Tokyo Ravens Volume 10 Chapter 2

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Seishuku Temple's gathering hall was an extremely s.p.a.cious temple.

It was a flat wooden building. Acala was enshrined at the center of the wall inside and the other Buddhas were enshrined along the other walls. The afternoon sunlight slanted as it entered to illuminate the floor, but the enshrined Buddhas quietly gazed into the hall from the darkness.

The gathering hall had room for almost a hundred people, but right now there were only eight people here. These eight people were divided into three sides as they confronted each other.

There were three bald robed monks.

There was a scholarly man wearing a s.h.i.+rt and jeans, and a middle-aged woman wearing gla.s.ses.

Slightly farther away was a suit-wearing middle-aged man and a teenager. There was also a twenty-some year-old woman.

The last three people had come to visit the monastery. They were the envoys from the Onmyou Agency. The other five people were the leaders of the monastery, but they were split into two sides very strangely and glaring at each other in front of the guests.

"We reached this conclusion long ago."

One of the three monks said this. He was a man who gave off an especially overwhelming feeling, even among the three. Though he was past middle-aged, he still arrogantly looked down on the others.

"Why don't you face reality?"

The scholarly male said this, fearlessly meeting the pressuring gazes of the monks. The gla.s.ses-wearing woman next to him nodded approvingly while staying silent.

"If this goes on, the monastery will have nowhere to go sooner or later. It's clear as day. Though it's a monastery that's fallen behind the changes of the times, we'll be able to continue existing as long as we change form. Isn't there no other opportunity other than this?"

"Preposterous! The history of this monastery isn't something that the mere Onmyou Agency can compare to. Don't even mention accepting their authority."

"That's why I said, you're already outdated! This has nothing to do with long history in the first place. What's important is right now and the future!"

"The past and the future are all the same. This monastery has never changed since ancient times. No matter how this world changed."

"No, the monastery was only able to exist to today because it was constantly changing! Even if this is a large change that has never happened before, there's no need to be so scared of moving forward!"

"Your words are meaningless. These actions themselves are proof that your training is insufficient. There's no need to waste words with you anymore."

The arguments of the two sides went along two completely parallel lines[1] of thought. In contrast to the sternly and coldly standing monks, the scholarly man desperately held back his own anger.

One of the Onmyou Agency envoys was expressionless, another concealed a cold smile, and the other frowned while staring at the leaders of the monastery in irritation.

But the head monk also stared over at them.

"I've shown you Onmyouji something shameful. Please forgive the poor welcome of us monks."

"Don't worry, don't worry."

It was the suit-wearing middle-aged man watching the situation unfold who replied like this.

"We're not saying that your monastery has to come up with an answer right now. We've just come to bring a proposal to your monastery."

"I see. But it will be the same no matter how many times you come. I fear that we will be unable to do as you wish."

"Priest Jougen!"

The scholarly man ground his teeth and shouted. But the head monk no longer even looked at him.

"It's quite late. For now, our monks will prepare housing for you all tonight. But please be wary of disturbing our practice."

Only saying that much, he leisurely left with the other two monks as his robes flapped.

His lively movements made it impossible to estimate his age. The scholarly man and the woman standing next to him resentfully stared at the backs of the departing monks.

The frowning young woman sighed - secretly.

Not long afterwards, guides came to lead them to their rooms.

☆

"Though I already heard beforehand...... they really are a mess."

Yuge Mari straightforwardly expressed her feelings in the lounge of the living quarters they had been led to. She didn't hide her displeased tone, since there were only colleagues in the lounge.

Yuge was an Independent Exorcist belonging to the Onmyou Agency Exorcist Bureau.

She was a National First-Cla.s.s Onmyouji holding the 'Onmyou First-Cla.s.s' qualifications, as well as one of the so-called 'Twelve Divine Generals'. Though she was a first-rate barrier user with the strange nickname of 'Binding Princess', she had even gone to this kind of backcountry place because of a verbal order about a 'special mission'. The coat she wore earlier was left in her own room, so right now she was dressed in a jacket.

The living quarters and the monk's quarters looked relatively new for the monastery, like the added warehouse portions. But their design was pretty much the same as countryside hotels. Though it was fortunate that there was electricity, there was no heating, and the mountain chill seeped into the room. Though the monastery would have prepared a brazier for her if she just said the word, Yuge wasn't very confident that she could use a brazier so she had carefully refused.

What were generally called the 'living quarters' were probably lodgings where people wrote or meditated to purify their spirit and ate sophisticated, spiritual cuisine in the evening, a recreation that ought to be popular among women. Though that was just Yuge's personal opinion. But this time - though she had long since prepared herself for it - that impression became far removed. Because of work, Yuge had almost never left Tokyo. It might not be bad to take the trip as an opportunity to experience the feeling of traveling. Though she had thought this and had originally been looking forward to that, her expectations had easily crumbled - though she had long since prepared herself for it.

"Come to think of it, it's already pretty inexplicable that there's electricity here. I don't remember us seeing anything like power lines on the mountain road up here, right?"

"......On the neighboring mountain is a transmission line tower. It's drawn from there."

The person who replied to Yuge's question was a man sitting with his feet up in the lounge's wicker chair and reading a book.

He was about forty. His carefully arranged hair was mixed with a bit of white on the sides.

He was tall and lean, well-dressed in a double-breasted suit with a handkerchief stuck in his chest pocket. But his expression was poor and his face looked slightly displeased. Though he spoke smoothly, his tone was dim. He sounded like he was deliberately suppressing his tone, or rather like he was purely speaking in a businesslike manner.

Though he belonged to a different department than Yuge, he was also her senpai in the Exorcist Bureau. He was the Special Senser of the Intelligence Department, Miyos.h.i.+ Tougo. He was also a National First-Cla.s.s Onmyouji.

"Officer[2] Miyos.h.i.+, are you familiar with this monastery?"

"It's my first time here. Just like you. Though I heard rumors beforehand."

Miyos.h.i.+ focused on the words in his book while replying without looking up. "I see." Yuge replied.

"It's quite a strange place. It looks like a big and impressive monastery from the scale of things...... But I never would have thought an outdated way of life like this would be able to persist till now."

"I see. Well, there's electricity and water here, and you can get phone reception. It's nothing to be shocked at, is it? Rather, isn't it quite nice to be able to be close to nature?"

"R-Really?"

"The air's extremely fresh too. It has a calm feeling of being distant from the hubbub of the city and troublesome civilization."

"......Hah."

Yuge smoothly minced her words, faced with a thought that she couldn't approve of for a while. Come to think of it, although Miyos.h.i.+ usually spoke indifferently, it was hard to immediately tell how serious he was.

But Miyos.h.i.+ lightly flipped the pages of the book,

"Of course, I can't say that it's calm after seeing its 'spiritual' aspect."

