Volume 4 Chapter 9, Part 2 Interlude Survival Strategy Valkyrie
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”I want you to land a clear hit, even if it was just a draw. That would have shown the significance of our unit and also taught him a lesson in humility.”
A slight disappointment, directed at the weakness of the Ready Anti-Ayakashi Team, or perhaps a personal feeling towards the head of the Kazuramichi family.
”My apologies.”
As Itoko bowed in apology, she quickly hid the glimpse of emotion she had shown.
Touin, the family head, continued in a conciliatory tone.
”But as a first step, it wasn’t bad. Don’t you think so?”
”If you say so.”
”Indeed. As you said, everything is just beginning. Keep up the good work, Captain Ashina. I have high hopes for you.”
”Yes, thank you.”
”Take care, then.”
Itoko lowered her head as Touin left, concealing the pain of being addressed by her mother’s surname.
She couldn’t call Touin her father; it was forbidden.
Yet, there was still hope.
Despite being unable to openly work as an exorcist after the incident 8 years ago, she had continued her training, believing in the possibility of a future opportunity.
And now, the time to overturn her daily life had finally arrived.
Itoko was determined not to let this chance slip away.
The decision was made, and she was ready.
All that was left was to deliver results.
For herself, for her mother, and for him──only then could she regain her pride and face him again.
* * *
”It was a rather impressive debut, wasn’t it?”
Touin, the head of the family, was surprised by the unexpected comment as he got into the car on his way home, but he managed to maintain his composure.
The voice came from the back of the limousine, from a woman in a suit with her face covered by a white cloth depicting Seimei Kikyou, sitting in the less honorable position behind the front passenger seat.
”I’d be grateful if my master thinks so.”
”I assume you would have said the same if given the chance.”
”Hmm.”
If he believed her words, then she must not have been present at the event.
He mentally went through the list of attendees in his mind.
Among the influential figures invited from all over Japan, there was only one region missing.
Kyoto, their neighboring city.
Though it wasn’t explicitly stated, Touin had seen this collaborator as an agent of the Onmyouren, the association of onmyouji in Kyoto.
The Exorcist Association, an autonomous organization of exorcists not affiliated with the regional commander’s office.
The Bureau of Exorcism, a government agency under the Cabinet Office, has been at odds with Onmyo, yet it wields influence over the thousand-year-old monsters.
Without their cooperation, the establishment of the Rapid Response Unit wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
”The situation in Kansai is precarious. We believe a new axis is urgently needed,”
”Indeed. We also believe balance must be maintained,”
Unfortunately, no one from the Ashina Itoko family has stepped up since then.
Not even the sons of the main branch, let alone anyone else, seem capable of reaching the level of a first-rate exorcist.
But they couldn’t afford to wait any longer.
Kazuramichi Naoshi’s reputation as the strongest in Kansai is rock-solid, and he’s only 23 years old.
Even if you consider his lineage, which is known for its longevity, and assume he’ll live as long as his grandfather, who also held the title of Kansai’s strongest, that’s another 20 years of dominance.
For Soji, that’s a lifetime, and it’s not unreasonable.
It’s unacceptable.
”Today’s incident confirmed my belief. He’s indeed leaning too much towards violence,”
”The order brought about by individual strength is indeed precarious,”
”Indeed.”
The white-haired man nods, agreeing.
Another issue is that Naoshi is a rare first-rate exorcist, and through personal connections, he’s friends with the nephew of the Kanbe family’s head and the lover of the Mibu family’s head’s cousin.
The Mibu family’s second-largest base is in Otsu, on the western shore of Lake Biwa.
If Kazuramichi can connect not only with Kobe but also with that place, Osaka will face pressure from all sides.
Kyoto wants to ease that pressure and create a force that can rival the Kanbe and Kazuramichi families.
And by doing so, they can work together with the Touin family towards their shared goal.
Touin Souji thought so, and it wasn’t unnatural for him to think that way.
After all, repeatedly engaging in such conflicts, both in the shadows and in the open, is also part of being an exorcist.
”So, we can expect your continued support for the Rapid Response Unit, right?”
More than anything, he knew that Kikyou’s power was more than just Four Sacred Guardians.
That spare capacity will make you want to envy.
”Of course”
She stops the words, and the woman continues with a somewhat sweet voice.
”When something happens, do everything we can do”
Even Soji, known for being a womanizer, swallow spit at her seductive tone.
”It’s never going to be a bad thing for Hyogo. Let’s promise”
”──I know”
For Touin Soji, Hyogo was the Touin family.
But of course, it’s not the case for others.
It was only after everything was too late that he realized this fundamental and big misunderstanding.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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