Volume 9 Chapter 2 (1/2)
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It was said to be an ancient 'family tradition'
As a branch faami of a main family member
”So you're ami!”
He didn't knohether she understood the ami', but the main family son proclaimed this with an unreliable appearance But he didn't understand the a, his expression i headache
”Uh whatever Anyway, you're co to my home You just need to listen to what I say In return, I'll protect you”
He had truly kept that promise He would always protect her if someone scorned her If she were bullied, he would definitely co to help It was the a self and always staying with her He was always by her side
She was very happy
It was her first ti this kind of happiness
She also wanted to do so for him She wanted to help him She felt this from the bottom of her heart
Then, those feelings ended up becoht cah her self-dedication
”No way!?”
Tsuchi through her body
But her fury was basically filled with despair, pain, and deep regret
”Natsu!?”
Chizuru grabbed the collar of the main family head Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi and mercilessly yanked up Yasuzu Chizuru's anger
Tsuchimikado Takahiro put his hands on Chizuru's shoulders froth receded frorabbed Yasuzu her face in her husband's chest and starting to cry
”I knew it”
She sobbed
”I knee shouldn't have given away the Raven's Wing We shouldn't have given it away, no matter what happened to us!”
Chizuru's sobbing resounded through his chest, and Takahiro stroked his wife's shoulders with a solemn face
”Are you certain?”
He confirmed this of Yasuzumi and Yasuzumi nodded bitterly
”Her star has vanished, but--”
Yasuzu himself with a 'but'
”At least I can't see it I can only think of what has happened But, no Natsume's life has indeed ended I fear that is doubtless”
He sounded poignant fro his body As the ami identity and his old friend from childhood, his pain was also deeply conveyed to Takahiro But Takahiro understood and watched that pain and remorse
Of course, Yasuzuuished Chizuru and Takahiro were the sa sad like this in the first place
Maybe Yasuzu responsibility for all of the sin alone, but such a thing wouldn't be allowed After all, this was a sin that the three of theether
”I know about Natsuht now?”
The crying Chizuru ca froht this up ”I don't know” Yasuzumi said with no reservations
”A strength whose stars I cannot read has been added to the Onency I fear it is the Yase Doji It looks like the Sou We were a step late”
Yasuzuth of 'divining' wasn't an omnipotent prediction ability that allowed him to clearly see the future Rather, if he erred in the process, there was the possibility that he would obtain an inaccurate ied sword Ultimately, it had been he who decided how to advance in thatforward
”Anyway, to Tokyo Make your preparations, the two of you”
Yasuzumi instructed them this, and Takahiro nodded They had escaped the eyes and ears of the Onency and hidden in a city outside Tokyo After all, the incident of the attack on the ht before He hadn't been able to anticipate thingsthis far Even if they departed for Tokyo now, it was uncertain whether they would be able to arrive before dawn
Perhaps realizing Takahiro's worries, Yasuzumi spoke sternly
”All we can do now is trust in Harutora's guard”
The Exorcist Bureau ency
Though The Exorcist Bureau was a departanization that coency Moreover, because its duties were highly mobile due to equipment like transporters and portable altars, it was utterly different from other departuro branches, the headquarters building was constructed to rival the Onency headquarters
A sedan drove to the Exorcist Bureau headquarters
The driver prepared toold lady iot off from the backseat The Onmyou Academy principal Kurahashi+ Miyo
The principal hurried to the headquarters without closing the car door either As if they had already been contacted, the waiting bureau reeted her and quickly led the way in
They went - surprisingly - to a lounge It was a roo to what the bureau ation' had already ended and they were on standby here As expected, when the principal entered the lounge, she noticed the figure of her granddaughter sitting on a chair with her head bowed in a corner of the vast space
”Grandma!”
