Tokyo Ravens - Volume 16 - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 

Part 1 

        It was cloudy. However, the thick clouds were spreading below the eyes, not overhead. 

Ten thousand meters in altitude. This new realm, which humanity has just reached, was in every sense of the word different from the ground. 

The kale was off the charts. It was vast, majestic, magnificent and beautiful. A feeling of guilt, as if stepping into the realm of God. 

And more importantly, the reason was to kill. 

The B29, a large strategic bomber developed by the U.S., Boeing Company. 

The pilot in the cockpit looked down at the sea of clouds below him and let out a heavy sigh. 

He was not wearing an oxygen mask, nor was he wearing any thermal clothing. The cockpit, protected by a thick windscreen and a state-of-the-art pressurized chamber, had succeeded in bringing the lowly space to a high altitude where survival in the flesh would be difficult. It was a tiny space that took a lot of money, time, wisdom and effort to create. Protected by this tiny space, they were about to rain fire on earth. 

The everyday life brought into the extraordinary world and the extraordinary life released from it. It was like a joke. Or was this a form of madness? 

“Hey. What's up, why are you sighing? We're about to fly over Tokyo. Are you ready for the real thing?” 

The co-pilot, sitting to his right, spoke to him. It's not so much to relieve the tension as it is to reflect his personality. Brought back to reality at once, the pilot responded awkwardly, “Oh, no…” 

“I'm sorry. It looks like I'm getting a little nervous.” 

“You're still worried. Japanese planes can't go up to this altitude. You just have to take it easy.” 

“That's not the case. It's war.” 

“That's why we're at war. In too much of a fight, you're going to get sick to your head before you get to your plane, you know? Right?” 

The co-pilot turned away slightly and looked behind him for agreement. 

The radio operator, the engineer and the navigator, sitting at the back of the cockpit, each gave their amused approval. Some smiled awkwardly, unable to hide their nervousness, but they were all eager to fight. In addition to the cockpit, there was a pressurized living compartment in the rear of the cabin, and the crew in that compartment must be in a state of excitement before their destination. 

However. 

“…Is that the Golden Dragon by any chance?” 

Forward and lower right of the pilot's seat in the pilot's seat. The bomber sat in the center of the windshield protruding from the nose of the plane and opened his mouth. He was a new member of the crew, a quiet man who rarely spoke. This time, however, he looked up, unusually, and grinned as he turned around. The pilot couldn't help but wonder. 

“Did you see it?” 

“No. But I know a lot of people who have seen it.” 

“Oh, yeah, I heard that too. Well, it was only for a second.” 

The engineer interrupted the bomber's line. “Hey” said the co-pilot with a wry smile on his face. 

“I've heard that rumor myself, but the point is, it's a gremlin of sorts, isn't it? It's a superstition, a superstition.” 

“But he's pretty close to me in his hometown, but he's not the kind of person who believes in superstitions. At the time of last month's operation… The aircraft that was flying at the very end of the formation was suddenly attacked from below and shot down.” 

“… it's an anti-aircraft gun. Didn't the flames and smoke when hit look like a dragon?” 

“Is that an illusion? But you said it was a glowing oriental dragon like a big anaconda? Is that an illusion possible?” 

“If you hear a rumor about it first, you can imagine what it's going to be like.” 

The co-pilot replied as if it was nothing, but the engineer didn't seem convinced. Even his still infantile expression remained serious. Next to him, the airman, listening to the conversation, gulped and spat. He must have heard the rumors, too. 

In fact, even pilots who listened with their ears forward knew about the dragon that was supposed to appear in the skies over Tokyo. 

A dragon. 

An imaginary beast, often used as a motif in the East. It resembled a giant snake, but had four limbs and horns. Legend has it that it had no wings, but it flied in the sky and manipulated the weather. 

Of course, it was all a fictional story… an old superstition, as the co-pilot said. A fairy tale. However, a short time after the bombing of Tokyo began, stories of "dragon sightings" began to be whispered authentically among the bombers' crew. It had become so serious that it was no longer just a gossip. 

Then the bomber who had first mentioned the story to the bombers brushed his shoulders and said: 

“The other day on a mission, there was a plane that barely made it home after being half destroyed… that was also attacked by a dragon. At the same time, all the crew members have been called up by the top brass and have been transferred to different locations.” 

“See? That kind of story is not supposed to be verifiable.” 

“But the half-destroyed aircraft remained. I saw it, too, but it didn't look, at least to my eyes, like the remains of an anti-aircraft gun or a fighter's machine gun.” 

“You're not an expert, and how can you make such a judgment? Even if they weren't shells, a mysterious new weapon would be more convincing.” 

The co-pilot sniffed, and the bomber very matter-of-factly replied, "Possibly.” 

“You know what? New Japanese tanks are rumored by the army guys.” 

“What is that?” 

“Oh, you know, it's a multi-legged tank, right? A steel butterfly-shaped heavy machine with a samurai statue. I recovered one that broke on the battlefield, but no one can figure out the power. Samurai…!” 

“What? First fantasy, now science fiction. We're already in Tokyo Bay. Will you guys please stop being so crappy and concentrate?” 

His co-pilot shook his head in disgust. 

But… 

“… Gentlemen, have you heard that the Nazis are incorporating the occult into their weapons development?” 

The radio operator, who had been listening silently until then, spoke in a whisper without taking his gaze off the equipment. Everyone closed their mouths and all eyes except the pilot's were focused on him. 

The "gong" lineman was expressionless. 

"I have an acquaintance with the Information Bureau, but it seems that the Japanese military has a similar movement. I don't know the details, but with a different approach from science, centered on a young and excellent shaman. There are institutions that produce results.” 

“… Shaman?” 

“Yes” replied the radio operator, still staring at his equipment. 

“He says he's an old school shaman, representing Japan. They've sent a number of spies into the country and they can't get close to him at all. In fact, it is said that during the intelligence battles against the Japanese military, which are almost always overwhelmingly successful, the only time something crazy happens is when the shaman or his associates are involved. But that's only because they are sideline to the military. He doesn't seem to have enough influence to be involved in the war effort.” 

“… You think that's the guy who made the dragons?” 

“At least when it comes to the multi-legged chariot that we were talking about earlier, the intelligence community thinks that he might have something to do with it. If the rumored golden dragon is real, or…” 

The radio operator explained frankly. Then, after cutting off his words, he added, "It's about time. We're finally going to enter the skies over Tokyo.” The bombardier turned to his sights with relief, and the engineer and airman hurriedly focused on their respective hands. 

The co-pilot ruffled his hair, muffled, as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t. The useless chatter was over. From now on, they had to focus on the mission. 

However… 

“Japanese shaman…” 

The pilot blurted out. 

Whether it was heard or the radioman continued at the end. 

“The code name they gave him is “Raven”, right? “He” is always like a crow's feather…” 

Light generated at the edge of the pilot's field of view. 

Beyond the windshield was the shadow of a fellow pilot's plane in formation at a certain distance. Thirty meters long. Forty-three meters in width. Its appearance, cruising through the sky at 350 kilometers per hour, was a majestic sight worthy of its nickname "Superfortress". 

However, the corner of the plane has collapsed. 

It was two aircrafts. The shadow of the plane was in disorder. The plane was shaken to the side. One wing was damaged. The fragments of the destroyed wing could be seen flying into the air. Faster than the mind could think, the body controlled the plane. Evasion. A sudden turn made the cockpit shake. Pores all over his body open up, and he felt a rush of hot blood. 

“What? Hey?” 

He heard his co-pilot scream. And he wasn't the only one. Everyone in the cockpit was screaming, including him, the pilot. But his eyes never moved. His eyes were glued to the scene in the corner of the windshield. 

A light, a golden light. 

Obviously, it wasn’t an explosive flame. It was a purer, nobler light. He could see the light connecting the images. It was a long trajectory, with a definite texture, taking shape as it removed the light powder. Of course, it was an illusion. It should have been only an illusion. 

"… Oh! My…” 

The co-pilot opened both eyes and gasped. 

A beautiful creature swam in the sky. 

Its long body was wrapped in hard scales, and it wriggled lazily as it slid a golden glow across its surface. It leapt up into the air dynamically, as if kicking off a destroyed aircraft. 

Large, powerful eyes. Sharp fangs of pure white. The fierce flavor of the gun - although this was not possible - seemed to make the air inside the cabin chatter and tremble through the windshield. 

The Golden Dragon, flying in the sky. 

A mythical scene was there. 

"Oh no…” 

Before he could stare in stunned amazement, his colleague, one ahead of him, opened fire. As if the bullets were being sucked in, they focused on the golden dragon. But it didn't hit. Even if it were a living organism, its size would be astounding, but compared to a fighter jet, it wasn’t a large target. Nonetheless, the fast, sharp, organic movement had completely displaced even the B29's state-of-the-art fire control equipment. And now the dragon was furiously attacking the colleague who had launched the attack. 

"Hey, fire, fire!” 

“I can't do it, run!” 

The co-pilot and the bomber shouted at the same time. The others were almost in a panic. And… 

"Hey, what now?!” 

Suddenly, a horrendous flock of birds rushed into the formation. No. They weren't birds. It wasn't snowing. It was paper. Hundreds, if not thousands, of rectangular pieces of paper with red lettering and patterns on them. Suddenly they appeared as if they had been thrown into a formation of B29s flying ten thousand meters in the air. 

