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Tokyo Ravens - Volume 15 - Chapter 4




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Chapter 4 

Part 1 

It wasn't long after noon that the earth shook. Hishamaru, who was organizing the documents in the office, raised her fox ears. 

"Wha … " 

She jumped out of the chair. 

It was sudden. Miasma was erupting on the premises. When Hishamaru left the desk, she opened the window to jump. The office was on the second floor and the window faced the courtyard. 

She looked around. It was the 11th experimental building. The windows broke, the glass splattered and the roof tiles were flying in the air. It looked like an air raid, but it was not. The explosion came from inside. As a proof of that, the miasma flowed from the experimental building like a spring. 

"Is this …  !?" 

The scream of people overlapped. Not only those who were in the experimental building, but also people from the courtyard and the adjacent buildings jumped to escape. 

- This kind of feeling, why without any warning!? 

She was confused by the situation in front of her, but soon realized. Rather than having no harbinger, it was hiding in a barrier. The miasma that appeared inside the experimental building probably blew out when the barrier collapsed. However, it was usually unthinkable that miasma occurs naturally within the barrier. 

If so… 

Hishamaru leans out of the window to see. Among those who escaped from the experimental building, she found a figure crawling out, and lifted her eyebrows. 

It was Hisateru. The faces surrounding him were the usual ones. Tsuchimikado and Kurahashi's students, an apprentice from the dark temple and brothers of Sōma ’s branch family. All of them were young and talented children who had difficulty practice. Recently, rather than hanging with the heir of Kurahashi, it was a party that was playing with him as a self-proclaimed "Hisateru-gumi". 

At the same time, everyone had pale faces, and while running around like rabbits, they were screaming. In addition to that, they were blaming each other, such as “it’s your fault” and “that's why I opposed it”. She guessed that it was their work, again. 

" …  That, children are in good shape … " 

Power was applied to the fingers grabbing the window frame. The situation was to be settled first. When Hishamaru turned her tail, she laid her knees side by side with one hand on the axis and jumped out of the window. 

The glossy long hair floated softly, and the hem of the military uniform fluttered like wings. 

When Hishamaru landed on the ground, there was a slight stagnation under her feet. There were many ordinary people in the dormitory as well as magicians. If she didn’t work immediately, some people would suffer from spiritual disorders. Although it was already a mischief, such a situation had to be avoided as she was the one in charge during her master's absence. 

"It’s Hishamaru-sama!" 

"The adjutant has come!" 

The dormitory students who were running away-especially the young ones-cheered at the appearance of the beautiful fox possessed. 

On the other hand, Hisateru’s group, who noticed Hishamaru, stood out with a flutter. 

"Wow, fox sister!" 

"Really, we are saved." 

"Idiot! If we’re caught, we'll be dead!?" 

"That's why I said I don't like it! Oh, I don't want to die!" 

Somehow, he wasn’t convinced that he was more scared than the chasing miasma. 

"Hihi, Hishamaru…!" 

Without noticing the reaction of his friends, only Hisateru rushed to Hishamaru with pale face and tears. 

Hishamaru with a bitter face: 

"Hisateru… what did you do this time!" 

"No, we just did a little experiment … " 

"So what did you do?" 

" Yakō -aniue said that the spiritual body appears due to the bias of the spirit, and the possibility of artificial Hyakki Yagyo by the imperial technique, that … !?" 

She had a small idea about the artificial Hyakki Yagyo, but Hishamaru quickly passed away. Recently, as part of her training, she also adopted Zen. Her emotional control was more refined than before. Of course, she wouldn’t have learned it if she didn’t have the current workplace. 

"Understood!" 

To tell the truth, she answered without wanting to understand. 

"I will ask you about the details later. Hisateru-sama, please guide the evacuation of general dormitory students. Also, please call a free spellcaster. Anyway, as soon as possible, this miasma…" 

She gave instructions to Hisateru while checking the damage situation. 

However, before the end of Hishamaru's line, a strong curse swelled in front of the Second Experiment Building, which sank in the whirlpool of miasma. 

"Niyakufujiyungashiyu, nouransetsubaushiya, zuhasashichibun, niyoarijiyushi, riyouhiyakuyujiyunnai, mushiyosuigen, niyakuomuchiyuu, yakumakunou… namumiyouhourengekiyou!” (“If you don’t follow my curse, those who speak chaotically, the head is broken into seven points, like a pear tree branch, so that within a hundred and ten years, there is no decay, and if you are in a dream, you will also be indifferent. Nan Wu Miao Dharma Lotus Flower!” - google translate from chinese) 

As Hishamaru turned around, a bald man in military uniform was chanting a spell with a wooden sword and beads. Lotus Sutra. A prayer for the expulsion of evil spirits of the Nichiren system. Immediately, miasma was gently erecting from around the man. 

Continued: 

"Shinkaseimei, shinkaseimei, shinkaseimei … " 

"On kyanidoni unhatta!" 

"Tenmagedoukaibutsushiyou, shimasanshiyoujiyoudourai, makaibutsukaidoujiyori, itsusoubiyoudoumushiyabetsu." (“The outer ways of the heavenly devil are all in nature, the four demon and the three obstacles come to the path, the demon world is the same as the truth, and the same is equal.” - again from chinese) 

The men who rushed in before they knew it, chanting spells one after another. The evil spirit of Shinto practice, which cuts fire with a flint. The esoteric Kongo Doji method, which is said to have an effect on surrender. It is used in Shugendo. All of them were brilliantly working against miasma. 

All those who cast spells were dressed in army uniforms. 

Everyone had a thick, fun smile on their faces. On the surface, while pretending to have a serious voice and attitude, a smile spills out without concealing it. It’s as if they’ve been waiting for it. It was like the night attack at the dark temple. 

However, this was all there was to it. After all, many of the spellcasters there were gathered by Hishamaru's master. It was the result of convening true "powerful people" across the boundaries of denominations and schools. 

Under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff, the Army Onmyoudou. 

The elite. 

Of course, Hishamaru was one of them. She was also appointed to be the undersecretary of the O nmyoudou  organization. Hishamaru pulled out five fulus at a time from her waist fulu holder. Then, put in the magical power in order. The magical power of the five elements and five spirits based on the Ying Yang five elements theory, one after another. The magical powers can be mutually exclusive if they are treated incorrectly. However, Hishamaru completed the five fulus almost instantly, without interrupting the injection of the spell. Hisateru's entourage, who was looking away, screamed at the vivid hand. 

Hishamaru throwed the finished five spells. Sign the hand seal. 

"The god of the East Sea, the name is Amei, the god of the West Sea, the name is Shiyukuriyou, the god of the South Sea, the name is Kiyojiyou, the god of the North Sea, the name is Gukiyou, gods of the four seas, avoid the hundred demons, and suffering disasters. Hidden Ritsuryo!" 

Five fulus connect the five-pointed star's fulu in the air. A secret curse that rejects Hyakki Yagyo. It was also a completely new magic system that Yakō  was building, Imperial magic. The effect was enormous in terms of competition. The miasma was completely stopped and pushed back. 

- As it is … 

The spellcasters who witnessed the new spells released by Hishamaru were cheering. 

However, once disappeared, the miasma regained momentum. Not only the spellcasters around her, but also Hishamaru suddenly gazed at "What?" 

"I'm sorry… the curse hasn't broken yet!?" 

"Rather, it's getting thicker! Why!?" 

The members of Hisateru’s group were screaming. 

"Hisateru-sama!?" 

Hishamaru asked while maintaining the curse of the five-pointed star. Hisateru was half crying. 

"In order to supply the spirit necessary for the experiment, we drew a line of curse from the spirit vein and drew in the power, so as soon as the spirit is exhausted, it is replenished from the spirit vein." 

"Why did you do that!?" 

"Well, that's more fun…” 

- The curse line is …  underground. I haven't refused immediately. As soon as miasma is destroyed, the spiritual veins will replenish it …  If so, seal it first. Re-establish the barrier of the experimental building and lock miasma indoors …  No, then the barrier explodes…!? 

Hishamaru was searching for the optimal solution to break through the current situation while minimizing damage to the surroundings. 

However, Hishamaru wasn't the only one who was devising a breakthrough in this way. The magicians who rushed to the scene were also searching for their solutions and exchanging opinions quickly. Even Hisateru's friends, who started out, were trying to do something about it, even though it wasn't like that. 

They were confronting it without giving up. That was the way Yakō 's o nmyoudou  should be. 

However, this time they could not continue to challenge the difficulties endlessly. 

" …  After all, it's a seal. Instead of a barrier, the spellcasters surround miasma as it is, and while hitting it in a timely manner, it suppresses the movement of miasma itself …  In the meantime, if it interferes with the technique that biases the miasma…" 

The moment said that, the miasma in front of her jumped up and condensed and increased in concentration. 

The miasma, which stretched long from the main experimental building, was like the jaw of a large snake. Moreover, the sickle was not one. A number of miasma snakes were growing, swelling, and stripping their fangs. It was like a Yamata no Orochi. 

"Uo …  the bias of the spirit finally matched the substance with that technique!" "I see, the experiment was successful, but I can't say it now, that!" 

Was an exchange between Hisateru’s group members. Hishamaru clenched her teeth. 

The miasma was about to have substance. The sickle neck, which was raised even when looking up, has already obtained a mud-like texture. However, if this miasma formed a certain "shape", the threat was incomparable. Naturally, the damage to the surroundings will be enormous. If done poorly, it may be a devastating blow. 

This was the Onmyoudou that Yakō  loves. 

" …  let me do it." 

Hishamaru threw away the curse and made a new hand sign. She channeled  magical power throughout the body. The strong spiritual power of the possessed is squeezed out and kneaded. 

The overflowing spirit was tinged with ashes and danced around Hishamaru like a swan maiden. The frozen expression on the bewitching beauty was vividly colored by the powerful magical power. 

Beautiful, mysterious and fierce. 

The spellcasters around her, forgetting even the crisis situation in front of them, were fascinated by the fox possessed in military uniform, the beautiful figure of the female onmyoji who served their superior. 

