„I'm sorry, kid, we don't have any particular grudge against you, but you offended someone."
„Ogino Hikaru?"
In a narrow alley, a group of delinquents had surrounded Nakano Yu. The leader spoke with a smirk, but the baseball bat tightly gripped in his hands clearly showed his true intentions.
„Oh, you know enough."
Hearing that Nakano Yu knew Ogino Hikaru had hired them, the delinquent was slightly surprised, but quickly recovered and said:
„Since you know who hired us, don't come looking for us later. We're just doing a job for money."
As soon as he finished the sentence, the delinquent swung the bat, intending to hit Nakano Yu, but the moment he raised the bat above his head, his body suddenly froze.
Not just the leader of the delinquents, but everyone who had surrounded Nakano Yu stopped at that moment, as if time itself had been frozen.
Turning around, a young man stepped out of the alley, casually leaving one sentence behind:
„Since you did this of your own will, don't come looking for me later. Bad luck."
As his words fell, a series of dull „thud, thud" sounds echoed through the alley, and then blood began to flow, painting the passage red.
After doing that, Nakano Yu, as if crushing a few ants, took out his phone and sent a message to Ichika, telling them to go home first.
„Ogino Hikaru, huh? The people he hires are just like him."
Recalling the Ogino family data Honda Mori had researched, Nakano Yu murmured. After confirming Ogino Hikaru's house location, Nakano Yu wasted no time; he stopped the car and headed there immediately.
At that moment, Ogino Hikaru, wrapped in bandages, was kneeling before a middle-aged man.
It was obvious that the middle-aged man was Ogino Hikaru's father.
„Ogino, you didn't go causing trouble to that guy you provoked today, did you?"
The middle-aged man, while handling documents, glanced at his son kneeling on the floor and asked.
However, Ogino Hikaru remained silent. Not only would speaking at this moment cause unbearable pain, but given what Nakano Yu had done today, how could he even dare to release him just like that?
„Hmm, if you don't speak, I'll take that as a yes. Ogino, it's not that your father doesn't care about you, but the person you provoked, the Ogino family really cannot afford to touch him."
The middle-aged man said, placing the documents on the edge of the desk. He looked at Ogino Hikaru kneeling, with a trace of reluctance in his heart:
„Later, you'll come with me to the Nakano family to apologize in person. Maybe you can still save your life."
Hearing that, Ogino Hikaru was stunned. He knew about Nakano Yu, but he was just the youngest young master of the Nakano family. The Nakano family was merely a medical-technological conglomerate, so why would his father be so afraid?
As Ogino Hikaru pondered, the air gradually began to heat up, forcing him to uncomfortably pull at his collar.
Just as he wondered why it was so hot in the room even though the air conditioner was on, a familiar voice entered his ears:
„For victory, quickly come to my side. Oh, swift and wondrous steed, bring the halo of your master!"
Hearing the voice, Ogino Hikaru instinctively looked out the window, but what reflected in his eyes was a White Horse with a golden mane and golden hooves, pulling a massive fireball, charging straight at him.
„Father!…"
Seeing the fireball, Ogino Hikaru wanted to shout for his father's help, but in the next moment, the White Horse violently smashed through the window, and the fireball instantly exploded. The terrifying high temperatures went wild before Ogino Hikaru and the middle-aged man could react, turning them into charred remains.
„BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!!!"
Shocking explosions echoed through the Ogino family estate. A massive mushroom-shaped cloud, carrying the lives of hundreds, rose into the sky and pierced through the clouds.
In the distance, a young man stood atop a tall building, his demonic purple eyes quietly reflecting the hellish scene.
There's no need to say it—the young man was naturally Nakano Yu, and the White Horse carrying the sun was „White Horse," one of the Ten Incarnations of the God of War.
„I didn't expect the Ogino family to be a clan-organized enterprise? Well, even better. Everyone gathered in one place, which saves me trouble."
Nakano Yu said. According to the information collected by Honda Mori, the Ogino family was very united, and their background was not clean; they seemed involved in activities like human trafficking. That's why the entire Ogino family gathered in one place.
Why was that? Because they were afraid someone might be cowardly enough to betray them. Only by gathering everyone together and mutually watching each other could they be safest.
That was exactly what Nakano Yu wanted: one „White Horse" to destroy the entire clan. However, the scale of this „White Horse" was a bit too large. Fortunately, the Ogino family location was remote. Although it was impossible that no one else would get involved, what did it matter to Nakano Yu?
„The power of 'White Horse' seems stronger than 'Wolf of the Twilight of the Gods.' It's a wide-area attack, but against gods, it's still hard to say."
Muttering this, Nakano Yu turned to leave, but an old voice entered his ears:
„Oh, young man, that… was you, right?"
Hearing the voice, Nakano Yu paused and said in his direction:
„Weren't you watching the whole time?"
As Nakano Yu's words fell, the roof went silent, and then, under his gaze, the air began to distort, and an old man with a strangely shaped head appeared on the roof.
The old man wore a dark kimono. His appearance could not be called benevolent, but it had a hint of lechery. What was even more striking was the back of his head, which resembled a croissant.
Nakano Yu naturally recognized the old man: the lord of all monsters in Ukiyoe Town, Nurarihyon!
And the technique Nurarihyon had just used was Nurarihyon's innate ability — Mirror Flower, Water Moon, which had the power to distort perception and was an extremely powerful illusory yokai technique.