Moreover, the mysterious pieces of paper dance wildly as if each one has a will. Like a swarm of bees swarming around an enemy, they clung to the giant bomber. Then, as they stuck to the windshield, they shone and popped. ''Wahhhhhhhh!'' 

The vision was enveloped in a whirlwind of fire. 

And then a mile and a half of tar-like substance stuck or ran across the exterior, releasing sparks, or frosted over as it froze. 

The next thing he knew, the pilot kept screaming. Frantically, he maneuvered the aircraft to get away from the paper. 

“Damn it! I can't see ahead!” 

“Calm down! Don’t panic. Hold steady!” 

Shouts and shrieks of rage and screams fluttered through the small cockpit. Through the half-blocked windshield, the pilot saw his colleague's plane swerving erratically through a gap in the half-blocked windshield. The nose of the plane was covered with black smoke, and he could see that the propeller of the gun turret was tangled in a moving rope-weed-like substance. It was horrifying. In the next moment, this plane could suffer the same fate. 

And then a golden dragon passes through the confusion of the formation. The next one was attacked and the aircraft was snapped in half. 

"What the hell is this?” 

The pilot couldn't understand what's going on. The pilot looked for a gap in the windshield to get a better view of the situation. Finally, the flames that covered the windshield burned out, and the vision opened up and he could see. 

Ahead, in the sky above where the formation was headed, there was a point. A bird. A huge, black crow. For some reason, he immediately thought so. 

But as it was approaching them, when the figure appeared clearly in the sky. 

"… A person?” 

He was a young man. A japanese with long hair. He was dressed in a jet-black robe, his hands were laced together, and he was looking at them with an icy gaze. It was not a bad idea. Ridiculous. Impossible. It was as impossible as a golden dragon or a thousand changing pieces of paper. 

Dragging death and absurdity. 

The story of the radio operator that he heard just a moment ago passed through his mind. 

Immediately after, a piece of paper stuck again and covered the windshield like a muddy stream. The pilot was rather grateful, though he was completely robbed of his vision. He didn't want to face any more of the joke of the extraordinary and insanity in a sane way. 

That day, a formation of B29s entered the skies over Tokyo and carried out an indiscriminate bombing campaign. 

However, only a third of the planes had not yet returned to the Saipan base. 

December 8, 1941. 

With the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the curtain was dropped on the Pacific War. 

The attack on Pearl Harbor, which was considered to be a unilateral surprise attack by Japan, dealt a devastating blow to the U.S. Pacific Fleet and resulted in an unprecedentedly large scale of battle. The news of the victory brought a domestic uproar, and the military got a boost. With the momentum of the attack, the war was spreading at a furious pace. 

The Malay Peninsula, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore and the islands of Southeast Asia, Borneo, Java, Sumatra. 

Their successive victories must have been an unprecedented offensive. Before the war began, no one would have expected Japan to win a series of victories over western countries in such a short period of time. The people were in a frenzy, the press was pumping up the war effort, and the military was in high spirits. Despite the fact that the war started rashly and at the very last minute, perhaps that was why the people jumped into the great wave of joy of "winning the bet" and drowned themselves in it. 

Japan was drunk on the good wine of victory. 

And, just as too much alcohol can be a poison, so too much alcohol can lead to addiction without being aware of it. 

For example, the ability to make a sober judgment. 

As a result, a turning point in his life came only six months later. On June 5, 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked the Hawaiian Islands. On June 5, 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Midway, which took place in the northwest of the Hawaiian Islands. The navy suffered heavy losses, including four of the six mainline aircraft carriers it owned. In addition, the sinking of these ships resulted in the deaths of many of their excellent crews, valuable soldiers who had accumulated years of training and combat experience. 

After this defeat, Japan lost control of the war. 

However, it did not mean that Japan had lost all of the gains it had made in the first six months of the war. Although the momentum of the first war had been halted, Japan was still ahead of the enemy and maintained its superiority. 

However, by this time, Japan had already lost something more important than its war potential. That was, calm judgment and normal self-control. As if to symbolize this fact, the military concealed the heavy defeat at Midway. The Imperial Headquarters announcement of June 10 was based on a low estimate of its own losses and an overstatement of the enemy's losses. For this reason, many people were innocently, ignorantly, irresponsibly, and even proudly saying that they "seemed" to have won again at Midway. 

And the lost judgment and self-control undermined the military and the people, slowly and gradually leading to Japan's destruction. Guadalcanal, New Guinea, Imphal, Saipan, Guam and other Mariana Islands, Palau and the Philippines. 

Defeat after defeat, ball-breaker after ball-breaker, may have even been halfway to self-destruction for those who could have chartered the situation. The bloated self-esteem and the empty beliefs that supported it. An irrational zeal bordering on insanity and a dangerous inability to face reality and pathetic dreaming. 

Japan was bound to lose, and it kept losing. And by continuing to lose, Japan was being relentlessly driven down, both materially and spiritually. 

The year 1945. 

The air raids on the Japanese mainland, which had begun in earnest the previous year, increased in frequency and scale and continued to cause frustration for the military and anxiety and fear for the people. Even in a society where information was blocked out, there were still very few people who believed in Japan's victory with all their hearts. 

Part 2 

The Onmyoudou Dormitory, under the jurisdiction of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Headquarters. 

From the window of her office, Hishamaru was looking at the cloudy sky. 

Hishamaru's gaze seemed to hammer, and a dark melancholy hovered in her profile. Hishamaru unconsciously clenched her fists. 

The Lord was nowhere to be found in the office. The fact that she couldn’t be by her master's side continued to blame her. He departed to an inhospitable battlefield 10000m in the air. But at an altitude of 10000m, it was impossible for her to go. Even for her master it would have been impossible without the “Raven’s wing”, the tool he had made for himself. 

Moreover, the master would have to fight the enemy's most advanced bombers in such an inhospitable realm. Even with the support of anti-aircraft guns, Japanese fighter planes could not intercept them properly at 10000m high. Since they couldn't do much about it until the enemy planes dropped altitude for bombing, the first to face the enemy forces head on should be him alone. They would have to face the large strategic bomber formations known as "superfortresses" alone. And that was exactly what he would have to do, in the flesh. 

When she thought about it again, she didn't think it was sane, and worse, that was true. Perhaps the country, especially many of those involved in the military, had been insane for quite some time. 

“… It's okay. Hokuto is there, and Kakugyouki…” 

Regardless of their own inability to protect themselves, it is only a minor matter. It goes without saying that the most important thing was the safety of the Lord. She had no intention of doubting her master's ability, but she still couldn't help but pray for his safety. 

And then… 

“Adjudant-dono, it looks like it's started. The fire has risen from the lower reaches of the Sumida River!” 

A swallow flew over to the window where Hishamaru was searching, slashing the sky. It was the shikigami controlled by the Onmyoudou dormitory students. Hishamaru's expression tightened as a man's voice reported the status of the airstrike, "I understand”. 

“As planned, please send a squad in immediately. But please do not be reckless and keep in touch.” 

After receiving Hishamaru's instructions, the swallow immediately rejoined him. She was not ordered to just stand by. She was entrusted with the command of firefighting and saving lives in order to minimize the damage caused by the bombers' air raids. 

Of course, it was impossible to protect the whole of Tokyo. However, spellcasters who were capable of withstanding "actual warfare" could provide a variety of support in the bombed areas. This showed the versatility and usefulness of the Onmyoudou dormitory led by her master and the Imperial System he created, now officially named the "Imperial Onmyoudou", a completely new system of magic. It was also proof that the military recognized the versatility and usefulness of the system. 

The fact that those spellcasters were being publicly recognized for their power was something to be proud of. 

On the other hand, the current situation where they were being abused for their own convenience was a decline of the military and the decline of Japan's national power. 

- The spellcasters are very skilled, but the layers of the Onmyoudou Dormitory are not thick enough to deal with all the orders they are given… 

It was true that the spellcasters of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, the “Onmyoudou Officers” could be said to be a “user-friendly” type of soldier, capable of responding to any situation. However, when it came to “those who could endure actual battles”, their numbers were inevitably limited. On top of that, even the few Onmyoudou officers were conscripted one by one after the start of the war against the U.S. and Britain - the "Greater East Asia War" if you follow the name decided by the cabinet meeting - and died in the war, further reducing their numbers. The Onmyoudou Dormitory also trained spellcasters, but it would inevitably take a long time before they could be put into actual combat. And the decline in Japan's national power was progressing at a far greater rate than that. 

Hishamaru looked up at the sky once more. 

Blocked by the cloudy sky, she could not hope to see the battlefield where the Lord was. But there was no doubt that he was fighting above the clouds in the distance. 

She wanted to rush to his side. By any means necessary. Desperately suppressing these rising emotions, she calmly commanded the dormitory students. By now, the air raid siren sounded and the chatter in the dormitory intensified as not only shikigami but also the other students entered the office one by one, asking for instructions. 

How much time had passed? 

Suddenly, the door to her office was opened with great force. Kurahashi Hisateru, the heir of the Kurahashi family, jumped in. Hishamaru's heart jumped when she saw the blood drain from his recently grown-up face. 

