Tokyo Ravens - Volume 16 - Chapter 3

Chapter 3 

Part 1 

The report came to Satsuki just after he left the General Staff Headquarters for the Onmyoudou Dormitory. A shikigami in the form of a nest flew in and sent a message to him. Surprised and puzzled by its contents, Satsuki changed his destination. 

On his way he kept the perimeter cleared. 

He gave the order and returned to the shikigami, headed to Asakusa. 

As soon as they arrived nearby and got out of the car, a Sōma person approached them. He was not a military man. He was one of Sōma's agents mixed in with the civilians. 

“… How is it?” 

“Disarmed. No sign of resistance. After we made contact, he surrendered immediately and then nothing.” 

“Is he alone?” 

“Maybe. I was watching the reaction before and after the contact, but there was no suspicious behavior.” 

Quickly, while listening to the detailed information, they moved along a makeshift road while there was still a lot of tile rock to be seen. He was led to the Tobu Asakusa Station Building, which had survived the fire. They entered the building, which had been cordoned off. He knew it from the charred exterior walls, but everything inside had been destroyed by fire. Satsuki looked at the man sitting on the wall. 

He was middle-aged, wearing a worn national uniform, with a bearded face and a cigarette in his mouth. Despite his grimy appearance, a closer look revealed a sturdy build. Above all, his eyes were sharp. He was a massive, burly man. 

“It's good to see you, Debuchi.” 

“Ah, Major. No, it's Colonel Sōma now, sir.” 

The man, former Lieutenant Colonel Debuchi, sat down, looked up Satsuki, grinned and twigged a cigarette. He was taken into custody, a prisoner of war, so to speak, and yet he was uncomfortably calm. 

"You were still a lieutenant when we had our first fight, weren't you? At last, the class was overtaken.” 

“You're a runaway from the army, you have no rank or position. Where have you been for the last four years and what have you been doing?” 

“Especially nothing. After that, I don't feel like selling a fight to you or Tsuchimikado. I visited here and there as I wanted to … Well, at best I mourned the guy from Dairenji.” 

“Didn't you already take his body back?” 

“I didn't care about the corpse that remained. I don't think his soul remained in his body.” 

Without a single change of color, Debuchi smoked a cigarette and blew smoke out of his nose. 

Satsuki watched Debuchi for a moment in silence, as he had the audacity to believe he was trapped. 

''… Why did you come back?'' 

"I heard that Tokyo has become a sea of fire. It's a little familiar to me in the past." 

"Is that all?" 

“That's it? I don't want to start hurting you people again.” 

“Well”, Debuchi said, blowing a cigarette. The strong scent of it wafted through the building, which still smelled of burning after the fire. 

“It's also because I was curious about the current Onmyoudou Dormitory. …Was it the Armored Demon Soldier? I saw those multi-legged tanks on the battlefield. This kind of thing wouldn't have come from a traditional magical world. Wasn't it your idea, Colonel? Unfortunately, they were too much for the front lines, and we couldn't use them very well.” 

“So you've seen the front lines.” 

“That's because it suits me better than the inner city.” 

Without any particular emotion, Debuchi said frankly. 

He was as elusive as ever. A wild beast, or a self-indulgent windbag, as it were. Come to think of it, Yakō once described him as a "drunkard". The fact that such a man was in the General Staff Headquarters was surprising. 

"What do you plan to do now?” 

"That's the question, Colonel? To be honest, I didn't think that in this war situation, a rotor like me would still be marked. I don't see any hard feelings, but well… 

Moaning at Satsuki, Debuchi grinned and peeled his teeth. Debuchi's ability as a spellcaster was nothing to write about, he was probably fifty paces ahead of Satsuki. It was incomparable to Sōma's handicrafts that surrounded him, and even Satsuki could not be considered to lag behind as long as Yase Doji were present. 

But in spite of that, there was an unfathomable power in Debuchi who laughed like that. As the people around him unintentionally braced themselves, Satsuki quietly raised his hand to control them. 

''… You're a throwaway. Do you have any more cravings? 

''No, but I don't want to dwell on it.” 

Debuchi replied with a gourd. 

“You're lying.” 

Satsuki casually, but categorically declined. Debuchi lifted one eyebrow as if to say, "Oh," he said. 

"At that time, you ran away. You chose to live. You are unexpectedly "decent". It doesn't require any particular reason to live alone, even if it escapes." 

Debuchi stared at Satsuki with a mysterious look that he didn't know. It was the first time he had such an expression. It seemed that he was surprised that the response was different from what he expected of Satsuki, rather than simply being unexpected. 

“However, I like things. Dairenji Kenmyou has achieved his true feelings. At least up to that point.” 

Satsuki took out a cigarette and lit it. 

Satsuki then tossed the half-full box of cigarettes to Debuchi, who took it immediately. 

"Are you going to stick with me this time? After that, you can do what you want again.” 

Debuchi did not immediately respond to the sudden offer. Rather, it was the people around him who were buzzing. The man who had first ushered Satsuki in called out from behind him, "Oyakata-sama”. His voice sounded more like a confirmation that it was okay, rather than an answer. But Satsuki didn't take the bait and continued to look down at Debuchi alone. 

Debuchi let out a sigh. 

"What kind of wind is it?" 

“Nothing.” 

Smoldering his cigarette with a face that was devoid of emotion, Satsuki told him curtly. 

"Because I'm busy. I want a hand piece. That's it." 

At Satsuki's response, Debuchi gives a small snort. 

He didn't know whether he was thinking or not, and he sniffed at his cigarette. 

He let it be. Eventually, he maneuvered the cigarette out on the floor and stood up quietly, shoving the box he had received into his pocket. 

The Onmyoudou Dormitory was filled with an unusual energy. 

The twin-wall project that Yakō had withheld had finally been put into effect, and preparations for it were rapidly being made. It was an order from the military, and there was an order to do so as soon as possible. The Onmyoudou Dormitory was to march forward with all its strength to execute the plan. 

Of course, Yakō was no exception. At this point in time, the intentions of a single individual would not be a deterrent. The military had decided that the defense of the imperial capital was an urgent matter that threatened the very existence of the nation. The negative views of the Onmyoudou head were daringly suppressed. 

In the first place, it was practically only Yakō who was opposed to the plan. Most of the residents, including Satsuki, who was in charge, were positive about the plan. Even Takamitsu, who had refrained from giving his opinion, couldn't deny it when it was ordered by the military. Once it was decided, he went to the dormitory and took charge of the practical aspects of the project, in order to get serious about it. 

Even without Yakō's concerns, there were several obstacles to moving forward with the plan. One of the biggest was the need to prepare a huge Temple of Heaven for the ritual altar - the "Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai". 

There were some conditions on the heavenly platform. Large area with few obstacles. Location on the side of the city center. A place where there was no problem even if there was an adverse effect. 

"This problem has been solved strangely. Use the airstrike site. It's suitable for customizing." 

It was Satsuki who suggested that. 

The dormitory students, Sōma's people, and Kurahashi's family gathered in the office. The discussion was already heating up. 

Certainly, the site of the air raids that Satsuki had proposed met the requirements for the Temple of Heaven. But of course, Yakō was fiercely opposed to it. 

"No, a lot of people died there, that's the very spot? We don't even know what kind of spiritual disaster will occur. I can't possibly allow a god to descend in such a place!" 

In fact, even if it wasn't Yakō, it was indeed a proposal to step over. All of them were spellcasters with the gift of seeing demons. They could not ignore the possibility of spiritual disasters as a real threat, not out of superstitious fear or evasion. 

"I told you right after the raid. The spiritual vein is raging. It's important just to calm it down. It's not sane to take it down.” 

Yakō accused him in a strong tone, but Satsuki still did not change his opinion. 

"Fortunately, at the moment, the disturbance in the spiritual vein is far more minor than expected." 

"I told you that, too. What we have now is only a calm. It's only temporary." 

"Then we should not miss that moment. We can use this opportunity to bring down god and use his majesty to quell the spiritual vein." 

"It's possible that the spirit vein will start moving as soon as you start the “Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai” before you bring down the god. In fact, it's more likely to happen. The technique of the Tenchiyuu Chifu had the technique of the Taizan Fukun built into it. The Taizan Fukun Ritual is a technique to control people's souls. I don't know what happens to a soul after death, but it's clear that a lot of people's souls are still lingering at the site of the bombing. If you deal with the art of controlling people's souls in a place like that, there's no way you'll get a proper response." 

Yakō's concern was obvious. 

Spells that deal with the soul were difficult to handle. The existence of the soul itself was still unknown, but even Yakō, who has used the "Taizan Fukun Sai" many times, all by himself, couldn't get away from it. 

He didn't know all the ritual techniques. He couldn't always deal with unforeseen circumstances, and naturally, he had to be very careful in how he handled them. 

"I'd still rather use the military facilities. Think again." 

Sakuki, however, did not reply immediately to Yakō, who was pressing him with a serious look on his face. The silence was due to the leap and conflict. In the depths of the hard expression, a hesitation of whether or not to say it, or how to convey it, was passing. 

"… As for that divination, I need to ask the Onmyoudou Head to do something for me." 

It was already disturbing from the way it started out. "What is it?" asked Yakō, wary, but Satsuki said nonchalantly, devoid of emotion. 

"Just in case, I'd like you to add a certain technique to a part of the “Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai”. It is only an addition and does not need to be incorporated into the technique. Just make it a form that will only be activated if the souls that died in the airstrike are disabled, as you say." 

"… You make it sound so easy again. And that's a roundabout way to go. What's the spell?" 

Yakō asked back, Satsuki was silent again, then opened his mouth heavily. 

"It's a Dairenji spell. The Sōma elders and the Dairenji sect worked together to figure it out." 

Yakō looked suspiciously proud for a moment, then guessed, and his face changed color. 

"You don't mean… you're going to use souls for praise…?" 

The lines Yakō spouted caused not only him, but the entire office to buzz with excitement. Satsuki was the only one who was calm. 

"Dairenji's curse method is one that reinforces the curse with praise. If we can reduce the souls of the dead to the spiritual power of the ritual, we can reverse the spiritual damage." 

"You're serious about this?” 

"It's just an emergency plan. It's a failsafe." 

"That's an outrageous law! Using praise for the "Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai" is not something I can accept!" 

"Look at the ends, not the means, Yakō. The success or failure of this plan could mean the end of the imperial capital, or even the end of this country. If Masakado is to be the god of salvation, if he is to be the human pillar for that purpose, won't those who have died untimely deaths be rewarded?" 

Yakō gazed at Sakatsuki, who was speaking in a serious manner, while he was pale. He couldn't help but mutter, "Are you insane?". 

"As a magician, I fully understand that this is a deviation from the correct path. It may be a sinful thing to do. But now is not the time to choose your means. The Twin Walls Project is a plan to protect those who are left behind. If those who have died before their children, those who have died before their parents, those who have died before their loved ones, and those who have survived can feed on their souls, then we can give their unjust deaths some meaning. Wouldn't that make the dead feel better about themselves?" 

In a feverish voice Satsuki appealed to Yakō. There was something about the way he looked at him that attracted the viewer. It's the kind of heroic power that people at the top of organizations and those who lead large numbers of people sometimes display. Not a few of the people gathered in the office looked at Sakuki with fascination. 

Yakō gritted his teeth in righteous indignation, as if Satsuki's power was driving him to do something he didn't want to do. 

If Hishamaru had been there, she would have felt the same "flow" that he had felt before, and it would have been even stronger than before. A part of the mighty "flow" that would swallow not only the office, but the imperial capital, and even the nation. 

However, Hishamaru was not in the Onmyoudou Dormitory. She had gone to Kurahashi's mansion to investigate the aftereffects of the suggestion she had made to Miyo last month. 

However, even if he felt it, he didn’t know whether he was able to resist the flow as before. "… It's a theory." 

Yakō spat weakly. 

In contrast. 

"No!" 

It was almost as if he was yelling at him. 

Trying to hammer too hard, he tried to crush his opponent with too much force… 

Satsuki stretched out his arms and grabbed Yakō by the shoulders, the Sōma chief was desperate for consent, or at least understanding. 

"Yakō, Tsuchimikado Yakō, we can do this, you and I, we can do this. If you say it's a sin, then I'll take the punishment. I will bear the blame alone. So help me. You and I are going to save this country and its people." 

"… Satsuki…" 

Yakō choked on his words. 

The fiery eyes shot straight at him. The "will" that dwelled in the depths of his body had a power that could no longer be moved by others. 

In the end, Yakō couldn't say any more words to oppose it. 

Part 2 

"…How is it?" 

"Yeah… I still can't read it. I'm sorry, Hishamaru, but this is too much work. 

"What do you mean? Don't worry about that kind of thing." 

Yakō smiled faintly back at Hishamaru, who dared to answer cheerfully and wag her tail, looking somewhat lackluster. The shikigami's lips parted in frustration at the Lord's lack of reaction. It can't be helped. She was not in a situation or position to smile innocently. But was it really an irreverent wish for the shikigami to want him to stay at least healthy? 

It was a sunny afternoon. 

Hishamaru and Yakō were in the backyard of the Onmyoudou Dormitory. However, unlike the courtyard, the garden was very narrow, as it sloped down like a bank toward the wall that surrounded the grounds. Also, it wasn't maintained, as no one came or went except for the storage room at the back. 

