But... What's the Cost? / Hana and Yuria ...

Yotsuya Miko had a valid reason for wanting to kill Yamada Mukawa: Shimakawa Kameyo was Yamada Mukawa's subordinate, and Yamada Mukawa was very likely involved in the previous unpleasant handover incident.

At that time Yotsuya Miko did not take action, probably out of respect for the Divine Gate branch. Thinking about it this way, it makes perfect sense that Shimakawa Kameyo died shortly after being demoted, and Yamada Mukawa died suddenly just before facing a career crisis. The god did not kill them while they were in their positions, but instead took action now, which shows that he was already very considerate of the Divine Gate's dignity.

But now, it might also be a way to establish authority.

One Kyojun's throat bobbed. If he could kill Yamada Mukawa right in front of him, he might just be able to kill him without anyone noticing.

"Miss Yotsuya is now yue-1lingyiqisiwu9?"

"At school."

Oune Tatsu said silently,

"Miss Yotsuya Miko is still at school. She's in her second period at that time."

"Is that so?"

Having just established his authority, One Kyojun was a man of experience, and his emotions calmed down after a few breaths.

"In that case, Okita- kun, why don't you accompany me for another stroll? I'm saddened by Yamada Mukawa's passing, but the position of Chief of Staff still needs someone to take charge."

He cast aside his apprehension towards Yotsuya Miko and quickly considered just how much convenience such power could bring to the Wagen Family. He knew there were some old geezers he'd been trying to deal with but hadn't been able to, and Yotsuya Miko's existence was a powerful deterrent to them. This couldn't be kept secret any longer; if he acted swiftly enough to reach a complete agreement before these forces could act, it would be a boon for the Wagen Family.

Therefore, he became even more friendly towards Okita Qishen. It was because of Okita Qishen's existence that Yotsuya Miko gradually accepted the cooperation with the Wagen Family. Okita Qishen's hard work brought a possibility to the Wagen Family, a possibility with infinite hope.

As for the potential danger of Yotsuya Miko? No, as long as their attitude is sincere enough, it's not a potential danger at all. Long-term research on Yotsuya Miko has shown that this girl, who has lived in society for over a decade, is not an antisocial personality. She has her own moral bottom line and ethics. Even if the situation she's currently exhibiting is slightly off, that's normal. He would find it strange if a powerful person with strength were to act timid and submissive, like a pushover.

Having power, one should naturally use it to seize the rights that are rightfully theirs—this is perfectly normal. It is far better to let capable people govern the country and wise people conduct academic research than to let those who are incompetent hold power or let those who are greedy for money commit academic fraud.

One Kyojun even thought it wouldn't be wrong to truly worship Yotsuya Miko as the country's deity, equating her with the country's faith. After all, if that were the case, the Wagen Family, who had single-handedly supported Yotsuya Miko, wouldn't lose out either. But he could only think this in his mind, because it was too "against" the interests of the Wagen Family and didn't put the Wagen Family's interests first.

Moreover, he is not the head of the Wagen Family.

"Yes, Mr. Xu Jun."

Okita Qishen wasn't excited about the official position promised by One Kyojun Kyosuke; he just wanted to get things over with as soon as possible. The mental pressure of being involved with Yotsuya Miko was too great, to the point that he often thought he should have someone of higher status talking to Yotsuya Miko.

But right now he still has to handle things and finish up the remaining tasks. He sincerely hopes that nothing goes wrong in the end.

"Since we're talking about this person, why don't we go take a look at Kamikakushi Mountain? Speaking of which, the Dragon-class spirit on Kamikakushi Mountain was personally killed by him. If we discuss this later, I'm sure we'll have a lot to talk about."

Okita quickly thought of a place worth visiting: the incident at Kamikakushi Mountain, which was the starting point for his conversation with Yotsuya Miko. If One Kyojun and Yotsuya Miko met, discussing this topic should be easy.

"In that case, Okita- kun, please come with me."

One Kyojun readily agreed and set off.

Okita Qishen didn't know the specifics of Kamikakushi Mountain; he only knew that the spiritual energy there had been neutralized. Therefore, he assumed the problem was solved.

Chapter 227 But... what will the price be?

After deciding to set off, the car slowly drove from the Divine Gate building toward the distant Kamikakushi Mountain.

Due to Yamada Mukawa's sudden death, Oune Tatsu, who had just returned to the city, began handling the funeral arrangements for Chief Yamada to minimize the impact of the incident. However, even so, some word still leaked out within the branch office. After all, Yamada Mukawa had died mysteriously outside the building.

This matter was quickly relayed to Yuria by the head of the Special Affairs Department, but that's a story for the next chapter.

In conclusion, One Kyojun and Okita Qishen went to Kamikakushi Mountain together.

The Oune Tatsu took over all of Okita Qishen's current tasks, which greatly relieved his stress. The feeling of having the accumulated pressure shared was like "a man who has just finished a 1,000-meter race and has been handed a bottle of mineral water." Although it couldn't directly relieve his physical fatigue, it did provide a mental respite.

