Volume 9 Chapter 12 United Front Of Adults
Kagami Ayaka walked down the hallway of a certain building, her displeasure evident in her attitude.
She wore a slightly more formal outfit than her usual suit, and her makeup showed a heightened determination.
For her, it was her armor.
This place was the headquarters of the Anti-Demon Special Operations, where far more unsavory characters dwelled than evil spirits.
Ayaka disliked this place.
Magicians, in essence, were nothing but self-centered individuals who disliked gathering in groups. The more skilled they were, the more self-centered they became.
She had no desire to visit a place run by such individuals, especially considering the recent influx of New World (Try Order) members, which only reinforced her negative perception.
Just the other day, she had arranged a meeting between Yuusuke and Eris, causing Tsukiko considerable distress. It felt like rubbing salt in the wound.
But the headquarters now felt completely different from what Ayaka knew. She couldn't sense the gloomy and heavy magic power that usually enveloped the entire building. Instead, it was filled with a malicious magic power, much like the presence of youkai elders.
Ayaka stopped in front of a room she didn't usually visit and knocked. But instead of waiting for a response, she opened the door.
"Excuse me."
Knowing that Ayaka's entrance was anything but polite, the occupant of the room sat there with an attitude that suggested he had anticipated her arrival.
"Thank you for coming, Kagami-san."
The person she was waiting for was a man who resembled a host. His suit, adorned with a dragon embroidery, was a unique fashion statement that no one else would dare wear.
Beneath his dull gray hair, his gentle eyes observed Ayaka.
Ayaka plopped down in front of him.
"I heard you were on the brink of death, but you seem surprisingly well."
"Oh, that's not true. I'm still not in perfect health."
"The injuries within that area should not be inherited."
"Is it because of the opponent I fought, or is it my own doing? Well..."
Though she asked, the man responded with apparent disinterest.
The man in front of her, Tsuchimikado Seirin, was the one who called Ayaka here today.
As the Anti-Demon Official on the first floor, he held a much higher position than Ayaka.
There was a reason for taking such a strong attitude towards him.
"So, what brings you here today?"
"Before that, please allow me to apologize. I have caused a great deal of stress to Isumi-san."
"...Tell that to the person in question."
With a dry voice, Ayaka replied.
Tsuchimikado's apology likely carried two meanings. One was forcing her to battle demons during summer vacation. The other was probably linked to the events during the Tokyo Crisis.
“... What will happen to the funeral of Tengai-sama and Kanra-sama at headquarters?”
“Currently, we can't allocate resources to that. You're aware of the situation.”
“I see... Did you truly not know anything, anything at all?”
On the day of the Tokyo Crisis, the main Isumi residence was attacked, and Isumi Tengai and Isumi Kanra, both relatives of Tsukiko, were killed.
For Ayaka, who had been in and out of the Isumi household since childhood, they were familiar faces.
As a member of the New World (Try Order) and occupying the first-rank position of a magician, could Tsuchimikado have known something beforehand? Ayaka couldn't help but wonder if Tsuchimikado might have been able to prevent that incident.
Tsuchimikado looked directly into Ayaka's eyes and replied.
"I'm sorry. I must have been mistrusted after all. I had no information about that day. And no one else except for the Grimoire could have known about it, I suppose."
"I see. Thank you very much."
She understands. This is an outburst. No one expected Isumi's family to be attacked in that situation.
Still, Tsuchimikado does his best to protect the lives of citizens. He risked his life and fought. Blaming him is completely unfair.
With that meaning in mind, Ayaka bowed deeply.
"──Excuse me."
As Ayaka raised her head, a girl placed a cup of tea on the table.
Her face looked familiar.
"You."
"It's been a while. How is Yuusuke doing?"
She is a tomboy girl wearing a casket. Yotsuji Senri, who has previously approached Ayaka and the others as Tsuchimikado's messenger.
"It has indeed been a while. Weren't you supposed to stay away from here?"
Senri shrugged her shoulders.
"The circumstances have changed. I am now Seirin's bodyguard."
"With many high-ranking members being in a temporary state of death due to that incident. Ironically, the current situation is much more open."
Tsuchimikado said, laughing lightly.
Ayaka understood all too well what he wanted to say, even though it was extremely inappropriate.
Senri, who is a "mystery" herself, shrugged her shoulders and said,
"Thanks to that, I was able to infiltrate as well. It seems that there are still some fanatics of the Try Order left, so we need to be cautious here for a while."
"What are you planning to do after this?"
Tsuchimikado is the top magician of the Anti-Demon Special Forces, ranked first. The responsibility for not being able to stop the Tokyo Crisis is much heavier than Ayaka imagines.
"It seems like maintaining public order will keep us busy for a while. Yuusuke and his colleagues are working hard, but that alone won't be enough. Besides, the other side has withdrawn from the Anti-Demon Special Forces. If we want to reform, now is the only chance."