In the backyard, there was a single cherry tree right next to them, and it was in full bloom. It was past its prime and had already begun to fall. It was a little strange to think that the cherry blossoms were still in full bloom at this time. 

It was spring. 

They had forgotten such a commonplace thing for a while. 

"Huh? Chief, what are you doing here?" 

In the backyard, a pair of dormitory students appeared carrying a crate: Sōma Akiharu and Sōma Akisuke, the brothers of the Sōma branch family. 

The older brother, Akiharu, was once possessed by Dairenji Kenmyou and had his body taken over. Four years have passed since then, and now he was a full-fledged Onmyoudou officer, but the interest in being a bad boy has remained the same. 

"Maybe it's cherry blossom viewing? If so, I'll go out with you, it smells like water. If you talked to me, I would have prepared something like sake." 

Casually removed his hand from the crate, and Akiharu approached them with a smile. Akisuke, left behind, alone with the crate, said, "Hey! Nii-san!" Yakō and Hishamaru couldn't help but look at each other and laugh. 

Then Hishamaru made a serious face with "Akiharu". 

"We weren't skipping, it's a spiritual investigation." 

"… Well, it's not that there's no side to it." 

"Ya… Yakō-sama!" 

Yakō smiled at the shikigami, who protested unintentionally. Hishamaru didn't say anything else, but limited herself to glaring at Akiharu, who didn't seem to notice Hishamaru's answer and looked up at the blossom. 

"I can't believe I missed the best time to see the cherry blossoms. I haven't had much time to sleep well these days, you know. Well, that's not an excuse." 

"What an excuse. There isn't a single person in the current Onmyoudou Dormitory who can afford to care about the bloom of the cherries." 

"However, I'm alone here." 

"Haha. As expected, Akiharu. You're the banquet captain of the Onmyoudou Dormitory." 

"Yakō-sama?" 

Hishamaru pointed out to Yakō, who was enjoying himself. 

Being late, "Nii-san. That's enough!", Akisuke came running up to him, having put the crate down. 

Hishamaru pointed out to Yakō, who was enjoying himself. 

"I'm sorry, Chief Yakō, Hishamaru-sama. My brother is intruding." 

He bowed his head. This one has grown up a lot compared to four years ago. He no longer had the appearance of a boy, but was a fine young man. 

He was trained as a spellcaster, but his talent with the sword has blossomed beyond that, and he was even better built than his brother now. Perhaps it was his natural inclination, or perhaps it was because he was officially in the army, unlike his brother, he was much more sincere than the wildly energetic Akiharu. 

"Akisuke, can you ask Hisateru to bring me some sake now?" 

"So, now is not the time to do that, brother." 

"You two are still the same, Hishamaru, and it's a good thing you're here. Didn't you see there's still some wine in the office?" 

"Oh. You're a real quick talker." 

"Yakō-sama! Please don't let these guys get too carried away. Otherwise, the Twin Horn Syndicate guys would have ruffled too many feathers." 

Akiharu didn't learn his lesson, Akisuke bowed his head and Yakō chuckled happily before Hishamaru raised her eyebrows. 

Only, Akisuke's expression suddenly changed. 

"More importantly… Chief Yakō. I know it's probably not a good time to ask this, but did you know about Lieutenant Colonel Debuchi's return?" 

Akisuke confirmed this with Yakō. Hishamaru reacted sharply. Akiharu, too, had a serious look on his face. 

"Yeah, Colonel Sōma has reported to me. I understand that his handlers found and caught him." 

"It would be nice if that was all, but isn't Colonel Sōma using him as his own personal soldier?" 

"… The people who know about the incident four years ago are all dumbfounded, right? They're wondering why they would bother to make someone who was once an enemy, and such an unknowable guy, a servant of theirs. Even the fox's sister, it's because of him." 

"Akiharu." 

Hishamaru softly interrupted Akiharu's words to his brother. 

However, when it came to Debuchi, Hishamaru agreed with his brother, not because she was captured, but because Akiharu was right. Debuchi was mysterious. The threat as a magician wouldn't be as great as Dairenji Kenmyou's, but she felt that it was as good as it was in terms of "danger". 

Above all, she didn't know Satsuki's ability to put such a disturbing man under himself. What kind of speculation did he bring such a man into his own camp? 

"I'm leaving his affairs in the hands of the colonel. That guy isn't in a position to think only about magic like we do. As far as I can tell, Lieutenant Colonel Debuchi has intimate knowledge of the inner workings of the military. I guess he thinks he can use it." 

"No, but…" 

"Akiharu, and Akisuke. I don't know how difficult the Colonel's job is. I know Debuchi is a crook, but I don't think he can't handle it. You should have more faith in your own chief." 

Yakō replied. Hishamaru did not dare to interrupt him, but swallowed what she wanted to say and studied the Lord's profile. 

Lately, Yakō and Satsuki often argued with each other face to face, but at least Yakō seemed to be holding Satsuki's shoulders more often than before, in the absence of his opponent. No matter how much they disagreed, they were still one and the same. But Yakō wasn't defending Satsuki "because" he had no choice. It was not because he had no choice, but because he truly approved of Satsuki. 

The brothers didn't say anything further, but Yakō's persuasion didn't seem to convince them. Maybe Yakō knew that too, and shook his head with a troubled face. 

Then: 

"… Cherry-blossom viewing is also quite elegant.” 

They looked back at the direction of the voice and saw Takamitsu approaching from around the dormitory building. It was very unusual for him to come to this place. Hishamaru and Akisuke quickly straightened their posture, while Akiharu became mystified as if the teacher had found him. 

Yakō turned to face him. 

"Is there something wrong?" 

"No…" 

Takamitsu walked up to Yakō and his friends and looked up at the cherry blossoms, "… it's not bad.", he said, and then turned to Hisamaru. 

"Speaking of which, Hishamaru, I'm sorry about what happened to Miyo. Thanks to you, she's calmed down a lot lately." 

"If so, I'm glad to hear it. I'm glad I could help you." 

"Hmm… but she still seems to have a memory deficit. She's forgotten quite a bit about you, the most important thing." 

"Yes, I made a few tweaks to the suggestion, rather than forgetting about Yakō-sama, Takamitsu-sama, and then Hisateru-sama." 

"Oh, right. I'm sorry." 

"No." 

When Hishamaru replied, the unreported Yakō asked her if that was the case. Originally, it was not something that the Lord cared about. 

"Anyway, the fact that you came here means that you were looking for Yakō-sama, isn't it? Has something happened?" 

When Hisamaru asked again, Takamitsu looked at Yakō inevitably. 

"… The schedule has been decided. Yakō. As you expected, it was ahead of schedule. It's the 13th." 

Hishamaru’s eyes widened as she turned to Yakō and Akiharu and Akisuke gasped. 

Takamitsu was probably referring to the date and time of the god descend. 

"13th? For the month? That's less than a week away!” 

One month to go, or at least half a month away, that’s what he thought it would be. On 13th, it would be a full-on rushed job. He didn't have time to adjust the magic formulae properly. There wasn't enough time to dare to perform a spell on a large scale, where all sorts of trouble was expected. 

Akiharu and Akisuke brothers were also looking at each other with serious expressions on their faces. Not just them, but any dormitory student who knew about the plan would have a similar reaction. 

"It seems that the effects of the cabinet change are coming in quickly. I hear the war in Okinawa is bad, too. It's still top secret, but I hear that Yamato has been sunk." 

"Yamato, you mean the giant battleship?" 

"Yes. It seems that, of all things, the news arrived in the middle of the new cabinet's parenting ceremony. The fact that the possibility of a battle on the mainland has increased even more, means that the plan to create an imperial boundary has also increased in importance." 

"If it has become more important, shouldn't we be more cautious? On the contrary, I think they’re trying to drag us down by shortening the deadline!" 

She knew there was no point in taking a bite out of Takamitsu. Still, she couldn't keep quiet. 

"What is Colonel Sōma doing? Sōma is putting down roots in the military to stop such an outrageous order, right?" 

“Hishamaru" and Yakō stopped the shikigami. 

"I understand. Now, please proceed in that line." 

"Yakō-sama!" 

"Calm down, Hishamaru, it's certainly steep, but it was to be expected." 

"But…" 

"If we are going to complete the wall, it will take years or decades to prepare. On the other hand, if you don't spend that much time on it, it won't mean much. In other words, if it's only a week or a month, it doesn't make much difference whether you stall it or decide to do it right away. Rather, it might be better to go now, when the spiritual energy is still calm." 

Yakō said and closed both eyes. 

Then, probably reassessing the progress of the ritual in his mind, Hishamaru waited for the Lord to release his focus, unable to speak. 

Eventually. 

"… Yeah." 

And Yakō opened his eyes. 

"Just as well. Before I can perform the ritual, I have to give Raven's wing and the Moon ring to someone. Takamitsu-san, would you take care of Raven's wing, please?” 

Takamitsu agreed to this sudden offer with a stern "Oh, yes". 

Yakō returned the favor. 

"Then the Moon ring to you, Akiharu. I leave it to you." 

"What? Me?" 

Akiharu's eyes went black and white at the sudden nomination. Hishamaru and Akisuke, who were listening beside him, had a similar reaction. 

"Wait a minute, Chief. Isn't that the "Moon ring"? You wear it all the time, so why do you give it to someone else?” 

Yakō brushed his shoulders in response to the natural question. 

" “Raven's wing” and “Moon ring” are spells I made, but they are also shikigami, spiritual beings. They are also very powerful. If I wear them during the Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai, they could interfere with the ritual. It's too difficult to carry around with us during the ceremony. I'd rather leave it with someone else for the time being." 

Hearing that, Akiharu said, "Oh,", bluntly and relieved. 

"You mean we're only going to keep it temporarily? But if that's the case, it's fine with Sōma's young head." 

"Fool, Colonel Sōma is a reliever? He's the one who can't bring in all kinds of curses. He has to cleanse himself before the ritual and come clean and innocent." 

"Oh, I see. But then, wouldn't it be fine to be an elder of Sōma? I mean, honestly, it's safer than me." 

"No." 

At Akiharu's suggestion, Yakō shook his head with a serious face. 

"I want to leave you with someone from the Onmyoudou Dormitory." 

"… What? I know how you feel, but… are you sure you want to do this? I don't mean to say this, but there are lots of people better suited to the job than me, someone from Tsuchimikado, or even someone from the Dark Temple. Sen-san is fine. Sen-san has a lot of credibility with the director, and I'd say he's trustworthy." 

"Brother, Sen has returned to the temple." 

"You can just have shikigami deliver that stuff to him." 

For some reason, Akiharu countered his brother's line as if he was impatient. 

However. 

"Akiharu." 

Yakō said, biting to include. 

"I never told you before, but to tell you the truth, Raven's wing and the Moon ring are not just defensive or empathic spells, they are based on the Tsuchimikado's secret formula of the Golden Bird and Jade Rabbit Collection." 

At the sudden explanation, not only Akiharu but also Takamitsu's eyes widened. Even Hishamaru, who knew about it beforehand, was taken aback. Only Akisuke looked bewildered, as if he didn't understand the significance of the lines Yakō had uttered. 

"Well, isn't that the legendary book Abe no Seimei left out? … Huh? Wha, what do you mean by that?" 

What Akiharu said was true. The Golden Bird and Jade Rabbit Collection, or more accurately, “The Golden Bird and Jade Rabbit Collection of the Three Kingdoms”, was a secret book that no student of the onmyoudou would ever know. The original manuscript was no longer available, and some of its contents were said to have been lost. 

"The Collected Works of The Golden Bird and the Jade Rabbit, as we know them today, were manuscripts, but the real thing wasn't really a book at all. Well, it was a book, but what's really important is the spirit that resides in it. Seimei-sama left us his alter ego. I split it into two parts, Raven's wing and Moon ring. So, they are, in a way, the legacy of the entire onmyoudou system. That's why the person who receives it must be from the Onmyoudou Dormitory." 

Then Yakō continued in a materialistic but soft-spoken manner. 

"The reason why the dormitory exists today is because of Sōma and Kurahashi. That's why I'd like to leave “Raven's wing” and “Moon ring” to them." 

Akiharu sniffed and bit his lip at the content of it all. Even he would have a hard time reacting if he were to suddenly confide in him like this. 

After a while. 

"Ha, ha… I don't want to be entrusted with this! It's just temporary custody? Don't talk to me like that, like it's a last resort…" 

Akiharu replied with a laugh, but his eyes weren't smiling. Hishamaru, too, found the Lord's words disturbing and put her ears on edge. 

Then Takamitsu interjected from the side in a way that softened the air, 

"Well, wait, Yakō. Even though time is short, there is no need to draw conclusions right now. It's also important to ensure your safety. If something happens to you, there's no way the ritual will be successful. If the spiritual vein is unstable, there is no telling what kind of danger you're in. Moreover, during the ritual, you will have to concentrate on your magic, right? I suggest you get ready to defend yourself. Oh, no. Not that I don't trust you and Kakugyouki, of course, but…" 

Hishamaru and Kakugyouki were responsible for the protection of Yakō, and these two were responsible for his safety more than anyone else, and Takamitsu had no doubt about their abilities. 

