Volume 2 Chapter 19 Battle Of Shizugatake 7️⃣： Who Does He Part With？
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Wha’? Dis some kinda joke?”
Naoshi spoke in a low voice, with a sword at his throat and a gun pointed at his head.
He could have dodged, but he didn’t because he understood that they didn’t really want to attack him yet.
The ones holding the weapons were his cousin and her friend, 2 girls who should look up to him.
”What ya tryin’ ta do?”
He asked without looking at them, making it clear that he wouldn’t hold back if things got serious.
”You should stop, Nao-nii.”
”Please, stop it, cousin.”
But neither Suzuri nor Ako showed any signs of backing down.
”Why?”
Naoshi’s question was simple and straightforward, leaving no room for argument. After thinking for a moment, the girls answered at the same time.
”You don’t need to.”
”That’s not like you.”
”Yoshitada has no will to fight anymore. He’s not a threat. Right now, getting information is more important than taking a life──killing can be done anytime.”
”If Nao-nii needed to, you would quietly kill or do it happily. You were like that just a moment ago, but now you seem stubborn. That’s why it’s not like you.”
The girls’ arguments, one about logic and the other about feelings, both focused more on Naoshi than on Yoshitada.
”Are ya serious about dis?”
”Yeah.”
”Yes.”
”Ain’t no way ya think I’ll back down if ya fight me?”
”That would be better. It’s for Nao-nii’s sake too.”
”I’m ready. If you want, I can show you.”
”Okay then──.”
Naoshi raised his hands in surrender to their straightforward words.
He then let out a big, exaggerated sigh.
”Ugh… I get it, I get it, dis is so dumb. Do ya really t’ink ya can point weapons at somebodi ya like?”
”Then…”
”Forget it, dere’s no point in chasin’ a weak oni who don’t even wanna fight. If he shows up again, I’ll just kill him den.”
”Yeah, I think that’s a good idea.”
”Thank you, cousin.”
Even with a blank expression, Naoshi’s words of mercy made Suzuri and Ako lower their weapons.
With a snort, Naoshi turned to his family.
”Hashimoto, Ooguro, Futagawa siblings!”
””””Yes!””””
The 4 practitioners answered in unison, sounding a bit desperate.
”The Great Youkai’s oni and his favorite girl, ya know, both died here, right?”
”Yes.”
”We saw it happen, ain’t we?”
””Definitely.””
They nodded in agreement, and there was a hint of joy in their expressions.
The Kazuramichi family respects strength. It’s even seen as a right to push through as much as you can──Naoshi was now strong enough to let the Great Youkai’s oni go.
Even if they fought again, he was confident he would win.
In the harsh world of exorcists, it takes strength to show mercy, and it was something to be proud of for a lord like him.
However, Naoshi himself kept a sulky attitude throughout.
”Dis one’s good enough. Yoshitada-kun, I’ll take yer horns instead of yer head. An’ send me da girl’s stuff too; I’ll send everyting to Niigata, ya?”
”Naoshi-san, I’m sorry. I owe you one.”
”Thank you so much, acting head…!”
”Hey, don’t act all humble now after bein’ so selfish. Do ya wanna I hit ya?”
Naoshi crossed his arms, looking bored as he listened to their thanks.
”Oh, an’ how ’bout I poke out one or two of yer eyes for good measure? Dat’d be a great souvenir. Ya’d probably faint.”
Mifuyu hugged Yoshitada’s head protectively, trying to shield him from Naoshi’s words.
”Nao-nii.”
”Cousin.”
”Acting head…”
”Relax, I’m just jokin’, ya. Don’t take it so serious.”
”There are times when you can’t joke around…!”
* * *
”Okaay den… tell me evrythin ya know──who’s behind dis?”
Naoshi asked while getting treated by Ako and the others.
Yoshitada, who had lost his horns, was also being taken care of by Mifuyu.
”I don’t really know who they are, just someone in all black hiding their face and pretending to be someone else’s messenger. I’ve seen them twice, once in front of Umeda’s place and another time in Igarashi’s family prison the other day. I think it’s probably the same person, but they managed to slip through the barriers without anyone noticing. They’re really skilled, like unbelievably good.”
Honestly, it’s hard to believe this at first.
If it’s a powerful exorcist’s house, it’s a key place for the town’s barriers and also a stronghold for emergencies.
Of course, ayakashi and even other exorcists can’t just sneak in easily.
