Chapter v9-epilogue-1

Chapter v9-epilogue-1

[Part 1/4]

The room filled with light for a moment. Then, the light vanished, and the dark curtain disappeared.

"What...!?"

Shirowakamaru was shocked but ready to react. The reason was simple: the divine dog had risen. Shimenawa ropes and talismans binding it decayed. A monster was now free. Failure was obvious.

"Miss Tamaki, get out of there quick!"

Purple also yelled, her youkai blade ready, trying to protect Tamaki. But Tamaki didn't budge.

"It's fine, I'm... okay."

"Miss Tamaki...?"

Confused by the response, they realized it wasn't meant for them. Tamaki touched the dog's nose and gently stroked it.

'Grrr...'

The growl came, but the divine dog didn't attack Tamaki. It just gazed sleepily at her.

"So... maybe it's time to sleep?"

Tamaki murmured. After a moment, the gigantic dog collapsed. Its eyes closed slowly. Tamaki leaned in.

"Good night."

Tamaki's words were followed by a deep exhale. And that was that.

Everyone sensed the massive presence disappearing. Purple and Shirowakamaru grew wary, fearing a curse.

"It's okay, there's no curse. ...No intention to curse."

Tamaki muttered. Purple and Shirowakamaru were puzzled by the meaning. But before they could react, a new person entered.

With a step, Onitsuki's Advisor came in. "Sorry for the delay. Shirowakamaru-san, the deity to be destroyed... what's happening?"

The enchanting woman looked around, puzzled, as she asked her disciple. The disciple struggled to respond.

"The fallen divine dog has been defeated," said Tamaki.

"...Miss Tamaki?"

"Don't worry about curses. They're all... gone."

She probably did not expect Tamaki to talk. Tamaki's unexpected words left them stunned. Tamaki continued, undeterred.

"You might have already guessed, but Tamamo-hime and Suzune are safe. I'll handle Suzune's questioning. Is that okay?"

"Miss Tamaki, is there really no curse...?"

"Will you keep your promise?"

Kochou could only nod under Tamaki's pressure. Tamaki sighed in relief. "That's good," she murmurs. It had been her main concern.

Now, silence filled the room...

"Should I finish this?"

"Huh? Oh!!?"

"No, stop... nngh!!?"

Before she could protest, Tamaki's mouth was sealed with sealing talismans. Her limbs too. In an instant, her freedom was restricted. Shirowakamaru, the executor, clicked her tongue and scorned Tamaki, who was trying to make things complicated. Leaving Tamaki behind, the conversation continued.

"Well, well... Oh, right. How about this as well?"

The response of the Black Butterfly Lady evoked a surprised shock. And as if it were an extra, she even showed the prayer beads wound around her hand. Tamaki widened her eyes. She frantically searched her pockets, realizing they were missing. She tried to voice her complaint, but couldn't. She couldn't say anything.

"Stop."

"Ugh... ugh!?"

Thinking she could at least approach directly, Tamaki took a step forward, only to be silenced by Shirowakamaru's word technique. Her feet tangled, and she fell. She couldn't even get back up.

"Uh... well. Right. Shall I handle it? I'll explain from here."

With a momentary sympathetic look at Tamaki, Kochou accepted. In truth, Kochou didn't want to leave the prayer beads in Tamaki's possession any longer.

"No, please don't worry. Actually, it's quite a welcome tale."

With a smile and a laugh, Shinobu spoke.

"On behalf of the Miyatori clan, thank you. I'll be sure to relay your gratitude to my leader."

And with a bow, Shinobu headed towards Kochou. More precisely, she headed towards the door behind which Kochou had entered. She was about to leave. Kochou also smiled politely and saw her off. Just before leaving, Shinobu paused next to Kochou. And she asked.

"Oh, by the way. This matter, it's us who have inconvenienced you. Especially your household maid, involving her has left me feeling sorry... If it's alright, could I entertain her at a later date?"

Advisor had a puzzled expression at the ambiguous request. Smiling eerily at her, Shinobu left the room...

...

...

...

"...Hey? Since no one's here, can you come out already? Or are succubi surprisingly shy, unlike what the rumors say?"

'...When did you realize?'

Walking down the empty corridor, Shinobu stopped and called out, to which a response came after a moment. Before her, there was the form of a hummingbird that had somehow appeared at her feet. The female curse caster squinted her eyes with an even bigger smile than before at the hummingbird.

"From the beginning... would you have been angry if I did?"

'Although I thought I was being cautious with stealth... if it's the truth, then I was inexperienced'

To the teasing response, the hummingbird let out a calm sigh. Shinobu seemed slightly surprised by the reaction and widened her eyes.

"Oh dear, you're so honest. You used to be quite tsundere when you were at the academy."

That was her sincere sentiment. The granddaughter of the Matsuhige clan. An excessively proud girl who let her talent get to her head. It was truly surprising how easily a young girl who seemed to actively make enemies around her would brush off such an obvious provocation.

'What are you talking about... People change over time, don't they?'

"Well, yeah. Nowadays, we're not even human anymore, are we?"

While it was true, even the Hummingbird felt indignant at that remark. She glared at Shinobu with narrowed eyes. Well, she endured it to a point.

"Hehehe, don't give me that scary look. I'm just teasing. ...As a thank you, shall I introduce you to someone? I know a few guys with good-quality spiritual power. You see, our situations are quite similar, aren't they?"

Miyatori Shinobu and Matsushige Botan. In a way, their current situations were similar.