While adding that sentence.

This time Yuge also nodded in agreement. The mountain top territory of Seishuku Temple was enclosed in a giant barrier. Just that was probably already a large-scale magic. But it seemed that different barriers of various sizes were placed in other places as well. For example, there had been quite a tough permanent barrier set up at the gathering hall they had just been in. Perhaps that gathering hall was used as a 'magic practice field'. More importantly, it wasn't just barriers. Most of the people in the area were pract.i.tioners who could use first-cla.s.s magic.

"Come to think of it, which sect did this monastery come from? Vajrayana? Or Shugendo?"

"Neopaganism."

"Eh?"

"More accurately, it was the s.h.i.+ngon Seishuku Temple. Like its name implies, it was originally a branch belonging to s.h.i.+ngon[3], but it became independent after the war. In other words, they're s.h.i.+ngon neopaganists. This is their home mountain."

Yuge's eyes widened in surprise. But Miyos.h.i.+ unconcernedly continued reading his book.

"Hence, the look that this monastery gives off is very similar to s.h.i.+ngonism. But their doctrines and trivial rules and such can be thought of as things exclusive to Seishuku Temple. For example, didn't the ajari just now - those monks - call each other 'Priest'? Originally, s.h.i.+ngon monks ought to call each other 'Monk'. Though it looks very similar on the surface, the two are actually no longer the same.

Indeed, among the leaders that came to the monastery gathering hall just earlier, the other two in addition to the three robed monks had also been ajari. They had been called 'Priest' as well.

"Perhaps anyone whose power is recognized can obtain preaching empowerment[4] - though I'm not sure if that's the case, at least the system is that one can become an ajari. A kind of neopaganist ajari who constantly trains and learns magic in place of 'dharma', one faction of Seishuku Temple. That's what's going on."

"No, but...... If this monastery only rose as neopaganist after the war, then hasn't its history as the so-called dark temple started only recently? Judging from what the monk called Jougen said just now, this monastery seems to have an extremely long history......"

"This 'temple' was here since long ago. However, it's unsure whether it's been here for hundreds of years. Similarly, just like they said themselves, the monastery belongs to the s.h.i.+ngon faction but actually exists in the world as a 'dark temple'. As halls for 'magic' surpa.s.sing doctrines and sects. That kind of need exists regardless of the age."

"......I see......"

Yuge also knew that the dark temple was related to the magic community. Moreover, Yuge was also clear on the fact that the dark temple was a place that accepted pract.i.tioners who couldn't stay in society for various reasons. Seishuku Temple and its role as an independent temple for the darkness of the magic community were certain. At the same time, it was a 'necessary evil'.

Just then, Miyos.h.i.+ and Yuge's conversation broke off.

Then,

"...Officer Miyos.h.i.+. Do you know of the other side's 'fighting power'?"

It was the young man who had been silent until now who asked this. Yuge glanced at him.

The young man stood a bit further away from the two of them, his back against a pillar.

He was a young man with a keen, intellectual att.i.tude that made the word 'sharp' instantly emerge in one's mind. He was well-proportioned and had handsome features. But more important than that was his impressive, cold gaze.

In any case, one could tell that he was very capable with a single glance, and he was extremely domineering, vaunting his own ability rather than concealing it.

He was also very young. Yuge's recalled that he was only nineteen. Though he wore a suit like Miyos.h.i.+, what he wore was just a single-breasted suit, so it was a bit more casual. And he had already loosened his tie.

Yamas.h.i.+ro Hayato. He was a young National First-Cla.s.s Onmyouji who had obtained 'Onmyou First-Cla.s.s' qualifications this spring.

"It's enough if we have a rough estimate of their capability. Please let me hear your opinion. Because it might be 'useful' information later on."

Though Yamas.h.i.+ro's words were very polite, Yuge frowned slightly. The teenager's expression and voice became a bit strangely rude since they were tinged with excitement.

Even at Yamas.h.i.+ro's question, Miyos.h.i.+'s gaze didn't leave his hands.

He just read his book while speaking to Yuge first.

"Yuge-s.h.i.+. You have work to do."

"Eh? ......Ah, yeah."

Yuge realized Miyos.h.i.+'s intent upon seeing him point to his ears with his index finger. She put up a barrier around them.

This was to eliminate any magical surveillance and eavesdropping from the outside. It was unclear whether it was because he hadn't considered that much or because he didn't think that doing this was necessary, but the questioning Yamas.h.i.+ro momentarily showed a displeased expression.

At that point, Miyos.h.i.+ still hadn't lifted his head from his book for a moment.

"There are forty-two people around other than us. Among them, there are thirty-nine who can be identified as pract.i.tioners. Though there are several s.h.i.+kigami, I can't get any accurate numbers because high-level ones have stealth capabilities."

He indifferently reported like that.

Yuge's heart beat when she heard the words of the Special Senser. Miyos.h.i.+ had instantly grasped the spiritual situation of Seishuku Temple in a place with so many barriers, and moreover in the lair of these pract.i.tioners whose friend-or-foe status couldn't be ascertained.

The people who could be appointed as Spirit Sensers were all people with especially outstanding spirit-sensing ability even among Onmyouji. Though an exorcist like Yuge was recognized as a representative of modern Onmyouji, the position of Spirit Senser put more emphasis on innate ability - or in other words, on born talent. More importantly, he was a Spirit Senser who had obtained 'First-Cla.s.s Onmyou' qualifications, known as the Special Senser. That kind of person was an irreplaceable talent to the Exorcist Bureau.

There were only three Special Sensers in the Twelve Divine Generals who had obtained 'First-Cla.s.s Onmyou' qualifications. Among those three, it was undoubtedly Miyos.h.i.+ with the nickname 'Divine Eye' who was the best among them in qualifications and power. Though outside knowledge of him was low, he was a secret powerhouse in the Exorcist Bureau.

"About forty pract.i.tioners...... Though they're still in training, it would be very tricky if they grouped together."

"......Anyway, aren't they just a mob? Rogue pract.i.tioners who haven't even received true training aren't worthy opponents no matter how many there are."

Yamas.h.i.+ro quickly shattered Yuge's worry. His voice didn't just reveal pure arrogance, as a calm, steady self-confidence based on knowledge could also be felt from it.

Yamas.h.i.+ro was a Mystical Investigator who had been a.s.signed to the Onmyou Agency Mystical Crime Investigation Department right after he became a First-Cla.s.s Onmyouji. Though Yamas.h.i.+ro didn't have any special abilities like Miyos.h.i.+, nor did he have a strong spiritual power or special techniques like Yuge, his ability in anti-personnel magic against pract.i.tioners was first-rate. Actually, he was treated as a promising future leader by the Onmyou Agency higher-ups.

But,

"Just in case, let me say a bit more."

Miyos.h.i.+ supplemented with extremely businesslike words.