She had a bad feeling. 

As expected… 

“It’s trouble! We just got word from the ground team. Ya, Yakō-aniue, the chief of staff, has been injured!” 

She felt as if her blood flow sounded through her veins. 

"So don't be so angry, Hishamaru.” 

"Don't be silly!" 

"Yes, don't be silly, Yakō. A beautiful woman is the one who looks the best when she's angry." 

"Colonel Sōma! I'm talking about something serious!" 

Hisamaru shouted with her face red as both shook their heads. 

However, the two of them were correct in their assessment. Hishamaru was dressed in her normal, rugged military uniform. But her exceptional good looks, after years of painful, rugged, and dense, were now in full bloom. 

The fine white skin and smooth hair that reached the waist. The vivid blue eyes, and a supple and graceful physique. Her icy yet dainty appearance had the nobility of a young female warrior as well as the ghostly glamour of a tilt-up castle. 

A pair of ears covered in soft fur and an elegant tail were proof of Hishamaru's "fox possession", giving the military-armored beauty an extraordinarily beguiling appeal. It was like a beautiful white clapper that danced with a sub-goddess in a foreign land. Her bewitching beauty was such that she was the subject of rumors not only in the Onmyoudou dormitory, but also in the General Staff headquarters. 

Even the roaring military-dressed fox possessed now had both ears pinned up and its willow eyebrows turned upside down. 

They were in the infirmary in the Onmyoudou Dormitory. In one of the several simple beds lying down the chief of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, Tsuchimikado Yakō, who has taken off his military jacket. 

Seated on a chair beside him, Yakō's assistant, Tsuchimikado Kon, also known as Hishamaru. And Sōma Satsuki, Chief of the Ninth Section of the Second Department of the General Staff and supervisor of the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

They were the head of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, the number two, and the owner of the dormitory. In addition, Kakugyouki, a giant with a military uniform, stood near the entrance to the infirmary. 

Kakugyouki, the shikigami of Yakō and the other protector, have been given the rank of Onmyoudou officer. However, the one-armed demon, who didn't want to be tied down by that kind of tangle, kept his distance from the circle of officers and stood ready to watch the spectacle. Hishamaru, would like to complain about this, but the one who brought their master home safely was none other than Kakugyouki. He didn't have any flesh and blood, and could follow the Lord's side, even at an altitude of 10000m. Even though he had withdrawn from the organization, he still did his job well. To be honest, it was an enviable position for Hishamaru to be in, as she was tasked with unworthy tasks such as directing the students. 

Also, for some reason, a crow was perched on Kakugyouki's shoulder. It was a rather large crow. Moreover, its eyes were golden in color. If you look more closely, you can see that it has three legs. 

A three-legged crow. It was the legendary eight thighed crow that was said to have guided the Emperor Jinmu during the mythical Jinmu Eastern Expedition. It was also called the golden bird, which was a symbol of the sun in the Onmyoudou. 

Of course, the one now perched on Kakugyouki's shoulder was not a real spirit, but a shikigami created by Yakō, and like Kakugyouki, it was one of the contributors to this event, "Raven’s wing". 

"Anyway, I was able to return safely. Please be happy before you get angry." 

"It's not safe. You lost consciousness far above, and if you made a mistake, you would have died." 

According to Kakugyouki's report, this time Yakō suffered from hypoxia during the fight and lost consciousness. 

Yakō's ability to fly to high altitudes was due to the power of his "Raven’s wing". Although it now took the form of a golden bird, it's feathers were jet-black, as if spun out of wet crow feathers, transforming into a cloak. By wearing this, Yakō could fly freely in the sky. 

However, at an altitude of 10000m, the wearer would lack enough oxygen to breathe. And the "Raven’s wing" did not have the ability to supplement the wearer with oxygen. 

Naturally, the countermeasure with the spellcraft was given beforehand, but it seemed that the battle was so intense, and under such a peculiar situation, that the technique had expired. And in the midst of the fierce battle, he fainted without having time to reapply it. 

After the Lord lost consciousness, the dragon Hokuto was unable to manifest itself and disembodied, but the curse tool, Raven’s wing, remained, and it moved into a semi-autonomous evasive action to protect its master. Kakugyouki then took the initiative and brought Yakō back to the ground. 

"We escaped from far up in the sky, with machine guns fire and bombs raining down. It was indeed a first time for me, but it was quite a pain in the ass, huh?" 

As Kakugyouki said mischievously, "Raven’s wing" also flapped its wings. With a faint smile on his face, Yakō thanked the faithful shikigami and the others, "Thank you for saving me", as he laid back down. 

The furball that had been curled up on the edge of the bed where Yakō was lying moved. 

A pair of long ears that had been lying behind him jumped upwards. It blinked, and then a pair of round, silver eyes appeared from within the furball. 

Resting at Yakō's bedside was a lone rabbit, wrapped in silvery white fur. This was also Yakō's shikigami. It was the counterpart of the "Raven's Wing" made to resemble a gold bird, and the "Moon ring" made to resemble a jade rabbit. 

While the Raven’s wing possessed external powers such as flight, defense against cursed and physical attacks, counterattacks, and assistance and strengthening of its spellcasting abilities, the Moon ring was given internal powers such as sensitivity and mental interference. Like the Raven’s wing, it was also a spell implement, so it usually took the form of a ring, and was worn during the sortie just now. It wasn't as flashy as "Raven’s wing", but it was helping Yakō in the shadows. 

"Yeah, that's right. Of course you are, too. Thanks, Moon ring." 

This time with a distinctly bitter smile, Yakō reached out and patted the back of the "Moon ring". It looked comfortable and its long ears trembled. 

The unique atmosphere of peace and serenity of Yakō when he was in a hurry was the same as it was in the past. The dignity that naturally emanated from him and the gentle, intelligent look in his eyes were the same. 

At the same time, the unconventional youthfulness had faded to some extent, and he was showing signs of maturity. The pallor was gone, and a new kind of dignity and gravity was born, which was not there before. It may be a good change, but it was also a change that made the others feel a little sad. 

In the past few years, her master has changed, just as she has, unavoidably, in the same way. More than just growing with age, it changed drastically in a short period of time. In such an era, the Lord has been placed in a position where he had no choice but to do so. 

Hishamaru straightened up in her chair. 

"Yakō-sama… I don't mean to be rude, but it is still reckless. At the very least, Yakō-sama should decline the task of air defense alone." 

"What do you mean by declining, it's a military order?" 

"Yakō-sama may be a member of the military, but he's not a soldier. You're not supposed to be obligated to obey a reckless order." 

"It's not that simple, even Hishamaru knows that, right?" 

Yakō told her to calm down with a troubled face. 

In fact, Hishamaru knew that Yakō had virtually no veto power. The Onmyoudou Dormitory was an organization that was established with the full support of the military. It had received a lot of support in the past. Disobeying orders at this point in time would not be acceptable. 

It reminded her of the argument Yakō had had with Satsuki at the North Star Hill Temple earlier. What did it mean to use magic under the military? It felt like a long time ago now, but after all, the danger Yakō had held at the time had become a reality, hadn't it? Hasn't Yakō, who created it, been swallowed up by the military on the one hand, while achieving huge magical results? 

Hishamaru threw a resentful glance at Satsuki standing beside the bed. Satsuki noticed and turned to face Hishamaru, shaking his bright red hair. 

Satsuki, too, was in a different mood than before. Although his surface attitude towards Yakō and Hishamaru remained the same, he now wore a hint of presence that intimidated those around him, even if he kept silent. However, it was understandable. He was now a colonel in the General Staff, and he too was under a pressure that was incomparable to that of Yakō and Hishamaru, but he continued to face the toughest day in and day out. 

Satsuki turned to Hishamaru and said 

"I understand the feeling. However, the fact that the Onmyoudou Head is directly in front of the enemy forces to intercept them has great significance for the Onmyoudou Dormitory. Especially in the current situation where the war situation has deteriorated to this point. You understand that, don't you?" 

"But…” 

"Moreover, the battle results that Yakō is citing are extremely huge. It's not just a matter of defending the position of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, it's also impossible to ignore in terms of national defense. Nowadays, there isn't a single person in the upper echelons of the military who doesn't understand the importance of the Onmyoudou Dormitory and Tsuchimikado Yakō, you know. On the contrary, that's why they have too much expectation and are forcing them to do extreme duties…” 

"… The war situation is finally getting sour, isn't it?" 

Yakō dared to ask, though it was obvious, and Satsuki replied frankly, "Well, yeah." 

"In a word, it's a bit of a poverty-stricken mess. Last year's Battle of Leyte… The Battle of Leyte off the Philippines was still painful. The naval fleet was almost completely destroyed in that defeat. Of course, there's no way to recover it. Our opponents were in good health, and just the other day, they finally took over Manila. If we turn the compass in the right direction, Taiwan or Okinawa will be next after the Philippines. We are still defending ourselves to the death, but if they capture Iwo Jima, they will come soon. After that, it's finally time for a mainland battle." 

"… You're saying that it's not just air raids, but enemy forces are coming ashore…” 

"Oh. I read the outline of the mainland decisive battle that came out at the meeting last month, saying that all the people, not the whole army, would meet as a group… It's embarrassing to call it a desk theory. A picture like this was adorned with a beautiful season that seemed to bite my tongue. It was like seriously chanting that it was a 100 million fireball. And I submitted it. However, it's called General Staff Headquarters, an elite group of the army." 

