Volume 3 Chapter 3 (1/2)

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”Touji!”

Harutora's face paled and he hastily reached out to the side to support Touji's shoulder Once he touched Touji, a chill accoh his body as if he had touched ice-cold subzero air Only then did he realize that this was his first ti Touji fall into this kind of state with his own eyes ever since he had gained his spirit-seeing ability

”H-H, Harutora-sama! T-Touji-dono is?”

Kon, Natsume, Kyouko, and the three teachers who didn't understand the circumstances all didn't understand what exactly had happened to Touji Harutora couldn't add an explanation either, only able to bite his lip in silence

Just then-- ”Ha! This is really too interesting” Kagami spoke, and Harutora's anxiety abruptly increased a bit

”That brat's been possessed by soht? No, it's none other than an 'oni' To think I would encounter a living spirit here Haha! Not bad, you group of brats are really interesting!”

”Tch!”

Harutora ground his teeth, but he was helpless Touji had long since lost consciousness with a dark expression

Exa soe a time, especially those affected by aura with specific natures, would often be used by a spirit as a vessel when it s that Onical tools used for auous and volatile spirits' by using objects of 'solid existence' as catalysts

Spiritual disasters had similar principles

When spiritual disasters entered phase three - when they 'materialized' - they would absorb or 'possess' objects, obtaining a vessel Though the growth and development of phase three spiritual disasters would slon because of this, it would show a tendency towards long-terh the aura could be corrected, to entirely disperse the distortion or complete purification would be almost impossible

”You're just like Dairenji”

Kaga intently at Touji

”In the spiritual disaster attack two years ago, that oldto a spiritual disaster Hahaha I feel it, I feel a dangerous air According to what the headquarters said, the condition this time is exactly the sa spirit caht? When did that condition start? You couldn't have been possessed by an oni two years ago, right?”

Kagahed confidently and walked towards the collapsed Touji, and Harutora's hair stood on end over his entire body

”Dairenji shi+dou became a demon - and at the time, that person developed into a phase four It wouldn't be strange if there were people dragged into the spiritual disaster who beca spirits How is it, Touji? Were you a victis were just as he expected

damn

Harutora shook, gritting his teeth

Two years ago, Touji had been involved in a spiritual disaster terrorist attack incident, leaving after-effects These were the after-effects that the spiritual disaster had left behind in Touji's body

A 'living spirit' normally meant someone who had partially become a demon, but it was also used in General Onmyoudou to indicate people who had become a vessel for spirits but who still maintained their own consciousness

Ato Touji's body had been possessed by a 'Type-Ogre' mobile spiritual disaster - or perhaps it should be described as being left behind inside him Of the people close to him, only Principal Kurahashi+, Ohtomo, and Harutora knew this fact

”Even so What does it ami's path

”It's true that Touji's a spiritual disaster victi to do with exorcists, so you should hurry up and go chase the Nue!” He roared out loud, trying to conceal his tre voice

”You should let a specialist decide whether an exorcist should get involved or not An outsider like you has no place to talk” Kagami spoke with a level head

”M, My dad is Touji's primary physician! A specialist Onmyou doctor decided that there was no problem with Touji!”

”An On ”

Thrilled with joy, Kagary roar The distance between the tas gradually shortening, and it finally reached a range where he could reach hi out his hand

Once the opponent used spirit language, he was bound to be unable to move Just as Harutora bit the bullet and planned on pree an empty fist one step faster to shi+ft Harutora's attention, then took advantage of his openings to kick hiineer boot kicked into Harutora's stomach

”Ugh!”

Harutora's body bended and he was sent flying backwards by the kick Natsume cried out ”Harutora!” in surprise, and Kon's face hite fro to her master's side

Th, This bastard!

Harutora had been careless, and he hadn't expected that Kagaic, to resolve his probleic to deal with Natsu from the fact that he believed he didn't especially need to useviolence

”damn!”

