Chapter 15.2

Chapter 15.2

"I can guess what Kizuki's servant would be in here at this period of time, considering the incident the other day, which the foxes have been roaming in the city recently, and the creature she picked up recently. However, do you think she would be fooled by a monster of that caliber?"

Well, she is, after all, a former head of the Onmyou dormitory. Can a beast who couldn't fight well against the exorcist defending the capital even when it was a calamity youkai beat her? It is nonsense that is not worth discussing if one thinks about it properly. But...

"Let's be clear. Azuma Hibari will be eaten. And all the people in that orphanage. If I told you that much, you're smart enough to understand the danger."

Some of that half-youkai are of precious youkai blood. If the foxes eat the former head of the Onmyou Dormitory, how much power will they gain? In the worst case, they may be reborn as more powerful youkai than they were before they were divided. If that happens, even the most powerful exorcist in the capital will not be able to fight.

"...It is true that she has been very lenient. The atmosphere in the dormitory has become much more relaxed since she became the head."

The old man opens his mouth as if remembering. According to the setting, when he and Azuma Hibari were in charge of the Onmyo Dormitory, the relationship between the members of the dormitory was quite good.

The Kizuki family is one such example, but many of the exorcists' families have a very difficult relationship internally. It is no wonder since this is a world where curses really exist and where there is a blatant difference in talent and bloodlines. Moreover, there are many set-up moves and instant death moves, not to mention the first move, so the tendency is even stronger. (That is why the power of sis (anego-sama) is quite a foul play.)

The same is true in the Onmyou dormitory, where there is a lot of back-stabbing over each other's achievements, and there are also many strong-willed people, and although it sounds good to say that there is a friendly competition, the atmosphere in the workplace is said to be quite bad. In this respect, Azuma Hibari, with her bitter experience as a half-Youkai, seniority, and broad-mindedness, played an active role as a mediator and lubricant in the dormitory and made great achievements in improving public morale and building cooperative and cooperative relationships within the dormitory.

...however, it is said that the atmosphere became bad again after she was expelled. The production staff points out that the reason they let the damned fox go is that the exorcists are not working well together, even though their abilities are of a disaster class.

"The monster should not be allowed to grow fat, nor Azuma Hibari, such a valuable force should be ignored. I don't want to ask too much. I just want to ask for a little help."

I bend my knees and bow reverently. As one who asks for the cooperation of elders.

(It would be best if I could get him to cooperate with me here...)

But...

"I can't just accept easily, can I?"

...I expected that it would not be so easy.

(Well, if this man has a doubt, it is the possibility that this is a trap set by the Imperial Court or a reward. Or maybe...)

"I mean, how much do you think I would trust the word of a man who has a monster by his side? Especially if the other party is a lying demon (oni)."

"...!!?"

I bite my tongue while hiding behind my cloak and turning my eyes to the side. Hey, hey, hey, of all places...!!

(No, in a way it's too much to be expected...!)

I went out to see if there was any hiding place, but... it seems that my eyes were not so sharp. I have to re-do my training, I think to myself as I look at the black youkai energy gathering in front of me.

"This is a little surprising. I had been very careful to hide myself from him since he had been so anxious about being followed. But I can't believe you found me so easily." The initial instance of this chapter being available happened at N0v3l.Bin.

The demon in the form of a begging monk had a rather troubled smile on her face. The old man looked at her and narrowed her eyes—

"—Hohoho, I didn't expect. To think that such a notorious blue demon (oni) is still alive. And in such a place of all places!"

The old man's face was filled with surprise, even though he had recognized her. He seemed to have recognized that she was a demon, but he could not recognize that she was Aoko-sama.

(This is not good...)

"He's my hero."

She said shortly. Then she continues.

"I can see it. I saw it at first sight. He's going to be great. No, he could be. Great enough to take me down, great enough to kill me. I mean, you know? He's never failed me before."

And then, the creature in the shape of a beautiful woman twists her mouth. It is much wider than humanly possible, and her gentle lips reveal a pair of sharp, ghastly fangs.

"I want to see the heroic tale completed. That's why you have to help him, okay? Oh, but I also think it would be fun for the two of us to frolic around together like we used to. Well, that depends on his mood. I shouldn't be the one to decide."

From the beginning, the demon was just talking about herself rather than answering the questions. It was a very self-centered and selfish way of talking.

"I see..."

And the old man agreed with his answer without hesitation. He knew that this was the kind of reply he would expect from the demon. Nevertheless, he had learned a lot from it.

(He was charmed by the demon, huh? What a pity.)

The old man looked at the man lying down with sympathy as if he had never seen him before. To be favored by a demon was, in a way, far more unfortunate than to be eaten by a demon.

"Oh, that's right. Here you go."

A grotesque sound echoes through the room. Then the demon threw something at the old man. A monster cat catches it in its mouth and brings it to its master.

"This is..."

"This is the payment for the job and proof that he is not my pawn, okay? He's usually working so hard, spitting up blood. This time it looks like I'm the one who made things complicated, so here's the payment. I'm a part of a demon who lives for a thousand years, so I'm sure it's worth something, right?"

The demon threw a finger at him. Perhaps the little finger of her left hand, itself a part of a creature that has lived for a thousand years. Its value as a material for experiments and rituals must be considerable. No, a more arrogant, haughty, and self-respecting demon would not offer up her pinky finger to a mere mortal...

"...to do this for a mere mortal... I can't believe you're that treacherous demon."

"I don't like the sound of that. If I'm not treacherous and cruel and infamous, no one will pay attention to me when I'm defeated in the public eye. Can I ask you to keep this to yourself?"

Like a mischievous town girl, she holds up her index finger to her mouth and declares.

"Well, that's all I ask. I can't make any more compromises for the sake of pride. You can talk about the details with him. I'm a minor player this time anyway."

The demon closed one eye and said so carelessly, and then she lost interest in the old man. After that, she begins to gently pat the head of the person lying beside her. The old man does not blame her for her rudeness, nor does he feel any discomfort. He understood that this was the maximum concession for a demon to make to a human being.

"...Apparently, it doesn't seem that way."

The old man muttered as he looked at the demon's state of complete indulgence. And then he understood. He understood the twisted values of the demon, its foolish scheme, and the desperate situation of the man lying there.

"...hmm, I guess this can't be helped, can it?"

And the old man rubbed his beard and made up his mind. He decided to cooperate with this man. He had no choice. And that he must train this man. Because he understood that this was one of the few chances he had to kill the crazy, love-struck monster in front of him.

...And, conversely, to prevent the man from going astray and becoming a demon through temptation and lies, so that he could always kill the newborn demon before it was unleashed upon the world.

Yes, even if that is exactly what the cunning demon in front of him intends. Just as long as it serves the purpose of both...