Chapter 98: Isayama Yomi
The hall fell into a silence so complete that even breathing sounded intrusive.
The Onmyoji present exchanged glances, each of them quietly sighing inwardly.
With Yamashiro Rito crippled, the farce that had erupted so abruptly finally reached its limp, anticlimactic end.
Servants from Shinomiya Manor soon carried the unconscious Yamashiro Rito away. As they watched him disappear through the hall entrance, many of the Onmyoji could not help feeling a strange mix of contempt and pity.
The younger brother of Yamashiro Hayato.
A direct relative of a former [Twelve Divine General] of the Onmyo Bureau.
A man with connections to Kurahashi Genji himself.
And yet, he had not even possessed the basic judgment to read the room.
Wasn't that tragic?
Whether the whole thing had been born from jealousy, resentment, or someone's hidden instructions no longer mattered. Everyone present understood one thing.
Before long, the words Gin Tsumugi had spoken about Yamashiro Hayato would spread throughout the Onmyodo world. Once that happened, the Onmyo Agency would have no choice but to step forward and verify the truth.
The conclusion in many hearts was already clear.
Yamashiro Hayato, who could have been remembered by Onmyodo as a fallen hero, would now have his name dragged back into the mud because of his own brother.
After this incident, the Onmyoji in the hall also gained a much sharper understanding of White Fox Gin Tsumugi.
If no one provoked him, everything was fine.
But if someone truly challenged him, Yamashiro Rito's fate was the answer.
Furukawa Oishi, the official representative of Minato Ward, looked at Gin with a complicated gaze. There was hesitation in his eyes, along with the faint trace of someone silently weighing possibilities.
Clap, clap, clap.
A sudden round of applause broke the heavy silence.
Then a clear voice rang through the hall, tinged with resentment.
"You really are as unrestrained as ever. No wonder you dared to perform the [Taizan Fukun Ritual] together with Dairenji Suzuka."
The Onmyoji stiffened at once.
Who was this reckless junior?
Hadn't Yamashiro Rito's fate just been displayed right in front of them? Someone still dared to speak to White Fox Gin Tsumugi like that?
Even seasoned Onmyoji who had spent years in the field now felt a certain fear toward this decisive, ruthless young man. Who knew if he would cripple another person the moment he was displeased?
But to their surprise, Gin did not look angry.
There was no coldness in his eyes, no oppressive fluctuation of spiritual power.
Instead, the corner of his mouth curved faintly, carrying a trace of helplessness and bitterness.
"Long time no see, Yomi."
Gin looked toward the second floor.
A black-haired girl descended the stairs alongside Shinomiya Kaguya.
She wore a black sailor uniform. Her face was delicate and beautiful, but her straight posture and sharp gaze gave her a heroic air. Her long, snow-white legs were slender and graceful, while her black hair was tied neatly into a ponytail. In her right hand, she held a long sword wrapped tightly in cloth.
"It's Isayama Yomi," someone whispered. "The next head of the Isayama Family."
The sword prodigy, Isayama Yomi.
Although she had never been praised as a once-in-a-generation Onmyodo genius like White Fox Gin Tsumugi or Dairenji Suzuka, she had already entered the ranks of Professional Level Onmyoji at a young age. In the field of swordsmanship, she had even received praise from Kogure Zenjirō, one of the Onmyo Agency [Twelve Divine Generals], known as the [Divine Sword].
Among the younger generation of Onmyodo, she was undoubtedly one of the leading figures beneath those two monsters.
A few well-informed Onmyoji suddenly recalled something else.
White Fox Gin Tsumugi's father, Tsumugi Taketoshi, seemed to have had an extremely close relationship with the Isayama Family. He and Isayama Naraku were said to have shared a life-and-death bond as comrades.
Judging by the expressions on Gin and Isayama Yomi's faces, the two of them had clearly known each other since childhood.
"How rare," Isayama Yomi said. "The great Lord White Fox, whose name now echoes throughout Onmyodo, actually still remembers an old friend like me."
The resentment in her voice thickened.
At the same time, a separate thought slipped into her mind.
Had this jerk gotten plastic surgery?
How had he suddenly become so…
Beautiful?
No, that felt irritating to admit.
Good-looking. Ridiculously good-looking.
His features looked as if they had been carved by a god with too much free time, and his skin was so fair and fine that even she, a girl, felt somewhat jealous.