Tired of seeing, Satsuki was poisoned. 

Even if it was not something the Chief of the General Staff would be allowed to talk about, Satsuki didn't hide military information from Yakō, which was a sign of his trust, but even more so because Satsuki's consciousness belonged to the Onmyoudou Dormitory and not the military. After all, they’ve been together since the time they rebuilt the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

"… Isn't there a way to surrender?" 

"Hishamaru." 

"But, Yakō-sama…" 

It was a time when the supreme order was to fight to the last soldier to defend the state. The mere mention of the word "surrender" was enough to make the military police look at each other. Hishamaru would not show any signs of failure outside the Onmyoudou Dormitory, but here, in this place, she couldn’t help saying that in front of him, her master, who had returned from the dead land and was lying on his side. 

Also, when asked, Satsuki was also a fat one. 

"That's not to say that such a move isn't happening at all." 

He replied flatly with a reply that would be punitive if it were to be heard by the upper echelons. 

"Nevertheless, it must be said that it is unrealistic to say whether the top brass will actually steer us down the peace path. In fact, His Excellency the Duke of Konoe Fumimaro gave his suggestion for an early peace, but Shigeru Yoshida and others who cooperated with him were detained. That's exactly what our military police are doing. I don't know what will happen in the future, but, well, we'll just have to hold on for the time being." 

Hishamaru noded and tailed to Satsuki's nonchalant way of saying it. 

The decline of the army. The decline of national power. 

Japan was now on the edge of exile. There was no room for it anywhere. 

"… However," 

After admonishing Hishamaru, Satsuki now turned to Yakō. 

"I'm not a good person for the status quo, either. Even if the future of the nation is out of our hands, I'm sure that the way you're doing things now is too dangerous to overlook." 

Hishamaru looked up with a huff. 

He was as foul-mouthed as ever, but the way in which Satsuki looked at Yakō was one of genuine concern for him, and for Satsuki, Yakō's safety was no stranger to him. 

Yakō, on the other hand, laughed. 

"You've explained the plight of your country so much, now you're worried about me." 

"I hate to say it, but for me, your life and death are more important than the plight of Japan." 

"Hey, hey, Elite? No matter how much, you're losing your mind. If the country is destroyed, we're done." 

"A country is a group of people. No matter what the national body is, the value of the individual… No, I digress. Anyway. I've invested in you a lot and I'm still betting on you. There's nothing I can do if you die in the unlikely event.” 

Hishamaru looked down at Yakō as he spoke to him. 

But Yakō was so blunt. 

"It's no use. It's a war. When you die, you die. First…” 

He cut the words short once, and continued. 

"I've killed a lot of people, too." 

His casual mannerisms made Hishamaru's heart throb with pain. 

Being born into an Onmyoudou family and its offshoot, Yakō and Hishamaru have been familiar with human life and death since they were very young. However, death in war has a different meaning and "weight" than death in time of peace. In the latter case, each person has a story to tell, and this story becomes a kind of “curse” to mourn, whereas in the former case, death was treated as a mere “number” in some cases. Death as a "number" is seemingly inorganic and does not linger, but because it is not mourned, it accumulates without being purified and eventually becomes a leaven. 

In a sense, the national funeral rites for the war dead were partly a cursory ritual to dispel this leaven, but it was far from certain that the rites were fully functioning in Japan then. Not knowing to what extent even the last faith, the last "curse" of being able to return to Yasukuni as a heroic spirit even if you are crushed by the ball, was a salvation. 

Hishamaru stared at the profile of her master in silence. They had also lost many people close to them in the war. 

However, while Yakō seemed to be ostensibly masterful, Satsuki sniffed supremely calmly, huffing and puffing. 

"That statement is too irresponsible for a person with a heavy responsibility. It's not something I need to point out now, but your life doesn't belong to you alone. In the first place, you are the head of the prestigious Tsuchimikado family. You should have had a certain amount of responsibility since you were born, don't be a good old man and don't talk with your intuition." 

Sakuki said abruptly, and Yakō was miffed. Even Kakugyouki, who was farther away, seemed to have a small smile on his face. 

Yakō was now known not only as the head of the Tsuchimikado family, but also as the head of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, the creator and destroyer of the revolution in the Japanese magic world. Only Satsuki or Kakugyouki would be able to speak so lightly against him. 

"By and large, when I say you killed a lot of people, it's not much compared to the General Staff. The number of enemies you killed, and the number of allies you let die. You're right, this is a war. You can question the pros and cons of this war all you want, but you should focus on the problem at hand. I saved your life. This is a good time to start thinking about moving forward with the business at hand." 

"…The…twin wall plan?" 

To Yakō, who frowned slightly, Satsuki sternly lorded over him. 

"Once the capital's spiritual defense system is in place, your burden will be lessened. At the very least, the danger to your life should be reduced." 

"I doubt it. If you displease the public, you could be killed easily." 

"… What a way to talk to the general governor of Edo. But you are still the head of the onmyouji." 

"These days, I have a reputation for being a rare punisher, dismantling faith-based witchcraft from one side to the other." 

Yakō flatly barked at Satsuki, who raised his eyebrows in disgust, "You know, I'm not a fan of that. Hypocritical mannerisms are a bad habit of Yakō's lately.", “Yakō-sama," Hishamaru replied in a whisper, throwing back a momentary look of remorse as if he'd been scolded for a prank. 

The Twin Walls Project. 

This was the common name used among the parties involved, more accurately called the "Imperial City Barrier Creation Design". Originally, it was a cursed national defense plan that originated from the long-cherished desire of the Sōma clan, led by Satsuki as a young chief. 

Sōma's ancestor, Taira no Masakado, one of Japan's foremost spirits, has been engaged in the art of witchcraft for a thousand years in order to manifest this deity into the world, and Sōma's main goal in rebuilding the Onmyoudou Dormitory was to achieve this long-held goal. 

And the Twin Walls Project, devised by Satsuki, was to utilize this spirit called Taira no Masakado for the defense of the capital city. 

Yakō seemed to have no choice but to raise his body and assume a sitting position on the bed. "Yakō-sama" Hishamaru said, trying to support him from the side, but he declined with a gentle shake of his head. 

While looking up at Satsuki. 

"Even if you don't tell me, I'm making preparations. As expected, it's not going to cover the entire Kanto area, but for now, if it's a legal formation technique that covers the center of Tokyo, it's ninety-nine percent complete. It's an extremely powerful formation that can change the phase of the spirit within the area, just like you requested. I think it can be expected to be effective against the enemy's latest weapons. However, we can't prepare an altar for the “Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai”, the place to launch the magic formula. This is the altar of heaven in the "Taizan Fukun Sai", but the scale of the magic is on an order of magnitude greater than any other. Considering the spiritual pressure it deals with, it has to be physically huge, but due to the spiritual veins, it can't be away from the city center. In other words, there's no place for it." 

"You can use a military facility." 

"They're not going to give us a permit." 

"It doesn't matter what it is. What we need is a spellbinding altar. It's not like we need a huge amount of materials or a huge building, right? First of all, if it can be deployed spellbindingly, it can be deployed on top of the existing equipment and buildings. 

"In order to adopt that plan, it would be necessary to place the spellcasting equipment with detailed calculations so that the existing equipment and buildings would not affect the magic formula. Besides, if we were to forcefully deploy a “stacked” Temple of Heaven, it would be a disaster if we failed." 

"It's just a matter of not failing." 

"You know what? The problem isn't just about the Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai, you know?" 

Satsuki twitched at Yakō's implied statement. 

He realized what Yakō was trying to say. 

" … You still disagree? You've underestimated me a lot." 

"It's not a question of underestimating or not underestimating. That's exactly what I'm saying, that this is crazy." 

"I told you. Your concerns have been largely resolved with the help of Dairenji's faction." 

"Certainly, the Dairenji spell is a discovery of a new approach, and I think Sōma's political power in incorporating them is something to look up to. But that's not the point. It's the spellcasting of a "god" opponent, okay? And we're not even close to figuring out what "god" is. There's just too much uncertainty." 

While Yakō was cautious, Satatsuki only bit back. 

"If you're talking about a curse method for a “god” opponent, then Tsuchimikado's “Taizan Fukun Sai” would be the same. And the “Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai”. But you've incorporated these rituals into your own Imperial Style Onmyoudou, and you're well versed in their use." 

"That one has a track record that Tsuchimikado has been building up for generations. It's only because there's enough data left that it's possible to reconstruct it based on the rules of thumb. And it's not "flexible" either. The “Taizan Fukun Sai” is still a bit of a mystery, but the “Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai”, for which there is not much data, is halfway through the process." 

"If we're talking about the amount of data, Sōma would make up for it. Although it's limited to Masakado, it's the best when it comes to the public alone." 

"No, I'm sorry, but Sōma didn't make it, right? I guess that's why it's a long shot." 

"There is an example of success. Four years ago, me and you.” 

"So that's what I'm talking about." 

When Hishamaru called out "Yakō-sama" again, Yakō closed his mouth to cool off, and Satsuki looked away and gave a small dry cough. He realized that he had gotten too hot for someone who was resting in the infirmary. 

