Volume 3 Chapter 4 (1/2)

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You're a demon

He couldn't remember whether the first person that said this was a schoolteacher or so out with Otherwise, it was ardless of who it was, Touji had often heard those words since he had been small

Touji was a child born to a h he wasn't hard-pressed financially, his father and even his iven hiry for so the current world At the tiuing all day with incidents popping up one after another

But he had also vaguely noticed that he was deliberately acting out a facade like this

Whether adult or child, most people would expect him to show a demeanor that 'this kind of person' should have when they heard that Touji was 'unfortunate', for exa indo a surly attitude after yielding to the misfortune The specific expressions were all different, but people all looked for a 'role' suitable for his misfortune - as well as a 'personality' But Touji had unconsciously accepted that kind ofto their expectations

The best proof was that Touji hadn't felt anything about his circumstances since very early on He didn't feel hurt, painful, helpless, or content with his situation

But never mind if the people around him lost interest because of this, they would crown Touji with a new 'role' Touji felt like a fool, but he didn't change his original nature, still fighting with others like always, fighting and arguing all day with incidents popping up one after another

His mind was blank

In the end, he only felt it dull and uninteresting He could never enjoy his life through cumulative efforts to yield a sense of accoh momentary, passively acquired happiness

You're a demon, an emotionless demon

He had never denied those kinds of words, and he truly thought that he was cold and emotionless It wasn't that he didn't have eic e a contrived interpretation of the role that others expected, with frequent inexplicable i him to shout madly His mind was still only ice-cold even in that kind of time

Could it be that nothing troubled him?

That thought could never be banished from his heart

He had never drea attacked by a demon

As an effect of the spiritual disaster, the shi+buya street croas sparse even though night had just fallen, unlike usual Though the streets weren't devoid of people, there were clearlyplace like shi+buya was still difficult no matter ho pedestrians there were on the streets Harutora ran here and there on the streets, desperately searching for Touji's aura - investigating for the residue of a peculiar aura different from a normal person's

Ten for Touji's whereabouts as well, and Harutora had also ordered Kon to help investigate In addition, there were also several Onami to search for Touji However, the academy students' treatment hadn't completely ended, so there weren't actually many teachers who had come to help them search

damn, where exactly did that bastard run off to?

The principal had said that Touji was still in a partially unconscious state, and the oni in his body had just had a row, and though it could be said that his body's condition had taken a slight turn for the better, his condition was still quite dangerous

Especially nohen the spirit flow everywhere inside the city was chaotic, it was hard to tell whether Touji would receive soain

”Touji!”

The pedestrians who passed by Harutora cast suspicious glances at hiasp for breath ritted his teeth and continued to search for his good friend

Unfortunately, he had no idea at all what kind of place Touji would go to, and could only search here and there like a headless chicken He almost hadn't rested at all after the practical exam, but he didn't feel tired at all, or perhaps it should be said that he didn't have the leisure to feel tired

Moreover, besides Touji, he was also worried about Natsume

Though he had promised everyone in the principal's office, he still couldn't be at ease when he wasn't by Natsume's side in this critical moment He couldn't help but think of the incident that happened in September, especially when he heard that the spiritual disaster this time was related to Yakou fanatics At the tiht, and as a result the Yakou-worshi+pping Mystical Investigator had taken the opportunity to come in and abduct Natsume

He understood in his heart that Natsuroup of specialized Onmyouji and that he should feel relieved, but the butterflies in his sto

”damn”

He couldn't control his fretfulness As he ran here and there doubting whether this kind of mindless search could actually find someone or not, he couldn't help but look up at the sky

Just at that time, several drunks rushed out from the bar on the side of the road

He quickly came to his senses, but he still couldn't avoid the, he fell backwards,to stabilize his body The drunk who crashed into hi onto the road The faces of the other drunks who had come out of the bar with that person i this situation

”S, Sorry!”

