Tokyo Ravens - Volume 16 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

Part 1 

        The attitude of the clan members, especially the elders, had clearly changed since that night, four years prior. 

Sōma Satsuki was a legitimate son of the Sōma clan. As proof of his strong blood, he was equipped with a talent as a subgenre unique to his family. It was an excellent quality to be a retainer of the gods and spirits. 

However, on the other hand, he lacked talent in the vital magic arts. 

He worked hard to compensate for what he could make up for with his efforts, but there was a large aspect of talent in the spellcasting arts that couldn't be managed through acquired efforts. This child would never achieve great success as a spellcaster. That's what I've been told since I was a child. In fact, many of the elders had given up on him early on. Although none of them were willing to outwardly disobey him, he could feel, even if he didn't want to, that he was being slighted as a chief. 

That night four years prior, that reputation had changed drastically. 

The descent of Taira no Masakado, the ancestor's spirit, had been a long-cherished dream of the thousand-year old clan. 

Satsuki did not accomplish this alone. Rather, much of the credit goes to the genius, Tsuchimikado Yakō. 

But it was Satsuki, of all people, who brought Yakō with him. Some of the members of the family did not like the idea of relying on Tsuchimikado. On the contrary, if those who were neutral were included, they would have reached a majority. However, Satsuki dismissed the opposition and invited Yakō to join him, even though his clan's support, which was small at best, was diminished. And the "result" was achieved. 

It was only a moment, a momentary descent. 

Even so, the shock the clan received was apparently great. The elders were ashamed of their lack of understanding and apologized for their rudeness, and swore an oath of loyalty to Satsuki. 

After that night, Sōma's clan was truly united to support Satsuki and the Onmyoudou Dormitory he had created. It was something he had continued to want somewhere in his heart, even though he had turned his back on them for years. However… 

When it came time to get what he wanted, Satsuki's mind couldn't see much value in it anymore. 

For one thing, it was because he was too busy coordinating the Onmyoudou Dormitory and the military department. Also, even as a military man, he didn't have the luxury of looking back on his clan. 

The disorderly offensive on many fronts, which began at Pearl Harbor, and the bogged down war of attrition after Midway, was a complete turnaround. Japan as a whole was going through a period of upheaval, and the military, which could be said to be at the center of the upheaval, and it was in this organization that it was exposed to various aspects of its history. He has seen the world change radically from moment to moment with his own eyes. Moreover, under such circumstances, he had to be mindful of the future of his country. It was just a matter of time before the future of the country; the reputation of his own family was a trivial matter compared to the future of the country. It was natural to feel that way. 

But that was not all. 

In the midst of the hard work and the daily tossing and turning of the times, there were moments when the tense threads of his mind suddenly loosened. 

At such a moment, Satsuki realized that his mind was looking back to that night four years ago. That night, that moment of which he hadn't even a vague memory of, the feeling of that night. 

It was such a slight contact that it was not fair to call it a descent. But still, Satsuki had “touched” “god” at that time. 

Yakō said, "God is transcendent and omnipresent in relation to time." 

If this was the case, does that momentary contact still exist today? 

There was no answer, of course, and the mystery that even Yakō couldn't solve was beyond his control. 

Nevertheless… He wanted to try. It didn't matter what his family was longing for. Just simply, once again. He wanted to have that feeling again, one more time, clearly. 

He couldn't do it alone. But Yakō could. He would guide him. And when he dis. 

He, too, would reach the realm of the gods through the relying agent named Satsuki. 

Having such a dream… 

He chuckled to himself. 

Then he shook his head to shake off the ridiculous thoughts and go back to the war in front of him. Back to the "everyday life" where the harsh "reality" piled up in a heap and there was no escape. 

For Satsuki, the four years since that night were those four years. 

However, the four years since that night came to an abrupt end. 

It took more than two hours to complete. 

In just one night, Satsuki's "everyday life" was burned to the ground. 

The memories remained only sparse. 

But at that time, Satsuki's vision was tinged with the contrast between the intense, jumbled light and darkness. The flames blazing red and burning everywhere and nowhere. The fire sparks were swirling like a blizzard and the black smoke was swelling like a swarm. 

Every building was on fire. Pillars of fire pierced the sky and burned down. People were also on fire. They were on fire and tottering about, still burning. 

Looking up at the night sky above them, he saw it lit up by flames. It arced out of the night sky, swaying slightly. 

A descending fireball. 

The white elbow boxed fireball illuminated its surroundings and fell to the ground with a wisp of white smoke. After burning off the area in an instant, it shone even brighter. Following its brilliance, a new flame fell from the sky. This time, a rain of fire, towing a burning tail, fell in pieces, too grand to count. 

Explosion, explosion, explosion. 

The sea of inverted flames raged like a rumbling ground. The screams of people fleeing and the screams of those being burned alive. The screams of the half-crazed overlap, and the world was coated with a layer of paint. The sound of a hard engine cutting through them and crossing overhead. Led by the inorganic sound, a deafening explosion shook the air and earth mercilessly. 

The heat. 

The smell. 

Whether fresh or on the edge, his chest was blocked and his breathlessness grew. 

It wasn't war anymore. It was hell. It was also one of the most horrific hells ever manifested in this world since the beginning of time, and Satsuki was instructing his men, both in the exercise of his magic and in summoning his own Yase Doji and the others to defend themselves. He shook his red hair and slit his throat. But the core of his head was white and skinny. He couldn't even afford to be overwhelmed by the feeling of helplessness. A chilling fear coursed through his veins, and a cold despair washed over the body. He was at the mercy of the overwhelming threat, the hell that was spreading under his nose. It was like a dead leaf falling in a torrent of rain. 

Satsuki gritted his teeth. Both eyes widened and his whole body trembled. 

“Damn", he said. 

The thought bubbled up from the depths of his chest. 

He was helplessly being tossed around, manipulated by heat, screams and death, and felt his passion erupt. 

“Damn!” 

Anger. 

Anger that surpassed the blazing fire in front of him. Rage that surpassed the raging black smoke and the rain of fire. The back of his eyelids turned bright red, and his teeth clenched on the edge. The fury that winked his eyes dominated Satsuki. 

The city was burning in front of his eyes. 

The country and the people were burned. 

Anger that has been difficult for a thousand years. 

The anger that has continued even now. 

Satsuki was bewildered by the uncommon anger that was burning inside him. He was puzzled, but he accepted it. It was justified, even comfortable. 

