Volume 6 Chapter 5 (1/2)
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The gray clouds covering the sky flowed dra to constantly increase in volume
At the saami that were scattered around the rooftop pranced around randoon, still bound, and Harutora's group that was unable to flee fro with the black-clothed Onmyouji who dominated the situation
Under everyone's gaze, Ohto the raised area
After seeing the eed Ohtomo, Harutora and the others were first astonished at his appearance The normal Ohtomo alore a rumpled suit, but it was different now
He wore a full set of clothing, wearing a robe and hakama that made up a formal sokutai[1] - the so-called court attire
Moreover, it was modern-styled court attire There were several differences in the design, but overall it was extrear was the exact opposite of the opposing black clothing It wasn't a black raven, but a white one, a pure white court outfit that gave off a solemn and holy air
This was the Onency
Ohtohtly resting his body weight on the cane
He turned his head and looked around:
”The view here is very open You could probably see Mount Fuji on a clear day”
The edges of his court attire flapped with the wind as he spoke leisurely
”O, Ohtomo-sensei!”
”Oh, Harutora-kun Sorry for co late”
The court attire on his body was astonishi+ng, but Ohtomo's speech and actions were exactly the same as always Ohtomo looked at Harutora, Natsume, Touji, Kyouko, Tenaze without a single word
Then, he looked at the dragon trapped on the roof
Hokuto had exhausted itself after struggling intensely and its giant body lay liround The black web that the oni had turned into wound around its golden scales
When he saw the dragon, a bitter smile flashed across the corners of Ohtomo's mouth
Then, Ohtoht at Doman
Dolasses Then, Ohto near his left leg and raising his chin slightly
He looked slightly doards, see not to want to look directly at Doether, and then he raised the doards
”Priest”
He greeted Doman
”I'ain Do you still remember me?”
”Eh?” Harutora looked between the two in surprise
He hadn't thought at all that Ohtomo had once met Doman, but the principal next to him wasn't surprised at all She knew about this - at least, she held inforree
The opposing Doman relaxedly affirmed it with a ”Nnn”
”You made an extre troubles to you after that farce soo”
”The Mystical Investigator incident, huh That Kakugyouki really was your doing?”
”Ho, ho It was to humor you Take that man as a joke, that was probably the kind of level it was”
The black-clothed priest and the white-clothed teacher conversed attentively Doae at any moment
On the surface, the conversation of the two see at
Ohto
”What happened to your friend from back then? He didn't come with you today?”
Do Ohtomo's question
”That person isn't my friend We just happened to be acquainted But he's a person with a strong sense of curiosity Maybe he's hiding soht now”
”I see Unlike you, it seems that he's not related to the Twin-Horned Syndicate”
”What, you're going to analyze my words? Well, I indeed had a relationshi+p of mutual assistance with that person, but this time it's at my own discretion”
”Oh? If I ency was also driven into disarray by a certain person's shi+kigami?”
”Well, that was also the work of this old man I didn't think that this would becorand spectacle”
Doman cackled 'ke ke ke' Harutora, who listened to the conversation from the side, couldn't help but be stunned
Th, This old ency and the Onmyou Academy alone?
Harutora and the others had long since expected that the two incidents were associated On that basis, they had judged that there ht be multiple offenders - in other words, the Twin-Horned Syndicate
But, if what Doine before the fact that there would be a practitioner able to sie scale
This man really was a true monster
It was hard to iine that the old man in front of him was a human like himself No, he probably wasn't human
But,
”Anyway, this old ree Isn't that right?”
Do his own prank Harutora didn't get thein his words for a while
But, Do around
”Hence, my important defenders were all sent over there At the least, your judgment has improved compared to the last time we met Well, I don't need to say much, you must also realize it”
Harutora finally got theof Doman's words
Eh? Wait, those words, could it be?
He was challenging Ohtomo?