However, Hishamaru had a bad feeling about Takamitsu's words. 

"…Yakō-sama, you said that the spiritual beings “Raven's wing” and “Moon ring” could interfere with the ritual, is Kakugyouki okay then? And what about Hokuto?" 

Kakugyouki was a demon that had no flesh and blood, and although he was usually cloaked and restrained, his natural demonic energy was strong. Of course, the real dragon, Hokuto, also had an extremely strong spiritual power. If even "Raven's wing" and "Moon ring" would be a hindrance, then Kakugyouki and Hokuto should have even more problems. 

As it turned out, the hunch was correct. 

"Yeah, I'm going to ask Kakugyouki and Hokuto to stay away from my side too." 

"Oh, please wait. Then how much is too… well, how much do you mean to leave in the first place?" 

"At least, I can't let you into the Temple of Heaven." 

"That is…" 

Hishamaru was about to object, but: 

"I'm against it." 

Suddenly, the spirit flickered behind Yakō and Kakugyouki appeared. Akiharu and Akisuke reflexively braced themselves for the sudden appearance of the demon. 

But Kakugyouki didn't seem to care about them. 

"Yakō." 

He straight up suggested to the Lord. 

" "Here" is a game place. It would be a bad idea to block me from the beginning. Think again." 

"Well, Kakugyouki?" 

Hishamaru rolled her eyes in surprise, but Kakugyouki still didn't look at her. 

"Most of all… you're leaning too much on the defensive right now. Don't get swept away. It's times like these that you should step forward and create your own flow." 

"…" 

Hishamaru forgot her sense of urgency just before too much and stared at her giant partner. The tips of the two ears twitched as she thought she might have misheard the demon's words. 

It was not unusual for Kakugyouki to appear without the Lord's command. There were many times when he would strike a light-hearted note that would fry either of them, especially in the middle of a conversation between Yakō and Hishamaru. 

However, this was the first time for him to express his opinion without being asked a question. Moreover, has he ever directly disagreed with Yakō's intentions, even when he didn't mean to? Even if he didn't mean it, he would have just laughed and obeyed the irony and kept to the line of "shikigami". 

Boom, he felt a stirring in her chest. 

A bad premonition swelled. 

"… What? What's the matter, Kakugyouki? It's rare for you to talk like that. But I can't help but do this. I'm sorry, but your demon aura isn't good for a ritual." 

"Do something." 

"Don't be ridiculous." 

"If you say the demon aura is poor, then what about the Yase Doji of Sōma? Three demons?" 

"Those are Masakado’s spring generals. Rather, they're the right ones to greet him if we're going to descend him. Besides… yes. Come to think of it, there will be at least three powerful guardians on the scene. So, Takamitsu-san, from a safety standpoint, it's not a problem." 

Yakō turned away from Kakugyouki and smiled at Takamitsu, who immediately slurred his words, "No, that's not it, but…" 

“Yakō." 

Kakugyouki opened his mouth again. 

A cynical smile passes over his face, the kind of sarcastic smile that Kakugyouki often gives. However, the smile he caught a glimpse of at that time was deeper and more evil than ever, and it looked like a demon's cynical smile, as if it was threatening something. 

"Those guys…" 

A heavy voice resounds with a ding, and a warehouse-like sensation runs through all of them. 

Kakugyouki cut off his words there. 

A silence like molten lead descended, even heavier than the word he had uttered just before. None of them could move. The demon didn't even try to hide his demonic aura, he just stared at the master with his mouth closed. 

Yakō returned a wry smile. 

"What's really wrong with you? It's not like you are." 

Yakō's soft expression eased the heavy air that dominated the scene. 

"You, are you okay with that?" 

Kakugyouki paused. 

Yakō looked up at the shikigami for a moment, then gave a faint smile. A faint, but deep smile. A troubled, weak, or even crying face, depending on how you look at it. 

"… Hey, Kakugyouki. I'm here. I've been able to come. It's not because of anyone else. It's the path I've chosen and taken on my own initiative. And it took a lot of people getting involved, a lot of wills and lives." 

The smile on Yakō's face. It was the result of the various thoughts, judgments and actions that we have accumulated so far. It was a smile that accepted such things solemnly. 

It was an expression of acceptance of fate, a look that hid a resolve. 

"I can't stop. I'll just do my best." 

Thank you. 

With that last addition, Yakō trailed off. 

Kakugyouki was still staring at the Lord. Perhaps it was his imagination, but he felt an intense conflict pass through his narrowed eyes. 

But Kakugyouki didn't say anything else, and neither Takamitsu, Akiharu nor Akisuke were able to say anything else as they remained silent. 

Without a sound, cherry blossom petals scattered around them. 

The cherry blossom colors fluttered and danced with a weightless movement, as they had been released. 

"I knew it…" 

Suddenly, Hishamaru opened her mouth and wagged her tail wide. 

All eyes were on her as she drew the attention of everyone. 

"Ogres, dragons, and other ostentatious things like demons and dragons are just ostentatious, but they're not useful when it's important. In that respect, after all, the fox is a divine messenger. It's the perfect way to get them to make offerings for rituals." 

Akiharu blurted out a little to the fox possessed, who was clear-faced and proud. "Nii-san", Akisuke poked his brother with his elbow, which caused the air in the place to loosen up. 

Except for Yakō. 

Yakō looked at the shikigami with a complicated look, similar to Satsuki's. A troubled, weakened, crying expression. But this time he wasn't smiling. The shikigami stared back at the master from the front. 

"… Hishamaru." 

"What is it, Yakō-sama, I suppose, that even Hishamaru has to be left at home? You wouldn't build the Temple of Heaven at an altitude of ten thousand meters, would you?" 

Yakō kept his mouth shut. He had a look on his face that said he had a lot of things to say, but he stammered on all of them. 

To top it all off. 

"… dangerous." 

He only uttered a short, expelling word. 

It was the kind of line that easily contradicted what he’s said up to that point. It was an extremely foolish thing to say, something that would never happen to the usual Yakō. 

Hishamaru responded with a cool face. 

"Then I must be by your side." 

Needless to say, Hishamaru smiled cheerfully, speaking it in a natural way, as if talking about the weather. 

In the end, Yakō couldn't resist that smile. 

After taking a breath and relaxing his shoulders, the onmyouji laughed back at the shikigami. 

The plan would be carried on the 13th. 

As Yakō said, the Onmyoudou Dormitory became more noisy than ever. 

"Hishamaru." 

"… I got it." 

Called by Kakugyouki, who was still in hiding, Hishamaru moved alone to the backyard of the dormitory. The only place where there was no one else in sight was there or on the roof. The cherry tree she had seen in the daytime was now illuminated by the moonlight. It was dim due to the hazy moon, but being a fox possessed, she had no problem with it. 

Even when she went around to the backyard, the clamor in the dormitory reached her. It was like a giant engine raising the ridges. An invisible entity with a complex mechanism was working furiously, on the verge of collapse. She stopped under the cherry tree and Kakugyouki appeared. 

"That's about lunch, isn't it?" 

Hishamaru asked curtly, and Kakugyouki silently nodded his head. 

"What kind of style is that, as Yakō-sama said, it's not like that, is it?" 

"… How do you see it?" 

"What are you talking about?" 

"It's Sōma." 

Kakugyouki informed and then said. 

"They can't be trusted" 

It was like being punched in the head. She felt the blood drain from her entire body. 

It was probably the words he had dared to swallow during the day. 

"… Please refrain from talking, Kakugyouki." 

With a slightly trembling voice, Hishamaru answered his partner. 

Kakugyouki didn't seem to be getting emotional. Rather, he was even calmer than usual. However, the demon did not listen to Hishamaru's admonition. 

"Sōma Satsuki is still good. Sōma's clan in the Onmyoudou Dormitory is also worthy of credit. But Sōma's “roots” are another. I don't trust the blood of Sōma." 

Kakugyouki spoke his opinions in a detached manner. Each quiet word carried the weight and firmness of a thick block of steel, and Hishamaru could not hear them through. She would listen to the demon's words beyond her own will. 

"Whether it's that Yase Doji kid, it's Sōma's formula before it's Sōma Satsuki's protection method. And by the way, even if you can trust the person called Sōma Satsuki, I'm not ready to trust what's driving the guy now." 

Kakugyouki's face was expressionless as he said this, but Hishamaru couldn't help but remember the sneer he wore during the day. 

Hishamaru tied her mouth into a straight line and let out a sigh. 

"… Why didn't you say that earlier?" 

Kakugyouki's answer to the question was unexpected. 

"I'm just a demon, after all." 

"What?" 

"I don't think it's right to throw water on that man's resolve. The words of a demon… that's not exactly a credible thing to say." 

"Kakugyouki!" 

It would be a lie to say that she was not upset. Who in the world would have thought that a thousand-year-old real demon, the "one-armed demon" of legendary fame, would despise himself? 

But Hishamaru did not leap. 

"That is an insult to Yakō-sama, who trusted you and invited you to be his protector. Don't ever speak of such foolishness again." 

With a shake of her tail and a twitch as if to break a bamboo, the beautiful fox possessed scolded the demon. 

Kakugyouki looked momentarily puzzled. Then, somewhat portentously, he looked at his partner. 

"You're sweet." 

He muttered almost to himself, but when Hishamaru glared at him, he closed his mouth with a faint smile and silently brushed his neck. It was the usual gesture of apology that the high-ranking demon would show to his senior fox partener. 

Hishamaru was inwardly relieved to see his reaction as usual. 

Then she corrected her posture once again. 

"Let's get back to the subject… it was about Sōma, wasn't it?" 

"Yes. I'd like to hear your honest opinion." 

Hishamaru took a deep breath before responding. 

"… You're right, Colonel Sōma now seems to be obsessed with revenge for the air strike. But what you're saying makes sense, and Yakō-sama finally acknowledged the reasoning behind it. But…" 

Hishamaru glanced over at Kakugyouki. 

"That's not what you're asking, is it?" 

"…" 

Kakugyouki didn't answer, but when he didn't deny it, she must have been right, because Hishamaru tied her lips together with a smile. 

She had expected this development when Kakugyouki had called her out. And she had asked herself what she should say. 

But she couldn't find an answer after all. So now, Hishamaru was honestly expressing her feelings. " … In terms of my own personal feelings, I'd rather prioritize Yakō-sama's safety than the success or failure of the ritual. Naturally. But I can't interfere with the rituals of the Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai. And if Yakō-sama values the success of the ritual more than his own safety, then I will follow his lead. I'm sure I can understand a little bit of why he would make that decision, so just follow his wishes, and I'll do my best to protect him. Whatever it takes." 

Muttering to herself, Hishamaru closed her eyes. 

She reaffirmed the words she had just said, in her mind. It was not a mistake, she thought. Hishamaru opened her eyes. 

"And then… I'd like to trust Colonel Sōma. He's a “friend” of Yakō-sama." 

Saying that, Hishamaru looked up at Kakugyouki. 

"Is it still sweet?" 

She asked. 

The demon didn't answer. 

He just looked gentler than ever. 

"Hishamaru." 

"What?" 

"Do you have any regrets?" 

"Eh?" 

Hishamaru's ears twitched at the unexpected line. 

However, Kakugyouki did not wait for the answer, but turned away from Hishamaru when he said, "Well, it's good". 

He raised his chin and looked up at the sky, at the soaring moon. In his profile, the demon who witnessed the world for a thousand years alone seemed to have a glimpse of solitude. 

"Whatever it is, I guess it's my duty to see you guys through. Right, buddy?" 

"…" 

Hishamaru looked back at Kakugyouki in silence, not knowing what to say. There was a hint of spring in the night air. 

The cherry blossoms had fallen in bursts under the ashen light of the deer moon. 

The "Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai" ceremony was held by the "Imperial Onmyoudou", an unprecedentedly large spell. 

All the preparations for the ceremony were put into perspective on April 12, the night before the ceremony was to take place, just before sunset. 

Part 3 

The beautiful moon was out. 

Yakō leaned his back on the pillar on the porch. 

Hishamaru smiled quietly as she opened the sliding doors to the room, noticing that this was the first time in a long time that Yakō had spent time alone in the room. 

She called out from the corridor, but she called out "Yakō-sama" again and entered the room. Yakō, on the porch, turned slowly and said: 

"Thank you for your help.” 

"How was it over there?" 

"Yes. It looks like it's going well. It won't be tomorrow noon, but I wonder if I can manage to make it in time." 

"Right. That's kind of bad. It's the last minute push, and I'm the only one who's drinking and moonlighting while everyone else is working without sleep." 

"What do you say, Yakō-sama is the key to the plan. Normally, you should take a good rest from an early stage and cultivate your spirit." 

Hishamaru said as she walked to the middle of the room and sat down on the tatami. 

They were now in Kurahashi's house, though not in the main western style house,  but in an old residence in the corner. The main residence of the Kurahashi family was originally an old samurai residence that was demolished and rebuilt into a brick Western-style building. At that time, what remained without being demolished was this detached room. 