In the face of hell, Satsuki was gunning for it. Furious with the impulse that ran through his people. 

Anger. 

Resentment. 

Hatred. 

Suddenly… 

Something crosses the edge of his vision, which was dyed by light and darkness. A gasp. A raven. A single great raven was flying in the sky of hell that had manifested itself. It was flapping its wings, fueled by the fire, drifting, not giving up. 

It was Yakō. 

Did he have the same fury as he did? Has he seen the unforgivable outrage under his own eyes, and his rage has burned him to death? 

In front of Satsuki and Yakō, Tokyo continued to burn. 

Forever and ever and ever. 

Part 2 

It was a B29 air wing of over three hundred planes that attacked Tokyo. 

There was no doubt that it was a large-scale operation. But even more than that, the airstrikes that night differed from past airstrikes in many ways. One major difference in particular was the altitude of penetration for the bombing. Whereas in the past the U.S. military had been bombing from high altitudes to guard against Japanese interceptors and anti-aircraft guns, this night the U.S. military dared to bomb from very low altitudes. The aim was to escape the strong westerly winds typical of this season and to reduce the altitude for more precise bombing from close range. The strategy was spot on. 

In order to limit the damage caused by Japanese interceptions, the attack was chosen to occur at night instead of during the day. In order to burn down Japanese wooden houses, which were mainly made of "wood and paper," the incendiary bombs, which had been designed to burn down wooden houses, were placed at the center of the bombing, with the aim of increasing their payloads without conventional equipment. The timing of the raid, which was set for dawn on March 10, was chosen to maximize the spread of the fire by the incendiary bombs, as strong winds were predicted. The total number of incendiary bombs dropped during the raid was 380,000 rounds, weighing 1,700 tons. 

It was an extremely rational and efficient, indiscriminate bombing using enormous amounts of material. 

Needless to say, these attacks were not on a scale that a single member of the military establishment, much less a single individual, could handle. 

The alarm was issued at 10:30 on the night of the 9th. However, the alarm was lifted. The U.S. military entered the airspace over defenseless Tokyo and began bombing the city shortly after the date changed. 

Tokyo was engulfed in a "sea of fire”. 

The U.S. troops leaped over Tokyo almost unilaterally and thoroughly and retreated. The raging flames burned all night long, even after the U.S. attack ceased, and were not completely extinguished until the night of the 10th. Again, this was not the result of firefighting, but rather the fact that the flames had simply run out of material to burn. 

The hardest hit area was the downtown area on the east side of the Sumida River. Honjo, Fukagawa, Joto, Asakusa, Nihonbashi, Mukojima and other wards were particularly hard hit. Of course, in addition to these areas, countless other areas were damaged in various ways. 

260,000 houses were burned down. 

The number of victims was 1,100,000. 

Injured: 40,000. 

And the death toll, as far as they could ascertain, exceeded 80,000 and probably reached 100,000. The downtown area of Tokyo was virtually "wiped out". Most of them were non-combatants. This was an unprecedented amount of damage for a single night. 

It was a massacre, not a battle. 

It was the tragedy that later became known as the "Great Tokyo Air Raid. 

From a spiritual standpoint, too, the damage was devastating. 

The sheer number of "deaths" unleashed overnight did not cleanse, but accumulated and rapidly increased in density before they could be dispersed. The spiritual energy was deflected and the miasma began to swirl and take on an unusual and bizarre appearance. 

The spirit phase in Tokyo was about to undergo an unprecedented change. 

"It's my fault." 

Quicker than Hishamaru could deny the Lord's words of despair, Satsuki, who had paced briskly, grabbed Yakō's chest in his chair and lifted him up. 

He glared at him with a fierce fire in his eyes. 

"Don't be upset." 

He spat out briefly and then threw him out. With a thud, Yakō slumped back in his chair. 

A barbaric act that could never be overlooked by the protector. But then Hishamaru stood there helplessly, like a helpless infant. 

Less than four hours after dawn. In addition to Yakō, Hishamaru, and Satsuki, the main Onmyoudou officers of the Onmyoudou Dormitory were all in the office. They were reporting on the results of their inspection tour of the city. Even as they were doing this, shikigami in the form of birds were coming and going without a break from the open windows. There were also frequent visits of military personnel. 

All of them hadn't slept at all, and since they had used magic throughout the night, their fatigue was thick both physically and mentally. They were all lumberjacks. They're also a lot more than that. You have to be able to have a good time with them. 

But what's more painful is the mental exhaustion. Her head was heavy, and her thoughts were racing. It was enough to make her feel like she could lose consciousness if she weren't careful. It also seemed an awfully sweet temptation. If she passed out, she could distract herself from the reality in front of her, if only for a moment. It was such a temptation that even Hishamaru, who didn't fall behind others in self-control, wanted to jump on it without thinking about it. 

Hishamaru looked out the window. 

The Onmyoudou Dormitory was located in Akihabara, Tokyo. The office was on the second floor of the dormitory building, with its windows facing the courtyard and a short barracks on the other side of the yard. 

Through the roof of the barracks, the ocean could be seen in the distance. 

It was Tokyo Bay. She could see Tokyo Bay from Akihabara. It was because there was nothing to block the view. She couldn't believe her eyes. 

But it was true. Hishamaru had seen it for herself. 

The east side of Tokyo, in particular, had become scorched earth. This was no exaggeration. It was a literal "burnt-out" area. Everything had been blown away by the explosion, consumed by the flames. All that was left was a cinder block and a smoldering wooden wreckage. Charred pillars sticking out like grave markers and burned-out buildings like ruins. And there were dead bodies in abundance, lying everywhere. 

Burned bodies charred to a crisp, and drowned bodies floating in the river. There were also many bodies that seemed to have been suffocated by the flames, deprived of oxygen. Men and women. Old men and children. And babies. But more than half of the corpses had no idea what they looked like in their original state. They were thrown out carelessly, as if it was commonplace. 

It almost didn't seem real. It was a scene that would never be forgotten. Hishamaru in normal times would never have been able to stand it. Her mind was in a state of confusion right now, but she may recall it again and again later on. 

Of course, the Onmyoudou Dormitory was also a target for bombing. 

