After Spider Princess's pointed words finally struck home, Snow Maiden at last understood Hyōto's true "intent." Her heart swelled with emotion, and the admiration she already felt for him deepened even further.
That's right—wasn't the man who had saved her on the Great Snow Mountain, who had taken her and the Snow Child in without hesitation, someone this gentle by nature?
"Spider Princess, thank you for telling me all this," Snow Maiden said softly. "But don't think that just because I'm grateful, I'll step aside for Lord Hyōto."
"Even if you're stronger than me… even if you're smarter than me… even if you stood by his side before I ever did—I still won't lose."
As she looked at Spider Princess, Snow Maiden wore a calm, gentle smile. In that moment, something new took shape between them—something called friendship.
Before this, they had interacted as comrades, fellow subordinates under the same lord. But this heartfelt exchange had pushed their relationship beyond that, forging a genuine bond.
"…Honestly," Spider Princess said, rubbing her forehead as if she'd given herself a headache, though she was smiling as well, "I feel like I've gone and created trouble for myself—handed myself a rival for no reason."
"But fine. I accept your challenge. And I won't lose either."
"After all," she added lightly, "you're not the only one Lord Hyōto saved."
The two of them shared a look, smiles lingering.
"Well," Spider Princess continued with a sigh, "even if the two of us fight tooth and nail here, that blockhead Lord Hyōto might not even realize how we feel."
"I really don't get it. He's so outstanding in every possible way—yet when it comes to emotions, he's always unbelievably dense."
"…Though now that I think about it, maybe being dense isn't entirely a bad thing," she mused. "If he weren't like that, he'd probably have been tricked away long ago by that damned sword shrine maiden."
"Speaking of which—Snow Maiden, let's form a temporary alliance."
"Just to make sure Lord Hyōto doesn't get deceived by human women."
"Especially that sword shrine maiden—and that pink-haired, big-chested one. Those two are dangerous opponents."
Snow Maiden blinked, clearly taken aback, before breaking into a smile so radiant it seemed capable of making even ice and snow bow in submission.
"Come to think of it," she said lightly, "the sword shrine maiden and that… 'pink-haired one' you mentioned—aren't they here at the Great Snow Mountain this time as well?"
—
Lured by the temptation of Spiritual Power Crystals, most capable humans in the Tokyo District had already gathered at the foot of the snow mountain.
As for Shokuhatsuki, the Ash Monk, and the others, they had followed their instructions and moved to the mountain's midsection.
Previously, after Snow Maiden had left, the Great Snow Mountain still saw snowfall year-round—but it was no longer deadly.
Today, however, with all the "actors" finally in place and under Hyōto's explicit instructions, Snow Maiden once again unleashed her power, plunging the mountain into a raging blizzard.
At the mountain's base, team after team gathered in force.
Unlike the last time they had come to subjugate Snow Maiden, this lineup could only be described as luxurious.
Five of the Thirteen Demon-Slaying Houses of Tokyo—the very families that had participated in the Tokyo District War—were present.
And beyond them, top-tier families such as the Yamato Clan, whose standing rivaled the Thirteen Houses, had also arrived in significant numbers.
In addition to exorcist families, there were teams assembled by major financial conglomerates, as well as demon-hunting squads made up of serum-enhanced soldiers.
Everyone in the Tokyo District now understood the value of Spiritual Power Crystals.
Only people from other regions had yet to realize their importance—and once they did, they would undoubtedly seek a share.
What had to be done now was to seize as many crystals as possible before outsiders could react.
After all, the Tokyo District's overall strength had been severely weakened by the previous war.
If things continued like this, even without being swallowed by yokai forces, Tokyo would eventually fall under the control of rulers from other regions.
"Kyōka, how long are you planning to keep fooling around at a time like this?"
A stern voice rang out.
"In front of members of that so-called Unnatural Countermeasures Division, you'd better remember who you are—the legitimate eldest daughter of the Yamato family, and its future head!"
"Just what kind of existence the Hundred-Night Demon is, you know better than anyone. I let your nonsense slide before—but this time, you will listen to me."
"And that Countermeasures Division of yours—what kind of level are they even at? Going up the snow mountain with people like that is just asking for death!"
For the Unnatural Countermeasures Division, abandoning the Spiritual Power Crystals was never an option. In fact, their upper leadership valued this strategic resource more than anyone.
Why did exorcist families hold such elevated status?
Simply because most of their members were born with innate spiritual talent.
In the past, that imbalance was unchangeable.
But now, things were different.
With enough Spiritual Power Crystals, the Countermeasures Division could cultivate a new generation of capable exorcists—breaking the monopoly long held by the great families.
