Multi-Anime, Kira Yoshikage Yearns for a Peaceful Life

All students of Pure Academy are participants, even if they themselves are unaware of it.

And Koyasu Tsubame, who 'accidentally' fell into the water, was perhaps the chosen 'sacrifice'.

As for Shinomiya Kaguya and Kashiwagi Nagisa jumping in to rescue her, that was most likely a genuine accident.

Although Shinomiya Kōkō has never hidden his disgust for Shinomiya Kaguya, he wouldn't go so far as to commit the heinous act of killing his own biological sister. This isn't because Shinomiya Kōkō harbors any so-called 'familial affection' for Shinomiya Kaguya; it's simply because Shinomiya Gan'an would not tolerate such behavior from him.

But once Shinomiya Gan'an passes away, Shinomiya Unkō believes that Shinomiya Kōkō would not hesitate to kill any heir who might threaten him, including his own full-blooded younger brother, Shinomiya Seiryū!

Regardless.

Shinomiya Kaguya didn't die, and Koyasu Tsubame was rescued.

The sacrificial ritual was disrupted, and even the Deity enshrined by the Shinomiya Family was slain.

And Shinomiya Kōkō, who caused all of this, naturally had to bear full responsibility.

That's why he was forced to resign as chairman and, for the first time, even compensated Shinomiya Kaguya with a portion of the family enterprises!

All of this was punishment for Shinomiya Kōkō!

Shinomiya Unkō almost instantly connected all these events; the puzzles that had baffled him before now had answers!

Shinomiya Unkō took a deep breath, trying not to reveal his true thoughts:

"Why seek cooperation with me?"

"Because it's convenient."

A line of text quickly appeared on the notebook.

"Convenient?"

Shinomiya Unkō found it somewhat absurd. He had assumed the other party wanted to support him against Shinomiya Kōkō—

Before this, he had even imagined a whole backstory.

For instance, that the other party and Shinomiya Kōkō were old acquaintances who had become enemies due to some reason.

And that killing the Shinomiya Family's Deity was an act of revenge against Shinomiya Kōkō.

But now, the other party was telling him it wasn't that complicated at all.

The reason for killing the Shinomiya Family's Deity was just convenience, and the reason for seeking his cooperation was also convenience.

Of the entire Shinomiya Family, he was the only one at Shuchiin Academy—wasn't that indeed convenient?

Shinomiya Unkō let out a bitter laugh, realizing that all the arguments he had prepared were now completely meaningless.

Shinomiya Unkō took a deep breath and said in a low voice:

"I agree."

"I'll do my best to help you build a shrine on campus, but whether it can actually be done depends on the old man's decision."

After all, both he and Shinomiya Kōkō were merely 'heirs'.

That old man, over seventy years old, was the true power holder of the Shinomiya Family.

"Pleasure doing business with you."

The final line of text appeared on the notebook.

The next second, sunlight pierced the darkness.

The midday sun streamed through the glass into the office, and the darkness that had shrouded everything vanished without a trace in an instant.

Shinomiya Unkō remained seated in his chair. He averted his gaze from the chirping little birds flying past the window, took a deep breath, pulled out his phone, and dialed a number pinned to the top of his contacts.

The call was quickly answered, and a hoarse yet powerful voice came through the receiver:

"Unkō, what is it? Speak."

Shinomiya Unkō paused for a moment, then asked tentatively:

"Father, an Onmyoji contacted me."

"An Onmyoji?"

"He claims to be an Onmyoji and killed the Shinomiya Family's Deity."

"..."

Silence fell on the other end of the line. After a long while, the hoarse voice returned:

"What did he say?"

"He sent his shikigami to contact me, demanding that we build a shrine on campus to enshrine his shikigami as a Deity. In exchange, the Shinomiya Family would receive this Deity's protection."

Shinomiya Unkō didn't mention that he had already reached an agreement with the other party; he merely relayed the request tactfully.

Pausing, he deliberately changed his wording:

"I didn't agree to him. This person is suspicious..."

"Agree to him."

"What did you say?"

Shinomiya Unkō raised an eyebrow, his tone carrying a note of genuine confusion.

"Agree to him! No matter what conditions he proposes! No matter the cost!"

Chapter 53: Twilight Maiden

"Agree to him! No matter what conditions he proposes, no matter the cost!"

The aged and resolute voice came from the other end of the phone, causing Shinomiya Unkō in the office to narrow his eyes.

Clearly, just as that Onmyoji had said.

Shinomiya Gan'an was well aware of what had happened a month ago, so he understood exactly what that Onmyoji meant.