However, the warding that Sen was impressed with was also effective in last night's bombing. Therefore, there was no damage caused by the bombing on the premises. As a facility that was a military research institute, the Onmyoudou Dormitory was usually forbidden to enter except for those who were involved in the research. However, last night, the dormitory was opened to the public as a refuge, and a large number of people were welcomed there. The majority of them were still on the premises. And this would continue for the foreseeable future. They'd have nowhere to go home. 

- Be firm… 

After closing her eyes once, Hishamaru forced herself to straighten up. 

It was a good thing that extreme fatigue had slowed down her emotions. There was no need for sentimentality now. There was no point. Just keep a lid on her mind and do what she was told. Like a machine, or as shikigami should be. 

That's how Hishamaru worked. 

But… those who were in charge of giving orders and leading everyone else couldn't do so. 

"We'll just focus on what's in front of us now." 

It was Satsuki, with a grim face, who declared that matter-of-factly. She was sure he was also working through the night, but at a glance, his expression was even stronger than that of a true believer. She was sure he’d find a lot of people who have a lot of experience in this field. 

She'd find that the bare, sturdy strength was supporting Satsuki. It was a kind of toughness that the Lord did not have. 

"It goes without saying that we need to take care of the evacuated population, especially the wounded, but we also need to rush to replenish our supplies. Supplies are depleted. Securing them is an urgent matter. Secondly, or rather, at the same time, dispose of the bodies. Seasonally, they won't decompose in a few days, but they're a sure sign of plague. We can't just leave them here. The numbers are legion. We're going to need every man we can get our hands on. It looks like the military is already on the move, and we should be getting a call for help soon. At the same time, the reefs will need to be cleaned up. At the very least, we'll have to clear the road." 

Satsuki spoke of matters that needed to be handled one by one. Of course, those tasks were supposed to be led by the state and the military, but in such cases, the Onmyoudou Dormitory was "crushable”. It was obvious that it would be utilized to the maximum extent. 

"Besides… above all, we must prepare for the next one. For the record, the war is still going on. There is no way that this is the end of the enemy's air raids." 

The fact that it was almost unacceptable, not to say painful to the ears, was mercilessly confronted by Satsuki. If he wasn't so exhausted that his mind was in a state of paralysis, or if he had any energy left in him, he would want to scream out loud. 

But it was a fact. If you think about it, you can understand it immediately. 

"…Yakō." 

Satsuki called. A twitch, and the tips of Hishamaru's ears shook. Until then, he had never called the Lord by name in front of the dormitory students. 

"From now on, the Onmyoudou Dormitory will have to use its full strength to tackle the various problems of the Imperial City. But not you. At this time, leave your duties as the Onmyoudou Head to the people below you. You will concentrate on the Twin Walls Project. As soon as possible, we will put the plan into action." 

The half-paralyzed dormmates looked up in unison, and so did Hishamaru. "Colonel-dono. It's…" she called out, but Satsuki didn't look at her. 

Yakō nodded in his chair for a long moment. 

Then he tied his lips together and shook his head lazily. 

"Yakō." 

"I can't, Satsuki." 

"After all this time, you are still arrogant? Tens of thousands of people died last night! Next time it could be me, you, and the people here that die!" 

Satsuki yelled out. It was also rare for him to rage in public. "Not so", Yakō replied weakly, as the tension in the dormitory grew. 

"The situation has changed. Overnight yesterday, the spirit phase in Tokyo has changed dramatically. We have to destroy more than half of the techniques we had prepared for it. And it's almost impossible to prepare a spell technique to descend a god in Tokyo now." 

Yakō looked up and stared at Satsuki. There was a mad conflict in his eyes. 

"I haven't looked into it enough… but still, there's no doubt that Tokyo now is changing spiritually into a state of affairs that is unprecedented in history. It's no wonder. Tens of thousands of people died in a single night. Sudden, untimely deaths. It's a spiritual pulse that's raging. I don't know how long it will take just to quell it. It will take years or decades. In the first place, I'm not even sure if it's possible to quell it. It's impossible, Satsuki… I can't bring a god down under these circumstances… if it's not done well, Tokyo will be ruined." 

At Yakō's dire plea, Satsuki guffawed and tied his lips together. He looked down at his partner with fire-breathing eyes, took a deep breath once, and told him. 

"So, what." 

"Satsuki?!" 

It was almost like a scream. But Satsuki was unwavering. He leans forward, thrusts his hand into the desk and continues with a strong, magnetic gaze that pierces Yakō. 

"Tokyo is going to be ruined? Fool. It's already half destroyed. And if this is the case, we won't have to wait for summer… or fall at most, and the Imperial City will be completely destroyed. That's clearer than the fire!" 

"And even a ceasefire before that…" 

"What if it's not there? And by the way, there's a good chance there won't be. The top brass is seriously looking for a mainland battle, you know? Even if it means crushing the entire nation's balls?" 

"You don't think this damage might change their minds, do you?" 

"That's naive. There's no damage to Miyagi. Nor is there any damage to the military, let's put it that way. Most of the victims this time were civilians, in the city, mostly civilians. Didn't you see the announcement from the Imperial Headquarters? It says, "The blind bombing caused fires in various parts of Tokyo, but they were extinguished by eight o'clock”. I remember they also listed the number of casualties. That includes the one you crashed. In fact, more than half of those were your kills. But even so, there was a lot of padding involved. It's a truce!" 

After grunting in a breath, "…no," said Satsuki with a sarcastic smile. It's an evil, twisted smile. 

"Right. As expected, there are a few of us who have woken up to this. I hope so. But if they are willing to surrender in order to end the war, there is no other way to end the war than to surrender, and it is doubtful that they will accept that, don't you think? And assuming someone is still working on a way to end the war, they're probably looking for some kind of advantage. There is no way in hell they are going to surrender to us now, even if they are a ceasefire fighter. And if the enemy comes tonight on the same scale, then we'll be finished for good. Isn't that right? We don't know when the next one is going to be on the same scale as the one we had last night. 

Satsuki folded in a fierce tone, almost covering Yakō. Even Hishamaru, who hadn't been told directly, was bracing and powerful. 

Also, Satsuki's words were compelling. Objective facts and the solid tactile persuasive power that the accumulation of them guaranteed. 

"… Yakō-aniue!" 