Harutora hurriedly apologized, but the others scolded him fiercely: ”Hold on, you brat!”

There were threeabout twenty or thirty years old Frohshod attitudes, they seeround was furious, his face red frorily at Harutora, stepping forward

”Hey, brat! Where are your eyes!”

”Uh, I'm really very sorry, I have important business”

”Shut up! Who cares whether you have shi+tty important business!”

Harutora looked down and apologized but the other party didn't appreciate it The other two companions didn't stop the man, but instead surrounded them They looked like they were dissatisfied with Harutora just apologizing verbally and with a completely unconsternated expression

Oh , give me a break

In the end, he had just undergone a phase three spiritual disaster attack and then witnessed a vicious Divine General playing with the spiritual disaster in the palrily insulted by street punks He didn't hesitate to lower his head and apologize to save ti up because he had seen through his attempt

Right noasn't a tie of ee showed on his face ”You want to die, brat!?” The man pulled at Harutora's collar

”Let go” Harutora said reflexively

”What did you say!”

”I said let go” Saying this, Harutora forcefully knocked away the rily

The three azes instantly turned vicious and they clenched their fists Three against one Touji who had originally been a juvenile delinquent , but Harutora really wasn't their opponent

But, he truly couldn't take it

Not only could he not stand this group of a unable to relieve herself of her arduous burden, and the fate that Touji bore Various eer s the fact that he and the people around him were met with all of these unfair encounters

But just then--

”Fighting isn't good”

A gruff voice chipped in without warning Harutora and theto look at the person who spoke, and then their eyes all widened at once

It was a huge man, about six feet tall Moreover, not only was his physique large, but his body was quite robust as well The man had come forward at some point, but once they noticed hi presence, as if turning around and noticing that a wild beast stood right there looking straight back - the ie

How the three ive off a threatening feeling to Harutora, but an inexplicably elegant and shrewd air instead

His deep features and his eyes, practically narrowed to slits, didn't seeolden short hair flashed like a crown under the illuhts The man wore a suit without a tie, and he didn't look like an average person, but he was definitely not the saroup of drunks

”Fighting isn't good” The brawny ain

”Especially this kind of silly fight where the people fighting don't feel anyfrom the side also feel disappointed Why don't you stop here, or I'll help you guys out andthis, he smiled at Harutora and the others

His body still didn't give off any threat, but he carried a kind of presence that couldn't be ignored

The three drunks had long since been scared silly, and they quickly glanced at each other ”Let's go” They i this, not even daring to drop any angry words

”It seeh they were drunk They saved thee httime shi+buya street

Harutora looked blankly at the large e of exploding having cleanly dissipated at some point in time

”Thanks for helping ave thanks

”Are you looking for someone?”

”Huh?”

”Just now, I saw you running here and there nearby Who are you looking for?” The man asked the surprised Harutora with a calm tone

”Though I don't knoho you're looking for If you're looking for a youngster who's wearing an uniform similar to yours, I just ran into one His appearance was quite unusual, so I re as if they were quite acquainted, not waiting for Harutora to reply

”R Really?”

Harutora hurriedly asked for clarification, and theOnce he heard the location, Harutora almost moaned It was near the place where they had held the practical exam today

Harutora iot ready to ain: ”Th, Thanks! Thank you very much!”

”Don't worry about it, go quickly”

”Yes!”

Harutora bowed his head deeply in thanks, then ran off But as he ran, he felt like soht

With suspicion in his heart, he quickly noticed the abnormality

When he had lowered his head in thanks and rushed away, soht his eye The left sleeve of the ently in the breeze like an empty sleeve

Harutora quickly turned around, but the big er there

He felt strange, not understanding why his chest felt inexplicably i Touji was the first priority, and he hurriedly pushed his doubt and suspicious feeling out of his th to sprint towards the place where the practical exa He fully believed that Touji was there, not even suspecting that the man could lie

Run, run, run--

He ran forward single-mindedly

Once he reached that place, and upon noticing that figure, Harutora instantly yelled: ”Touji!”