Harutora quickly looked at the reactions of the people around him Natsume by his side was also taken aback, as was Touji As expected, Doman had 'revealed weakness' to Ohtomo and had pointed out a certain 'possibility'
The 'possibility' that Ohtoainst Doman
”At the ti ht In the end you even left behind one of your legs”
Do to Ohtoain
Before this, Harutora had never thought about the reason Ohto Even if he heard fro had been taken by Doman, he wouldn't have believed hi from the current attitude and conversation between the two, it didn't feel like there had been such events between the two before at all
Especially Ohtomo He was very close to the opponent who had stolen one of his legs, but he didn't show ih the past disaster was clearly placed before hie
Harutora's judgood as Ohtomo's But in Harutora's eyes, the current Ohtomo was more calm and natural than normal He completely eli a ritual, co his 'earthliness'
”'Courtesy'”
For sohtly with a self-deprecating tone
On the other hand, Doman, who had revealed his past incident, said:
”Of course, there's no reason for this old ht?”
Speaking with an even more pleasant mood:
”You wouldn't have been able to ment purely out of a sense of fear You wouldn't have chosen to escape without hesitation if you weren't as calm as ice and stood on another level Even more so for a practitioner like you”
The oldwith a 'ke ke ke' His laugh was enough to make one break out in a cold sweat, but Harutora still listened to his words raptly
”Your true worth and this old ' even with sacrificing a leg Honestly, your judg yet admirable escape”
After hearing the legendary Onmyouji make this evaluation, Ohtomo still kept his calm ”I am in awe”, he thanked politely
”This time won't be like the last No, this old ain”
Doht his staff to his feet In an instant, the oldaura
”At the time, this old man hadn't treated you as an enemy, and that is why you were able to escape But froiving up a sacrifice to keep your cards hidden You didn't display any of your techniques in front ofto escape Doesn't that show that you had the intention of fighting this old ain? You allowed yourself to be wounded so that you could win the next tiht?”
A young voice contrasting with his outer appearance, showing an excite that remark, Harutora couldn't help but feel his heart speed up
”Priest”
Ohtomo finally opened his mouth to reply
Without any fear at all:
”I am still a novice I just happened to foolishly do what I believed was correct”
”Don't be hu now”
”No, no Those are s”
”Hht At least you didn't deny it”
Ohtomo finally raised his head slowly
His gaze met Doman's
It was uncertain what the old h
”I've been in this world for centuries Most things no longer excite me, and my heart rarely races But perhaps I aic are still enough for me After all, that is all that remains of this old man's spirit--”
Do to himself
Ohtomo slowly parted his two hands
The atmosphere between the two of them was rapidly filled with tension
”There's no problem”
Doman suddenly spoke first
”You wouldn't abandon your disciples and escape That's just what I want”
”Priest?”
Ohtoed
Doman returned his wrinkled left hand to the sleeve of his ki out a small sheet of metal from within Even Ohtomo couldn't immediately identify what exactly it was
”After being given shape, you now become the master[2] Shatter!”
Saying an incantation, he deftly flicked his wrist, throwing out the sheet of metal
It came towards the altar
”Uwah!”
Harutora unconsciously dodged ”Harutora-sama!” Kon shouted
After the metal sheet touched the barrier, it easily e out the aura that it contained Inthe altar cracked
”How is that possible!” Natsuain But as she spoke, the barrier's cracks rapidly spread and in the end it completely disappeared
The principal, who had created the barrier, was pale The round , a sharp fissure across the surface
”Alpha's vessel?”
Everyone finally understood what exactly thethose words He had mentioned once that there was 'no reason to repair' Alpha and Oments
The two a their master's aura Doman had used the aura that the principal had left in the vessel to destroy the altar's barrier that the principal had created He had used the practitioner's aura but had overwritten new ic on the vessel
”Priest!”
”That's why I said there was no problem”
Dohed heartily
”To this group of fledglings, it's too boring to simply stand on the sidelines Moreover, I'll be very bored if we don't use our true abilities Right, the altar happens to be here Wouldn't it be a good show to just awaken Yakou here?”