It was Hisateru who suddenly shouted. He called out his name in an unbearable manner to Yakō, whom he now called "Chief". The students of Tsuchimikado and Kurahashi, members of the Sōma clan, and others gathered in the office, shouting "Chief", "Secretary", "Onmyoudou Head! The other officers gathered in the office, one by one, mouthing off to Yakō, pressing him to make a decision. They were all inspired by Satsuki's eloquence and the fury contained therein, while Hishamaru kept both ears pinned up and her tail hair upside down. 

Hishamaru, too, almost let out an involuntary yelp, "Yakō-sama”, but she couldn't. 

The heat was swirling in the office now. All of them were facing the same direction, all of them were trying to move forward with the same momentum. The "flow" that dominated the place. To go with the flow, to be swallowed by it, felt like the right thing to do. 

And yet… 

Hishamaru leaped. 

- I… 

Yakō painfully closed both eyes… and then looked up… to see Hishamaru. 

Their eyes met. 

Yakō read Hishamaru's traces with precision. And Yakō's eyes, wavering, regained their stability, a little. 

"… I need to rest." 

Yakō said. His voice was calm, but there was a strength in his voice that kept him firmly rooted. 

"We're all overwhelmed. Just not all of them at once. I'm sorry, but Satsuki's, Colonel Sōma is right, we have a lot of work to do. That's why we're taking our turn. Take a break in order… no, take a break. That's an order." 

Yakō declared, and looked at Satsuki from the front. 

"You too, Colonel. I urge everyone, with no exceptions, to get some rest. I will rest, too. We can discuss it later. Is that clear?" 

It was almost a figure of speech, as the sorority members straightened their postures at Yakō's decisive order as if they'd been doused with cold water, while Satsuki knotted his lips… but said nothing more, acknowledging the legitimacy of Yakō's order and exhaling slowly, "You're right…” 

"… I guess so." 

He shook his head as if some foolishness had fallen away. 

"Sure… we need a break. We're at the end of our rope. Let's at least pray. That the enemy won't come to us for the briefest of rests. We're so naive that we'll have to ask God for help." 

Sen's chanting of prayer flowed on the wind that blew through the burned-out fields. 

The afternoon sun was whiter than ever, illuminating the devastation on the ground in a plain light. The scene after the destruction was so violent that it seemed less real than the opposite. The scent of lit incense sticks wafted around the area in ashes. 

Hishamaru was in a corner of the burned out abandoned building with Sen, who was crouched down to read a sutra. It used to be a small park, but now it was a temporary graveyard. Just an hour ago, they had just buried several hundred bodies. 

Naturally, there was no proper memorial service for the dead. There were too many of them to be cremated, and they were buried as a matter of urgency. Of course, it was not only in that area. In eastern Tokyo, they were burying the dead at every possible place where they could be buried. In Kinshi Park, Sarue Onshi Park, and Ueno Park, many dead bodies have already been collected. These deaths were really "numbers". And these "numbers" were still growing. A short walk away from there was the Sumida River, where many corpses were left floating on the surface of the river. 

It's been a day and a half since the midnight air raid. 

In Tokyo, "death" has been accepted as a normal part of daily life. No matter if she looked to her right or left, she would see death and the things that reminded her of death. This was a different world from the one she had seen the day before yesterday. 

From somewhere, she heard a child's voice calling out as Sen read his sutra, looking for his parents. It was a voice that made her want to cover her ears. The voices of parents calling for their children were probably echoing all over Tokyo. Some were mourning as they couldn't even find the body of their child. 

This was Tokyo. 

It was as if she was having a long nightmare. Hishamaru forced herself to stiffen up and straighten up, feeling as if the earth beneath her was collapsing without a sound. Her ears and tail were hidden, but she was now in military gear. It was times like these that she couldn't afford to expose her weakness… 

Hishamaru weakened and exhaled heavily. Then she listened quietly to Sen's prayer chanting and offered a silent prayer. 

After a while, Sen, who had finished reading, stood up. 

He remained calm. 

"It's not very nice." 

Hishamaru whispered quietly to herself. 

The blood was slowly flowing through her mind, which has been in a state of paralysis after the night in hell. The tragedy at her immediate side stung her heart one by one. The more the mind returned to normal, the more the abnormality of the present situation surged in with a season of madness. The deepest sorrow and grief was sure to come from now on. All the inhabitants of this city would have to chew it little by little and fight it. 

Sen clasped his hands together again and then turned to Hishamaru. At that time, he had a typical smile on his face. Hishamaru felt saved by the same smile as usual, but thinking about it, she wondered how many companions had he stored away behind this smile so far. 

"Well, thank you for your patience." 

"No." 

"I'm not sure that I can be of any help to you, Hishamaru-sama, however." 

"No way. I feel like I'm a little bit of a relief just for listening to you." 

She had already told Sen about the act of the day before. She had explained the situation in the Onmyoudou Dormitory and then told him about her own hesitation. 

About the Twin Walls Project. 

Satsuki's words and Yakō's words. 

"I understand what Colonel Sōma is saying, and I think the frustration of the boarders is justified. But what Yakō-sama says is also correct. When it comes to "correctness," what you say is undoubtedly "correct”. But…" 

Hishamaru cut off her words and nodded. 

Her master's concerns were legitimate. 

But Satsuki's opinion had a "will". His indomitable "will" to see the future without running away from reality. And it is precisely in times like this, when people are in desperate situations, that they need such "will". 

Hishamaru was no exception. It was extremely difficult to think for herself, to judge what was appropriate and to act in such a situation. She would like someone she trusted to set a goal and give her clear instructions. Such a wish may be a weakness, but it was not unreasonable for an extraordinary person to wish. 

The day before, Hishamaru felt a reflexive revulsion against being "swallowed up" by the "flow" that occurred in her office. In a flash, she was depressed. 

In retrospect, however, it may have been a major turning point, a moment of decision-making that would go down in history. Maybe she was exaggerating, but she thought that possibility was not small. 

And yet, she mainly let herself step on the brakes. 

At that time, Yakō was in a state of half-hearted abandonment. That's why she was shaken up. The moment his eyes met with Hishamaru, who was not being swayed by her surroundings, Yakō came to himself. At least that's how Hishamaru felt. 

- I'm scared… 

When she thought about the "future" that might be decided because of Yakō's proximity to Hishamaru, she couldn't help but be afraid. The fate of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, the choice she made regarding Yakō's future, she was involved in. 

Without any certainty. 

But on the other hand, even if she were to be put in that situation again, she would not be able to be "swallowed" by the "flow". This is what she felt. 