Kyouko noticed her grandered on her expression that ollen fro pain The boy who sat in the seat next to her also stood up along with Kyouko It was Kyouko's classmate, Tenma His expression was also tinted with despair
Only a single fee, perhaps because it was already late orabout the situation She see them company It was probably out of sied children After the principal approached, she rose politely and left to let the principal take her place
”Kyouko-kun, Tenma-kun”
She had already heard of the situation Shaht now she softly greeted the her emotions
Kyouko burst into tears, lowering her head towards her grandmother's chest
”Natsume-chan N-Natsume-chan, she”
Her voice was cacophonic as she cried in gasps Right, it was 'Natsu it now, it had been after she learned of Natsuranddaughter had becoained her happy appearance today In other words, it was proof that their relationshi+p had overcome the difficulty The unfamiliar name of 'Natsume-chan' was proof of that fact
However, things had become like this after that
Kyouko continued sobbing The principal softly stroked her granddaughter's shoulder, turning her face to the other student
”Sorry, Tenma-kun I came late”
”No That sort of thing”
”I already heard so here But what about Touji-kun and Suzuka-kun - and Harutora-kun? Were they not with you?”
”Yes The three of theated”
Tenma probably didn't have a clear idea of the situation either After all, he had also been in interrogation until recently
In any case, it had been an urgent, abrupt, and deadly incident It was hard to believe, even though she saw that things had changed this much It seemed like her 'divination' ability had completely atrophied If she had been aware earlier, then this outcoht not have come to pass
No, right noasn't the ti hand to the students left before bla herself
Right afterwards--
”So you've finished here too”
A twenty-five-or-so year old e
He had a wild style, wearing a Hawaiian shi+rt and battered jeans But his expression was uncharacteristically sole sharpness lay under his unusually fierce expression The valor of the strong aura carried by his whole body was even ic scene
National First-Class Oning to the Exorcist Bureau and had met Kyouko and the others
Then, he entered the lounge leading Touji and Suzuka
Ten at the two of the and raised her head
But in contrast, the expressions of the two hadn't cleared up yet Touji looked lared ahead Suzuka's face was so pale that it seemed like she would faint soon The two seeerously weak impression
The principal looked at the two and nodded as if confir that they were safe and sound for now
”Zenjirou-san”
”Principal Kurahashi+, it's an honor”
Kogure respectfully bowed to the speaking principal He was also a graduate of the On an independent exorcist, he still held the principal in deep regard
”Could you tell me about the details?”
”Yes Although, I actually just got here from the shi+njuku branch just now”
After Kogure replied this, he looked over his shoulder at Touji and Suzuka who had followed behind him
”Though they were still in interrogation when I arrived, it was after the two of theeneral situation They were silent no matter as asked afterwards, and so I'm responsible for them for now”
”I see, it must be troublesome for you”
”It's nothing After all, this situation is”
Kogure also inadvertently spoke vaguely He had been Natsu the 'Hinao He was quite pained since he had met her himself
Moreover, it seemed like he had other worries
”Come to think of it Principal, where's Jin? Does he already know about this”
”I'm not sure I haven't been able to contact hi”
Natsume's homerooure and had been his coworker in the Onency
Moreover, the principal was also worried about Ohtomo What would he think after he learned about the business with Natsu made her scared
On the other hand, ”I see” After Kogure murmured, he immediately recomposed himself
Even if there were no outsiders in the lounge, he lowered his voice out of care for the surroundings and said:
”Principal, you already know about the Raven's Wing, right?”
Kyouko's body shuddered ”Ah” The principal quietly replied to ure
”I heard that the Raven's Wing possessed Harutora-kun and went out of control”
”That's roughly what I heard Then, what about the person who brought the Raven's Wing?”
”Well”
He hadn't exactly gotten ahold of such detailed inforaze to Tenma in response to the principal's request for an answer
The inforure had obtained was all testied that it would be better for theh Tenma was momentarily tense, he spoke up with a solemn face when the principal said ”Tenma-kun” to him
”A girl called Souma Takiko Yesterday she came to the Onmyou Academy to observe our studies”
She couldn't help but bite her lip when she heard that nao
But the Raven's Wing had earlier been moved to the Tsuchimikado home, to Tsuchi the dead of night yesterday Since then, infor's whereabouts had become unknown
Then why had it fallen into Takiko's hands?
