Someone is crazy.
Or am I going crazy?
Heizo Hattori was not the only smart person asking this question.
Because no matter who they were—the people physically present at the Back Mountain or the people watching the live surveillance feeds in Tokyo—they all "saw" the confrontation between Master Seimei and Master Douman.
They couldn't tell exactly how powerful it was. All they knew was that the world could be changed in the blink of an eye.
Even if you were not at the scene, as long as you were a "Spectator" watching through a screen, you were "Captured" into the Domain of Master Seimei. The illusion transcended physical distance.
Tokyo: The Secret Room of the Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters
Superintendent General Hakuba's hand, holding his cigarette, was shaking so violently he couldn't hold it steady.
There was a dead silence in the secret room. The only sound was the heavy, ragged breathing of several senior officials.
As top detectives of the Metropolitan Police Department, they were good at unraveling mysteries. The amount of information hidden in the words spoken by the two ancient ghosts was enough to make them want to smash their heads against the wall!
Too scary…
Is this a topic that mortals can even touch!?
No.
Maybe we are just scaring ourselves…
Tokyo: The Suzuki Estate
Shiro Suzuki and Gan'an Shinomiya sat in absolute silence.
But the thoughts in their minds were about to burn out their CPUs.
Especially Gan'an Shinomiya. In a special sense, this was his first time personally experiencing the Extraordinary Realm.
It was irrational, incomprehensible, beyond the scope of human logic, and utterly absurd.
Gan'an made a judgment. He felt the red marks on his forehead from the several times he had unconsciously bowed and knocked his head against the table in reverence.
Facing this kind of "God-like" Great Wizard, he really didn't dare to have any disrespectful thoughts.
The power of God is like a prison, and the grace of God is like the sea.
It was impossible to figure it out with human intelligence.
"...Brother Suzuki, could this mean that..."
"Be careful with your words!!"
Shiro violently shook his head, cutting off Gan'an's "audacious" remarks.
Some things, some people… they must be hidden at the bottom of your heart, never spoken aloud.
For example: Master Seimei and Master Douman seem to have been planning the fate of the world for a millennium, treating mortals as chess pieces.
For example: These two may not exist in the present world, but are projecting their wills from the ancient past or another dimension.
For example: These two don't get along well, and each has calculated the other's moves.
This kind of thing… it's best to forget it.
If you can't forget it, then bury it deep in your heart.
The Headquarters of the Landlord Alliance (Chitanda Family)
The Head of the Chitanda family warned his subordinates earnestly about this matter.
"Talking about the Sacred? Speculating on the Gods?"
"Don't take me with you if you want to die…"
Maybe the Sacred Ones revealed some information intentionally or unintentionally, indicating that this little secret doesn't matter to mortals even if they know it.
Or...
"This is a Warning."
Seeing that his father, Heizo Hattori, was physically safe on the screen, Heiji Hattori was relieved.
He then immediately stepped into his role as a think tank for the senior management of the Police Headquarters.
"A Warning? How do you mean, Heiji-kun?" Hakuba asked.
"...Master Seimei is kind and considerate of mortals. He is reminding us to be prepared."
Prepared for what?
Everyone was silent, smoking cigarettes to relieve their anxiety.
They couldn't say it.
They didn't dare to say it.
Just think about the phantom of Master Douman, and you will know. And the last time the "Dragon Palace" appeared, warning Grandma Mitsue not to talk too much... that was also vivid in their minds.
Connecting these clues together, a terrible and horrifying "Truth" emerged—a truth that made everyone dare not think about it any further.
A war is coming.
Kyoto: The Onmyoryo Back Mountain
Yukino Yukinoshita held Miko Yotsuya's hand tightly. The two were so nervous that their palms were sweating. The scene they had just witnessed was far beyond their psychological limits.
Master Seimei created a world in his palm with ease!?
The two Masters were in ancient times, planning for the future!?
Did we just travel through time and arrive in ancient times!?
"NO!!!"