"Well, you're thinking too much." 

Hishamaru snapped out of her reverie and asked "What?" to Sen, who said it was not a big deal. 

Sen had a blank expression on his face. 

"Whatever you shikigami may think in your heart, it is Yakō-sama who has made the decision. It is impolite for a stranger to speculate on his thoughtfulness and recklessness, and Hishamaru-sama has no need to be troubled by it in such a way." 

It was probably the line that Sen's kindness made him say. 

"… Maybe." 

And Hishamaru gratefully received his kindness, but at the same time chuckled, a poor consolation, uncharacteristic of Sen. There was no way Yakō could have had the luxury of such deep thoughtfulness and forethought at that time. 

"In the first place, even though you are against the plan, you don't know what's going to happen next, do you? Yakō-sama, and you may come up with a surprisingly effective plan?" 

"I hope so." 

Unable to give a witty reply to the joking Sen, Hishamaru choked on her words. "Hmm…", Sen got a difficult look on his face. 

"Right. For example, how about Takamitsu-sama?" 

"Takamitsu-sama is neutral. I've been consciously taking that position for the past few years. But I think he is more inclined to lean towards Colonel Sōma, and although he often expresses a cautious opinion to prevent Kurahashi's students from getting ahead of him, there is no one who has such high expectations of Yakō-sama as he does." 

Kurahashi's house in Tokyo was also bombed, but like the Onmyoudou Dormitory, it was saved by the barriers. That night, he had spent the whole night with his students and his guardian shikigami, Hakua and Kokuun, the lions of the Kurahashi family, and now had replaced the now lumbering Yakō in the affairs of the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

As expected of the leader of the Kurahashi family, he was able to act without wavering when the situation was difficult. He had the dignity to carry a heavy responsibility for many years. Above all, he had the energy to look up. 

And perhaps the source of Takamitsu's energy was Yakō's presence. 

"Like Colonel Sōma, Takamitsu-sama is willing to believe that no matter what the difficult path is, Yakō-sama can accomplish it." 

"When you say that, I'm sure I would agree with you. That person is the one chosen by Heaven. It's just…" 

Sen gave Hishamaru a slightly probing look. 

"If you take that argument, wouldn't you say that you are the first to believe in Yakō-sama's “talent”, Hishamaru-sama?" 

"I believe in Yakō-sama. I'm second to none. It's not even a bow.” 

Hishamaru smiled faintly at Sen's question and nodded in agreement. 

However, a pained look immediately appears on her face. 

"But… even if he is gifted from heaven, Yakō-sama is not a god, but a person. He is a person. Just like other people, we may be afflicted and we may suffer. He can fail. Because… well, that's only natural, isn't it? We are human beings. So how can people take that for granted…?" 

Hishamaru complained, knowing that she had no choice but to tell Sen. 

Yakō, Hishamaru’s master, has been burdened with too many expectations. Even those who were supposed to be there to support him were placing another kind of expectation on him. Hishamaru must have been made to carry this burden without realizing it. 

And no one around him thinks about the possibility that the pressure of excessive expectation will crush him. No, they may be concerned about it, but that was not a concern for the everyman. For example, she was mostly concerned about not dragging the genius down. This was exactly what Sen had said earlier about the "irreverence of speculation". Sen was joking, but she was sure there were many students who were thinking that way. 

After all, everyone thought that Yakō was different. In fact, that idea itself was not a mistake, because Yakō's "talent" was certainly "different" from others. 

However, even if Yakō's "talent" was "different" from those around him, Yakō himself was not. People believed that because he was "different", he was free from the worries and anxieties that ordinary people had. This was what was so frustrating to Hishamaru. 

However, after hearing the proceedings of the loyal shikigami, Sen made a convincing look. 

"Well, that can't be helped. The “everyone” you speak of is not as close to Yakō-sama as Hishamaru-sama is. The position of Hishamaru-sama is very special. Or should I say “special” in this case?" 

"Well, that may be true, but…" 

"For those of us involved in the field of magic, Tsuchimikado Yakō is a synonym for “genius”. It is no exaggeration to say that he embodies not only the Onmyoudou sect but also the Japanese art of spellcraft itself. It is difficult to imagine an individual's personality for such an entity unless one is very close to it.” 

Sen had a point. Hishamaru could see that he had a point. But she was not convinced. 

Hishamaru was still displeased, but he spoke softly to her. 

"Hishamaru-sama. Do you remember what I told you before, don't you?" 

"… What are you talking about?" 

"That Yakō-sama's “talent” and “heart” are disproportionate. That's why you, Hishamaru-sama, need to know your own value." 

"Oh…" 

She remembered. It was something Sen had told her when they were at the Dark Temple. At that time, Sen had also seen through Hishamaru's vague worries, and had casually advised her. 

At that time, Sen had described Yakō as "fragile". She didn't understand it well at the time, but now she understood it a little better. 

As a human being, Yakō was neither fragile nor weak at all. Rather, he was objectively a man of strong spirit. 

However, the " talent" that Yakō had was too great for him, and it brought him an equally great burden. It was not something that one person's strength could handle. Sen may have called Yakō's "structure" "fragile" in reference to it. 

And, Hishamaru should understand her own value. 

That was, based on the special position Sen had just described. 

"It seems that Hishamaru-sama is one of the few people who can see Yakō-sama as a natural “person”. If so, you should definitely support Yakō-sama not only as the Onmyoudou Head, Tsuchimikado Yakō, but also as a “person”." 

Hishamaru framed a puzzled "yes". 

"I know it by heart. …though I can't think of a specific way to do it right away…" 

"Hmm. Well, then, you can listen to your troubles for a while and discuss them with him." 

"I don't know. Didn't I just confide in you a moment ago? Don't let my opinion influence your decision on Yakō-sama…" 

Hishamaru was immediately disconcerted, and Sen, as expected, became dumbfounded. 

"Didn't Hishamaru-sama criticize him for being excessively reserved like that? The fact that you are even able to consult with him is because you have the expectation that Yakō-sama will be able to solve the problem on his own, right? If that is the case, it is the same as asking a god with blind faith in a "god" called Yakō-sama." 

"That… that's not what I meant… no… sure…" 

Hishamaru couldn't say a word as she stared and looked up at him. 

- But… 

But still, she couldn't get over it. It wasn’t easy to erase the thought of being fearful. But when she thought about it again, the "judgment" that Hishamaru was feeling now "fear of making a decision" must be exactly the weight Yakō was carrying. 

