Volume 5 Chapter 9 Midnight Run？ I： Youma Stirring In The Dark Night
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Early March.
On the first day of the new moon in Kanto, the battles of exorcists in the metropolitan area fall into two main categories: fighting inside the barrier or outside it.
To the east lies Narita in Chiba Prefecture, to the west is Higashi Kyoto in Ome, to the south is Isehara in Kanagawa Prefecture, and to the north is Omiya in Saitama Prefecture.
The massive barrier centered around Meiji Shrine protects nearly 20 million people—an unprecedented feat.
At the four cardinal points of the new moon, fierce battles rage against ayakashi, turning these areas into true battlefields.
What’s needed most is leadership.
Even the strongest exorcists from Kansai would struggle to enter and cooperate effectively here.
This conflict is part of the daily routine for Kanto’s exorcists.
Unless it’s a critical situation, the presence of a remarkable individual like Kazuramichi Naoshi can create a localized “ease,” potentially depriving others of real combat opportunities.
After discussing with Touma Yukinojo, the decision was made for tonight’s youma hunt in the city.
Direct combat was assigned to Suzuri and Ako, while Naoshi took on reconnaissance.
”──Shh!”
As Suzuri struck down a small, frog-like youma, a splashing sound echoed.
These creatures, emerging from the shadows, had damp, slick bodies that glistened.
With large eyes, they lunged at the girls. Since ancient times, water bodies have been closely tied to the human world but remain separate, much like mountains, belonging to the other side.
Umeda is close to that realm. Suzuri and the others were in a passage above an underground channel—a natural spot for ayakashi to appear.
However──
(There are a lot of them…)
Sitting on the railing of an apartment building’s external staircase, Naoshi thought as he looked down at the battlefield.
”──”
Ako, who had already replaced her magazine once, took out a second one from her jacket.
Naoshi observed this. Though not entirely accurate, the scene of a bullet infused with spirit energy (reiki) piercing an ayakashi and impaling it with icicles from inside had happened more than ten times.
More importantly, even as Naoshi suppressed his presence, the damage and his unwavering focus on the prey kept his mental state steady.
The understanding of what “life” means to ayakashi, especially weaker beings like Lesser Youkai, remains unclear.
Still, their fighting spirit and willingness to sacrifice were abnormal.
Two people standing back-to-back, protecting each other, were constantly surrounded by 5 or 6 youma.
Relying on numbers and wearing them down made sense if the goal was prioritized over survival.
Just in case, Naoshi sharpened his awareness, searching for youkai energy (youki) and any commanding presence controlling the youma.
Signs of ayakashi were everywhere, but none were particularly strong.
There was no impression they were hiding or lurking.
In other words, their movements weren’t dictated by orders.
”Well, I suppose it’s not a bad thing,”
Actually, it would have been better if that were the case; then they could crush them directly.
But now, the only option was to keep hunting youma emerging under substandard leadership.
Naoshi refocused on the battlefield.
Ako’s movements and expression were more composed.
Simply put, the difference in experience due to their age gap was evident.
Their fighting styles also differed: Ako relied on her handgun, while Suzuri used her sword.
Whether counterattacking or breaking in, Suzuri’s movements increased.
Additionally, Naoshi followed his orders and kept his unique magic ritual sealed.
”────Phew…”
”Suzuri-san.”
”It’s okay, I still have plenty of energy left.”
”Understood, but be careful of returning blood and your breathing.”
Naoshi, eavesdropping on their conversation, snorted.
He detected a faintly sweet and rotten smell—the stench of youma bodily fluids that drove women insane.
Or perhaps the wear-down tactics were aimed at this.
”Truly a grotesque hobby, huh.”
Naoshi said and leapt into the air.
After a light landing, he started running, leaving behind the sound of air burning.
”Huh!?”
On the way, Naoshi turned two youma into blood smoke and came to an abrupt stop beside Suzuri and Ako.
The two, their hair and clothing ends swirling in the wind, momentarily showed caution but relaxed when they realized it was Naoshi.