Harutora borrowed Kon's strength, struggling to stand up, when--

”Let rabbed Touji's hair, pulling his head, and then uttered the words: ”This is in the way,” pulling the bandanna on Touji's forehead off with a yank

In the area, not only did Kagaasp, but also Natsuami hmphed, then whistled implicationally

”Hahaha What an incredible living spirit Isn't he one step fro 'fallen'?”

After taking off the bandanna, a pair of two-to-three centi weak 'lag' reactions In addition, his lips were opened, with fangs jutting out that had gradually grown from his canines

The oni in his body and the Nue's miasma had resonated and activated The demon transfor the aura spewed out by the aura flow Currently, it wasn't aura that was spilling forth froave off The des covered Touji's body, gradually

”Since the spirit flow stabilized, he hasn't coether, things would be much simpler But as an Independent Exorcist, I can't sit and watch the root of a spiritual disaster without- what should I do, hm?”

Kagah Harutora's vision went blank with anger and his heart ju out the pain from his whole body

”You despicable person!” Harutorahis fists and standing up Kagalanced at him fro on his lips

But--

”Don't touch me, you cross-marked bastard”

Touji grabbed out with his hand, tightly clasping the arami had seized his hair with

”I don't care if you're a Divine General or whoever you are If you dare look down upon living spirits, careful that I don't kill you”

He iami's tone with a fearless sami's arm with even more force The demonic aura that covered his ar' reactions A deed before everyone's eyes like a e

”Tch”

Since his strength wasn't under control, Touji exerted quite a shocking grip strength Kagay, forcefully throwing off Touji's hand, and stood up

”Touji! You”

Harutora's face brightened but iet up, but lay supine instead, letting out pained moans The arinal state, but the horns and fangs were still the same

”HuWh, When so to suppress it p, please don't cause trouble next to h!”

Touji couldn't catch his breath as he looked up at Kagaa-down Touji

By Kagaress of Touji's de since the spirit flow had stabilized But once the oni awoke, it wouldn't be easy to suppress it again, and Touji was currently fighting for his life with the oni inside him

”Alright, stop right there! There's nothing left for you here, so get away frorily

Then-- ”What Harutora says is right, Independent Exorcist! In any case, spiritual disaster afterht? Please withdraw from this place immediately” Natsurowl like a punk threatening the opponent with 'this guy still wants to fight?' It indeed seeami

Not just Natsume, but Kyouko and the various teachers also had hard looks, wordlessly expressing that they wouldn't let Kagami do as he pleased As for Kon, she was already prepared to defend against the opponent following up on Harutora since herActually, she had rapidly turned into a blade of revenge long since theby the side, ready to go

Harutora, Kon, Natsume, Hokuto, Kyouko, and the teachers were resolved to the death, staring at the Kagaasped intensely by Kagami's feet

”Tch” Kagaue fiercely

”You guys Coath of one of the Twelve Divine Generals brought a tense feeling far surpassing that from when they confronted the Nue, as if it were a sharp blade A chill ran down Harutora's back, his sto, and his limbs almost trembled as well

But just then--

”Kaga!”

A voice suddenly cah-pitched cry like a child's Upon hearing that voice, Kagami immediately seemed like he had been doused by a bucket of cold water

”Tch, daami cursed

Harutora hastily raised his head and looked up

”Huh? A, A crow”

No!

At first glance, it see above Harutora and the others' heads

But a more careful look would notice that it actually wasn't a crow That thing had a crow's sharp beak, a jet-black head, and could fly with its wings, but from its head down it had what see pitch-black h of a slightly smaller size

The crow stared at Harutora, showing a fierce gaze

”I' huffily opened its h it wore an exorcist outfit, that thing's appearance was exactly the saend

Then - ”Dasai! Don't rush forward recklessly - Uwah! Dragon! It's a dragon!” Another crow tengu flew over Harutora's eyes widened in shock and the two crow tengu circled above his head in no rush

”Kokuryuu! Never ami do!”

”Ah, Kagare Eater'! What did you do this time!”

”And where did the Nue go? There's a dragon here, but not a Nue!”

”Right, the Nue! Where'd the Nue go, Kagami! Did you dispose of it?”