Just then--
”I-It was me!”
Suddenly, Kyouko burst into a wail
”I, I told that girl about the fireworks!”
She confessed in a whi tone
It was her first tirief The principal had been away fro when Takiko had come to observe the Onmyou Academy studies yesterday She had heard that Takiko and Natsu had probably happened between her and Kyouko as well
The sound of Kyouko's sobs echoed ee
However--
”So what if you say that”
Touji spat brusquely Kogure, Tenma, and Suzuka turned their heads in surprise
”Natsu today? What a joke, don't be ridiculous!”
He said painfully and in abandon Though histhat he didn't believe that it was Kyouko's mistake Touji asserted this not as sympathy or consolation, but rather as a pure fact
”But but”
”Kyouko Natsu Harutora's body Natsue”
As if she hadn't heard about this, Kyouko and Ten
”You could actually say that idiot Harutora was the one who killed Natsume Do you think so?”
Kyouko silently shook her head ”Same as me” Touji said
”Therefore, Natsume's death wasn't Harutora's mistake or your uilty No single one of us should bear it all”
Touji coh a series of blunt words Those words only supported the nearly-breaking-down Kyouko because of their undisguised sincerity
Kyouko's breathing was still rough and she still sniffled, but she stopped crying The principal thanked Touji in her heart While she was proud of her student, she also felt regret at allowing that outcome that made Touji say this
”As for this incident--”
Adopting a businesslike tone, Kogure caled the topic
”The Exorcist Bureau's official opinion says that Natsu a spiritual disaster More accurately, though the Raven's Wing was designated as a prohibited aical tool As a result of it losing control, it was viewed as a type of spiritual disaster Harutora-kun was also 'possessed' by this spiritual disaster and lost control - Touji-kun and Dairenji tried to stop hiist of it”
The students' expressions seemed to stiffen by the way he indifferently made the 'post-incident report' But it was because it wasn't mixed with unnecessary emotions and because of its emotionless tone that his felt rational rather than eain their calm
As an exorcist, Kogure ht have faced such scenes in person several times before His words felt stern, like those of a veteran with much experience He was different than the person the principal knew from his Onmyou Academy time
She straightened herself and organized her feelings
”Zenjirou-san Is Harutora-kun's interrogation still going on?'
”Yes But it's not at headquarters”
”What happened?”
”Albeit what Touji just said circuation is currently being conducted at the Mystical Investigator Departency - the Onency's instructions”
The first to react to Kogure's explanation were Touji and Suzuka The two instantly glanced at each other, their de as their expressions becaue as well
”What's wrong?” Kogure turned his head, but the two didn't aze
”Anyway” A surprised expression suddenly e
”When I arrived it was already after he had been handed over And in this situation, who kno long the interrogation will continue for”
”I see, he's at the Mystical Investigator Department”
Unlike the younger two, the principal carefully s
Because of her talk with Ohto the day, she happened to hold suspicions about the Onure hianization She couldn't carelessly give Harutora - especially the Harutora who had been chosen by the Raven's Wing - to the current Onency
The principal calaze to Touji
”Touji-kun, what you felt froh Hoas 'Harutora-kun'?”
Kogure slightly furrowed his brows It wasn't just Kogure, as the questioned Touji also seemed to comprehend the intent of the principal's question
”Of course, he was 'Harutora' Though he became emotional and said some nonsense”
”What?”
”It's nothing”
For souely But for now, it seemed that Harutora hadn't yet 'awakened'
Even so, things ood In any case, no one currently knehat exactly was going on with 'Yakou's reincarnation'
”Kogure-san, I' after this Could you let me meet with Harutora?”