The destination of this trip is Kamikakushi Mountain, the place where the connection between Yotsuya Miko and Silver Ball God was first traced back to.

Even before arriving at Kamikakushi Mountain, Divine Gate had heard rumors of the Guardian of Silver Pellets and dedicated himself to finding the source and creator of these rumors. However, due to a lack of sufficient data and information, these searches ultimately failed. It was only after the death of the Dragon-class spirit at Kamikakushi Mountain that the resulting turmoil truly made Okita Qishen aware of Yotsuya Miko's existence, and in his subsequent investigation, he thoroughly understood the connection between Yotsuya Miko and the Silver Ball God.

Yotsuya Miko is the Silver Ball God.

At this time, this Deity of the Silver Ball did not display much power; only the defeat of a Dragon-class spirit could be considered an achievement. Although annihilating Dragon-class spirit is already a remarkable achievement for humans, it is probably not enough for a deity.

It was only after the Kawami Second Gate riot that this deity gradually revealed her power. Whether it was the "mysterious monster" that the exorcist could not see, or the monstrous body that was beyond human comprehension, both demonstrated the "inhumanity" of this god. At this point, it can finally be confirmed that Yotsuya Miko is not an ordinary exorcist or a superhuman with a powerful name, but a true god.

In their subsequent collaboration, they finally experienced firsthand what it meant to be as powerful as a prison.

She is indeed not an omniscient and omnipotent deity, but her power is what a god should possess, and she deserves the respect due to a god.

This was the thought of Okita Qishen, and the vast majority of the Wagen Family. It was also something that many other forces were gradually realizing, but the Wagen Family had taken the lead.

"Mr. Xu Jun, we've arrived."

The vehicle drove silently until it reached a mountain; this was Kamikakushi Mountain.

Many things that have happened on this mountain have not affected its natural changes; it remains shady with trees, and its leaves still fall in autumn. At this time, the leaves are dyed a yellow-red hue. The climate zone where this country is located has many plants that shed their leaves during the changing seasons. Maple leaves, in particular, turn bright red once autumn arrives. They drift down in the wind like floating red ribbons, or like the hem of a witch's skirt.

One Kyojun walked up the stone steps toward the deserted mountain. The development of the city had made the mountain quiet, and the ghost stories of the past had given it a mysterious and terrifying aura. But putting aside these strange things, this mountain was like most mountains in this country, possessing a desolate beauty.

"I heard that there used to be a shrine here, a cannibalistic shrine, a shrine that has existed here for decades and has not been removed."

The important person spoke casually, as if he said whatever came to mind.

Okita Qishen listened silently, sorting through his impressions of Kamikakushi Mountain, and answered One Kyojun's questions methodically.

"Mr. Xu Jun, there is a powerful spirit here, a Dragon-class spirit that even the entire branch's strength cannot contend with. And behind this spirit is a Gate of the Underworld. This powerful spirit is the guardian of the Gate of the Underworld."

Divine Gate is indeed the most powerful supernatural organization in this country. However, there are too many things in this world that Divine Gate cannot solve. Even before Yotsuya Miko appeared, there were only three exorcists in the entire country capable of dealing with Dragon-class spirits. And these three are each in charge of the country's most critical Gate of the Underworld. The other Gate of the Underworld can only be handled by Divine Gate's various branches.

However, the number of exorcists is extremely small, and powerful exorcists are even rarer. The power of these exorcists is simply insufficient to handle difficult tasks, forcing the Divine Gate to focus its manpower on the few most pressing matters. Dealing with the Gate of the Underworld is the most crucial request.

Like the Kawamine Second Gate Riot, once the seal of the Gate of the Underworld is broken, it will bring enormous losses to the country.

This is why many things seem helpless and unavoidable.

One Kyojun was originally clear-headed, but hearing these words made him even clearer-headed, yet he couldn't help but feel a bit depressed.

"It was a last resort."

Sighing, he walked quite a distance into the mountains while talking, without feeling tired.

Although he is an important member of the Wagen Family and has a notorious political reputation among various factions, he was also a hard-working individual in his youth, and his strength as an exorcist has not diminished. Even now, he still possesses the strength to fight against Tiger-class Spirit, and after learning the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method, it goes without saying that he is even stronger.

His strength wasn't something he acquired through idleness, but rather through hard-fought battles. Compared to many high-ranking officials, he felt a deeper empathy for the plight of exorcists, which is why he held a glimmer of hope for Yotsuya Miko. This is also why he was willing to step forward immediately to express his support and seek the approval of the Wagen Family for Yotsuya Miko's future.

In his view, with Yotsuya Miko, the predicament faced by exorcists could be completely resolved. Even the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method that has begun to spread within the Divine Gate has greatly increased the power of the exorcists in the Divine Gate, giving them a deeper confidence in dealing with spirits.