Still, he didn't back down from his opinion. 

"… Yakō, after all, that's what you're concerned about, isn't it? My ability as a relying party." 

The point of the Double Wall Project was to reveal a "god" called Taira no Masakado, and the method was to have the "god descend" performed by the head of Sōma, Satsuki. Naturally, Yakō was scheduled to control the entire ritual with "imperial onmyoudou", but there was nothing to change the fact that Satatsuki would bring the god down on his person. 

And while Satsuki had the makings of a retainer, his spellcasting skills were far from first-rate. 

Yakō let out a sigh. 

"With the current technique, it requires Masakado's spiritual power at all times in order to maintain the legal formation. In other words, you have to keep Masakado possessing you. It's simply too much of a burden on the relying party." 

"I'm sure we've discussed that issue as well. Nothing means that we have to keep the legal formation and wards up for twenty-four hours. From the point of view of capital defense, we just need to deploy them to the maximum extent possible only when it's critical, and keep their output low and dormant in normal times." 

"That's why I'm saying that I don't know if such detailed control is possible with a spell method against a “god”. It's like connecting an elephant's power to an ant to control it, Huh, and besides, it's a one-shot deal that can't even be tested." 

"… at least once you succeeded in getting the god under control. And under such duress." 

Satsuki was referring to the deadly battle with Dairenji Kenmyou at Yasukuni Shrine four years ago. Hishamaru and Kakugyouki were there too. 

At that time, Dairenji made the Demon God, the main deity of the Dairenji religion, descend upon his body. To counter this, Satsuki summoned the ancestral spirit Taira no Masakado with a divine descent, and Yakō manipulated a series of techniques to finally return the spirit to heaven. That may indeed be Yakō's "achievement" with regard to "god". 

"I can't talk about that kind of accidental divine descent as an example. Besides, even back then, you could have died or been crippled if you made a mistake, you know?" 

"If that's how the plan works, it's cheap." 

"Hey." 

"What? Let me tell you something, I'd rather die a martyr to this plan than die in battle covering my stupid boss's ass? Of course." 

"… while you're trying to tell people not to die without permission." 

"I'm just telling you not to die in vain, that's all. In fact… there are too many unnecessary deaths in this war." 

The last word seemed to have slipped out of his mouth. However, the weight of the short line made Yakō shut up and Hishamaru twitched her ears. 

As a member of the General Staff Headquarters, Satsuki knew a lot of facts that Yakō and Hishamaru didn't know. He must also be involved in it. 

"… Satsuki." 

Yakō took a deep breath once and then called out to Satsuki. 

"If you say you don't want to die in vain, even more so, we can't carry out the plan at this stage. Not until we're as well prepared as possible." 

Satsuki clicked his tongue and raised his right hand to ruffle his red hair, a quiet but clear sound. It's a good thing that the Lord will never change his mind, because he knew from past experience that he will never change his mind. 

The common name of the "Twin Walls Project" had been mentioned by the residents of the Onmyoudou Dormitory who were involved in the project, without anyone knowing. And this "double wall" referred to Yakō and Satsuki, who were at the center of the plan. 

A spiritual "wall" for the defense of the imperial capital, built by the two people who were the creators of the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

It would not be possible without the complete agreement of both parties. 

"How can you ever be “perfect” against a “god”?" 

"Isn't it a presumptuous thing to do without that much enthusiasm, to let a god down?" 

Yakō sneered back at Satsuki, who asked him sarcastically with resignation, and Satsuki ruffled his hair again, "Oh dear." 

"Achievements. Data. Tests. If this is the case, Dairenji Kenmyou should have been forced to keep alive." 

"That's exactly the kind of advice that was impossible." 

"Yes, that's right. Speaking of which, are you still no closer to that “priest”? I'm grasping at straws to get closer to that “perfection”." 

Satsuki called out to Kakugyouki by the wall, but the one-armed demon brushed his shoulders bare. 

"I'm sorry, I haven't heard anything since then." 

"You know what, Satsuki, that's a god of sorts, right? He's not someone you should treat casually." 

"If you're in the company of a god, wouldn't that be a great way to prep?" 

"Then you're going to let that thing possess you?" 

Sakuki, as expected of Yakō, was taken aback. The "priest" they refer to is the Doman Houshi(priest), the legendary onmyoji, Ashiya Doman. Kakugyouki seemed to have a long-standing relationship. Hishamaru wasn't there, but he appeared in front of Yakō and his friends during the battle with Dairenji Kenmyou four years ago. It was said that he was a man who competed with Abe no Seimei, the founder of Tsuchimikado, in the Heian period. He was said to have been transformed into a divine spirit and still reside in this world, but to Yakō and Hishamaru, he was an "old enemy of the clan". 

In addition, Doman said that he used to take Dairenji Kenmyou as his disciple for two years. If this was the case, then Yakō and his friends were now his disciples' avengers. Asking for help from such an opponent was an opinion that he could not possibly agree with. 

Yakō gave him a rare, shadowy smile. 

"But it's ironic that you were more reluctant to achieve Sōma's long-cherished goal than I was." 

"…Things have just changed from before. In the past and now, my first priority is still the Onmyoudou Dormitory." 

As far as Hishamaru knew, from the moment they met until today, Satsuki had done more for the Onmyoudou Dormitory than anyone else, just as her master was the most important thing to Hishamaru, the Onmyoudou Dormitory must have been an irreplaceable place for him. 

The silence continued with neither of them saying anything more. Although they didn’t say anything thoughts were flying. Or maybe it was because they knew, and that's why they couldn't put them into words. No matter what lines they’d say, their response to them was entirely predictable. Even the reason for such a reply. To that extent, the two of them had already discussed it many times. 

Just… 

"… Satsuki." 

Yakō called out to him. 

At that moment, Satsuki had a look in his eyes as if he was looking at some distant place. Rather than sinking into pondering, he had an absent-minded look on his face. 

His name was called and he huffed. Then he hurriedly straightened his stance. 

Yakō's gaze at Satsuki was slightly suspicious, and Satsuki's expression changed, "Anyway." 

He told them in a stern tone. 

"The upper echelon is planning to seriously prepare for the mainland battle. If that's the case, they'll eventually put the plan into action, unless there's an extraordinarily strong divine wind. In that case, it would be wise to at least make things happen while we can take the lead. All right?" 

Part 3 

After a long winter, the atmosphere was slowly beginning to warm up. 

From the yin of winter to the yang of summer. There were slight signs of spring, the transition. Even in times like this, the yin and yang of heaven and earth circulate and the seasons change. 

The premises of Tokyo Station. People passing by are curiously watching Hishamaru, who was standing upright and steadfastly waiting. She was dressed in a solemn military uniform and her good looks were breathtaking. Hishamaru was conspicuous by her ears and tail, but the fact that there were people waiting for her made her hesitant to hide. She was sure that a person waiting for her would be able to see through a slight hiding, but she felt it would be disrespectful. At best, she could take a supercilious stance and let the rude stares pass. 

- Speaking of which… 

Suddenly, she recalled the time when she came to Tokyo with Kokage. 

Looking back, it was six years ago. Compared to those days, the hustle and bustle on the campus has vanished. The only people who stood out were those who seemed to be related to the military. This was proof that the number of civilians coming and going had decreased dramatically. The situation had changed. The words of Satsuki had passed through her mind. 

Nevertheless, Hishamaru smiled when she spotted the waiting man. It was a small man carrying a furoshiki cloth. Even in this season, his skin was well tanned, and Hishamaru turned to face the man, standing tall and waving his arms wide. 

"Sen-dono! This way!" 

He noticed Hishamaru. Although there was a good chance he had noticed her long ago, the man smiled at her and bowed his head. She hadn't seen him since the summer of six years ago. He was a temple man of the North Star Hill Temple, or the Dark Temple, where she practiced magic. 

Sen approached her with his peculiar gait and bowed once more in front of Hishamaru, who was now dressed in a shabby shirt and slacks. 

"It has been a while, Hishamaru-sama. I'm glad to see you're alive and well." 

"You are the same, Sen-dono. No change." 

"Haha. I can't say this out loud, but there is no such thing as a family register for me. Thanks to this, I was never summoned by the government, and I still live in the mountains. It can't be helped." 

"That… that's certainly not something you can say out loud. Especially in front of people in military uniforms." 

"I can do this. I hope the tolerant Onmyoudou officers can overlook this." 

Hishamaru's heart was filled with nostalgia at Sen who showed a great attitude. When she was young, she spent her time at a mountain temple in the middle of nature. The painful but fulfilling training and the sense of freedom away from the countryside was vivid and difficult. She never thought back then that the day would come when she would be able to return to my life in the Dark Temple like this. 

"I'm sorry to ask you to overdo it this time." 

"What, what? It is cheap. For the time being, here. I have a prototype." 

Hishamaru bowed to Sen, who shook the furoshiki he carried, "That helps a lot", she said. 

Since Yakō was assigned to the mission of imperial air defense, the spellpapers stockpiled in the Onmyoudou Dormitory had been consumed like hot water. Of course, they were making them with all their might, but they were not able to keep up with them. So, in order to raise the production volume as much as possible, the Onmyoudou Dormitory asked the North Star Hill Temple to create spells. It was because of this that Sen had come to Tokyo this time. 

