Volume 10 Chapter 2 (1/2)
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Seishuku Te hall was an extremely spacious temple
It was a flat wooden building Acala was enshrined at the center of the wall inside and the other Buddhas were enshrined along the other walls The afternoon sunlight slanted as it entered to illuazed into the hall from the darkness
The gathering hall had rooht now there were only eight people here These eight people were divided into three sides as they confronted each other
There were three bald robed monks
There was a scholarly ed wolasses
Slightly farther aas a suit-wearing er There was also a twenty-some year-old woman
The last three people had come to visit the ency The other five people were the leaders of the ely and glaring at each other in front of the guests
”We reached this conclusion long ago”
One of the three ave off an especially overwhelh he was past antly looked down on the others
”Why don't you face reality?”
The scholarly azes of thewo silent
”If this goes on, the o sooner or later It's clear as day Though it's a es of the tie form Isn't there no other opportunity other than this?”
”Preposterous! The history of this ency can co their authority”
”That's why I said, you're already outdated! This has nothing to do with long history in the first place What's iht now and the future!”
”The past and the future are all the saed since ancient tied”
”No, the monastery was only able to exist to today because it was constantly changing! Even if this is a large change that has never happened before, there's no need to be so scared offorward!”
”Your words are less These actions the is insufficient There's no need to waste words with you anymore”
The argu two coht In contrast to the sternly and coldly standing er
One of the Onency envoys was expressionless, another concealed a cold s at the leaders of the monastery in irritation
But the head monk also stared over at them
”I've shown you Onive the poor welcome of us monks”
”Don't worry, don't worry”
It was the suit-wearingthe situation unfold who replied like this
”We're not saying that your ht now We've just co a proposal to your monastery”
”I see But it will be the same no matter how many times you come I fear that ill be unable to do as you wish”
”Priest Jougen!”
The scholarly er even looked at him
”It's quite late For now, our ht But please be wary of disturbing our practice”
Only saying that much, he leisurely left with the other two monks as his robes flapped
His lively e The scholarlynext to hi monks
The frowning young wohed - secretly
Not long afterwards, guides came to lead them to their rooms
☆
”Though I already heard beforehand they really are a mess”
Yuge Mari straightforwardly expressed her feelings in the lounge of the living quarters they had been led to She didn't hide her displeased tone, since there were only colleagues in the lounge
Yuge was an Independent Exorcist belonging to the Onency Exorcist Bureau
She was a National First-Class On the 'Onmyou First-Class' qualifications, as well as one of the so-called 'Twelve Divine Generals' Though she was a first-rate barrier user with the strange nicknaone to this kind of backcountry place because of a verbal order about a 'special mission' The coat she wore earlier was left in her own rooht now she was dressed in a jacket
The living quarters and the monk's quarters looked relatively new for the n was pretty h it was fortunate that there was electricity, there was no heating, and the h the monastery would have prepared a brazier for her if she just said the word, Yuge wasn't very confident that she could use a brazier so she had carefully refused
What were generally called the 'living quarters' were probably lodgings where people wrote or meditated to purify their spirit and ate sophisticated, spiritual cuisine in the evening, a recreation that ought to be popular ae's personal opinion But this ti since prepared herself for it - that ie had alht not be bad to take the trip as an opportunity to experience the feeling of traveling Though she had thought this and had originally been looking forward to that, her expectations had easily cru since prepared herself for it
”Come to think of it, it's already pretty inexplicable that there's electricity here I don't re like power lines on the ht?”
”On the neighboring mountain is a transmission line tower It's drawn from there”
The person who replied to Yuge's question was a e's wicker chair and reading a book
He was about forty His carefully arranged hair was mixed with a bit of white on the sides
He was tall and lean, well-dressed in a double-breasted suit with a handkerchief stuck in his chest pocket But his expression was poor and his face looked slightly displeased Though he spoke smoothly, his tone was di his tone, or rather like he was purely speaking in a businesslike manner
Though he belonged to a different departe, he was also her senpai in the Exorcist Bureau He was the Special Senser of the Intelligence Departo He was also a National First-Class Onmyouji
”Officer[2] Miyoshi+, are you familiar with this monastery?”
”It's h I heard rumors beforehand”
Miyoshi+ focused on the words in his book while replying without looking up ”I see” Yuge replied
”It's quite a strange place It looks like a big and is But I never would have thought an outdated way of life like this would be able to persist till now”
”I see Well, there's electricity and water here, and you can get phone reception It's nothing to be shocked at, is it? Rather, isn't it quite nice to be able to be close to nature?”
”R-Really?”
”The air's extre distant from the hubbub of the city and troublesome civilization”
”Hah”
Yuge sht that she couldn't approve of for a while Coh Miyoshi+ usually spoke indifferently, it was hard to immediately tell how serious he was
But Miyoshi+ lightly flipped the pages of the book,
”Of course, I can't say that it's cal its 'spiritual' aspect”
While adding that sentence
This tireement The iant barrier Just that was probably already a large-scale ic But it seemed that different barriers of various sizes were placed in other places as well For exah per hall they had just been in Perhaps that gathering hall was used as a 'ic practice field' More importantly, it wasn't just barriers Most of the people in the area were practitioners who could use first-class ic
”Come to think of it, which sect did this endo?”
”Neopaganism”
”Eh?”
”More accurately, it was the shi+ngon Seishuku Teing to shi+ngon[3], but it became independent after the war In other words, they're shi+ngon neopaganists This is their home mountain”
Yuge's eyes widened in surprise But Miyoshi+ unconcernedly continued reading his book
”Hence, the look that this onisht of as things exclusive to Seishuku Temple For example, didn't the ajari just now - those on h it looks very sier the same
Indeed, a hall just earlier, the other two in addition to the three robed monks had also been ajari They had been called 'Priest' as well
”Perhaps anyone whose power is recognized can obtain preaching eh I'm not sure if that's the case, at least the systeanist ajari who constantly trains and learns ic in place of 'dhar on”
”No, but If this anist after the war, then hasn't its history as the so-called dark te froen said just now, thishistory”
”This 'teo However, it's unsure whether it's been here for hundreds of years Sis to the shi+ngon faction but actually exists in the world as a 'dark te doctrines and sects That kind of need exists regardless of the age”
”I see”
Yuge also knew that the dark tee was also clear on the fact that the dark temple was a place that accepted practitioners who couldn't stay in society for various reasons Seishuku Temple and its role as an independent teic community were certain At the same time, it was a 'necessary evil'
Just then, Miyoshi+ and Yuge's conversation broke off
Then,
”Officer Miyoshi+ Do you know of the other side's 'fighting power'?”
It was the young lanced at him
The young ainst a pillar
He was a young man with a keen, intellectual attitude that e in one's mind He ell-proportioned and had handsome features But aze
In any case, one could tell that he was very capable with a single glance, and he was extre his own ability rather than concealing it
He was also very young Yuge's recalled that he was only nineteen Though he wore a suit like Miyoshi+, what he as just a single-breasted suit, so it was a bit more casual And he had already loosened his tie
Ya National First-Class Onmyouji who had obtained 'On
”It's enough if we have a rough estimate of their capability Please let ht be 'useful' information later on”
Though Yahtly The teenager's expression and voice becaed with excitement
Even at Yaaze didn't leave his hands
He just read his book while speaking to Yuge first
”Yuge-shi+ You have work to do”
”Eh? Ah, yeah”
Yuge realized Miyoshi+'s intent upon seeing hier She put up a barrier around them
This was to eli from the outside It was unclear whether it was because he hadn't considered thatthis was necessary, but the questioning Yamashi+ro momentarily showed a displeased expression
At that point, Miyoshi+ still hadn't lifted his head from his book for a moment
”There are forty-two people around other than us A them, there are thirty-nine who can be identified as practitioners Though there are several shi+kigah-level ones have stealth capabilities”
He indifferently reported like that
Yuge's heart beat when she heard the words of the Special Senser Miyoshi+ had instantly grasped the spiritual situation of Seishuku Temple in a place with so many barriers, and moreover in the lair of these practitioners whose friend-or-foe status couldn't be ascertained
The people who could be appointed as Spirit Sensers were all people with especially outstanding spirit-sensing ability even anized as a representative of modern Onmyouji, the position of Spirit Senser put more emphasis on innate ability - or in other words, on born talent More importantly, he was a Spirit Senser who had obtained 'First-Class Onmyou' qualifications, known as the Special Senser That kind of person was an irreplaceable talent to the Exorcist Bureau
There were only three Special Sensers in the Twelve Divine Generals who had obtained 'First-Class On those three, it was undoubtedly Miyoshi+ with the nickna thee of him was low, he was a secret powerhouse in the Exorcist Bureau
”About forty practitioners Though they're still in training, it would be very tricky if they grouped together”
”Anyway, aren't they just a ue practitioners who haven't even received true training aren't worthy opponents no matter how many there are”
Yae's worry His voice didn't just reveal pure arrogance, as a cale could also be felt from it
Yaned to the Onht after he becah Yamashi+ro didn't have any special abilities like Miyoshi+, nor did he have a strong spiritual power or special techniques like Yuge, his ability in anti-personnel ainst practitioners was first-rate Actually, he was treated as a proher-ups
But,
”Just in case, let me say a bit more”
Miyoshi+ supplemented with extremely businesslike words
”There are also quite a few people ere born in independent teency They are especially numerous in the Exorcist Bureau Independent Officer Miyachi is one of theaami-shi+ was only born in an independent temple”
”Eh? The Director was that kind of person?”
”Oh my, you didn't know?”
She had never thought of that Though Yuge's boss Miyachi had told her of thisat all
Another secret, just like before Yuge ry as that bearded face eed in her mind
”I-In that case, why did Director Miyachi send me as an envoy? Isn't this place like the Director's old home, then?”
”He sent you because this was just to otiator who looked like he ht burn the entire mountain doouldn't the monastery be unable to calm down?”
Miyoshi+ replied straightforwardly But actually, he wasn't too sure why - or rather, he didn't feel any interest in it at all One could also think that it was even less convenient because it was like his old home
Even so, it was still'that beardy', but didn't give it voice
On the other hand, the face of Ya of the numbers turned sinister after he heard about the topic of peoples' origins
”'Ogre Eater' was from a dark temple”
After unconsciouslylike that, Yamashi+ro quickly ca aware of his oords Though he instantly wiped off his expression, he was visibly more serious than before
Miyoshi+ continued speaking in an indifferent tone
”The dark temple's environment is overly cruel to a practitioner But in comparison, there are often monsters born from there who are unbound by the common sense of the world Everyone has their own opinion about environments that can make peoples' talents bloom like that”
”That ht not be certain If there really was a practitioner on the level of Director here, it definitely would have reached our ears Are there people on that kind of level in the current Seishuku Temple?”
”How should I put it? I'm not too sure about their skill levels But at the least, the several ajari we met just now had quite the spiritual powers Each one had a spiritual power that several ordinary exorcists wouldn't be able to ht not be on Miyachi-shi+'s level, at least he's far superior to us Of course, the comparison is just limited to spiritual power”
Yuge beca Miyoshi+'s opinion
Indeed, she had felt that all of thehall were outstanding practitioners But exorcists were elites even a professional On unable to coh a practitioner's excellence wasn't decided by strength or weakness of spiritual power, but it was the truth that spiritual power had a very iical battles
”But in the first place, if,power', it's less to just pay attention to the practitioner This is their hos they can do, like sneak attacks while we're asleep or burning the place we're in Yeah, there's also assassination with poison In addition, there's”
”Hey, Officer Don't say such unlucky things, alright?”
Yuge put on a bitter face towards the cal Miyoshi+
Then, Miyoshi+ suddenly raised his head away fro and looked in the direction of the nearby Yamashi+ro
”In any case, this mission is to 'advise' Seishuku Temple Even if we can't convince them, ill not take any forceful measures There's no need to be reckless”
Though his tone was businesslike as always, for now he see in force
Yamashi+ro didn't reply yes or no But he took on an extremely businesslike smile like Miyoshi+'s as a reply and moved away from the pillar he leaned on
”I'o walk around”
”Yamashi+ro”
”I know”
Ya as he left the lounge
Yuge sighed Young people these days - though she thought that, Yuge instantly shook her head in a panic after realizing that those thoughts were like an old person's Even her thoughts had started to beco a life i
”It seems like Yae”
Miyoshi+ aze was still aimed in the direction Yamashi+ro had left
”He was brought into the Kurahashi+ fa childhood and even received Chief Kurahashi+'s personal tutelage for a while”
”I heard so a lot froht feel unexpectedly stressed”
Coiven Rather, if she thought carefully, an arrogant kouhai was always ami Reiji
”His power is the real thing Are we being too worried?”
Yuge ss to Miyoshi+ But Miyoshi+ casually lowered his head to read his book Yuge unconsciously became irritated Miyachi was like this too It looked like le ones - made her unsettled in the way they alent about their oays
”Actually, what do you think, Officer Miyoshi+? Do you think Seishuku Teency's proposal?”
”Ah, I'm not sure”
”It's alright, just say what you think For en in the gathering hall before - was he called Priest Rian? - was right It's true that maybe the dark temple existed up to this point out of 'necessity', but the situation will change with the Onency won't continue letting the dark temples be, and if theattitude like this, then we'll have to seriously contend with them The s become that way”
The proposal that Yuge and the others had made to Seishuku Temple this time was a contract to round' for the Onency Of course, needless to say this was just on the surface It was a strategy to slowly turn Seishuku Teency Plainly put, it was an exhortation that they would overlook all of the assistance that Seishuku Teic criminals in the past, and in return, Seishuku Teement
From a different point of view, it was a so-called 'surrender treaty' But it did have safeguards for the people of the iven qualifications as Onmyouji No ally a 'crie, the Onency's proposal was already an exceptional discretionary favor
But Miyoshi+'s opinion was slightly different
”Even in front of matters of life and death, people can never ment in that kind of situation”
Was that the case? Yuge had trouble agreeing for a while and kept her own personal opinion
In any case, Yuge and the others had only been ordered to advise them No matter what outcomes would come of the choice the e and the others
In that case, next was
”What now? What do you plan on doing from now on?”
”Oh, what do you mean, from now on?”
”The other thing The 'Tsuchi to move?”
Miyoshi+ stopped reading his book, lifting his head
Though his expression hadn't changed much, he rolled his eyes a few tie didn't knohat he meant at first, but her eyes widened after she realized
”Eh? Eh? Officer Miyoshi+? Could it be that you've forgotten”
”No way I remember very clearly”
Miyoshi+ looked in a different direction while speaking assertively Yuge felt irritated
”In that case, why didn't you bring up that topic fro before?”
”Well isn't it obvious? It's because it wasn't the time to talk about that topic In any case, they started the infighting on their own”
Though that was reasonable for now, Yuge still shot hiaze Miyoshi+ didn't look at his colleague, pretending to cough
Yuge and the others had another ency's proposal to Seishuku Temple
That was regarding the inforathered about Tsuchimikado Harutora
Tsuchimikado Harutora was a boy born in the Tsuchiinally been an inexperienced On institute, or in other words, just a student
But last suer of a certain event, he had suddenly raised a banner of resistance against the Onency
He had raised a co where he had been in custody, and then vanished while hiding himself Afterwards, he had led to various incidents and opposed the On forbiddenafter he vanished Soon afterwards arose voices of a group that wanted to treat him as a terrorist
But if those were the only accusations, the problem of Tsuchimikado Harutora would just be within the jurisdiction of the Mystical Investigators
Actually, it was the Mystical Investigators ere tracing his whereabouts
But in addition to the Mystical Investigators, the Onic world - also had to pay attention to Tsuchimikado Harutora because of a certain matter
The rumor that Tsuchimikado Harutora was 'Tsuchimikado Yakou's reincarnation' had spread everywhere as if it were the truth
Moreover, even worse, the believability of this ruh'
For exa the suer for Harutora's disappearance The cause of that incident was athat had been designated as a forbidden ed so drastically because he had been possessed by the Raven's Wing But the Raven's Wing was originally a ical tool created by Yakou It wasn't too much of a leap to think that Tsuchimikado Harutora had 'awakened' as Tsuchi
More ier problem was that after his disappearance last year, Tsuchiency doors, and at the tiami had been confirmed by his side
They were the two legendary shi+kigayouki
Of course, it wasn't to say that was already certain But it was a doubtless fact that the two shi+kigami were extremely powerful individuals and that one of theends that they had received reports about before The fact that Tsuchiht around those terful servant shi+kiga force further propelling the rumor that he was Yakou's reincarnation
The rumor that Tsuchimikado Yakou would reincarnate into the bloodline of his descendants had already been spread for ten years The Twin-Horned Syndicate secret society formed by Yakou fanatics had also tried to come in contact with Tsuchi Although the Mystical Investigators had cleaned out the Twin-Horned Syndicate afterwards, the ru Yakou's reincarnation hadn't vanished
Tsuchi to lay low in order to avoid the Mystical Investigators' pursuit
And this Seishuku Teathering place for inforhly probable that they could pick up clues related to the still-fleeing Tsuchimikado Harutora
This was another ned
”Well, if you really have to say, this mission was just incidental, but it's certainly a h it is incidental Officer Miyoshi+, I'd be very troubled if you didn't do your job properly as our representative”
”That's why I said, I didn't actually forget First off, this isn't so we can ask to their face Because it's a touchy topic We need to carefully observe the situation while considering the other party's attitude”
”Why?”
”Does that need explanation? Because the dark temple is connected to Yakou”
She truly hadn't thought of that But considering what had happened before, she really couldn't believe it ie looked at him silently, but Miyoshi+ just helplessly closed his book
”Yuge-shi+, how much do you know about the principal deity of Seishuku Temple?”
”I don't knowthat it's Yakou, are you?”
”Though you're not right, that's not too far off”
”Please don't joke around”
”I'lance secretly, and the board installed in the ic' Even the ic - Myouken Bodhisattva[6] Though he's called a bodhisattva, he's actually a deva[7] and was also called the North Star Deity”
”I know that much The Myouken bodhisattva was called the deification of the North Star--”
Yuge shut her ht there
Tsuchi' by his worshi+ppers The North Star referred to Polaris Yakou was figuratively honored as such for his iard to Onmyoudou[8]
”Isn't that just a coincidence? Didn't the dark te it e its principal deity during Yakou's time?”
”Incorrect The inally called the 'North Star Mountain' It's doubtless that it was seen as a place to worshi+p the Myouken bodhisattva since ancient times”
”Then what?”
”It's just the opposite”
”Hah?”
”It's said that it was this Seishuku Te' metaphor for their principal deity as Yakou's nickname”
Yuge stared at Miyoshi+ incredulously Though Miyoshi+'s attitude was just like always, she didn't feel like he was lying
”Didn't I say? Yakou's connected to this monastery Well, it also has relations to his defensive shi+kigah the records are very vague, it's believed that he obtained a lot of help from Seishuku Temple when he established Imperial Onmyoudou at the military's request”
”That Yakou?”
”Yes I've said it before, it's because this place has existed as halls of 'ic' that 'surpass doctrines and sects' since ancient times
Yuge groaned upon hearing Miyoshi+'s explanation
Though the General Onency currently used was One aions It was because the Imperial Onmyoudou that had been used as the basis of General Onic, that had been established by including all of japan's various ics and superhuman powers at the time
In that case, it was iine that Yakou, who had established such a systeic, had been unrelated to the dark teathered
”Originally, worshi+p of the North Star was a unique faith that could be seen in Babylon, India, and China As the symbol of the North Star, the Myouken bodhisattva was not only related to the Seishuku Temple, it also had deep relationshi+ps with Onmyoudou, Sukuyoudou[9], Vajrayana, Taoisine how exactly it became the principal deity of the dark temple, it's indeed a suitable principal deity to be worshi+pped in a ather Moreover, in the age that Yakou established Imperial Onmyoudou, the ajari in the monastery who knew of his ability all couldn't help but praise him as the incarnation of their principal deity Well, that was just an old rumor”
”But putting aside the origins of the na' for now, at the least, Yakou has worked together with the dark temple before, that's absolutely certain I don't think this kind of place would honestly answer us if we ca the rumored reincarnation of Yakou as the people who issued an arrest order for Harutora Hence, we have to carefully observe the situation while considering their attitude”
Miyoshi+ restated the sa to read
Yuge sank into thought
If what Miyoshi+ said was true, then it was possible that Seishuku Temple was in the 'Yakou faction' But Tsuchimikado Harutora, as viewed as Yakou's reincarnation, was currently waging war against the Onency
Then if they were reckless, they ht cause Seishuku Temple to move to Tsuchimikado Harutora - that kind of development was very possible
”Honestly”
Miyoshi+ suddenly e, whose attention was absorbed by a new possibility, unconsciously replied to him with an inquisitive ”Eh?”
”Right e got here For an instant I thought we 'found him' But it looks like 'that' wasn't hied[10] soul than a reincarnation”
What was he saying? Yuge silently looked at Miyoshi+
The Special Senser stayed staring at the book in his hands But Yuge noticed that the focus of his gaze was slightly off
”Also, it see so maintained Is that the only way it's able to 'stay alive'? It feels too unnatural for anything someone in the monastery would do More iher-ups would fail to notice forbidden ic of such a level Then”
Miyoshi+ had already started talking to hie troubled herself over whether to speak up or not But it really was an incredibly curious ue
”Officer Miyoshi+? What have you been saying since just now?”
Miyoshi+ closed an eye when Yuge spoke up to ask He replied ”It's nothing” while shaking a head as if it were nothing at all, continuing to read his book
”I was a bit interested because there was someone 'dead' here As expected of a place like this monastery”
The air in the monastery was still tense even after 'slop' ended The restless and tense feeling that had gathered seee of eruption- but it was forcefully stuck in the state right before an i
Akino, who had been told to look after Hokuto, had stayed with her for the rest time after that They had prepared lunch, helped with the monastery chores, prepared 'slop', and helped withthat time, the tense atency envoys arrived However, Akino was unconcerned about those circule- her oork