And just after that. 

"What is Hishamaru? Is it a ruckus while the demon is away?" 

From overhead, the demon was chosen, a powerful and unrivaled oni that was completely controlled. 

A big man jumped from the roof and strongly hit the mass of miasma that was about to materialize with his right fist. Not only did he blow one of the snake's sickles, but the magicians who were on the side were also tossed by the shock. 

Another neck attacks the man in the air. However, he twists himself like an acrobat, kicks the approaching neck lightly, and jumps again. He landed calmly on the ground, as if he had just crushed one of my necks of a mere fare. 

Like Hishamaru, he was also in military uniform. However, its left sleeve was gracefully swaying in the wind. 

Everyone who was there cheered at his appearance. 

Well, to be precise, not only for him. 

"Kakugyouki? Yakō -sama??" 

Instead of replying, Kakugyouki moved his chin and pointed to the sky. Hishamaru looked up at once and shined like a child. 

In the cloud-covered winter sky, there was a celestial white horse, Yukikaze, the shikigami of the Tsuchimikado family. In its back was a young officer in military uniform who drove the snow breeze. 

"Gods… Everyone was pretty enthusiastic while I was away… I'll get rid of it. Then it's lunch. Everyone, protect the cafeteria!" 

The young man shouted more happily than anyone else on the spot. The subordinates on the ground respond all at once and start chanting spells while yelling. Hishamaru slightly moistened her blue eyes and shook her lips. 

Tsuchimikado Yakō , the head of the o nmyoudou  army. 

Hishamaru's young onmyouji master, commanding his subordinates, shikigami, and intermediaries, begins the rehearsal of miasma. It was a festival-like act, like a myth or a fairy tale. 

November, 1941. 

It has been 2 years since Yakō  moved to Tokyo. The third winter in Tokyo has arrived. 

 ? 

“ Yakō , stop being sloppy!” 

“Wait, Satsuki, this wasn't my fault.” 

'It's the same thing if  the dormitory students are mischievous. Tell me what your position is.” 

“It's unreasonable to have to take responsibility for your subordinates.” 

“Are you stupid? It's the basic of the organization.” 

Looking out the window of his office, Satsuki exhaled in disgust. 

The sun had already set and the occasional light rain was falling. But despite that, it was still bright outside the window. They had taken the lights out to restore the half-destroyed second laboratory building, and were turning them on. Even now, many people - and Shikigami - were working on the restoration. 

To the uninitiated, it might seem as if they were dreaming. In the darkness of a lightly rainy night, a rude and inorganic military facility is illuminated by artificial lights. Inside the facility, Shikigami, who look neither human, nor beasts, nor machines, come and go among the workers, as if it were natural. It was a sight that could only be seen there in the Onmyoudou dormitory. 

There are several buildings in the Onmyoudou dormitory, but the experimental building was the simplest of them all. Built in a rush, it was a substitute for a barracks with a few modifications. Even though it was half destroyed, it wouldn't take much effort or expense to restore it. 

Nevertheless. 

“You know, I don't think I've laughed at you often enough. How many times is this year?” 

“This year? Uh, …  Hishamaru, do you remember?” 

“You'd think this would be the third time you'd see something like this.” 

“I remember that one time in the summer, but was there another one?” 

“Around the beginning of February, Hokuto got so excited about the spellcasting tool Hisateru-sama and the others brought in that it dropped the hangar roof.” 

“Oh, this year? I'm losing track of time in Tokyo.” 

“Don't blame Tokyo.” 

Satsuki scratched his hair in frustration as Yakō  said as if it were someone else's business. 

''Roughly, what is three times? Not just this year, but since the rebuilding of the Onmyoudou dormitory last year, you've been causing a ruckus every week, with damage to buildings, property damage. It's getting harder and harder to get supplies, and yet you're still taking it easy and destroying things everywhere.” 

“I didn't break it. It just broke as a result.” 

“So what's an excuse for an Onmyouji master to make a fool of himself?” 

Yakō  reluctantly clammed up at the sarcastic Satsuki, while Hishamaru pretended not to see him, her tail wagging fluffily. 

Yakō  was the Onmyoudou head. He was the supreme head of the Onmyoudou Dormitory's operations, but Satsuki was in charge of overseeing that in the military. The current Onmyoudou dormitory could not be established without the support of the military, but rather, it's not an exaggeration to say that it was a half-military institution. For example, Yakō  and some of the dormitory students were formally military servants, but they have even been given the special position of "Onmyoudou officer". This is independent of the army's chain of command, but is the equivalent of a “military” position; Yakō  didn't like it, but it was the result of Sōma 's scramble to secure his say in the matter. 

The newly established Ninth Section within the General Staff Headquarters was in charge of all aspects of “conjuring”, and the person in charge of being the Chief of that section was Colonel Satake, who was under Sōma 's spring genus. Hishamaru was Yakō 's loyal Shikigami, and although she has no intention of falling behind due to her loyalty to Yakō , if she were to objectively say which of the Lord and Satsuki was having a harder time, Satsuki's will be one. Even though she had a hard time buying it herself, she often felt sympathy. 

Incidentally, Satsuki was promoted twice, once last year and once this year, to the rank of Major in the rebuilding of the Onmyoudou. It was an unbeatable treatment, but that was probably because of Sōma 's political power. 

That said, it wasn’t nearly as bad as Yakō 's, though. After all, Yakō  was treated as a lieutenant colonel. In other words, Yakō  was a superior officer. 

However, Yakō 's power was specialized in spellcasting, and the real power in the organization was more in the hands of Satsuki. In fact, without Sōma 's cooperation, the Onmyoudou Dormitory would not be able to run even a single day. It could be that politics was not his strong suit, but Yakō  was a “miscellaneous” in terms of organization management and other practical matters. 

"You guys stand out and now it's a bad time. Be quiet for the time being. Anyway… it's not a long time.” 

Hishamaru's fox ears twitched slightly and Yakō 's expression turned grim as he spoke the last words. 

The three of them were the only ones in the office. Nevertheless, the three of them naturally kept their voices low. 

''Has it finally been decided?'' 

“Not yet. But it's all pretty much settled, I guess.” 

As he said this, Satsuki let out a deep sigh and took out a cigarette from his military uniform to break up the conversation once. 

He pulls one out of the box and puts it in his mouth while exploring his pockets further. Then the next pocket. And then the next pocket. 

Satsuki's brow furrowed, Yakō , seated at his desk, pulled a box of matches from a drawer and tossed it to him. 

He took a big, deep breath and exhaled the smoke towards the window. 

Then, with a nonchalant gesture. 

“We received a notice from America this afternoon.” 

He resumed the conversation. 

'Don’t say. Is it the ultimatum?” 

“I told you "not yet". What we received was a proposal handed by the Secretary of State of the United States… Rather, it was just a "document" in form. However, it is a "document" that clearly shows the "will" over there. With this, the US-Japan negotiations that have been ongoing since last year have been broken. All you have to do is wait for it to be decided.” 

“ …  Was it so strict?” 

“Well. They didn't expect us to accept. The point was that they said “NO”. The main fighters must be jumping for joy inside. We've just started counting down the seconds in the war against the United States and Britain, haven't we?” 

Hishamaru, however, was gasping for breath.The back of the head was slightly quirky. There was no sense of reality at all …… rather, it was as if her heart was rejecting that this was reality. 

They have known for years that the relationship between Japan and the United States has been deteriorating and strained for many years now. Especially since the U.S. economic sanctions that have been in place since August of that year,  the ban on oil exports to Japan. After all, Hishamaru was now a member of the military. Even so, she knew from last year that the world was rapidly becoming more and more suffocating. Many things were being regulated and controlled, and options were being lost, as if they were being strangled with cotton. 

But still, somewhere in the back of her mind, she was apparently optimistic that war was the only thing that could be avoided. Somebody, somewhere, would do something about it. 

There was never any reason to believe that. 

“… Is it going to come?” 

Yakō  murmured. That's exactly what happened. While hoping for someone somewhere, no one else could do anything about it, they ended up with this result. 

… No, still. 

“Well, the war hasn't started yet, has it? It's not completely “decided”? 

“ …  Yeah, yeah, I know. But as far as our situation is concerned, it's the same thing.” 

Satsuki dared to reply quietly and with few words to Hishamaru's tragic face. Then he moved away from the window and approached the desk where Yakō  sat. 

He thrust his hand against the top board, gagged, and pulled his face closer. 

For the military, the war has already begun. If that happened, the top brass would be asking for concrete results from the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

“ …  If I may say so myself, the Imperial Technique is a revolutionary enough spellcasting system, you know? Even though it's still incomplete and has not been fully maintained yet, I'm sure that Lieutenant General Yano and the higher-ups in the Imperial Headquarters would have approved of its effectiveness.” 

“That's why we've taken it easy so far. But in the end, the only people who would really appreciate a revolutionary magical system are the magicians. We need some tangible “results” to silence those who don't.” 

Yakō  looked up at Satsuki, who was leaning forward, with a suspicious look. 

'' … Two years ago, someone must have said proudly that they won’t do what the military said.” 

“Don't sound like a child. Besides, it's only to keep them from doing your bidding that you need “results” as a shield.” 

Picking himself up in a daze, Satsuki blew a cigarette. 

He sat down unceremoniously in the corner of his desk. 

For example, the magic tank. As a billboard for internal and external advertising, it should be as “straightforward” as that. 

“The Armored Demon Soldier was a project I made up in response to your request to begin with” 

“So how is development going?” 

“The prototype is already working. It's just working.” 

“It's enough. Get a cannon or two on board right away. It's heavy enough to carry a machine gun.” 

“It's really made up, isn't it?” 

“Say something stupid. Nowadays, a lot of people change their eyes at the mere mention of a tank that runs without oil. And the dragon. The impact that he left on the imperial capital is still there. If we have that guy carry a bomb and do some exercises, the newspapers will bite us first. We can make a big statement about the presence of the Onmyoudou Dormitory through public opinion.” 

