Chapter 157: Onmyōdō Challenge Letter
Rumble...
A subway train raced through the pitch-black underground tunnel, its iron body roaring like a steel beast tearing through the depths of Tokyo.
Its destination was Chiyoda Ward.
Inside the carriage, the ride was steady, with only the faintest sway beneath the passengers' feet.
Yet the atmosphere was strangely heavy.
There were very few people inside.
At a glance, only five or six passengers could be seen throughout the entire carriage. At a time that should have been peak commuting hour, this kind of emptiness was almost unthinkable.
In the past, the train would have been packed shoulder to shoulder.
Now, the carriage was so empty that it felt as though someone had chartered it in advance.
The expressions of the few passengers present were not relaxed either. Each of them carried a faint trace of worry, as if something heavy had settled over their hearts.
In truth, this anxiety was not limited to the passengers on the subway.
At this stage, all of Japan was uneasy.
Ever since the arrival of the Supernatural Recovery, concerns about personal safety had always existed.
But never had that fear become as severe as it was now.
The tragedy in Kyoto had happened not long ago.
Even though the Onmyo Alliance, Onmyo Bureau, Onmyō Academy, and the legendary Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei had resolved it together, the panic left behind by the Kyoto Incident did not simply vanish when the incident ended.
Instead, amidst all kinds of rumors and speculation, the panic showed signs of intensifying.
Over the past few days, the social order of Japan had become somewhat unstable.
Students skipped school.
Workers stopped going to work.
White collar employees stayed home.
Even some company owners had simply closed their businesses for the time being.
Everyone was afraid.
Afraid that the tragedy that had happened in Kyoto would suddenly unfold in their own city.
Many people began panic buying food and necessities, storing them at home as if the end of the world had arrived.
If the authorities had not used television, online platforms, and every major media outlet to soothe the public's fear, while also providing considerable compensation and various subsidies to those who had lost their homes in the Kyoto Incident, the panic would likely have climbed to another level.
Now, the authorities only hoped that no supernatural event capable of triggering another Level One Onmyōdō Alert would break out in the near future.
Otherwise, the nerves of the public, already stretched to their limits, might truly snap.
At the same time, the authorities were also internally discussing whether to negotiate with the Onmyo Bureau about placing more "burdens" on the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department.
For example, handing over areas adjacent to Shibuya Ward, such as Minato Ward, Shinjuku Ward, and Nakano Ward, to the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department's jurisdiction.
After all, with the legendary Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei presiding over it, even if the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department took over the entirety of Tokyo's Onmyōdō affairs, few would dare object.
More importantly, many people had already begun to see him as the only hope of this era.
At the very back of the speeding carriage, a young man and a young woman sat quietly side by side.
Both were at an age filled with youthful vitality.
The young man was extraordinarily handsome. His mist-blue eyes were clear and bright, and his lips were as beautiful as cherry blossoms. His delicate features leaned toward a gentle, almost feminine beauty, while his skin was as fine as exquisite porcelain.
He carried a unique elegance that did not seem to belong to this era.
Even the refined scholars and noble youths who seemed to have stepped out of ancient scrolls would likely pale in comparison to him.
The girl sitting to his right was not as stunning as the young man, but she was still a delicate and lovely beauty, not inferior to a school idol.
However, her face was extremely pale, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness. That frailty would easily awaken a protective instinct in some boys.
Of course, if anyone knew her true identity, ordinary people would likely need a certain amount of courage just to interact with her.
What was surprising was that their presence was extremely faint.
If one did not deliberately pay attention to them, one would subconsciously ignore them.
They might even be forgotten in one's subjective perception.
These two were Gin Tsumugi and Kasugano Sora, who had just left Kyoto.
After learning from the experience of creating an "unusual sensation" when he went out with Iwanaga Kotoko last time, Gin now used spirit talismans to minimize his presence whenever he went outside.
It was simply to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Now that his identity had been exposed, many people in Japan had likely learned his face through various channels.
With his current fame in Japan, he had long surpassed those so-called celebrities.
