(Sorry for uploading Chapter 34-37 to the wrong volume! As an apology, here's a bonus chapter. Enjoy!)
Chapter 38: Truly Wonderful Weather
In Kyokotsu's estimation, given how long Kidomaru and the others had been gone without a word, it was highly probable that they had met with some terrible disaster.
Then again, that was merely his own speculation. The exact reality of the situation could only be confirmed once a proper investigation was conducted.
Because of this, Kyokotsu desperately hoped that Hagoromo Gitsune-sama would deploy a few powerful Youkai to Tokyo to check on them. After all, Kidomaru and his companions had ventured into enemy territory precisely to execute her divine orders. If Hagoromo Gitsune-sama chose to do absolutely nothing about their disappearance, it would likely leave the rest of her demonic subordinates feeling deeply disheartened.
One shouldn't mistakenly assume that Youkai were entirely devoid of emotion. In reality, their feelings often ran far deeper and more intensely than those of ordinary humans. Countless Youkai would happily endure long, grueling cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, waiting faithfully year after year just to uphold a single promise.
Their devotions were far purer than anything found in the human heart.
Hagoromo Gitsune cast a faint, discerning look at Kyokotsu, instantly reading the underlying anxiety swirling within his mind.
"Since you worry so deeply for Kidomaru and the others, you may dispatch a few Youkai to look into the matter."
Kyokotsu's face lit up with immediate joy upon hearing her words. "Understood, Hagoromo Gitsune-sama! But who exactly should we send?"
Kidomaru, Gairota, and Ibaraki Doji already comprised the absolute top tier of the combat factions serving under Hagoromo Gitsune's command. Given that even monsters of their caliber had vanished without a trace, Kyokotsu genuinely had no idea who would be suitable for the task.
Hagoromo Gitsune's eyes flickered slightly, and after pondering the matter for a brief moment, she spoke. "Let Inugami handle it."
"Inugami?" Kyokotsu considered the option and realized it was actually a brilliant choice.
Inugami was also a loyal subordinate of Hagoromo Gitsune, taking the form of a hound. While he might not match up to Kidomaru and the others in terms of raw destructive capability, his talent for gathering information outclassed them by a mile.
Inugami possessed the unique ability to communicate with domestic dogs across the entire world, and dogs had always lived as mankind's closest, most observant companions. As such, Inugami could seamlessly utilize ordinary canines to dig up secrets that remained completely hidden from the public eye. Using his tracking skills to locate Kidomaru and the others was a highly practical move.
"I understand completely. I shall command Inugami to uncover the whereabouts of Kidomaru and the rest at once."
Kyokotsu promptly spun around and departed from the room.
Hagoromo Gitsune offered a small, serene smile, narrowing her eyes as she continued to bask in the cozy, enveloping warmth of the lazy sunshine filtering over her.
"It really is truly wonderful weather," she murmured to herself, her heart completely filled with a sense of quiet contentment.
"It really is truly wonderful weather."
Far away from the chaotic din of the city, nestled deep within a secluded, quiet countryside village, another individual was currently making the exact same observation about the day's climate.
However, completely unlike Hagoromo Gitsune's blissful state of mind, Takashi Natsume's heart was currently shrouded in a thick, heavy layer of gloom. Despite how clear the skies were and how brilliantly the sun shone down, even the most radiant sunlight lacked the power to dispel the deep melancholy weighing on his soul.
"Hey, Nyanko-sensei... do I really have to leave Uncle Fujiwara and Aunt Touko behind like this?"
"This is the absolute best course of action for everyone involved."
In response to Natsume's heavy-hearted question, the calico cat resting lazily atop his head let out a wide yawn, squinting its eyes as it comfortably soaked up the warm rays of the sun.
"You don't want to end up dragging them into danger purely because of your own circumstances, do you?"
Hearing those words, Natsume couldn't help but release a long, weary sigh. His fingers traced the contours of the Natsume Book of Friends tucked securely inside his shirt, his expression turning deeply complex.
He had always known that carrying this book would bring him nothing but trouble, but he never could have anticipated that it would invite a disaster of this magnitude.
"Nyanko-sensei, you mentioned before that the Youkai who came trying to steal the Book of Friends were actually subordinates of someone named Hagoromo Gitsune, right?"
"Indeed," the cat replied, opening its eyes as a sharp, dangerous gleam flashed across its pupils.
