But after looking into the matter a little, she noticed some unusual clues. There was more to it than met the eye.
"First of all, her surname is Ryougi."
"What's wrong with Ryougi?"
"It's the name of an ancient Japanese Exorcist Clan."
"What does 'exorcist' mean?"
"Do I really have to start explaining from there...?"
On the other end of the phone, Touko helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead and began explaining.
In Japan, there had been four surnames known since ancient times as the Four Exorcist Families—
Asagami, Mijin, Ryougi, and Nanaya. They were the Natural Enemies of mixed-bloods, and generation after generation, they had made a living by 'purging monsters.'
As the times progressed, the Four Exorcist Families' original line of work was no longer needed, and they rapidly declined as a result.
Only the Ryougi Family survived by changing its primary business, since it had other business besides "hunting demons."
Shirou suddenly understood. "I get it. They're a wealthy landowning family like the Aozaki Family, right?
"Whenever the generations change and power is handed over, the family gets filled with tension, and the siblings fight one another to the death."
The corner of Touko's mouth twitched. "Shirou, has anyone ever told you that you're actually pretty vicious with your words?"
She continued explaining.
Ryougi Shiki had been in her car accident shortly after the Ryougi Family officially selected her as its heir.
Could that really have been a coincidence?
"Not only that, but the hospital she was in also has serious problems.
"Someone carried out preparatory work to set up a bounded field there. It seems another magus besides me was involved.
"The bounded field set up in that hospital was extremely ingenious. Even I didn't notice it at first.
"Among my old acquaintances, there's an