"There are also quite a few people who were born in independent temples like Seishuku Temple in the Onmyou Agency. They are especially numerous in the Exorcist Bureau. Independent Officer Miyachi is one of them. Of more recent people, Independent Officer Kagami is as well. Though I remember that Kagami-s.h.i.+ was only born in an independent temple."

"Eh? The Director was that kind of person?"

"Oh my, you didn't know?"

She had never thought of that. Though Yuge's boss Miyachi had told her of this mission himself, he hadn't mentioned such a thing at all.

Another secret, just like before. Yuge momentarily became unreasonably angry as that bearded face emerged in her mind.

"I-In that case, why did Director Miyachi send me as an envoy? Isn't this place like the Director's old home, then?"

"He sent you because this was just to make a proposal. If we sent a negotiator who looked like he might burn the entire mountain down, wouldn't the monastery be unable to calm down?"

Miyos.h.i.+ replied straightforwardly. But actually, he wasn't too sure why - or rather, he didn't feel any interest in it at all. One could also think that it was even less convenient because it was like his old home.

Even so, it was still maddening. Yuge frowned as if saying 'that beardy', but didn't give it voice.

On the other hand, the face of Yamas.h.i.+ro who had stayed calm and composed after hearing of the numbers turned sinister after he heard about the topic of peoples' origins.

"'Ogre Eater' was from a dark temple......"

After unconsciously murmuring like that, Yamas.h.i.+ro quickly came back to his senses and clicked his tongue after becoming aware of his own words. Though he instantly wiped off his expression, he was visibly more serious than before.

Miyos.h.i.+ continued speaking in an indifferent tone.

"The dark temple's environment is overly cruel to a pract.i.tioner. But in comparison, there are often monsters born from there who are unbound by the common sense of the world. Everyone has their own opinion about environments that can make peoples' talents bloom like that."

"......That might not be certain. If there really was a pract.i.tioner on the level of Director here, it definitely would have reached our ears. Are there people on that kind of level in the current Seishuku Temple?"

"How should I put it? I'm not too sure about their skill levels. But at the least, the several ajari we met just now had quite the spiritual powers. Each one had a spiritual power that several ordinary exorcists wouldn't be able to match. Especially the man called Jougen. Though he might not be on Miyachi-s.h.i.+'s level, at least he's far superior to us. Of course, the comparison is just limited to spiritual power."

Yuge became speechless after hearing Miyos.h.i.+'s opinion.

Indeed, she had felt that all of the monastery leaders who had gathered in the gathering hall were outstanding pract.i.tioners. But exorcists were elites even among professional Onmyouji. An a.s.sertion like several exorcists being unable to compare was impossible to believe instantly. Though a pract.i.tioner's excellence wasn't decided by strength or weakness of spiritual power, but it was the truth that spiritual power had a very important role in magical battles.

"But in the first place, if, more accurately, we're appraising 'fighting power', it's meaningless to just pay attention to the pract.i.tioner. This is their home[5]. There are a lot of things they can do, like sneak attacks while we're asleep or burning the place we're in. Yeah, there's also a.s.sa.s.sination with poison. In addition, there's......"

"Hey, Officer. Don't say such unlucky things, alright?"

Yuge put on a bitter face towards the calmly speaking Miyos.h.i.+.

Then, Miyos.h.i.+ suddenly raised his head away from the book he had been reading and looked in the direction of the nearby Yamas.h.i.+ro.

"In any case, this mission is to 'advise' Seishuku Temple. Even if we can't convince them, we will not take any forceful measures. There's no need to be reckless."

Though his tone was businesslike as always, for now he seemed to be trying not to portray himself as lacking in force.

Yamas.h.i.+ro didn't reply yes or no. But he took on an extremely businesslike smile like Miyos.h.i.+'s as a reply and moved away from the pillar he leaned on.

"I'm going to go walk around."

"Yamas.h.i.+ro."

"I know."

Yamas.h.i.+ro dealt with Yuge without thinking as he left the lounge.

Yuge sighed. Young people these days - though she thought that, Yuge instantly shook her head in a panic after realizing that those thoughts were like an old person's. Even her thoughts had started to become like those of an old person's after spending a life immersed in work every day. That was irritating.

"......It seems like Yamas.h.i.+ro-s.h.i.+ was the Kurahas.h.i.+ family protege."

Miyos.h.i.+ murmured that sentence. At the same time, his gaze was still aimed in the direction Yamas.h.i.+ro had left.

"He was brought into the Kurahas.h.i.+ family's care during childhood and even received Chief Kurahas.h.i.+'s personal tutelage for a while."

"I heard something like that too. Well, the higher-ups are expecting a lot from him, right? Though he talks and acts like a bigshot, he might feel unexpectedly stressed."

Come to think of it, his looming arrogance could also be forgiven. Rather, if she thought carefully, an arrogant kouhai was always much better than her colleague Kagami Reiji.

"His power is the real thing. Are we being too worried?"

Yuge smiled while summarizing things to Miyos.h.i.+. But Miyos.h.i.+ casually lowered his head to read his book. Yuge unconsciously became irritated. Miyachi was like this too. It looked like men of this age - especially single ones - made her unsettled in the way they always went about their own ways.

"......Actually, what do you think, Officer Miyos.h.i.+? Do you think Seishuku Temple will accept the Agency - the Onmyou Agency's proposal?"

"Ah, I'm not sure."

"It's alright, just say what you think. For me, I feel like what that man who opposed the monk called Jougen in the gathering hall before - was he called Priest Rian? - was right. It's true that maybe the dark temple existed up to this point out of 'necessity', but the situation will change with the Onmyou law legal reform. The Onmyou Agency won't continue letting the dark temples be, and if the monastery continues their pa.s.sively-resisting att.i.tude like this, then we'll have to seriously contend with them. The monastery has no chance of victory no matter what if things become that way."

The proposal that Yuge and the others had made to Seishuku Temple this time was a contract to make the Seishuku Temple become an official 'practice ground' for the Onmyou Agency. Of course, needless to say this was just on the surface. It was a strategy to slowly turn Seishuku Temple into a division of the Onmyou Agency. Plainly put, it was an exhortation that they would overlook all of the a.s.sistance that Seishuku Temple had given to magic criminals in the past, and in return, Seishuku Temple would fall under the Onmyou Agency's management.

From a different point of view, it was a so-called 'surrender treaty'. But it did have safeguards for the people of the monastery. The people with power would be given qualifications as Onmyouji. No matter what had happened, the current Seishuku Temple was legally a 'criminal organization', and that was the truth. To Yuge, the Onmyou Agency's proposal was already an exceptional discretionary favor.

But Miyos.h.i.+'s opinion was slightly different.

"Even in front of matters of life and death, people can never make an objective and impartial judgment. Rather, it's even harder to make a suitable judgment in that kind of situation."