The reason Yakō was in this kind of place was to store up his spiritual power for the "Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai". Normally, a more suitable place should be prepared, but until just before the event, it was unclear whether Yakō could leave the scene, even temporarily. That's why there was no time to prepare a place for him. To begin with, there were only a few places in Tokyo that were spiritually stable. The first two places that came up for consideration were the Onmyoudou Dormitory and the Kurahashi family's residence, but in both places, work continued through the night. 

This detached room should be demolished soon. However, even though it was pale, it seemed that there was no inconvenience for using it overnight. Anyway, Hisamaru was happy to be able to rest the Lord as much as possible. 

"But don't drink too much? If the Onmyoudou Heads have a hangover and go to the ritual, there is no indication." 

"Hate to say it, but it seems to be the only one available." 

"… Are you going to be able to empty two bottles by yourself?" 

"If so…" 

Yakō offered her a cup of sake and laughed, "How about you?" and Hishamaru looked at him and put up her ears with a sly smile, "No." 

Yakō chuckled. 

"What? Are you still worried about the dark temple's blunder?" 

Hishamaru's cheeks blushed muffled as she pointed out. She had once acted out an embarrassing blunder, getting drunk at the dark temple drinking party and not being at the Lord's side when he was attacked. Since then, she has tried to refrain from drinking as much as possible, unless the Lord insisted. 

"Even though it was many years ago now." 

"… It's not like I've become a stronger drinker since then." 

In the meantime, Hishamaru would also be allowed to rest. However, Yakō's duty to protect himself had not been shelved, and Kakugyouki was nowhere to be found as he was ordered by Yakō to guard the Temple of Heaven. If she accompanied the Lord and sipped her drink and tried to doze off, she couldn't just blunder. 

"That was, I believe, the first time Satsuki came to the Dark Temple, right? Um… six years ago, in the summer or so.” 

"…yes." 

"I remember. The sun was so tight and it seemed like it was a pretty hot day. That made it so much easier to spend time after dark… it's kind of nostalgic." 

Yakō narrowed his eyes as he sipped at his sake cup. 

Hishamaru also got a distant look in her eyes. 

"Indeed… I miss it.” 

It was as if it was a memory of a previous life. Come to think of it, the incident at that dark temple had led Yakō and the others to move from the village to Tokyo. And they established the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

All pasts were connected. But when she looked back on those days, why did she feel such a gap? 

"That's right. Speaking of nostalgia, I also miss this place a lot. Do you remember that? We used to play here with my father and the others when we were kids, when they brought us to Tokyo." 

"Yes." 

Hishamaru nodded her head and looked out into the garden. 

The shoji screens on the porch were all open, allowing her to see the garden all around. Nevertheless, although there was an elegant bamboo grove and pond between the main house and the detached sitting room, the only thing beyond the porch on the opposite side of the main house was a modest garden between the walls surrounding the property. The same was true of the backyard of the Onmyoudou dormitory, but since it was rarely seen, it wasn't very well maintained. 

However, it gave it a secret, boxy garden-like atmosphere, and it was a favorite place for Yakō as a child. 

"Some time ago, you said that the sunflowers that are in the Tsuchimikado's mansion are not here, and I tried to grow them using a spellcasting technique. I remember that time I couldn't control the technique well and the whole garden was covered with weeds." 

"You remember the nasty things. Your dad gave you a stiff scolding after that." 

"Do you remember a shikigami, who tried to take the blame for the crime in good health?" 

"You were so bad at lying that you were easily exposed and, on the contrary, you had no answer on your part. I remember it well." 

Yakō stared at her sideways, and Hishamaru deliberately turned her head away and wagged her tail softly to the side. 

Then they both let out a small gasp. 

When they were children, huh? 

Come to think of it, ever since she became "Hishamaru”, Yakō's guardian, the two of them rarely talked about their childhood. It was decided that Hishamaru would serve the original Yakō, according to Tsuchimikado's "tradition". Although Yakō himself strongly requested it, by the time he was old enough to remember. However, from the moment Hishamaru was given the name "Hishamaru", the relationship between the two became a clear "master-slave". More than anyone else, the two of them, especially Hishamaru, made a conscious distinction between each other. So naturally, they stopped talking about the things that happened before she became Hishamaru. 

"In the end, you didn't end up growing any flower." 

Hishamaru murmured as she looked out at the garden. 

“… Come to think of it, that was in the summer too." 

"Yes. Although, it was almost the end of summer…" 

As Hishamaru responded, Yakō unexpectedly put down his sake cup and turned to face the garden. 

Yakō made a sign and began to chant the spell in front of Hishamaru's eyes. 

And the night wind blew in. 

But the air was different from the one before? Not the air of a spring night that was still chilly, but the air of a summer night, resting with the vitality of the daytime within. At the same time, the plants and trees in the garden began to move and extend their branches and leaves. 

"Ya, Yakō-sama!?” 

Hishamaru sat up and called out to him, but Yakō didn't turn around and kept chanting the incantation, and then a series of sprouts sprouted from the ground, growing taller and taller, and blossoming one after another. 

Flowers like the summer sun. 

The next thing she knew, in the garden beyond the edge, a cluster of sunflowers in bloom was bathed in moonlight. 

" …Huh, huh?" 

And Yakō unwrapped his hand sign. He picked up the sake cup on the porch and drank it down in a breath of satisfaction. 

"This is indeed the mansion of Kurahashi. It has a rich spiritual vein." 

"Hey, Yakō-sama, you're taking a break to store your spiritual power!" 

"Ah. That's what I thought." 

"It's not that." 

"Oh well. It's no big deal. It's a sideshow. Forgive me." 

Yakō collapsed to his feet without any sign of remorse and leaned against the porch post again, smiling at the shikigami. 

He picked up the bottle and poured it into the empty sake cup. Hishamaru would have come up to him and poured it, but she couldn't bring herself to do so and wagged her tail in disgust. 

The fragrant aroma of the liquor melted into the summer night air, tickling her nostrils. 

To her dismay, she could even hear the sound of insects in the garden. It may not be the real thing but some kind of illusion, a tremendous waste of spiritual power. 

However, there was something she remembered. The view of this summer night. Come to think of it, on the day when the garden was covered with weeds, Yakō and Hishamaru had stayed in this remote tatami room after being forced to mow the weeds around as punishment. 

It was hard to sleep because of the noise of insects near the garden and the bright moon, so Yakō and her stayed up late talking to each other. They laid down on the futon and looked at the garden through the mosquito net in our room, and thought it was tasteless without the sunflowers… 

The "summer night in full bloom" recreated in front of her was a view that she couldn't achieve at that time. 

As she suspected. 

At the sight of Yakō loving the sunflowers under the moonlight, Hishamaru's face becomes calm. 

Yakō has not changed. It may seem that he has changed a lot, but when he left the world and let down the pressure, the young man she knew so well showed up. 

But this was only temporary. Once back in the Onmyoudou Dormitory, once he was back in front of everyone, Yakō must once again behave as the Onmyoudou Head, Tsuchimikado Yakō. No, he didn't have to behave, it was a natural thing to do. He had no choice but to become that way. Besides, the next day was the ceremony. The only time and place where they could have such a conversation was at this time and place, during the summer of the illusion that Yakō has created for them. 

Suddenly. 

A crazy thought jumped in her heart that was hard to suppress. 

It was not only the master, but Hishamaru as well, who was being removed from the burden of the social position. Hishamaru clenched her fists on her knees as she sat upright, her mind free of the thoughts she had unconsciously suppressed before. 

Sen's advice was difficult to wrap her mind around. Listen to your problems and ask for advice, he said. 

However, even at this point in time, Hishamaru did not know what to say to Yakō. Should she ask him to talk to her if she had any problems? Would he then be able to talk to Hishamaru about the problems that he has been holding on to by himself, without being able to tell anyone? 

No, she didn't think so. 

She didn't think so, because Yakō had a secretive nature. He has always tended to focus too much on the problems in front of him, without giving much thought to explaining them to the people around him. It was faster to solve a problem by himself than to ask for help by explaining it to others. Moreover, "relying" on Yakō was often a "burden" on the one being relied upon. Naturally, there were only a few people who could help Yakō with the problems that troubled him. This became even more pronounced as Yakō grew up. Yakō developed the habit of keeping important matters to himself and solving everything by himself. 

How could she talk to such a person to get him to talk about his inner troubles? How could she talk to him about her inner troubles? 

The reason why she couldn't speak at a time like this must be because she had been too dependent on the position of shikigami in her life. It was the proof that she had never faced Yakō as a human being. It was shameful and frustrating. Hishamaru bit her lips in frustration. 

However. 

"What, Hishamaru? You have a difficult face.” 

"Oh, well, I mean…" 

"Let me guess. You're wondering what's on your mind again anyway, and you're not sure if you should tell me that or not?" 

Yakō said ludicrously, and Hishamaru's white skin flushed with embarrassment. She was easily spotted. It was formless, since he'd intended to consult with her, but on the contrary, she was consulting with him. 

"You're still as formal as ever. If you have something to say, just say it. Regardless, you see. It's an opportunity like this. It's tomorrow's thing anyway, right?" 

With a relaxed look on his face, Yakō encouraged the shikigami to go easy on him, causing Hishamaru to shrug her shoulders. Her neck was brushed and her face was turned down, the tips of the fox's ears pointing downward. It was a bit awkward. 

Nevertheless, the arrangements were unexpectedly in place. She couldn't remain silent like this. 

"… Ya… Yakō-sama." 

"Yeah." 

"I… I'm not trying to say…" 

"Yeah?" 

"… Mm, I'd rather have you say it. I would like you to confide in me, Yakō-sama, your thoughts. Well… not about the significance of the… tomorrow's rituals and arrangements, but just your frank feelings right now." 

Dismayed, Hishamaru managed to say just that, and raised her face from its slumped position, leaving it small. 

The fox's ears above her head swayed finely from side to side. 

The translucent blue eyes looked upwards at Yakō. 

"… I… want to know what kind of feelings Yakō-sama is having, I… want to know." 

When their eyes met, Yakō froze as if he was struck by surprise, and for some reason, his cheeks turned slightly red. 

It was as if those very words directly saw through the thoughts and hesitations that Yakō was having right then. 

"…" 

"Yakō-sama?" 

"Oh, yeah." 

Hishamaru nodded her head at Yakō, who suddenly fell silent; Yakō's face finally flushed and he turned his gaze away to the garden behind him. 

"… What's going on?" 

"Well, wait. Wait a minute." 

"Ye, yes?" 

When Hishamaru was puzzled, Yakō tilted his drink glass, exhaled heavily, and glanced at her in a questioning way. When Hishamaru looked at him blankly, he muttered in a small, tiny voice, "… it doesn't mean that." Then, faster than Hishamaru could confirm what was going on, he hit a dry cough and turned to her, "Alright.” 

"Hey, Hisamaru? To be honest, I'm not sure what you're expecting from me." 

"Sorry, I'm sorry…" 

"But, for example, if it's something you've been thinking about since I arrived here today." 

Yakō, who cut out the story, had completely returned from the mysterious appearance. Hishamaru leaned her head and at the same time relatedly answered "yes". 

"That's why … I don't hear this because it has a deep meaning …" 

"Yes?" 

"Hishamaru, what do you think happens to people when they die?" 

"Ya, Yakō-sama!" 

"Ah, wait, wait, calm down. So I said it doesn't mean anything. I'm not talking about tomorrow's ritual." 

Yakō hurriedly denied it, but there was no way she could remain calm after being asked such a thought-provoking question now that they were getting ready for a dangerous ceremony. Yakō smiled bitterly at Hishamaru, who was sitting on her knees and wagging her tail in a flurry of anger. 

"I'm sorry for the way I said it. Think of it as just small talk. So… what do you think, Hishamaru? I've said it a million times, but there's no deep meaning to it, so you don't have to take it seriously, okay?" 

Yakō asked again in a hushed cat-stroking voice, Hishamaru still had a wary look in her willow eyebrows, but for now she repeated the Lord's pause in her chest. 

Even if she was told not to think seriously, Hishamaru would still think seriously when it came to answering. 

"Is that… I mean, is it about a person's soul? What happens to the soul after death, you say?" 

Yakō and Hishamaru have something of a connection to the spell of the soul. Yakō was the one who redefined the " Taizan Fukun Sai", the secret festival of the Tsuchimikado family, as "a spell to manipulate people's souls", but when Hishamaru replied that, Yakō was not so sure. 

However, Hishamaru replied, and when she saw Yakō's expression, "I'm serious" she sharpened her lips. 

"… To say the least, I don't understand. I just feel that if I die, it's not the end of the world there. I don't want to say that, but I don't want to." 

"Yeah. Right. It's the number one reason people seek out religion." 

"If we're talking in terms of religion, I do hope that after death we can go to paradise. It doesn't matter if it's Yomi, Hidden World, or the west’s heaven, but I wish there was a posthumous world somewhere and I could go there." 

- At all, it is doubtful whether I can go to paradise. 

She wasn’t only a human, she was a fox possessed. She had followed Yakō and violated many taboos. 

The only thing she really wanted to do was to stay by Yakō's side again after death, right? She didn't care if it was God, Buddha, or the devil. She just wanted the wish to be listened to. 

"Oh, but unexpectedly, Yakō-sama may be served as a god after death." 

"Like Seimei-sama? If possible, I'd like to give me a break." 