In any case, Harutora was still underage Moreover, his parents were unreachable just like Tsuchiht be able to get Harutora back as a proxy guardian of her student
It ithout saying that the ency VIP son, Kurahashi+ Genji
However, the principal was currently holding certain suspicions of her own son The inforthened those suspicions even more
The Pacific War in the past The Kurahashi+ family, the most powerful clan of the branch families, and the Souma family that had considerable influence in the I genius Tsuchimikado Yakou
And currently, she couldn't ignore the possibility that these two forces were joining together again in the darkness to encircle Yakou's reincarnation In these circumstances, it was very unlikely that her son was unrelated as the current Kurahashi+ faency chief Rather, it was al as this doubt didn't vanish, she had to move carefully around her son
Of course, though she had relinquished her position of overseeing the family, she had been the Kurahashi+ family head before Moreover, she had been the 'Kurahashi+ family diviner' widely reputed in the influential coency She would use the connections she had established froet Harutora back
”Understood”
Kogure nodded to the principal's request
”Harutora-kun probably felt quite a great shock It would be good for hiree”
Though she didn't know if he are of the suspicions that the principal held, at least the words he had just said were his true feelings Although it wasn't within his jurisdiction, she would be able to ency if she had a National First-Class On her
But the principal's considerations were simplified
”Ah, you're here”
Athem like that
A srew around his ave him an overall sophisticated atmosphere He had an indescribable appearance made up of a combination of somberness and affability
”Miyachi-san?”
Kogure turned his head in surprise
”What now, at this time?”
”What do you ht because that idiot Kagaot locked up”
The ed his shoulders in annoyance
The director of the Exorcist Bureau Purification Coh it couldn't be seen frohest ranked exorcist The Independent Exorcist Kogure was his direct subordinate
Miyachi approached them and said ”It's been a while, Principal Kurahashi+”, lowering his head respectfully
In addition, he also quickly gave Suzuka a knowing gaze Miyachi and Suzuka knew each other, as they were both Divine Generals
”It's also been a while since I've seen you, miss This time really is a disaster”
She couldn't keep his deep, co into her pained, co at all, but Miyachi see at Suzuka
”You caht time, Director Miyachi I just heard froure that an Onated by the Mystical Investigators He's still underage, so I hope that I could stay with him - or at least h Director Miyachi?”
Though Miyachi was in the Exorcist bureau, he could be called the pillar of the On meure were interotiations would become favorable
However--
”I'm extremely sorry, Principal Kurahashi+ I can't allow you to meet with Tsuchimikado Harutora”
Though his expression was extremely complex, Miyachi spoke resolutely
The principal inadvertently went speechless Kogure was also taken aback, interjecting ”Miyachi-san?” from the side
”Why? Judging by the circumstances, the principal's request is extreators probably wouldn't have any probleotiated with them directly”
”The Mystical Investigators asked so of me earlier They would leave the other students to the Exorcist Bureau, but the Mystical Investigators would be responsible for Tsuchimikado Harutora Also, Principal Kurahashi+ I hope that you'd be able to focus on your Onmyou Academy work for now This is a kind of unofficial advice”
”Advice?”
”Yeah”
Miyachi announced with a cal look to the intensely shaken principal
”That's the opinion of the Mystical Investigators Incidents involving the Onmyou Academy have been frequent lately There was 'D' last month - Ashi+ya Do, the dispute in the borrowed Meguro branch, and then this incident Also, these incidents were all involved with 'specific students'”
”That”
”I probably don't need to state the reasons now The proble called into question The Mystical Investigators - no, the On the question of 'his' treatement ability have already been exceeded I believe that this is an 'extremely reasonable' decision from an objective standpoint”
”No way!” Kyouko protested Miyachi's - the Onency's - viewpoint
Touji also clicked his tongue and said:
”Isn't the Meguro incident more the fault of the Exorcist Bureau than the Onmyou Academy?”
”Uh, so you're Ato Touji-kun It's completely as you say”
The Exorcist Bureau higher-up admitted readily, and Touji couldn't help but lose his momentum
”Incidentally, Touji-kun The Mystical Investigators ad like 'some decisions may have been inappropriate'”
”Then--!”
