[Part 3/4]
Azuma's relentless pursuit of the truth makes feel like I'm on trial. Lying...is becoming increasingly difficult.
"...Because of the youkai transformation, I was in an excited state, which is why..."
I can't co up with a clever excuse, so I give up and confess. The silence that fills the room is oppressive.
"..."
It's like waiting for the verdict in a death sentence. Silent, still...and it's the Omnyouji Bureau head who breaks the silence.
"Azuma-dono, do you really intend to entrust this mission to soone like this? Not to the personnel I prepared?"
The Omnyouji Bureau head's question, directed at the forr head, is vastly different from what I had expected.
"Are you dissatisfied?"
"Isn't there a possibility of going berserk? Isn't there a chance of sothing big happening?"
"Bureau Head, I understand how you feel. I think it's impolite, but I can't trust my current organization."
The current and forr Bureau Heads started talking seriously, leaving out.
"It's fine to choose soone you can trust absolutely, but..."
"But soone like that should be given more important tasks. It's not right to use them for personal reasons like this."
"But..."
"Don't worry. Trust my judgnt. ...Ah, sorry. I've been keeping you waiting for too long, and it's impolite."
"Puhaa!?"
Azuma Hibari, who was talking to Gensei, noticed our confused gazes and apologized while waving his hand. At the sa ti, Shiro, whose mouth zipper was unzipped, let out a big sigh.
"A-Azuma-san! No, no, no! Tomobe-san is...!!?"
"I know, I know. If you have a complaint, you should've said it earlier. It's not like I'm blaming you. ...You're also at fault for being too scared, aren't you?"
Azuma cald down the desperate Shiro, who was trying to explain, and apologized to her. The pressure that had been building up dissipated, and it was as if a Tanuki had transford into a different creature.
"What's going on..."
"First, let's take away your anxiety, shall I?"
The head of the Omnyouji Bureau opened his mouth at my question, taking control of the situation.
"Bureau Head...?"
"I've heard about your circumstances to so extent. And I'll clearly state that, at this stage, I'm not considering eliminating you."
A sharp, piercing gaze shot out from the gap in his attire, directly addressing and my situation.
"According to Azuma's explanation, it seems you've been infected with so kind of youkai factor? You're also afraid of being exposed, right? I've also looked into your past records. Indeed, there's a threat. There's danger. Should we punish you, 'It's not funny to be treated as a research subject or a disposable pawn'."
"Th...!!"
I trembled at the explicit ntion of the possibility I had feared. This was the Omnyouji Bureau's headquarters, and I couldn't escape even if I tried. My chances of success were 0, and what awaited was either good fortune or a living hell.
"It's a fact that we can utilize you simultaneously. And currently, we don't have the luxury to waste our precious battle power. So, we have no choice but to put your punishnt on hold."
"On hold? Luxury...?"
"It's not an official punishnt. It's an unofficial, behind-the-scenes deal. ..plete freedom is impossible, but it's better than being dissected alive, don't you think?"
I tilted my head at Gensei's words, and Azuma explained further, trying to reassure .
"One of the conditions for to work with the Omnyouji Bureau is that if one goes berserk, they'll be eliminated without rcy. That's the fate of half-youkai like us. It's sothing we have to accept."
Azuma's words were like a warning, and I imdiately sensed the underlying aning.
(Is this a threat, a warning...?)
If I use my powers, my body and mind will be consud by the monster. Even if it's just a temporary asure, I shouldn't use it recklessly...I think she's pointing that out again. She's also judging based on my past experiences.
Well, I don't want to take unnecessary risks either...
"...I see. However, Azuma-dono is working with the Omnyouji Bureau, and what about battle power...?"
"There's no need to explain the details to soone like you, who's at the bottom of the organization, but...since Azuma-dono trusts you, it's better if you understand the situation to so extent. So, take a seat."
The head of the Omnyouji Bureau looked at and Azuma, then invited everyone to sit down.