Sen brushed his shoulders and said: 

"When Sen said he wasn't sure if he could be of any help, Hisamaru-sama said that she felt saved just by listening to me. Was that, by any chance, just flattery?" 

"Oh, no, not at all!" 

"Then, can't you say the same thing to Yakō-sama? Even if it's against Hishamaru-sama, who says she lacks confidence, just having him listen to your worries might make Yakō-sama feel a little better, don't you think?" 

"…" 

Hishamaru couldn't say anything else and tied her lips to the side. 

"Hishamaru-sama", Sen continued gently towards Hishamaru. 

"Just as Yakō-sama is special to Hishamaru-sama, Hishamaru-sama is special to Yakō-sama as well. Please help and raise Yakō-sama not as Lord and Shikigami, but as the same person." 

Saying that, Sen smiled at the end. 

"After all, the two of you are childhood friends who have grown up together since childhood. There is no one better than you to confide your troubles to." 

A childhood friend. 

Hishamaru's eyes flushed slightly. 

- Does Yakō-sama look at me like that? 

Not sure. As much as they were "childhood friends," they had also been "master-servant" for a long time. And all this time, the relationship between the two of them has been the latter. But… 

If that was why Yakō was in such distress, then maybe she could support him in a way different from the loyalty of a guardian, as shikigami. 

After a long pause, Hishamaru said: 

"… yes…" 

Sen's eyes narrowed in satisfaction. 

"There you are." 

The two of them flickered, and a giant, one-armed man appeared, and Hishamaru turned to him with a panicked look, "Kakugyouki?” 

In the past, Kakugyouki used to mainly stick around as a guard, but since Yakō created "Raven's wing", he's been acting quite freely, and one of the reasons why he created "Raven's wing" and "Moon ring" was to "make the most of" Kakugyouki. 

Kakugyouki was probably the least disturbed by the recent air raids. He was an ogre who has seen countless battles in a thousand years. He was used to seeing people die more than any other. 

However, even for Kakugyouki, the air raid that night was so extraordinary that he had never seen or heard of such devastation, and he was spitting out his words as if they were a rare occurrence. The battlefield has changed dramatically in the last hundred years, but the changes were said to be enough to remove even a thousand-year-old demon. 

Hishamaru turned serious. 

"What's going on?" 

She checked with him. 

"The head of Kurahashi wants to see you. He wants to ask you a favor about that “star reader” kid." 

"Oh, Miyo-dono's…" 

Hearing that, she could vaguely imagine what Takamitsu was asking for. 

Miyo was in Kurahashi's mansion, so she was spared from the bombing. However, she seemed to have suffered a terrible shock and was in bed on her knees and arms. It was not surprising. Even though she escaped direct damage, the experience was still too harsh for a young child. 

Particularly, Miyo seemed to be feeling responsible for the experience. 

In hindsight, the nightmare that Miyo claimed to have seen the other day was most likely a hint of the current air raid. Nevertheless, she blamed herself for not being able to prevent the tragedy. The blame lied with the adults who were helpless to do anything about it, but that didn't seem to help her, no matter how much she tried to convince herself otherwise. For Miyo, it was a regret that could not be undone and could not be atoned for. 

When Yakō heard about Miyo's situation: 

"…At this point, it might be better to block the memory with a suggestion." 

He was fumbling. 

Implications for young children were difficult to add or subtract. If it lasted long enough, there was no problem, but there was a chance that her memory of her childhood would be deficient. However, for her future growth, it would be better for her to heal from the psychological trauma she suffered this time, even if there would be some muddling of her memory. Perhaps Takamitsu had come to the same conclusion. 

"What about Yakō-sama?" 

"I don't think he can do it." 

That was right. If so, she would be the right person to perform the technique. 

Hishamaru said, "Alright", and almost looked away, then came to her senses and said, "Kakugyouki, what is he?” Kakugyouki nodded his head in silence. It was a formal gesture, but it was his way of apologizing. 

Hishamaru glanced sideways at the giant man, then turned to Sen. 

"Sen-dono. Thank you for your company. Are you still in Tokyo??" 

"For the time being, as long as I'm likely to help. However, I can't leave the temple for too long. I'm sorry, but not for more than a few days." 

"I see. I'll see you later." 

With that, Hishamaru bowed and left for the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

The small man and the giant watched Hishamaru's back as she left the wasteland in silence. 

Then. 

"… By the way." 

And Sen opened his mouth, not changing the direction of his face. 

"How long have you been here, Kakugyouki-sama?" 

In a slightly teasing manner, Kakugyouki lifted the corner of his lips without hiding it. 

"It's ridiculous to be yelled at for interrupting me, you know." 

In the end, the demon who was yelled at replied flatly. 

For Kakugyouki, an old, real demon, he would not feel any pain from being yelled at by a fox-brained little girl. Still, the fact that he apologized every time she yelled at him, even if it was only in the form of an apology, may be his own way of showing respect for his "senior" shikigami, or maybe it was a part of his history. 

Sen shook his head somewhat deliberately 

"I beg your pardon, but I think you, Kakugyouki-sama, are more qualified for this kind of role than Sen, don't you?" 

"A demon should know how to appreciate the subtleties of human nature? That's a bit of a tall order.” 

"Have you not lived a thousand years?" 

"I'm not alive, though.” 

Kakugyouki stepped out of the room and turned his back to Sen, thinking that the conversation was over. 

However. 

"…me too…" 

Kakugyouki stopped in his tracks as he was about to leave. Sen blinked with a snap. "Yes?" 

"… I'm the same as her. I'm at a loss … Huh. When I interact with people, that is." 

With a faint, self-conscious smile, the demon murmured. 

As expected, it was an unexpected line. Sen couldn't help but roll his eyes and look up at the demon's back. 

"Does that mean… should Kakugyouki-sama advise the two of you or not? He said that he was unsure if it was right for him to be involved in the fate of those two people;" 

"…" 

Kakugyouki was silent. There was no sign of him turning around. But Sen realized that his point was spot on. 

He immediately straightened up. Sen spoke to the legendary demon with a serious look in his eyes, something he hadn't done since the first time he had met Shinra, only a few times in his lifetime. 

"Kakugyouki-sama. Please don't let this be a regret for later." 