Was that the case? Yuge had trouble agreeing for a while and kept her own personal opinion.

In any case, Yuge and the others had only been ordered to advise them. No matter what outcomes would come of the choice the monastery made, they weren't the responsibility of Yuge and the others.

In that case, next was......

"......What now? What do you plan on doing from now on?"

"Oh, what do you mean, from now on?"

"The other thing. The 'Tsuchimikado' business. When are we going to move?"

Miyos.h.i.+ stopped reading his book, lifting his head.

Though his expression hadn't changed much, he rolled his eyes a few times - at least, that seemed to be what he was doing. Yuge didn't know what he meant at first, but her eyes widened after she realized.

"......Eh? Eh? Officer Miyos.h.i.+? Could it be that you've forgotten......"

"No way. I remember very clearly."

Miyos.h.i.+ looked in a different direction while speaking a.s.sertively. Yuge felt irritated.

"In that case, why didn't you bring up that topic from the beginning in our meeting before?"

"Well...... isn't it obvious? It's because it wasn't the time to talk about that topic. In any case, they started the infighting on their own."

Though that was reasonable for now, Yuge still shot him a barefaced suspicious gaze. Miyos.h.i.+ didn't look at his colleague, pretending to cough.

Yuge and the others had another mission this time other than conveying the Onmyou Agency's proposal to Seishuku Temple.

That was regarding the information they had gathered about Tsuchimikado Harutora.

Tsuchimikado Harutora was a boy born in the Tsuchimikado branch family, a famous Onmyoudou family. He had originally been an inexperienced Onmyouji studying at the Onmyou Academy Onmyouji training inst.i.tute, or in other words, just a student.

But last summer, after the trigger of a certain event, he had suddenly raised a banner of resistance against the Onmyou Agency.

He had raised a commotion in the agency building where he had been in custody, and then vanished while hiding himself. Afterwards, he had led to various incidents and opposed the Onmyou Agency in Tokyo. Moreover, he was suspected of casting forbidden magic not long after he vanished. Soon afterwards arose voices of a group that wanted to treat him as a terrorist.

But if those were the only accusations, the problem of Tsuchimikado Harutora would just be within the jurisdiction of the Mystical Investigators.

Actually, it was the Mystical Investigators who were tracing his whereabouts.

But in addition to the Mystical Investigators, the Onmyou Agency higher-ups - no, the entire magic world - also had to pay attention to Tsuchimikado Harutora because of a certain matter.

The rumor that Tsuchimikado Harutora was 'Tsuchimikado Yakou's reincarnation' had spread everywhere as if it were the truth.

Moreover, even worse, the believability of this rumor was 'very high'.

For example, the incident during the summer of last year that had become the trigger for Harutora's disappearance. The cause of that incident was a manmade s.h.i.+kigami called the Raven's Wing that had been designated as a forbidden magical tool. It was also said that a mere student had changed so drastically because he had been possessed by the Raven's Wing. But the Raven's Wing was originally a magical tool created by Yakou. It wasn't too much of a leap to think that Tsuchimikado Harutora had 'awakened' as Tsuchimikado Yakou because of the effects of the Raven's Wing.

More importantly, the even larger problem was that after his disappearance last year, Tsuchimikado Harutora had appeared in front of the Onmyou Agency doors, and at the time, two s.h.i.+kigami had been confirmed by his side.

They were the two legendary s.h.i.+kigami that Yakou had once controlled, Hishamaru and Kakugyouki.

Of course, it wasn't to say that was already certain. But it was a doubtless fact that the two s.h.i.+kigami were extremely powerful individuals and that one of them had been a 'one-armed oni' like the legends that they had received reports about before. The fact that Tsuchimikado Harutora brought around those two powerful servant s.h.i.+kigami - defensive s.h.i.+kigami - was a huge driving force further propelling the rumor that he was Yakou's reincarnation.

The rumor that Tsuchimikado Yakou would reincarnate into the bloodline of his descendants had already been spread for ten years. The Twin-Horned Syndicate secret society formed by Yakou fanatics had also tried to come in contact with Tsuchimikado family members before to spur on Yakou's awakening. Although the Mystical Investigators had cleaned out the Twin-Horned Syndicate afterwards, the rumors surrounding Yakou's reincarnation hadn't vanished.

Tsuchimikado Harutora was currently continuing to lay low in order to avoid the Mystical Investigators' pursuit.

And this Seishuku Temple, the 'underground' of the magic community - was a gathering place for information. It was highly probable that they could pick up clues related to the still-fleeing Tsuchimikado Harutora.

This was another mission that Yuge and the others had been a.s.signed.

"Well, if you really have to say, this mission was just incidental, but it's certainly a mission although it is incidental. Officer Miyos.h.i.+, I'd be very troubled if you didn't do your job properly as our representative."

"That's why I said, I didn't actually forget. First off, this isn't something we can ask to their face. Because it's a touchy topic. We need to carefully observe the situation while considering the other party's att.i.tude."

"Why?"

"Does that need explanation? Because the dark temple is connected to Yakou."

She truly hadn't thought of that. But considering what had happened before, she really couldn't believe it immediately. Yuge looked at him silently, but Miyos.h.i.+ just helplessly closed his book.

"Yuge-s.h.i.+, how much do you know about the princ.i.p.al deity of Seishuku Temple?"

"I don't know much...... You aren't saying that it's Yakou, are you?"

"Though you're not right, that's not too far off."

"Please don't joke around."

"I'm not joking with you. I went over and had a glance secretly, and the board installed in the main hall here reads 'Hall of Magic'. Even the main deity in the temple is a guardian G.o.d of magic - Myouken Bodhisattva[6]. Though he's called a bodhisattva, he's actually a deva[7] and was also called the North Star Deity."

"I know that much. The Myouken bodhisattva was called the deification of the North Star--"

Yuge shut her mouth right there.

Tsuchimikado Yakou was called the 'North Star King' by his wors.h.i.+ppers. The North Star referred to Polaris. Yakou was figuratively honored as such for his importance with regard to Onmyoudou.[8]

"......Isn't that just a coincidence? Didn't the dark temple have hundreds of years of history, making it more ancient than Yakou? Or did it change its princ.i.p.al deity during Yakou's time?"

"Incorrect. The mountain the Seishuku Temple is on was originally called the 'North Star Mountain'. It's doubtless that it was seen as a place to wors.h.i.+p the Myouken bodhisattva since ancient times."

"Then what?"

"It's just the opposite."

"Hah?"

"It's said that it was this Seishuku Temple that used the 'North Star King' metaphor for their princ.i.p.al deity as Yakou's nickname."

Yuge stared at Miyos.h.i.+ incredulously. Though Miyos.h.i.+'s att.i.tude was just like always, she didn't feel like he was lying.