In contrast, as another member of the Shinomiya Family, Shinomiya Unkō had known nothing of all this until now. He hadn't even known that gods and Onmyoji existed in this world, naively believing it was all feudal superstition.

Perhaps only Shinomiya Kōkō and Shinomiya Gan'an truly understood everything within the entire Shinomiya Family. One was the current head of the family, and the other was likely already designated as the heir.

Realizing this, Shinomiya Unkō finally grasped just how naive he had been.

He had thought that if he accumulated enough strength, he might have a chance to join the power games of the Shinomiya Family. But now he realized he was merely an outsider, not even qualified to watch from the sidelines!

Now he barely had the qualification to observe, but that still wasn't what Shinomiya Unkō wanted.

What he wanted was a seat at the table, the right to face Shinomiya Kōkō head-on!

So, just this wasn't nearly enough.

Shinomiya Unkō asked, somewhat puzzled:

"Is it really necessary? There are eighty thousand shrines in Japan. Even if the Deity the Shinomiya Family worships was killed, finding another Deity to protect the family shouldn't be that hard, right?"

"Besides, aren't there other Onmyoji in Japan to recruit? Why must we cooperate with the one who killed our family's Deity?"

Faced with Shinomiya Unkō's questioning, Shinomiya Gan'an showed rare patience, knowing that without a clear explanation, this son of his wouldn't obediently accept his fate—he'd only make a mess of things!

"Worshipping a Deity isn't as simple as you think!"

"There are eighty thousand shrines in Japan, but less than one percent of them actually house a true Deity!"

"Moreover, those so-called Deities are completely different from the one the Shinomiya Family worships."

"As for Onmyoji, the Shinomiya Family does know quite a few. But do you think just any Onmyoji can kill a Deity? That one's strength rivals the Twelve Divine Generals of the Onmyo Bureau, perhaps even surpasses them!"

Shinomiya Unkō's expression shifted slightly:

"The Onmyo Bureau? What's that? And what are the Twelve Divine Generals?"

Shinomiya Gan'an cut him off, his voice low:

"I'll tell you the specifics later."

"What you need to do now is agree to every demand that person makes!"

Shinomiya Unkō fell silent, feeling as though this world had become strangely unfamiliar.

Still, getting a promise from the old man was already beyond his expectations.

He decided not to provoke the old man further, lest the promise he'd secured slip away.

But Shinomiya Unkō still intended to squeeze out a bit more.

After a pause, he spoke with some difficulty:

"I don't have a construction company on hand."

Shinomiya Gan'an seemed to see through his thoughts and said flatly:

"I'll have Kōkō transfer the shares of Lushan Construction to Kaguya. Go talk to Kaguya about it."

"Alright."

Shinomiya Unkō nodded silently after a moment's hesitation.

Sure enough, he had been too impatient, which had displeased the old man.

Lushan Construction Co., Ltd., though only ranked 942nd among the world's top 2000 companies, was like Ministop before it—once the shares were handed to Shinomiya Kaguya, they became her personal assets.

Even if she lost in the power struggle within the Shinomiya Family, these two companies would ensure she always had a place in the family. Even if she left the family entirely, she'd still thrive.

Was the old man a bit too partial to Kaguya? Just because she was his only daughter?

"Will this really work?"

On the rooftop, Koyuki, who had just finished threatening Shinomiya Unkō, asked in a small voice.

Kira Yoshikage's tone was calm:

"Shinomiya Unkō is a clever man with plenty of ambition. Even if he knows it's a trap, he'll step into it willingly. Because he's confident that even with a trap, he can avoid it, swallow the sugar coating, and throw the shell back."

"So, he'll agree."

Koyuki nodded, half-understanding:

"Then what should I do next?"

Kira Yoshikage put away his phone, turned, and walked toward the rooftop door.

"Wait an hour before going to his office."

"Where are you going?"

"To class."

"Huh?"

Koyuki watched Kira Yoshikage leave the rooftop without looking back, her face full of disbelief.

You just sent her to threaten the school's board chairman, and now you're turning around to go back to class?

Inside the chairman's office.

Shinomiya Kaguya sat on the sofa across from Shinomiya Unkō, her tone cold:

"It's class time right now. What did you call me here for?"

Shinomiya Unkō, no longer showing his earlier panic, folded his hands under his chin and said calmly:

"Father just had someone transfer the Shimizu Construction shares to you. He wants you to cooperate with me in building a shrine on campus."

"A shrine?"

Shinomiya Kaguya frowned slightly, puzzled. "Why do something like that?"

"Don't ask."

Shinomiya Unkō's tone turned icy:

"This is Father's order."

It seemed the old man, though partial to Kaguya, hadn't told her everything either.

That thought balanced Shinomiya Unkō's mood a little.