Volume 4 Chapter 11 Demon World Outer Realm： Mount Ontake Annihilation War II： The Strongest Three Plus One
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”──Step-brother, I’m sorry for interrupting you during your rest.”
The voice of his stepsister woke Naoshi, who had returned to his room for a nap.
”Hmm.”
Without caring about his lazy response while lying down, Ako continued.
”The treatment of the Tsuchigumo at Mitake has been taken over by the Kanbe family from the Touin family.”
”…I see.”
Naoshi sat up.
Underneath his usual expression, he had emotions swirling that even Ako could not discern.
”Therefore, the head of the Kanbe family requests your cooperation, step-brother. It seems they also reached out to Itsuki-san via Niwazono.”
”I’ll go.”
”Understood.”
Naoshi made a quick decision, and Ako replied just as promptly.
”The selection for those who will accompany you has already been made; you can depart at any time.”
”Nah, I’m the only one chosen, so Kurikoma’ll do. She back yet?”
”Yes, but…”
However, Naoshi’s continued words showed hesitation.
That’s because Hyogo is a sort of evil spirit gate for the Kazuramichi family.
Nearly 30 years ago, Naoshi’s grandfather Tadataka and his brother Masatatsu, both first-class exorcists, lost their lives while responding to a cooperation request from the Kanbe family for the Great Youkai subjugation.
”Ayakashi that’s eaten over ten second-class exorcists… we can’t let it slip away.”
”That’s precisely why we should confront it with full force.”
”The more we play it safe, the likelier they’ll get away. Kanbe-san’s probably thinkin’ the same. It ain’t just about numbers.”
”But…”
”Yuzura’s comin’, Itsuki too. And with me and Shiki (oni)――we got plenty of firepower if we team up.”
This is the best formation they could hope for in the current Kansai; ideally, it would only change if Mibu Itsuki and the Matsurida family’s trump card were swapped in.
With that lineup, even Ako would clearly fall short.
Seeing his stepsister bite her lip in frustration, Naoshi continued.
”More importantly, keep yesterday’s business tight, especially the stuff ‘tween Touin and the district commander. If ya gotta, it’s fine to owe a favor or two.”
”…Understood.”
”What about the Bureau of Onmyō’s troops?”
”Thirteen members have not returned, excluding the 5 who didn’t enter the mountain. They likely went with the Touin clan’s troops──”
He shook his head quietly.
Given the time since the operation started, the chances of any female practitioner surviving were bleak for the unit’s revival.
”I see… Ah, Ako-chan.”
”Yes?”
Waving his hand lightly, Naoshi called Ako, gently massaging the frown on her youthful face with his fingers.
He smiled at his surprised stepsister.
It was the same cheeky expression and voice he always had.
”Go get some sleep. Stayin’ up late ain’t good fer yer looks, ya know.”
In response to her brother’s intentionally affected demeanor, Ako answered with a smile that contrasted with her doll-like features.
”…Got it. If step-brother is disappointed when he sees my face upon returning tired, I might cry.”
”Yeah, leavin’ it to ya.”
”Yes, you can count on me.”
* * *
When Naoshi arrived at the settlement with a view of Ontake from the south, it was bustling with many practitioners, officials from the district commanders, and police officers conducting nearby lockdowns.
”This has turned into quite the commotion.”
”I ain’t here to play. Don’t go wanderin’ off.”
”Omae-sama, do you think I am such a child?”
”Sayin’ that while lookin’ like that, huh?”
Accompanied by a restless Kurikoma glancing around, he headed towards Kanbe Yuzura.
The handsome blonde man in a bench coat was wearing his usual trench coat look, frowning while seated with Mibu Itsuki around an oil stove.
”Oh, am I the last one?”
”I just arrived a bit earlier myself.”
”This is the acting head-dono of the Kazuramichi clan. Thank you for coming all this way, and I appreciate your cooperation.”
”Cut it out, that ain’t like ya──Don’t see too many from Touin, huh?”
Waving gracefully at his tall friend who greeted him, Naoshi looked around and spoke.
While Eji’s team from the Kanbe family is dressed in western outfits, Touin family practitioners prefer traditional attire, making the distinction clear.
The latter is quite rare.
”Yeah, the team that was supporting the quick response unit was wiped out, so they’re stretched thin.”
”Well, damn.”
Naoshi smiled wryly as Itsuki added this.
Even though the initiative has shifted to them, it seems like Kanbe family is showing a lack of sincerity in their total mobilization for the cleanup.
”Complainin’ won’t change nothin’ now.”
However, when Kanbe family head’s nephew, who was a party to this, shrugged, he refrained from further inquiries.
”So, sorry to get straight to it, but let me explain the situation and strategy?”
”Sure.”
”Yeah.”
Nodding, the two peered at the paper map spread out by Yuzura from either side.
”The tsukumogami is, as usual, holding around the mountain peak, and a wide area is already within their barrier. While the team that drove up is causing a distraction from the east, we 3──4 will take the mountain path from here to get their head.”
Noticing Kurikoma stretching her back to catch a glimpse of the map, the tall handsome man lowered the map a bit for her to see and corrected himself.
”It’s a head-hunting mission. Understood.”
”I see.”
As his shiki oni nodded with a smirk, Naoshi thought she was still a kid and asked.
”So, who’s leadin’ the upper team?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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