Volume 1 Chapter 34 Invasion I： Umeda Underground Disturbance
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
──I was set up.
The woman cursed her naivety about the current situation and her own overly optimistic outlook.
Umeda, in the underground of Umeda, how could it possibly turn into a big deal, no matter how shady the job was? She regretted her foolishly optimistic view.
The woman was now an exorcist without a home to belong to.
She had talent but hated the idea of being tied down to a family, so she ran away, only to find herself unable to live any other way and ended up returning to the industry.
However, exorcists are known for their strong sense of territory.
Even a second-class exorcist would not get good jobs unless it was during a strict alert period like the new moon.
That’s why she jumped at the chance to participate in a ceremony to add prestige to the Kazuramichi family──and now her fate was about to end.
She layered talismans on a white snake’s shed skin, defiled it with a cursed blade, and polluted it.
It was a very simple curse procedure.
But whether the snake was particularly powerful or the blade held a grudge, what she felt now was a strong presence that was far beyond an Intermediate Youkai.
Clearly, it was a monster that was too much for a human to handle.
Even though it hadn’t fully appeared yet, the area was already filled with a suffocating amount of youkai energy, and the woman, who had cast the curse, was being squeezed by an invisible snake and couldn’t move a muscle.
”Hey, what are you hesitating for…! Don’t you understand that we need to act now!”
Despite her desperate plea, the young man from the Kazuramichi family, who had his hand on his sword, seemed unable to make a decision about the still-ethereal ayakashi.
The servant girl behind him, holding a khakkhara staff, was just shifting her gaze between her master and the woman, looking completely unreliable.
”Aren’t you from Kazuramichi!? The Acting Head of the Family! Isn’t he here!?”
”──He has nothing to do with this matter!”
The response to her last hope was despairing.
From the young man’s expression, it was clear he had a strong aversion to the person in question.
”Seriously, is this for real…?”
The current Acting Head of the Kazuramichi family, Naoshi, was a man with a bad reputation.
That’s why she thought he would at least play around in an ally’s territory for the sake of his family.
At the same time, she believed he could handle things quickly, just as his nickname suggested, which was why she had made the request──but internal conflicts among exorcist families were not uncommon.
She had run away from such a world, so why did she think the Acting Head of the Family would know about this?
”What’s this weak presence? I can cut down a newborn ayakashi with one strike──!”
The woman finally lost hope in the Kazuramichi relative who was still being so carefree.
”Ugh…”
The snake wrapping around her tightened its grip.
A foul, warm breath brushed against her face.
──Ah, it’s right in ‘front of me’.
”Damn it──.”
As the slimy sensation enveloped her head, the woman lost consciousness──and she would never rise again.
Using the woman’s spirit energy as the final key, the cursed snake was born.
”Yoshitada-samaaa…!”
A scream echoed from the depths of the earth.
* * *
”──This is the Acting Head, I have a call from the head of the Shiun family. It’s urgent and confidential.”
”What a bad omen ya bringin’ up…”
Naoshi, who was sweating in the training hall, made a face that showed he was truly displeased.
He finished his training and headed to the landline phone in the house.
”Ugh, a reaction from a Great Youkai in the Umeda underground…?”
’Yeah, that’s right.’
He quickly realized that his intuition was completely correct.
The reason he didn’t shout was that the situation described was too unreal.
In the center of a large city with a population of over 2 million, a Great Youkai was appearing right beneath it.
Even as a joke, it wasn’t funny at all, and it seemed to be turning into reality.
’I must respond urgently, but with a Great Youkai, I can’t rely on numbers as usual. I’m worried about our family’s fighting strength. I would like to ask for assistance from Kazuramichi-dono.’
”Well, given the situation, there’s no choice. Who is it from yer side? Has Kazuma-san been discharged from the hospital?”
’Ah, yes, but he is still far from being fully recovered. I would like you to take his daughter instead.’
”Suzuri-chan? Is that alright?”
’It’s an emergency; someone from the main family should go. Of course, if you think you can’t rely on his daughter, I can consider other candidates.’
”Then I will take the young lady. No matter what happens, I will return Suzuri-chan, I promise──.”
’No need for concern. If necessary, let me risk my life as an exorcist.’
Feeling a strong determination in his voice, Naoshi stopped arguing further.
”Understood. What is the detailed situation? Is anyone still inside?”
’Among those we know have entered, 2 have not been confirmed to have escaped. One is an external second-class who entered with a temporary pass assigned by the Bureau of Onmyō, but this one seems suspicious.’
”What do ya mean?”
’There are many questionable points in their background; they might have infiltrated with the intent to cause trouble.’
”Ugh, there’s always some foolish person around. What about the other one?”
’Your cousin’s attendant, a young third-class girl. I heard from her that she saw a Great Youkai──a giant white snake──and fled.’
”That’s just…”
──That brat, seriously…!
A Great Youkai seems to have appeared, likely caused by someone.
Considering Yoshitada’s past actions, it’s too bad to think he was just a random victim.
While he may not be an accomplice, it’s very possible he was used or involved in some way.
”I apologize for the trouble; I really need to get me act together.”
’Also, there’s good news: Shiga’s Mibu Itsuki-kun has offered to accompany us. This is a welcome development for our family, but is that alright with you?’
”In a situation like this, we can’t be picky; the more hands we have, the better. I don’t mind at all.”
’Understood, then we’ll meet on-site. I will inform the daughter of everything we find out.’
”Okay, then I’ll head over quickly.”
* * *
”──Oh.”
”Hey.”
”Inside, seen it?”
