Volume 4 Chapter 1 Kazuramichi Naoshi’s Overworked Days 1️⃣： Shock And Awe
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
January, Kanbe family training ground.
Recently in Kansai, especially in Osaka, a scene often seen at the headquarters of exorcists was unfolding even at the Kanbe family, known for their mastery of techniques.
”──────!”
The exorcists, dressed in black winter uniforms, shouted like angry voices, screams, and groans of pain.
Kanbe family Eji squad──the renowned elite Fifth Squad.
If necessary, they would serve as a desperate shield against Great Youkai, but they were being pushed by a tall young man with straw-colored hair.
Every time his long limbs swung, people flew through the air and were slammed to the ground.
His slender body emitted a violent spirit energy (reiki) that overwhelmed and scattered those around him, resembling a human-shaped typhoon.
”──Thirty, Twenty Nine…”
Yet, at the center of the storm, he continued counting down calmly with a relaxed expression.
Everyone facing him initially thought he was counting the time limit until the proposed conclusion.
Even he, known by the nickname ‘swift as the wind and fierce as lightning’, would not find it easy against the elite of the Kanbe family.
That was the reason for the confirmation.
However, this was soon replaced by the doubt, “Isn’t it something else?”
Was he not counting down to avoid defeat, but rather counting down to his own victory──it didn’t take long for that to turn into certainty.
”Ugh…!”
As the remaining time dropped below 20 seconds, the squad leader Ignaceva Isurugi Anya realized the foolishness of gradually deploying forces and charged forward to confront Naoshi herself.
”Follow me!”
”Yes!”
Ten people, one kill.
To achieve this, they attacked from all directions with different angles and timing.
The strength of the Eji squad, who excel in group battles to hunt down stronger opponents, seemed to be on display.
However──
”Yo, you’re too slow to decide.”
Following that mocking voice, the smell of burning air wafted around.
In an instant, a flash of light blinded everything, followed by a deafening crash.
A bolt from the blue shot upward, crackling with raw energy.
”No way──!”
”Guaah!”
In the next moment, the young man unleashed his spirit power (reiryoku) and broke through one corner of the encirclement.
He charged toward Isurugi Iwao, the captain of the fifth squad, and Yuzura’s bodyguard, who was fighting as a substitute for the main practitioner that Eji squad had to protect for victory.
With his arms crossed behind him, the white-haired man stood like a statue, and the young man’s fist flew toward his face, stopping just before impact.
”────”
Even as his hair was ruffled by the wind from the punch, Iwao remained steady, as if he had expected this.
The young man grinned mischievously.
”Just 60 seconds, huh? You ain’t gonna dream of surpassing your uncle, are ya? Looks like his retirement’s still far off!”
”That may be true.”
While Kazuramichi Naoshi answered coolly, he was secretly impressed.
(──I never thought it would be this much)
The time that Kanbe Yuzura, his master, had suggested for a decisive move against a Great Youkai-level ayakashi was 60 seconds.
However, Naoshi did not take the full time to defeat the fifth squad; it was clear from their long relationship that he had deliberately taken that long.
Would the niece (Anya) notice that?──
”But Naoshi-sama, it seems you’ve climbed to a higher level again.”
”Ah, this is nothin’ yet.”
His self-assessment came across as sincere, not just modesty.
”You’re still hard on yourself as always.”
”Once ya feel satisfied, that’s when ya stop.”
However, he was once called the strongest in Kansai, and now he seemed to be reaching even the top of Hinomoto, which was impressive.
”But every day is a step forward.”
”That’s a wise sayin’, huh?”
The strength of an exorcist is honed in real battles where life and death are at stake.
It’s no surprise that Kazuramichi Naoshi, who had defeated 3 Great Youkai in just a few months since autumn, reached a new level.
As a fellow protector of the same region and a friend of his master, he was truly reassuring.
”Hey Yuzura, what’re ya gonna do? Ain’t no way I’m callin’ it even with just one match.”
Naoshi called out to the master of Iwao, who was watching from near the training ground.
