Volume 6 Chapter 15 The March 25th Metropolitan Incident ⑦
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When Suzuri reached the inflow point from the vertical shaft, she felt something was wrong. There were far too few Ayakashi¹ breaking through. She could feel a massive, heavy presence waiting in the depths dozens of meters below, but those coming up were only a few—just a handful of the My (Uchi no) group, appearing in random bursts. It was a strange move, as if they were asking to be killed one by one.
”Something is holding them back down there. Is this just a scout? ” Suzuri asked.
”No,” Ako replied, shaking her head. She leaned half her body over the edge of the shaft, fired a whole magazine into the dark below, and then pulled back to reload.
”It’s likely the effect of my brother-in-law’s barrier. I think they simply don’t want to come inside,” Ako said.
”I see,” Suzuri muttered.
The clean feeling of the area, which felt good to Suzuri and her friends, was likely like a burning poison to the Lesser Youkai².
”Then should we just keep clearing them out as they come up? ” Suzuri asked.
”It’s safe and sure, but they might try to use their numbers eventually—or the ones in the back will just push everyone up at once,” Ako said.
”What about closing the inflow side? ” Suzuri asked.
Ako shook her head at the simple question and started shooting again.
”It’s better to wipe them all out here where we can count them, instead of letting them flow somewhere else,” Ako said.
”I guess that’s true,” Suzuri replied.
Even if leaving would make for an easier fight, everyone was already too busy tonight. If they had to fight, it was better to pick their own spot.
”Let’s finish them while they are stuck below. If they are all water spirits, they’ll come with the water. If the ground gets bad, it will be a problem for my step-brother too,” Ako said.
”With the water…” Suzuri repeated.
At those words, a sudden idea flashed through Suzuri’s head.
”Ako-san, I want to hear your opinion on something—” Suzuri said.
Ako’s eyes went wide as Suzuri explained the plan. After thinking for a bit, she gave a firm nod.
* * *
After the battle shifted back and forth, the sound of gunshots finally reached Naoshi Kazuramichi. He had been on the defensive against the Ushi-Oni’s³ heavy attacks. Focusing a bit of his mind elsewhere, he felt a familiar spirit energy (reiki) inside the barrier. From the feel of it, they were in a hard fight—it seemed they were taking care of the small spirits for him.
”Heh, nice! ” Naoshi shouted.
He let out a breath of relief at their smart choice, kicking away a falling claw with a sharp strike. The break lasted only a second before his focus went back to the monster. The Ushi-Oni had many cuts and had lost one of its eight legs. In contrast, while Naoshi was sweating and tired, he had no wounds and wasn’t even covered in blood.
At first look, it seemed like a huge advantage. In truth, it was a very close fight; this was no easy enemy. The reason no one had landed a final blow was that Naoshi kept his cool, knowing that rushing would lead to a mistake. Even now, when a small chance appeared after dodging the Ushi-Oni’s fast attacks…
”――”
With one leg gone, the Ushi-Oni’s left side was open. But Naoshi let the moment go and jumped away from the monster’s legs. If he had attacked, the giant beast would have been too slow to move. He could have broken its shell and cut the meat—but he would have been covered in its blood.
”You look pretty confused there, aren’t ya yan-ke,” Naoshi said with a grin. The monster tilted its head, wondering why he hadn’t attacked.
The Ushi-Oni was a creature full of poison. From its eyes to its breath, and from its hair to every drop of its blood, it was very toxic. Its gaze could stop a heart, its breath could burn a throat, and one poke from its hair caused terrible pain. Also, anyone covered in its blood would be cursed for life—the same fate that took Tadayuki Kazuramichi during his own last fight.
Still, even for a monster, showing a weak spot just to get poison on someone took a lot of guts. To risk a fatal wound just to curse someone meant its malice was not normal.
”How old are ya? Three hundred? Four? You’ve grown quite a lot, ya-naa,” Naoshi said.
Monsters grow just like people, getting stronger as years go by. Some are forgotten and lose power, but one this big would cause fear just by being there. And unlike people, they don’t really die of old age—especially while they are ‘over there.’ This Great Youkai⁴ would have become a huge disaster if left alone. But today, it met Naoshi Kazuramichi.
”Anyway, thanks for coming all the way out here to see me, ya-naa,” Naoshi said.
The poison in its eyes wasn’t enough to kill a pro like Naoshi. The poison breath was being blown away and cleaned by the wind in his barrier. And the poison hair was already burned off by his lightning—the monster’s attempt to bait him was just a desperate last move.