The words Doue anxiety
Do the barrier vanish ”You ami
”Please have fun, everyone This is a grand occasion”
Do Ohtoround with his short cane with a thunk
Silent sparks flashed between the black-clothed and white-clothed Onmyouji
☆
”bastard!”
Harutora cursed loudly
Awaken Yakou? What was he joking about!
After hearing Doh Harutora's spine Of course, this was also a challenge to Ohto Doht become reality In the case that Natsume really was used to awaken Yakou, ould he do when it happened? Honestly, Harutora had never considered
”Calain!”
Touji shouted penetratingly
Suzuka and Kon reacted immediately Harutora and Natsu Doman's words, as well as Tenain a rabbed the principal, adding her to the circle of Harutora's group
”Kyouko! Suzuka! I' on you”
”Understood --Hakuou! Kokfuu!”
After Harutora ordered, Kyouko called forth her two defensive shi+kiga her aain after seeing its master's crisis
”Harutora” Touji see
”No You still can't fight!”
He knew that everyone was equally exhausted, but it was too dangerous to let Touji continue forcing hiht Touji seemed to have some self-awareness and didn't recklessly transfor with an ”Ah”
To Touji, it was probably a huge huht in a crucial situation But this good friend wasn't an idiot ould place his coer for his own pride
”Sorry, I can't transform in the worst of situations So Harutora, Natsume When I release the seal next tiht to the Onency - no, you should escape to the Exorcist Bureau The closest branch frouro”
”Touji!”
”Right now isn't the time to debate”
Touji sternly refused Harutora's rebuttal
Touji's judght be used to awaken Yakou, right now they should evacuate her first
”Touji-san is correct”
The principal also approved Touji's opinion
”If it comes to it, that's all we can do If we find an opportunity, the two of you escape by yourselves without hesitating”
Harutora breathed ”Principal”, but the principal pretended not to hear ”Hakki! Kokurin!” After she coaroup
The two heavy-duty shi+kigaiant bodies similar to Doave off were just the opposite These were the 'Model G2 Eency created They seeami that the principal controlled
After seeing Harutora and the others entering a battle-ready state, Doman nodded his head in satisfaction
”Let's get ready to move Go”
Right as the words left his aed out ahead, half towards the altar and the half towards Ohtomo
But,
”Scatter!”
The ami about to attack them scattered in all directions
First-class spirit language By refining a strong and precise y, he ic
At the sa
There were co ”Nnn” Do it at Ohtoe wavered, suddenly vanishi+ng like a e
Stealth ical movement method
”Wind!”
Do his blade seal At the same time as he moved, black wind slashed out violently like viscous ink
The black gale instantly covered half of the roof
But,
”Order!”
Ohtomo's voice sounded froale
A fire-element charm
'Wind' belonged to either wood or metal[3], and Ohtomo had instantly seen that the black wind carried metal aura Fire conquers metal Based on the five-elenited by the charm's flame The battle between the fire and wind made the roof air shake violently
”There!”
Doman formed a seal in front of his eyes, and Ohtoht of the fire was clearly reflected on his white sokutai as it flapped with the wind
Ohto to a stop in front of Harutora and the others In an instant, the positions had been switched Guarding the altar behind hiain
”Oh--”
”Ohtomo-sensei!”
Natsuitation, but Harutora inadvertently shouted But Ohto back over his shoulder at the students behind his back
After rapidly checking the conditions of everyone,
”Suzuka-kun”
He called out Suzuka's name
Suzuka, who had been called, dumbfoundedly looked at Ohtoe was more abundant than the others', she was able to understand the ic and the skills of the two, and their levels were quite high Her body couldn't help but tremble the moment she was called out to, then she stood next to Ohtory at her cowardice
Before Suzuka spoke up:
”Stand still, don't move--”
As he spoke, Ohtoht hand on the corner of his mouth
He bit his fingertip with his teeth, then slowly reached his finger towards Suzuka's head
”Hey!”