With a cooch, Kakugyouki's shoulders quivered once, as if he was crazy. 

He kept his back to him. 

"Kid. You're a thousand years early." 

Having said that, Kakugyouki started walking again. 

Sen returned to his usual demeanor as he watched the giant man walk away. Smiling bitterly, he slapped his forehead once with his palm. 

"Yes. You're right." 

Part 3 

The white moon was out. 

Looking up at that moon, Yakō was lying on his back on the Onmyoudou Dormitory’s tiled roof. There was a silvery white furball of "Moon ring" underfoot, and at the top of the roof was "Raven's wing" perched on a wing. But that was it. There was no Hishamaru or Kakugyouki, let alone his men and boarders, only Yakō. 

In the night sky, the moonlight was elaborate, and a few stars could be seen. Since the air raids began, the stars have become more visible in Tokyo due to the light control, a clear night sky that reminded him of the days when they were in the village of Tsuchimikado. 

They have come a long way and many things have changed. Nevertheless, the night sky was the same as when they looked up at it. Human activities and the state of nature. The difference in scale makes him aware of his own smallness, but now he felt comfortable with it. 

The wind blew. 

A different wind than the other day. A wind that blew through the empty wilderness. 

Then there was a creaking sound from some distance away, and Yakō looked up at the sky, unconcerned. 

Immediately. 

"How old are you this year? 

"Hmm… Twenty-five, twenty-six, I think.” 

"Hm. They say only fools and smoke are better in high places.” 

"You've been up here before, too." 

Yakō tilted his face to the side as he laid back down. 

Yakō took a sidelong glance and then turned his attention back to the night sky, and in an instant, the Moon ring bounced up and down to hide beside Yakō. Raven's wing of the roof ridge snapped at Satsuki, but didn't react as much as it should. 

"Where's the North Star, North Star King?" 

"Don't do that, Sōma's spreading the word and it's easily sensitizing the younger guys." 

"They're the first ones to say it, the ones from the Dark Temple. That's fine. You're bluffing." 

"Give me a break. What's a king?" 

"Because you’ve got Hisha(Rook) and Kaku(Bishop). Oh, and the dragon(Hokuto = north star)." 

"Then you're the North Star “Jade” (Queen?)." 

"Hmm? I'm sure the stronger one has the king? Can you tell me the results of the battle with you?" 

Satsuki cooed at Yakō, who had a Buddha's face, smiling nastily and happily. 

He walked over to stand next to Yakō, and Yakō cautiously picked himself up and scratched his head. Satsuki also stood and looked in the same direction. The Sumida River area and beyond. 

The two of them looked at the scorched earth. 

The moonlight illuminated the spreading scorched earth in a pale light. 

As far as they could see from there, nothing was moving at all. There was not even a sign of life, let alone people. It was not a city, nor a forest or a meadow, but a burned out field. The desolate scorched earth just spread out pale and white, as if time had been stopped. 

"… It's hard to believe it's a scene from this world." 

"Oh…" 

When Satsuki blurted out a few words, Yakō was unconcerned with his words. 

The night breeze that blew across the soil slipped between the two of them. 

Satsuki took out a cigarette and popped it in his mouth, then lit it by rubbing the match with his palm, shielding it from the wind. When the light came on at the end of the cigarette, he extinguished the match with a wave of his wrist, throwing it away and letting it slowly twitch. 

The scent of cigarettes drifted around. Smoke exhaled from his lips slipped on his cheeks and entwined with his red hair fluttering in the wind. 

"…Do you want to smoke?" 

"No, I don't want one." 

"If only I had a drink." 

"I don't feel like it." 

"You can't sleep, can you?" 

"It's not going to change when you're drunk." 

"Good or bad drinkers, huh?" 

"If it's good enough, I'll use the art. It doesn't matter." 

They exchanged a few vague words as they looked out over the pale wilderness. Both were calm in their voices and expressions. 

"… How's the spirituality going?" 

"You can see for yourself." 

"I'd like to hear your thoughts." 

Sakuki told him once and for all, and Yakō let out a sigh. 

"… It's not as rough as I expected." 

He replied gravely. 

"Or rather, the spiritual energy is extremely thin. Almost, nothing. I've never seen anything like it before." 

"… a bad sign?" 

"I told you. I've never seen it. I don't know." 

To Yakō's answer, Satsuki framed a cigarette. He took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled. The purple smoke fluttered long. 

"You still disagree?" 

"… Yeah." 

"You can't sit around and wait for this to happen and get a bad result." 

"It's better than bringing ruin to the world with these hands." 

Satsuki looked at Yakō's profile as he answered that, and Satsuki looked at him sharply. "Really?" 

"…" 

Yakō did not reply. However, there was a bitterness in his profile. 

Needless to say, Yakō knew that Satsuki's argument was reasonable. However. 

"… I said I don't know, but sometimes I understand. It's not enough. It's quiet now, but… it's definitely coming back. It's the same as a tsunami. Do you know? Sometimes when a big wave hits, it's heralded by a sudden ebb tide. Once it goes out, then it comes crashing back in. This could be the same thing. Anyway, when so many people die at one time in an untimely manner, it can't be the end of the world." 

The expression on Yakō's face as he said this showed not only grief and pain, but even fear. It was as if something invisible to the other spellcasters was reflected in his eyes alone. 

"… Then…" 

Satsuki said, staring at Yakō's profile. 

"Isn't public authority also effective in calming “that”?” 

With a twitch, Yakō's shoulders moved. 

Satsuki didn't need to point out that Yakō must have had such an idea. He stubbornly refused to look at Satsuki, but the conflict was highlighted in his grim expression. 

"… Conquer the poison with the poison, right?" 

"I wish you wouldn't call Sōma's ancestral spirit poison. But in layman's terms, that's what I mean." 

"It's a good gamble. And it's a bad minute." 

"For what it's worth, we're in a losing streak. If we want to turn it around, we've got to put up a thin line of wins." 

"Isn't that the thinking of a man who destroys himself with a gamble?" 

"No doubt. But if you let it go, it's going to go down anyway." 

Satsuki spat and took a deep drag on her cigarette. 

The wind whistled around for a moment, causing Yakō to narrow his eyes slightly and Satsuki's red hair to ruffle a few feathers. 

"Satsuki." 

He uttered his name, then Yakō leaned his head back and looked up at Satsuki standing next to him. 

"You, you have the confidence to dwell in a god and let him be?" 