Beside her, Shinomiya Kaguya hesitated over whether she should step in and mediate.
During conversations in the [Supernatural Exchange Group], she had already noticed that Isayama Yomi, whose group alias was [Bad Girl], seemed to harbor a great deal of dissatisfaction toward Gin Tsumugi. When Haruka Shizumiya had last asked about White Fox Gin Tsumugi, Kaguya had also learned that Yomi and Gin were childhood friends who had grown up together.
She just had not expected Yomi to explode the moment they met.
After a brief consideration, Shinomiya Kaguya chose to observe for now.
"How could that be, Yomi?" Gin scratched his head, looking slightly guilty. "Do I look like the kind of person who forgets old friends?"
In a certain sense, he really did.
"Who knows?" Yomi said. "For a guy who disappears without leaving a trace, forgetting people must be normal. Just like cheating."
Gin fell awkwardly silent.
This woman really was as petty as ever.
She was still holding a grudge over his departure without saying goodbye.
He had wanted to call her and explain several times before, but every time the call connected, she hung up without mercy. She had never given him a chance to speak.
He was helpless.
"Hmph."
Yomi snorted, her anger flaring again the more she looked at him.
If this were not Shinomiya Manor, if there were not so many outsiders present, and if she did not want to embarrass him too much in public, she would never let him off this easily.
Back then, several years ago, she had worked so hard to celebrate this heartless bastard's birthday.
She had learned to bake a cake by hand, failing again and again. She had even missed her usual sword practice, earning a harsh scolding from her father. Then, after spending months preparing that birthday cake, she had gone to find him with a full heart, only to be told that he had "moved."
Moved.
Just like that.
No message. No goodbye. No explanation.
The memory alone made her want to draw Shishio and give him a proper slash.
At that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya finally decided it was time for the host to speak.
She stepped forward and addressed the hall.
"Everyone, regarding Yamashiro Rito's rude behavior just now, the Shinomiya Conglomerate hereby announces that all business cooperation with the Yamashiro family will be terminated. From this moment onward, the Yamashiro family will also be blacklisted by the Shinomiya Conglomerate."
The hall stirred.
Everyone understood what that meant.
This time, it was not just Yamashiro Rito who was finished.
The Yamashiro family behind him was finished as well.
If the Yamashiro family were an Onmyoji family, the Shinomiya Conglomerate's unilateral decision to terminate business cooperation would not be enough to destroy them. No matter how wealthy the Shinomiya Conglomerate was, directly controlling the rise and fall of an Onmyoji family was not that simple.
Unfortunately, the Yamashiro family was not an Onmyoji family.
Even though Yamashiro Hayato, one of the former [Twelve Divine Generals], had emerged from their line, that did not change the foundation of the family itself. At most, Yamashiro Hayato had been a retainer connected to the Kurahashi family. The Yamashiro family had always existed primarily as a commercial house.
If Yamashiro Hayato were still alive, the Shinomiya Conglomerate might have been wary of his title and strength.
But he was dead.
And now, the Shinomiya family had gained favor with the rising star of Onmyodo, White Fox Gin Tsumugi.
From the moment Yamashiro Rito had stepped out to confront Gin, this result had already been decided.
The price of one impulsive outburst was brutal.
Not only had Yamashiro Rito lost his Onmyodo power, forever barred from stepping into the supernatural world again, but his family had also been dragged down with him.
He would likely spend the rest of his life in regret.
"Everyone," Shinomiya Kaguya continued, "tomorrow will be the day the Great Yokai attacks. I must entrust my safety to you all."
As the host, her speech was graceful and proper.
The Onmyoji in the hall responded with equal courtesy.
"Please rest assured, Miss Kaguya. Since we have accepted the commission, we will do everything we can."
"That's right."
"We will do our utmost to protect you."
"Please do not worry too much."
No one made exaggerated promises.
They were all self-aware. The enemy this time was likely a Great Yokai. No one dared to say something foolish like "leave everything to us" when White Fox Gin Tsumugi was standing right there.
Shinomiya Kaguya understood that as well.
The only person capable of truly resolving this supernatural incident was still Gin Tsumugi. Everyone else was present to prevent unexpected accidents and provide support.
Even so, she bowed elegantly to the assembled Onmyoji.
"Then I shall leave it to everyone."
Gin turned to Isayama Yomi, who had walked up beside him.