Kanbe Yuzura, bundled up in the heavy winter gear, wore a bored expression on his well-defined face.
”For now, I want to see at least 2 more matches. Can I get your thoughts after that?”
”Sure, how spicy we talkin’?”
In response to his friend’s words, the handsome man exaggeratedly shrugged his shoulders.
”You have no real difference between your spicy and sweet, so just go with ‘whatever’.”
”Well then, I ain’t gonna hold back. Now, you ready for the second match, niece?”
”Anytime. Thank you very much!”
Seeing his niece’s face showing no signs of regret, Kazuramichi Naoshi narrowed his eyes with a hint of sadistic pleasure, and Iwao let out a small sigh.
* * *
”Trash”
Naoshi, who had won 3 times in exactly 60 seconds, summarized it very simply.
”Ugh…!”
The members of the fifth squad, who suffered a crushing defeat, had no energy left to protest.
”Ah, you guys ain’t like Eji’s people, ya know? I want ya to train like they do. If ya were actin’ normal, this wouldn’t have happened. You should be able to protect Yuzura right.”
Hearing these added words, the reactions of the fifth squad members split into 2: one of clear relief and the other awkwardness.
.
If there were no issues with their limbs, it was clear who Naoshi’s harsh evaluation was aimed at.
With a smile on his lips, Naoshi turned his gaze to Iwao.
”Isurugi-san, looks like ya raised ’em wrong this time.”
Today’s fifth squad is mostly made up of Eji, who were raised and trained by their captain, Iwao.
That’s why Naoshi’s words held weight.
”It’s due to my shortcomings.”
”Ugh, Uncle…!”
Seeing Iwao bow his head without arguing, Anya looked hurt.
Ignoring that, Naoshi continued to meet the gaze of his long-time friend.
His expression had turned serious.
”Yuzura”
”What?”
”As a friend, lemme say this—don’t change the successor; it’s gonna lead to a lotta deaths.”
”…The successor after grandpa is Anya; that’s a done deal.”
Saying this, Yuzura looked at Anya and nodded reassuringly.
A glimmer of hope appeared on her previously lost expression.
”Oh, if that’s the case, should’ve said it sooner—”
Starting to say something, Naoshi scratched his chin and tilted his head.
”…No, that’s not it. I called you because I couldn’t do that.”
The problem with the next commander seems to be that the fifth squad is too elite.
It’s a critical flaw that only someone comparable to Kanbe Yuzura would notice, but it’s also a serious issue.
After all, the true worth of the fifth squad will be tested when Yuzura faces a Great Youkai.
”You really are somethin’, huh?”
”You’re being dramatic. I found it hard to ask you because I knew you’d overthink it.”
”But in the end, ya had to ask anyway. How do you explain that?”
From there, Yuzura could also see that he couldn’t handle the fifth squad himself.
At Naoshi’s remark, Yuzura shook his head with a sense of duty.
”That’s just hindsight. It’s been getting cold quickly lately, and with that Great Youkai incident, my cold lingered. So, I just asked because I couldn’t put it off any longer.”
”…I see. Well, that’s fine then.”
Naoshi glanced at the Eji squad for a moment and lowered his guard.
He didn’t fully agree, but he thought it wasn’t the right time to press further.
(He really is observant…)
His perspective has clearly broadened. More importantly, Naoshi would have focused on teasing his niece more in the past, but now he seems to be more considerate, thought Iwao.
While he found this change reassuring, he also had a slight concern.
That concern was the danger of being seen as an enemy by him.
His friendship with Yuzura would likely remain strong, but as the head of the Kanbe family, he was just the nephew of the head, while Naoshi was the leader of the Kazuramichi family.
If something went wrong, there was a chance that the Kanbe and Kazuramichi families could clash.
If that happened, would the head wonder if they could really stand against such an exorcist?
The pride he once had was now greatly shaken.
”────!”
”What’s goin’ on? It’s so loud in here.”
”That’s──”
As if drawn by that thought, a group of Eji appeared at the training ground, causing a commotion, and Iwao bit his lip under his calm facade.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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