However, against Nakano Yu it was useless. After killing Amaterasu, Nakano Yu's perception ability had been significantly enhanced. Unless a being at the level of a god held its breath and completely hid, no one could approach him. Clearly, Nurarihyon had not yet reached that level.
„As I thought, I can't hide. Ah, I really have aged. Young man, you have a strong killing intent."
It seemed that what Nakano Yu discovered was within expectations, so Nurarihyon did not appear too surprised. He only sighed about old age. While speaking, his expression tensed as he looked at the young man, and his tone became serious.
„Only people who deserved to die, nothing more. Does this old man want to seek justice for them?"
Nakano Yu said indifferently, his aura spreading, his gaze becoming colder.
„Of course not. I am a demon. Moreover, they truly deserved death. My name is Nurarihyon, the first general of the Nura Group."
He waved his hand with a smile as he spoke. When he was young, wasn't he like Nakano Yu too? As a demon, Nurarihyon would not dare to claim he had never taken a human life.
Furthermore, having lived so long, Nurarihyon understood the inherent flaws of human nature very well.
„…Just call me Yu, old man. Do you need something from me? Nurarihyon doesn't come to city suburbs; you prefer the bustling parts of the city."
After hearing Nurarihyon's introduction, Nakano Yu looked at the old man, understood that Nurarihyon had something to discuss with him, and asked directly.
„No, I just heard from a girl from the Keikain family that there's a very powerful Onmyoji in Ukiyoe Town, but… even an Onmyoji wouldn't possess such power even after a lifetime."
Nurarihyon shook his head as he spoke, looking at the mushroom cloud lingering in the distance.
Such power, even the Nura Group at its peak, could not oppose her. Humanity had truly produced an incredible existence.
However, Nakano Yu had no intention of listening to Nurarihyon's nonsense. If the other side had no real business, he would leave.
„Hey! Wait! Are young people really so impatient these days?!"
Seeing Nakano Yu preparing to leave, Nurarihyon quickly shouted.
„Old man, is there anything else?"
Called once more, Nakano Yu turned, slightly impatient, and asked.
„Shikoku Youkai have recently poured into Ukiyoe Town in large numbers."
Nurarihyon no longer delayed, fearing Nakano Yu would really leave.
„And?"
Nakano Yu raised an eyebrow. He knew about the Shikoku Youkai intrusion into Ukiyoe Town. That was precisely why he planned to attempt the „Wing Contract" with Miura Yumiko in the coming days.
He had tried it earlier with Nino and discovered that an ordinary kiss was not enough to activate the „Wing Contract." Considering that Authority changes according to the subjective will of the God Slayer, probably using the „Wing Contract" required going a step further, but it wasn't convenient to do that at home with Nino. These days, Ichika acted as if possessed; whenever he and Nino started something, she followed them, which was strange.
As for Miura Yumiko, she wasn't feeling well, yes, those days that girls have, you know already. So for now, he had to give up.
And Katsura Kotonoha, because of Katsura Manami, perhaps due to being hurt before, even if she was engaged to Nakano Yu, still kept her distance, at least not breaking that metaphorical thin membrane.
For that reason, he had to give up for now.
„I hope you won't interfere in this matter, young man. At least, the last type should be left for Rikuo to deal with."
Nurarihyon's expression was serious, and his tone even carried a hint of pleading. If Yuki Onna and the other great demons had seen this, they probably would have been speechless and started doubting whether this old man was still the arrogant Nurarihyon from a few hundred years ago.
„The Nura Group is in decline, old man. You want the newly awakened Nura Rikuo to handle this matter and establish his authority within the Nura Group, but what do I get in return?"
Nakano Yu's tone was not friendly. Nurarihyon's meaning was clear: he hoped Nakano Yu would not interfere. But if those demons endangered people around him, how could Nakano Yu just stand by?
„Of course there's something. Regarding the people around you, the Nura Group can send demons to secretly protect them. Besides, I only hope you won't act against the main culprit behind this matter."
Nurarihyon nodded. He was perceptive himself and knew what Nakano Yu currently lacked. By coincidence, the Nura Group had many members and could not keep them idle. As for whom to send, Nurarihyon already had candidates in mind.
After all, with the spell cast, people wouldn't be able to see them. Overall, Nurarihyon considered Oikawa Yukari's daughter a good choice. Although still young, her strength was decent, enough to eliminate minor enemies.
Then there were the daughters of Karasu-Tengu and Keikain; it was time to hone them a bit as well.
Stroking his beard, Nurarihyon considered whether these offers would convince Nakano Yu. Still, Nakano Yu was looking down on the demons, but what the Nura Group could offer right now was protection for people around Nakano Yu.
However, Nurarihyon's proposal held little appeal to Nakano Yu.
„Consider this matter as a request from this old man!"
Just as Nakano Yu was about to refuse, Nurarihyon suddenly bowed deeply, kneeling before Nakano Yu in a dogeza position, with a sincere tone, completely devoid of the demeanor of a great demon general.
Seeing Nurarihyon behave this way, Nakano Yu pressed his lips together and ultimately did not reject him:
„Don't let the demons scare them."
With those words, Nakano Yu's figure vanished in an instant, leaving no trace.
Seeing this, Nurarihyon said nothing, just watched the moon high in the sky.
His true goal in this meeting with Nakano Yu was not to stop Nakano Yu from dealing with the Shikoku Youkai, but rather to meet this young man.
After all, compared to those minor demons from Shikoku, Nurarihyon was far more concerned about that guy in Kyoto.
„A hundred years… almost time."
With a sigh, Nurarihyon turned and left, his figure dissolving into a black mist.