Suzuka unconsciously wanted to lean back, but she stopped aze shot out frolasses
Ohtole breath
Pushi+ng aside Suzuka's bangs, he drew a line on her forehead with his fingertip
No, he had erased the fine 'X'her y with his own blood
In that ree Even Harutora could clearly 'see' The aura that had always been in a suppressed state until noas spilling forth froirl's small body like a flood
”No way!”
Dairenji shouted
”You released the ic? Impossible How could you do that? Did you really release it? Kurahashi+ Genji's seal?”
Suzuka questioned as if it frightened her A bitter smile flashed over Ohtomo's face
Using his tongue to lick off the blood reertip,
”I just plugged the sealed gap with a fakelike a cheat It's an improvisation, only effective for a short time”
After Ohtoaze immediately returned to Do Ohtomo's explanation
Anyway, Ohtomo hadn't broken the seal on Suzuka, he had just used a 'cheat' to tey li'
But this kind ofthe seal After all, the person who had placed the seal on Suzuka as punishency Chief Kurahashi+ Genji - the principal's son, Kyouko's father, and a first-rate On to the Twelve Divine Generals
More importantly, in order to keep Suzuka, as a National First-Class Onic research' - fro the seal, he had undertaken special procedures while placing the seal It absolutely wasn't a siic on the spot and temporarily render it useless At least Suzuka hadn't met anyone who could do it
”Wh-Who exactly are you?”
”A past Mystical Investigator who's currently an academy teacher”
Ohto Suzuka's dumbfounded question
Just then,
”I understand that your intent is to buy ti”
Doman threw his staff in the air after he said this
The staff suddenly vibrated in the air, sounding with a noise si pieces No, upon careful observation one could notice that it hadn't broken, it had split vertically The cane became hundreds of thin, sharp spears Ohtomo's expression iravity
He kneeled one leg on the ground, standing his own cane in front of hi out fro
Do the altar like rain
”Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Kai, Jin, Retsu, Zai, Zen --!”
Ohtomo formed kuji seals at a speed that eyes couldn't keep up with, infusing ic diffused out froical energy
The countless flying spears were blocking in midair by the defensive wall
”It's not over!”
With Doroup of snakes, biting through theto advance
Facing this, Ohtoain
”ひがしやまつぼみがはらのさわらびのおもいをしらぬかわすれたか” [4]
He chanted an incantation, focusing on praying Ohto a pulse similar to ultrasonic waves
The group of snakes' move to the roof The instant they touched the concrete, the snakes returned to wooden spears - pieces of wood that had lost theirinto ash
A clash ofic” After Doman saw his attack be blocked, he became even more pleased Harutora and the others were dumbfounded
The countless wisps of smoke e wind on the roof
Ohto Doman:
”Everyone's alright, I see It looks like you're all very tired, but I don't have the leisure to protect you from here on out Please protect yourselves as much as possible Have the principal couard, with the others assisting from the side”
Ohto the fluted sound it had before this ical battle Harutora and the others had never heard Ohtomo's words be so serious before
”Don't be scared by the nus Control the state of the battlefield The worst situation is if you get pulled into things”
His tone was as if he were cautioning theh a hike, but Harutora unconsciously shuddered when he heard it
From those calm words, he seeh countless battlefields - 'hells' A 'de repeated hells indeed came off from his body
Compared to this person, I
He didn't know anything about Ohto suddenly spilled forth in Harutora's heart His cos
”Ah, also, Natsume-kun”
”Yes”
”Take your dragon back”
Ohtolared at each other, al their ed to let out a voice that was audible
To Natsued:
”I'll create an opportunity, so you dematerialize it But you have to carefully consider whether you allow it to return to the battlefield You're almost at your lis you'll show”
After saying this, Ohto and stood
”Okay”
Doman said:
”Why don't you attack this time”
”Then”
Ohtomo opened the palht charers of his left and right hands
”Five element transformation, charm dance - Order!”