”Ga[2]! Could it have escaped? Kagaami's all talk!”

”Gaga! If Zenjirou learns of this he'll definitely scold Kagaht!”

The two crow tengu cried out noisily without stopping, not heeding the local at cries, the original tense feeling gradually relaxed and Harutora lost all his energy all of a sudden Natsuether because things were so sudden, and she showed an odd expression

”Shut up” Kagami spat unhappily

”Kagao? Its presence vanished, but it didn't seem like it was purified!”

A motorcycle sped into the small plaza where Harutora and the others were

An eagle-eyeda steel stallion He wore an old aviator jacket coupled with a pair of jeans whose knees were covered with holes For some reason, he oven sandals on his feet His robust physique seemed lively, and his keen expression clearly showed strictness but also htforward air

Harutora noticed that there was so strapped to the belt on the lance he instantly remembered this man's identity

I know him!

The e of this blade's scabbard was still deeply imprinted on Harutora's mind He had seen the live broadcast of a spiritual disaster purification on television, and it was this man before him who had cut down an ancient tree back then, easily exorcising a phase three spiritual disaster

One of the Twelve Divine Generals

Harutora's memories were not ic had probably seen this man

The rising star of the Exorcist Bureau, Independent Exorcist Kogure Zenjirou

”Big trouble! Big trouble, Zenjirou! This idiot Kagami let the Nue escape!”

”Shaami is all talk!”

Kogure's shi+kigau, scrambled to report to their master

As he looked around inspecting the site of the spiritual disaster, Kogure couldn't help but furrow his brow at the strange situation before hiaze went eventhe words: ”How did a dragon come out?” Then, when he noticed the collapsed Touji and 'saw' the foreign aura on his body, his face became even more confused

”H on?” He requested that Kagaami turned a deaf ear to the little reports of the two crow tengu, shrugging his shoulders doubtfully

”The Nue escaped, on't catch it even if we chase it”

”You somehow didn't deal with it?”

”Someone intervened I think it's definitely the work of the Twin-Horned Syndicate”

Kogure quickly frowned upon hearing those words But, he didn't continue asking about that topic

”I want to know the actual situation first Soot in your way and you let the Nue escape Where's the person who obstructed you?”

”Who knows, that person ht afterwards He seems very capable”

”I understand Then, what's up with that boy?”

”Wait!” Once Kogure asked, Harutora who originally hadn't even dared to breathe loudly immediately shouted: ”Touji - he's a spiritual disaster victi to do with the spiritual disaster just now, he just has after-effects because of the spiritual disaster two years ago, but he's receiving treatuaranteed that there definitely wasn't any danger, so you don't need to worry! Please believe me!”

Harutora spoke frantically Kagaure frowned, looking perplexed He stared right at Harutora, looked at Touji, looked up at Hokuto above his head, and then shi+fted his gaze to Natsu to still not understand the current situation

”Independent Officer Kogure! We're teachers from the Onmyou Academy and these are all On a practical exam ere attacked by a Type-Chimera spiritual disaster, but fortunately Independent Officer Kaga hand However, the situation is as Independent Office Kagami described Because of the interference of a third party, the Type-Chimera has already escaped froht back

Upon hearing the specialist's report, Kogure looked shocked

”Could it be that you were an exorcist before?”

”Correct! In addition, the youngster named Ato Touji that was mentioned just now is an academy student, and there is no need to trouble you Independent Officers with hiht now As for how to deal with him, the Onmyou Academy will take full responsibility!”

The old instructor fought wearily and aardly, but he still laid down an ironclad proure, and then he nodded his head as if he suddenly saw the light

”The Ons were, now that you ht up before So in other words this is the Tsuchion?”

Kogure straddled theup at Hokuto with a look of sudden realization Kokuryuu and Dasai also flapped their wings, looking at Hokuto who flew in the saon is the Tsuchia

”As for the victio I remember there was a kid”

Kogure gazed at Touji with quite a gri up Touji to see how big of a threat he had as a spiritual disaster Upon seeing this, Harutora couldn't help but s

But, Kogure just lightly said: ”Alright” then, he revved the ami:

”Kagaether”

”What? Didn't I say we couldn't catch up? That Nue was probably ence More importantly, it's related to the terrorist attack, and it'll probably use stealth”

”Wait until we catch up to it to confirs Get to work!”