"Ah!?"
"Shiro, you're with ."
As I sat down, Azuma pulled Shiro, who was wondering where to go and was about to go next to , and made her sit next to her. A mysterious doll suddenly appeared and handed out cups and tea to everyone...
"Let explain again. ...The request itself has been around for a while. Although it's unofficial, I've been serving as a noble."
"Do you think you can understand the reason if you think about your past experiences?"
"Past experiences, huh...it seems like there have been more youkai-related incidents recently."
I pretended to be ignorant and pointed out the head of the Omnyouji Bureau's words.
"Yes, you must know about the commotion caused by the youkai fox that attacked the capital a few years ago. It's exactly what happened when you, Onitsuki-kun, were at Joraku's place last ti."
Gensei naturally shifted his gaze to the white fox. The fox, trembling, was tightly hugged by Tanuki, who glared at him with a stern expression. Gensei let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging. "What a troubleso person..." he muttered, continuing his explanation.
"...Now that I think about it, that was probably the starting point. Since then, cases involving youkai have been increasing gradually. Not to ntion civilian casualties, exorcists have also been suffering losses. The activities of powerful youkai have beco more frequent. Great youkai, calamity youkai, and the like aren't just a few reckless ones."
The existence of calamity youkai has been confird, but it's unusual for them to actively appear on the main stage. High-ranking monsters are clever. They might eat people or destroy villages, but they rarely appear on the main stage. The imperial court and the Omnyouji Bureau aren't foolish enough to ignore them. They would dispatch their forces to eliminate such monsters. The recent Kappa and Tsuchigumo incidents are representative examples.
"Five hundred years ago, monsters ford an alliance and wreaked havoc. Even if it wasn't on the sa scale, there have been similar cases recorded in the past. There's no guarantee that it won't happen again in the present."
The old Tanuki woman, who knew the truth of that ti, nodded in agreent.
"Furthermore, considering the circumstances so far... it's an unpleasant fact that even within the imperial court, there are those who cannot be trusted. It might be betrayal or brainwashing. Whatever the case, we can't fully trust even our own people. There are only a few whom we can absolutely trust."
Gensei spoke with a reluctant tone. Combining this conversation with the previous one, the outline of the story was gradually becoming clear...
"Can you trust ?"
"I don't think you're connected to those suspicious people based on your background. You have Azuma-dono's recomndation, too. Although there's sothing suspicious beneath the surface... we're similar in that regard, so I'll consider it, but it's not an absolute reason to exclude you."
The new and old Omnyouji Bureau heads are long-lived beings that have existed since the era of great chaos, and they also have half of the Mōryō's factor buried within them. That's why they can tolerate my existence to a certain extent. To a certain extent, that is...
...Personally, I think Azuma Hibari hasn't clearly stated what kind of factor is within to Gensei. If he knew about the factor from Youbo (yokai mother) as well, the Omnyouji Bureau heads wouldn't be this lenient. Exactly, just like Tanuki.
"...I'm overwheld by you excessive evaluation."
"Can't be trusted, huh? But it's only natural, isn't it?"
Azuma imdiately catches the aning behind my response. Both of us understand the distrust and wariness in each other's eyes. Then, the current Omnyouji Bureau head starts speaking.
"In reality, it wasn't just Azuma who recomnded you. We also received an unofficial endorsent from Tokugara Middle Counselor (Chuunagon). We, as the Omnyouji Bureau, owe a great debt to him, and we can't ignore his influence."
"Middle Counselor...?"
The na that ca up was that of the representative of the envoy group from the previous day's Tengu incident. For , it was an even more significant acquaintance. I rembered the incident with the river fish, at least up until that point. Did sothing happen after that? Or is this also an extension of the conspiracy...?
"I understand how you feel. I've heard the story. You had a fish from your hotown, didn't you? It's really troubling. He's getting older now, but I wish he'd at least learn to control his mischief..."
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