"Didn't I say? Yakou's connected to this monastery. Well, it also has relations to his defensive s.h.i.+kigami as well as his name. But in any case, although the records are very vague, it's believed that he obtained a lot of help from Seishuku Temple when he established Imperial Onmyoudou at the military's request."

"That Yakou?"

"Yes. I've said it before, it's because this place has existed as halls of 'magic' that 'surpa.s.s doctrines and sects' since ancient times.

Yuge groaned upon hearing Miyos.h.i.+'s explanation.

Though the General Onmyoudou that the Onmyou Agency currently used was Onmyoudou, it was actually a magic that roped in a large amount of magic used in other religions. It was because the Imperial Onmyoudou that had been used as the basis of General Onmyoudou had been an enormous system of magic, that had been established by including all of j.a.pan's various magics and superhuman powers at the time.

In that case, it was impossible to imagine that Yakou, who had established such a system of magic, had been unrelated to the dark temple where various kinds of pract.i.tioners gathered.

"Originally, wors.h.i.+p of the North Star was a unique faith that could be seen in Babylon, India, and China. As the symbol of the North Star, the Myouken bodhisattva was not only related to the Seishuku Temple, it also had deep relations.h.i.+ps with Onmyoudou, Sukuyoudou[9], Vajrayana, Taoism, and more recently Nichiren. Though I can't imagine how exactly it became the princ.i.p.al deity of the dark temple, it's indeed a suitable princ.i.p.al deity to be wors.h.i.+pped in a monastery where pract.i.tioners of different backgrounds gather. Moreover, in the age that Yakou established Imperial Onmyoudou, the ajari in the monastery who knew of his ability all couldn't help but praise him as the incarnation of their princ.i.p.al deity...... Well, that was just an old rumor."

"But putting aside the origins of the name 'North Star King' for now, at the least, Yakou has worked together with the dark temple before, that's absolutely certain. I don't think this kind of place would honestly answer us if we came to ask them for information regarding the rumored reincarnation of Yakou as the people who issued an arrest order for Harutora. Hence, we have to carefully observe the situation while considering their att.i.tude."

Miyos.h.i.+ restated the same conclusion again, opening his book and starting to read.

Yuge sank into thought.

If what Miyos.h.i.+ said was true, then it was possible that Seishuku Temple was in the 'Yakou faction'. But Tsuchimikado Harutora, who was viewed as Yakou's reincarnation, was currently waging war against the Onmyou Agency.

Then if they were reckless, they might cause Seishuku Temple to move to Tsuchimikado Harutora - that kind of development was very possible.

"......Honestly."

Miyos.h.i.+ suddenly murmured that word. Yuge, whose attention was absorbed by a new possibility, unconsciously replied to him with an inquisitive "Eh?".

"Right when we got here. For an instant I thought we 'found him'...... But it looks like 'that' wasn't him. Well, whatever. 'That' seems more like a reforged[10] soul than a reincarnation......"

What was he saying? Yuge silently looked at Miyos.h.i.+.

The Special Senser stayed staring at the book in his hands. But Yuge noticed that the focus of his gaze was slightly off.

"......Also, it seems like it's sealing something...... No, it's keeping something maintained...... Is that the only way it's able to 'stay alive'? It feels too unnatural for anything someone in the monastery would do...... More importantly, I don't think the higher-ups would fail to notice forbidden magic of such a level. Then......"

Miyos.h.i.+ had already started talking to himself at some point. Yuge troubled herself over whether to speak up or not. But it really was an incredibly curious monologue.

"Officer Miyos.h.i.+? What have you been saying since just now?"

Miyos.h.i.+ closed an eye when Yuge spoke up to ask. He replied "It's nothing......" while shaking a head as if it were nothing at all, continuing to read his book.

"I was a bit interested because there was someone 'dead' here. As expected of a place like this monastery."

The air in the monastery was still tense even after 'slop' ended. The restless and tense feeling that had gathered seemed to be on the edge of eruption- but it was forcefully stuck in the state right before an imminent explosion rather than truly exploding.

Akino, who had been told to look after Hokuto, had stayed with her for the rest time after that. They had prepared lunch, helped with the monastery ch.o.r.es, prepared 'slop', and helped with more monastery ch.o.r.es. During that time, the tense atmosphere of the monastery reached its peak when Onmyou Agency envoys arrived. However, Akino was unconcerned about those circ.u.mstances, making it through to the night by single-mindedly focusing on doing her own work.

The place Akino usually slept was a residential area of the monastery. It was the female quarters for 'disciples'. Though there were other rooms for women, Akino and two young seniors lived together in this six-tatami room.

But the two seniors reacted negatively to Akino for bringing back Hokuto.

"This place is too cramped for four people to live in."

"What is that Tadanori doing?"

They had no choice if it was an instruction handed down from above, but it made her regretful to suddenly restrict her seniors' living s.p.a.ce because of the newcomer she had brought back. Though Tadanori said that he had already brought it up with them, the seniors insisted that they hadn't even heard of this.

As a result, Hokuto could only sleep in the bedding storage room tonight.

"Even so, you didn't need to accompany me, Akino."

"B-But, I couldn't convince the seniors, and I was asked to look after Hokuto."

Akino spoke in a fl.u.s.ter to the wryly-smiling Hokuto.

The bedding room was several times larger than the female living quarters from before. But the faded tatami was mostly occupied by piled bedding. Because it was a south-facing room that the sunlight didn't reach, there was dust everywhere and it was a bit musty. But more importantly, it was inconvenient that there was no light. Akino had brought a candle used for ceremonies from a storage room - secretly - and lit the small candle with a match.

The light that flickered in the darkness illuminated the bedding room and the two girls in it. Though it was completely dark compared to the lighting in the female quarters, in contrast her mood became happy because the low light could conceal extraneous things.

But because it was a narrow s.p.a.ce occupied by sheets, the aroma that Hokuto's body gave off felt even closer to her. It was as if she were feeling her body heat. Her heartbeat was a bit restless.

"Sorry for troubling you."

"Ehh? No, it's not like that! It's not Hokuto's fault. Please don't be concerned. I never really hated this room. Even when I was by myself, I would come here to sleep sometimes."

"Eh? Why?"

"Um...... Well, like when certain things happened......"

To be more specific, the so-called 'certain things' were when her seniors scolded her, but it was too shameful to explain this to the newcomer Hokuto. The lenses of her gla.s.ses reflected the light of the candle, and Akino forcefully stopped the discussion as if saying 'please don't worry!'.

"Actually, I should be the one apologizing. It's your first day after entering the monastery and I made you run into this kind of thing......"

"That's not Akino's fault. Rather, it's fortunate that I was able to mix in with the monastery during the hubbub."

"Eh? Why is that?"

"Ah, uhh...... Because I don't really want attention."

