Tokyo, Adachi Ward, a mountainous forest.
Sharon, who had been kneeling in prayer amidst decaying leaves for some time, twitched her ears slightly as if hearing some celestial message.
"Chiba Prefecture... Boso Peninsula... Limestone cave..."
"Transaction... capture if failed... ensure safety..."
Muttering quietly to herself, Sharon stood up expressionlessly from the leaf litter once she'd comprehended the message, her white stockings remaining completely unsoiled throughout the movement.
Only after rising did a faint smile finally appear on her lips:
"Twenty minutes for a reply? It seems my god isn't in the best condition~"
Sharon harboured private theories about Luo Shu's current state.
Yet for her, speculation was one thing - executing divine will remained her sacred duty.
This was the calling and mission of a holy maiden.
With this conviction, Sharon stepped forward, leapt onto a tree branch, glanced at the sun to orient herself, then vanished into the forest.
Meanwhile.
Tokyo, Shibuya, a teahouse behind Meiji Shrine.
Natsuki Minamiya, conspicuous in her black Gothic lolita dress amidst the surrounding Shinto priests, sat reviewing a stack of paper documents.
These files contained the Onmyou Agency's compiled intelligence regarding the Sharon incident.
The report's first half detailed the circumstances surrounding Sharon's entry into Japan, while the latter focused entirely on intelligence about Truth Astronomy's renegade Demon Warlock, concluding with corresponding hypotheses.
Natsuki granted about seventy per cent credibility to these findings, verified through the Agency's various methods.
After finishing the report, Natsuki set down the documents and gazed at the elderly priests before her:
"According to your compiled data, you strongly suspect the presence of an unknown-class demon in Japan - possibly even one that's already been sealed."
"Are you certain about the veracity of this intelligence?"
Hearing Natsuki Minamiya's words, an elderly priest with pronounced nasolabial folds and snow-white hair cupped his hands respectfully:
"Reporting to Lady Minamiya, according to divination results, the timing should be absolutely correct."
Lady Minamiya referred to Natsuki Minamiya herself.
Within the Onmyou Agency, among National-Level Sorcerers, only a select few deemed as Great Onmyoji of their era would be honoured with the title "Lady" after their surname.
Though Natsuki paid it no mind, the Onmyou Agency had indeed classified her as a Great Onmyoji. Due to her deliberately disseminated esoteric knowledge spreading widely, many traditionalist Onmyoji even regarded her as the modern-day Abe no Seimei.
Of course, Natsuki found such titles utterly ridiculous.
In her original world, while she was undoubtedly among the world's top magicians, such era-defining appellations were never within her reach.
Yet paradoxically, after arriving in this mystically impoverished world, she'd merely adapted some textbooks to prevent Onmyou Agency students from dying due to esoteric ignorance - and suddenly found herself elevated to Great Onmyoji status.
Though Natsuki recognised this as one of the Agency's tactics to bind her, she couldn't deny the intoxicating nature of such flattery.
'Feels like I've stumbled into some ancient isekai scenario... Honestly, why must I endure this?'
Yet beneath these thoughts, Natsuki harboured inexpressible hopes.
Perhaps in this world... this world where mystical forces had only emerged decades ago... her impractical dream... the wish for all races to coexist peacefully... might actually come to fruition?
Shaking her head, Natsuki forcibly dismissed these wandering thoughts.
"Lady Minamiya?" The elderly priests below hesitantly prompted.
"Nothing." Natsuki casually dismissed the topic. "The involved family is the Yakushiji clan? This is confirmed?"
"Indeed," the previously speaking priest replied neutrally. "Though we cannot yet determine whether it's individual or collective action within the Yakushiji family. However, according to statistical officers' projections, it's most likely collective."
Natsuki ignored the latter half, knowing it reeked of subjective conjecture.
Fundamentally, while priestly families held status before the Onmyou Agency's establishment, they remained weaker than zaibatsu, often serving as marriage partners for wealthy clans.
Zaibatsu and imperial families possessed wealth and power but lacked prestige, while cash-strapped priestly families with social standing happily obliged - their sordid collaborations weren't worth mentioning.
The current situation simply reflected priestly families' elevated status post-Abyss Descent, with many now challenging the zaibatsu-dominated social order they deemed unworthy.
As established East Asian arms dealers, the Yakushiji clan - overshadowed by American zaibatsu yet slightly above priestly families - naturally became prime targets.Natsuki Minamiya was absolutely certain that the documents in her hands contained plenty of incriminating material about Yakushiji. This was precisely why she had only trusted 70% of the intelligence earlier.
Regardless of other details, at the very least, it was undoubtedly true that someone from the Yakushiji family had set their sights on Demon Power. Otherwise, these shrine priests wouldn't have come to kick them while they were down.
After all, to kick someone when they're down, there first needs to be a pit for them to fall into.
Thinking this, Natsuki Minamiya lowered her head and gazed at the report placed on the table, particularly at the highlighted photos of Yakushiji family members. She couldn't help but mock herself:
"No matter the era, humans always harbour such unrealistic yearnings towards demons~"
After muttering to herself, Natsuki picked up the documents and stood, casting a cold glance around the room as she declared:
"I'll handle the demon matter. That's all."With these words, Natsuki Minamiya vanished from the tearoom, leaving the elderly priests exchanging subtle glances."
...
Toyogasaki High School rooftop, after morning classes.
Luo Shu, summoned by a LINE message, stared in astonishment at the documents Natsuki Minamiya handed him:
"You want SDS to handle a demon seal in Chiba? Are you serious?"