"Is this Youkai named Hagoromo Gitsune really that formidable?" Natsume inquired.
"Tremendously so. She is a grand Youkai who has carried thousands of years of dark history. Centuries ago, she reigned supreme as the master of the Chimimoryo. While her overall fame might not quite equal that of Tamamo-no-Mae, her raw power is absolutely not a single bit weaker."
Hearing Nyanko-sensei's serious assessment, Natsume found himself sinking deeper into a state of utter confusion. As he walked steadily toward the outskirts of the small town, he pressed further, "If this Hagoromo Gitsune is truly that powerful, why on earth is she so intent on stealing the Book of Friends?"
Granted, the Book of Friends contained the true names of a vast number of spirits, but the vast majority of the Youkai bound to its pages were, frankly speaking, quite ordinary. The number of them actually capable of putting up a decent fight was incredibly small. Natsume truly couldn't wrap his head around why such a legendary powerhouse would take any interest in a simple paper notebook.
Upon hearing his naive questioning, Nyanko-sensei couldn't resist raising a paw and slapping Natsume squarely across the face. Ignoring the boy's sharp cry of pain, the cat lectured him in a stern, solemn tone, "Listen to me closely, Natsume, and stop grossly underestimating the Book of Friends!"
"Your grandmother, Natsume Reiko, was a human born with an astronomical amount of spiritual power—a rare anomaly the likes of which isn't seen even once in several centuries."
"Even though she was a mere mortal, she possessed a terrifying strength that made many grand Youkai pale in comparison."
"The number of spirits she thoroughly defeated and forced to surrender their true names is simply beyond count."
"The minor Youkai who keep showing up demanding their names back right now represent only a fraction of the book's contents. The truly monstrous entities bound within have yet to make their move."
"The strategic value of the Book of Friends goes far beyond your wildest imagination."
"Any Youkai, provided they manage to seize control of that book, could instantly claim an entire territory for themselves and establish a dominant faction that wouldn't lose out to the Nura Clan in the slightest. It is an artifact of incredible consequence."
Natsume rubbed his reddened cheek where Nyanko-sensei's paw had struck him, and couldn't help but ask out of curiosity, "What is this Nura Clan you keep mentioning anyway? The name makes them sound like some sort of terrifying Yakuza syndicate."
Nyanko-sensei leapt down from Natsume's head, landing gracefully onto the dirt path. Walking alongside him, the cat explained:
"The Nura Clan is a massive, legendary organization that stands at the absolute pinnacle of the Youkai world. Centuries ago, they successfully overthrew the overwhelmingly powerful Hagoromo Gitsune and seized the title as the new masters of the Chimimoryo."
"Our current destination is the Nura Clan's territory. They are the only force capable of providing adequate protection for both you and the Book of Friends."
Natsume voiced his lingering concern, "But since the Nura Clan are Youkai as well, aren't you worried that they might just turn around and steal the Book of Friends for themselves?"
Nyanko-sensei shook his head dismissively. "There is no need to worry about that. I happen to share a long-standing drinking companionship with Nura Nurarihyon himself. Out of respect for my reputation, he won't resort to stealing the book from you."
Hearing this, Natsume relaxed slightly. "Alright, I'll trust your judgment, Nyanko-sensei."
With their plan set, the boy and the cat finally departed from the quiet, isolated town, boarding a bus that rumbled and swayed along the roads for the entire day. After a long, exhausting journey, they at last arrived in the heart of Tokyo.
Stepping out from the grand exit of Tokyo Station, Natsume couldn't help but gasp in pure amazement. "Wow... there are so many people here!"
One had to remember that the school he attended was located deep within a rural countryside village; he had never seen such an immense sea of people in his entire life. Now that he had actually set foot in Tokyo, he truly realized how staggering the sheer prosperity of a massive metropolis could be. The crowds were absolutely overwhelming.
"Where exactly are we supposed to go now?" Natsume asked, cradling Nyanko-sensei securely in his arms as he looked around.
"To Ukiyoe-cho," Nyanko-sensei whispered, keeping his voice incredibly low so that only Natsume could hear him. "The main headquarters of the Nura Clan is located in Ukiyoe-cho."
"Even if you tell me that..." Natsume glanced left and right, completely unable to spot any buses heading toward a place called Ukiyoe-cho. Furthermore, he had absolutely no clue where the neighborhood was even located. "How about you just show me the way, Nyanko-sensei?"