"You say so. And if Yakō-sama becomes a god, please take me as a spring genus." 

"Haha. Right. I'll promise you then." 

Yakō laughed and tipped his drink. The Lord's amused face made Hishamaru's mouth quiver and her tail waggle as well. 

"Oh, yes. Better yet, it's reincarnation." 

Hishamaru uttered a sudden thought. 

"… Reincarnation?" 

Yakō asked. 

"Yes.” 

The idea of reincarnation as a new life after death was not uncommon. In India and other countries, there was a belief of reincarnation that all living things die and are reincarnated many times in the mundane world. The idea that people were reincarnated immediately after death, or after a certain amount of time has passed, could be found in many other parts of the world. Of course, such ideas were not uncommon in Japan. And it was not a bad idea, it was a redeeming thought. 

"If I were to die, I would like to be reborn as the shikigami of Yakō-sama again." 

Straightening her back and straightening her residence, Hishamaru declared. 

This was the only thing she agreed with, from the bottom of her heart. 

Yakō looked a little embarrassed by Hishamaru's answer. 

"So? What is this question and answer, after all?" 

"Yeah." 

Yakō spoke as he reached for a bottle of sake and poured it into the cup. 

"Go to the afterlife. Become a god. And reincarnation… just my opinion, but I think this might actually be true for all of them." 

Hishamaru's ears bounced up and down at the unexpected line. 

Yakō was wetting the tip of his tongue with liquor. 

"When a person dies, their spirit energy spreads and mixes with the rest. It's a union with what is the spirit of all things, which is what I call the "imperial onmyoudou"… no, it's the part of the system that has yet to be theorized. So, based on my own personal view of magic, for me, spirituality is "God”. "God" is "omnipresent”. The spirit in all things is ultimately a god or gods. Therefore, to be one with your spirit is to be one with the gods.” 

"… united with God? After death?" 

"Yes. And doesn't that mean that we go to a place where the gods are, to a place called Paradise, the Pure Land, the Hidden World, Yomi, or Heaven? And this is consistent with a person being revered as a god or treated as a Buddha after death. After all, you become one with God and Buddha." 

"That's… but isn't that a bit of a leap indeed? Excuse me, it sounds a bit convoluted." 

"That's because it's my own personal view of magic. It's just a twisted version of what I think is going on." 

Yakō replied openly and without offense, to which Hishamaru was simply taken aback. 

"In the first place, the idea that the spirit of the world is God is incompatible with the existing religious beliefs. In my opinion, the personality of the so-called “God of Personality” consists of more than half of the observer's personality and convenience. And it is formed by a combination of accidental natural phenomena, social structure, power, and the context of past traditions. For example, yes, Taizan Fukun, the main deity of the Taizan Fukun Sai. This deity, at least to me and the people of Tsuchimikado, has quite a bit of Seimei-sama in him." 

"Eh, yeah?" 

"Well, in this case, it's Seimei-sama, after all. I'm sure there's a large part of him that was cursed in various ways, but what's important is how the one who observes perceives. Especially in the case of contacting the gods with magic, it is very important to know how to "define" the method. Of course we can't do whatever we want, but it depends on the ability and intentions of the magician. Four years ago, I talked about "God" to Dairenji Kenmyou, the man behind Akiharu's possession, and that was the basic idea behind my philosophy. I think I've reaffirmed that in the last four years." 

Hishamaru, who had been rolling her eyes at the mention of Abe no Seimei, twitched her shoulders at the name of Dairenji Kenmyou, which Hishamaru, of course, remembered well. Afterwards, Hishamaru was taken by the Military Police because of the "God" lecture. Yakō, however, didn't seem to remember Hishamaru's disaster, and he was in a very good mood, talking passionately about it. 

On the one hand, it was a little disconcerting to think that it's been a long time since she's had a master like this, but on the other hand, she couldn't help but feel pleased. 

"… Then how is the reincarnation? Is that also explained by the same logic in Yakō-sama's view of magic?" 

She pawned it from here to try it out, and sure enough, Yakō's eyes lit up. 

"Of course. First of all, when a person is born, where does that spiritual energy come from? For one thing, the mother and the father. So it's the parents. The child receives the yin and yang aura of the parents, and the child carries the spirit aura in its body. But the spirit energy of the unborn child is not just the sum of the father and mother's energy. It is clear by comparing the spiritual energy of parents and children. Of course, there are some aspects of the spirit energy that were altered during the process of birth, but there are many more types of spirit energy that are intertwined with each other. Then where does this spirit not come from? I think it comes from God. The gods that are omnipresent in the world are also omnipresent in their offspring. And this could be reincarnation, or at least that's part of the mechanics of it. Well, you see. When a person dies, they become part of God, and as a result of their ubiquity in all things, for some reason or another, they reincarnate in a baby again and get another life." 

With glittering eyes, Yakō leaned towards Hishamaru, "Right?" Hishamaru smiled elegantly and wagged her tail with a snap. 

Honestly, it was a bit doubtful that she could understand everything Yakō was saying. No, she understood what he was talking about, but she didn't think she was up to speed on what he meant by that. When thinking back, she just wanted Yakō to talk to her, to tell her what was troubling him, but was this really the right choice? She thought that she was just trying to talk to him, but she felt like she was there just to receive a lecture from Yakō. 

However, the Lord's expression was cheerful. Maybe that was fine. 

"Well, now that you mention it, in the story you just told me, the soul didn't come up, did it? What does a person's soul look like in Yakō-sama's view of magic?" 

Hishamaru may not have bothered to ask this question, but she couldn't help but ask it lightly. 

In contrast, Yakō's expression immediately changed to a stern expression. 

"I don't know." 

He let out a grand sigh. 

"Yeah. That's right. That's where it all comes down to. What is the soul? What kind of thing is it? And before that, whether there is such a thing as a soul in the first place." In "Taizan Fukun Sai", the soul is manipulated… but is that thing manipulating really a human soul? Or rather, how do you define the soul? I don't think it's possible to define it in terms of the nature of the spirit, but it's not very stable. Is it personality, after all? Or is it a memory, an experience, a record of who we are as people? Aside from "God" or spirits, there is another aspect of spirits, something that unites them in a form, or perhaps a discerning sign, or, in this case, a vessel, that organically makes sense in a cohesive way…? But…" 

Instantly, Hishamaru was overcome with deep regret. 

This was no good. Hishamaru decided to ask, "Umm…" in a loud voice. 

"I'm sorry, but have you been thinking about such things alone ever since you came here, Yakō-sama?" 

Then Yakō blinked with a snap. 

"Yeah, why?" 

"Why?" 

"Why? Because I wasn't busy." 

She couldn't follow the second phrase. 

But when Hishamaru rolled her eyes and was unsure of what to say next, Yakō cooed and shook his shoulder. 

Then he sat back down on the edge and rested his back on the pillar again. 

"I'm just kidding." 

"What?" 

"It's a joke that I've been thinking about it all the time. Of course, I had in mind tomorrow. I've been rebelling against ritual procedures and techniques over and over again. I even dream about it. It’s stuck in my brain." 

Yakō's tone was no different than the spellcasting discussion he had just before. Still, Hishamaru's whole body strengthened as if she had been bathed in cold water. To such Hishamaru, "But?" Yakō dropped his gaze to the sake cup in his hand, took a sip, and scorned. 

"I'm sitting here, alone, sipping my drink, and my mind, which was full of rituals, suddenly starts to think of something else. It's not that I forget about the ritual, but on the other hand, I'm thinking about this and that, even the most rambling things. Speaking of which, I wonder what the death of a person is all about. Is it just a change in hierarchy in the spiritual sense? What does it mean in the end what I'm trying to do? A thought comes back to haunt you, and you think about it all over again… and before you know what it means, you just want to know. You want to figure it out. The spiritual structure of the world. Or the relationship between people and God, you know?" 

Staring at the cup of sake in his hand, Yakō vaguely uttered such a comment. "Yakō-sama…" whispered Hishamaru, she gazed delicately at the ashen, embarrassed profile of the man. 

Yakō, who has been imagining the spiritual state of the world and going through a lot of trial and error about the spellcasting that dealt with it, looked happy from the bottom of his heart. Surely, perhaps, he was happy. 

"…Thanks." 

"Yakō-sama?" 

"It's been nice talking to you." 

Yakō raised his face as he said this and looked from his drink cup back to Hishamaru. 

"The bottom line is. This “problem” we have now is best dealt with by someone like me, who would dwell on such obvious things if I had any time to spare. Is that what you call it? You know, the more we talk, the more I think that's true. So if that's the case, then I don't know what to say.” 

Unusually stagnant, Yakō was the last to occupy. 

"I feel like this is the right thing to do. That my fate is right." 

"Yakō-sama…" 

At that moment, something crazy from earlier came from deep in his chest again. 

He noticed that Hishamaru was calling out to Yakō in the moonlight sitting on the edge of the room. 

"After all, have you not changed your mind?" 

It was too late. 

And at Hishamaru's question, Yakō chuckled and tipped his drink cup. 

"Yeah." 

He answered her smiling then his face turned serious. 

"I'm sorry," he continued. 

After that, neither of them spoke. 

The silence between them was broken by the faint, gentle sound of insects coming from the garden. 

Hishamaru continued to stare at Yakō. In her mind, the words of the demon were like a storm. 

- "Those guys can't be trusted." 

Should she tell him? And should they stop it? 

Maybe, but… 

The time to do so has already passed. Everything was moving quietly and only "forward". Probably for many years now. Perhaps even longer than this war has been going on. 

If Yakō was truly "worthy" of this, then the process and path to this point was, in a sense, inevitable, too. 

Yakō was a man of the past. After death, one becomes one with God, and after being omnipresent in all things, one is reborn and gets another life. 

Then… 

"No matter how many times it takes, no matter how long, we’ll definetely meet again. Because, I am your shikigami!” 

The sound of insects surrounded them. The sunflowers bless them. 

"…Yakō-sama!" 

She looked over and saw that Yakō was red again. He stared at the liquor cup in his hand, then at the sunflowers in the garden, then up at the moon in the night sky. 

"Yakō-sama? What is wrong?" 

Hishamaru asked curiously. 

Then Yakō gulped down his drink. 

"You'd like to know, wouldn't you?" 

Yes, she mumbled to no one, her soft tail swaying fluffily from side to side to show Hishamaru's confusion. 

"Ah, you know what, Hishamaru?" 

"Ye, yes?" 

"Well… I thought it was a bit… unfair from my side of the fence to say this from my side, but… no, I'm aware that it is, but…" 

"…Yes?" 

Hishamaru's bewilderment at Yakō's uncharacteristic demeanor was growing at an alarming rate. However, Yakō didn't notice her confusion. 

"I'm a guy with a lot of problems, even with this, I'm aware of that to some extent. And, of all times, this is the best time to do it, but it's also because it's now or never. Of course, I've been thinking for a long time that it would last, but…" 

Yakō's gaze traveled around the room, but he avoided Hishamaru. The words he said to Hishamaru seemed to be spoken in a way that only he could understand. 

Hishamaru, stunned, could only wait and see what happened. 

The untimely sound of insects colored the old garden. Blooming sunflowers watched over the clumsy onmyouji and his shikigami. 

How much time has passed? 

Yakō closed both eyes tightly, opened them, and stared straight ahead at Hishamaru. 

"Kon." (“kon” means “mixed”) 

Her thoughts fizzled out for a moment. She failed to understand what the word meant. 

But her mind reacted sharply. Boom, her heartbeat jumped. 

Kon, Tsuchimikado Kon, which was Hishamaru's real name, given to her by Yakō. However, since she took on the name Hishamaru, Yakō no longer called her by her real name. Until this moment. 

A name that has been kept hidden for a long time. 

The name of a girl Yakō had known since childhood. 

"Kon. That… That…" 

Her heart was beating faster and faster. The ears overhead turned busily and the tail swayed languidly from side to side. 

And then, Yakō cried out, “Kon”. A sweet electric current ran through Hishamaru's body with a jolt. "I, I love you! Since long, I have always, always loved you. So… would you… if you would like… to be married to me… would you like that?" 

Hishamaru had stopped, and after saying this in a breath, Yakō shrank back, as if the air had gone out of him. 

The first thing that popped into her head was the question of what "???"(meoto, can’t get to it) was. She didn't understand the sudden heat in her face or the noisy blood pulse that was beating in her ears. 

So maybe it wasn't Hishamaru who responded at that moment. Maybe it was someone else, someone who had already been through it once, who had lent a hand in her disappointment. 

"Yes." 

A small one. 

Hishamaru was framed. 

And Yakō choked on a leaf. 

Their gazes intertwined. Their bodies heat each other up. Embarrassed, they couldn't stay. But they couldn't remove their gaze. 

Yet, it was Yakō who cut off and regained his composure first. " …Oh", he foreheaded Hishamaru's reply, then blurted out in a scratchy voice, "Thank you”. 

His face broke out in a smile. 

Then, with a boyish shyness, but with an unshakable desire to: 

"Kon." 

He held out his hand to Hishamaru. 

It was like being in a dream. 

Hishamaru took Yakō's hand, fluffily presented… She took the hand of her favorite childhood friend, fluffily offered to her. 

