"Have all these exorcists lost their minds?! Why are they suddenly mobilizing in force—and why have they started driving out and hunting yokai on such a massive scale?"
A gigantic yokai formed entirely of muddy, yellow-brown sludge writhed across the ground at terrifying speed. Its body looked like a living quagmire, with a single bulging eye and only three thick fingers extending from its arms.
This creature was no obscure monster—it was a well-known yokai of folklore: the Dorotabō.
Legend said that humans possessed five fingers, symbolizing compassion, wisdom, anger, greed, and resentment. The Dorotabō, missing two of those fingers, was said to have lost all traces of benevolence, leaving behind nothing but malice.
It was believed to be born from farmland sold off by an unfilial child—precious ancestral land transformed into hatred and mud. Dorotabō roamed at night, mercilessly devouring travelers who strayed into its territory.
After the great upheaval of heaven and earth, Dorotabō had reached B-rank yokai power. Within the Tokyo District, it might not have been living in absolute luxury, but it certainly had a comfortable existence.
Fully aware that Tokyo was home to many powerful exorcist families, Dorotabō usually confined its activities to wilderness areas and remote outskirts. It only hunted humans late at night.
Because of this, stronger exorcists couldn't be bothered to hunt it down, while weaker ones were no match for it at all.
Dorotabō had always believed these good days would last forever.
But everything changed starting last night.
As usual, Dorotabō had caught a few reckless humans who had dared to go camping in the wild. Just as it was preparing to enjoy a hearty meal, those humans—who had been struggling helplessly in its grasp—suddenly transformed into exorcists!
Its muddy arm was blown apart instantly by a talisman. If Dorotabō hadn't reacted decisively—judging the difference in strength and fleeing without hesitation—it wouldn't have survived to this moment.
What should have been prey had turned into hunters.
What it thought was dinner had turned out to be a despicable human fishing operation.
Even after Dorotabō fled in disgrace, the exorcists showed no intention of letting it go. They chased it relentlessly for dozens of kilometers.
Dorotabō couldn't help wondering—had it unknowingly eaten one of their family members or something?
The exorcists today were frighteningly persistent. Not only were they actively luring it out, but they also refused to give up the chase.
Under normal circumstances, unless it was a specific mission or commission, exorcists wouldn't pursue a single yokai with this level of obsession.
Yet what Dorotabō was experiencing wasn't an isolated case.
Across the entire Tokyo District, a full-blown yokai-hunting frenzy had erupted.
There was no helping it—the rewards offered jointly by the great exorcist families were simply too generous. On top of that, all spoils obtained from hunting yokai were guaranteed to belong entirely to the hunters themselves.
Who could possibly resist that?
Large numbers of exorcists throughout Tokyo began forming teams with friends and allies. One exorcist squad after another was rapidly assembled.
There was an old saying, and it rang truer than ever—利益才是驱动人们前行的根本动力.Profit was the ultimate driving force behind human action.
Tokyo had never lacked yokai. So why had no one been this enthusiastic about exterminating them before?
The reason was simple: there hadn't been enough incentive.
Exorcising yokai wasn't a game. It meant gambling with one's life. Without rewards commensurate with the risk, how many people were really willing to put their lives on the line for justice?
The first targets of Tokyo's demon-slaying frenzy were naturally those yokai that were both unaffiliated and relatively weak.
Compared to yokai with established factions and numbers, solitary creatures were far easier prey.
The powerful yokai factions were reserved for prodigies and major exorcist families. Smaller clans and students from the Onmyo Academy could only aim for weaker, lone yokai.
Tonight, the Tokyo metropolitan area was livelier than it had ever been.
From a high vantage point, one could see streets across the city—and even desolate outskirts—lit up by shimmering glows of various colors.
These lights piercing the darkness weren't special effects.
They were the radiance of spells unleashed by exorcists locked in combat with yokai.
Ren Kuroda stood atop a high-rise, gazing down at the city plunged into chaos. After a long moment, he let out a helpless sigh.
Then, without warning, more than ten massive magic circles flared to life behind him.
Light flashed—and one after another, figures appeared, all kneeling on one knee.
