Night.
Kyoto under the cover of darkness.
Within the illuminated grounds of Nijo Castle, flocks of crows circled overhead, their shrill cries piercing the air as they lingered relentlessly.
"Those crows won't stop cawing—how unlucky~"
Chisato Nishikigi, licking a green popsicle, complained between licks.
Dressed in a red JK uniform with a coffee-coloured backpack slung over her shoulders, she looked every bit the picture of an impossibly flawless ordinary high school girl.
But the SDS logistics personnel in hazmat suits nearby didn't find her ordinary in the slightest. Instead, they treated her with deference, wary of being singled out for yet another assignment.
After all, Chisato was currently acting as the interim commander of Nijo Castle's restoration—their immediate superior.
And her keen eyes were notorious for spotting anomalies amidst the castle's ruins, each discovery leading to another round of excavation and demolition.
"Leave no trace of the supernatural in Nijo Castle."
Those were Kirika Tachibana's exact orders to Chisato.
Given that Nijo Castle was an ancient fortress built upon Kyoto's geomantic focal point, Chisato was already considering the feasibility of dismantling the entire structure and relocating it to the Abyss Warring States.
As for rebuilding Nijo Castle? That was the Cabinet's problem—what did it have to do with the SDS?
"This has nothing to do with luck."
Her partner, Takina Inoue, clad in Toyogasaki High School's uniform, replied calmly:
"The crows are gathering here because the scattered yokai blood is attracting them. It's just their natural hunting instinct."
During the chaos at Nijo Castle, no small number of Great Yokai had fallen.
Add to that Nue's summoning of the Gates of Hell, and the lingering infernal energy had even warped the castle's ley lines to some degree.
One could say that Nijo Castle was now a developing embryo of a demonic lair. Even residing here could cause a certain degree of corruption in people.
For these crows, whether licking up residual bloodstains or being tainted by the aura of Hell, there were considerable benefits to be gained. Naturally, they would gather in droves.
"But if they manage to snatch something, the problem would become much worse."
Chisato Nishikigi glanced at the crows in the sky before motioning to a nearby staff member with a tilt of her chin:
"Senior, you can begin now."
The staff member was fully clad in a protective suit, and their eyes were covered by goggles. More importantly, they carried a tank-like device on their back and wielded what resembled a flamethrower.
Upon hearing Chisato's command, the staff member raised the device, aimed it at the crows above, and pressed the button on the instrument.
A low hum reverberated from the tank on their back.
Immediately after, an invisible ripple spread outward, quickly enveloping the flock of crows in the sky.
"Be careful not to get hit!!"
Chisato's warning rang out just as the crows' raucous cawing lasted only a few seconds before abruptly ceasing.
Soon, the black birds began plummeting to the ground like raindrops.
Witnessing this, Takina Inoue calmly issued her orders:
"Five of you, activate the cleaning drones. Collect all the crows and send them to the inspection unit to ensure there are no abnormalities."
"Yes!" xN
The staff operated bucket-like cleaning robots, swiftly gathering the fallen crows.
Meanwhile, Takina approached Chisato and asked quietly:
"Chisato, have you thought about what the Director mentioned?"
"Hm?"
Chisato tilted her head, her gaze flickering over Takina's face before realisation dawned, and she grinned:
"Ah, you mean taking up the position as Director of the new Kyoto branch?"
"Haven't considered it at all. I've been too busy cleaning up Nijo Castle these past few days."
Takina wasn't surprised by Chisato's response, so she reminded her:
"Although Nue's plan was thwarted by Director Luo Shu, the opening of the Gates of Hell still had adverse effects on Kyoto."
"Headquarters wants to establish an operations branch in Kyoto, with a senior agent overseeing it to monitor the changes in the city. Director Tachibana recommended you for the role. Are you really not going to consider it?"
"Even if you say that..."
Chisato bit off a chunk of her green bean popsicle, chewing as she spoke:
"Isn't there still Angelene-san? I heard she and her squad are considering retiring from the direct action team and transferring here to Japan to take over Big Sister's role as the overall operations commander for the region."
"Once that happens, one of Angelene-san's squad members should take over as the Kyoto branch Director, right?"
Hearing this, Takina sighed faintly:
"So, Chisato, are you accepting Director Kirika's other suggestion—transferring to the Hidden Management Department's Global Special Operations Team?"
From the start, Kirika Tachibana had given Chisato two promotion paths.
One was to become the Kyoto branch Director, and the other was to transfer to the Hidden Management Department.
Similarly, the choice given to Takina Inoue by Kirika Tachibana was identical.
Either become the branch director of the Osaka Division, or transfer to the Hidden Management Department.
Likewise, Mika, Mizuki Nakahara and Kurumi were presented with similar options.
The choices Kirika Tachibana offered to the Tokyo Operations branch personnel resembled a responsible superior reasonably granting trusted subordinates higher positions of authority.
However...
Chisato Nishikigi quietly sidled up to Takina, slinging an arm around her neck as she whispered:
"Takina, didn't Big Sister privately tell you to choose a transfer to the Hidden Management Department voluntarily?"
"I gathered from Big Sister's meaning that we might be transferred under Luo Shu's command. Could it be that you can't accept Luo Shu becoming your superior, Takina?"
"No, Director Tachibana did warn me, and I agreed."
Takina Inoue seemed to exhale subtly in relief before speaking in a deliberately casual tone:
"So, Chisato, you're also being transferred to the Hidden Management Department?"
"Obviously."
Chisato Nishikigi quipped:
"Since Big Sister might be recalled to headquarters in America, and Luo Shu is the one we're most familiar with in the Japan branch, right?"
"Being a branch director wouldn't be bad, but I don't think I'm suited for command work. So transferring to the Hidden Management Department is better."
"Plus, this way we can still work with Mika and Mizuki. It's just changing superiors while staying together – isn't that great?"
"I understand."
Takina finally relaxed completely, as if this was the answer she'd wanted to hear all along.
"After all that, you were just worried about us being separated, weren't you, Takina?"
Chisato grinned as she patted Takina's shoulder.
"No, that's not it at all." Takina maintained a blank expression while changing the subject:
"Right now, we should focus on clearing the surface area to prepare the site for Lady Angelene to cleanse the Chamber of Nue."
"Takina's blushing~" Chisato nudged Takina with her elbow: "You really don't want to be separated from me, do you?"
"If you have time for this, you should patrol the perimeter instead. I'm concerned other organisations might be targeting Nijo Castle."
"Takina, you're changing the subject..."
"No, not at all. I'm just stating facts!"
As their bickering continued...
Five kilometres from Nijo Castle.
In a park.
A raven with jet-black feathers descended slowly, flapping its wings before perching on a slender arm, emitting guttural cooing sounds.
On a park bench sat a figure wearing a white sunhat, her posture resembling that of a daughter of a distinguished family.
As the raven continued its odd cooing, the figure slowly raised her bewitching face:
"Is that so? All your servants were shot down?"
"It seems the SDS personnel are unusually vigilant."