Hokuto smiled awkwardly as she said that.

Come to think of it, when she had met Akino for the first time, Hokuto's att.i.tude had been very forced.

Perhaps Hokuto was unexpectedly shy. For some reason, she was flooded by a sense of closeness.

"......Hmm? But I heard that you talked pretty actively with others when we were working."

Indeed, that had been when they were preparing 'slop'. Because the monastery had been all panicked, Akino had ended up being unable to introduce Hokuto to everyone around them. In contrast, Hokuto had been scolded fiercely for asking endless questions of the people in the monastery and others ended up avoiding her.

Hokuto had enthusiastically asked about the envoys from the Onmyou Agency - the Twelve Divine Generals.

"Sorry. Um...... It's because I had to check who came no matter what."

"Ah, you don't have to apologize for that......"

The Twelve Divine Generals of the Onmyou Agency were the stars of the magic community. It was understandable that she was interested, but she didn't really understand what she meant by 'checking'.

"Um, did you figure out who they were?"

"Yeah. Judging by what I heard, it seems like one of them is a Special Senser. The other one is a female Independent Officer named Yuge. The last one is the person who just became a National First-Cla.s.s Onmyouji recently...... Anyway, I'm relieved."

"Relieved?"

"Ah, no. Um...... I should say it's fortunate that it's no one I recognize......"

Hokuto lowered her head with a relieved expression as she spoke. Akino was stunned. Since they were from the Twelve Divine Generals, then she should be happy if someone she knew came, but that didn't seem to be the case for Hokuto.

"Well, um, although Hokuto wasn't very lucky today, I think those people will go back very soon. In that case, I think Priest Tadanori will go back to managing the monastery and the ch.o.r.es and allocation and things. Of course, there's also the practice."

"......Yeah."

Though Hokuto nodded after hearing Akino's words, Akino couldn't see her expression clearly since it was too dark. But that was enough. It wasn't always right to see everything clearly.

After that, the two of them chose places that looked decent among the piled blankets and then laid down in the narrow s.p.a.ce.

Akino would normally be unable to settle down because of a sense of distance, but she had shared a room with Hokuto in the Front Hall yesterday. Even compared to that time, the sense of distance had greatly receded. Actually, sleeping pillow to pillow like this made her happy. Though they had been kicked out of the female quarters, she was thankful to her two seniors tonight.

"Ah, right. We have to get up at four tomorrow. Though it's a bit early, will you be alright?"

"Hmm? Wasn't it Akino who overslept today?"

"T-That was!? I accidentally, um...... i-it was because I wasn't used to the place."

"Usually you wouldn't be able to sleep if you weren't used to the place."

"Th-That's not true! It was just a coincidence this morning...... I was just unlucky!?"

Akino replied with a blush to Hokuto's teasing tone. But inexplicably, she didn't feel uncomfortable even though she was clearly being teased. Though she felt a bit embarra.s.sed, she didn't hate it.

"H-Hokuto too. At the start, weren't you completely silent while wearing that unhappy expression?"

"Did that happen?"

"Ah, how shameless. You can't remember things about yourself."

"I was so surprised by the fact that Akino ate four bowls of cup ramen that I wasn't able to talk with you."

"I-I didn't even eat four bowls. It was only three!"

"I didn't see you as a glutton."

"I-I was just hungry. Hokuto, you just don't know that you can't eat things like cup ramen whenever you want here."

Akino desperately protested. But Akino herself knew that there was a smile on her face as she protested. Hokuto was the same. In the faint light, she said bullying words while showing a mischievous smile. Her gaze was so familiar and so gentle that she gradually became embarra.s.sed. Her heart itched and she became happy. This was her first experience.

As they changed into their sleeping clothes while sitting on the spread sheets, at some point the two of them started chattering in lowered voices while constantly laughing.

She was extremely delighted. And it made her happy. Hateful things and difficult things all instantly became needless to worry about. What was up with this? It was truly strange - it felt curious.

"Really. We have to get up early tomorrow, but isn't it Hokuto's fault that we won't be able to sleep?"

"It's my fault?"

"It's because you said weird things, Hokuto. I didn't think you would be this kind of person yesterday."

"Hmph. I thought so too."

"Eh?"

"I never thought that I would be able to laugh like this after coming to the dark temple. I haven't laughed like this in a long time in the first place. Honestly, how long has it been?"

Akino didn't respond to Hokuto's words as she seemed to be talking to herself. She held her knees and curled into a ball while watching Hokuto.

Like that, she suddenly saw Hokuto stop smiling and look calmly at Akino.

"It was great that Akino was the first person I met when I came here. Thanks."

She said that straightforwardly and without being overly polite.

For a moment, Akino couldn't respond. Her cheeks just gradually heated up. Though she opened her mouth as if to say something, she couldn't say anything other than strange sounds like 'um' and 'aah', so she hastily closed her mouth.

Then, she lowered her head again.

But the one thing she was certain of was that she felt the same way.

It was great that Hokuto had been the newcomer who came to the monastery. Akino raised her head with a blush, wanting to at least convey that fact. She looked through her gla.s.ses that had slipped slightly because she had lowered her head towards Hokuto's face.

Hokuto suddenly froze.

"Um". Akino stared at Hokuto. Hokuto also stared at Akino...... But their gazes didn't meet. Hokuto stared at Akino's 'head', dumbstruck.

She wailed.

"Ah! Eek! D-Don't look!"

Though she frantically raised her hands, she was already a step late. Her fingertips touched and felt that sensation. Ears. Hateful rabbit ears that had jumped out. It looked like they had unexpectedly popped out because her emotions had been too intense. Though it would be fine if she dematerialized them immediately, she couldn't do it since she was too fretful.

Akino kept her hands raised with an almost-crying expression and was more or less able to block her ears that way.

On the other hand, Hokuto still stared at Akino and her ears in disbelief.

Her ears twitched. Though she hadn't intended it, unfortunately it seemed that they were conscious that they had been seen. Her ears moved by themselves. As if to express Akino's feelings, the rabbit ears on her head twitched around and changed their direction bit by bit.

Then, Hokuto's eyes widen.

"......So..."

"So cute......"

"......Eh?"

Akino's ears reacted sharply.

Hokuto kept staring intently at Akino's ears with a serious gaze, and then blinked.

"What? Rabbit living spirits grow cute ears like that?"

"W-Who knows, um, well..."

"Though Kon's ears were also very cute...... But to think rabbit ears are this cute. They're quite expressive...... Ah, they moved again."

"......Kon?"

One ear jumped in surprise. Though Akino quietly asked back, Hokuto didn't notice it. In contrast, she unconsciously drew closer with an extremely moved appearance.

"Uhm, can they hear sound?"

"Eh? Th-They can't really...... Rather than sound, they make it easier to sense presences."