Touji was in the plaza in front of an office building, where they had held the practical exam

After the Exorcist Bureau arrived, they had stretched caution tape nearby, prohibiting nor However, maybe because theirbehind to monitor the area at the moment The spiritual disaster area was close to silent and the traces of destruction were still shocking It was really hard to associate this place with the don shi+buya in the Tokyo metropolis

Harutora shouted, passing over the caution tape, and the solitary boy instantly turned his head around listlessly

Touji was the boy standing within the caution tape

But, it wasn't the normal Touji

”It's you, huh” He muttered, his voice abnormally cold and emotionless

Harutora's bodyin his mind This wasn't the first time he had faced this kind of Touji

In his tension, he gradually put on a splendid smile Since the moment he heard that Touji had slipped out of the acade, he had already prepared himself No, more accurately, he had prepared hio, from the moment when he had been acquainted with and became friends with Touji

”What do you want?” Touji asked

”Does it need to be said?” Harutora replied

He desperately regulated the breathing that had becohtened his back, speaking sincerely to his good friend:

”Let's go, Touji, let's go back together”

☆

Natsume didn't head to the Exorcist Bureau uro branch instead

The person who had coht her directly into the branch office The office was in a state of turmoil, pervaded by a tense, stor taut expressions Even so, no one in the office see since gotten used to sudden situations

A group of black-clothed people - On that was the symbol of an exorcist - walked here and there in the corridor This place could be na of ravens on the absolute frontline

Natsuht into a e, with a sli chairs placed inside and a whiteboard hung on the wall

Honestly, the two of theht to an operational headquarters where a group of higher-ups would be sitting side by side It was hard to conceal their disappoint such a s inside the asp in shock, hurriedly standing upright

The Divine Generals couldn't help but laugh

”Alright, alright, don't be that formal We were busy before and I wasn't able to introduce ure Zenjirou It's a pleasure to meet you, Tsuchimikado Natsume-kun, and Kurahashi+ Kyouko-san Chief Kurahashi+ is usually always taking care of me”

Kogure spoke casually He sat down in the chair, si: ”Go ahead and sit” The ted their head in thanks soside him

Kogure's dress was the same as on the scene of the spiritual disaster, but he didn't have the tense feeling from back then, and looked rather leisurely In particular, there was a wooden bowl of pastries on the table and a plastic bottle of Pepsi, and there was even an opened, half-read a on the side Yet the katana that had been strapped to his waist before was also to the side These objects seeether

”It's not very good to drink on the job” He shrugged his shoulders after he noticed the gazes of the two, coain: ”Want some?” and proffered the entire bowl of pastries They hastily shook their heads as soon as they heard that Seeing Natsuure took a pastry himself

”Sorry for suddenly calling you out here It's a desperate situation after all, so please forgive me”

Kogure explained, chewing the pastry with a crisp noise andthem unable to help but want to ask whether the situation was actually all that desperate

”Sorry, Kagauy is really able, but he loves to stir up trouble and he , but I hope that you will be able to put thatthis operation”

”No, don't say that, the incident already passed”

”It's really a great help to hear you say that Don't worry, I won't let that person have a chance to approach you during the operation”

Kogure chewed the pastry, pro readily

Natsurateful when she heard those words Before she had come to the Exorcist Bureau, she had always been a bit resistant in her heart, not wanting to run into Kagareat', but her expression relaxed greatly

Then, Kogure stuffed the entire pastry into hisit doith Pepsi

”Alright” He clapped his hands and said: ”I think you two have already heard side the Exorcist Bureau for this operation I should first warn you that the erous For thewithyou I want you to listen clearly toto my instructions, understood?”