”Seriously? Nothin’ else?”
”The talisman sent for contacting me about Umeda had Seimei and Kikyo drawn on it. I analyzed it, and it was really old-school and traditional onmyoji magic.”
”That sounds like a trick──if I say dat, it could go on forever, ain’t it? But it might be too obvious to use as a disguise. Let’s think about it straight up.”
”They said they weren’t targeting the Kazuramichi family, but now that I think about it, it seems like they were actually after Naoshi more than me.”
”Targetin’ Kazuramichi──someone who bennefits from causin’ chaos in Osaka. An’ in Niigata, helpin’ wit a prison break?”
”I don’t know, I think that could be part of it.”
”Hey, are ya holdin’ back information now?”
”No, I just can’t remember. I feel like something happened, but my memory is fuzzy around the time it changed. I do remember my mom giving Mifuyu’s hair to me…”
”With dat, you came all da way across da winter Northern Alps to confront me?”
”I’m sorry for causing such a fuss.”
”Well, you should think about dat too.”
”Yeah, you’re right. Sorry, Naoshi-san.”
Naoshi spat out in annoyance at his cousin, who seemed so honest all of a sudden.
”Ugh, gettin’ called ‘san’ by ya makes me shiver.”
”After scolding everyone, you act like this? That’s harsh…”
”You were so bad I almost gave up first.”
Mifuyu giggled at their banter, but Ako noticed and made her shrink back.
”So, in da end, who’s dat person in all black? If dey got a grudge against Kazuramichi… well, dere’s plenty of people.”
”At least it’s probably not an ayakashi. Their methods are too indirect, and they know too much about our situation. They’re likely from a demon-slaying family, probably one close to Kansai──.”
”Shikoku can be ruled out; dey lack both motive and strength. What about among da 8 families?”
”Well, excluding the Shiun family, I can’t say for sure it’s impossible…”
”Den how ’bout Niwazono from Shiga?”
”They were already weak and in a tough spot because of the Umeda incident. They might collapse before Kazuramichi. It’s highly unlikely. Hyogo, Kanbe family?”
”No way. Da key player, Yuzura, ain’t doin’ well. If he was involved, it might be possible, but otherwise, dey lack da skill──Nara, Matsurida?”
”The current head wouldn’t have the guts to act all flirty while being glared at by that old lady. What about Ayabe from Nara? If it’s about hiding, they’d be the main suspect.”
”If dey were dat skilled, dey would’ve happily used it back in Ikoma, so no way. How ’bout Narita in Wakayama?”
”They’re not good at schemes either. If they wanted to attack, they would have started a full-blown war by now──so that leaves Hyogo, Touin family…”
The conversation that had been flowing smoothly suddenly came to a halt.
The young men all paused to think for a moment.
”That’s da most likely place, but do dey have any pieces to play?”
”I haven’t heard anything since Ashina; I wonder what they’re up to now.”
”Touin is different from Ayabe; dey might have one or 2 hidden cards.”
”Yeah. As the former Seika family, their ambition to lead the 8 families is clear. But if that’s the case, they should be building their own reputation first──.”
”You really see other people’s situations well.”
”Sorry about that.”
Yoshitada could only smile wryly at Naoshi’s sharp sarcasm.
”You’ve let me talk a lot, but you probably have your own assumptions, right?”
”Well, yeah. So, shall we check our answers?”
Two guys from Kazuramichi lock eyes.
””It’s Kyou’s people.””
At the same time, the cousins spoke up, and surprisingly, they agreed.
”With just 4 powerful spirits, they have 4 top-tier fighters. Who knows how many oni (demons) they have under control?”
”The Bureau of Onmyō might be involved too, ain’t it? Osaka get stronger, dey prob’ly no likey dat. Plus, dey usually got enough resources to pull off some scheme.”
”Well, if they’re just hiding away and not being useful, I can deal with that, but if they start getting in my way…”
Naoshi slowly exhaled and muttered, “I see.”
”Long ago, da emperor and de nobles, along wit da top exorcist families, all moved east, and da Heian Capital became everyting. Dat was hundredsa year ago, yeah?”
It’s something that doesn’t concern him anymore, something he can’t get involved in.
”Maybe dair still feelin’ dat way.”
Even while thinking this, Yoshitada couldn’t help but ask his fearless cousin.
”If, by any chance, Kyou is really behind this, what are you planning to do, Naoshi?”