"I see. Since they're spiritual, I guess it's closer to 'sight'[11]. Then can you move them yourself?"

"Um, t-to a certain extent......"

Akino helplessly lowered her hands upon facing that look that were instantly filled with antic.i.p.ation.

She held her knees and curled into a ball again. She adjusted her gla.s.ses and looked up as if trying to see her own forehead.

The ears that were currently bent into a 'く' character jumped and flopped to the right. Then, they jumped again and moved in the opposite direction.

With an 'ooh', Hokuto's eyes became red-tinged.

"That's really...... so cute."

"Can I touch them?"

"Ueeh!?"

"Ah, it's fine if you don't want that--"

"No no, it's not that I don't want it...... you can t-touch them...... uuuu...... J-Just for a bit......"

Akino hesitated, deeply blus.h.i.+ng, and ended up lowering her head, sticking her ears forward.

Hokuto softly extended her hand.

Her fingertips touched. Akino couldn't help but shut her eyes with an "ah". An unimaginable feeling of her ears being touched. Though she couldn't keep her ears from moving as if to twist themselves, Hokuto kept stroking her rabbit ears with her slender fingers. It was as if she were addicted to the gentle feeling of that fur.

"So cute...... How should I put it? They are a reflection of Akino's personality, right?"

"Wh-What does that mean?"

"Doesn't Akino-san behave like a rabbit in some ways?"

"Ehh?"

"You're timid in front of people but you're also a glutton, and you're a bit panicked but unexpectedly leisurely."

"Ah, that's what you meant." She couldn't deny it. In the end, her crooked ears dropped down listlessly. Thinking that she was unhappy, Hokuto said "Ah, sorry" while hastily pulling her hand away.

"That was rude of me. But it's truly very cute and suits you very well. Also, they're extremely pretty now that I've looked at them closely. Rather than being white, their fur is more of a whitish silver."

Hokuto wasn't just being polite. Though she realized this, Akino still had complex feelings. After all, these were at the roots of her inferiority complex.

"Why do you usually hide them?"

"Because...... it's terrible to have these things on my head. Because everyone takes me for an idiot......"

"Terrible, huh?"

Though Hokuto responded with a surprised face, she didn't express opposition or agreement like before when she saw Akino's stubborn expression.

But,

"I like Akino's ears very much."

Stunned, Akino buried her face into her knees. She desperately tried to conceal her expression like that. In contrast, the rabbit ears on her head jumped up happily after pausing for a moment. How embarra.s.sing! She ended up not being able to raise her head back up.

But Akino's jumping ears suddenly stopped.

Her ears changed direction in the blink of an eye. In the direction of the sliding door separating the bedding room and the corridor. Then, Hokuto seemed to notice as well, her body tensed up in an instant.

"Who is it--"

"Ah, i-it's alright. It's probably Tengu-san."

At a loss, Hokuto asked, "Tengu-san?" Then, the door to the bedding room was pulled open with a clatter.

The light in the corridor had already vanished. A giant figure quietly entered from the deep darkness that the light of the candle didn't illuminate.

It was a huge man.

His chest was very thick and his arms were thick and long like tree trunks. Though he was quite tall, he was so broad-shouldered and solidly built that it seemed to make his back hunch. Hence, his profile looked more like a gorilla than a human.

Though he had that abnormal body, his clothes were more eye-catching. The man wore a formal monk's robe, but there was a headpiece tied around his head, a majestic tengu mask.

He was such a huge man, but his footsteps didn't make any sound at all. No, that was also obvious.

"...A s.h.i.+kigami?"

"Yes."

Akino replied to Hokuto's suspicion.

Upon careful inspection, the s.h.i.+kigami wearing a Tengu mask carried a load of sheets over his shoulder. He didn't even glance at Akino and Hokuto who were preparing to sleep in this kind of place, moving into the depths of the room. Then, he placed the sheets over his shoulder on the piled sheets.

"......A high-level manmade s.h.i.+kigami? Whose is it? Is it a s.h.i.+kigami of a monk here?'

"Ah, no, he's wild."

Hokuto made a shameful "Hah?" sound upon hearing Akino's reply.

"Wild? W-Wild......"

"In other words, he's no one's. He's just a s.h.i.+kigami-san who's always lived at the monastery."

"Ahh, so you mean he serves Seishuku Temple...... But even so, there's no reason for him to have no master."

"Even if you say that...... Well, if you had to say, 'everyone's his master', I guess? He'll do whatever anyone asks of him as long as it's something he can do. He's very strong, so he's a lot of help."

Hokuto still frowned as if unable to accept it. On the other hand, the tengu-mask-wearing s.h.i.+kigami slowly turned around after piling up the sheets he had carried over and went towards the door.

He was doing ch.o.r.es alone, even while everyone in the monastery was sleeping. Akino said "Thanks for your work" to the broad back.

Immediately afterwards, the s.h.i.+kigami stopped. Instantly, it turned around, the tengu mask facing Akino and Hokuto. "Hmm?" Akino was taken aback.

Then,

"Dead person is here."

A low voice came from inside the tengu mask.

Akino's eyes widened.

"Dead person can move, interesting."

Akino's rabbit ears froze. She felt shocked from the bottom of her heart.

Afterwards, the s.h.i.+kigami walked forward again, shuffling from the room into the corridor. The sliding door was closed with a clatter. Akino's ears were still stiff.

"......Ahh, he scared me."

She only managed to let out a breath a while later.

"It's the first time I've heard Tengu-san say something...... I guess Tengu-san talks."

Even her seniors definitely didn't know that the tengu s.h.i.+kigami could talk. This time even Sen would have to come ask her to learn about it. Or maybe Sen already knew? She was a bit excited in her shock.

In any case, she had come across a rare occasion.

"How incredible. Hey, Hokuto. Tengu-san normally doesn't say anything at all! I wonder what's up today. Hokuto, you heard him too, right? Right?'

Akino excitedly turned towards Hokuto.

But Hokuto's face was pale.

"Eh? Ah, Hokuto, you were frightened too, right? It's alright. Though he looks very scary, he doesn't do scary things."

Akino hastily explained about the s.h.i.+kigami as if to comfort Hokuto. But she inadvertently had a suspicion.

When the s.h.i.+kigami had entered the room just now, Hokuto hadn't been scared although she had been nervous. She couldn't have been frightened by the fact that he had spoken either. Because in any case, this was Hokuto's first time meeting him. In that case, why was the blood drained from Hokuto's face?

Right. Akino finally thought of it.

The s.h.i.+kigami had said those words when he had looked at them - Akino and Hokuto.

Dead person is here.

"......Eh?"

Dead person?

Hokuto bit her lip silently and her body stiffened. That expression was even harsher and colder than during first time she had met her.

Suddenly, a vague feeling of coldness welled up on Akino's back.