"Besides, nowadays, helping the Onmyoudou Dormitory is directly for the benefit of the country. It will be worthwhile." 

"… I'm surprised. I mean, let me put it this way, but I didn't know that the Dark Temple was more for the country." 

"That's it. Because there are only shady people who have been scorned and despised by society, such as stray magicians. Isn't it exciting to just help out?" 

"… It's the first time I've ever heard of you having a shrug of the shoulders." 

The only impression she had was that they were a group of self-centered, self-indulgent people. However, Sen was smiling at Hishamaru, seemingly innocent and harmless, with no regard for his pompous gaze. 

Come to think of it, he was that kind of person. She was not sure if she could read his intentions, or if he was just eating people… he was not very old, but he was very old. 

Hishamaru left the station, accompanied by Sen, and headed for the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

He moved slowly on foot. It was a reasonable distance to walk, but Sen wished to see the city of Tokyo if he could. 

"Sen-san, Tokyo…” 

"I used to go to various countries in the past. Only once at that time. However, there are few remnants of what it used to be. It's hard to believe that it's the same city." 

"I'm sure that's true. In fact, things have changed a lot since we moved to Tokyo, and they continue to change now. And… ” 

"What is it?" 

"It's not just the cityscape that keeps changing. It's more than just the appearance, because people's lives are changing too." 

Hishamaru looked at the people on the street with a faintly melancholy face. 

Most of the passers-by were not as cheerful as Hishamaru. A heavy sense of stagnation hanged over the entire town. 

But that was not surprising. It was already a well-known fact that Japan's defeat was imminent, no matter how much the Imperial Headquarters schemed to distract the public from the reality. After all, there were enemy bombers flying over the Imperial Capital. There was not a trace of the happy, festive mood of the early days of the war. In fact, it was hard to remember that there was such a period of time. 

The pressure was not only on their feelings, but also on their real lives. Food and other necessities of life were rationed, but there were not nearly enough of them, and most of them were dependent on the black market to survive. It was said that most of the people living in the city were unable to afford even one, let alone three meals. Although the Onmyoudou Dormitory was under military service and supported by the Sōma and Kurahashi families, it was still inadequate. 

Naturally, a feeling of war weariness was spreading through the city, and there were calls for anti-war. However, Satsuki had told her the other day, that the military police were always on the lookout for such moves. Freedom of speech has long since become a well-known fact, and snitching to the police and military police was rampant among the common people. 

"And… you see. You're going to see it soon." 

When Hishamaru reached the intersection of the streets, she pointed to the end of the street, around the corner. The streets were lined with buildings, but there was a part of the land that had been cleared as if a tooth had been pulled out. In the corner of the site, there was a pile of tile reefs that had been pushed aside. And the walls of the adjoining building had left a black, charred mark on them. 

"Are these… are these… the remains of an air raid?" 

"Yes, the damage has decreased considerably since Yakō-sama was sent out to defend Tokyo's air defenses, but… at any rate, the number of enemies, and the amount of material, is too different. Just a few days ago, there was no small amount of damage in the Joto area." 

"I've heard about it, but it's sobering to see it like this." 

"This place and others are still good. Military factories, port facilities, have been done well. There are not one or two places that have been burned to the ground." 

The Onmyoudou Dormitory not only intercepted enemy bombers by Yakō, but also put out fires and saved lives in the areas hit by air raids. Hishamaru often commanded in the dormitory, but that didn't mean she hadn't been in the field. Some of them were so disastrous that they made her want to cover her eyes. Even in the mainland, war was already "everyday". 

Sen, who approached the vacant lot, stopped and put his hands together to chant a short prayer. Hishamaru also offered a silent one next to him. 

After that, the two of them spoke less and headed for the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

- I can’t. 

Hishamaru reflected inwardly. 

Unintentionally, the feelings that had been accumulating in her heart had hit Sen. She felt sorry for him for coming all the way there. He usually didn't notice it, but Hishamaru herself was getting tired of the war, or rather, of the "war time", and she didn't know how long this would last. 

- How long will this war last? 

Satsuki had said that the war would end in the mainland. What would happen to the city when that happened? It was not only the city. And what about Yakō? Hishamaru had a dark feeling spreading in the future, weighing on her like dirt. No, she was not the only one. Many of the people living in this country felt a similar pressure. 

"Speaking of which, it's late…” 

"What?" 

"I heard that Kokage-sama gave birth to a baby boy last year. Once again, I would like to congratulate her." 

With a big smile on his face, Sen looked up at Hishamaru, who was walking next to him, and Hishamaru couldn't help but say, "Oh." 

"Yes. I haven't been able to see them yet, unfortunately, but I have heard that both mother and child are in good health." 

"No, it's really conspicuous. From my standpoint, I was refraining from mourning openly, but Shinra was very pleased." 

"I've heard that Yakō-sama flew all the way from Tokyo in the middle of the night to the ceremony." 

"I think it is truly meaningful not only for Tsuchimikado but also for the entire curse world. After all, the head, Yakō-sama, is "A"." 

"… Yeah… right?" 

"However, I would still like Yakō-sama to have an heir… how is that, Hishamaru-sama?" 

"Hie!? I, I haven't heard anything in particular…” 

"No, no. I don't mean to be rude, but I don't want to ask you or anything about your own… well, times are changing and there may be a lot of trouble, but…" 

"Wai… please wait, Sen-dono! What on earth do you mean…" 

"When I close my eyes, I can see it. I expect that your successor will be brilliant and good-looking as well." 

"Wa… wait! Wait please!? I'm not… that… I’m afraid…?" 

"What? How, exactly, do you mean, you're too scared? 

"Sen-dono!" 

When she blushed red and raised her voice, Sen laughed cheerfully. 

He knew that Hishamaru had to "get on" the dark air. Hishamaru struggled to quell her heartbeat and led the way, acting as if the conversation had never happened. She was followed by Sen, who seemed to have an innocent look on his face. It was a completely negative attitude. Hishamaru wrinkled her eyebrows, putting aside her reminiscences at the station. 

In fact, it was the duty of the head of the old family to make an heir. For example, although they didn't find out until much later, it seemed that even Satsuki had already had his first child when he met Yakō. Apparently, he was not even married, and he didn't really talk about it. However, he was still fulfilling his duty as the head of Sōma. 

On the other hand, Yakō, did not have a single incident to speak of. It may be true that he has been very busy since he came of age and assumed the position of head of the family, but it was certainly not something to be praised. And… 

The fact that one of the reasons Yakō wasn't willing to talk about it was because of something that Sen had mentioned in passing. 

Thoughts that she kept sealed in her mind, and thoughts that the Lord occasionally gave her glimpses of. 

Their faint feelings for each other were more precious to Hishamaru than her own. 

However, that was a place that Hishamaru should never step into. Yakō's body was not hers alone, no matter what Yakō and those closest to her said, he was the head of the thousand-year old "Tsuchimikado". The meaning of this had never been light. 

"…" 

Before she knew it, she had fallen silent. As Hishamaru walked silently, killing her facial expression and looking slightly depressed, Sen, who was standing in line next to her with a slight delay, glanced sideways at her, lifting one eyebrow. Then, without saying a word, he scratched his cheek with his fingertips. 

Hishamaru and Sen walked in silence through the gloomy Tokyo air. 

Hishamaru let out a breath of relief when she saw the dormitory ahead of them. 

On the other hand, Sen, who had accompanied her, stretched out and put his palms over his eyes, "Yuyo, yuyo", he said. 

"That's Yakō-sama's Onmyoudou Dormitory, isn't it? Hmm. I've never seen a ward like that before." 

"I think so, since it's a ward developed by Yakō-sama." 

“I wonder… it's not that “I don't understand it”, but it appears to be a boundary that has “never” been seen before. Let's say "it has a blind spot, but it makes sense"… No, I see. It's the kind of technique that you finally get to know when you see what is actually shaped. No, I'm really sorry." 

Unusually, Sen couldn't hide his excitement and gave his impressions. On the contrary, just by listening to his impressions, one could guess his competence as a spellcaster, and Hishamaru led Sen inside the Onmyoudou Dormitory, feeling proud as if it was her own affair. 

"Oh, what is this?" 

As soon as he entered the main gate, what Sen was interested in was the steel beasts placed on either side as he passed through the gate. It had a shape reminiscent of a slender carnivore, a wolf or a panther, and furthermore, looking closely at it, it wasn't a statue of any kind, but rather, its entire body was made to move in fine detail. The curse mark of the Five Painful Stars was engraved on its forehead. 

Hishamaru let out a light sigh and said. 

"They are the guardian dogs." 

"Guardian dogs? Is that right? It's a very unusual looking set of komainu.” 

"These are prototypes Yakō-sama is working on now, and you know about the Armored Demon Soldier, don't you? It's based on the same theory. It's supposed to be a gatekeeper for the Onmyoudou dormitory." 

"…Then wouldn't it be faster to cast a spell on the guardian dogs without forcing them to move?" 

"I think so, and others usually think so, too." 

"… Hmm. I'm sure you're busy, but that doesn't change." 

Sen laughed and Hishamaru sighed again. 