A raw, agonizing howl completely broke the silence on the sacred mountain.
It was Kyoaki Hashimoto.
Everyone raised their heads and stood up, snapping out of their daze. Only then did they realize that the Domain Illusion seemed to be over.
No.
There was a sequel.
The people looked up at the sky above the mountain in astonishment.
The sky had returned to sunny and clear.
But there was a Folding Fan—the legendary Seimei Fan—hanging in the air. It emitted bursts of precious, golden light.
However, the precious light dissipated in an instant.
In Hashimoto's eyes, the "God" who had guarded the Onmyoryo Back Mountain, the legacy passed down by his ancestors for a millennium…
Just like that, it turned into ashes and drifted away with the wind.
"NO!! The God of my Onmyoryo! The Treasure of my family! The Inheritance of my Ancestors!!!"
That voice…
Almost everyone who heard it felt sad, and everyone who saw him shed tears of pity.
He cried and kowtowed at the falling ashes. His eyes were bloodshot. The old man looked more miserable than a father sending off his dead child. The sorrow was absolute.
Heizo Hattori sighed with deep regret.
That Seimei Fan might have been a Supernatural Seed.
But now it is gone.
What a sin…
It wasn't just a pity that the government didn't obtain the Supernatural Seed. More importantly, it was a tragedy that there was one less Supernatural Guardian left in the world to protect them.
This loss was too great.
Heizo didn't know how to console Hashimoto. The old man was probably in more pain than if his parents had died.
Yukino shuddered at the sound of the wailing.
She pursed her lips, her eyes blank.
She held Miko's hand tighter and tighter, her fingertips turning white.
If she was right…
Yukino was responsible for most of the old man's misery.
Because it was she who brought the outsider (Michiko) to the sacred mountain.
I'm in trouble…
In her mind, a clear understanding suddenly emerged. This realization made Yukino feel an overwhelming sense of shame and terror.
She didn't even dare to look at Hashimoto, who had cried until his voice was hoarse.
But Heizo didn't care about Yukino's feelings right now.
He glanced at Yukino with blatant Disgust, and then stared at the two women in ancient costumes.
The Yagyu Sisters (Yukihime and Koyuki).
(Michiko Nishikiori had already passed away, her body a drained husk on the ground).
Facing a group of mortal police officers, if it was the former Yagyu sisters in their home world, they would naturally draw their swords and kill their way out, leaving rivers of blood.
Now?
With blank expressions, the twins threw their long swords to the ground with a clatter, raising their hands to show they were harmless.
Heizo sighed again and looked back at old man Hashimoto. The man whose voice was now just a dry howl of sorrow.
Immediately, Heizo moved his eyes to the Black Crow belonging to Yukino, which was perched on a nearby branch. He bowed to the bird first, then pointed at the Yagyu sisters and asked respectfully:
"Lord Mizunotsuki. How do we deal with these two intruders?"
Lord Mizunotsuki?
Yukino's heart tightened, but she forced her face to remain unchanged.
Yukihime quietly spread her hands behind her back. It was impossible for her to fight back against a God. She only looked humble, pitiful, and honest.
"GAH————"
The Black Crow croaked hoarsely.
It took flight, circling the Yagyu sisters once, before gesturing for them to follow it away from the crowd.
It seemed they were going to be dealt with personally by Lord Mizunotsuki.
However…
Yukino watched the Black Crow fly away.
She felt inexplicably flustered.
Perhaps… the Black Crow would never come back after it left.
It no longer belonged to her.
Somewhere, an unknown change was flowing silently. That kind of change could not be touched or seen, but it existed in reality.
Just like Heizo Hattori's disgusted eyes.
Just like Hashimoto's sad howl.
Yukino knew what that look of disgust meant.
Once upon a time, she had seen bullies tormenting classmates. The look the bystanders gave the bully—a mix of hatred, fear, and frustration because they dared not speak out—was almost exactly the same as the look the adults were giving her now.
I am the villain here.
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