The aroma of incense that came from Hokuto's body still floated in the middle of the room.

☆

When a nighttime monastery was mentioned, one would think of a silent environment with no sound at all. But it seemed like Seishuku Temple wasn't like this.

The sound of insects could be heard everywhere along with the cries of wild beasts that came from the dark mountains. These sounds of nature could only be heard because the activities of humans had ceased. Moreover, though he had long since prepared himself to face complete blackness, there were actually lit stone lanterns dotting the area, and hence there was basically no problem moving around the monastery.

Perhaps he should say as expected of the dark temple. The lit fires were magical fires.

Yamas.h.i.+ro walked out of the room allocated to him and left the building to go deep into the monastery. Needless to say, he was obviously stealthed. He cautiously paid attention to the surroundings while pus.h.i.+ng aside the tree branches and quickly striding into the cedar forest.

The training pract.i.tioners called 'disciples' in Seishuku Temple probably lived in the general quarters. But the people who had become 'ajari' seemed to be given large rooms or huts, also called 'monk's quarters'.

But that wasn't to say that every person had their own room. Rather, several people used one monk's quarter, using a single room as a den.

What a simple life. It would be reasonable for someone who felt confident in his power to be dissatisfied with the treatment in the monastery.

The person he was going to meet was someone who held such dissatisfaction.

Seeing the light of his destination deep in the forest, Yamas.h.i.+ro stopped.

The light that flickered through the shade of the mountain forest came from the monk's quarters. Yamas.h.i.+ro snorted.

"......Why don't you show yourself? Or are you saying that it's fine if I break in like this?"

It was unclear who he was talking to, but immediately afterwards the s.p.a.ce before him wavered slightly. A barrier was hastily being released.

Could it be that they wanted to confirm his power? Though it was laughable, there was no meaning in reading into the other side's thoughts for every little thing - or rather, the other side wasn't important enough for him to do so. Yamas.h.i.+ro strode forward with an indifferent att.i.tude.

This monk's quarter looked on the outside like a hermitage. He stood in front of the entrance. The door opened as if it had been waiting and a woman's face peeked out. She was the gla.s.ses-wearing middle-aged woman that he had seen in the gathering hall during the day.

"Sorry for earlier."

He knew from just seeing the aura. This woman had put up that barrier from before. The woman invited Yamas.h.i.+ro in with an awkward expression, then closed the door of the monk's quarter.

Though it was an ancient building like he thought, there was still electricity. He took off his shoes and pa.s.sed through the hall following the woman's lead.

He arrived at an inner room.

"I've made you wait, Priest Rian."

"Ah, I've been waiting for you, Yamas.h.i.+ro-kun."

The one in the room was the scholarly man who had fought with Jougen in the fathering hall, Rian.

Though it was a traditional room about eight tatami large, there was a table and bookshelves were placed by the walls, so it looked like it was used as a library. Rian rose from his seat, signaling with his gaze to the woman who had led him here. The woman quickly withdrew from the room, shutting the sliding door.

This room looked like Rian's den. Refusing the chair that the ajari offered, Yamas.h.i.+ro put his hand in his suit pocket. He took out a sealed letter. Rian's face lit up when he saw it.

"That's from Chief Kurahas.h.i.+......"

"Yes. I was instructed to secretly bring it to you, which is why I am here."

Rian jumped to accept the letter that Yamas.h.i.+ro offered. He opened the seal, reading the letter inside as if wolfing it down. Yamas.h.i.+ro glanced to confirm his appearance and then observed the room while smiling.

A laptop was opened on the desk facing the window. There was also a calculator and a tablet. There was a small LCD television by the side. It felt like the table of someone in this backwards mountain world who was incredibly jealous of the outside world.

Moving his gaze to the bookshelves, he was able to see religious and magic texts mixed together along with new-looking books on business. There were wine bottles arranged inside the gla.s.s doors. There were many kinds, but they were all high-priced goods. This man was totally easy to see through. Conscious of this fact, Yamas.h.i.+ro's smile became cold.

"......Not a bad collection."

"Eh? ......Ah, yeah. Want a gla.s.s?"

A flattered expression emerged on Rian and he opened the gla.s.s door and took out a brandy.

"Is this the so-called 'hannyatou'[12]?"

"Hmph. There are practically no religious restrictions in this place. More importantly, it's nothing important anyway."

"Indeed. Though it's very impolite, I was quite surprised when I came here. I never thought you would be living such an outdated life."

"It's not like I enjoy it. You might not know that things like 'conventionalism' are a kind of powerful 'magic' of their own. They bind people's hearts with no regard for magical resistance."

"......What if there were a 'spell' that could destroy it?"

"Hmm. Well, about that. For example, there's this."

Saying that, Rian waved the letter in his hands.

Then, he took out a gla.s.s cup and opened the bottle of brandy. The scent of brandy floated through the room with a cheerful popping sound.

"Come to think of it, I did all this for the express purpose of activating that 'spell'. The Onmyou Agency is actually able to break Seishuku Temple's seal - the curse of conventionalism. Or in other words, it's its leader, His Excellency Kurahas.h.i.+ Genji."

"......In that case, I'm just a means that the Chief is using, right?"

"That's correct."

Rian smiled while offering him a gla.s.s cup filled with brandy. Yamas.h.i.+ro respectfully - on the surface - accepted it.

"To Seishuku Temple's future and the prosperity of the Onmyou Agency."

Rian spoke while raising his gla.s.s. It was probably for his own future and prosperity, Yamas.h.i.+ro mocked in his heart while silently raising his gla.s.s.

Yamas.h.i.+ro had met this man called Rian in the gathering hall not long ago for the first time. But he had already communicated with him through mail several times.

Originally, before Yamas.h.i.+ro and the others had been sent as envoys of the Onmyou Agency, Seishuku Temple had already split into two factions, the conservative faction and the reformist faction, and begun opposing each other. This conflict had become especially intense since the final stage of the Onmyou law legal reform last year.

The Onmyou law of the past had strict rules regarding the scope of authority and duties of Onmyouji - or pract.i.tioners. To take it to the extreme, Onmyouji duties were limited to just purifying the many spiritual disasters within Tokyo and dealing with magical crimes related to pract.i.tioners, and for this they had permission to use magic. Though so-called spiritual treatment was an exception, in the first place this was just in order to treat spiritual enc.u.mbrance that was caused by spiritual disasters.

But that Onmyou law was being reformed on a large scale. A large portion of the regulations towards Onmyouji and magic were being lifted. Though it hadn't actually come into effect now, it was antic.i.p.ated that future Onmyouji activity would spread into various areas.

Among the Seishuku Temple inhabitants, the reformist faction became greatly excited upon learning of this legal reform. It was currently a great opportunity to utilize the great opportunity of the legal reform and use it as a trigger to abandon their illegal backgr