This kind of concealment was necessary.
He had never expected that he would one day experience the troubles of being famous.
At this moment, Gin was speaking on his phone.
Even the sound from the call seemed to have its presence lowered and blocked.
Other than Kasugano Sora sitting beside him, outsiders would not be able to hear the details even if they tried to eavesdrop.
"Kotoko, regarding Mother and the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons under her, I will personally report it to the Onmyo Bureau this time."
Gin's voice was calm.
"You can go ahead and make arrangements for them."
This time, he was taking a detour to Chiyoda Ward.
He did not plan to return to Shibuya Ward immediately.
Given the special nature of Chiyoda Ward, if he brought Hagoromo Gitsune and the few surviving members of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons from the Kyoto Incident with him, it would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble.
After all, the headquarters of the Onmyo Bureau and the Onmyō Academy were both located there.
Those who knew the situation would understand.
Those who did not might think Yokai were attacking.
Therefore, Gin had asked Hagoromo Gitsune to take the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons to the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department in Shibuya Ward ahead of him.
"...Yes. I'll leave the arrangements to you."
Gin nodded slightly.
A cold glint flashed through his eyes.
"Kotoko, if any of those from the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons refuse to follow arrangements and cause a disturbance, suppress them directly."
"I will personally explain it to Mother later."
"..."
In Gin's view, with Hagoromo Gitsune restraining them, the remaining Yokai of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons should not have the courage to act recklessly.
But just in case, he still gave special instructions.
"Alright."
"As for the new student recruitment at the Onmyō Academy, I will handle it along the way."
"Mm."
"..."
After discussing the affairs of the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department with Iwanaga Kotoko, Gin hung up.
He looked at the dark scenery rapidly passing beyond the train window and fell into thought.
If the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons behind Mother can truly integrate into the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department, like the Yokai Kotoko commands, then it will bring a qualitative change to the department.
Moreover, it can quickly fill the gap in high level combat power.
Although the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department's manpower shortage had already been resolved, there was still a huge gap in terms of top combatants.
At present, the only true top tier fighter was Gin himself.
The others had not even reached National Level Onmyoji standards.
Most remained at the Professional Level.
Although the majority of Hagoromo Gitsune's Night Parade of One Hundred Demons had been wiped out, existences like Giant Skeleton and Kyokotsu, who could fight against National Level Onmyoji, had survived because of Gin.
Compared to Gin's own strength, they might not be much.
But it was undeniable that if taken individually, by the standards of Onmyōdō, they were enough to serve as pillars for an organization like the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department, which ruled over a region.
Gin had no psychological resistance toward incorporating Yokai.
Otherwise, the information network of the former White Fox Office would never have relied on the Yokai under Iwanaga Kotoko.
Furthermore, countless Onmyoji used shikigami that had originally been transformed from Yokai.
Onmyōdō incorporating Yokai was not a new thing.
It was just that someone like Gin, who intended to incorporate an entire Night Parade of One Hundred Demons, including Great Yokai, was extremely rare.
Almost unprecedented.
Sometimes, one had to admit that when it came to handling supernatural incidents and gathering intelligence, Yokai were often more adept than Onmyoji.
"Director."
Kasugano Sora, who had been silent all this time, could not help asking after Gin finished his call.
"What exactly are we going to Chiyoda Ward for?"
She tilted her head slightly.
"Is it just to report Lady Hagoromo Gitsune's matter to the Onmyo Bureau?"
"Right."
Gin seemed to remember something.
"I pulled you away in a hurry earlier and forgot to explain."
He looked at her.
"You heard Kotoko's call just now, didn't you?"
Kasugano Sora nodded.
"Reporting Mother Hagoromo Gitsune's matter to the Onmyo Bureau is only along the way."
Gin explained, "Because the current situation in Onmyōdō has become turbulent, the graduation season at the Onmyō Academy has also been moved forward."
"It is a good time to visit the Onmyō Academy and see if we can bring in some fresh blood."
He paused briefly.