''It's insane to have Hokuto carry a bomb. This time it won't be more than a roof falling down.” 

“ …  I agree with you.” 

He was sure he was joking, but Hishamaru spoke up too, just in case, and Satsuki sniffed and blew his cigarette loudly with a gloomy look in his eyes. 

Yakō  turned his arms behind his head and squeaked his chair. 

“Hey, Satsuki. I know it's necessary to seek the good graces of the upper management, but …  If you're looking for "results" what about Sōma ?” 

“Hmm? Oh, is that an example? We can postpone that.” 

“Really? Are you tired all this time from the Sōma  elders? 

“Let them say it.” 

“Not so fast, is it? After all, we're protected because of Sōma 's backing in the military. You can't just dismiss that number one request without a fight.” 

When Yakō  pointed it out again, Satsuki frowned with a different kind of discomfort. 

In the first place, there was a reason why Sōma  had pushed for the creation of a spellcasting institute, even to the point of biting into the military: the Sōma  family's goal, a millennia-long, indeed, and it was not until a short time after the rebuilding of the Onmyoudou dormitory that Satsuki told Yakō  about it. Apparently, that longing is of little importance to him personally. But for Sōma , it's his highest priority - or rather, his final goal, as it were. 

"To be honest, I personally think it's a much more challenging subject than making excuses for my superiors, and now that I've heard the story, I understand why Sōma  chose me.” 

" … Sōma  chose you because they recognized your talents. 

“ Yeah. Especially the “Taizan Fukun Festival”, right? More to the point, it's in anticipation of the “Tenchyu Chifu Fu Sai”.” 

“ … "  

Satsuki fell silent at Yakō 's line. 

The Tsuchimikado's secret ritual, the "Tenchiyuu Chi Fusai". This wa s a ceremony that wa s a further "expansion" of the "Taizan Fukun Festival" and is considered the most important ritual in the Onmyoudou system, a secret ceremony that the Tsuchimikado family holds for the emperor's family only when the heir to the throne succeeds to the throne as the new emperor. 

“I would like to challenge myself at the Tenchiyuu Chi Fusai in my own way. To go beyond the soul of man, to the realm of the so-called “God”.” 

Hishamaru involuntarily stiffened. 

When he said that one word, Yakō , in a strange way, seemed to have his feet on the ground. It's not a delusion of grandeur or a dream. He was talking about things that are "beyond reality". That was the way he was acting, that was the expression on his face. 

“I've been making preparations for that, you know…Well, I've been so busy lately that I haven't made much progress.” 

“ …  should be able to proceed with the current situation as it is, when you are free. There's no need to worry, you can't cut you off at Sōma  now. If you have the time to pay extra attention to it, you can come up with a plan for the benefit of the Onmyoudou dormitory, even if you have to make it up. At least for the time being.” 

Sighing and exhaling smoke at the same time, Satsuki said with a baffled look, Yakō  looked up at the ceiling. 

“I guess what they're looking for, after all, is a tank, a fighter, or a spell implement that could replace a firearm? For the record, with that kind of thing, I'd be much more comfortable using straightforward tanks, fighters, and firearms … ” 

In fact, when it comes to weapons and ordnance, it was far more efficient to operate what they had now, without going to the trouble of bringing out magic. Previously, Lieutenant General Yano had dismissed the best use of magic as being for espionage, and sabotage, and his view itself was not wrong. 

Satsuki brushed his neck. 

“If the “outcomes” you can present are appealing, I don't mind a different take on it. For example… Ah, yes, what about that "star reader" kid that Takamitsu-dono claims to have brought along? If the future can truly be predicted, it would be a tremendous “achievement” in the current climate. What's your level of accuracy?” 

“What? Is this about Miyo? Stop it. They're just kids.” 

“So what. You do research, don't you? If the results are not there yet, I'll let you see what you can do." 

Satsuki glanced sideways at Guillotine, and this time Yakō  let out a sigh. 

“I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of these things." 

He replied, leaning up and propping his elbows on the desk, crossing his fingers. 

“There is no doubt that she has qualities that are hard to get. But that's not something that can be useful right now. The ability to “read” and the ability to “decipher” are not similar to each other, as is the case with all types of divination. Apart from accuracy, you need the skill to interpret. Even if you read the stars well, it takes experience to understand their meaning correctly. Moreover, the power of "star reading" is terribly personal. It's extremely difficult for others to guide, and if pressure is applied poorly by the outside world, the original power can be compromised. We have no choice but to take a long-term view and wait for her to develop.” 

“So you're saying she’s going to be useless for a while.” 

“As I said, she's just a kid. Don't let her get caught up in adult affairs.” 

“ …  No. It's the other way around. It's better to be clear while you can afford to change your mind because you're a child.” 

Hishamaru cringed at the cold touch of Satsuki's way of saying it, and Yakō  also looked pained. 

'' … You're so pessimistic.” 

“Oh. Indeed.” 

“Is it really that bad?” 

“Of course it's poorly done. We're going to have to deal with the Americans and the British, you know?” 

“The Germans are on our side, aren't they? It's a European champion.” 

“There are a lot of people in the headquarters who rely on it, but I'm not sure it's going to work out that way, to be honest. At least as far as we're concerned, we won't be able to count on the Germans to help us with our plans for the United States. We shouldn't. And the fact that we are going to war with the United States is a blessing in disguise. There is no room for optimism.” 

After pouting while staring into the void, Satsuki sat up and shook his head. ''No,'' he murmured with effort in his voice. 

''The officer in charge of the Onmyoudou dormitory can't help but talk about the big picture. We should focus on what's within our control. Lieutenant General Yano seems to be working behind the scenes as well, so there are plenty of things to be wary of.” 

When Satsuki pouted, Yakō  said, "Is that so? He was surprised. 

''Behind the scenes …  are you planning to take away the real power of the Onmyoudou dormitory again? 

Two years ago, after Debuchi disappeared, Yano quickly turned his back on him and became a staunch supporter of Sōma . The fact that they were able to successfully rebuild the Onmyoudou dormitory was due in large part to his cooperation. 

However, once the onmyoudou dormitory began to operate under Sōma  and Tsuchimikado's system, there was a great deal of dissatisfaction. 

Apparently, they're being held in check for something in the General Staff. There have been a lot of things going on in the General Staff Headquarters those days, and Sakuki has been complaining to him about it. 

“I don't know what he's up to, but he's planning something. Colonel Satake is keeping a close eye on us, but it's all pretty nasty stuff.” 

'' ……  We still haven't figured out where Commander Debuchi and Dairenji are, either, have we?” 

Yakō  confirmed, "Oh," Satsuki foreheaded. Fatigue could be seen in his reaction as well.  

“Anyway, it's best to be on the safe side. It's about not creating a chance for the enemy to take advantage of it. Showing "results" is part of that. For us, the enemy is not only abroad.” 

Satsuki said, fetching an ashtray on the desk and manipulating the cigarette out. 

The current Onmyoudou Dormitory was not officially rebuilt until last year, that was, in November of 1940. Preparations were made soon after Lieutenant-Colonel Debuchi's loss of glandularity, and in effect, it was active even earlier. However, since that year coincided with the 260th anniversary of the Emperor's death, the rebuilding of the dormitory was carried out in time for the great ceremony held in November. 

In other words, exactly one year has passed since the rebuilding of the Onmyoudou. 

"Even if we manage to turn things around at the start, after a year, we will find ourselves in a difficult position. In many ways, this is a critical moment. We can't sink here. We're going to get through this. We're going to get through this.” 

Part 2 

“Hisha-san. Long time no see.” 

The facility where the Onmyou dormitory was located was surrounded by walls on all sides. Hishamaru greeted Kokage who got out of the car at the main gate with a smile. 

The rain that had been pouring steadily until dawn had now stopped. The blue winter sky above brightened their mood. 

''Welcome, Kokage-sama! Thank you for coming from such a long way.” 

“It's the second time. I'm getting used to it. Hisha-san, you haven’t changed? 

“Yes. Kokage-sama, too. I'm glad to see you're looking well.” 

From the bottom of her heart, Kokage smiled happily. Hishamaru's tail was swaying from side to side, without her realising. 

The lack of luggage was due to her earlier stop at the Kurahashi residence. Gone were the glasses Yakō  had made for her. Two years ago, Yakō  had succeeded in removing the spirit body that had been possessing Kokage by breaking the spell that Debuchi and the others had left behind. Fortunately, there were no after-effects, and she was able to return to her village a few days later. It was the first time she had visited Tokyo since that time. 

Kokage was wearing her usual old kimono. Unlike the last time she had come to Tokyo, she was dressed in her winter attire, but it was the way she had often looked when she was in her hometown. However, even though her attire hadn't changed, her mood had changed. In the little time they have not met, it felt that she had become much more mature. 

However, that was to be expected. She was now eighteen. She was a respectable adult. But perhaps even more importantly, the fact that the marriage was successfully concluded may be a major factor. She had the calm demeanor of a mature woman. 

It was her fiancé who got out of the car after Kokage. 

“It's good to see you again, Hishamaru-san. I'm sorry to bother you this time.” 

“It's been a while, Toshiyuki-sama. We've been expecting you.” 

Toshiyuki Wakasugi was the third son of the Wakasugi family. He was to be adopted into the Tsuchimikado family through his marriage to Kokage, so he would soon be named Tsuchimikado Toshiyuki. His stocky stature was still the same, and he always had a smile on his face. 

However, his smile seemed happier and a little more embarrassed than before, perhaps because of Hishamaru's imagination. 

“Anyway, Kokage-sama, Toshiyuki-sama, congratulations on your marriage. I am very happy for you.” 

"Well. It's a bit stiff, Hisha-san, it was all settled in after all. But thank you. I'm happy too.” 

“I know people will say it’s inappropriate in these times, but on the contrary, I thought it was just because of these times.” 

“I think you're right. It's great to have a good story at such times.” 

Hishamaru assured her crisply. 

She tried to act as cheerful as possible, but last night's dark topic of conversation was shadowed in the back of her mind. 