Yakō's fingers clenched Hisamaru's fingers. Yakō drew in Hishamaru who put herself to his chest. Hishamaru was soaked sweetly in the habitual happiness. 

The sound of the insects continued as if they were hurrying to live. 

The happy, temporary summer was coming to an end. Still, those few moments were of equal value to both of them as an eternity. 

"I was told you wanted to see me.” 

"Enter." 

Knocking, Debuchi opened the door and peeked in. Satsuki, from the desk answers without looking up. Debuchi entered the room and closed the door behind him. He remained by the door, and then, with his eyes still on his papers, Satsuki called out, "Come here." 

Debuchi was still stubby, but his clothes had been replaced by a military uniform, though he did not wear his rank insignia. Of course, he hadn't returned to the military. His current position was as a private soldier of Satsuki. Although there was not the slightest hint of humility in front of his employer, he was at least playing the part of a decent “subordinate” on the surface. 

Satsuki kept Debuchi on his feet, looking down at his papers. He hadn't turned on the lights in the room due to light control, but instead had placed a lamp on his desk and was reading by the light. Debuchi stood in silence, waiting. 

Eventually he finished reading the document and tossed it on the desk with a whisper, and Satsuki looked up, leaning back in his chair. 

"… I need to ask you for a favor." 

"You mean tomorrow? I mean, already, today?" 

While answering, Debuchi glanced at the window. The curtains were closed, so he couldn't see out, but the date had long since changed. In a couple of hours, it will be dawn. 

"I'm stunned, though. The air raid warning was going off again tonight, and you've been doing a lot of paperwork." 

"This is the fifth alarm this month alone? Besides, the warding of the Onmyoudou Dormitory worked during last month's air raid. It's much safer than running all the way to the bomb shelter." 

"I'm not asking if it's dangerous. I'm complimenting you on the nerve of doing your job without a care in the world with enemy planes flying over your head. I see why you're getting ahead of yourself." 

Debuchi grinned and chuckled. 

"Besides, you're the one who's going to descend a god like Dairenji today, right? Are you sure? To stay up this late." 

"We'll perform the ritual around sunset tomorrow, when the so-called meeting of the demons takes place. There's plenty of time to rest." 

Satsuki said nonchalantly, but without saying more, Debuchi brushed his shoulders. 

"So? What's your request?" 

When he asked the requirement he had been called for, Satsuki opened the desk extract and grabbed something from inside. 

He put it on the table with a thud. A pistol, Debuchi's eyebrows twitched with a huff; Satsuki had forbidden the possession of weapons, even after he'd put Debuchi under. Mostly spell gear, but that included guns, of course. 

"Browning, huh? That's the good stuff." 

"It's my personal property. It's loaded and everything." 

"I'm guessing this isn't a favor to be kept in reserve for the ceremony. 

"Is there a more inappropriate choice of people to use as a safe than you?" 

Satsuki glared at Debuchi with half-lidded eyes. 

"Listen to me." 

He was about to preface his statement with the requirement. 

But just before he did so, he jerked slightly and turned his slashing gaze to the window. 

He rose from his chair and approached it. Opening the curtains, just outside the still-dark window pane, a nest flapped its wings, a shikigami from Sōma. It belonged to a subordinate in the General Staff Office. 

When Satsuki opened the window, the bird perched on the window sill and rested its wings. Satsuki turned to Debuchi for a moment, then said “Report to me". 

Then the nest moved its bite and began to speak in the voice of its subordinate. 

"We just received some urgent news. As a matter of fact…" 

Satsuki and Debuchi gazed at the unexpected report. 

Part 4 

The setting sun had turned the sky red. 

Standing on the site of an air strike that had been turned into a wilderness, the sky was terrifyingly wide. The sky, which had been tinted all over the vastness of the sky, was slowly fading away and turning into the night sky. 

It was as if the flowing blood was turning black. Hishamaru looked up at the sky and imagined this, then came back to herself with an ominous gulp and shook his head in a panic. 

Hishamaru was in the east of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, across the Sumida River. It was one of the areas that had been particularly hard hit by the air raids last month. The park that Sen and her had visited before was also a short distance south of there. All the bodies have been moved and quite a bit of tile jingles have been removed, but the landscape seemed even more desolate because of it. In addition, the military had banned entry to the area over a wide area today, so there was an alien feeling that we had finally wandered into a place that was not "this world". 

And in the middle of the scorched earth, a simple stone stage has been built. 

The square shaped stage was surrounded by torii gates on all sides. The torii were black in the north, blue in the east, vermilion in the south and white in the west. 

It was an altar. This was the same altar that was used for the "Taizan Fukun Sai". Because it was a newly built structure, it looked different from the one in the mountains of the Tsuchimikado village. In particular, the color of the torii gates surrounding the stage, which was not yet hammered, stung her eyes and made her feel sickening. 

- I shouldn't. What have I been thinking about since a while ago? 

Hishamaru scolded herself and steeled himself for the anxiety in her chest, which might be rising in the back of her mind. 

Hishamaru was waiting right under the stone stage. Around her were the dormitory students, Sōma's spellcasters, and people from the Kurahashi family. There were about twenty people in total. However, in addition to them, there were two or three other massed spellcasters standing at evenly spaced positions at a distance. They were also regularly arranged over a fairly wide area. 

At the side of the sorcerers there was a square table of what looked like a desk. It was an altar. The podium was a concentric circle with a radius of one and a half kilometers around the Temple of Heaven. 

The stone stage in the center and hundreds of altars, evenly spaced over a 1.5 kilometer radius. All of these were the Temple of Heaven for the "Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai" that took place that day. Even for Hishamaru, who was always at Yakō's side, this was the first time she had ever witnessed such a large scale magic ritual; Yakō had been asked by Shinra to lay a huge boundary around the mountains where the Dark Temple was located before, but compared to that, it was an order of magnitude slower. 

Moreover, the god descending was a one-shot deal. It couldn't be tested, nor could it be redone. Inevitably, there was a tense atmosphere among the spellcasters participating in the ritual. All of the people there were the best spellcasters of the day, but none of them looked like they had the time to do so. Because of their skill, they understood the difficulty of the ritual prepared by Yakō. 

Hishamaru was surrounded by sorcerers, so she too has unbuckled her concealed form, exposing her ears and tail. The military clothed fox looked around in the distance, then turned her gaze to the top of the stone stage. 

On the stage, a pedestal was set up on which were inscribed several offerings to the gods. Silver coins, white silk, saddles, young man, armor and helmet, long sword, seven treasures, gold dust, koto (qin, 7-stringed Chinese zither), biwa (Japanese lute). There were also paper formations of these objects. There were also ritual objects on the side of the pedestal. Drums, conches, bells, mint, incense, an old bronze bell, stroking, charms. All of them were carefully filled with spell power. 

And then, in front of these ritual tools, an onmyouji in sokutai was in front of them. The young Onmyoudou Head who conducted the ritual. All the preparations were in place. 

But only the last one was not yet ready. 

Satsuki's arrival had been delayed for over an hour. 

"… Adjudant-dono, have you heard from him yet?" 

One of the dormitory students asked anxiously. When she replied, "No" he would have known the answer, but his expression finally hardened. 

"You said that there was a possibility that the schedule might be delayed by the reinstallation of the north side, right? But why hasn't Colonel Sōma arrived yet, even though it's all over?” 

This is what she wanted to ask. Nevertheless, she couldn't show her float in front of her subordinates. 

"Keep your private conversation to that point. Stand by until you are instructed. What we have to do is no different." 

With that, Hishamaru blocked the question and looked up at the sky again. 

The sun was ticking down. According to the plan, the ceremony was supposed to start before the sun had set. But this would definitely delay the start of the ceremony. 

Really, what could have happened? 

Late last night, Tokyo was bombed again, but Hishamaru and the others didn't find out until the next morning, because Yakō had warded the offshoot and Kurahashi had been careful not to disturb Yakō's rest. 

Fortunately, the death toll was relatively low and most of the damage was to the west of the city center. However, several bombs were dropped in this area as well, destroying some of the protection altars that had been set up in the area. It was necessary to arrange for others in a hurry, but the Onmyoudou Dormitory could not prepare it immediately and had to ask the military, that was to say, Satsuki, to do so. For this reason, they had been informed before noon that their arrival at the site might be delayed. 

However, as the student who asked her about it was suspicious, the delay in arranging an altar was just a token "excuse". 

In fact, since dawn, something strange has occurred in the military, especially in the General Staff headquarters. Unscheduled meetings had been held earlier in the day, and people were frequently coming and going. In other words, something had happened. It was something of a higher priority than the fortified wall project, which has now become an official military "operation" and must be dealt with immediately. 

- What in the world… and why at this time… 

Hishamaru looked at Yakō on the stage, irritated. 

Yakō had been standing at the altar for nearly an hour now, his expression dead. Hishamaru remembered last night and clenched her right hand in front of her chest. The Lord's heart, which was with her then, now seemed infinitely far away again. This made her sad. 

But then. Hishamaru hurriedly followed his gaze. The sun had just sunk into the western sky and a small bird was seen flying in the western sky. 

It was a shikigami, heading toward them. Hishamaru quickly flipped her tail and jumped onto the stage. ”Yakō-sama!”. 

"… Yes." 

It was a swallow that flew in. As Yakō stretched out his hand towards the sky, the swallow swooped straight down and perched on his index finger, which was held out sideways. 

The "commandment" flapped its wings and said: 

"Sorry, Yakō, I'm late." 

It was Takamitsu's voice, waiting in the Onmyoudou Dormitory. 

“What's going on?" asked Yakō, Hishamaru also pricked up her ears. 

"Oh, it's…" 

There was a slight unrest in Takamitsu's voice as well. 

The unrest quickly propagated to Hishamaru, who heard the story, and also to the spellcasters around him. 

"Well… the president of the United States, died suddenly." 

Hishamaru's voice raised unexpectedly, and the people around her were stunned and thunderstruck. As expected, Yakō also gasped. 

"No way! Was it an assassination?" 

"Nope. We don't know the details, but it seems he died of illness. Anyway, the General Staff is in an uproar. If it's not done well, it could lead to an Imperial Council." 

Takamitsu could not hide his impatience at the unexpected situation. Naturally, so did Hishamaru. After all, the leader of their enemy had passed away suddenly. 

They were stunned. 

"This is why I don't understand warfare. How could the enemy general be gone faster than you can pray to Masakado for a curse kill?" 

The venomous tone that came from the side was Kakugyouki's voice, which sounded very sarcastic. Hishamaru turned her tail upside down and shouted: 

"Kakugyouki! Please excuse me! Of course, descending from the gods was only a means of defending the imperial capital, but such a proposal was actually on the agenda among some of the dormitory students - the Twin Horn Syndicate, for example. 

"… Is the war going to end?" 

Yakō confirmed with a mysterious voice sound. Hishamaru's ears perked up at that sort of natural question. 

However. 

"No." 

And Takamitsu's voice was heavy. 

"I'm not saying it's not a possibility, but it's hard to imagine that this will cause a truce in the United States. The President is not what we call the Emperor in Japan. Anyway, it seems that Colonel Sōma has not been able to leave the General Staff because of this." 

"Does that mean he can't come back today?" 

"I don't know. But of course the General Staff is aware of the planned schedule. It's hard to imagine the situation changing any more rapidly, and in the end, it's what the top brass will decide." 

Completely unexpected, Hishamaru turned to Yakō and instructed, "Would you like to go?" He asked for instructions. Swallow, who stopped at his fingertips, also looked at Yakō for judgment. 

Yakō glared at Swallow, his lips tightly knotted. A deep chick was etched between his eyebrows. 

"…wait for Satsuki. We will perform the ritual." 

Hishamaru was mystified by the Lord's decision. 

The reason why he chose the time of the meeting of the demons, when the yin and yang were swapped, was because it is said that the boundary between this world and the hidden world will be warmed up at this time of the day. He chose this time because he thought it would be a suitable time to bring the god down. 

Four years ago, when Colonel Sōma descended Masakado, it was late at night. 

The time of day at which the gods descended was not a very important factor. Whether it was after sunset or near dawn should not be a major issue. 

"…There may be another air raid at night." 

Yakō pauses for a moment to ponder the concerns that Hishamaru has voiced in a whisper. 

"… The enemy just bombed us yesterday. Considering the previous examples, it's unlikely that they will carry out air strikes on consecutive days… I think. Besides, this area should already be out of the enemy's airstrike targets." 

Originally, it should not have been a wishful thinking to postpone the date that was too urgent. However, Yakō had set his sights on today's date and had been gradually manipulating his spiritual veins to prepare for the unfolding of the "Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai". Nowadays, the final danger was greater than if they had to start over again. 

Yakō closed his eyes once, exhaled, and shook his head in relief. 

He chuckled softly at Hishamaru and said: 

"Hishamaru, explain the situation to everyone. For now, we'll hold the status quo until the date changes. If the main character still doesn't show up, we'll reconsider. Masakado is a spirit from a thousand years ago. He'll wait for that much with ease." 

More than four hours had passed since the night fell over the wasteland. 

