Volume 4 Chapter 5 R.A.A.T. Born I： Ready Anti, Part Ayakashi Team
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”──’Provisional Immediate Response Demon Team in the Bureau of Onmyō Kansai District: Provisional Organization and Trial Operation’ right?”
Reading the text under the title ‘Ready Anti-Ayakashi Team’, Kazuramichi Naoshi turned to his stepsister behind him.
”Ako-chan, ya catch that move?”
Ako, with her ample body squeezed into a ladies’ suit, looked apologetic with her doll-like face and shook her head.
”No. Information started coming out around the time step-brother was briefed by the district commander, but from what papa and I see, the establishment will likely take longer due to personnel issues.”
”Oh, fer real?”
However, in reality, the talks have progressed to the point of renting a room in the prefectural conference hall and holding a briefing with influential exorcists from other districts.
”I apologize for not being of help.”
”Nah, ain’t blamin’ ya. If Uncle Yoshiya and ya think that way, then there must be a reason. Heck, I thought the same.”
”But it’s my job to dig deeper into that.”
”Ah, yer so serious—just like yer dad, Ako-chan.”
”Thank you.”
”Quick, ain’t ya?”
Smiling wryly at her prompt gratitude, Naoshi lightly bowed to the staff opening the door and stepped into the conference room.
Inside the meeting room, arranged with 4 long tables in a neat row, 8 out of ten seats were already filled and buzzing.
”Well then──”
The Kansai 8 families were assigned 2 seats each in the front row, with the remaining empty seats for the Osaka Kazuramichi family and the Hyogo Touin family.
The people already seated were divided into 3 groups.
The head and heir were present in the Hyogo Kanbe family and the Shiga Niwazono family.
The strongest exorcists in the family accompanied the heads of the Nara Ayabe and Matsurida families, as well as the Wakayama Narita family.
And accompanying the head of the Osaka Shiun family was someone Naoshi did not know.
It was probably a family member.
The man in a sharp-fitting suit, clearly in his thirties and exuding competence, was deeply engrossed in a discussion with the head of the house, cross-checking documents.
Prioritizing practicality over blood ties or martial strength was a choice fitting for the merchant-born Shiun family.
”Hey, Shiun-san. Mind if I sit here? How’s it goin’?”
Naoshi greeted as he pulled out a chair, prompting the head of the Shiun family, who had been focused on the documents, to look up.
”Greetings, Kazuramichi family’s acting head-dono. Things are going… so-so. How about you?”
”Ah, thanks to the gods, we’re doin’ alright.”
Naoshi sat down as he answered.
If turning one of his household members into a Great Youkai-class oni wasn’t a major issue, then indeed, there were no apparent problems.
The Shiun family head’s faint smile carried a mix of amusement and wariness, as though unsure whether to see this as admirable or dangerously arrogant.
”That’s good to hear.”
”Yeah, by the way, Shiun-san, know anythin’ about today’s meetin’?”
Naoshi’s blunt question prompted both the head and his family member to chuckle wryly.
Even if relations were cooperative, asking for information so directly from another family was a bit audacious.
”If you’re asking that, it means Kazuramichi isn’t planning to establish a unit anytime soon.”
”Yeah, just ain’t got the people for a big reveal.”
”We had much the same assessment. But now that things have turned this way, it seems the regional command bureau has acquired a major piece.”
The Shiun family head’s gaze shifted to the last empty seat in the front row—the one reserved for the head of the Tōin family.
”A major piece, huh?”
”Indeed.”
Nodding at Naoshi’s words, the Shiun family head continued while still staring at the empty seat.
”We couldn’t obtain definitive information either… but that family is close to both the capital and the Bureau of Onmyō. If they truly intend to conceal something, it’s hard to detect.”
”What’s yer honest take on this?”
”The establishment of the unit itself isn’t unreasonable—it’s a logical move. But Touin’s deep involvement is a double-edged sword.”
”How d’ya figure?”
”One household having too much influence over the Bureau of Onmyō’s unit is a problem, but if it weren’t for that, I doubt it would be of any use in the first place. As for which is better in terms of budget allocation, that’s a separate judgment.”
”True, that’s a fair take.”
Naoshi had once expressed a similar concern to Iihoshi Ui, the second-in-command, about not being able to gather powerful exorcists.
They couldn’t recruit anyone, and relying solely on those outside of exorcist households was unreliable.
If the Tower Institution had approached, it would have been a timely opportunity for the Bureau of Onmyō ── although it raises the question of whether that would be considered their own independent strength.
”────I’d like to hear not just what others have said, but also your own opinion on the matter.”
”Honestly? As long as they do their job right, I ain’t picky ’bout joinin’ some second-rate group, ya hear”
Of course, having more manpower is always better.
However, simply switching practitioners wouldn’t change the overall numbers ── although it might bring a certain degree of flexibility, that’s all.
Moreover, the current situation remains unchanged, with only first-rate exorcists able to counter the Great Youkai.
”Indeed, that’s reasonable.”
”Yup, Shiun-san always catches on quick.”
”…I’ve thought so from the start, but you, my friend, have no business sense. Your flattery is too obvious.”
”Haha, since we’re here, whaddya make of today’s ruckus?”
Shrugging heavily, the head of the Shiun household still spoke up.
”As for the others, their intentions are not entirely pure, and some houses from other districts are merely observing ── although some in the Kansai district might be expecting an alternative to the 8 families.”
”Hoo, now that’s an *interestin’ idea*.”
”Fortunately, nothing major happened, but with 3 Great Youkai appearances in the past few months, it’s natural to feel a sense of crisis.”
”As someone who’s been hurt, it’s a bit rough bein’ seen as unreliable…”
Kansai’s strongest exorcist, who was currently the most reliable, laughed without hiding his scorn.
”But there aren’t many bold enough to trust their lives to a single lifeline; I understand that feeling.”
The head of the Shiun family, already well aware of such a nature, simply let out a small sigh, keeping his thoughts to himself.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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