"Although the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department no longer lacks manpower, it is still very necessary to recruit some Onmyōdō seeds with extraordinary potential."
"Some things cannot only be viewed from the present."
"If an Onmyōdō organization lacks fresh blood, it will eventually become stagnant water."
Gin's tone remained calm.
"No one would complain about having too much promising talent."
Kasugano Sora nodded in understanding.
She also understood that even if the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department did not go to the Onmyō Academy to recruit people, the newly established Onmyōdō organizations that had begun emerging would fight desperately over those graduates.
Speaking of recruiting at the Onmyō Academy, Gin inevitably remembered the girl named Tsuchimikado Natsume, whom he had met at the Tsuchimikado Clan.
He seemed to have promised her that if possible, he would recruit her.
Of course, at that time it had still been the White Fox Office.
Now, it was already the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department.
"Actually, whether it is reporting Mother Hagoromo Gitsune's situation to the Onmyo Bureau or recruiting at the Onmyō Academy, both are secondary."
A trace of solemnity flashed in Gin's eyes.
"The most fundamental reason is that a few days ago, right after I finished handling the Kyoto Incident, someone placed an Onmyōdō challenge letter in the Onmyō Academy."
"The target of the challenge is me."
Kasugano Sora's expression froze.
An Onmyōdō challenge letter.
In other words, an Onmyōdō duel.
Who in the current Onmyōdō world would have the courage to challenge the Director?
Especially after the Kyoto Incident.
Could it be some unscrupulous person trying to use this as a chance to show off and make a name for themselves?
After all, the result was destined to be defeat.
But if handled properly, even losing could make someone famous in Onmyōdō.
Kasugano Sora immediately shook her head, denying her own guess.
No.
If it were truly someone like that, the Director would never bother paying attention.
He certainly would not have said those words.
Someone I find difficult to refuse for a moment.
If it were such a shameless challenger, the Onmyō Academy would have suppressed the matter directly. They would not have notified the Myriad Dharma Supernatural Department.
And Sister Kotoko would definitely not have made a special call to inform the Director.
Gin did not keep her in suspense.
"It is [D]."
"[D]?"
The name was extremely unfamiliar.
Kasugano Sora was puzzled.
There was actually someone who used a single letter as a name?
"That is merely how the outside world refers to him nowadays."
Gin glanced at Kasugano Sora.
"Speaking of it, you should have heard his other name."
His tone became solemn.
"Ashiya Dōman."
Ashiya Dōman?
Kasugano Sora was stunned.
Then her heart grew restless.
Ashiya Dōman.
Master Dōman.
Wasn't that the legendary Great Onmyoji?
In the history of Onmyōdō, he was second only to the Director.
According to ancient records, he did not belong to either the Kamo family or the Abe family.
Nor had he been affiliated with the Onmyōryō.
Instead, he was an Onmyoji who wandered among the people and trained on his own.
He lived in the same era as the Great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei and was the only person who could truly be called his rival in Onmyōdō.
Furthermore, according to rumors, the founder of the Keikain Clan was this Master Dōman.
"Director."
Kasugano Sora asked hesitantly, "Do you mean Master Dōman has also reincarnated and resurrected in this era?"
Gin shook his head.
"No."
His voice was calm, but the words carried weight.
"He has not reincarnated. Nor has he resurrected."
"For a thousand years, he has never stepped onto the path of death."
Gin looked out at the dark tunnel beyond the window.
"Ashiya Dōman has always existed in this world."
"From the Heian Period a thousand years ago until now."
At those words, Kasugano Sora could not help covering her mouth in astonishment.
A Great Onmyoji who had survived for a thousand years.
Incredible.
Humans could actually live for a millennium, reaching a state close to immortality.
And now, this Ashiya Dōman, who had lived for a thousand years, had issued an Onmyōdō challenge letter to the Director.
He had even placed it in the Onmyō Academy.
Kasugano Sora felt faint worry rise in her heart.
At the same time, a strange sense of distortion appeared.
It felt almost like déjà vu.
As if the scenery from a thousand years ago was appearing before her eyes once again.
....
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