But that's why such a joyous event is a light to dispel the darkness. When it's dark and the future is uncertain, a little bit of light is more precious. 

“Unfortunately, Yakō -sama is in the middle of a lecture. If you'd like to wait for a moment …  or if you'd like, I can show you the Onmyoudou dormitory first. Would you like to do so?” 

“I'd like to know more about it. I've been looking forward to hearing from many people. Right, Toshiyuki-san?” 

“Yes. I'm interested in it too. Or rather, if you're a person who lives in the world of curses, you can't possibly not be interested in it. After all, it is Yakō -kun's Onmyoudou dormitory. It's a wonderful thing to be able to see it with his shikigami’s guidance.” 

They replied as they floated. 

Toshiyuki said " Yakō 's O nmyoudou ", but it can be said that the line was a simple expression of the current O nmyoudou . The current O nmyoudou  was completely different from what it was before it was rebuilt. Although it inherited the name "O nmyoudou ", it was virtually a completely different organization. It was rebuilt with the support of the military, but more than that, it was the intention of Yakō , who became the head O nmyoudou . 

The current Onmyoudou serves the purpose of researching and analyzing existing spellcasting techniques, as well as developing new techniques and training new spellcasters, who are treated as “Onmyouji” in a manner of speaking. It is a comprehensive "university of spells" so to speak. If you are part of this world of magic, you can’t help but pay attention to it. 

However, too much expectation can make Hishamaru nervous. After all, the restoration of the laboratory building was still going on right behind. 

First of all, it wasn't just the half-destroyed laboratory building. Frankly speaking, Hisateru's group was still pretty inexperienced. In contrast, the students of the Onmyou dormitory, who were top-notch spellcasters, were all very quirky. The problems were too numerous to enumerate. The bitter look on Satsuki's face from yesterday was difficult to remember. 

- Let the two of you see only the "beautiful" parts of it as much as possible. 

While thinking, Hishamaru smiles with a strong, affectionate smile. 

However … 

“But you're right…” 

Kokage murmured a few chuckles and took a half-step backwards, looking back at Hishamaru again. From head to toe; Kokage's gaze darted up and down. 

“For now, the first surprise is you, Hisha.” 

“Oh …  oh, is that the military uniform? It's true that I, as a woman, would feel uncomfortable wearing it. I was fine with my kariginu or my usual men's clothes, but Satsuki-dono told me to wear this one as much as possible while I was in the Onmyoudou dormitory… Yakō -sama also wears military attire a lot these days, you know?” 

Hishamaru was confused at first, though she has gotten used to it now. Hishamaru twisted her body to make it easier for Kokage to see, with a slight tint to her cheeks, as it was made for a man to begin with. 

Normally, Hishamaru's military attire accentuated her ritualism and frostiness, giving the viewer the impression of a drawn sword. However, she looked down at her military uniform in such a way that she looked a little shamefaced. She looked like a young girl of her age. In fact, the ruggedness of her attire was enough to make her pretty in comparison. 

Strong and beautiful, like a young female warrior. 

However, at the moment, she appeared to be a tormented princess who put herself on the battlefield out of a sense of duty. 

“I can’t get a beautiful woman.” 

Kokage sneaks out, "What? And Hishamaru looks up. 

Kokage chuckles. 

“That’s not it, Hisha. I meant your ears and tail.” she pointed out. 

“Two years ago, even the Tsuchimikado gatherings were hiding them, and now you're putting them out so openly like this. That alone is already enough to make me like the place. The Tsuchimikado and O nmyoudou  must be a very safe place for you.” 

Hishamaru's cheeks turned red as Kokage stared at Hishamaru with a look of tenderness like an older sister looking at her younger sister, contrary to their height and age. 

''Ye …  yes,'' she tilted the tip of her ear. 

'' …  Since Yakō -sama told me to never hide …  the O nmyoudou  dormitory is my territory, I won't let anyone complain about it.'' 

“My goodness. My brother doesn’t say that when you're ready. You can't put it in the corner.” 

“Kokage-sama, it's only a matter of time before you decide what you think the Onmyoudou should be…“ 

“Isn't it like Yakō ? Including "territory".” 

Toshiyuki chuckled and Kokage framed it in hearty agreement. Unable to stay, Hishamaru cleared her throat deliberately. 

Anyway, let me show you around. But, you see, there are many people in the Onmyoudou  dormitory at the moment, so if there is any disrespect, please forgive me…” 

That's right, she drew a precautionary line in advance. 

"Hishamaru-sama…”  

Hishamaru turns around and replies, "Akisuke" as a young boy runs up to her. 

“What's the matter? Have Hisateru-sama and the others done something wrong again, did they?” 

“No, no. It's just that I haven’t seen my brother in a while. Does Hishamaru-sama know where he is?” 

“Are you Akiharu? No. I don't even know.” 

When Hishamaru replied, the boy became miffed and troubled. 

"He was about to give me sword practice, but… he has left me alone again. What’s he doing?” 

If that's the case, it might be dangerous to leave it alone while Kokage's visiting. They were not the kind of people they would expect to see today, the kind of kids who, two days after losing control of Shikigami and taking a huge bite out of their eyesight, put the cafeteria out of commission for a month with their proprietary "curse mark". 

" …  Hisha-san? What about that child?” 

Kokage asked with curiosity in her eyes as she looked at the boy. Certainly, it should be curious to those who didn't know that there was such a child in the Onmyoudou dormitory. 

''Oh, I'm sorry. This is Akisuke. He is the son of a magic doctor that we have in our care. He's from Sōma .“ 

“Hello. So you're a relative of Lieutenant Sōma 's?” 

“Yeah. He seems to be from a branch family… Then, Kokage-sama, Satsuki is now "Major Sōma ". It's complicated, but now there is another Sōma  person, "Lieutenant Sōma ". 

“Oh, my. That's definitely a complication.” 

''I see, so that’s why in the Onmyou dormitory, they call each other by their names instead of their family names. Just like our clan.” 

The boy looks up with a tense look at the two who have a peaceful conversation with Hishamaru. Hishamaru once again introduced Kokage and Toshiyuki to Akisuke. 

The Sōma  brothers, Akiharu and Akisuke, were members of the Hisateru’s group, as usual. It would be an exaggeration to say that the elder brother, Akiharu, was the true mastermind behind the manipulation of Hisateru, but although his skill in spellcasting was on par with others, he was the leader of the party, using his prowess and cunning to get around. And yet, because of his caring and good-natured nature as an older brother, Hisateru and the others may respect Akiharu even more than Yakō  and Hisateru’s father. If so, Hishamaru thought that Kurahashi's future was bleak. 

His brother, Akisuke, on the other hand, was the conscience of the Hisateru’s group, a year or two younger than Hisateru and the youngest of the group, but he was clearly the most trustworthy. He was a boy whose talent for spellcasting was unknown, but he was a boy who worked diligently every day in his training. However, it was his brother Akiharu's assessment that if he's going to develop it, it's going to be the sword. 

''That’s right. We're going to be shown around the Onmyoudou dormitory now, so let's go and find your brother together. Right, Hisha?” 

'Ha, ha. Right. Well, then…”  

Shousuke also looks up at Hishamaru with a happy smile. 

Honestly, she was not sure she'd be able to resist just introducing Akiharu to them, but what should she do in case they run into each other in the middle of a devious scheme? However, since Kokage was saying that, it would be strange to be against it. 

- I hope nothing happens…  

Praying inwardly, Hishamaru takes Kokage and the others to the dormitory. 

 ? 

The imperial art theory of magic was based on the so-called “Ying-Yang Five elements theory”. It states that the spiritual energy is omnipresent in all things in the world, and that it is divided into the yin and yang energy, as well as the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water, and that they live and study with each other. 

However, the "core" idea of the Imperial Art System was much simpler than the Yin-Yang and the Five Elements Theory. 

To create spiritual power, to manipulate it and to exercise its use. Then, in order to make these processes smoother and more optimized, a technique is used. That was all. 

To understand all the existing magic in the world in this form and reproduce them. It was the new magic system which Yakō  aimed at. 

It can be said that the essence of this system was the intentional removal of faith. 

For most spellcasters, it was known to some extent that religious beliefs were directly related to spell power. The Dharma force and the power of experience, for example. The so-called divine power, for example, is also often supported by religious belief. 

However, the imperial art style advocated by Yakō  was established from the point of denying these things, or from the point of separating them out. By not relying on religious beliefs, it aimed at grasping, interpreting, and mastering all kinds of magic more universally. 

For this reason, in the imperial art form, "God and Buddha" were only "spiritual beings". Human souls, demons, dragons, and even gods and Buddhas, aside from their size, nature and characteristics, were fundamentally lumped together as “identical” beings. 

This was not to deny their existence, by any means. Nor did it mean that some of them were "gods and buddhas”. 

He acknowledged that existence as being something that transcended human perception. Perhaps, that also meant that it was impossible to understand everything. 

On top of that, instead of giving attention to “gods and buddhas”, they magically "utilize" them. 

Naturally, these theories and ideas were bound to cause fierce opposition from the existing schools of magic. In fact, they had already received strong protests from several schools and sects. However, the imperial art form had no intention of selling God and Buddha or denying faith. However, its purpose was to separate "magic" from "faith". 

However, it was also true that if they do so, a new perspective would arise. 

In other words, what kind of being is God and Buddha from the point of view of a curse, a technique, a target, and not from a religious point of view? The answer to this question has yet to be seen in full, or even the slightest glimpse of it. The new frontiers of magic that have been covered by faith have been vast, abundant, and dangerous. 

 

“Hahaha. I see. So it's "Fox sister" and "Honorable Hisha". Isn’t it strange to say it?” 

“Really. I can see how people see you in your military uniform, Hisha.” 

“Other than that, my brother sometimes calls me "Inari Oni" or "Konkon-Musume". My brother has always been very good at giving names to people, and Hisateru-kun has always been a big fan of it, too.” 

