Jun lowered his shoulders slightly, then cleared his throat softly not out of nervousness, but as a deliberate gesture to draw attention.
"Ahem," he said, his voice calm yet clear enough to cut through the mist. "I know you're angry. Outsiders like us came into your territory, released our aura carelessly, and caused trouble. That's understandable."
He paused for a moment, giving space between his words.
"We do not deny that mistake."
Rina glanced to the side, slightly surprised. Jun rarely ever opened a conversation with such a humble tone.
"But believe me," Jun continued, "we didn't come here to challenge you or seize your territory. We are looking for someone who has gone missing. A child. And the people who kidnapped him… are the same group that has recently been causing problems in your lands as well."
The mist rippled.
There was no follow-up attack. No shouting. No aggressive movement.
Only… silence.
A strange, suffocating silence — as if the entire spirit realm was holding its breath.
Rina could feel it — dozens, perhaps hundreds of presences locking onto them from every direction. Invisible gazes weighed every word Jun spoke, dissecting his intentions one by one.
Then—
"Hah?"
The voice was not loud, but it was clear. Filled with disbelief.
"A child…?"
"Humans… looking for a child in our territory?"
"Those people…?"
Whispers began to spread through the mist, overlapping one another. Their tone was no longer purely angry — but confused, even slightly uneasy.
The Kappa on the rooftop stiffened, the water inside his head dish rippling violently.
"You said… those people?" he barked. "You mean the Hero Faction!?"
Jun raised a brow slightly. "So you're aware of them too."
It was like pouring oil onto a flame.
The mist churned even stronger, and several silhouettes stepped forward, their forms now slightly clearer — Youkai with horns, tails, small wings, and dim glowing eyes. They did not attack, but they were far from relaxed.
"Those people have crossed the line!"
"They abduct gifted humans and vanish!"
"They infiltrate without permission!"
The anger that had previously been directed toward Jun and Rina now shifted — elsewhere.
Jun narrowed his eyes.
"So it's true," he muttered. "They've already begun moving in Kanto."
Rina tightened her grip on her sword. "Then Zekka…"
Jun nodded slightly without looking back.
In the middle of the chaotic murmurs, a single heavy step echoed.
Tap.
The mist in front of them parted slowly, like a curtain being drawn by invisible hands. The pressure in the air changed heavier, older, yet somehow… relaxed.
An elderly man emerged from within the fog.
His hair was ash-white, neatly combed, and he wore a simple kimono with faded cloud patterns. His body looked frail, almost like an ordinary human — but his presence made every Youkai around him bow their heads.
Even the Kappa on the rooftop swallowed hard and lowered his gaze.
"Nuar… Nurarihyon-sama…"
Nurarihyon let out a small yawn, covering his mouth with his kimono sleeve.
"So noisy," he said lazily. "I was in the middle of drinking tea, you know."
But when his eyes opened and met Jun's—
That gaze was sharp. Ancient. Full of judgment.
"Human," he continued. "You came here in a very disrespectful manner… yet you speak a troublesome name."
He glanced briefly at Rina, then back to Jun.
"The Hero Faction," he murmured. "And a kidnapped child…"
Nurarihyon smiled faintly — a smile that was anything but friendly.
"You understand," he said softly, his voice flowing like smoke, "that if what you say is true… then you are not the only one who has business with them."
Jun did not avert his eyes.
"I know," he replied calmly. "What we did here violates the old agreements. The unwritten rules between humans, Youkai, and other factions. But that kidnapped child Zekka will be in great danger if the Hero Faction manages to control him."
"Hm?" Nurarihyon's brow lifted slightly.
The mist around the shrine grounds stirred subtly. Several Youkai who heard that displayed displeased expressions — not toward Jun, but toward the name he mentioned.
Then Jun added, with a tone that was relaxed yet sharp:
"And you can drop the disguise. I know what your real appearance looks like, old man."
For a moment—
Time seemed to stop.
The Youkai widened their eyes. Some immediately turned toward Nurarihyon, as if unable to believe that a human would dare — and be capable — of saying that so openly.
Nurarihyon himself fell silent.
Then—
"Hahaha…"
His laughter broke out — light, yet carrying a resonance that made the air tremble.
"It is rare," he said while shaking his head slowly, "to meet someone who immediately notices that I am wearing a disguise."
Thick mist swirled around his body, wrapping him like a curtain. His form shifted — slowly, but clearly. The aura that had been faint before now pressed down — ancient, weighty, and dignified.
When the mist faded, his true figure was revealed.
An elderly man in a simple traditional kimono, his body slightly hunched — but the most striking feature was his head.
Shaped like a gourd.
Its surface rough, with fine cracks like aged wood, and a wide grin carved permanently upon it — iconic, absurd, and at the same time terrifying.
Nurarihyon. Leader of the Eastern Youkai.
"You could call it… talent," Jun said briefly.
"Talent, huh?" Nurarihyon repeated, narrowing his eyes.
He stepped closer, his movement light despite the heaviness of his presence. His gaze traced Jun from his feet up to his face — unhurried, as if reading a long manuscript.
"Hm…" he murmured. "A human body structure. But the flow of your energy… it isn't pure Qi. Nor magic. Darker. Denser."
His gaze stopped at Jun's chest, then rose to meet his eyes.
"Is that also part of your talent?" he asked softly. "Turning Qi into something resembling demonic energy?"
Jun gave a slight shrug. "More or less."
Rina, standing beside him, held her breath. She could feel how dangerous the being before them was — yet oddly, there was no killing intent. Only deep curiosity.
Nurarihyon smiled again, a little wider this time.
"Interesting," he said. "Very interesting."
He clapped his hands once.
"Well then, speaking here is rather uncomfortable," he continued casually. "Too many ears. Too many mouths."
He turned away, walking as if certain they would follow.
"Let us talk somewhere more appropriate."
The mist around the shrine grounds finally faded away completely. The spirit world opened wide before them.
Jun glanced briefly at Rina. "Ready?"
Rina nodded, even though her heart was pounding.
They followed Nurarihyon along a winding stone path, and the scenery before them slowly changed.
A vast district unfolded traditional Japanese houses lined up like ancient villas, their tiled roofs shimmering faintly under a light source that came from nowhere. Paper lanterns floated gently, illuminating the streets with a warm glow.
And most striking of all—
Youkai.
Various types of Youkai moved about freely. Some resembled humans, others had strange forms — small, large, fanged, tailed, winged. They talked, laughed, argued, drank, and lived — like a city completely separate from the human world.
Rina fell silent, her eyes widening.
"…This…" She was awestruck by what she saw.
They stopped in front of a large traditional house simple in design, yet clearly belonging to someone influential.
Nurarihyon turned back to Jun.
"Now," he said, his voice relaxed yet dangerous, "Who are you and why are you in my territory?" He asked directly.
//---//
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