Nekomata.Amanojaku.Tear-Washing Oni.Hook-Needle Woman.Samurai Spirit.Samurai Effigy.Cliffside Imp.Mountain Child.
And even Shion and Shuna—the ogre sisters from another world—stood among them.
"Lord Ren," they declared in unison, voices filled with resolve."We have answered your summons. We are ready to lend you our strength!"
The yokai Ren had summoned now constituted the strongest force under his command. Every single one of them possessed at least A−rank yokai power—beings that would be considered major yokai in most regions.
"In this city," Ren said quietly, "yokai and exorcists are locked in a deadly struggle. And this slaughter… was indirectly caused by me."
"The yokai who delight in killing—if they die, so be it. I never liked their kind anyway."
"But there are also many harmless yokai in this city, ones who are being dragged into this chaos because of me."
"The exorcists have gone completely berserk. To them, any yokai is fair game now. So I want you to spread out across the city."
"If you encounter harmless yokai—like Zashiki-warashi, Yamausagi, Firefly Grass yokai—step in and save them."
"I trust your strength. But there are also formidable exorcists in this city."
"If you run into someone too strong, promise me this—do not rush in recklessly. Use these spider familiars to contact me immediately."
"You are all family to me. I don't want to lose a single one of you. Understood?"
Neither Nekomata nor Shion showed the slightest hint of surprise at Ren's orders.
Those yokai might be strangers to Ren. Another yokai lord would likely never go to such lengths to protect them.
But Ren Kuroda would.
Whether in the world of yokai or in other worlds they had traveled through, Nekomata and Shion believed the same thing—Ren was the gentlest and most compassionate lord they had ever known.
In one world, it was Ren's pity for the weak that led to the founding of the Kido-in, and to the existence of Nekomata and the others as they were today.
In another, it was his mercy toward the orc clans that eventually led to the formation of a multinational alliance.
Though their lord could be decisive and merciless toward enemies, his kindness and original intentions had never faded—no matter how great his power grew.
That was why those who knew him best felt no surprise upon hearing his orders.
Instead, their hearts were filled with joy.
No matter how powerful he became—no matter if he stood on the brink of becoming a Demon King—Ren Kuroda was still the same gentle Ren.
"Yes, Lord Ren!" ×10
With a unified shout, the ten figures scattered into the night like streaks of shadow.
After they departed, another magic circle flared into existence in the empty space behind Ren.
From within it stepped a mature woman with striking curves and flowing blue hair—a sorceress exuding an air of ancient mystery.
After Ren advanced to the status of a "Demon King Seed," his Demon King Contract skill had evolved. He was no longer limited to summoning just ten Hundred Yokai.
However, while he had many subordinates, truly powerful ones were still rare. In a situation like this, summoning weaker yokai would be no different from sending them to their deaths.
"Medea," Ren said, "you've reviewed the Einzbern homunculus data before. With your knowledge of magecraft, can you help me create a new body in a short time?"
The woman who had emerged from the circle was none other than Medea.
"I can," she replied smoothly. "And honestly, comparing the Einzbern family's third-rate magecraft to mine is an insult. I'm a magus from the Age of Gods."
"However, if we rush it, the homunculus body won't be very durable. Your yokai power is enormous—it might burn out quickly."
Ren had already explained his plan. After some thought, Medea warned him of the limitations of a hastily constructed artificial body.
"That's fine," Ren said calmly. "This is an emergency measure. We can make a better body later."
"Right now, I need your expertise to create a functional one as soon as possible."
The reason he needed a homunculus body so urgently was simple.
The coming battles would demand his attention on multiple fronts. He needed a separate body.
Although Nekomata and the others were all A−rank or higher, many powerful human exorcists were also participating in this massive hunt.
To ensure he could rush to their aid at a moment's notice, Ren needed to stay on standby at all times.
The problem was—
The Tokyo-wide yokai purge also involved the Special Countermeasures Division.
And as one of the division's rising stars, Ren Kuroda's every move was under constant scrutiny. Skipping the operation altogether was impossible.
So what would happen if Ren was on a mission with the Countermeasures Division… and Nekomata or Shion suddenly fell into danger?
How was he supposed to appear and rescue them?
In what form?
It was a deeply troublesome problem.
..
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