Kokage and Toshiyuki were laughing as Akisuke expertly explained the situation to them. Hishamaru had long ago given up on resistance and was walking at the front of the pack, her face bright red and looking down. 

If she was only cautious of Akiharu, she didn't expect Akisuke to get under her feet. It was a good thing that they were in the middle of visiting the facilities of the dormitory, but now all the attention of both Kokage and Toshiyuki was focused on what Akisuke had to say. 


As soon as Akiharu found out, she’d put a curse on his tongue. After that, they need to have a talk with Hisateru. 

“Oh, but it's not that everyone hates Hishamaru-sama, on the contrary, they love Hishamaru-sama… well, they're a little scared of her, too.” 

" …  you can be very, very frightened, if you want to. In fact, it's not far off…“ 

“Oh, Hisha. Intimidation is not mature.” 

“You needn't worry, Akisuke. The fact that Hishamaru is adored is well conveyed.” 

“Hishamaru-sama is strong and honest, and she is always cool and dignified, even when she has to deal with older, more arrogant soldiers. All young people admire Hishamaru, and even the older people look up to her.” 

Akisuke struggled to appeal, standing tall. In fact, there was no malice in Akisuke's explanation. That's why the quality was even worse. 

''Ufufu. You've changed completely from when you were in the village. It looks like oni-sama’s decision to order you not to hide your ears and tail was right.'' 

" …  the reason people recognize me is because I'm Yakō -sama's shikigami.” 

“Of course, I suppose that's one aspect of it, but I don't think that's the only one. I've been seeing a young woman here and there since a while ago, and people were making a lot of noise when they noticed you. That popularity has nothing to do with your status or position.” 

“Oh, they're just making a lot of noise over a rare sight of a same-sex in military uniform.” (*?) 

''That's not true! From all the women that go in and out of the Onmyoudou, Hishamaru-sama is everyone's favorite. My brother and others are selling photos of Hishamaru-sama.” 

“Oh, that man, how many…” 

It looked like fire was about to come out of her face. This wasn’t only for Hisateru's group, but also for the entire Onmyoudou dormitory. The problem was that, in that case, the next most likely candidate to be in trouble after Hisateru’s group would be Yakō , of all people. 

Kokage and the others were laughing happily, despite Hishamaru's confusion. She couldn't honestly say that it's not a bad thing to be embarrassed if she’s made them happy. 

“Anyway. I've already given you a general tour of the facility. At this point, let's not just wait around, let's go and take a peek at Yakō -sama's lecture.” 

Hishamaru wanted to get away from Akisuke's "commentary" and forcefully led everyone to the auditorium. 

There were several auditoriums in the Onmyoudou dormitory, but this time they headed to the main auditorium on the first floor of the dormitory building. Oops! 

It was a large lecture hall, which was basically just a large room with a long table and chairs. 

When Hishamaru arrived at the large auditorium, she opened the door behind her and quietly looked in. The seats were 80% occupied. 

Incidentally, it wasn't just the dormitory students who were attending the lecture; Yakō  opens the O nmyoudou  dormitory widely to magicians and related parties, and monks and practitioners who have heard the reputation often come to take lectures.” 

When Hishamaru looked into the auditorium, her eyes immediately went into a triangle. As she peeked into the auditorium, Hishamaru's eyes triangulated, as one of the dormitory students seated closest to the window stood up to ask a question to Yakō . 

Twenty years old, he was an agile young man. His eyes were sharp and intimidating, but on the other hand, his face was charming, and when he laughed, he instantly became like a mischievous kid. He had a well-trained body that was more like that of a martial artist than of a magician. 

He was the Akiharu they’ve been looking for. 

He was there. 

Hisateru was sitting next to Akiharu. Hishamaru entered the auditorium in silence. Akisuke, Kokage and Toshiyuki followed her, keeping their mouths shut. Akisuke noticed his brother and made a small noise. 

Yakō , standing at the lectern, glanced at Hishamaru and the others for a moment, but: 

“Then, sensei. How do you define “g od”?” 

Akiharu paused. 

Hishamaru's ears twitched in response. 

''According to the theory of the Imperial Art Formula, it would be certain that “God” is an “extremely powerful spiritual being”. However, that alone is not specific enough. I would appreciate a more detailed answer.” 

“ …  but as far as "definition" goes, it would be exactly what you just said. Unfortunately, anything more than that is still to be determined.” 

“ Then, sensei's personal opinions and impressions at the present time are  fine. Although they are all spiritual beings, when it comes to “gods”, they should be distinct from incarnations and make-believe. Although the characteristics of the gods are different, they also have something in common. Such considerations should lead to the clarification of the “gods”.” 

“ …  I suppose.” 

Yakō  replied, smiling thinly. 

Akisuke gaped and rolled his eyes and mouth. Hisateru and the others were sitting next to him, as usual. 

Other students knew Akiharu well. But that wasn’t surprising. Roughly, it was a far cry from Akiharu's usual dialogue. In the first place, it was unbelievable that he was asking the lecturer a serious question, even if he was jokingly making fun of the situation during the lecture.” 

Hishamaru had an expression, as if she had seen a stray cat sitting on its haunches. What was he planning to do now? 

- Yakō -sama? 

She suddenly realized. There was a swift light in Yakō 's eyes as he looked back at Akiharu. On the surface, he was interested and amused, but at the same time, an icy anger was melting. It was a rare occurrence. 

Hishamaru seemed to be the only one in the auditorium who noticed Yakō 's anger. The Lord opened his mouth in his usual peaceful manner. 

“The singularity of the beings… called “gods” is the greatest difference between them and other spiritual beings… such as demons, dragons and cranes, is that “gods” are omnipresent. Just as all things have spirit energy in them, so do the gods dwell in all things. This is the crucial difference between them and most spiritual beings.” 

“Is that the eight million gods? In other words, all things have different gods.” 

“I don't deny that view, but I don't see the concept of space as being applicable to “God” in the first place. God is “omnipresent” everywhere in this world. We only observe it from time to time and only to the extent that we can recognize it. It is up to us to decide whether this limited observation is a god or a part of a god.” 

“So, by definition, there is only one "God"?” 

“When the concept of space does not apply, the concept of the number “one” cannot be spoken of in the same way we usually use it. For example, if there is a dense collection of spiritual energy, it is easy to recognize it as the “one” spiritual being, because it is “spatially” aggregated. But do you think that the spirit energy in the world is the One? Or do you think of it as the “two” of yin and yang, or the “five” of five elements? If so, how does miasma count? In the natural world, it can be said that spirituality and miasma are essentially the same thing. However, when observed from our human standpoint, we can't help but see them as opposites.” 

“I see. So it really depends on the perception of the observer. That's a very flexible way of thinking. If we apply it to the perception of God and Buddha, it is similar to the manifestation theory (in the case of Shintoism). Sensei seems to reject the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism in the past.” 

“Both Shinto-Buddhist syncretism and segregation are an arrangement of ideas based on religious views. The imperial art system consists of separating such religious views from spiritual ideas. It is a natural consequence.” 

“By that, wouldn't you say that “God” in the imperial arts is a being limited by the art form every time you exercise magic?” 

“ …  is not largely wrong. But it is a mistake to say that "God" is such a being. What you have just said is only a matter of the treatment of “God” in the imperial art form, not an answer to the question of what “God” is.” 

“I'm sorry. But …  that's enough. "The Treatment of God in the Imperial Art System". Huh. Holy…, words don't come out quickly enough.” 

Akiharu cooed and laughed. His face contorted and his body trembled. That kind of laugh was a laugh that was the opposite of what he was supposed to be doing approximately. ''Ah, Akiharu?'' Hisateru called out to him, turning pale, but Akiharu  didn't respond. 

“Just the idea of remaking the magic system from the ground up is a historical feat, a bold idea. A novel interpretation. It's not a simple matter of going beyond conventional thinking. This is a work that "fears no god". It's a thrilling experience for me. This is Tsuchimikado Yakō 's view of magic. It's so exciting, it makes me want to get my elbow in the air.” 

Yakō 's lips curve coldly at the half-speaking line. 

“Was it worth the risk?” 

“Of course, of course - so just one last thing. What are your findings on the art of defining “God”?” 

With a bang, Akiharu put his hands on the desk and leaned forward to ask the question. Not only the dormitory students, but also Kokage and Toshiyuki, who should not know him, were breathing hard. Hishamaru clenched her teeth. 

“There are many names, faces, and characteristics of the gods and Buddha. For example, Susano no Mikoto. This god is an evil and violent destroyer, but he is also the hero of defeating monsters and the protector of Izumo. He was also a sea god who ruled over the Sea of Japan and, in Buddhism, a god of plague. Depending on which aspect of these gods you choose to include, the efficacy of the spell will vary.” 

However, Akiharu continued to speak animatedly. 

“This is just a myth. From the beginning, the god Susano no Mikoto has been recognized by us as such a “multifaceted god”. But what about a god whose nature, or the world's reputation or our perception of him, has changed along the way? For example, what about demons and tengu as gods… and spirits?” 

“ …  I'm sorry, but I don't understand the intention of quality” 

“Excuse me. Let's go more specific. How about Taira no Masakado, the most famous spirit in this area?” 

The large auditorium buzzed. 

There were many of the Sōma  clan in this place. Taira no Masakado was their ancestral spirit. Of course, Akiharo himself was his descendant. 

But Akiharu paid no heed to his own origins. 

“This god is indeed a god of great admiration and sales. Although he was killed in ignominious circumstances and became an evil spirit that brought misfortune upon himself, he was recognized as a god by the people, who feared his worship, and was treated well as the chief protector of Kanda Myojin in the Edo period. However, in the Meiji era, he was again regarded as a traitor and enemy of the court and was removed from the shrine. In the case of gods such as these, whose nature changes drastically with the times, what do you think the essence of the gods lies in? Or that even such a God, in the present moment, encompasses all the qualities and evaluations of the past?” 

Akiharu twin peaks of light shine through the columns. Nevertheless, they were subtly out of focus. At some point, Hishamaru was getting goosebumps. The tips of her ears and tail were tingling and shivering. 

