— — — — — —
"I accept your terms."
After saying that, Ryo turned around before Suzaku could respond, presenting her with his back. "Send me a list later. Once the fighting begins, I'll clean out everyone on it. Consider it my first investment in the Himejima family under your management."
He tilted his head slightly and glanced at her from the corner of his eye.
"I'm pretty interested in you."
With that, he walked off without another word.
"…Interested in me…"
Suzaku slowly rose to her feet, her cheeks gradually flushing red.
"Umm.. I still have matters to attend to."
She forced her expression back into place, spoke coolly, and then quickly turned and left.
Just then, a woman's voice drifted out from the trees.
"That was far too reckless, Kunou."
Kunou turned around, pouting at the blonde beauty in shrine maiden robes.
"Mom, you were there backing me up, weren't you? And see? Suzaku didn't try anything either."
"That may be true," Yasaka replied, glaring at her, "but if that man hadn't been so easygoing, do you think this would have ended well for you?"
She sighed. "You actually brought the enemy to meet our leader. You're getting too mischievous."
Kunou puffed out her cheeks and said nothing.
You were the one who agreed to stand guard. You approved the meeting. And now you're scolding me for it. What am I supposed to say?
"But it worked out, didn't it? And the leader didn't get mad. He didn't blame me, so why are you?" she muttered.
"You're talking back now?" Yasaka's face darkened, and Kunou immediately shut up.
In the end, Yasaka looked at her daughter, who had her head lowered in a very obvious "I know you're right, but I won't change" pose, and could only sigh.
"You're not a child anymore. Can't you behave a little and make things easier for your mother?"
"Bah!!"
Kunou shot her a glare and stuck out her tongue. "One of these days, I'll have the leader marry you off somewhere. Then you won't be nagging me all the time."
"You—!"
Before Yasaka could explode, Kunou dashed off toward Yasaka Shrine at top speed, clearly chasing after Ryo.
"That girl…"
Yasaka rubbed her stomach, half-angry, half-embarrassed. She stamped her foot and stood there, fuming.
After a long while, she looked toward the shrine and let out a quiet sigh.
"I wonder… was it really the right choice for the yokai?"
She feared Ryo might lead the yokai into ruin. But at the same time, she knew someone with his iron will was exactly what they needed to break free from their long-standing deadlock.
With that thought, Yasaka looked into the distance, toward Nijō Castle.
"It's already begun…"
Her expression grew complicated.
RIP.
The sound of flesh tearing echoed through the air.
Kyoto, within the barrier-shrouded Nijō compound. In a world hidden from ordinary human perception, the battle between the yokai and the exorcist families had already erupted.
"Come on! Come and kill me!"
A burly man with a tiger's head and human body pounded his chest and roared. He looked more like a demon than the demons themselves.
The nearby yokai holding spears and shields instinctively backed away, unwilling to approach.
"Byakko is as battle-hungry as ever. Are all successors of the White Tiger spirit this savage?"
A silver-haired girl in a yellow coat, a dark green turtle shell strapped to her back, spoke helplessly.
"Something feels off."
Seiryuu Kushihashi adjusted his glasses, a faint shadow crossing his expression.
He glanced at his companions: Byakko Shinra, transformed into a beastman using the White Tiger's power, and Genbu Doumon, who wore a shell-like pack and was casually listening to music through headphones even on the battlefield.
Aside from Suzaku Himejima and the Nakiri family, which had refused to participate, the heirs of the Five Great Families were basically all present.
"Nijō Castle is one of the yokai's main strongholds, and once served as a shogun's residence. Taking it would definitely damage their morale," Seiryuu said, pushing his glasses again. "But don't you find this strange?"
"What's strange? I'm having a great time!" The tiger-headed beastman casually kicked a minor yokai in the waist, then grinned over his shoulder.
A visible stench of blood hung in the air around him.
The sight alone frightened off several lesser yokai. For a moment, no one dared approach the three humans.
"Something's wrong with Suzaku."
Seiryuu's tone grew serious.
"The Himejima family invited us to attack Nijō Castle. But Suzaku, their heir, isn't here."
"But most of the Himejima family's combat strength is here," Genbu said, glancing around.
From nearby, voices praising the Himejima elders could be heard: "Second Elder is amazing!" "Third Elder is unstoppable!"
Indeed, with most of the Himejima elders deployed, the yokai around were steadily being pushed back.
"Still… I get what you mean," Genbu added, growing more alert. "None of the great yokai have shown up."
"Well, the Himejima family head, Mr. Suou, is in the inner courtyard, so technically they have," Seiryuu replied, looking toward the distance.
Spiritual energy surged there like an erupting volcano. Crimson flames burst skyward again and again.
Above it all, a giant sake gourd with eyes poured out demonic power, toxic green mist enveloping the volcanic blaze.
Suou Himejima. The former Western Yokai General, Shuten-dōji.
Two beings at Ultimate-class power were clashing in the inner courtyard.
"No matter how many times I see it, those old monsters are terrifying," Byakko muttered, wary.
Even with his eyesight, he could only make out blurred silhouettes battling within poison and flame.
"Mr. Suou hasn't recovered yet. Even with Phoenix Tears forcing his power up, he won't last long," Genbu said knowingly.
"So our family fossils are about to step in next?" Byakko clicked his tongue, clearly unimpressed with his elders.
All three, already designated successors, had their own frictions with the older generation. Not as severe as the Himejima family's, but still there.
"I have a bad feeling. I suggest we withdraw temporarily and observe—"
Clang. Clang.
Four melon-shaped metal objects rolled to their feet.
"Grenades?! Down!" Seiryuu shouted, pupils shrinking as he dove.
The other two reacted instantly. One shrank into a tiny kitten-sized beast. The other retreated straight into the shell pack on her back.
Moments later, instead of exploding, the devices released thick white gas. It spread, then stabilized into a pale barrier.
"A barrier? This spiritual signature… Suzaku?"
Seiryuu looked up, scanning the surroundings. His expression darkened.
"A trap?"
Footsteps approached.
Outside, Himejima Suzaku walked silently toward the barrier, dressed in a modest shrine maiden outfit.
"Suzaku…" Genbu crawled out of her shell, staring in disbelief.
"Suzaku… do you know what you're doing?" Seiryuu asked quietly, beginning to understand.
The Himejima family… was about to fall.
"Damn it! You actually betrayed us!" Byakko roared, masking the panic in his voice.
Suzaku looked at the three of them, her friends, and heirs of three of the Five Families.
"Could I ask you to stay here quietly… and bear witness?"
"Witness?" Seiryuu pushed his glasses, face darkening. "Why abandon the gradual reform plan? Once you inherited the family, you could have changed the rules yourself."
"There's no time."
Suzaku spoke calmly, then sighed.
"The Nakiri family has promised not to intervene."
"I've also temporarily trapped your fathers, the current heads, within barriers."
"Please remain here as representatives of your families… and observe."
"Nine-Tails-style barrier arts… must be inherited reserves from the previous generation," Genbu muttered, shrinking back. "Yeah, not breaking that."
"Observe what?" Seiryuu pressed.
Suzaku turned and looked toward the inner courtyard battlefield.
Then she sighed softly.
"The destruction of the Himejima family."
BOOM!
A thunderous impact rang out like a meteor striking the earth.
Buildings in Nijō Castle's inner courtyard shattered piece by piece. Crimson magma and glass-like ground erupted into view.
Within the towering cloud of dust, a lone figure stood at the center.
Outside the battlefield, at a vantage point overlooking the entire castle, Rias Gremory stared at the impact zone and said in a low voice. "The Supreme Leader of the yokai… has entered the field."
.
.
.