Volume 2 Chapter 12 Interlude – Sibylla Whispers
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
He could feel a wave of confusion spreading through the busy restaurant during lunchtime.
In the bright Italian restaurant, with sunlight streaming in through the big windows, his outfit of a kimono and hakama definitely stood out.
Especially since he was over 180 cm (5’11”) tall with straw-colored hair.
But for Kazuramichi Naoshi, this was nothing new, and he even enjoyed it a bit.
At the table where the staff had seated him, his meeting partner was reading a book.
She was a woman around Naoshi’s age, wearing a white blouse and a gray skirt that reached her calves, looking very office casual with a shawl draped over her shoulders.
With her long black hair in a braid and wearing glasses, she had a neat appearance, and her delicate white fingers turned the pages in a steady rhythm, making a lovely picture.
It took about 5 minutes for her to notice Naoshi sitting across from her and observing her.
”Kazuramichi-san, is that you?”
She looked up suddenly and seemed a bit embarrassed when she saw him.
”Oi, there.”
”When did you get here?”
”No worries, little while already pass”
”You could have just said something…”
Feeling shy, she put her book away in her bag and took off her glasses.
Her name was Iiboshi Uui.
She was a talented young woman working for the Bureau of Onmyō, handling things in Osaka during the Kansai disturbances, and at just 22, she was already a second-level controller.
Thanks to Naoshi’s light-hearted comments, they had become friends who occasionally met for meals.
”Well, I didn’t wanna interrupt ya since ya were so into ya book, ya know?”
”That’s what makes it embarrassing.”
Naoshi thought she could have just saved her reading for another time, but it seemed that book lovers just couldn’t help themselves.
”Anyway, I ain’t bothered at all, no worries.”
”Come on…”
”Seriously, ya coulda started eatin’ first, I’m a fast eater, ain’t I?”
”That would be awkward. Besides, Kazuramichi-san, you’d just be watching me until the food arrives, right?”
”COURSE! It’s not my fault dat beautiful people look good doin’ anything.”
”The problem is your taste.”
Naoshi smiled back at Uui, who pouted a bit, and raised his hand to call the waiter for their order.
As they ate, their conversation was a bit choppy, mostly about ayakashi and exorcists, not the latest books or movies.
Uui was a proper government worker in the Bureau of Onmyō.
Since it was related to her job, even casual comments could be shared without worry──actually, it was probably meant to see how Naoshi would react.
But Uui probably didn’t realize that.
She understood what was expected of her, but it was just a way for exorcists and district commanders to communicate better.
The people sharing information and those analyzing it didn’t have to be the same. In fact, it was better if they weren’t.
Today, they were discussing the ranking system for exorcists.
”I’ve ‘eard about it, but I ain’t sure what to make of it…”
”It’s still being adjusted, but the plan is for everyone currently at first rank to be promoted to special rank, and then new first-rank exorcists will be selected from the current second rank.”
”Dat’s interestin’, ya’re really gettin’ into it, ain’t ya?”
”It’s important to get opinions from experts.”
”By da way, how’ll ya classify da ayakashi? If ya call ’em special youkai, it’ll sound like a retirement home, ain’t it?”
”They’re planning to create a category called semi-Great Youkai between Great Youkai and Intermediate Youkai, since we often struggle with those boundaries.”
So, in the new system, special rank would deal with Great Youkai, first rank with semi-Great Youkai, and second rank with Intermediate Youkai.
”Dat sounds fine, right? Da second rank an’ Intermediate Youkai were too varied, so it was a bit of a problem.”
”I’m glad to hear you say that, Kazuramichi-san. I think it will also reduce your burden.”
There are over a hundred first-class exorcists needed to deal with Great Youkai across the country.
That means about 2 for each prefecture.
If we exclude the Shikoku region, which has only one, you can see how tough the situation is in Kansai, where there are only 5 exorcists for one prefecture and 4 counties.
Plus, the two in Wakayama and Nara are already past their prime and are close to retirement.
From the perspective of the regional commander, there’s probably no other area that requires as much careful management.
”But dat might make it complicated wit’ people rushin’ ta level up ta first-class, ain’t it?”
”Yeah, that’s true. The standards for moving up to first-class and special-class haven’t changed, so the impact should be small. But for the new first-class, we expect a rush after it’s announced.”
”Oh, really?”
For exorcists, reputation is important.
Until now, it wasn’t a big deal if the head of a family was second-class, as the first-class level was so high.
But if they’re only third in rank, it might look a bit bad.
”Well, it does seem like Kansai’s gonna get messy, innit.”
Right now, all the heads of the 8 families are second-class, and only Naoshi is a first-class among the official successors.
If other families start getting new first-class heads, it could affect their influence.
And that possibility isn’t low.
Some of the 8 families might speed up their succession, or even reconsider their heirs.
The most at risk are the oldest heads, like the Hyogo Touin family, who are already relying on the first-class from the Mibu family.
(──Yuzura’s probably gonna ‘ave more worries now..)
Kanbe’s head’s son, Yuzura’s cousins, aren’t known to be useless.
But if they struggle to rank up, it could widen the gap in how they’re viewed by their friends.
(Suzuri-chan might ‘ave ta wait longer ta get married──well, dat can’t be helped. She’s still young, so it’s fine.)
Thinking about how angry the person would be if they heard this, Naoshi rubbed his chin.
”By da way, did anyfing oppose dat idea? I feel like da old guys would be against it.”
Conservative people generally dislike change, and as people get older, their thinking tends to become rigid.
One special thing about exorcists is that almost all the older practitioners were once── or still are──powerful figures.
They are all survivors who fought and won against ayakashi in their lives.
You can’t ignore their opinions.
Even Naoshi knew that to clash with the current heads of the 8 families, he needed to be prepared to face the older generation.
”Yes, it seems that the Kanto region quickly agreed to the plan. Once they decide, other regions usually follow.”
”I see, as expected of Yuki-kun.”
Naoshi has a bit of a biased feeling towards the leader of the Kanto exorcists, the third-generation Touma Yukinojo, but this praise seems fair.
”Oh, and about the shiki oni (spirit), I think I can give you the results in a few days.”
”Oh, dat’s quicker than I thought. Dat’s helpful for me.”
”Touma got the approval from the heads of Kurushima, so it should be fine. Especially since Kurushima’s family has their lady involved.”
”Havin’ reliable friends is everyfing.”
”Actually, it’s been a long time since a shiki oni of that rank was registered in the Kansai region. The department in charge had a tough time digging through the records.”
”Well, I’ll pay fer da trouble I caused──dis ain’t harassment, right?”
”Yes. When you emphasize it, it sounds even more suspicious.”
”Ah, no, I’m diggin’ myself into a hole again. How ’bout dessert? I’ll treat ya.”
”Thank you, but I’ll just accept your kind offer. Since we talked about work, it might turn into too much of a treat.”
”Ya’re really on top of things. Da Kansai region commander’s office is in good hands.”
”That’s a bit exaggerated──by the way, Kazuramichi-san, I want to ask you something privately.”
”What is it? Girls usually check da face first, den da chest, an’ if I ‘ad ta pick a type, it would be Fujiko-chan.”
”You’re honest about yourself, but I wonder if that leaves a good impression.”
”Dat’s harsh. So, what is it?”
”Actually, I heard there’s a plan to test a special response team in the Kansai area to secure the Bureau of Onmyō’s future strength. What do you think about that?”
* * *
”Wow, ya really jumped in dere… Oh, dat’s our side.”
Naoshi took a bite of the gelato that was brought to him and then spoke up.
”Wha’ about da number of people and equipment?”
”I can’t say for sure. But I think they’re looking at the main teams from each family during the new moon period.”
”Well, if we’re talkin’ quality, maybe at most 20, right?”
Even though it was just a guess, Uui didn’t say anything more.
Naoshi wasn’t really expecting an answer anyway.
”Hmm, if it can work witout any interruptions, and if dey can actually operate──still seems tough, don’t it?”
”Do you really think so?”
”If it’s a direct operational team from da district, da main members would be public servants, right? So, it’s not easy to pull in forces from random families wit’ high pay.”
”It seems they will also recruit outside help as civilian collaborators, but as you said, the core of the team will be those public servants.”
”Den da main members would be awakened ones or freelance sorcerers. Dey’re sellin’ point is a stable income and da idea of ‘fer da good of da world an’ people’──somethin’ like dat.”
They fight to protect the country and the people.
This is the common belief and purpose of exorcists all over Japan.
However, the young man, who was born and raised in a family that risked their lives for such a seemingly cynical cause, said something that went against that.
”Well, to do dis job wit such noble motives, dis industry is way too messy. Exorcists are basically a bunch of weirdos to begin with.”
”Eh──.”
Uui looked shocked, as if he couldn’t believe what he just heard.
”Um, Kazuramichi-san, do you dislike being an exorcist?”
”Not at all. I were born an’ raised in a demon-fightin’ family, and I chose to be one myself. I actually take pride in it.”
”Then why…”
”Well, fer example, it’s common fer da child of a police officer who died in da line o’ duty to join da police. But dat’s deir choice, an’ some people might even warn dem dat it’s dangerous, right?”
”Yeah.”
Uui nodded, remembering a similar story he saw on the news, and Naoshi continued.
”But bein’ an exorcist is different. We’re told from da moment we’re born dat we ‘ave to be one. No matter if our parents die or our siblings die, we’re told to fight ayakashi. It’s not like we can’t leave, but it’s rare to do so.”
Naoshi’s voice didn’t sound like he was lamenting or pitying those in such situations.
He simply laid out the facts and feelings of someone who knows the situation well, analyzing it all very objectively.
”But ayakashi are like natural disasters. Fer regular people, it’s just bad luck. In today’s world, it’s easy to choose a safer job an’ live a humble life. Yet, we willingly choose to risk our lives an’ go through hardships──dat’s just ‘abnormal’.”
His words were strong, but the details he shared were logical.
Uui felt a bit relieved, but as the weight of what he said sank in, his expression turned serious again.
”So, it’s not going to go well.”
”I get dat ya need more people, but it’s not gonna be what ya hope fer. Also, ‘avin’ half-hearted resolve while usin’ power is dangerous. I wouldn’t trust awakened ones or dem who ran away from home to do da job well.”
”Do you really think so?”
”Well, dat’s just my opinion, okay? But expectin’ a repeat of Tetsu-kun an’ Tama-chan is a mistake. Even if deir family don’t ‘ave achievements, dey are true exorcists. Ya won’t find dat kind of thing just lyin’ around──make sure to pass dat on.”
”Yes, thank you for your valuable opinion.”
”Well, if ya’ve gotten to da point of hearin’ dis from me, ya probably can’t just quit witout failin’.”
Even though the situation required quick responses, the district commander couldn’t escape the fate of serving the organization.
”Still, I think it’s useful that concerns were raised early on.”
”Den it were worth ‘avin’ dis long, out-of-place conversation.”
He hoped that Uui’s serious response wouldn’t turn out to be a major concern.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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