"I don't care if you are or not. I'm just going to try." 

"Is it the right thing to do? 

"I'm not interested in your version of righteousness.” 

Yakō twisted his face at Sakatsuki, who was unconcerned with the cigarette he was holding in his mouth. Then he turned his eyes back to the scorched earth over there. 

No matter where he looked, there was no answer. In the end, it would have to be Yakō and the others who would have to make it themselves. A silence fell on the roof. 

It was late at night. The survivors who had taken refuge in the dormitory were already asleep. Many of the dormitory students must have been still up and working, but they did not disturb the silence in consideration of the exhausted victims. 

A scorched earth wind blew on the roof of the dormitory building. 

Was it because of his mind that he still felt a slight dead smell there? 

"… Speaking of which…" 

Satsuki murmured. 

"Just around there. You sent the dragon flying." 

"Oh…" 

It was six years ago, when Yakō had just moved to Tokyo. 

Yakō had come to Tokyo to break the spell that was placed on his sister, Kokage, and while searching for the sorcerer who cast the spell, he learned of Debuchi's existence. He was attacked by a shadow demon unleashed by Debuchi's protégé, Dairenji Kenmyou, on the Nihonbashi Bridge, and Yakō summoned the dragon Hokuto to counter the attack. On the contrary, he attacked the opponent's home base. The dragon flying in the skies of the imperial capital was witnessed by many people and became a great topic of conversation afterwards. 

At that time, Yakō, Satsuki, and Hishamaru rode Hokuto together in the sky. With the wind blowing over their bodies, they looked out over the city and the future that lay ahead. 

There are no more traces of the cityscape they saw then. The city was burned to the ground in a single night. Now they could see the pale, burned earth. It was the land of the dead. 

Yakō arched his back, as if to hold back his rising thoughts, and fell on his face while scratching his knees. 

Under the silent moonlight, the two of them stared at their lost past from the roof of the Onmyoudou Dormitory they had built. It was only six years ago. Or was it a long time ago, six years ago? At least "that" six years were a rapid and dense six years, not only for Yakō and Satsuki, but for everyone living in this country. 

"… Do you remember?" 

"What?" 

"You heard me. I have to use whatever spell you want to get to know you. You said it yourself. I saw you embarrassed, but you were right.” 

"Oh…" 

A faint bitter smile appears on Yakō's lips. 

Compared to now, he was so young back then. He had matured in the field of magic, but he was inexperienced as a person, and he didn't even realize it. 

However, if you ask him if he has grown up from then, he would be at a loss for an answer. In the end, he was not much different now than he was then. He was still dreamy and immature. 

"I'm sorry for laughing at you then." 

"Now? It's okay. I'm not mad at you." 

"After all, that's where you want to be, now and in the past, isn't it?" 

"… Is it bad?" 

"No way. … Well, I almost laugh now, and more importantly, I'm dumbfounded, but I think it's great, don't you? I'll spare you the pleasantries." 

Satsuki closed his eyes and slumped over, his fingers picking up the cigarette and shaking it loosely. 

"… That was fun." 

Yakō rolled his eyes at the slightly abrupt and bluntly uttered line. 

However. 

"… Yeah." 

He laughed back. 

He'd come a long way and a lot of things have changed a lot. 

But it was fun. 

His short life was not without its difficulties and pains, but he met a lot of people, he saw and heard a lot of things, he experienced things for the first time, and his world expanded as a result. It was indeed, in retrospect, a joyous experience. Even more so than when he had been entrusted with the leglessness of the countryside. Resigned to the future of magic, much more than when it was rotten. 

A brilliant act of life. 

However… 

"… but…" 

Satsuki's voice hardened, and Yakō woke up from his warm reverie. 

"You haven't "tried" yet. At least, you're not “trying” to be enough. Isn't that right?" 

"… Right. It's not different. I'm not quite up to the ideals I had back then." 

"Then can we just give up here? You, for your own personal ideals…" 

"Stop." 

Yakō said in a tired voice. 

"The twin-wall project is a whole other story." 

"Not the other way around. It's about whether or not you're willing to give up the future you want." 

"No, no. That plan is not something to be talked about in such a rambling way. It's much more of a matter of practicality, and, let's face it, bleak judgment." 

After telling Satsuki, or rather, himself, Yakō stood up. Satsuki dropped his cigarette and stamped it out with the sole of his shoe. Moon ring bounced and Raven's wing flapped its wings once with a buzz. 

"Yakō…" 

"I'm… I'm sorry. 

Yakō shook his head once, then continued weakly: 

"I don't know, Satsuki, I don't know… what's “right”. But I can't agree with it. At least not from me." 

Without looking at Satsuki's face, Yakō said this and walked across the roof to the eaves. Moon ring followed, bouncing after him, and then transformed into a ring, and Yakō grabbed it in mid-air and leapt from the roof eaves. Immediately afterwards, with a whisper, Raven's wing catched Yakō and put a black cloak on his body. 

"Yakō!" 

The Raven's wing didn't respond to Satsuki's cry, but instead flapped its hem like wings, and Yakō flew through the air to the scorched earth. Satsuki tied his mouth shut and watched him go off under the pale moonlight. 

The white moon remained silent, watching over the two men under the moon. 

The next day, before dawn on March 12. A B29 bombing raid consisting of 200 aircrafts, bombed the city of Nagoya. Over 600 dead. The number of victims exceeded 100,000. 

From March 13th to dawn on the 14th. Osaka air raid. Deaths, about 4,000. 

Before dawn on March 17th. Kobe air raid. Over 2,500 dead. 

March 18th. Oita, Kagoshima air raid. 

March 19th. Nagoya air raid. 

March 23rd. Okinawa air raid. 

March 27th. Kokura air raid. 

During this time, Tokyo continued to be hit by air raids. Niijima. Asakusa. Fukagawa. Yotsuya. The damage was not as great as on March 10, but the people were exhausted and the army was worn out. The imperial capital was burned and turned the city into scorched earth like a worm-eaten. 

And April 1st. The US military begins landing on the main island of Okinawa. The day after the mainland decisive battle became a reality, senior military officials officially ordered the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

The plan to create an imperial boundary was put into effect. 

The cogwheel of history mercilessly trampled Yakō's footsteps, raising an eerie bill and continuing to rotate without stopping. 

The great catastrophe found itself chillingly gloating right next to him.