at any moment but are forcibly retained and revealed in this world. It was spiritually terrible and unstable. 

However, despite the instability, the spirits were extremely strong. There was no doubt that they were the four "oni" that were transmitted to the Sōma  family. 

Unusually, Yakō  gazed at them and muttered, "Yase Doji … ". 

Hishamaru doubts her ears. 

Yase Doji was a name that referred to the "group of demons" said to serve the imperial family. The demons were  so special that it wa s now suspected of being real. 

However … Sōma 's ancestor, Taira no Masakado, was a person who called himself the "new emperor." If so, it was not strange to have the same kind of oni as a protection method. It wasn ’ t strange, but …  was that really possible? 

Satsuki approached silently with the guardian Yase Doji, with a slain expression. Hishamaru was almost ready to fight and cast a warning gaze against an inadvertent approach. 

“ Sōma -sama?” 

There was no reply. 

Why was he silent? Was he involved in this attack? A number of intangible thoughts burst like bubbles and disturb her mind. 

Then, suddenly something shined in Satsuki's hands. Something reflected the faint light of the stone lantern, a gun. 

Satsuki didn’t say anything and raised his arm, pointed it and shot. 

She was able to react reflexively fast, all because of her training. When the gunshot struck her ears, she had put a strong barrier in front of her and her master. 

However, the bullet did not land on the barrier. 

A man screamed far behind Hishamaru and her friends. When she turned around, she was surprised to find that Kakugyouki was standing calmly behind Yakō . 

Then Hishamaru opened her mouth unintentionally: 

“ … I was surprised. Was he still lurking?” 

"This man isn't a spellcaster. Apparently you're so distracted by spells that others tend to be sparse. Too unsuspecting." 

Kakugyouki advised Yakō , who seemed to be unusually impatient, with a calm swing. 

Apparently Kakugyouki was also aware of the intruder lurking behind him. What's more, in case of emergency, Yakō  and Hishamaru were instantly moved to a position where they could be protected from the enemy and even Satsuki and others. Since this was a "junior", Hishamaru had no way to stand. 

On the other hand, Satsuki did not pay attention to Yakō 's exchanges and approached the intruder with the four Yase Doji. 

The intruder was a young man. He held his right arm with his left hand and stood in a position. There was a rifle under his feet. In other words, Satsuki stopped the man from shooting. It was quite a distance, but when you look at the one-shot hit, his gun skill was quite good. 

“Damn it…” 

“Don’t kill!” 

When he ordered it briefly, the Yase Doji dressed as a woman, rose up in the air. It disappeared for a moment and appeared in front of the man who was trying to escape. Immediately after the man screamed, " Kuu !?", he collapsed on the spot as if the thread had broken. 

When Satsuki moved to the man's side, he checked his face and clothes. He searched through his belongings " …  Hmm", seeming uninterested. 

He turned to the intruder that Yakō  had defeated earlier. 

" …  It's a jumble. Disposable." 

He muttered without any special feelings. 

- This guy … 

Hishamaru made her face steep. 

Satsuki clearly had a different attitude than usual. The shadowy nobility of the example remained the same, but the correct politeness has been wiped out, and on the contrary, the bold strength has been pushed to the front. 

Naturally, it was also transmitted to Yakō . 

"Do you have any idea, lieutenant?" 

It was a rather ironic provocation in the question. 

However, Satsuki didn't fight at all. 

"It is." 

But without further explanation, he turned his pistol into a holster. Then, he casually said: 

"It's okay. It was hard work." 

The four Yase Doji bowed to Satsuki and disappeared. They have returned to the standby state. The spirits around them had calmed down just because they were gone. 

" …  I ask from curiosity." 

Kakugyouki rarely talked. 

“Are they perhaps the aides who served Masakado?” 

“That's probably the case.” 

"It's amazing. It's been a while since I've met them at the  same age… Is it okay?” 

"There may be a misunderstanding, but this is unexpected for Sōma . There is nothing that is a plot or a trick." 

"What is the evidence?" 

"No, I'll at least do better than this. I want you to believe that." 

With that said, Satsuki shook his shoulders calmly against Kakugyouki. 

"Lieutenant. "The earth" seems to be out, but is it all right?" 

Yakō  was mean and asked a little happily. 

Satsuki, on the other hand, responded with a strangely refreshing look. 

"I'm sorry, I wanted to play with you a little more, that's it. I don't know what they thought, but attacking the dark temple is obviously overkill. We needed to take a hand before the sparks came down here." 

