As Tsukiko entered the briefing room, determined to regain her composure, she felt a piercing gaze filled with hostility fixed upon her.
Narrowing her eyes, Tsukiko returned the stare. Before her stood a young girl with black hair and purple streaks in her hair. She appeared even younger than Tsukiko, probably in her mid-teens. Her flashy makeup made it somewhat hard to tell, but her facial features were clearly youthful. Most likely, she was a participant in the rookie training, considering her age. Tsukiko didn't recognize her, so they likely hadn't met before, but the intensity of the girl's gaze was as sharp as a spear.
Why she was directing such hostility towards Tsukiko remained unclear, but compared to the gentle gaze from earlier, this pressure was incomparable. A human standing before a dragon, attempting to intimidate her like a wildcat at this point, seemed futile.
Beside the girl, there were four more young boys and girls, probably the other participants. In the room, two other men were seated, an older one and another who could still be described as a young man.
Tsukiko, without reacting to the girl's gaze, turned her attention to the older man seated at the head.
"I apologize for the intrusion. I am Isumi Tsukiko from the Seijo Branch. I look forward to working with you today."
"Hello, Isumi-san. Thanks for making the effort to come. Please, have a seat."
The man said, smiling. He looked like an ordinary salaryman, far from the image of a magician.
However, one should not underestimate him. Surviving in the Anti-Demon Special Forces Headquarters meant he was a tough nut to crack.
Although it didn't seem likely there would be any negotiations here, Tsukiko couldn't afford to let her guard down. She took a deep breath, then took her seat.
Soon after, the explanation session for the rookie training began.
"We'll be heading to the Oozono Mountain in Nagano Prefecture. It's a privately-owned property of Shinoto Kousuke-san, where usually no one is allowed. However, since spring, there have been incidents of people illegally entering the area to pick mountain vegetables, resulting in injuries. Most of the injuries are just cuts, and no one has been severely hurt. But we've also found dead small animals with cut wounds."
The man's explanation flowed on. Images of the injured people and the dead animals were displayed on the screen. They did indeed show cuts, but the wounds seemed oddly blunt, as if they had been torn apart rather than cut.
"Our preliminary investigation has detected faint spiritual disturbances. The Special Forces have classified this as a 'Type C-1,' and your mission is to investigate its nature. Depending on the situation, you may also perform a purification on-site."
As Tsukiko listened to the man speak, she glanced through the documents in front of her. She had already received some information from Ayaka as she had been selected to lead the group.
These disasters caused by supernatural phenomena are referred to as 'Spiritual Disasters' and are categorized into Type A, B, C, and D, further divided into Type 1 and Type 2, based on their scale. The most massive type of Spiritual Disaster is Type A. These disasters cause extensive damage over a wide area, requiring a significant amount of time for recovery, and can be likened to calamities brought about by creatures like dragons or local deities.
On the other hand, the current disaster was Type C. It was capable of causing harm to multiple people but was not considered life-threatening. It was relatively rare for such an event to occur in a rural area.
In the modern age where science and technology had eradicated much of the mystery and the supernatural, the quality of Spiritual Disaster had changed significantly. Many of the modern Disaster originated from malice and negative thoughts in places where urbanites congregated. That was the most common cause nowadays.
"According to Kousuke-san, there's a small shrine deep in the mountains that he was strictly told never to destroy. Most likely, this disaster is related to that shrine. Now, let's discuss the schedule for the investigation."
The man's explanation continued.
The Untouchable Shrine. So, it's an evil spirit or youkai that has existed since ancient times. Usually, such entities are forgotten by people over time, becoming hollow shells if their essence is emptied. However, if it still possesses the power to cause real harm, can it really be classified as Type C?
Tsuchimikado's words from a moment ago echoed in Tsukiko's mind. It was indeed a poison, and a single word had already begun to gnaw at her thoughts.
"Now, let's move on to introducing the personnel participating in this training. First, our two escorts, please."
As the man spoke, Tsukiko and another man stood up.
"I'm Koresawa Rendai. I hold the third rank and am not particularly skilled in combat, but I'll be here to support everyone and ensure a smooth training experience. Nice to meet you."
A young man with glasses introduced himself.
Tsukiko recognized him; he was someone she knew. If memory served her right, he was Ayaka's contemporary, a young talent who had joined the headquarters at a young age. Clearly, he hadn't signed up for escort duty himself, so he was effectively acting as Tsukiko's escort.
By the way, rank was a measure of magic ability and different from the position of an Anti-Demon Officer.
Suppressing a sigh that threatened to escape, Tsukiko awaited her turn.
"I'm Isumi Tsukiko, holding the second rank as a magician. My experience as an escort is limited, but I'll do my best to assist. Nice to meet you."
She concluded, bowing her head. The rookie trainees, who had been sitting in surprise since her arrival, responded with respectful nods. They probably hadn't expected a well-known second-ranked magician to be part of their training.
Among them, the only girl purple-tinted hair raised her chin and cast an arrogant and disdainful gaze in Tsukiko's direction. Clearly, she was underestimating her.
However, Tsukiko wasn't about to lose her cool to someone who looked barely twenty years old. She might be a quick-tempered and competitive individual, but engaging in a heated argument with a girl who seemed no older than a teenager would be undignified.
She was a refined and ladylike woman, after all. Therefore, the slight frizz in her hair and the sparks between her fingertips were entirely due to the dry air from the air conditioning.
"Now, let's have the participants introduce themselves."
As Tsukiko sat down, the man leading the proceedings made the request. In response, the five rookies stood up, one by one, to introduce themselves. Among them, Tsukiko's attention was drawn to the third person, a young boy who began his introduction.
"I'm Udoo Shinri. Seventeen years old, a high school senior. I haven't had much experience like this, so I'm looking forward to gaining some valuable experience from this training. Nice to meet you."
His name sounded familiar, specifically his family name.
The Udoos were a family that specialized in anti-demon work, even among the Anti-Demon Officers. Udoo Shinri, with his dyed blond hair and multiple piercings, gave off the appearance of a delinquent. His use of polite language felt somewhat forced.
Tsukiko couldn't help but be reminded of Souji, who had just entered university. Udoo Shinri resembled him in many ways, with his carefree appearance and an unwavering posture that exuded self-confidence. At the very least, he seemed to be a standout among the rookies, having skills that set him apart.
Lastly, it was the turn of the problematic girl.
"..."
At first, the girl remained silent when her turn came, simply glaring at Tsukiko. She stood with her legs apart, arms crossed, in a posture that was anything but typical for a rookie.
"Kishijou-san?"
The man overseeing the proceedings asked, puzzled. In response, the girl took a confident step forward. She then spoke with an air of arrogance, her eyes fixed on Tsukiko.
"I'm the eldest daughter of the Kishijou family, Kishijou Saki. You may be hailed as some kind of genius or princess, but the true genius, the one beloved by magic, is me. I'll make sure you understand that during this mission."
――Excuse me?
Tsukiko barely managed to contain the urge to snap back with a harsh tone. If they weren't in the Anti-Demon Special Forces Headquarters and there weren't so many eyes on them, she would have responded with a scathing remark.
However, Saki, as she introduced herself, remained seated, looking down at Tsukiko with an air of satisfaction.
Clearly, she was underestimating Tsukiko.
And so began the tumultuous training period for new recruits.
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