”Of course, I’ll just get rid a whoever’s botherin’ me, no matter who dey are.”
Seeing Naoshi say this while forming a bow with his eyes and mouth, Yoshitada felt sure again.
He really couldn’t compete with this guy.
Just as they ran out of things to talk about, the cleanup of the Lesser Youkai, who were the survivors of the one hundred demon night parade led by Suzuri and her family, was finished.
Once the Great Youkai’s presence is gone, peace will return to the human world for now.
”Ako-sama, I will serve you well as Yoshitada-sama’s assistant. Please don’t worry.”
”No, it’s better not to spoil this kid. Yoshitada?”
”Yeah, I’ll do what I can myself. Really, thank you, big sister, Naoshi.”
”Don’t ever show your face again, okay? If you come back, I’ll have to kill you.”
”I know, it would be bad if the oni (demons) that were supposed to be dead showed up. I value my life now, so see you.”
”Everyone, thank you so much for everything.”
This goodbye, probably for this life, was surprisingly simple.
Actually, they say that the world where ayakashi live isn’t much different from the human world once you get used to it.
But Yoshitada, who had turned into an oni (demon), and Mifuyu, who was bowing deeply beside him, could no longer return to being human at the same time.
Still, Suzuri watched as the girl who chose to follow her loved one disappeared into the heat haze.
”They really have gone.”
Her voice had a hint of envy, sounding like a girl who wasn’t an exorcist.
”Yeah. By da way, Suzuri-chan? Since ya involved, how about an extra day fo’ da hush money?”
”Yes.”
””How ’bout an extra day on da date?”
”Wait, am I that cheap!? That’s a pretty big secret!”
”I thought I was bein’ generous, so what ya want den?”
”Hmph, don’t underestimate me, Nao-nii. In times like this, all you need to say is, ‘Please keep it a secret.’.”
”Suzuri-chan…”
”Hmph.”
”That’s not okay fo’ da eldest daughter of an exorcist family, even after marriage.”
”That’s a pretty bad answer for someone who’s family. Poor Shiun-san.”
”Eh?”
When the cousins from Kazuramichi shrugged and shook their heads, Suzuri, who had been confident until then, suddenly looked worried.
”Isn’t that reaction strange!? It’s a good thing for you guys!”
”But I’m saying, how does that work for Shiun-san’s family? Can’t you understand that?”
”If you keep that attitude after joining Kazuramichi, it’ll be a problem. How about you go train to be a bride at Aunt Yoko’s place?”
”N-No way! If I leave Osaka now, someone will definitely steal my spot…! Then as hush money, I’ll get engaged to Nao-nii…!”
”That’s pretty much the plan already. You won’t find a better deal than being safe with Shiun-san right now.”
The laughter of the family echoed in the still dark sky.
* * *
The next day, Naoshi returned to the Kazuramichi family home. He sat facing the head of the family, Tadayuki, who was leaning against the wall, and reported on the situation at Shizugatake.
”Dat’s da whole story. I’m reeeeally sorry foh de trouble caused by my mistake.”
”I see.”
Tadayuki, the head of the Kazuramichi family, started to say something but then held back.
He looked so thin that he seemed sick.
His hair was whiter than his hardworking younger brother, Yoshiya, and his skin looked weak.
Tadayuki used to be as strong as his father and son, but after getting injured ten years ago, he lost his strength and hadn’t been active in a long time.
”No, you handled it well. You worked hard.”
Everyone knew that the Kazuramichi family was still powerful because of Naoshi’s efforts as the Acting Head of the Family.
”It was nothin’, just doin’ my duty as stand-in.”
Naoshi didn’t act proud about it and treated the family leader with the respect he deserved.
He was even more polite than he was with his mentor, his great-uncle.
”I see──by the way, Naoshi.”
”Yeah?”
”Why don’t you visit ‘Oku’ once in a while? Things have calmed down there recently.”
”Uh…”
Naoshi fell silent, thinking about it.
Tadayuki noticed and added more words to encourage him.
”You’re busy, so I’m not forcing you, but…”
”No, I getcha. I’ll choose day to visit. If there’s nothin’ else, I’ll take my leave.”
”Ah, you really worked hard. Take some time to rest.”
”Thank you. Well then, excuse me.”
The conversation between father and son ended in a very business-like manner.
This had become a normal way for them to talk over the past few years.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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