Kogure rebutted Kagaaue violently

”Excuseto head out to pursue the spiritual disaster Kagami has probably caused you a lot of trouble, but due to the eency situation, please confront the Exorcist Bureau about it later Also, the Meguro branch has already sent out a spiritual disaster purification tea with the afterure spoke

”No, we shall coure's orders!”

The old instructor saluted, and Kogure quickly returned the salute, then deftlyaround in place

”Ga! Zenjirou, you're always too nice!”

”Naive! Zenjirou, you're irredeeami is defiant!”

”Shut up! You guys look for the Nue, go on!”

Kogure's motorcycle sped out with a rumble, but close observation would notice that there was so off about this motorcycle's movements, as if the motorcycle ran of its oill

Before he left, Kogure urged again: ”Kagae step for some reason Finally, he stared at Harutora, as the closest to hi:

”Harutora, Touji, Natsume, I'll reure vanished

Harutora gaped and was speechless for a while, doubting his own eyes Kaga

”Far Step,in the aura flow How incredible” Natsume spoke, the same expression as Harutora's on her face

”M, Moving inside the aura flow What does that ?”

Harutora didn't know that Far Step was one of the Iics, unused by General Onic art of 'shukuchi[3]', an extraordinarily difficult ic It was one of the most difficult stunts of Iic

Kagaure rode departed in the blink of an eye Harutora, Natsume, and the others stood still Then, as if the battle had finally ended after a year of hardshi+p, their bodies collapsed in an instant

”That was They were Divine Generals” Harutora murmured listlessly Then, he iht?” He hurriedly turned to the collapsed Touji

There was no reply Touji had closed his eyes at soain

The horns on his forehead were still there, but his fangs had already returned to the size of his original teeth, and his condition was gradually recovering Harutora finally relaxed when he saw this

The old instructor's legs were strengthless, and the other two teachers helped support hinified faces at Touji whose secret had been exposed Kon's ears twitched anxiously, only returning Kachiwari to its scabbard after confir body, like it was asking: ”Are things over?”

Night had fallen over the surroundings before anyone had noticed

Five more minutes passed after the storure had mentioned finally arrived at the scene

”How could this be, Touji-kun is” Tenained his consciousness was stunned when he heard Harutora's explanation

”I knew the spiritual disaster left after-effects in his body but I didn't think it would be like this” Ten his shock, since, after all, he had just experienced the fearfulness of a spiritual disaster first-hand Moreover, Tenma wasn't the only one like this, as Natsume and Kyouko were probably the same Harutora lowered his head downheartedly

Harutora and the others had returned to the On

At the moment, the students who had been involved in the spiritual disaster were still being carried into the Onmyou Academy They had more or less received spiritual trauma - they had developed the so-called spirit encu treatment with all their power

Of course, Touji was also one of the students receiving treatment

Though his condition had stabilized, there was still a spiritual disaster residing in his body, so the On roo hi the teachers qualified as Onmyou doctors responsible for his treatment

Treat the seal that Harutora's father had cast Harutora and the others had originally stayed by Touji's side, but had been sent away after the teachers told them ”Leave the rest to us to deal with”, and could only move to the room Tenma was in

”Natsu it from everyone”

”Whatever, that kind of thing isn't so easy to talk about”

Natsuized, but Kyouko aardly replied

Two hours before, Touji and the others had still been classmates with a decent relationshi+p, but after he suddenly beca spirit before their eyes, it was no wonder they wouldn't knohat to do

But it was because they were One that they didn't overreact to this unveiling If the situation happened in the ordinary high school that Harutora and Touji had studied at before, the others definitely wouldn't just feel 'troubled' like Natsume and the others

Because of this, Harutora and Touji had chosen never to h school, and they had continued taking the same attitude after they transferred to the Onmyou Academy