Kogure spoke like the coalance upon hearing that remark

The principal had said that the Exorcist Bureau was relatively safe, but they hadn't even thought of so one of the Twelve Divine Generals protecting thes was certainly quite reliable, as with a Divine General by their side, they wouldn't have to be alarmed even if Yakou fanatics came forth to intervene

”But, is that alright?”

”What do you mean?”

”After all It's a phase three spiritual disaster that has to be purified, right? But if Independent Officer Kogure is stuck protecting us, your fighting strength” Natsuerly

Kogure laughed openly upon hearing that, raising his legs andsound with his sandals

”You don't need to worry, the Exorcist Bureau is going all-out this time and there won't be any ht, a state of eency will definitely be announced toovernment officials who have to step down to take responsibility This could really lead to a situation siht, do you two know about the spiritual disaster terrorist attack two years ago?”

”Yes, we know”

”Okay, well anyways it's pretty close to that time The Exorcist Bureau will do all they can to deal with the spiritual disaster You don't need to worry, as the Chief will visit the scene hiest problem is actually whether we can successfully lure the Nue - but the Exorcist Bureau is the one studying this plan of action, you don't need to be concerned about such things, Natsuure still spoke leisurely

In so Natsume and Kyouko like children, but since he was an Independent Exorcist of the Twelve Divine Generals, it was really hard to oppose his words More iht on their shoulders had vanished because of this, and Natsume had relaxed instead

”But, like I said just now, the erous, and I should want you never to grow careless Though I say that, there won't be any spare time to be lax after we arrive at the scene”

Kogure s the plastic bottle in his hand In that ure's lax attitude

”To say more, you are the linchpin of this plan of action, Natsume-kun We'll assume full responsibility, but please remember this and stay careful”

”Alright, I'll do everything I can”

Natsu burdened by the name 'Tsuchi, it was just as Kogure had said, she didn't believe she would have any spare time She would have to work as hard as possible in order to keep fro the exorcists back

”Yeah” Maybe seeing Natsuure nodded his head in satisfaction Then - ”You really don't want any?” - he offered the pastries to Natsuain

This ti her hand out Kyouko also reached to take a pastry upon seeing this They hadn't eaten anything since ure naturally made thery soldiers' Maybe it was the calm and composure that he showed - or on the other hand, it could be the firave off this feeling

”Honestly, though you are On ordinary people - and even underage people - into this, even if you're a Tsuchi on you this time”

”Oh no, I should be the one saying that”

”Right - I heard that Jin was your class's hoht? How's his performance? Is he a proper teacher?”

Kogure asked spiritedly, and Natsume and Kyouko were du They only realized after a long while that 'Jin' was Ohtomo's name, and their eyes inadvertently widened

”Huh? Y, You know Ohtomo-sense-?”

Come to think of it, they had indeed heard froator in the past, but they just couldn't immediately associate that useless teacher with one of the Twelve Divine Generals Kogure's response surprised them even more

”We didn't just know each other, ere companions”

”I, I see, so you entered the Onency at the same time--”

”Wrong, wrong, we indeed entered the Onency at the same time, but ere classmates since ere in the Onmyou Academy”

”What? O, Onmyou Academy classmates?”

”Right, and come to think of it, is there a reason why it was so unexpected? There are Onency”

Kogure spoke in incoure - and Ohtomo - were actually all Natsume and the others' senpai

”Right, what class of students are you guys?”

”Th, The forty-seventh class”

”Oh, there are soshock Jin and I were the thirty-sixth class, and people called us the 'Three Ravens of the Thirty-Sixth' At the ti headaches to Principal Kurahashi+”

Kogure spoke elatedly Natsuhiood, but the tere really incredibly different They couldn't ihtforward and reliable Divine General being good friends with that strange teacher

”Kogure-san see ith everyone” Kyouko whispered quietly into Natsume's ear

”On the other hand, Ohtoure-san”

”Uh, it's very possible”

”Right? But it's really an unexpected combination Huh, weird, the thirty-sixth class? That means Ohtomo-sensei isn't even thirty? No way!”