”No, not yet.”
”Ah, I see. Appreciate yer help, but what’s the deal?”
”It seems to be the source of the Great Youkai, likely the discarded shell of the white snake that was stolen from us.”
”Oh, so we’re both cleanin’ up each other’s mess, huh.”
”Well, I guess that’s how it is.”
After a brief greeting with Itsuki, who was waiting ahead, Naoshi stepped into the space where the Umeda underground dungeon spread out.
”Ugh.”
”This is──.”
The entrance to the dungeon still had the sounds of engines and the smell of gasoline, with floodlights lined up as before, but the impression it gave to the exorcists was completely different.
The darkness felt heavy, as if it was pressing down, and occasionally a warm wind blew, as if a giant creature was breathing, then it would return deeper into the corridor.
”Ugh, what’s this?”
”This is extremely ominous.”
As they descended in the elevator, they shared their honest impressions.
The strange presence was different from when they faced a powerful ayakashi.
It was a situation that made even seasoned young first-class exorcists frown.
”──Nao-nii, Itsuki-san.”
Suzuri, who had been talking with the family members, noticed the two and waved.
Next to her was Kazuramichi Yoshitada, looking exhausted as he sat on a folding chair.
”I’ve heard the rundown from my old man, but what happened after that?”
”The two are still unaccounted for. I sent a shikigami inside to check, but there haven’t been any significant changes in the route or structure. However, the path we just solidified has a thick mist ahead, so I couldn’t confirm anything.”
”I see, so the snake’s probably past that.”
”It seems the inside has been remodeled as well.”
”Also, the appearance of lesser spirits might actually be less frequent than usual──almost as if they’re afraid of something.”
”I see. By the way, got any comms from inside?”
”None. Communication via electronic devices is impossible, and even telepathy through shikigami doesn’t work.”
”Guess we’ll have to rely on our feet once we head in; was the plan anyway. Is it alright for just the three of us to go?”
”I don’t mind. I’m ready anytime.”
”Yeah, I’m good too. I’m prepared.”
”Well then, before that──Yoshitada-kun, if you know anything, spill it all.”
The young man, who had been silent, slowly looks up at Naoshi. The usual arrogance and energy he had are completely gone.
His face looks ten years older, showing signs of exhaustion.
”I don’t understand what’s going on either. Before I knew it, there was fog, and I was attacked…”
”That girl you were with recently…”
”Mifuyu… she protected me and got swallowed by the giant snake.”
”I see. So, what’re you doin’ here?”
Feeling a bit annoyed by the indifferent tone after asking, a little strength returns to Yoshitada’s eyes.
”There must have been a request for cooperation from the Shiun family to Kazuramichi. What’s wrong with participating? Mifuyu is a third-class, but according to the rules, it shouldn’t be a problem if I’m with her.”
”No, I’m just surprised you, who loves showin’ off, are doin’ such a boring job. You even brought up granddad’s Kanesada… You sure seem determined.”
”That is…”
Naoshi’s gaze is directed at the sword still in its sheath.
The finest sword, which is also a keepsake from his grandfather, is a treasure of the Kazuramichi family but is also a practical weapon.
Since Naoshi, the Acting Head of the Family, isn’t using it, there’s no problem for Yoshitada to handle it──but it’s not something you just casually take out for everyday use.
”──Are you doubting me?”
”No way, I never said that. If it was your scheme, you wouldn’t have abandoned your girl and ran off, right?”
Especially since he is a show-off cousin, that’s more than enough circumstantial evidence.
He probably isn’t the main culprit. But given the seriousness of the situation, there’s no reason to overlook it.
Naoshi continues provocatively.
”Right now, you’re probably thinkin’, ‘I defeated the Great Youkai snake all by myself,’ if this was your plan.”
”──…”
Trying to say something back, the cousin ultimately swallows his words.
Naoshi doesn’t think he has the ability to see through people’s hearts.
However, he concludes that Yoshitada doesn’t seem to be an innocent victim either.
”Stay at the villa and rest. If you ain’t there when I get back──.”
”Yeah. You don’t need to remind me. I have nothing to hide.”
”That’s good to hear. Well, Yoshitada-kun, you wouldn’t be dumb enough to make a scene at Umeda, managed by Shiun-san, right? Just hang tight till your innocence is clear.”
”I understand… Naoshi, about that…”
”Don’t forget the ‘san’ after my name.”
”…Naoshi-san.”
”What is it?”
”Please help Mifuyu.”
Surprised by the unexpected earnest words, Naoshi looks at Yoshitada again.
The young man, who reluctantly shares a similar resemblance, meets Naoshi’s gaze directly for a rare moment.
”I can’t put that first.”
That’s why he spoke the harsh reality without any lies.
The cousin, with a pained expression, nods heavily.
”I understand… but it’s not completely impossible for you.”
”Hmph, you’re bein’ way too optimistic. But I’ll do what I can.”
”I’m counting on you.”
Without saying “yes,” Naoshi waved his hand lightly in response.
”Well then, shall we go, both of you?”
Without looking at his cousin anymore, he starts walking toward the entrance.
Once he is far enough away that his voice won’t reach Yoshitada, Naoshi speaks.
”From the start, I told ya not to ditch and run. If you’re gonna act like that, shouldn’t you show some guts and follow along too?”
”Nao-nii…”
”If you really say you want to follow, will you allow it?”
”Huh? Of course not! You’d just be a burden, so you’re stayin’ back.”
”Do you have no heart, Nao-nii?”
”Is that for real?”
Unfortunately, he couldn’t get the agreement of his companions.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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