The air in the large auditorium was twitching. 

In the midst of all this, Yakō  replied. 

“I haven't come to that conclusion either. It's just…” 

Suddenly, the sound of his voice changed. 

As if spinning an incantation or uttering a prophecy, Yakō  continued. The light tone of his voice echoed in the auditorium with depth and weight. 

“This is just my own idea of present time divination, but… “God” is omnipresent beyond space. At the same time, I believe he is transcendently omnipresent in relation to time. In other words, is not “God” equally present in the past, present and future?” 

It was exactly the moment when time in the large auditorium seemed to have stopped. “Oh…” said Akiharu, his whole body shaking. His eyes were no longer deer-in-the-headlights, and saliva was dripping from his half-opened mouth. 

“It is beyond time …  exactly …  exactly … ! Ah, but is it really possible to prove it in the person who is caught in the clutches of time? No. - No. No, it's the same thing as a curse. No matter how much you think you've reached the light of day, it's impossible to fully understand what a curse is, or what a spirit is. Knowing this, the true nature of our witch doctors is to challenge the abyss. It's wonderful. It's really …  Brilliant!” 

Suddenly, Shouji turned on his head and started laughing hysterically. 

Hisateru, who was sitting next to him, couldn't stand it and got up and left his seat. The others rattled their chairs and desks, too, and took their distance from Akiharu. 'Ni-san!,' said Akisuke, who was about to run up to him, when Toshiyuki stopped him from behind. 

'Well.' 

Yakō  spits coldly. 

''That's enough. I let you play this far because I saw that your body was safe, but I can't take care of you any longer. Let Akiharu go.'' 

“Yeah. Yeah, I know. Don't worry about it. I won't kill uselessly.” 

“Sounds like a good idea if it's useful.” 

“It is only natural to go to the depths of the curse. There are some things you don't see until you've strayed from the path of others, which is what our master taught us.” 

Akiharu, or rather, someone speaking through him, said with great amusement, both eyes narrowing as Yakō  smiled coldly. A razor-like gaze pierced through Akiharu's body. 

''Ah …  you're too energetic for a dead spirit. This is the first time I've seen it, but I wonder if it's called a “living spirit”? The ability to manipulate your own soul is a feat of skill and courage. It's a little late for that, but let's check it out for now. You are Kenmyou  Dairenji, aren't you?” 

“Yes. It's nice to see you remember me, Tsuchimikado Yakō -dono. It was worth the two years of longing for you.” 

Wavering, Akiharu's body shook. The spiritual energy that spilled out at that moment was different from that of Akiharu . 

“All right, everybody out!” 

Hishamaru shouted. 

Most of them immediately followed her instructions without any confusion at all, because they were residents of the Onmyoudou dormitory that Yakō  had created. The exceptions were Kokage and Akisuke, plus the still stunned Hisateru, but Kokage and Akisuke were pulled backwards by Toshiyuki forcibly, while Hisateru was moved by his nearby group to be held from both sides. Hisateru's group refused to let Kurahashi's heir who raged. 

"Let go, Akiharu!?" 

"With this vow of the end of Fudo Myoo, a big vow to give up this evil spirit! On bishibiji karakara shibari sowaka!“ 

Hishamaru seals at high speed. A binding spell. The spell power that was secretly prepared was guided by the technique and bound Akiharu's body. 

It entered decently. Akharu's body was violently thinned and stiffened as if struck by lightning.” 

"Oh, well … disturbed, yeah. The body is safe… Didn't you hear…? Yes… the technique is awesome… just riding the law of protection… there is…” 

Akiharu, or rather, Dairenji Kenmyou , who was possessing his body, said flatly. 

The Immovable Gold Binding spell was a rough technique that bound the target not only physically, but also mentally. However, although the effects of the technique could be seen in Dairenji's voice, no agitation could be seen in his voice. Not only that, he forced his body, which was supposed to be immobile, to move, he turned his head to face Hishamaru. 

''But… more than technique, what should… be more than technique is its spiritual power… no, really, it's beautiful… Tsuchimikado’s fox possessed… I see, this is good… Kuzunoha…  nee…”  

With a bang, his neck snapped and Akiharu's body plopped down on the desk. His entire body was under a strong, single-dish pressure. Hishamaru, who was at his side, was also staggered by the weight on his body. 

“It was Yakō . He activated a type of spell called a h?jin that was installed in the auditorium. At the same time, he strengthened the wards surrounding the auditorium. It is a technique that prevents not only entities, but also spirits from entering and leaving the hall. It is poised to capture Dairenji, which was possessing Akiharu. 

However, Yakō 's expression did not float. And as if to prove it, Dairenji was smiling funny. 

"Kukukuuku… apparently, Yakō -dono knows a thing or two about the soul… 

The stiffening face of Akiharu and the snatched laughter that echoed from the back of his throat were horribly unnatural and sinister. 

Yakō 's voice sounds devoid of emotion. 

“What do you want?” 

Daurenji didn't answer, but continued to laugh thinly. 

And. 

- Ah … 

Suddenly, the voice died out. Yakō  clicked his tongue and released the barrier. 

''Kakugyouki.” 

“It’s useless.” 

In response to the Lord's command, a horned demon appeared in the auditorium window. 

"I lost sight of it …  Rather, nothing came out. At least no kind of spiritual body.” 

Apparently, he was hiding outside the auditorium and waiting. However, perhaps it was the expected response, Yakō  only took it lightly. 

“Hishamaru, solve it.” 

Yakō  approached Akiharu and checked his pulse and breathing, then took out a spell charm, which he made himself and attached it. It emitted a pale soft light, stabilizing Akiharu's disturbed spiritual energy. 

'' …  It's okay. You're not injured, and this won't cause any spiritual disturbances.'' 

Hishamaru lets out a small breath of relief at Yakō 's diagnosis. 

“ Yakō -sama. Now it was…” 

''Yeah. The spirit body that had been possessing him just dissipated. But I don't see how Dairenji Kenmyou  could have disappeared.” 

“You mean they left their spirits behind and only their souls escaped? So you're saying he slipped through the wards? In response to Kakugyouki's question, Yakō  said, "I don't understand.” 

“I still don't understand enough about human souls. But…” 

“But?” 

“I'm not sure if this is the case or not. It is impossible for them to bind or ward off any of them.” 

Yakō 's swing was unusually heavy, and Hishamaru couldn't help saying, "Please wait. 

''The dissipated spirit body is of Dairenji, right? And yet, Yakō -sama, you say, that Dairenji is safe? Even if a soul remained, it's very unlikely that a person could survive without a spirit body.” 

“We don't know that either. I don't know what the exact nature of the connection between the spirit and the soul is, although I am certain that they are closely tied together. It's just …  As for the maneuvering just now, he probably cut up his own spirit body. Putting his soul on top of it. After he saw that it was bound, he used it up.” 

Yakō 's speculation made Hishamaru cringe. Of course, she had never heard of such a spell, and it was hard to believe that such a thing was even possible. What's even harder to believe was the nerve of treating his own spiritual body as a catalyst or something. To say the least, it was insane. 

However, this was Yakō 's opinion and it was hard to imagine that Dairenji, who went to such lengths to sneak into the Onmyoudou, would kill himself so easily. 

It was hard to imagine that he would have committed suicide so easily. Of course, this was not the end of the story. There will be a lot of trouble. 

With one hand on his hip, Yakō  bitterly purred. But Hishamaru knew it wasn't just negative feelings on Yakō 's face. 

- Yakō -sama… is expecting. 

A difficult enemy or a good enemy. 

This was one of the most difficult things for Yakō  to obtain, especially for the current Yakō , who has long been called an unparalleled genius, craving it from the bottom of his heart. 

“ … ” 

Hishamaru's tail wagged uneasily. 

The dormitory students, who looked anxious, returned little by little to the auditorium where the noise had subsided, as if to symbolize the rustling in their hearts. 

Part 3 

“Damn. At a time when the military is just getting nervous …  No, it is not. Of course, that's what he's aiming for. It's just the kind of disturbance that Debuchi would do.” 

After opening the curtain at the Onmyoudou dormitory, Satatsuki spat evasively. 

In the reception room on the first floor of the Kurahashi mansion, besides Satsuki, Yakō , Hishamaru, Kakugyouki, and Takamitsu were gathered there. Kogake and Toshiyuki were resting in their room. They didn't mind, but to them, it could be said that it was a terrible marriage report.” 

Outside the window, the sun was setting and night was about to fall. 

The commotion in the auditorium had quickly subsided since then, and from then on, things were normal. After all, in the Onmyoudou dormitory, that kind of commotion was an everyday occurrence. For the dormitory students, yesterday's incident of the lab building blowing up was probably much bigger than the one that happened. 

However, to those of us who are gathered here now, today's incident could not be overlooked. 

'' …  I wonder if Lieutenant Colonel Debuchi is back too?'' 

“Of course it should be.” 

Satsuki assures Yakō  of this while walking around the room. 

“Since the incident two years ago, Sōma  has been monitoring Darenji's hometown. As it turned out, he had already cut off all contact with not only his father, Dairenji Komichi, but also with the Dairenji sect itself. However, although he is an excellent sorcerer, he is a recluse who does not know much about the world. It's hard to imagine that he escaped the search for two years on his own. There is no doubt that he is still working with Debuchi even now.” 

“So why have they come out again now?” 

“Once you know that, you'll have no trouble. They should know that it's impossible to regain control of magic in the military…” 

“Is it really impossible? For example, is it possible that Lieutenant General Yano is helping you?” 

“That's low. The lieutenant general must have learned his lesson after the incident two years ago. It's difficult to take the reins of Debuchi's business." 

"But it is not impossible, it is “low”.” 

'' …  It's not like someone somewhere could hold the reins, you know. There's no chance of choosing the former between a bad horse and a good horse.” 

Yakō  looked at him with a blank stare as if he wanted to say something, and he looked away with a bare face. 

“I hope Sōma  gets picked.” 

He said lightly. 

Hishamaru coughed lightly. 

