[Part 1/4]
For Onitsuki Hina, it was a routine action. To her, it was just another ordinary act.
The people around her felt differently. With the help of madam black butterfly, the curse long rope that had been loosened once tightened around Hina again. This time, it was much tighter, leaving marks on her soft skin. The pressure was so intense it felt like her insides might get crushed. But for Hina, it wasn't a big deal.
"How's the ritual? Was the intrusion successful?"
Hina asked the former boy who stood at a distance. Looking into his eyes felt like touching something dirty, but in this situation, his skills were essential. So, she calmly spoke to him.
"...Yeah. The number of guards on surveillance duty has decreased. They've also responded to the diversion and haven't noticed us."
In plain words, they got back a report that was calm and duty-bound, without any feelings involved. Both Hinata and Shirowakamaru knew about it. They heard about it. The man managed to involve the Tengu through some strategy. Among the surveillance team, the skilled ones had already left. Following Hina's chosen plan, the envoy members deliberately made their way into the forbidden area to catch the Tengu's attention. The plan was designed to work by limiting its functions and hiding its actions completely... with all these factors combined, this plan was set up for success.
"Now, let's do it, Kouyo."
In response to the call, the dragon appeared from the skies. It was a majestic dragon wrapped in golden scales, as depicted in the imperial records and widely known scrolls—a divine dragon. Kouyo, who Hinata contracted with, was from the Onitsuki family, highly esteemed, and revered.
'...'
The dragon, usually allowed to roam freely, landed before its master's eyes and squinted as if observing her closely. It seemed puzzled, though it was natural considering its appearance.
"Good of you to come. There's something I need you to do right away."
Ignoring the dragon's puzzled expression, Hina confidently or perhaps indifferently explained. Dragons, known for their intelligence and rationality over long lives, typically understood human language easily, but this time seemed like an exception.
'...? ? ?'
Though the dragon didn't raise its voice, it was clearly confused by its master's incomprehensible words, visibly shaken by the meaninglessness of the situation. But for the master, it didn't matter.
"Don't understand? Then let me say it again."
And Hina repeated the explanation to her slow-witted servant, further exacerbating the dragon's confusion.
"Tch, fine... Kouyo, I'm not asking for your understanding. Just follow orders. That's all. Don't think about unnecessary things, just fulfill your duty."
Despite Hina's cruel request, the dragon still doesn't move. It just continues to stare at the one princess, growling low as if pleading for something.
However, its efforts are in vain.
"Big bro was there...!! Wait, this is! Big bro, be careful!!?"
Shirowakamaru's voice, sharing visual with a shikigami, gained a joyful tone, but immediately a scream followed. Hina didn't even need to ask what it meant. There was no time for that.
"Kouyo...!!"
'GROOOAAAARRR!!!!'
Hinata's urging, almost accusing, was sharp to the core. It was filled with murderous intent. A final warning. Followed immediately by a roar. And the breath of flame enveloped Hinata. The flames, even lethal to top-notch exorcists...!!
"Hey, can you wait for me? I'll be right there..."
In the moment when her consciousness was engulfed by flames, with a dreamy and blissful expression, Hina whispered sweetly. Ignoring the sensation of floating and loss enveloping her body, she simply looked at her dominant arm. She looked at her palm.
Looking at the hand where she had cut off her little finger, sweetly, so sweetly, and then melting, melting, melting... her consciousness disappeared in the heat and light.
Having experienced this sensation many times before, Hina felt no fear at all.
...The world spins. A pale flame covers her field of vision. Instantly, her consciousness awakens, and the sensations in her scattered limbs revive.
In front of her is the presence of a mighty and evil entity. But that's not important. Feeling the gaze that hurts almost painfully, her lower abdomen twitches involuntarily. Blushing more than the flames, she slowly turns around.
She reunites with her beloved, her dearest love.
"I'm sorry... Did I keep you waiting?"
She whispered softly and softly.
"I'll take over here. You should retreat."
And facing the approaching intruder, she drew out the regenerated sword within her range of abilities.
She attacked the monster. At the same time, Hina couldn't help but feel intensely uncomfortable knowing that not only her body but also her belongings and clothes were being regenerated...