Since then, the clouds have appeared and the moon has been hidden. Once the ceremony would begin, the altars would be lit, but until then, they would have to leave the lights off because they were under light control. Hishamaru, being fox possessed, was able to see at night, so that was not a problem, but Yakō and the other spellcasters were forced to wait for a long time in the dark night. 

They've explained the situation and told them to get comfortable and rest, but they should have been physically and mentally drained. Otherwise, he was left to wait for a long time just before he dared to perform a great ceremony. It's probably not too late to ask why his nerves were so worn out. 

But at least Hishamaru’s master did not seem to be doing that. 

"Hishamaru, aren't you cold?" 

"I'm fine. You know that, don't you?" 

Yakō laid the outer robe his men gave him on the stone stage and sat down on one knee, while Hishamaru remained standing as she needed to be alert for the area. Since there were so many people, she was told again and again that she should also sit down, but she was stubbornly refusing to do so. After all, Kakugyouki wasn't there at the moment. She couldn't relax her mind. 

"Yakō-sama, please don't take it easy. If you want, I'll get you something hot to drink." she suggested to Yakō, who was sitting beside her. 

Wearing Raven's wing would prevent the cold, but as said the other day, he's already left it with Takamitsu. The use of magic was also forbidden in order to minimize the effect on the Temple of Heaven. It wasn't a shivering temperature, but it was still chilly on the spring night. 

"… the meal was done a while ago." 

"I can't use fire, so it's tasteless." 

"It's before the ritual?” 

"Then can you have the sacred wine? Just a little more of the ceremonial stuff, okay?" 

"Yakō-sama?" 

Yakō and Hishamaru were the only ones on the stone stage. They were both talking in hushed tones, so there was no need to worry about being heard. Even if they were heard, they would surely doubt their own ears, such as the Onmyoudou Head and Onmyoudou Assistant arguing over drinking in front of a ceremony that might predict the future of the nation. …No, someone who was somewhat close to Yakō might have been confused. 

Hishamaru wagged her tail, half stunned and half relieved by the Lord's calm demeanor in the other half. 

"Anyway, no alcohol. Let's get you a cup of tea instead. I can't leave your side, so please send someone else to run an errand." 

"Okay, Hishamaru, that's a pain in the ass too." 

"But." 

"It's not that cold…" 

Yakō was about to say that, when Hishamaru moved the fox's ears, "Yakō-sama?" and Yakō put his finger on the tip of his chin, thinking about something. 

"Is there something wrong?" 

"… Yeah. Well, since you're here, give me your knee." 

"Knee?" 

"Knee pillow." 

"Nah." 

Yakō looks up at Hishamaru, who was in the middle of her prime. Yakō grinned at her, though in this darkness it shouldn't be obvious that her face had turned bright red. 

"Ya… Yakō-sama!" 

"It's okay. It's dark and far away, and you won't be seen." 

"That's not the problem." 

"What a pity. I can get warm and relax." 

"…" 

Hishamaru raises her eyebrows at Yakō, who looked deliberately sad. 

- For crying out loud… 

Hishamaru's tail wagged wildly for a few moments, but then she swayed decisively. 

Before Yakō could look at her in surprise, Hishamaru walked behind the seated Lord and sat down on the stone stage. 

She sat upright, closed her eyes and said: 

"… go ahead." 

"Yeah, no," 

"It’s poor." 

"That’s…" 

Hisamaru opened only one eye and shook her tail again to Yakō. Yakō tied his lips, looked around, and said, "Um… excuse me," and laid down. 

He removed his cushion and rested his head on the aligned thighs. Hishamaru finally giggled at the strange expression on his face. 

“How do you like it? Do you feel like you can warm up a little? Do you feel rested?" 

"… The back of my head is warm. My mind is… yeah. Yeah. You know, it's, uh…” 

"I can add a tail to it if you'd like." 

"All right, Hishamaru, I've lost. I am now well satisfied with the devotion of a healthy shikigami." 

Apologizing for his mischievousness, the hardness disappeared from Yakō on her lap. Folding his fingers together on his prone chest and closing his eyes, Hishamaru gave another small smile and gently extended her fingers. Then she gently brushed the bangs from her master's forehead to the side. 

This was the first time she'd seen Yakō's face from this angle. Or maybe it was just in childhood? With the Lord's unguarded trust, Hishamaru once again paid attention to her surroundings. However, there was no change in this. Overhead, gray clouds lit by the ashy moonlight covered the sky with no wind. 

"Yakō-sama… Wouldn't it be better to postpone the ceremony after all?" 

She asked softly, and after a few moments of questioning, "…no" was Yakō's reply, as Yakō kept both eyes closed. 

"I'd like to do it tonight if possible. There's no telling when the current “calm” of the spiritual energy might end. If it shakes back, we won't be able to perform the ritual." 

"But will Colonel Sōma be able to come?" 

"I don't suppose there's anything we can do to control his temper." 

"… Takamitsu-sama said that the war will continue… but it's possible that this could be an opportunity for us to see the possibility of a ceasefire, right?" 

"That's exactly what we can't help but think about." 

Yakō's mouth had already been blown away. He was of the same opinion as Hishamaru, but she was not as divided as the Lord. She was not sure if this was the right way to go. 

If they were to turn back, this might be their last chance to do so. 

Of course, such a choice was just a delusion now. 

"But, because he is so late, I have to get Satsuki to make up for something." 

"Isn't it not the fault of Colonel Sōma?" 

"He's still late. Let's get him to spit out all his treasured sake. No, more importantly, let's get some time off. Let's just give him all the work of the Onmyoudou Dormitory and let him do it for a month or so." 

"That's nice." 

"Go back to the village and visit Kokage. Let's go to the Dark Temple and get Shinra to listen to our complaints. I wonder if we'll go to the hot springs as well." 

"That's good. It's wonderful. But…" 

When Hishamaru cut him off thoughtfully, Yakō opened one eye, "Hmm?” 

"Probably Yakō-sama is all about spellcasting when he travels, and he'll end up going back to the Onmyoudou Dormitory sooner or later. When it comes to spellcraft, the dormitory is the best place to make progress. After all, that place is a place that Yakō-sama has created for that purpose by himself." 

"… it’s different." 

Turning to Yakō on her lap, Hishamaru gave him a confident smile, and Yakō immediately acknowledged it, and could only chuckle. 

"Then I'd rather have Satsuki promise to expand the authority of the Onmyoudou Dormitory, or better facilities. I'll also get more people to contribute from the military, and more flexibility in terms of funding than we have now…" 

"I'm sure that's the same thing Colonel Sōma has been diligently promoting on a regular basis. I thought it would be a good way to make up for the delay." 

Again, Hishamaru pointed out, and Yakō became reluctant. Apparently, she couldn't argue with that. 

- I'm sorry… 

"So Colonel Sōma is a comrade of Yakō-sama's?" 

Hishamaru remembered the first time they met, when Satsuki had told Yakō that he was "a person who walks the same path of Onmyoudou as you do”. In retrospect, those words were right. Since then, the two of them had walked the very same path. 

"Satsuki is the other me." 

Yakō chimed in, and Hishamaru gave a little flick of her ear. 

"In the end, every single thing he says is inside me. Even the matter of praise is only because I didn't find out about it right then and there, so it makes sense in theory once you hear it. Perhaps we are both destined to be born with magic. And while I'm staring at the back of it, he's staring at the outside of it, running in the same way." 

"… Yakō-sama." 

At the monologue-like recollection, Hishamaru looked at the Lord's face. 

Yakō was looking up at the night sky with half an eye, but she could tell that his gaze was not focused on the sky. 

Was it really the past that Yakō was looking at? Or was it the future? 

Hishamaru's ears jumped. 

- Now!? 

The cause was unknown, but Hishamaru's "intuition" reacted to something. A sound? Or was it a vision? 

There was something in the corner. 

The shikigami's nervousness was palpable to Yakō, who looked up at Hishamaru from directly below. 

Immediately after” 

"What? Chief!" 

Someone shouted outside the stone stage; Yakō jumped up, and Hishamaru stood up quickly as well. 

He could see it right away. In the distant darkness, there were two lights. And a faint driving sound. A car. 

The sound of a car's headlights and engine. It crossed the Sumida River and was approaching them. There was only one thing that came to mind. 

"… Hishamaru, use the lights for guidance." 

"Hah." 

As Hishamaru tied her hand sign, a blue-white fireball appeared above her head. It was foxfire magic that she was good at. 

The foxfire made two large circles above Hishamaru's head, heading that way. Then she added one more foxfire. The foxfire glided noiselessly through the sky and was sucked into the dark night. 

Those who had been waiting for it suddenly began to buzz. Yakō, next to her, took a deep breath and slowly regulated his breathing. 

Soon, a car, led by the foxfire, came to a stop in front of the stone stage. The back seat door opened and a young officer got out of the car. 

In the ashen light of the pale foxfire, his bright red hair looked different, a shade of purple. 

Satsuki took one look at that area of the stone stage and said: 

"I'm afraid. It's late." 

"That's all you've got to say or else." 

"I'm late. I'm sorry." 

"You haven't changed a bit." 

"I still had to force my way through this." 

"Well, you're in your usual military uniform. Do you want to change?" 

"This is fine" 

"Is that appropriate? Isn't it a millennial wish?" 

"I'm dressed the same way I was four years ago. It’s the same, right?" 

There was no room for anyone else to have a say in the matter. As soon as he arrived, Satsuki walked over to the stone stage and jumped up onto the stage, exchanging light words with Yakō. His red hair fluttered and danced like a flame. Then he twisted his body behind him once and waved his arms. The car started its engine again and backed away in the distance. 

Even though they were hours late for a ceremony that would predict the future of not only the Onmyoudou Dormitory, but also the future of the nation if they were not good at it, Satsuki didn't seem to have the slightest hint of agitation. He was terribly unconcerned, but he had an intense heat in his veins. He controlled his eagerness to rush out at once, taking one step at a time, steadily stepping forward. 

On the path to God. 

Yakō squeezes his shoulders. 

"What about the war? 

"It won't end. 

“You agree with Takamitsu-san?" 

"Nothing is the same, it's just “reality”. Even at this very moment, soldiers are dying in Okinawa." 

After saying this, Satsuki continued with a "but" as he watched the spellcasters around him from the stage. 

It was as if the gaze itself was a spell, and the area immediately regained its tension. The air was tense, as if the string of the bow was pulled tightly. 

Finally, Satsuki turned his gaze back to Yakō and said: 

"I'm going to have to drive a wedge into that reality." 

"…" 

Yakō was silent. But as Satsuki looked at him like a passionate ray, she could see a new fire occupying the Lord's inner world. 

Just like Satsuki, Yakō was controlling that fire. To prevent himself from being burned. But they must now unleash their fire on each other. 

"When this night dawns, “magic” will no longer be the norm for the world. A new, different “world of magic” will dawn, where gods will be at man's side like the legends, demons will walk the streets with impunity, and sometimes even the dead will have trouble. And then…" 

Suddenly, Hishamaru felt as if Satsuki's gaze was on her for a moment, and Hishamaru's ears perked up on pins and needles. However, Satsuki quickly turned his gaze back to Yakō and said: 

"That's exactly what you want it to be." 

"…" 

To Satsuki's words, Yakō still remained silent for a while. He stared at Satsuki's eyes in silence, and Satsuki also stared back. 

"…don't you think you're being too aggressive?" 

"It's part of my job. 

"Isn't that a problematic statement for a member of the General Staff? 

"Fool. It's my job as the head of the clan." 

"I see… as the head of Sōma, huh?" muttered Yakō, cutting off his words once and calling out again. 

"Satsuki." 

"What?" 

“Even if the ritual goes well, this may be the last time I talk to "you".” 

Before Satsuki could react, Hishamaru, who was listening, twitched her ears. 

Yakō was right, there was a little chance that "Sōma Satsuki" would not remain "him" if the summoning of the god came to pass. The god, the spirit of the god, Taira no Masakado, would be into his body. A human spirit, a second-rate spellcaster in terms of qualities as a retainer, would not be able to maintain a perfect ego. 

Of course, his consciousness as Satsuki would not disappear, and after deploying his legal formation and covering the imperial capital with a ward, he was supposed to minimize the influence of the god. If he did so, Satsuki should regain his own consciousness as well. In fact, four years prior, Satsuki had returned safely. 

But this was just a theory. This time the conditions were completely different from that time. Yakō himself, who set up the ritual, had made it clear that he couldn't guarantee it, and Satsuki was there with that resolve. 

"Is there anything left to say?" 

Yakō asked, daring to keep his emotions out of it. 

Satsuki paused for just a few beats. 

"No." 

He responded curtly. 

“I'm not going to do this last.” 

He was just saying that it was natural. 

Satsuki's answer was met with silence by Yakō. Satsuki had a strong determination in him that was comparable with the resolve of the day before. 

He held his arms out right beside him. 

And with the hem of his bundle belt flashing like wings, Yakō looked back out of the stone stage as if dancing. 

"Let's get started! Light the protection altars!" 

A cherfull cry ran through the dark night. 

The magicians, who had been holding their breath after Satsuki's arrival, immediately began to act. Nearest to them, at the end of the torii gates that surrounded the stone stage from all sides, the four protection altars were set on fire. The fires quickly flared up and illuminated the area with elaborate light. The next two altars were next to it. The one next to it and the one in the back row were lit one after another. In the darkness as far as the eye could see, it was a terribly fantastic sight. 