”However, the decision has been er be entrusted solely to the One That's what the past has taught us”
Miyachi replied si expression Then, even Tenhout continued Touji's rebuttal of Miyachi
”A-According to what Kogure-san said, Harutora just lost control due to the effect of a spiritual disaster, so what is he asking about? Is the investigation going on right now to clear up the details of the situation? But what you said just now sounded like Harutora-kun would be kept in the Onency from now on--”
”It won't be 'forever', but that's hoill be 'for now'”
Miyachi replied honestly to Tenetic
”Sorry Although it must be extremely hard on you This has already been 'decided'”
”No way”
Stunned, Ten ure was also lightly shaking his head with a stiff expression
It seeht that the situation would be this severe either Moreover, since it seeators, Kogure could do al
”Principal Kurahashi+”
Miyachi continued speaking, as if re her
”This is my personal opinion, Principal Kurahashi+ - you have been disturbed by 'him' and the ht of your concern for the other students Maybe 'he' is indeed an important student, but the other students are also the saht?”
”Of course, I--”
”Then you shouldn't be putting priority on 'his' outcoht? Pardonso direct, but you're too focused on 'hiht lose future possibilities because you're too hung up on Tsuchimikado Harutora and Tsuchimikado Natsume What do you think about this?”
Actually, an unprecedented number of students had withdrawn from the Onmyou Academy in the past two months That was clearly an effect frouro branch incident
There was nothing wrong with people who couldn't endure leaving the acade like that was overly cruel to the underage students, given the commotions that had happened rew rapidly fro actual battle, and there were also students who grew by training bit by bit every day and showing their true worth in the end The qualifications of the latter were definitely no inferior to those of the former Also, just like Miyachi pointed out, she couldn't say the Onard to the nurturing of the latter
”Strictly speaking, it's currently uncertain whether Tsuchimikado Harutora is Yakou's reincarnation”
The group couldn't help but freeze up because of Miyachi's words that cut straight to the core
”But the possibility is already enough to become a source of dispute Moreover there have already been deaths I'm extremely sorry, but please understand that in the future, this will be in the category of 'law enforcement' rather than 'education'”
Miyachi's voice wasn't stern, and his expression wasn't malicious
But even so, his words had a weight that couldn't be ignored
A steely silence completely crushed all of their rebuttals The principal struggled desperately to think, but couldn't think of any reason for further protest Though she felt useless She could only withdraw frootiating
Not with Miyachi With the Onency, her own son
Just as principal backed off wordlessly
”Natsume-chan”
Kyouko spoke up
Her eyes, ith tears, stared intently at Miyachi's face and she pleaded with a tone without the slightest hint of malice
”Can I see Natsume-chan?”
Miyachi's expression twisted froain
Miyachi forced hi ”Sorry” Sha what he had felt before overflowed from his voice
”The possibility that so involved in a spiritual disaster becoh Hence, the Exorcist Bureau will ated to by Onht You will be able to see her toe that”
Miyachi proht it was just to a student like Kyouko Kyouko, Touji, Ten more after this
Even Miyachi wouldn't hold malice or animosity towards students In addition, he had never even seehtest bit conte selfish
But
”Director Miyachi There's a for the students' teachers, and he should understand the Exorcist Bureau's rules Would it be possible to let hio see Natsume-kun in place of these kids?”
Their smallest request
Though Miyachi hesitated for a reed to the principal's request
”I understand No, I just arrived Yes Yes, no probleain afterwards”
Fujiwara sighed heavily, hanging up on the call from Principal Kurahashi+
A painful job Though he had experienced the deaths of subordinates when he had been an exorcist, he hadn't thought that he would be entrusted with the sa a teacher
Fujiwara had heard about Tsuchi her to Tsuchimikado Yakou - so he helped Harutora and the others with their individual training whenever he had time Because of this, he had been quite shaken when the principal contacted him To be honest, he still felt it hard to believe even when he was going to check Natsuhtmare
The familiar Exorcist Bureau headquarters He seemed to have been introduced already, as Fujias quickly escorted in after stating his identity
Spiritual disasters happened froht - but more accurately, most were from sunset to sunrise Hence, there weren'tthe day It was a nostalgic atht now