“Then what is their purpose? Of course, it's based on the fact that once you know that, there's no hardship” 

“I don't know.” 

Satsuki snorted. 

''Is that exactly what they're trying to do, a reproduction of the incidents from 26 february five years ago, or is it simply personal revenge?'' 

“A “challenge”, I guess.” 

Turning away, Yakō  said, and Satsuki glared again. 

“On what grounds?” 

"Impressions of daytime matters.” 

“Aside from Dairenji, there’s no idea about Debuchi.” 

“We don't really know what kind of person he is. However, looking back on the actions of Lieutenant Colonel Debuchi, he feels like a pretty "crazy" man. It wouldn't be strange to lend a hand to Dairenji just because he felt like it.” 

“ … ” 

Satsuki didn't say it back, probably because he agreed with Yakō 's character review. Dairenji, who felt a hint of madness, and the drunken Debuchi, whose movements were unreadable. It was an unpleasant combination. Hishamaru made a bitter face as she remembered the shadow demon she had faced two years ago. 

“Anyway.” 

Takamitsu, who had been quiet until then, said in a somewhat cheerful voice, as if to change the atmosphere. 

“Hisateru told me that Akiharu's condition is stable, right?” 

“Yes. After the commotion, he woke up. I'm letting him recuperate in the Onmyoudou dormitory just in case, but he shouldn't have any problems. I didn't find any “leftovers” like I did with Kokage.” 

Yakō  replied. Because of the precedent of the "Sign of the Priest" that kind of investigation was carefully conducted. Dairenji himself had indirectly mentioned it. If it was useful, he was willing to kill, he said. 

Hishamaru followed in his footsteps for a moment, then remarked “ … Yakō -sama.” 

“Why would the enemy target Akiharu? Honestly, if the goal was to sneak into Yakō -sama's lecture, there would have been any number of subjects. Or was it just a coincidence?” 

“Yeah. Yeah, I'm a little concerned about that, too. It is quite possible that it was bad luck for him, but if he was deliberately targeting Akiharu, I would like to know why. It's just that… the reason for daring to go after Akiharu, I can't help but be uncomfortable with it.” 

It was partly due to his spiritual endurance and physical sturdiness that there were no spiritual problems left in Akiharu this time. If it had been his younger brother, Akisuke, or Hisateru, who were still in the process of training, things would have had serious consequences. 

However, even though his spiritual endurance was strong, Akiharu's spiritual power was very ordinary for a spellcaster, and his spellcasting skills were of the highest order. It wasn't that he was blessed with any special talents. He don't see any reason to be a target.” 

“Well, he's a guy with a lot of gaps.”, said Yakō  in a rather scathing review. 

However. 

“I can imagine why he was targeted.” 

It was Satsuki who said this, and Yakō  turned to him, surprisingly. 

Then Satsuki looked a little uncharacteristically cliched. 

“That brother's family is close to the correct lineage of the Sōma . And…  those who have a strong Sōma  bloodline have the talent of being a silkworm corpse. Yoridai - that is, a disposition for possession.” 

Hearing that, Hishamaru rolled her eyes. ''Is that so?'' When asked repeatedly, Satsuki silently nodded his head. 

It was unexpected, knowing that Satsuki had little talent for spellcasting, he hadn't expected Sōma 's orthodox lineage to have such a constitution; even Takamitsu hadn't heard of it before and was surprised that he hadn't heard of it. 

But now that he thought about it, the fact that he had the qualities of a sub-genre didn't mean that it was linked to his talent for magic. 

It did not work. 

The strength of the spiritual power, or even the presence or absence of the talent, had nothing to do with the suitability of yoridai. There is nothing wrong with a yoridai party who is not good at witchcraft.” 

However, Yakō 's reaction was different from Hishamaru's. Yakō  was staring at Satsuki with his eyes wide open. 

It was as if he had been struck by lightning. 

As he realized something he had a raspy expression - something connected in his head. In a slightly scratchy voice: 

“Why were you silent?” 

“Because I didn't have to.” 

Satsuki replied curtly, but perhaps it was his imagination, but his voice seemed to lack his usual intensity; Yakō  didn't pursue it further, but the way he looked at Satsuki was rather sharp. 

“ … Ya, Yakō -sama?” 

Not knowing the reason for Yakō 's attitude, Hishamaru asked in a small way, puzzled. But Yakō  remained silent and didn't answer. 

“Whatever.” 

Satsuki raised his voice and forced the conversation back to the subject. 

“The fact remains that their objectives and movements are unpredictable. In addition, the military is in a state of extreme tension as the war against the United States and Britain is about to begin. We want to avoid any kind of trouble.” 

Takamitsu made a bitter face at the General Staff Major's line. 

'' …  Isn't it likely that the start of the war will be avoided?” 

“Impossible. There will be a fourth meeting of the Imperial Council in the near future. Perhaps, there." 

"Isn't it possible that this could be averted by the sound of a crane from His Majesty?” 

“It is extremely unusual for His Majesty to express his intentions, much less for the situation to be so settled. And with the situation so clearly defined, it would be extremely difficult.” 

Takamitsu sighed at Satsuki's cold-hearted answer. 

All sorts of things are going on at once, and as Satsuki surmised, Debuchi was probably making this situation up as he went along. And… this was Hishamaru's personal guess, but maybe they didn't even intend to control the situation. Right now, they’re just scrambling. What happens afterwards will be decided then. 

''Unlike two years ago, we have a position now. In contrast, there's nothing to defend in Debuchi and Dairenji.” 

Satsuki said to Yakō  and Takamitsu as he took control of the conversation with a swing that urged them to be prepared. 

“We'll continue to search for the enemy, but we'll certainly have to be on the defensive. Please keep your eyes open.” 

 

After the discussion was over, Sakuki was about to return to the General Staff headquarters when Yakō  followed him down the hallway and stopped him. 

“What do you mean?” 

The voice that asked was restrained and angry, and it was about to be grabbed. Hishamaru, who had come after him, gasped at the Lord's unexpected attitude. 

“You think Sōma 's lineage is yoridai? And what kind of a rumination is "I didn't have to say it"?” 

“It's just words. It's none of your business.” 

“Don't be afraid! Sōma 's long-cherished wish was that.” 

“That is “ Sōma ’s” wish, not mine.” 

Yakō  glared at him from the front, but then shook his head and exhaled wildly. Hishamaru didn't understand, she just stood there. 

And then. 

“Are you going to be the second new emperor?” 

“It's an anachronism… Well, you can't deny that the elders have a great age on their minds." 

Satsuki slammed his tongue and took out the cigarette, saying in a coreless voice. 

He rubbed the match and lit it. He inhaled, and then exhaled the smoke in great gulps, spitting out the entire body. 

And then. 

- No way. 

At last, Hishamaru's "connection" was made. 

Sōma 's long-cherished desire, which Yakō  talked about last night, was, without a doubt, the analysis of "God". 

It was, without a doubt, the analysis of "God". That was also the elucidation of Taira no Masakado, the ancestor of Sōma . Investigate, contact, and ultimately "reveal" their ancestral spirit. That was the long-cherished wish of Sōma  of the last millennium. 

But that was not all. 

A sub-genre was one who sensed God and communicated his will. If the Sōma 's lineage was sub-genre and yoridai, then their true purpose was clear. 

In other words, the long-cherished desire of the Sōma  was to have the spirit of Taira no Masakado dwell in the head of the family, a ritual of divine descent. 

It was like a myth. 

- Making "God" a human being in this world. 

The fact that this was so unexpected made Hishamaru stand still. 

“You understand …  Taira no Masakado was an enemy of the Emperor, a traitor.” 

“I don't need to be pointed out to Abe no Seimei's descendant.” 

“Even if it was “ Sōma 's” intentions and not yours, from the outside, it's the same thing. It's not even a matter of disrespect. It's still better than february 26. That one was only intended to exclude "your side's favor". I wasn't afraid to replace the Emperor.” 

“That's profane enough, isn't it? The Second Shogun rebelled against the Imperial Court, but he was not trying to replace the Emperor.” 

“I don't want to hear about it. I wouldn't get hung up on the details. Either way, it's all the same to me. If people know of such a plan, Sōma  is finished for good. And even if it doesn't, I heard from Takamitsu-san that the end of the rebellion is a strong blow to Sōma .” 

“I tell you again, this whole thing with the new Emperor is just a bunch of old men's preoccupations. I have no desire to become a part of this delusional old man's group.” 

The exchange between the two was hushed, but Hishamaru still looked around as if driven away and saw that no one was there. It was Kurahashi's mansion, though. It wouldn't be surprising to see where shikigami was hiding, though. 

“Isn't Lieutenant Colonel Debuchi aware of Sōma 's true intentions? If so, it makes sense why he is stubbornly hostile to Sōma .” 

“Nonsense. He doesn't have that kind of imperial philosophy. If the objective is to stop the Second Emperor, there are so many other options. There are so many other ways that could be fatal for us, you know.” 

“That's right. Even though the Onmyoudou has been rebuilt, the world's distrust of magic, the creepiness of the incomprehensible, has not been dispelled. On top of that, the rumors that the Masakado's youngest descendant was trying to take over the army and bring the spirit of the alleged enemy of the morning down on people, even if only a rumor was heard, would be a huge blow to Sōma  and the Onmyoudou.” 

"Anyway, Yakō , you do what you have to do. Now, let's concentrate on dealing with them, instead of worrying about what to do.” 

With that said, Satsuki walked down the corridor towards the doorway with a cigarette in his mouth, and Yakō  didn't follow any further, silently watching Satsuki's back. 

“ Yakō -sama…” 

Hishamaru called out to her master, but she couldn't find the words to follow from there. Then. 

“Me too, can I?” 

Uncharacteristically, Kakugyouki showed up without Yakō 's instruction, undoing his hidden form. 

Against the still stern face of the Lord. 

“A daytime affair. I've had a few thoughts about it in “possession” by Kenmyou  Dairenji. Let me leave your side for a while and let me move alone.” 

