[Part 1/4]
The room filled with light for a moment. Then, the light vanished, and the dark curtain disappeared.
"What...!?"
Shirowakamaru was shocked but ready to react. The reason was simple: the divine dog had risen. Shimenawa ropes and talismans binding it decayed. A monster was now free. Failure was obvious.
"Miss Tamaki, get out of there quick!"
Murasaki also yelled, her youkai blade ready, trying to protect Tamaki. But Tamaki didn't budge.
"It's fine, I'm... okay."
"Miss Tamaki...?"
Confused by the response, they realized it wasn't meant for them. Tamaki touched the dog's nose and gently stroked it.
'Grrr...'
The growl came, but the divine dog didn't attack Tamaki. It just gazed sleepily at her.
"So... maybe it's time to sleep?"
Tamaki murmured. After a moment, the gigantic dog collapsed. Its eyes closed slowly. Tamaki leaned in.
"Good night."
Tamaki's words were followed by a deep exhale. And that was that.
Everyone sensed the massive presence disappearing. Murasaki and Shirowakamaru grew wary, fearing a curse.
"It's okay, there's no curse. ...No intention to curse."
Tamaki muttered. Murasaki and Shirowakamaru were puzzled by the meaning. But before they could react, a new person entered.
With a step, Onitsuki's Advisor came in. "Sorry for the delay. Shirowakamaru-san, the deity to be destroyed... what's happening?"
The enchanting woman looked around, puzzled, as she asked her disciple. The disciple struggled to respond.
"The fallen divine dog has been defeated," said Tamaki.
"...Miss Tamaki?"
"Don't worry about curses. They're all... gone."
She probably did not expect Tamaki to talk. Tamaki's unexpected words left them stunned. Tamaki continued, undeterred.
"You might have already guessed, but Princess Tamamo and Suzune are safe. I'll handle Suzune's questioning. Is that okay?"
"Miss Tamaki, is there really no curse...?"
"Will you keep your promise?"
Kochou could only nod under Tamaki's pressure. Tamaki sighed in relief. "That's good," she murmurs. It had been her main concern.
Now, silence filled the room...
"Should I finish this?"
"Huh? Oh!!?"
Breaking the silence, the female curse caster of Miyataka took action, quite brutally.
The lifeless divine dog's body was dismembered by her dagger.
"Ugh!?"
"What are you doing...!?"
Blood splattered as internal organs were carelessly discarded. Even Shirowakamaru and Murasaki recoiled.
"Miss Shinobu!!? What are you...!?"
"Oh, this little one is cute, right?"
"Wha...!?"
Tamaki shouted, but Shinobu's declaration silenced her. It was enough to silence Tamaki.
The blood-stained puppy was held up.
"Is that... a puppy?"
"A replacement...!?"
What she held up looked soft, like cotton candy.
'Whimper... whimper...'
Its eyes remained shut as it playfully moved its short limbs, quivering as if cold, floating.
"Can't do it, Tamaki? If you're going to do this, you have to do it right up to the last minute, don't you? ...Or are you unsure?"
Tamaki had no reply to the persistent words. She was right on the mark.
Tamaki's usurping power had been used at will. The presence before them had been intended.
"Well done, huh? Leaving behind just a trace of divine power for a substitution grind, that's quite impressive. Who would've thought you could handle power so precisely."
"That, is...!!?"
All eyes turned to Tamaki at Shinobu's words. Yes, Tamaki didn't finish it. Couldn't finish it. Considering Princess Tamamo, she couldn't have done it.
So she showed mercy. Left only enough divine power for substitution. And the puppy that would be born from this substitution, most likely just an ordinary dog... The act was meant to console Princess Tamamo, but it was exposed astonishingly quickly.
"Well, isn't that delightful? It seems like a useful subject. Thank you, Onitsuki's household member."
Tamaki was left speechless by Shinobu's words.
"What are you talking about..."
"This case, your cooperation with Miss Tamaki as directed by the court, we appreciate it."
Kochou cut in before Tamaki could say anything. Having deduced the situation's context from their earlier conversation, Kochou showed gratitude to Shinobu. And she continued.
"This is a token of gratitude. Please accept it."
"Oh? Is that alright? A puppy with divine power could be valuable material."
"It's no problem at all. Please don't worry about it."
Kochou smoothly pushed the responsibility onto Tamaki. She handed over the troublesome item as hush money. Even if it was troublesome, to those who practiced forbidden arts, it was indeed a valuable item.
"No, stop... nngh!!?"
Before she could protest, Tamaki's mouth was sealed with sealing talismans. Her limbs too. In an instant, her freedom was restricted. Shirowakamaru, the executor, clicked her tongue and scorned Tamaki, who was trying to make things complicated. Leaving Tamaki behind, the conversation continued.
"Well, well... Oh, right. How about this as well?"
The response of the Black Butterfly Lady evoked a surprised shock. And as if it were an extra, she even showed the prayer beads wound around her hand. Tamaki widened her eyes. She frantically searched her pockets, realizing they were missing. She tried to voice her complaint, but couldn't. She couldn't say anything.
"Stop."
"Ugh... ugh!?"
Thinking she could at least approach directly, Tamaki took a step forward, only to be silenced by Shirowakamaru's word technique. Her feet tangled, and she fell. She couldn't even get back up.
"Uh... well. Right. Shall I handle it? I'll explain from here."
With a momentary sympathetic look at Tamaki, Kochou accepted. In truth, Kochou didn't want to leave the prayer beads in Tamaki's possession any longer.
"No, please don't worry. Actually, it's quite a welcome tale."
With a smile and a laugh, Shinobu spoke.
"On behalf of the Miyataka clan, thank you. I'll be sure to relay your gratitude to my leader."
And with a bow, Shinobu headed towards Kochou. More precisely, she headed towards the door behind which Kochou had entered. She was about to leave. Kochou also smiled politely and saw her off. Just before leaving, Shinobu paused next to Kochou. And she asked.
"Oh, by the way. This matter, it's us who have inconvenienced you. Especially your household maid, involving her has left me feeling sorry... If it's alright, could I entertain her at a later date?"
Advisor had a puzzled expression at the ambiguous request. Smiling eerily at her, Shinobu left the room...
...
...
...
"...Hey? Since no one's here, can you come out already? Or are succubi surprisingly shy, unlike what the rumors say?"
'...When did you realize?'
Walking down the empty corridor, Shinobu stopped and called out, to which a response came after a moment. Before her, there was the form of a hummingbird that had somehow appeared at her feet. The female curse caster squinted her eyes with an even bigger smile than before at the hummingbird.
"From the beginning... would you have been angry if I did?"
'Although I thought I was being cautious with stealth... if it's the truth, then I was inexperienced'
To the teasing response, the hummingbird let out a calm sigh. Shinobu seemed slightly surprised by the reaction and widened her eyes.
"Oh dear, you're so honest. You used to be quite tsundere when you were at the academy."
That was her sincere sentiment. The granddaughter of the Matsuhige clan. An excessively proud girl who let her talent get to her head. It was truly surprising how easily a young girl who seemed to actively make enemies around her would brush off such an obvious provocation.
'What are you talking about... People change over time, don't they?'
"Well, yeah. Nowadays, we're not even human anymore, are we?"
While it was true, even the Hummingbird felt indignant at that remark. She glared at Shinobu with narrowed eyes. Well, she endured it to a point.
"Hehehe, don't give me that scary look. I'm just teasing. ...As a thank you, shall I introduce you to someone? I know a few guys with good-quality spiritual power. You see, our situations are quite similar, aren't they?"
Miyataka Shinobu and Matsushige Botan. In a way, their current situations were similar.
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