Book 7 Epilogue, (4)

Book 7 Epilogue, (4)

[Part 4/10]

"Isn't it late already? Are you going to eat with us?

In the garden, the young members of the orphanage's had surrounded the Sixth Seat of Taima Nana-shi, causing her to look bewildered. The older children were trying to separate them, but the curious little ones bombarded the young exorcist with questions, pulling at her clothes and tugging her in different directions. N0v3lRealm was the platform where this chapter was initially revealed on N0v3l.B1n.

The six seats couldn't simply push them away, nor could she leave her post. So, she was at a loss for what to do now.

"Hey! You lot!! Show some manners to our guest!"

"""Kyaa!"""

As Azuma scolded the disrespectful behavior of the children, they scattered in all directions as if they were spiders running away. It seemed as if their persistence from earlier was nothing but a lie. Witnessing this scene, The sixth seats was left dumbfounded, unable to keep up with the changing situation.

"Um, um...?"

"Sixth Seat, I'm giving you another order. We're done here. Prepare to return and head to the stables."

"Y-yes, sir!"

In a state of confusion, the Sixth Seat looked around, but upon understanding her superior's instructions, she hastily responded and headed towards the stables. The two horses they had ridden on the way to the orphanage had been left there.

"...I can't help but worry."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Azuma sighed, and the Head of the Omnyouji Bureau apologized. His apology was filled with deep remorse...

...

...

...

"Well, I guess this is it. Once again, take care on your journey."

Having finished their preparations, the Head of the Omnyouji Bureau mounted his horse at the orphanage's gate and bid his final farewell to Azuma.

"Yes, please take care on your way."

Azuma bowed in return, and as the Head of the Omnyouji Bureau and the accompanying exorcists from the Tsukimi family rode off, Azuma watched their retreating figures for a moment.

* * *

The old man calmly held one of the scattered forbidden books in his hand and casually addressed the demon. In response, the fallen deity, with a wail, shouted at the old man. It demanded to be released. It had been summoned to lend its power, but instead, it received this treatment. Even the most wicked demon would want to protest.

"Hohohoho!"

'Gyaaaaaaah!!? Why?! You old b*starddddd'

Ignoring the demon's angry voice, the old man sprinkled salt and sake, purifying substances, on the demon bound by restraints. Steam rose as if flesh were being seared, and the wail grew louder. In fact, the Genbu behind him diligently carried a bucket filled with salt and sake back and forth, as if responding to the old man's gestures. Relentlessly, the old man poured different substances on the demon, causing the room to fill with agonized screams.

'Gaaaah! Stoppp! Stop ittt!'

From the demon's point of view, it was unreasonable. Countless humans had attempted to summon it before, sometimes seeking to borrow its power, other times aiming to annihilate it completely. There were those who wanted to worship it as an evil god or accidentally summoned it. In each case, the demon would either kill or degrade the summoner, bestow wisdom upon them, or tempt them to break free from the seal. However, never before had it encountered such an unjust situation by being summoned out of the blue!

'Y-you insolent monkey-like creature! You shall suffer punishment for mocking me... Gyaah?!'

As the demon spewed scorching flames from its mouth to incinerate the rude intruder, it was immediately struck by a perfectly timed jaw punch from the bear youkai. The fireball it had attempted to release exploded within its own mouth.

"Well done, well done. Can't have any sparks flying in this library. I'll reward you with some dried meat later."

'Grrrr!'

The bear's eyes gleamed, saliva dripping from its mouth. Its thoughts were those of a simple-minded beast. Where had the pride of this great youkai, once ruling over mountains and spirital vein, gone?

"Now then... cease your attempts at illusionary magic. This is my stronghold, and tricks won't work so easily, you know?"

'Gyaa?!'

The demon, having somehow transformed and escaped from the talismans and chains, was swiftly ensnared from all directions by the carnivorous vines that sprouted from seeds scattered throughout the library. These were the specially-bred flesh-eating vines created by the old man, which extracted the spiritual and youkai energy from their prey, ultimately dissolving them into a corrosive liquid.

The demon was intentionally weakened, summoned only in 'part,' through careful modifications to the ritual. It couldn't escape the talismans, chains, sake, salt, the jaw punch from Genbu, and now this.

'Gah... I-I'm losing my power?!'

"Hmm, that seems about right."

Observing the demon's convulsing body and wide-eyed expression, the old man assessed the situation, ready to proceed. He double-checked his senses to ensure he hadn't been subjected to any illusions or brainwashing. Then, he commanded his modified youkai subordinates to proceed with their task.

They were to collect the demon's bodily fluids.

"Good, that will do. Well then, illustrious Demon Lord who governs one of the fearsome Seven Deadly Sins, you have completed your task. It's time for you to depart, so you may return home!"

With a firm snap of the forbidden book, as if setting off an explosive, the lime on the floor where the summoning circle had been drawn dispersed in a gust of wind from all directions. Simultaneously, the demon, now in a half-dead, half-alive state after losing its connection to the contract that embodied it in the mortal world, vanished like a mist.