Lancer didn't realize the impact of his actions, nor the ripples caused when he negotiated with the Onmyoryo to protect Youkai with no criminal record.
First, they performed another full-body check on him. Only after confirming he was 100% human did the discussion continue. Eventually, the request was granted. As Lancer guessed, the Onmyoryo's goal was 'protecting humans from Youkai.' They weren't extremists trying to wipe out every Youkai—after all, their shikigami were Youkai.
The only issue was that Lancer was essentially building his own private faction.
Usually, this wouldn't matter. The Onmyoryo was the strongest human organization in Japan, but there were many powerful exorcist families, temples, and shrines they couldn't control.
If Lancer subordinates weren't Youkai, there'd be no problem. If they were his shikigami, no problem. Even if Lancer could guarantee constant control over them, it might be fine. But none of those were the case, which was tricky...
Lancer proposed a compromise: the Youkai who signed the 'contract' would register with the local Onmyoryo and be monitored to an extent. As long as their lives weren't disrupted, it was fine. But Lancer didn't intend to leave their safety entirely to the Onmyoryo. Even if the current or next leader could be trusted, what about the one after that?
Lancer stated clearly that he would also ask his Oni friends to help look after them. The Onmyoryo leader nodded with a complex expression.
Lancer words meant he didn't trust them, but being "a villain before a gentleman" saved a lot of trouble later.
The matter was settled for now.
Lancer, the Onmyoryo leader, and an envoy sent by the Oni signed an agreement that wasn't legally binding but clarified many things.
Before leaving, the Oni envoy reminded Lancer of something.
"Lord Akagaki, Lady Hoshiguma asks when you will have time to return and spar with her?"
Lancer mouth twitched, but he said he would visit when he had time.
The reminder made Lancer realize his injuries from the fight with Ibuki Suika were nearly healed. It was time to head to Youkai Mountain.
The so-called 'Youkai Mountain' was actually an unnamed mountain deep in the range. It became 'Youkai Mountain' after the Tengu settled there and other Youkai moved in.
The 'Tengu' race has many branches. The White Wolf Tengu are responsible for patrolling the perimeter, while the Crow Tengu handle communication between regions. Today, a squad of White Wolf Tengu found a strange person.
The person wore armor and a red scarf, with their head hidden under a bamboo hat. It looked incredibly odd.
Generally, if an ordinary person accidentally entered Youkai Mountain territory and was lucky enough not to be attacked before being found by White Wolf Tengu, they would be guided out safely.
This man was strange, but they didn't break protocol. The strongest among them scouted ahead to lead him away according to the 'old rules.'
"Awoooo~~!"
It wasn't deep night yet, but a sudden wolf howl in the deserted mountains would chill most hearts. They used this to scare away travelers and guide them out. They were experts at this routine. To his surprise, right after he howled, the man in the bamboo hat suddenly glanced at him.
Despite being over 20 meters apart in a forest, he was certain the man had found him.
The sharp gaze from under the hat made him instinctively step back.
Realizing something was wrong, he reached for the horn at his waist to alert his comrades, but his eyes widened. The man in the hat had vanished.
'Not good!'
As a captain of the White Wolf Tengu guard, he was experienced. His first reaction was to draw his sword, but he only heard the sound of wind before a hand pressed down on his wrist. A voice spoke in his ear.
"From your look, you must be from 'Youkai Mountain,' right? Can you show me the way?"
He was shocked that his wrist was pinned so easily, but the man's words filled him with alarm and anger.
"Never! As a member of the guard, I will never betray my mountain even if I die!"
He delivered a backward kick toward Lancer vitals, but before it connected, he was pinned to the ground.
Looking at the White Wolf Tengu struggling ferociously beneath him, Lancer expression became subtle.
I haven't even attacked yet; why is the resistance so fierce?
He had to use his other identity.
"Calm down, I am 'Akagaki'..."
Lancer thought that by revealing he was 'Akagaki,' the other party would see them both as 'Youkai' and listen to his explanation.
To his surprise————
"Akagaki? You bastards!!"
The Tengu froze for a second, then his resistance became even more violent. Lancer wondered if he had accidentally killed a friend of this guy. But then he remembered the Tengu said "You bastards," implying it wasn't just his problem.
He seemed to have "cleverly" made things more complicated.
Meanwhile, the Oni envoy who had signed the 'treaty' on Lancer behalf returned to Onigashima and reported to Hoshiguma Yuugi. Their 'Oni King' was very excited; he didn't want to give her an excuse to beat him for a late report.
When he mentioned Lancer was going to 'Youkai Mountain,' Hoshiguma Yuugi's expression became extremely subtle. This involved a 'historical issue.'
The relationship between Oni and Tengu had always been poor. The exact reason was lost to time, but it was known they had once fought a fierce battle. The Oni won, and some even claimed 'Oni were once the masters of Tengu.' The Tengu denied this vehemently, and the Oni no longer had records of it. All that remained was the Tengu's deep hatred for the Oni.
'But Lancer shouldn't call himself an "Oni," right? It should be fine...'
With that thought, Hoshiguma Yuugi took another sip of sake and tossed the matter to the back of her mind.
'I should go ask Suika for some more wine later...'