Generally, the exorcist family grows stronger with each generation. This happens because the total amount of inherited spiritual power increases through generations of marriages, accumulating lineage.
Paradoxically, younger families have less inherited spiritual power. This was fatal. Youkai have physical abilities surpassing humans, possessing supernatural powers. The abundance of spiritual power relates to physical enhancement, the number of techniques in Curse Art, and the ability to continue fighting—a vital factor.
Due to the Human-Youkai War, many ancient families were cut off, forcing the court to fill that gap. Some compromise in quality was unavoidable. However, there are limits even to mass production.
So, the Imperial Court and the Omnyouji Bureau were focused in special abilities. Until now, these abilities, which could be described as one-shot performances, were treated as supplementary to physical abilities and Curse Art. However, by making them criteria for evaluating candidates for official exorcist appointments, they aimed to widen the pool of talent.
The Kakitsugi family, including Kakitsugi Inaba, had a similar story. They began walking the path of exorcists due to sudden emergence of special abilities.
One such ability was called "Kushiitaina." It's a type of puppetry technique, a variation of Shikigami Art. By inflicting wounds on a target using a specific tool, one can control them. To explain further, it's like controlling only the body while leaving the consciousness intact.
Within the range visible to the naked eye, only one target can be controlled at a time, and once the wound heals, the authority is lost. It's not a very convenient ability to use. However, in the circumstances surrounding me, it certainly had its significance.
The curse long rope alone couldn't move me. It's basically just supporting my body. Unfortunately, it's only supplementary, merely lifting me up. With just that, I couldn't move at all. Especially if I need to deceive the Tengu group right away.
Inaba-hime's weapon is a large baton resembling a skewer. Its size and being a striking weapon are part of the plan. It's for minimizing the hit detection and for deceptive tactics.
I got hit with this skewer. My blood was congested. And I was manipulated. The reason for specifying the altitude with the Tengu and for continuously provoking with big words was to divert enemy's attention. Due to her special ability, I had to be in a visible position to her naked eye. She couldn't be blowed up with map attacks (AoE).
"I thought so, but you're ruthless...!!?"
I spit out while witnessing the fierce battle between the first princess and the snake in front of me. It was because I was thinking of my own incompetence.
It was a close call. If Hina hadn't appeared, both me and Inaba-hime would have died. The Tengu group was probably eradicated. At least Hina's intervention prevented that fate from being sealed. It was nothing short of lucky.
"Honestly, I can't exactly be happy about this...!!"
It was guilt, and more so a matter of pride, but ultimately it was self-satisfaction. Anyway, there was someone saved. It would be out of line for me to express dissatisfaction about that.
"...Inaba-hime, can you hear me!? Please respond!!"
Pushing aside the kudzu vines, I shout into the conch shell. The response to my call came after a short while.
'I... can hear you.'
The muffled voice peculiar to the conch shell was flat and impersonal, yet I could tell it was trembling even as it tried to sound detached. It felt like being stared down by a divine serpent. It must have been an unnerving experience.
"Okay. ...Change location now. Head to the backup surveillance point!"
Since her location has already been known, there's a chance the snake might shoot a beam at her while she's vulnerable. Before getting wiped out, she had to move.
'Are you still going to do it? Princess Onitsuki is here. Can't win?'
Intermittently, but questioning, Inaba-hime directed her gaze. Up there, the final battle was already underway.
On my field of view, something exploded, and a beam swept through, blowing away everything around. Hina dashed across the hot springs, engulfed in blue flames, closing in on the giant serpent.
'Hissss!!!'
The serpent's cry was both a threat and a signal to attack. Poisonous snakes kept jumping out of the hot springs one after another. Ignoring them all, Hina approached. Anything she touched was instantly neutralized by her flames of annihilation, rendering them powerless.
"Haaaahhh!!"
'...!!?'
Then the sword swung down. A chunk of the giant snake's face flew off in pieces. The monster screamed in pain.
However, I wasn't exactly happy about it. I already knew what to expect. Even Hina's perfect hit was nothing compared to this power.
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