Hishamaru was more flustered than Yakō  at his partner's line. She pinned her tail up and said: 

“Well, wait. After a while, you … ” 

“I'll be back in a day or two.” 

“That's not soon enough!? Didn't you hear the story a while ago? You must not have forgotten Nihonbashi two years ago. When the protection that should protect the Lord is the most important, you do not leave that side.” 

“Even if I’m not here, you are.” 

With that, Kakugyouki gave his partner a thick smile. Gulping, Hishamaru reflexively swallowed her protest. Her hard-knit lips were quivering with a buzz. 

'Is it maybe the priest?” 

Yakō  asked, but the shikigami did not return the nod. Hishamaru felt the blood drain from her face. 

“I don't want to prolong this case too much, but we can't take the offensive. Let's do what we can. I'm counting on you, Kakugyouki. And Hishamaru, you too.” 

 

The next day, Yakō  gave a brief explanation to the students of the Onmyoudou Dormitory regarding the incident that occurred in the auditorium the day before. However, he kept Debuchi and Dairenji under wraps. He only told them that there were spellcasters targeting the Onmyoudou dormitory, and that this was not the end of the incident, and called for caution in the future. 

He also asked the most skilled of the dormitory students to patrol the grounds for a while. 

It was not the right time to ask the army to turn their troops around, and they couldn't compete with Dairenji in the first place. They would have to defend themselves on their own. And there was no one in the Onmyoudou dormitory who would say no to that idea. 

Akiharu had fully recovered - and the trouble was - he was already bent on striking back. Of course, Yakō  was piercing the nails personally to make sure he weighs himself, but it's doubtful that it will be effective. After hearing about Sōma 's possessivity, he asked him about the situation when he was being possessed, but he told him that he suddenly lost consciousness while he was in the middle of the lecture. Akiharu, as well as Akisuke, were to have a simple ward spell to prevent possession by the spirit body. 

Kakugyouki hadn't been seen since last night. The remaining Hishamaru spent a tense moment, feeling the pressure of her responsibilities. 

In the end, the day ended without incident and Yakō  and Hishamaru visited Kokage and Toshiyuki at the Kurahashi mansion. Kokage and the others also refrained from going out and spent most of their time there. 

Kokage looked a little bored, but as expected, Toshiyuki was very knowledgeable. 

''Well, it's not a good time to go out on a sightseeing tour. I'm sorry to the people I was going to say hello to, but I hope they will make it to Kurahashi's residence. At times like this, I feel the power of Takamitsu's authority in his family. After all, nobody can complain about anything as long as you visit the Kurahashi residence. It can't be like this.” 

Although he had been joking about this, he was now a member of the Tsuchimikado family, even though he was a groom. Moreover, he would probably be in charge of the “political” part of the Tsuchimikado family in place of Yakō , who had been stuck in limbo since he became the family head. At least, that's what it was supposed to be expected to do. 

And there was something else that was also "expected" of Toshiyuki. 

''Take care of Kokage, please. Besides.” 

To Yakō , who seemed to find it difficult to say and smiled indifferently Toshiyuki whispered into his ear. 

''Even if you are fortunate enough to have it, it doesn't make your situation any lighter, does it? Well, in the case of Yakō -kun, it's a good idea to get yourself together first.” 

“Oh, well, yeah, well.” 

He wanted to quickly divert the conversation away from anything inconvenient, but instead he didn't have his mouth around it. Toshiyuki giggled and threw a quick glance at the shikigami, who was crouched behind her master, for a moment. But he didn't say anything else. 

Yakō  had a position, a responsibility, and a role that was required of him as a direct descendant of Tsuchimikado. It was a personal matter, but it couldn't be just a matter for him. What to choose, what to protect, and what to fight against. The season was not to say this and that. 

And the next day. 

After all, there was no noticeable change that appeared in Yakō  or the area around the Onmyoudou dormitory. 

No, there was a change, but it was different from what he had been wary of. 

''Tomorrow. The fourth Imperial Council will be held.” 

When Satsuki visited the office, he told the bare minimum. Yakō  and Hishamaru stopped working and turned to Satsuki, who had a stern look on his face. 

“ …  So?” 

"It's a notification from the General Staff Headquarters. Onmyoudou, Tsuchimikado Yakō . Have him appear at the headquarters once. He told me to report directly on the Onmyoudou dormitory and the imperial magic that you propose.” 

“Does it have to be now? If possible, I don't want to vacate the Onmyoudou dormitory.” 

'I didn't report the matter of Debuchi and the others to the top management. Even if I did, there's no way your request would be approved. The top brass can't afford to do that right now. I'll be there for the report. Don't worry, it won't take too long.” 

Yakō  would have known that such flexibility could not be achieved. Still, Yakō  bit his lip. 

After a few moments of conflict, the young Onmyou head threw a glance at his shikigami. 

“Hishamaru, I'll ask you to be away.” 

“ …  Yes.” 

At once, she argued, but Hisamaru barely swallowed the word. 

To tell the truth, she didn't want to leave the Lord's side in the current climate. But with a little thought, it was understandable; Yakō  could defend himself as much as he wanted. But he couldn't protect the Onmyoudou while still in the General Staff Headquarters. Then it was obvious what the Lord's hands and feet, the shikigami, should do. 

After all, Yakō  left the Onmyoudou Dormitory without any preparation, after seeing off Yakō  and Satsuki, Hishamaru took a deep breath and slapped his cheek with both hands. 

- Get it together. 

She said to herself and straightened up. 

However, it didn't mean she was going to do anything special. They were already on alert, and there was no change in the business of the Onmyoudou dormitory. It was not unusual for them to be left in charge of being away while Yakō  was out, as was the case when the lab building blew up. The students were used to it, and the absence of the Onmyoudou Head did not interfere with their duties. 

Hishamaru felt rather overwhelmed and left the office for now. She left her office and went on her rounds of the premises. 

It was almost four o'clock in the afternoon. 

The fuel for the stove had long since been cut down. So the air in the corridor was as chilly as the air outside. However, being a beast possessed, Hishamaru was more resistant to the cold than most people. The wintery chill was rather comforting. 

The air inside the dormitory was pretty much the same as usual, although they were on high alert. The expression on the faces of the students as they passed by showed no signs of shrinking, although there was an appropriate amount of tension. It's better to be able to do this than to have people be afraid of you. 

However, she couldn't help but notice that every time they passed each other, everyone bailed. 

It didn't bother her when she was with Yakō , but walking alone, she was confused by the way they bow to her. Moreover, she was not hiding the fox ears and tail. 

Several of the names that Akisuke had mentioned yesterday went through her mind, and Hishamaru hurriedly hastened her steps, feeling embarrassed. Eventually, they cut their rounds in the dormitory and went out into the courtyard. 

The repair work on the second laboratory building was already in its final stages. The sound of workers shouting and tools could be heard. The restoration will probably be completed the next day. 

A worker who noticed Hishamaru there also bowed his head. Moreover, that wasn't a dormitory student, but an outsider. Apparently he knew Hishamaru as well, since he was sent out to work every time there was an accident in the Onmyoudou dormitory. He didn't even show any surprise when he saw her. Well, since there was a shadowy shikigami right next to him helping with the work, he was understandably not surprised by a human with only fox ears and a tail. 

- When you think about it again, it's kind of strange. 

Until just two years ago, she had never imagined such a situation. Especially when she was wearing a military uniform and sleeves. 

If someone told her to let it through, she must have been laughing or amazed. 

However, the current times changed Hishamaru's environment in just two years. And in the midst of this flow, she was led by Yakō . 

- … no. It's irreverent to think like that. 

The changes in Hishamaru's surroundings were just the aftermath of that. 

- Yakō -sama is trying to create an era. 

This was shortly before Yakō  officially became the Onmyoudou Head. Her master had once said to Hishamaru, when she was alone with him, "Can you do it?”. Then she answered, "Yes, I can. I can do it," she said without any hesitation or doubt. Straight from the bottom of her heart. 

She didn't know what would happen to the relationship between the Onmyoudou Dormitory and the military, but there wasn't even a shred of doubt as to what Yakō  would do with the next spellcasting world on his shoulders. “Can you lend me your power?” 

Hishamaru was rather angry when she was asked that. She wondered why he would confirm such a thing. Hishamaru still remembered Yakō's  face when he apologized with a smile. 

- … But… 

It has been four years since the China Incident. Although the war on the continent has not yet ended, Japan was going to start a new war again. In what way will the wave of the times cover Yakō ? And how much can she do for the master then? 

Suddenly, Hishamaru felt as if she was a helpless infant and grabbed her left arm with her right hand. 

“Oh, Hi… Hishamaru! It’s terrible!” 

The sudden call brought Hishamaru's consciousness back to reality in an instant. When she turned around, Hisateru came running out of the dormitory building. Behind him, you can see a recovered Akiharu and Akisuke. 

It's coming. Hishamaru thought and ran to Hisateru. 

"Hishamaru! Where is Yakō -aniue? 

“He’s been summoned to the General Staff. What's more? Has someone been possessed again?” 

While asking, she released her talent for seeing demons and searched for anything unusual on the premises. She couldn't find any suspicious signs, however, she couldn't let her guard down. She reaffirmed in her mind the response plan she had envisioned beforehand. Then Akiharu stepped forward on Hisateru's behalf. 

“It's not the guy. It's just that …  things are starting to go wrong, I guess.” 

Akiharu had a serious look on his face that wasn't typical for him. For some reason, he tried to keep his voice low, and briefly reported. 

When Hishamaru heard the story, she let out a yelp at the completely unexpected development. 

“The military police? What do you mean?” 

“They told me to get Yakō -sama and if he's not there, the person in charge.” 

A group of men in military uniforms barged into the courtyard from the dormitory building where they had rushed out. She could see the buzzing in the silent, intimidating group as the restoration work behind them was interrupted. 

The group in military uniforms had armbands wrapped around their left arms. It read "Military Police" in red on a white background. They recognized Hishamaru, who was also in military uniform, and came straight to her. 

Hishamaru couldn't help but just stare at the approaching group. 



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