Then, moving her halted legs, she revealed her cloaked ears and stretched her tail out softly and gracefully, as if she were unconsciously removing her heavy coat. 

"Anyway, welcome, Sen-dono. This is our Onmyoudou Dormitory." 

Compared to the situation in the city, the dormitory was still very lively. At the very least, everyone in the dormitory was moving with a clear sense of purpose. When they noticed Yakō's second-in-command, they would hurriedly return her gaze, but they would quickly return to their own work, busily going about their own business. It must have been the Lord's inspiration to feel such a state of affairs not as "rude" but as "desirable". 

Also, some of the students in the dormitory: 

"Hey, Sen-san! Why are you in Tokyo?" 

Some of them were surprised to see Sen. They were the former dark temple residents. Sen, as usual, smiled back, perhaps with a grin, and bowed his head, "It's been a while." 

As a matter of fact, there were not a few people from the Dark Temple in the current Onmyoudou Dormitory. After all, the people who gather in the Dark Temple were rare in today's world, the "Pursuers of Curses". Furthermore, all the members of the temple were very interested in the genius named Tsuchimikado Yakō. Yakō had built a research facility for spellcraft with the help of the military. Moreover, they were creating a new spell system, a huge spell system that transcended the borders of sects and schools and controlled all existing spells with further improvements, so their interest was natural. For them, leaving the Dark Temple and joining the Onmyoudou Dormitory was a very natural choice. 

Of course, some of them, like Yakō in the beginning, were not comfortable with being a member of the military, and there were those who worked alone to monopolize the results. To be frank, most of the spellcasters in the field were of that stance. However, after witnessing Yakō's "imperial onmyoudou system", they have changed their stance one after another. 

Anyone involved in the "curse" could not ignore it. 

Rather than that much charm, "imperial onmyoudou" had "meaning". In fact, those involved in this project at the Onmyoudou Dormitory did not mourn by proclaiming "a major reform that will change the world of magic". Hisamaru agreed with that point. 

Hishamaru accompanied Sen into the dormitory building. Even the indoor corridors were busy with people coming and leaving. 

"From what I've seen, there are a lot of young people here. I don't see them in the city, though." 

"The Onmyoudou Dormitory is a military service, you know. It's like those here have already been called up, in a sense." 

Still, Hishamaru let the melancholy overtake her beauty. 

"It's much less than it was at its peak. Many people went to the battlefield and died. If possible, I wanted you to see the Onmyoudou Dormitory when it was just established. It was noisy at that time, but everyone was shining. They were talking about the possibility of the magic that was about to cease, day and night." 

“I'm asking you, Yakō’s Academy, was it?” 

"Yes, it was a voluntary study group for the students of the dormitory, and Yakō-sama would often show up to join in the discussion of magic, so that's what it came to be called." 

With a distant gaze, Hishamaru finally murmured: 

"… Nostalgic…" 

She mumbled. 

How many times did she interrupt the clamorous exchanges that took place throughout the night with her ears and tails hanging up and forcefully ordering them to disperse? Most of the time alcohol and snacks were brought in, and the next morning a bunch of dead-eyed students would be mass-produced. But by the end of the day, these students would regain their vigor, and at night they would go to the school with a new bottle of wine in their hands. 

Arguments would escalate into experiments, and they would often use their magic while drunk. The resulting commotion was not a particularly unusual sight. Not only the Lord, but also Sataki and Kakugyouki, and in some cases even Takamitsu, the head of the prestigious Kurahashi family, the most influential politician in business and politics, and the oldest and most sensible of all those involved, would sit in the chair. Hishamaru would even send a plea to Kokage in the village of Tsuchimikado, begging her to scold him, without a joke. 

She was always furrowing her brow, shouting and sighing, and then cleaning up after them. She was angry at the Lord's bad rides and kept her eyes peeled for the shenanigans of the borders. 

She could see it now. 

That must have been the golden age of the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

Something new was born, the heat of the pre-dawn. It was bizarre, yet for those in charge, it was a perfectly ordinary day, filled with buried waste and simmering passion. 

Each day produced a hundred spells, ninety were aborted, nine were destroyed. Everyone celebrated the remaining one, laughing hysterically as they drank. These days seemed like the distant past. 

Her heart was tightening. 

Her master must have been happy back then, no doubt. 

"… Isn't it gone now?" 

With a look of compassion for Hishamaru's emotions, Sen gently called out to her. "… Yes," Hishamaru replied shortly, in a complex voice tone, like a traveler who has gone through a long journey. 

"However, in a similar way, a study session called Twin Horn Syndicate is now being held. However, even though it is a study session, it is held exclusively for the purpose of exploring means for the defense of the Imperial City." 

"… regarding the twin-wall project?" 

"You heard me. That is correct. Me and Yakō-sama haven't been able to participate much, but… the dormitory students are discussing the possibility of realizing the plan." 

The core of the group was the former "Hisateru group", led by Kurahashi Hisateru, Akiharu and Akisuke the brothers of the Sōma branch family, several pupils of the Kurahashi and Sōma families, former members of dark temples. It also joined the once hostile sect of Dairenji. The total number of participants in the meeting was several times larger than that, with some spellcasters who didn't belong to the Onmyoudou Dormitory and even military personnel who weren't even spellcasters in attendance. The one thing they all had in common was that they were all young. All were in their teens or twenties, and most were younger than Hishamaru. 

And perhaps because of their young age, the discussions at the meeting tended to become more radical and radical. Hishamaru has been trying to keep a close eye on them as much as possible, but she has been too busy to do anything about it. Seeing Yakō, Hishamaru and the others busy with their duties, the younger members of the team had no time to spare, so they said and did too much, thinking that they too must do something. 

"Hmm… I don't mean to ask you this, but even though this is a study group for the Twin Wall Project, it's a “Twin Horn Syndicate” meeting?" 

"Oh, it's…" 

Hishamaru stagnated for a moment. However, she reconsidered that it would be odd to hide it all the way and lightly cleared his throat. 

"The Twin Walls Project is only a plan for the “defense” of the Imperial Capital. However, there are not a few dormitory students who think that this is not just a defensive measure, but can be used as a means of “counterattack” as well…" 

"… In other words, you're trying to use Masakado's power for the offensive?" 

"Yes. It seems that because Yakō-sama is too busy to show his face at the study group, radical opinions are flying around. I'm sure they are concerned about Japan's plight in their own way, but…" 

Hishamaru's honest impression was that the gods were unpredictable. Even Yakō was hesitant to use it. Using it for offense as well as defense was a reckless move. "If you curse a person, you get two holes" was a common saying, but the art of "cursing" others, if you lose control of it, it will ricochet back to the caster himself. This was a basic fact that the residents of the Onmyoudou Dormitory would naturally understand. 

- They must have been driven to that extent… 

They were burning with anger, sorrow, and frustration in the face of their defeated homeland. The younger they were, the stronger that fire was. They wanted to break out of the predicament before them by their own strength. Especially after learning of Dairenji's curse, Hisateru, the leader of the group, had gone so far as to say publicly that he didn't mind making himself an admirer. His father, Takamitsu, even seriously reprimanded him once. 

Hishamaru knew Hisateru from the days when he innocently believed in the victory of Japan and the Imperial Army. That's why he felt unfulfilled. 

"…I see. So, "Twin Walls" turned into a "Twin Horns" meeting, huh? I guess no one can afford it…" 

Sen said in an emotionless voice. It's a straightforward impression, but it was a spot-on impression. 

- If someone like Sen-dono were here, it might help everyone vent… But as soon as she thought that, she shook her head. 

Aside from the time of Yakō’s Academy, the lightness and inflexible taste of Sen would simply be neglected by the young people who gathered at Twin Horn Syndicate. Even Yakō was a person who looked at it, but they didn't have the capacity and experience to see it. 

“If the world is the world, I would like Shinra to entrust it to me for training." 

"Haha. I wouldn't really recommend that. I've been getting a lot of pain lately and I don't want to get old." 

"Oh, that shouldn't be the case. I'll give you some advice in a letter next time. I heard that Sen-dono was mourning." 

"No, no. No need to worry about it, please? You could get yourself in trouble for that.” 

Hishamaru said in a mischievous manner, and Sen returned it with utmost seriousness. The two exchanged glances and gave each other a wry smile. 

Hishamaru's tail danced a little. Even a small exchange like this was a great relief. It was another "curse", Hishamaru thought. 

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Master Shinra for a long time now.” 

"There is no change… However, it seems that this war has finally spurred public dislike, and it is annoying the people below to say that they want to accelerate the long-cherished wish of admission." 

"Niyu, enshrinement? But that's not the instantaneous Buddha's?" 

"Yes, since Yakō-sama and Hishamaru-sama told him about the Dharma Master, he has finally become very strong in his mind. Well, it's a troublesome longing to have a troublesome longing." 

Generally speaking, the term "enshrinement" refers to the death of a high priest, but in this case, it means to transform one's body into a mummy through a rough physical act that is supposed to lead to death. It is one of the most grueling practices in the esoteric system of incantations to transcend death and turn oneself into a Buddha. 

"At any rate, according to Master Shinra's opinion, the process of turning the body into a buddha is painful, and he doesn't want it to be painful, so he seems to skip that part and enter the practice." 

"What, what do you mean?" 