Kogure looked at the whispered conversation of the two in confusion and inco past events from when he had still been an academy student

Then, Kyouko made a 'huh?' sound

”'Three Ravens' ht? Then, as that friend--” Since the atly

Kogure's face tensed up once he heard this, showing a shocked expression like he had made a tactless remark

”Uh, well It's not really so fro his own emotions He looked aard in Natsu the question Since he was showing this kind of attitude, they decided to suppress their curiosity and didn't pursue the question

Just then, a door knock sounded in theman walked in

The young entle face His hair fell to his shoulders, and for some reason a lock of it had been dyed red

”I'ure”

”Oh, you're here”

Kogure see his hand and greeting the young man Natsume and Kyouko stood up respectfully, and he also stood up alongside when he saw that, unable to help but smile wryly

”Let ation Depart with me The reason is I shouldn't need to say it, you both knoell, right?”

Upon hearing of the Mystical Investigators, Natsume's expression instantly went stiff Norators to show up during a spiritual disaster purification As Kogure had said, she could think of only one reason why he was participating in this operation

”hello Tsuchiator Hirata Maybe you don't want to hear this, but I know about yourA coworker of e our reputation last year, and as a Mystical Investigator, please allowNatsume's reaction, Hirata spoke with caution After he spoke, he bowed deeply to Natsu his head to express his apology His attitude was refined and courteous, and his clear and flowing voice gave an even deeper impression

”I know that it's very difficult to ask you to immediately have faith in me, but it's an indisputable fact that the difficulty you face is too le person with I won't force you to trust me immediately, but you and I stand on the same side, so please allow us to do e can and resolve things together with you”

”Yes”

The first tis Natsume was duure was even more amazed

”Hey, Hirata, it's good to have manners, but isn't that a bit too polite”

”There's no such thing, we have truly given him quite some trouble”

”But you're a specialized Onht? Look, you've even confused Natsume-kun”

”No, I, um”

Natsus over, but her tone was indeed full of confusion On the other hand, Hirata was unaffected, still fir that 'this is proper courtesy'

”Well, I never thought that there would be a rare type like you in the Mystical Investigators, though old Amami and Jin aren't very normal either”

After Kogure muttered a feords with a wry se of the situation

He put his hands on his lap, showing a fir at Natsume, Kyouko, and Hirata in succession With just that small movement, the atmosphere in the area instantly turned serious

”We still have some time before the operation starts So, I'll explain and confirht?”

Natsuure began explaining what role Natsu in this plan of action in more detail

If I became a demon like this--

The thought had once eed in Touji's mind when he was a spiritual encu treatment inside the infirmary room 'sealed' all around by barriers

If I beca that would be

He had always thought to hi troubles me?', but this could be called the troublesome situation that he had wished for, and also an exit opportunity that he had wished for He still didn't feel that he was a patient who had fallen to the level of suicide, but he felt that beco a demon certainly had a kind of hard-to-resist fascination

The smell of blood made him restless

He had been like that all his life with no regard for the outcomes

If I becaht became even more intense when the de hi to lose, and it wouldn't be , and bleakness

Once he became a demon, his life would be over like that It would be a cleaner end that way, like God giving the last act of mercy to a failed product No, maybe it was a sweet trap of enticement that the devil had set at the end

If I became a demon like this

Maybe that was proof showing that the oni inside hiradually infiltrated Touji's heart Under the effects of the oni's strength, Touji's consciousness becauous, his originally ill to live beco even thinner Touji's heart strode down the path of the deical treatment

Then, the priht his own son over

His name was Harutora

☆

Touji slowly turned around to face Harutora

The bandanna that was normally tied around his forehead was nowhere to be seen, and the two horns that had vaguely sprouted when he almost turned into an oni had also vanished, but there were still 'traces' lingering on his skin Touji would tie on the bandanna to hide the traces - and to terehen his condition went out of control