”――――!! “
The giant body jumped; Naoshi moved out of the way. The bull-head swung its horns and teeth. Every time, Naoshi saw where the spit was flying and moved to miss it. This was Kanto⁵, the place his father sent him to see. And the final enemy was the very monster that had taken his father down.
”A setup like this… I have to get a perfect score, yan-ke――” Naoshi said.
Saying he felt nothing would be a lie. But the choice Naoshi made as a boy ten years ago wasn’t because of hate. He just decided to be this way. His will to win was calm and steady. The young man wanted a total victory to take home as a story, so he wasn’t careless. However…
”The problem is how to finish you off, ya-naa,” Naoshi said.
Naoshi’s big weakness was that he didn’t have many finishing moves. If he used Raikiri⁶ to end it, he would get blood on him. Inside his barrier, he could drop lightning from the sky with good aim, and the power was high, but it wasn’t what he was best at. If he used all his spirit power (reiryoku) for one bolt to kill a Great Youkai, he wouldn’t have energy for a second try. He needed one sure hit… or he’d have to slowly pull off all its legs. As they watched each other, waiting…
Suddenly, the heavy swoosh of water filled the air. The smell of ink hit his nose. A black wave rushed in, soaking Naoshi to his shins. He saw a huge wave coming from the shaft. The two girls were riding on a block of ice. They had let the monsters collect the water, then took it over with their spirit energy. Their time with Tamane had paid off.
”Step-brother! ” Ako shouted.
A bullet from Ako’s gun hit the water near Naoshi, turning the ink into a sharp spear of black ice. Naoshi caught it and smiled.
”Classic Ako-chan. Always knows exactly what I need, ya-naa,” Naoshi said.
She knew what happened to Tadayuki. This was a plan she had been saving for this rematch. Naoshi wasn’t good at putting energy into objects, and Ako didn’t have the raw power to kill a Great Youkai. But together… and the opening was—
”Shiun⁷――!”
Up on the ice, Shiun Suzuri touched her sword to the wave.
”If you try to run, I’ll blast ya, got it? ” Naoshi said, holding the ice spear.
The monster was looking only at Naoshi, not the girls or the wave. It was a clear mistake.
”Shiranami Isana⁸!! ” Suzuri yelled, swinging her sword up.
The black water at her feet moved with her, taking a giant shape—a creature bigger than the Ushi-Oni.
”――――――! “
A huge, black whale made of ink flew through the air with its mouth open, ready to swallow everything. The water spray turned into shiny dust under the Azure Sky⁹.
”――――!? “
The whale hit the monster from the side. Its weight and the spirit power of two people gave the beast no way to dodge. The Ushi-Oni was slammed into a large pillar. A fatal opening.
”Hyaa――! ” Naoshi screamed.
He threw the black spear with all his strength. It went through the Ushi-Oni’s throat and pinned it to the pillar. The monster let out a real cry of pain.
”――――! “
Then a loud thunder sound covered the cry. A strong bolt of lightning fell from the sky and went through the monster. The two-part attack worked; its life was over.
”――That was a real do-or-die move, ya-naa,” Naoshi said.
The monster’s energy (youki) flared one last time and then disappeared. Its blood was washed away by the ink and swept deep into the pressure-regulating tank.
—
Summary:
Suzuri and Ako use a clever plan to turn the Ayakashi’s water into a massive ink whale. Naoshi holds his ground against the poisonous Ushi-Oni, waiting for the right moment to strike without getting cursed. Together, the three of them pin the monster and destroy it with a lightning-charged ice spear. This victory settles a long-standing grudge and clears the drainage tunnels.
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Character Insight:
Naoshi shows great growth by staying calm and refusing to take a ‘dirty’ win that would have left him cursed like his father. Suzuri and Ako’s teamwork proves they have become reliable partners, capable of filling in each other’s weaknesses. The bond between the ‘step-siblings’ is shown through their silent understanding during the final strike.
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Behind the Scene:
The Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel is a real-world location in Saitama, often used in tokusatsu and anime for its ‘underground temple’ appearance. The author uses this realistic setting to contrast with the supernatural Yokai elements.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Tamane – The strongest and only First-Class exorcist in Shikoku. Known for her ability to handle multiple opponents simultaneously. A 21-year-old First-Class Exorcist and university student. Stands at 147cm with bronze-tanned skin and long black twintails. Wears sports brand tracksuits and carries a Boston bag. Loves beautiful people and weighs ‘three carrots.’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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