Resources weren't a problem; backed by the government, they lacked nothing in that regard.
What they lacked were people with spiritual aptitude.
Crystals like these had to be kept under official control if they were to stabilize their increasingly precarious position.
That was why the Division treated this snow mountain operation with extreme importance, dispatching a full ten squads.
Lavish rewards were promised, and any requests made by team members were approved without hesitation.
As the strongest unit currently within the Division, Squad Eight—Hyōto's team—was naturally assigned to this mission as well.
Unfortunately, before they could even set foot on the mountain, they encountered the Yamato family head and his entourage at the base.
Due to a marriage alliance, the Yamato clan and the Kūsuga Clan had joined forces, forming one of the strongest teams heading toward the snow mountain.
The Kūsuga clan, peerless in swordsmanship and devastating in direct combat, paired with the Yamato clan—whose combat prowess was lacking but whose support abilities were top-tier—was nothing short of a perfect combination.
The Yamato family head had been in high spirits… until he saw his disappointing daughter preparing to head up the mountain alongside the Countermeasures Division.
And when Yamato Kyōka openly refused to move with her family, choosing instead to act together with the Division, his mood instantly soured.
It was humiliating—plain and simple.
But the reason for his anger was equally simple.
He wasn't furious because his daughter defied him.
He was worried about her safety.
Bad with words, this was the only way he knew how to protect her.
Objectively speaking, the teams gathered at the snow mountain weren't weak. Their average combat strength was already at C+ rank or above.
After all, this was the Hundred-Night Demon's territory. Anyone without real strength coming here was simply courting death.
Among the many teams, the Countermeasures Division wasn't particularly outstanding—but it wasn't weak either.
Especially Squad Eight.
Aside from Hinano, whose spiritual power was only at C-rank and who served in a support role, Kanzaki Isshin and the monk Shirouma had both reached B+-rank.
As for Yamato Kyōka and Hyōto—
Their spiritual power had reached an absurd A-rank.
At their age, calling them super-geniuses was no exaggeration.
Of course, that A-rank referred to Hyōto's spiritual power.
His normal yokai power had already reached S-rank.
And when activating skills such as Half-Demon Transformation, Blade Spirit Release, and Drunken Demon, his yokai power could briefly surge to a terrifying SS-rank.
That was very different from the Tokyo District War, when his full power had only reached S+—with combat strength barely scraping SS−.
After drawing rewards in the Nura Clan world and grinding levels in the otherworld, Hyōto's full burst now genuinely reached SS-rank.
Two A-ranks. Two B+-ranks. One C-rank.
A five-person team of that quality was, by any measure, exceptional.
Yet in the Yamato family head's eyes, sending them up the snow mountain was still far too dangerous.
Why?
Because while Hyōto's squad was strong enough, the rest of the Countermeasures Division… would only drag them down.
Though the Division's squads had been carefully selected, aside from Squad Eight, the strongest members in the other teams barely reached B-rank.
Some squads even had members weaker than Kyōjo Hinano—the logistics specialist.
To the Yamato family head, it didn't matter how strong Kyōka was individually. Surrounded by people like that, numbers meant nothing.
"Then if you're that worried about my safety," Kyōka said calmly, "Father can just join our team."
She was genuinely moved by her taciturn father's concern and suggested cooperation between the Yamato clan and the Countermeasures Division.
The moment she spoke, she was sharply rebuked.
Though the rift between the government and exorcist families hadn't been made public, it had long since existed in truth.
The Yamato clan was a top-tier exorcist family—and now allied with the Kūsuga clan to boot.
How could they possibly cooperate with the Countermeasures Division?
That would make the Yamato clan a traitor.
If other families saw that, how were they supposed to survive in the circle afterward?
On Kyōka's side, however, she was someone who cherished her companions above all else.
Asking her to abandon them was simply impossible.
And so, father and daughter fell out completely.
In the end, it was the Kūsuga clan head, Kūsuga Ryōsuke, who stepped in to smooth things over, finally bringing the argument to a halt.
"Brother-in-law," Ryōsuke said calmly, "Kyōka has grown."
"With her current strength, even if I fought her myself, I wouldn't dare claim certain victory."
"She can protect herself."
"And besides," he added with a glance toward Hyōto, "isn't she with Amanoin Hyōto?"
"He wields the divine artifact Kusanagi Sword. He was able to fight the heavily injured Hundred-Night Demon."
"Now his spiritual power seems to have grown even stronger."
"Kyōka's team may be small… but it might actually be safer than ours."