"Did your Supernatural Disaster Countermeasure Office accept Shinomiya Kaguya's commission too?"
"…Hmph."
Yomi still refused to give him a pleasant face, but she answered anyway.
"The Countermeasure Office doesn't have the spare capacity to handle this right now."
"That makes sense," Gin said. "Bunkyo Ward has been busy enough lately. The Countermeasure Office must have its hands full."
Before moving to Shibuya Ward, Gin and his father, Tsumugi Taketoshi, had lived in Bunkyo Ward.
Back then, because the official organization known as the Supernatural Disaster Countermeasure Office was based there, privately run groups like Supernatural Affairs Offices had little room to develop. That had been one reason Gin eventually moved operations to Shibuya Ward.
"In that regard, you aren't much better off," Yomi said, glancing at him.
"That's true," Gin admitted helplessly.
Yomi let out a soft sigh.
"The reason I'm here is because Kaguya is my friend. I'm only doing what little I can."
After all, the enemy tomorrow was a Great Yokai.
Even Yomi did not know whether she would be of any real help when the time came.
Everything would still depend on the bastard standing in front of her.
A National Level Onmyoji.
A rare genius of Onmyodo.
One of the Onmyo Agency [Twelve Divine Generals].
The man who had outlined the Onmyodo Framework [Myriad Laws], shocking the entire Onmyodo world.
In just a few short years since they had parted, this bastard had climbed to a height she could not reach no matter how hard she tried.
For a moment, Yomi's emotions became complicated.
"A friend, huh…"
Gin's eyes deepened slightly.
Based on his understanding of Isayama Yomi, there were not many people who could make her go this far.
At that moment, Shinomiya Kaguya finished speaking with the other Onmyoji and came over to them.
"I apologize, Mr. Gin. I saw you and Yomi speaking happily, so I did not come over to disturb you."
"Speaking happily?" Yomi's eyebrow twitched.
Kaguya smiled as if she had not noticed.
"I will be relying on you tomorrow, Mr. Gin."
"Miss Kaguya, you're too polite," Gin replied. "Since I accepted your payment, I will naturally do my best."
"Then I will entrust it to you."
Kaguya glanced at Yomi, then said with a smile, "By the way, Mr. Gin's room has already been prepared. It is right next to Yomi's. I will trouble Yomi to guide him there later."
"Hmph. I can't be bothered with him."
Yomi crossed her arms and turned her head away.
Seeing her little display of temper, Shinomiya Kaguya and Gin exchanged a brief look and smiled.
Then Gin's expression shifted slightly.
"Miss Kaguya," he said, "you should pay closer attention to the people around you."
Kaguya paused.
"Mr. Gin, what do you mean?"
Gin recounted what had happened after he arrived at Minato Station.
The three bodyguards who had blocked his path.
The elderly Onmyoji, Imai Takumi.
The request for him to refuse Shinomiya Kaguya's commission.
The promise of compensation and financial support for the Myriad Laws Supernatural Department.
He told her everything without concealment.
By the time Shinomiya Kaguya finished listening, her expression had darkened.
Imai Takumi.
She had naturally heard of that name.
He was an Onmyoji her eldest brother had spent a great deal of money to win over.
Kaguya had already expected that someone within the Shinomiya Conglomerate might move behind the scenes during this crisis. She had not expected the first person to jump out to be her eldest brother.
Brother, are you already this impatient to eliminate competitors and take over the Shinomiya Conglomerate?
Are you not afraid of this backfiring and being discovered by Father?
Shinomiya Kaguya frowned.
Something about this felt wrong.
The struggle between heirs had always been cruel and bloody, but every move was usually made with extreme caution. One misstep could lead to total defeat. Acting so openly did not resemble her eldest brother's usual style.
She could only set that question aside for now.
However, one thing was certain.
Since her eldest brother had already moved once, he would not stop here. Tomorrow, he would surely make another move.
She needed to be on guard.
"Thank you for the warning, Mr. Gin."
"It was only a small matter."
Gin's tone was indifferent.
After speaking with Shinomiya Kaguya for a few more minutes, he left the hall and headed toward the second-floor guest rooms.
Isayama Yomi led the way with obvious reluctance.
A banquet this lively was not particularly suitable for him.
At the back of the hall, Furukawa Oishi watched Gin's figure disappear up the stairs.
A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.
"Better wait for a more suitable opportunity," he murmured to himself.
.....
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