Soon, the fires from the podiums were evenly spaced across the vast expanse of scorched earth. 

Due to the distance of one and a half kilometers, the fires at the outer rim were quite small. But even though they were small, they had an unshakable presence, shining in the dark night. It looked like a fishing fire on the horizon, but it was not a school of fish that the fire attracted, but a spirit. In fact, the spirits of the dead seemed to be drifting in at any moment, lured by the light of the flames. 

In the silence, the sound of firewood exploding and sending sparks flying could be heard. Quiet and solemn. She felt like she could already catch a glimpse of the "other world". 

"… Hishamaru." 

Hishamaru obeyed the Lord's instructions and quickly took her position, while Yakō moved quietly in front of the drums on the stage. 

Satsuki stood in the center of the stage in front of the pedestal. 

Yakō was standing in front of the pedestal in the center of the stage. 

"Don't chew." 

"Leave it to me. That's what the General Staff does." 

In the middle of the pedestal was a circular iris made of bamboo, of which Satsuki opened the lid and took out a folded piece of paper that was stored inside. 

It was a metropolitan letter with a ritual inscription on it. He turned his wrist, busted it open, and held it up with both hands. 

Once, he closed his eyes. 

Only Yakō and Hishamaru, who were on the stage, noticed that the eyelids were closed tighter and tighter than usual. 

What was Satsuki thinking and wishing for as he closed his eyes in front of the capital city at that moment? 

But it was only for a brief moment. When he opened his eyes, only an unwavering will burned in Satsuki's eyes. 

"We will now conduct the “Tenchiyuu Chifu Sai”!" 

Yakō drummed in time to the icy cry. 

A sharp, dry sound rang out through the dark night. 

The sound of the drums ran high and far, six times through the scorched earth. Each time the power of the spell in the sound increased, the "curse" spread higher and farther. 

Hishamaru picked up the conch and held it to her mouth and snapped it. Yakō whispered a small incantation and moved to the front of the gods with slippery steps. 

He poured the perfume into the cup, dipped a branch of sakaki into it, and withdrew it to the altar to cleanse it. Following the sake water blessing, he hit the sword, tied a few hand signs quickly but carefully, and then picked up the coin and the bell. He touched the stroked object with the tip of the coin, and shook it toward Satsuki. 

A shang, and the bell rang. 

“Masakado’s rightful lineage, Sōma Satsuki, head of the Sōma family. I humbly address Taizan Fukun, Miyoudou Fukun, and the ancestral spirit Taira no Masakado!” 

Satsuki began to read out the letter to the gods. 

A prayer to the 12 gods of the twelve constellations, starting with Taizan Fukun, who was said to be in charge of human life and death. And a prayer to the ancestral spirit of Sōma, Taira no Masakado. 

However, according to Yakō's defense, this was an act of defining the gods, the spirit energy that filled all things, by means of a technical formula. It was a call to awaken the gods that slept in the heavens, and to scoop up the gods that dissolve in the ocean into their own form. God was all. The many and the individual. It was omnipresent in layers and had many faces. This ritual was a choice, a limitation, a formation, an invocation. 

With a whiff, the spiritual energy rose from Satsuki's entire body, creating a whirlwind of energy. In the dark of night, like sparks of fire rising from the gomadan, it began to stretch towards the sky. 

Yakō's chanting began to grow louder and louder. 

Eventually, the clouds that stood low above them began to swell and swirl. The center was directly above the stone stage. As if some "weight" was added to the thick cloth spreading in the sky, the center gradually hung down and began to reach the stone stage on the ground. Finally, the clouds broke, and a funnel-like rift in the clouds poured a vengeful spirit onto the altar. 

Immediately, the stone stage was swallowed by the spirit that fell from heaven. Satsuki's whole body, which read out prayer, was surrounded by high-density spirit. 

The "heaven”, which was not there, and the "earth”, where Satsuki stood, were connected by a spiritual vein. 

It was also proof that the boundary between the hidden world and this world had been broken. The sliding doors have been opened on the wall that separates the two. 

- What…!? 

Hishamaru had a difficult time remembering a scene she had seen long ago. She had been ordered by a young Yakō to follow him up the “night mountain”, and after witnessing the rituals performed by the adults of the Tsuchimikado, she saw something divine in the sky above her, just as she did now. Even after Yakō began to control the "Taizan Fukun Sai" on his own, she felt the same "something" again and again. But now, standing in front of the huge spell that was being built, the first thing that came to mind was the scene she saw at first. 

She couldn't put it into words. But with all of her body, or rather with all of her spirit, she remembered the presence of a higher being than herself. A hint of the gods. 

"This is all, Sōma Satsuki, the head of the Sōma family, humbly addressing the ancestral spirit of Taira no Masakado!" 

Satsuki read the ritual text and threw the letter above his head. The capital letter surfaced as if riding on the wind and was engulfed in blue flames. The paper, which had been continuously exposed to high heat, seemed to have finally ignited. It burned up in an instant, burning up in the air without leaving any ashes behind. The spiritual heat that had burned the metropolitan area increased in heat without spreading. 

Now, the top of the stone stage was glowing with smoke. Not a physical light, but a spiritual light. Still, it was difficult to open one's eyes properly. The spiritual pressure that pressured her entire body was like nothing Hishamaru had ever experienced before. She even felt as if the entire sky was falling. 

She couldn't keep it up any longer. That's when she felt. 

Yakō cast a spell. Sham. He rang the bell and waved the mint. 

The descending spiritual aura exploded. The spirit energy surged and was led by Yakō waving coins and rushed to the torii gates on all sides. Furthermore, the snow fell into the protection altar beyond that. 

The fire on the altar swelled up and turned into a heaven piercing pillar of fire, roaring and burning the night air. The spiritual energy that flowed in was further guided to the adjacent altar. One after another, the spiritual energy flowed in and tied together, drawing huge curse marks on the earth. 

The spellcasters who were waiting by the side of the altars chanted spells in unison. Countless spells danced in the wilderness, becoming a group dance and resonating in a waning manner. 

An enormous altar of light burned into the night. 

And after the altar was completed, this time the spiritual energy that circled the altar returned. What was more, the returned spirit aura was tinged with the power of the earth, the spirit vein spirit energy, and it was growing even stronger. 

The spirit energy that surged onto the stone stage from all directions was mixed with the spirit energy that descended from the heavens through Satsuki. 

The heavenly and earthly spiritual veins connected and began to circulate. 

An order of magnitude, amount and density of spiritual aura turned into a torrent, throbbing and pulsing. With each pulse, the circulation accelerated. 

No, it wasn't just the circulation exactly. Although it was circulating in terms of a void question, what should be called a spiritual phase was gradually shifting. As the spiritual pressure in the field increased, the flow was gradually extending to the higher levels. The circulating spiritual aura was spreading to the other spiritual phases in a vast spiral within the Temple of Heaven, drawing a vast spiral to the other spiritual phases. 

The circulation of the spiritual energy across the multiple spiritual phases was limited to the solidly constructed Temple of Heaven, which kept increasing the internal pressure. As if crushed by the pressure, the multiple spiritual phases began to overlap within the same space. It was exactly like watching the process of the Pure Land of Paradise… or Hell… manifesting in this world. It was no exaggeration to say that for those who had the gift of seeing the spirits, and perhaps even those who did not, it was a natural cataclysm. 

"… Ya, Yakō-sama!" 

Hishamaru raised her voice desperately to sound the alarm. 

There was a disturbing movement in the spiritual veins of the earth. It was as if magma was rising from the depths of the earth, an indication of an overwhelming sense of doom. 

- How can this be? 

Could this be the "repercussions" that Yakō was referring to? Massive air raids and genocide. The spiritual influence of the air raids could be coming true. 

Hishamaru's shout, Yakō returned to the chanting of the spell without disturbing it. Returning the bell he was holding to its pedestal, he quickly cut the swords seal with one hand and quickly cut the nine characters. The technique he had prepared beforehand was activated, and he was sucked into the spiritual energy circulating around the Temple of Heaven. 

The possibility that the spiritual vein, which had been calm due to the trigger, might be ruffled, was predicted in advance. Naturally, he had taken several countermeasures. In fact, after the magic formula was sucked into the Temple of Heaven, the earth's spiritual vein had regained stability. At least, on the surface. 

Although the spiritual energy and spiritual pressure in the Temple of Heaven was tremendous, Yakō had brought them under his own control. It was a great spell that was dared under various adverse conditions, but the enormous power that was about to go out of control at any moment was perfectly governed. No one else would be able to do this. At any rate, if Hishamaru had praised the Lord, Yakō would have bitterly retorted. The real work was yet to come. 

The next thing he knew, Satsuki was covered by multiple layers of light. 

It was a tremendous amount of light. But despite this, Satsuki's figure could be clearly seen. His red hair was tossing violently towards the sky. The eyes were closed, and he seemed to be asleep. Standing softly, he appeared to be floating in the sky. 

Something in Satsuki that should have been omnipresent in the heavens, or even in space, was beginning to emerge, and through Satsuki's medium, an incomparably more powerful spirituality was about to overflow from the hole in this world. 

Divine descent. 

The "god" that was glimpsed for a brief moment in the precincts of Yasukuni Shrine four years ago, has stepped into the world. 

- Ah… 

Hishamaru's whole body shivered for no reason. Perhaps it wasn't just her. All the magicians who have touched the Temple of Heaven should have their souls shaken by the existence that was about to appear at the center of it. 

Yakō, of course. 

The onmyouji, who was trying to invite the gods, was offering the evil with both hands and chanting incantations in unison. 

The circulation of spiritual energy accelerated further. But… before he knew it, the circulation of spiritual energy was stabilizing at high pressure, high speed and high output. 

The pillar of fire rising from the protection altars soared straight up like a sword of light. The clouds that had covered the sky began to take on a seven-colored light. 

The spiritual phase within the Temple of Heaven completely shifted to a higher level, grains of light danced around, and a sour fragrance began to waft in the air. 

And then. 

Satsuki opened his eyes. 

Hishamaru stared at Satsuki's figure, unable to even catch her breath. 

He was godlike. 

Hishamaru now knew for the first time what it meant to be divine. 

Just "being" there was an immense presence that could change the world. Something beyond the reach of human knowledge, something beyond the laws of the world. The word "divine" was used to describe the existence in front of her. 

Suddenly, three figures appeared in front of Satsuki, their heads hanging low as if on a ledge. They were two fallen warrior-like figures and a submissive one, Satsuki's bodyguards, the Yase Doji. The silent guardians, however, their backs quivered with joy as Satsuki's gaze wavered and spun above the worshipping Yase Doji's heads. 

"Taira no Masakado!" 

Bing, and with a shiver of spirituality, Yakō raised a nervous voice. 

Furthermore. 

"Sōma Satsuki!" 

He called his name, binding his existence to the name. It was the old and original "curse". 

Satsuki's gaze spinned around and focused on Yakō, causing Hishamaru to twitch. After all, "he" was Satsuki, but he was not Satsuki, he was something more vast and different, an entity that encompassed Satsuki. 

The spirit, Taira no Masakado. 

One of the country's leading vengeful spirits, the guardian god of this land. 

There was a presence in front of them. 

Such an existence was standing in front of her now while transforming the stone stage where Hishamaru was into a sanctuary. 

- What… 

Was this the first glimpse of the "new world of magic" that Satsuki had talked about? And then… 

"Activate the magic square and lay a barrier!" 

Yakō shouted. She put down the barrier and quickly, with both hands, retired the hand seals over and over again. 

"Masakado, Satsuki, spiritual power to the technique!" 

Yakō resolutely chanted the spell. He poured the next incantation into the stable Temple of Heaven. It was the spell to form a huge ward over the imperial capital, and Hishamaru also returned to her senses. The formation of this ward was the main focus of the Twin Walls Project. The ceremony was not yet over. 

However… 

"Oh, hey, what's that? 

"What is that!?!!" 

Suddenly, the spellcasters on the side of the stone stage began to make a commotion, as if they had woken up from a dream. They looked up at the sky beyond and pointed northwest. 

"Huh?!" 

Hishamaru twisted her beauty and swallowed desperately at the sound of her draining voice that was about to spill out. 

The protection altars of the Temple of Heaven spread out, much further away. The sky to the northwest was burning red. Even at this distance, they could see it. A sea of flames crawling on the ground and a plume of black smoke rising from the sky. The low, favored clouds were stained by the glare of the flames on the ground. And the fox possessed sight caught countless planes in formation just below the clouds, smoking in the light of the flames. 

It was a sight that had been seen countless times before. But this was on a much larger scale. It was a huge unit, a huge fire, that made the last month seem like a spinning column. 

Now, more and more, Hishamaru could hear the alarm ringing across the Sumida River. An air raid. 

And then. 

"Don’t! Satsuki!" 

Yakō shouted. Hishamaru tossed her hair and looked at the Lord. Satsuki stood in front of him, and "he" came into view. 

Satsuki cried out in anger. 

It was the midnight of April 13, 1945. 

It was the beginning of the large-scale air raids that would later be called the Great Jōhoku Air Raid.