"The reform of the Anti-Demon Special Forces?"
"Yes. That's why I wanted to talk to you, Kagami-san."
"Why me? I don't have any special powers like you guys, though."
Ayaka understands her own abilities well. Interfering in Yuusuke and Tsukiko's fight would only be a hindrance, and she has no inclination to reform the Anti-Demon Special Forces.
It suits Ayaka well to be involved in a fight with the old men at the Seijo branch.
Tsuchimikado shook his head in response to her statement.
"You are special. You are someone who can prioritize others over yourself, which is rare among magicians. People like us, we can't help but think only of ourselves. It's the nature of our being."
"That's just superstition."
Those who truly excel as magicians are beyond human.
That was a prevailing sentiment among the Anti-Demon Officials. They invest all their resources to their own pursuits and don't consider others.
It is those individuals who are genuinely fit to be magicians.
"Well, I believe it's valid. That day, I entered the depths of magic as Yuusuke and others described. Well, maybe it's more precise to say I inadvertently entered it. At that instant, I grasped. There is no room for conventional ethics or moral trajectories in that domain."
"Yuusuke and the others don't conform to that."
If that's the case, then Yuusuke and his friends are truly insane.
However, Tsuchimikado added with a laugh,
"It's not like that at all. They had far more opportunities to stand in life-threatening situations than we did. Their strength is a result of adapting to environments where they instinctively had to assert themselves."
"Ah, I see."
"That's why the Anti-Demon Special Forces need someone like you who can work with anyone. I see your willingness to trust and help anyone as a shining quality."
"...It's just that I lack a bit too much caution."
"But it takes a resolute heart to entrust."
In the end, she only has one choice from the beginning.
“I shall assist you to the best of my abilities. In return, please help Yuusuke and the others until the end. That is the condition.”
“Certainly, that is my intent. He rescued me.”
“Are you not going to fight anymore?”
Tsuchimikado's prowess stands confirmed. Ayaka also overheard Yuusuke commend him openly.
“‥‥”
Tsuchimikado gradually raised his hand and extended it before Ayaka. His hand, sickly pale, trembled ever so slightly.
"This is‥‥"
"This is the result of using the Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei) only once. In that moment, my own level was elevated, as if I had never faced such a formidable adversary before. I don't know if it was my body or my soul, but I couldn't withstand it."
So, he couldn't endure even at the beginning of shinrei.
Ayaka felt a shiver once again.
She had heard that the "Tokyo Crisis" was caused by the enemy's Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei).
She realized that the stage where Yuusuke and Tsukiko were fighting was much higher than she had imagined.
And Tsukiko was determined to fight among those people.
"And I've almost used up all the spells I had. If I show up, I'll only be a burden."
"I see. Understood then."
Ayaka took Tsuchimikado's outstretched hand.
She has always watched the brilliant talent by her side.
Ayaka understood since she was young that her dream of becoming a successful magician was nothing but a dream. Thus, she probably had a premonition that this was the path she would take.
It's not that she's dissatisfied.
It's just that she feels inadequate for not having the power to protect their backs.
Therefore, at the very least, it's her duty to make the path those kids walk a little easier.
“Pleased to work with you, Tsuchimikado-san.”
“Me too.”
The hands of the person she thought was a monster were thinner and colder than she had thought for a long time.
He is also someone who must be supported.
Afterward, the two exchanged information, and as the day was about to end, Ayaka tried to leave.
At that moment, Tsuchimikado said to her,
“By the way, Kagami-san, now that we've entered into this cooperative relationship, you don't need to worry about calling me Tsuchimikado-san.”
"I can't talk to the Anti-Demon Official in such a familiar manner. It's just not possible."
"Well, okay then. I don't really mind that sort of thing, and I'm younger, so it would be easier if you were more casual with me."
"Uh...yes?"
There was a pause in the response.
What did he just say?
Without even realizing that she had dropped the bag she was trying to lift, Ayaka asked.
"Wait, wait. Did you just say 'younger'?"
"Yes, I did."
"Who?"
"It's me."
"..."
Ayaka stared intently at Tsuchimikado's smiling face.
It was the first time she had ever looked so closely at his face, which was already shrouded in mystery due to his unknown age, the bias of being in the First Rank, and his distinctive gray hair.
Now that she thought about it, his skin and facial features didn't give off a middle-aged vibe.
"How old are you?"
"I'll turn 21 this year. I'm a year older than Yuusuke-kun and Isumi-san."
"Seriously?"
Two years younger, though.
Feeling oddly immature in her stance, Ayaka looked at Tsuchimikado again.
"Well then, Tsuchimikado-kun, let's work together again."
"Yes, please take care of me."
Ayaka was unaware of the depths of Tsuchimikado Seirin's loneliness, a life even more solitary than Tsukiko's.
Despite this, their relationship shone brightly, and every word he spoke held sincerity and truth.
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