There were tood-element, fire-element, metal-element, and water-eleency, as evidenced by the fact that Harutora and the others revealed expressions of never having seen them before when they saw the charms
First were the twoblades and flew at Do black wind from below his feet that swirled into a typhoon and deflected the blades
The deflected blades dripped densely ater droplets, like the water vapor in the air was condensing on their surfaces After they were strengthened by the tater-eleed into a flow, descending towards the roof like a waterfall and spilling towards Do intensely
Doman's small body was lifted up by the black wind Now, the vine-like branches extended from the water flow to pursue Doman who had escaped into the air
The wood-element charm The vines born fro over the rooftop, and hence suddenly lengthened in a flash, crisscrossing and branching into the sky, their shape like two extended hands with five fingers grabbing at the enereith the black-clothed Doet
Then, the moment that the vines completely absorbed the water, the two fire-element charms exploded
The vines, which had already grown into giant trees, were instantly buried in flames The wind fed the force of the fire and it roared Heat swept over the rooftop, and theinto nothingness If the principal hadn't quickly ordered the two 'Emperors' to act as shi+elds, Harutora and the others probably wouldn't have survived either
”Five eleeneration!'
Suzuka, who stared intently at the ic battle, shouted breathlessly
Metal birthed water, water birthed wood, wood birthed fire, fire birthed earth Those were the roots that Onic of the 'Onmyou Five Elements' Moreover, Ohtomo had superithening their power
The blinding blaze released light, shi+ning strongly at Dorab Doman like two hands swiftly became two fists of flame to attack him
But in this kind of situation, Dohed joyfully
”Hoho, so much effort In this case”
He er at the blaze in front of him
A distinctive, ink-like seal eed in the empty space in front of hi Do a waterfall, and flowing at the raging fla, black steam spewed in all directions
The black wind carriedto the relationshi+ps of the five elements, and water conquered fire It was like he were deliberately doing the saical etiquette si poems to reply to poems[5]
Ohtoic still overcame it
The raging fire was engulfed in the black waterfall and si Moreover, the water that hadn't been depleted descended in waves towards Ohtomo
Ohto it above his head
”Quell the black water ic, Order!”
It was the earth-element charm that he hadn't used just now No, he hadn't not used it, he had predicted the scene before him and deliberately preserved it The earth-ele a defensive wall Earth conquers water Ohtoical defense could suppress Doman's waterfall
But it couldn't co
”Ah!”
The defensive wall's strength was continuously eroded, and the black waterfall rushed towards Ohtomo
”Sensei!”
Harutora unconsciously leaned forward ”Idiot!” Touji hastily grabbed on to Harutora's arm The water also rushed towards the altar where Harutora and the others were Suzuka hastily put up a si the safety of her companions, but she didn't have the leisure to look after Ohtomo
But,
”Hmm?”
Do in the air, let out an astonished sound
”Why is there still one left?”
The ht up the question
”Order!”
Ohtoht in the black water, pressed the final earth-eleht total that had been prepared - on the concrete roof
The location was next to the trapped Hokuto
Doman unconsciously shouted out, but even he couldn't make it in time The concrete cracked and a corner of the roof collapsed, cru Of course, there was also Hokuto and Do around in a fluster Eh?
In a split second,
”Natsume-san!”
”Yes!”
After hearing the principal's sharp reminder, Natsume also made a prompt decision While Ohtomo and Do ic battle, Natsume had obediently waited for the 'opportunity' her class's teacher had mentioned
”Hokuto, return!”
The instant the concrete collapsed, the web for because they had lost their foothold Since it was a physical opening, it was also a rabbed on to that instant, forcefully releasing Hokuto's materialization
The dragon's giant body instantly vanished, only leaving the eht with the force of the collapse, along with the rubble and the black water
”We did it!”
Natsume cheered loudly It seemed that they had safely taken Hokuto back
On the other hand, Ohtoed to take hold of the opening he hadfrom the force of the water
”Really”