Hearing this request, Nyanko-sensei's eyes darted around guiltily. "Well... about that... to be completely honest, I don't actually know where Ukiyoe-cho is either."
"Huh?" Natsume stared at him in utter disbelief.
"What are you looking at me like that for? Don't forget that I was sealed away inside a shrine for several centuries! Tokyo has completely transformed since then. How on earth am I supposed to know where Ukiyoe-cho is, you absolute fool!"
Natsume found himself completely scolded into submission, leaving him entirely bewildered. He couldn't help but ask, "Nyanko-sensei, if you've been sealed away for hundreds of years, how did you even know the Nura Clan was located in Ukiyoe-cho in the first place?"
Nyanko-sensei replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, "Naturally, I learned about it from the information I gathered while sharing drinks with other Youkai over the years. After all, within our spirit world, the Nura Clan is a famous, high-profile household that everyone knows about."
Natsume finally understood. So that was how it was. It made perfect sense when put that way.
He walked over to a nearby pedestrian to ask for directions, quickly learning the general location of Ukiyoe-cho, and immediately began making his way toward their destination.
...
"It really is truly wonderful weather."
On the other side of town, after concluding his intense physical showdown with Nero, Yumesaki—who had secured a resounding victory—had finally stepped out of the apartment in an effort to soothe Nero's lingering pout. Standing beneath the wide, open sky, he couldn't help but stretch his limbs thoroughly, murmuring his appreciation for the day.
Nero looked up at the blazing sun, letting out an audible huff as she retorted, "Hmph! Is the weather truly that wonderful?"
Yumesaki turned his head to look at Nero, who currently had her arms tightly crossed over her chest, her lips pouting forward to an absurd degree. He couldn't restrain himself from letting out a loud burst of laughter.
Before Nero could completely explode in anger, he extended his right hand and gently patted her head, ruffling her hair.
"Alright, alright, it was my fault. Stop being angry, okay? How about I take you to the amusement park to play today?"
At the mention of the amusement park, a distinct spark of pure excitement flashed across Nero's eyes, though she quickly tried to suppress it.
"An amusement park? Honestly, Praetor, do you take me for a mere child?"
Yumesaki felt a wave of utter helplessness wash over him. Just who was it that had been begging to visit the amusement park every single day over the past week?
He chose not to argue the point, offering a soft compromise instead. "Then where would you like to go, Nero? Today, we can do whatever you want. How does that sound?"
Only then did Nero's irritation instantly melt away into pure delight. She placed her hands proudly on her hips, puffing out her chest—which was voluptuous enough to leave King Arthur drowning in deep envy—and declared, "Well, since you are being so incredibly sincere, Praetor, I suppose it would be unseemly of me to reject your kindness!"
Her eyes rolled mischievously for a second before she suddenly blurted out, "In that case, let us go on a date, Praetor!"
"Huh? A date?" Yumesaki genuinely never anticipated Nero throwing such a curveball at him.
"Indeed!" Nero eagerly wrapped her arms tightly around Yumesaki's arm, pressing her soft, yielding chest firmly against him. "Throughout the entirety of my life up until this point, I have never once experienced a proper date with someone. Since I am with you, Praetor, I wish to experience what a normal, ordinary date feels like."
Yumesaki couldn't help but scratch his head in mild embarrassment. "Even if you say that..."
In all his years of growing up, he had never actually taken a girl out on a date before either. However, looking down at the immense anticipation glowing within Nero's eyes, Yumesaki found himself completely lacking the heart to turn her down.
"Alright, let's do it."
Though he lacked any real-world experience in the romance department, he had watched countless movies and anime throughout his life. The general concept of a date wasn't foreign to him at all. If it was just a matter of mimicking what he had seen on screen, Yumesaki figured he could manage it perfectly well.
Hearing his agreement, Nero's face blossomed into a radiant smile—a smile that shone far brighter than the brilliant sunshine overhead.
"Then where shall we head first?" her clear, melodious voice rang out, sounding more beautiful than the song of a lark.
"Let's just start by walking around for a bit."
Since things had already progressed to this stage, Yumesaki gently took hold of Nero's small, delicate hand, and together they stepped forward onto the wide, bustling street. They would take a casual stroll first, perhaps buy some new clothes, find a nice restaurant to enjoy a pleasant lunch together at noon, and catch a movie in the afternoon...
An ordinary date, generally speaking, followed a smooth little routine just like that.
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