"Yes. It seems that he is practicing a spell to renounce his body and become a spiritual being. In other words, a demon of sorts." 

"… how…" 

For example, Hishamaru's partner, Kakugyouki, was originally just a human being. Even after he became a demon and his body decayed, he continued to exist in this world as a spiritual being; in Kakugyouki's case, it must have been an accidental combination of various conditions, but Shinra was trying to do it of his own volition. 

"… Is such a thing possible?" 

"We have had this happen in the past. Perhaps the old master did, and there have been a few others. But it seems that there have been far more failures than successes. Well, I wonder which way Master Shinra will fall…” 

Sen laughed and Hishamaru was at a loss for a reply, and her face became rather delicate. 

If you think about it normally, you must be prepared to abandon your body and become a spiritual body even if not on the verge of death. However, at the dark temple, if you want to pursue a "curse", you can't even step into it. All of them were real seekers, though they were all strong magicians. 

In the meantime, they arrived at Yakō's office. 

She knocked on the door and opened it. 

"Hi, Sen-san" 

The bouncy voice of the Lord, which he heard after a long time, returned. Hearing this voice, it was worth having Sen take a long trip. 

"Welcome to the Onmyoudou Dormitory! I'm sorry to have you come a long way from the Dark temple." 

"What, what. It's a small price to pay, Yakō-sama, rather, it's been a while since I've been able to stretch my wings." 

Sen bowed deeply to Yakō as he stood up from his desk to greet his guest, while Hishamaru stood back and waited. Then she looked out for the others in the room. 

One of them was Hisateru, who stood by the desk. Lately he's been increasing his presence as the organizer of the Twin Horn Syndicate, in a less-than-favorable way, but now he had the carefree look of a boy rather than of a young man. 

Hisateru has been devoted to Yakō since he was a child, thanks in part to the advice of his father, Takamitsu, but his reverence for Yakō's air defense of the capital city has increased since he was appointed to the position. No. The Lord seemed to be somewhat at ease with the group, but to be honest, Hishamaru was smiling, and it was safe to say that Hisateru, at Yakō's side, could see his innocent side. 

And there was another person in the office. 

There was a young girl in a kimono sitting on the sofa. 

"Miyo-dono. I haven't seen you for a while." 

Hishamaru smiled gently at her, and Miyo gave a small smile back. “Oh", said Sen, who had been working with Yakō, hearing the name, and turned to Miyo. 

"So this is the daughter of the “star reader” that Takamitsu-sama says was protected by you, isn't it? It's an honor to meet you. In the foreground is Sen, the temple man of the North Star Hill Temple." 

"Ah, nice to meet you. I'm Miyo." 

Miyo hurriedly got up from the couch and bowed to Sen. Her young expression remained stiff. It seems that she was nervous, if not wary, of the first person she met. Sen was also understandable and did not try to close the distance immediately, but instead looked back at the girl with a smile on his face. 

"But why are you here? What happened, Miyo-dono?" 

Miyo would occasionally show up at the Onmyoudou Dormitory, but she basically spent her time at the Kurahashi mansion, and it was Hisateru, not Yakō, who answered Hishamaru's question. 

"She screamed and jumped up this morning. It seems that she had a very scary dream, but she seems to have forgotten the contents… For the time being, I asked the Chief for a report and consultation." 

Hisateru explained somewhat confusedly, and Miyo shrugged, looking how horrified she was. 

It's a bit of an exaggeration to visit the Onmyoudou Head just because a child had a nightmare, but Miyo was not just a child. Yakō also read the stars as part of his fortune telling, but it seemed that Miyo's talent was beyond comparison. The first time they met and talked with her, she told him: 

"Oh, come on. This is a different thing." 

And Yakō secretly removed it. 

Originally, the talent for spellcasting was largely a matter of innate qualities. You can hone your skills through practice, but the amount of spiritual power, the sense of spellcasting power, was difficult, if not meaningless, to train and develop. The best example of this was the ability to sense spirituality, without which it would have been impossible to manipulate magic. 

And the ability to see the future as a "star gazer" was precisely the quality of a sorcerer, and those who possessed this ability were extremely rare among spellcasters. Anyway, it was a valuable and difficult ability to handle. 

Once again, Yakō said: 

"If Miyo is having nightmares, it certainly shouldn't be overlooked." 

He told her in the utmost seriousness. That's how much he valued Miyo's power. 

But then she looked a little troubled. 

"However, it's not like I read the stars, it was just a dream, and besides, I can barely remember what it was about. As expected, there's no way to deal with it." 

Miyo's talent was undoubtedly genuine, but she was a fledgling “star reader” in the current time divination. The second was that she was still a child. A wealth of experience was required to be a “star reader”, but it was not enough at all. 

"As I thought, that's right. I'm sorry for bothering you." 

"I'm sorry." 

Hisateru and Miyo each bowed to Yakō." Oh, kora kora. Will you stop?" said Yakō, immediately stopping them. 

"I was the one who ordered you to report anything that bothered you, no matter how trivial it was. In fact, you two have done a great job." 

"But… if I remember my dreams…" 

"You know what, Miyo? It's not like you can't control whether or not you can remember the dreams you've had. Unless you have special training, maybe, but don't dwell on it just because you can't do something special." 

"Then maybe you could at least use your star reader to figure out the future…" 

"Right. For the record, I have high hopes for that one. Because the talent that Miyo has is a valuable one. But like I always say, there's no need to rush it. Okay? The skill of reading the stars doesn't improve just because you're in a hurry. In fact, it's a detriment. A star reader is an oracle. It will come to you in its own time." 

Yakō politely repeated again what he had told her many times before. 

Yakō's guiding principle towards Miyo had been consistent since they'd met and had never wavered, even when he'd heard rumors about her, even when she'd been directly requested to intervene by the military brass, who'd taken it easy and hadn't allowed her to intervene in the end… Sakuki, for example, had been bitter about being too overprotective. He had a look on his face, but he was cautious because he recognized her natural talent. Also, even without Miyo's talent, Yakō himself did not want to involve the child. 

In fact, Hishamaru knew, for example, that interfering with the other person's mind and examining the content of the dreams she had the night before… 

But Yakō didn't even bother to mention such a thing. It was probably because he didn't want to put an unnecessary burden on Miyo. 

"For now, it means that Miyo felt something. Just knowing that it was something sinister is meaningful enough. Even if we can't make concrete preparations, we can still prepare ourselves for the calamity. From the point of view of the person who leads the organization, it's very gratifying. Thank you, Miyo. And Hisateru, too." 

When Yakō complimented them, Miyo looked embarrassed and depressed, while Hisateru's face lit up and he straightened up cheerfully, "Thank you, thank you!" 

"By the way, Miyo. How's the shogi game going? Have you improved your skill a lot?" 

"Ye… yes. Maybe, the people of Kurahashi will play with me from time to time." 

"Yeah, right. Well then, next time you're around, I'll be the one who…" 

"Wait, Yakō-sama, how unbecoming of such a child." 

"Nah. How's that for a bow, Sen-san? And with a straight face…" 

"Yakō-sama, now that's not a funny joke." 

"Hishamaru?" 

Hisateru said to a disappointed Yakō, "Chief, if it's alright with you", and Hisateru said with a ready look on his face. Hishamaru burst out in a gush, as Miyo gasped and looked at Hisateru and Yakō in turn and Sen shook his head, "Oh, that's okay, that's okay.” 

"Yeah, fine, fine. Then, Sen-san, why don't you go out with me tonight? I won't let you say no, okay?" 

"Are you sure? You may have forgotten it, but if you hit one more station, you'll be on the 100-loss mark?" 

"What, do you just assume that you're going to win? That's funny. I'm going to show you how it's done." 

"Ya, Yakō-sama… Miyo is never averse to playing shogi with Yakō-sama…" 

"It's fine, Miyo-dono. We'll leave this to Sen-dono." 

"You're someone else's problem, Hishamaru, then so are you. I'll deal with them all tonight." 

"Chief, I would like to ask you to do the same for me…” 

In the end, Hishamaru and the others put off confirming their prototype spell until later, as they pushed each other against Yakō's shogi opponent. Biting back a smile, on the face of it, they were exaggeratedly serious. 

An hour later. 

When Satsuki showed up in the office, he saw Yakō and the others celebrating Sen's 100th victory in front of the shogi board, he let out a deep sigh. 

If… 

If only the young Miyo's talent as a "star reader" had blossomed a little more at this time, if only Yakō had seriously verified the dreams the girl had seen, even if it meant bending his previous policies. Or, if she had advised the Lord, even if only a little. 

Would the "result" have been different after that? 

Would there have been a different future, even if only slightly? 

Later on, Hishamaru would ask herself this question many times. And each time, she shook her head. 

She would shake her head each time. 

There was no way to avoid that "result". 

But she couldn't stop herself from asking. There was only a limit to what one could do when faced with such an enormous regret. 

There was not a single person, even among their detractors, who doubted the abandoned dedication of Tsuchimikado Yakō and the determined efforts of the Onmyoudou Dormitory shown that night. 

The reinstated Onmyoudou Dormitory masters did their deadly best to leave no doubt. 

March 9, 1945. 

Tokyo was engulfed in flames soon after the date changed to the following day, the 10th.