" …  Is it okay to understand that the request for the appointment of Onmyoudou will be withdrawn?" 

As if that obsession was a lie, Satsuki took it lightly, but with a serious look.  

"In short, it's time out. I'm going to hit something else… Rather, I'll have to look at what's appropriate and carry it up with just the shape. I have to revise this plan in various ways." 

Satsuki pountied in a boring way. 

However, when he suddenly raised his face, he stared at Yakō  and grinned. The facial expression changed. 

"I'm sorry. It really seemed interesting to take charge of you." 

" … " 

Curiously, even Hishamaru, who was listening next to him, believed that it was Satsuki's true intention. The atmosphere of the elite officer was completely hidden. He had a bad military attitude, but for some reason, it was Satsuki's sincerity rather than the "truth". 

Yakō  looked at Satsuki silently. 

Instead Hishamaru: 

" …  What do you mean? There seems to be some reason." 

"It's a confidential matter. It's bad, but please guess it properly." 

"Well, it's true that I got involved in something unexpected. It's a good idea to explain." 

"Did you know? The military doesn't explain to civilians." 

"In other words, are they military personnel?" 

"Confidentia l. " 

Hisamaru stretched her tail, but Satsuki didn't care and took out a cigarette from his pocket. He held it in a calm manner, and rubbed the match and ignited it. 

"Lieutenant." 

Yakō  called out and threw the spell he had in his hand. Satsuki caught the curse, while still holding the cigarette. 

"It's the mark that the attacker had. It should have been used there earlier, but do you know what it is? 

“ …  No.” 

"It's pretty complicated and handy. I don't think it's a sign that can be made by the people who attacked tonight." 

"Is there a magician behind it? Oh, that's likely, but it has nothing to do with you anymore." 

“I’m interested.” 

“Stop it. It's a kicking story, isn't it? It's unconcerned." 

While smoking, Satsuki squeezed the mark in his hand. Hishamaru came from Yakō  and took a step forward, but then: 

“Maybe it's “The sign of the Priest”. ” 

Shinra appeared in a robe. Behind him were Sen and Hyakurobo. Apparently, the response to the intruders came to an end. She wasn't worried from the beginning, but Hishamaru was relieved when she saw that Sen was uninjured. 

Shinra pinched the same mark that Satsuki had and fluttered. The other intruders had the same mark. 

Yakō  frowned. 

"The Sign of the Priest ?” 

"Oh, even if I say Houshi , d on't you know th at  boy? It is a rumor that is heard a little from the old days of Edo in the Kanto area. It is a sign with a peculiar curse, and the mysterious onmyo u ji who becomes "the master" gives it only to the ones he acknowledges.” 

“Is that the mark?” 

“Haha. I'm sorry, this priest hasn't seen the real thing, so I can't affirm. However, when I saw this mark, it came to mind.” 

Shinra put the interesting mark over his head. In the eyes of the monk looking at the curse, there was an eye light that was stronger than before. 

" …  Can you guess what the technique is?" 

"No, at least. It's rare for a curse to say chant. Well, it's too early to try it, isn't it?” 

Glancing at the unconscious intruders, Shinra suggested with a smile. Of course, he was not joking. The person in question might not have been conscious of it, but Shinra's smile at such a time was as great as a sword of the body. 

Satsuki changed his attitude. 

“Sorry, Shinra-houshi. This attack was aimed at me and Yakō , and the cause was me. I apologize.” 

"Oh, don't worry about that. Rather, it was a stimulus and a practice." 

“Yes, yes. As the priest says, Sōma -sama, the barrier that was surrounding the second edge was constantly loosened.” 

After Shinra, who took it for granted, answered Sen with a smile. In fact, most of the temple folks, not just Shinra and Sen, must have received tonight as a good sideshow. 

“Houshi’s sign?” 

Yakō  murmured and glanced at Kakugyouki beside him. 

Kakugyouki smiled slightly at the eyes of his master, then shook his head. It meant that he didn't know. Hishamaru shook his tail unknowingly to the silent exchange between the Lord and his partner. 

"Well, anyway, that's right." 

"Well, whatever it is." 

And, Shinra claps his hands. 

"It seems that everyone has woken up, and above all, Sōma -han has been able to open up with great difficulty. What's the matter with you? I'm going to do the cleanup here, guests, one more dedication until this morning, would you like to go out with me?” 