”Good work. Shall we start cleaning up?”
”Nao-nii, don’t surprise me like that.”
Ako silently agreed with Suzuri. Naoshi smiled, raising the corner of his lips.
”You guys pointing your swords and guns at me is nothing new.”
The lightning generated while gathering spirit energy struck the youma that charged at him.
Suzuri frowned, reminded of events from last autumn, and Ako fixed her gaze sharply.
”That’s a different story.”
”It was a heartbreaking decision, a necessary measure.
I don’t want to repeat it.”
While speaking, the two reacted firmly to the youma’s movements, each taking one down.
Whether because that was the end or because Naoshi no longer hid his presence, the ayakashi’s presence rapidly faded.
”Ako-chan, the app. Suzuri-chan, track the presence.”
”Ah.”
”Yes.”
At Naoshi’s concise instructions, the two replied briefly.
Satisfied, Naoshi directed his gaze south.
”They’ve scattered in all directions. I’m not sure what’s next.”
”It doesn’t seem to impact the surrounding battles much.”
Their responses matched Naoshi’s own senses.
It didn’t seem like they’d move to find the next prey.
”Looks like they’re playing whack-a-mole all over the place.”
He had already been briefed on the ayakashi’s movements inside the barrier.
First, they weren’t particularly powerful.
Most were Lesser Youkai, drawn to spirit power (reiryoku), and primarily targeted exorcists—especially female ones.
Additionally, there were enough people within the barrier to compensate for its size: young exorcists unable to fight outside, freelance exorcists including awakeners, and families protecting spiritual sites.
As a result, even though battles occurred frequently, civilian damage was prevented unless very bad conditions overlapped.
Even if Naoshi and the others left, others would rush to help if the youma moved again.
”So, what do you think? I want to move, but can you still manage?”
”I still have some strength left. But honestly, it feels creepy. It’s different from just encountering a group of ayakashi.”
”It looked like a frog, but it reminds me of ants or wasps. Saying it feels like the group has a collective will might be an exaggeration.”
”Hmm. What’s your opinion as a girl? Ah, it’s not sexual harassment; I don’t know about that.”
”It’s disgusting──I want to gargle.”
”The air is stagnant; it’s unpleasant.”
Saying this, Suzuri headed to the vending machine, bought mineral water, and returned.
She took a sip, gargled, and handed the bottle to Ako.
”I can’t drink without touching the mouthpiece.”
”Ah, it’s a habit of mine. Don’t mind it.”
”You seem like you were in a sports club. You must have been popular, right, Suzuri-chan?”
”Not with the important person, though…!”
While Naoshi poked around in the bushes, Ako took a small sip and followed Suzuri’s example, hiding her mouth with her hand.
”Here you go, step-brother.”
”Ah, wait.”
Suzuri stopped her from handing the bottle to Naoshi.
”What’s wrong?”
”No, I just wanted to drink a little.”
”I see. Since it’s Suzuri-san’s, please go ahead.”
Suzuri gently placed her lips on the mouthpiece, made a sound as she swallowed, and turned the bottle toward Naoshi.
”Go ahead, Nao-nii.”
”You two are such fools, huh? Is this puberty?”
After fighting together recently, Naoshi muttered in disbelief, wondering what they were still arguing about.
”Ah, fool…”
”Wait, step-brother. I didn’t do anything.”
”Hoh. Why did you pass it to me instead of giving it back to Suzuri-chan?”
”I thought Suzuri-san would do that.”
”Wait, which meaning do you mean? Ah.”
Sensing the impending argument, Naoshi snatched the bottle from Suzuri’s hand.
He cut off the top with a karate chop and drank it all in one go.
”Alright, alright. I’m not being an idiot; let’s move on.”
The two nodded with slightly dissatisfied expressions.
”Yes.”
”…Understood.”
(It’s both reassuring and a bit unsettling.)
Naoshi started walking, smiling wryly.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply