However, Yugen did not attempt to pursue Zhou Gongjin. The reason was Kousen, who stood beside Yugen, looking pale.
"Should we pursue him?"
"No, Tatsuya and Masaki are heading that way. Kousen, you rest. You look pale."
"Ah... I'm sorry, Yugen-san."
It was clear that Kousen had pushed himself, but the achievement of cornering Zhou Gongjin was undeniably Kousen's. Yugen decided to leave Kousen, who was resting against the railing, in Riri's care, and turned his gaze downstream.
As expected, Zhou was attempting to cross the river by passing under the elevated bridge. However, Miyuki, Mizunami, and Kutsuwa were waiting on the bridge, and Masaki and Tatsuya, catching up, cornered Zhou Gongjin. After confirming this, Yugen activated a flash magic in the air above, serving as a signal flare.
"Flash magic... I understand, Yugen. Protection Array, activate!"
Mihiko, sensing this was the signal to activate 'Sanctuary,' imbued a talisman with Psions. Through catalysts laid out in Arashiyama, Mount Hiei, Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, and Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine, a magic circle large enough to encompass the entire city of Kyoto unfolded in the sky above.
This mystical sight captivated not only Tatsuya and the others but even Zhou Gongjin. However, Zhou was not given time to indulge in such sentiment.
"Guh, gah, wh-what is this...!?"
As Yugen had surmised, Zhou was not an ordinary human. The Hōhō Shiki-jin (Protection Array) devised by Abe no Seimei was a protective barrier that expels connections deviating from the laws of nature. The "not-him" spirit dwelling in Zhou's body, which was not originally its own, rapidly lost its control over the physical form.
By that logic, Yugen and Celia might also be affected, but there must be a significant difference in the impact on the physical body and Psion body between possession and reincarnation. Indeed, Yugen himself, being within the 'Sanctuary,' felt no distress.
Furthermore, with Tatsuya and Masaki closing in, and the recently activated magic circle, the Daoist technique 'Shinkōhō' (God-Foot Method) could not be stably activated. The same would likely apply to 'Kimon Tonkou.' Realizing he had no more options, Zhou laughed loudly.
"Hmph, Hahaha, hahahahaha... I must say, well done. But even if I die here, I will continue to exist!"
Then, Zhou Gongjin mustered his last strength, blood gushing from his entire body. The red blood burned into red flames, and his body incinerated without leaving a single fragment of bone. But even though his physical body was destroyed, his spirit body—the "phantom"—ascended upstream.
"Kagurazaka Yugen, become one with me!"
Here, a 'Plus One,' or rather, an 'Another One' event occurred. Instead of targeting the usually immobile Kousen, it targeted Yugen.
Zhou Gongjin's judgment was not wrong. The Kujou family was well-versed in ancient magic, and targeting a member of the Kujou family was likely deemed unlikely to result in successful domination. Targeting Riri was also considered, but Zhou aimed for Yugen, who possessed the most strength, in order to gain even greater power.
Certainly, if Yugen were merely a Ten Master Clan member overseeing modern magic, Zhou might have been able to possess and dominate him. However, Yugen now wielded three systems of magic: Ancient Civilization Magic, Ancient Magic, and Modern Magic. Furthermore, there was the presence of his Guardian Spirit Servant, 'Alice.'
"...Your judgment wasn't wrong. I commend you for that, you mere phantom, Zhou Gongjin. It's time for your long wandering to end. Return to the proper cycle of reincarnation—'Kaleidoscope,' activate!"
The magic Yugen activated was 'Kaleidoscope,' one of his unique magics. With a power transcending modern magic standards—"conceptual interference"—Zhou Gongjin's phantom rapidly decayed. Furthermore, Yugen absorbed all of Zhou Gongjin's magical knowledge. When all was absorbed, Zhou Gongjin's phantom vanished into the darkness of the night sky, unnoticed by anyone.
Yugen exhaled and approached Kousen.
"Zhou Gongjin is gone. Thanks to Kousen's efforts, it seems to have ended peacefully."
"Is that so...? Cough, cough."
"As I thought, you pushed yourself. I'll take you to the hotel first, so wait a moment."
Saying that, Yugen cast 'Regeneration' on the sedan with the exploded engine, instantly repairing it. Kousen and Riri were surprised by this, but Yugen's unconventional nature was nothing new, and they resolved never to pry into his magic.
"I'll drive, so both of you get in."
"Huh, you have a license?"
"Haha... Yugen-san can do anything, it seems."
"Yes, yes, the invalid should be quiet."
Yugen contacted Shizuku, instructing her to have Tatsuya and the others retrieved by tilt-rotor aircraft and to land at Mount Atago. He then drove Kousen and Riri to their hotel.
◇ ◇ ◇
As Yugen couldn't take his eyes off the situation, he left Kousen's care to Riri. However, the moment Kousen spoke to Riri, whose gaze towards him was quite fervent, she hastily stood up and exclaimed, "I'll go buy some drinks!" before rushing out.
"Um, uh..."
"He's fallen for you, Kousen."
"Yes... What should I do, Yugen-san?"
"Well, you'll just have to steel yourself."
In any case, Riri's absence was convenient. If she had to be called every time, the distance between them would be a hindrance in making arrangements.
"Kousen, I believe Lord Kujou has informed you, but I will be treating you. Have you also heard the conditions for that?"
"Yes, I understand and accept them. However, I'd like to attend Second High until the end of my first year."
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