Shinra's proposal over this period made Yakō  and Satsuki look stunned. Of course, Hishamaru too. However, Shinra seemed to be serious. And, unfortunately, the choice to go to bed until morning was certainly no longer possible. 

" …  I'll refuse in advance, priest." 

“Oh, can't you talk about the details? I know, Sōma -han. I don't like to get angry with each other, but I don't want to do that.” 

The fire that was set in a part of the outskirts was completely extinguished. When he noticed, the clouds were a little clear, and the clear white moon was visible and hidden behind the thin clouds. 

Shinra looked around and smiled. 

"This is also the sake that you drink at night. It may be the last time for Sōma -han. Let's have fun drinking. Hey, Bo." 

In the end, Shinra's suggestion was pushed out, and Yakō  and his colleagues ended up having a second feast. 

Kakugyouki tilts the cup silently. Sen enjoys drinking. Shinra laughs loudly and Hyakurobo brings in the next bottle. 

Then, Yakō  and Satsuki exchange sake while smiling coldly at each other. 

There was no conversation between the two. Satsuki's abandonment of folly did not increase the intimacy of the two. Each wore a new mask and was in contact at a new distance. Perhaps that is the sense of distance that the heads of other schools should take. 

Perhaps there was something in both of them that wanted to cut out. 

However, the "machine" has already left. It was also felt by Hishamaru, who was besides her master and poured sake. The opportunity was constantly changing, just as the yin and yang of the spirit shifts. No matter what happens in their hearts, it's no longer an opportunity. 

The feast continued until the sky became bright. 

And early in the morning, Satsuki went down the mountain alone. 

It wasn't the last night when Yakō  and Satsuki had a drink. 

The next day, at noon, urgent news came to the dark temple. It was from the mansion of Tsuchimikado. It wasn't just Yamiji that was attacked. 

And in the Tsuchimikado mansion, devoid of Yakō , did not go like in the dark temple. 

It was not since his parents died that he saw such a Lord. 

Iron's will to keep his cool desperately. Shook it mercilessly, impatience, anger and fear. Yakō  returned from the dark temple to Tsuchimikado's residence with such great speed that Shinra, who had heard the story later, broke down. 

The first one to welcome the head of the family was Wakasugi. 

With a grieving look on his face: 

“I’m sorry, Yakō -kun! If only I was more solid…” 

“Later, Toshiyuki-san. More than that, Kokage…” 

"In the room." 

Yakō  moved quickly while trampling on the floorboard. Immediately after that, Hishamaru followed. 

The movement was intense. The worst imagination never left her mind, even though she kept her mind empty. For Hishamaru, Kokage was more than the Lord's sister. She was an irreplaceable friend. 

The two arrived in front of the room. 

“Kokage … " 

With a bang, Yakō  opened the sliding door and released it. 

"Oh, onii-sama !" 

The hustle and bustle sitting in front of the mirror stand looked back with a surprised look. 

Her appearance was usual. She didn’t seem to be injured, and there was nothing strange about her. Yakō  was firm in the position where the door was opened. Hishamaru, who saw Kokage's face from behind: 

"Oh," and broke down. 

"No fuss …  well, I’m safe.” 

She couldn't stand it and tears spilled from the corners of Hishamaru's eyes. Kokage was surprised and said, "Hey, Hisha-san?” then she sneaked up to Hishamaru. 

Yakō  was silently staring at his sister. 

Then suddenly, 

" …  Kokage?" 

He crouched down, put his hands on his sister's cheeks, and looked into her eyes. Rather than sadly saying Kokage, he mutters apologetically, " Onii-sama …" 

"I'm sorry. I … " 

Hishamaru sensed something and made her expression hard again. 

After a while, Yakō  got a scream. 

Beautiful, clear, Kokage eyes. 

He sensed that a "curse" was stuck to the right eye. Moreover, this was a "demon”? No, it was some spiritual body, she was possessed." 

Yakō  took his hand off his sister and stood up. Then when he turned around, Toshiyuki stood behind him. 

A spell was held in Toshiyuki's hand. It was the same "Hoshi's sign" that he saw at the dark temple. 

" … Yakō -kun." 

" …  Yes, I understand." 

Kokage received the "Hoshi's sign" and was possessed by a mysterious spirit body. It was quite difficult to remove and ridge just by looking at the "curse" appearing in the right eye. 

"Apparently, I can't do it like this." 

Yakō  said. 

It suggested a future in which he would have to be involved in this matter.