"Okita- kun, it's time for Divine Gate to be reformed."

Okita Qishen remained silent in response, not daring to take the bait. He understood what his lord meant: with the Life Spiritual Qi Extraction Method, the Divine Gate no longer needed to maintain its original defense of the Gate of the Underworld, but could instead take the initiative to thoroughly eliminate all threatening spirits within its territory. However, such a large-scale operation would inevitably require all Divine Gate to coordinate their actions, completely abandoning the existing checks and balances within the organization.

In this situation, the old Divine Gate system needs a complete overhaul. The beneficiaries of this overhaul are all the people, but the biggest beneficiary is the Wagen Family.

But this will be difficult, unless one completely relies on the power of the gods to eradicate death. But... what will the price be?

Chapter 228 Hua and Yuria

Before she knew it, it was noon. Yotsuya Miko sorted through the information on the Heavenly Demon she had been reviewing, and her brows began to clear a little. But before she could continue reviewing, her right hand was grabbed.

"Miko?"

Coming to my senses, I saw a round face in front of me, with a pair of eyes that looked somewhat confused.

Why do you seem so listless today?

Miko was indeed listless, she couldn't hide her thoughts about the alienation issue; they were clearly reflected on her face. She was listless during class and during breaks, and at school she barely spoke to Yurikawa Hana.

Anyone could tell that something was wrong with her today.

"Yes, something unpleasant happened."

"Is that so?"

Yurikawa Hana tilted her head, her lips moving slightly. The girl in front of her suddenly brightened up, a smile appearing on her face.

"Well, it's nothing serious. Hua, you must be hungry too. Why don't you go and meet up with Yuria first, and eat something before we talk about it?"

Not a big deal?

The orange-haired girl's mood suddenly soured as well. She wasn't completely blind to her own feelings. Ever since she finally understood her own emotions, her gaze had mostly lingered on Yotsuya Miko, who, despite her, didn't seem to care and was completely oblivious to her own feelings.

Today, her gaze was also fixed on this blockhead, who truly was like a piece of wood, looking utterly listless, as if he were thinking of another woman. However, given Miko's mindset, thinking of other women was completely impossible.

That's something she can't know.

Even though she arrived first, Miko only discussed most things with Yuria, not with her. She understood what Miko was worried about; it was simply because Yuria was an incredibly powerful exorcist, and she, Yurikawa Hana, was one too. She wouldn't understand these things even if she did, and even if she did, there was nothing she could do.

But... Yuria—

Hua felt even more depressed when she thought of Yuria.

Never mind, I won't ask.

The girl thought to herself defiantly, her face bearing a "I can't do anything with you" expression. In Yotsuya Miko's eyes, she was probably a lively and innocent girl. Because of her innocence, she always seemed particularly easy to fool.

"I know, go find Yuria-chan."

As they walked along the road, holding Yotsuya Miko, Yuria had already taken out her lunchbox and was waiting for them at their usual spot.

Her gaze always conveyed a lot, looking at her own inner turmoil and at Yotsuya Miko's complex emotions. Just a few days ago, the feelings she had expressed for Yotsuya Miko seemed to have been severed at the root, but perhaps they could never be completely cut off.

Yuria, a girl her age, had bright eyes. Those ruby-like eyes, which once sparkled, had gradually dimmed, turning into a somber hue. From the sparkle when she looked at Miko to the dimness when she looked at Miko, it was a revelation of an inner world deeper than her expression.

Yurikawa Hana often pondered the question: what exactly had Yotsuya Miko done to Yuria? But when she thought about it, she felt a sense of helplessness. She also harbored inexplicable feelings towards Yuria, unsure whether it was sympathy or jealousy, or perhaps both.

"Yuria-chan's bento box is great today too!"

Like everyone else, she kept these feelings to herself. She would only reveal them when the two of them could openly and honestly express them. After all, she couldn't afford to suffer any more losses.

"Huh? You want my bento again? There's very little food today..."

That's what she said, Golden Twin-Tailed Girl still silently picked up a piece of tamagoyaki and handed it to Hua, glancing away from her face.

"Just this piece of meat, Hua, you can eat way too much."

"Thank you so much!"

Hua unceremoniously picked up her chopsticks, and while finishing her food, sat down next to Yuria and opened her lunch.

Today, she had lunch bread again, just like Yotsuya Miko. Compared to these dry breads, Yuria's bento was definitely much better. She never imagined that the warm and delicious food would come from Yuria herself.

Not only is Yuria a good cook, but she is also a skilled exorcist. Recently, she was promoted to deputy minister of a government department and can also help Yotsuya Miko. Miko talks to Yuria about many things, but not to herself.

Thinking about this, the girl suddenly felt a bit depressed. Compared to Yuria, she was completely outmatched; she couldn't do anything right.

She ate her bread, chewing heartily. Although she was frustrated, it didn't slow her down at all. Instead, this complete defeat suddenly gave her a fighting spirit, and she felt like she could eat a lot more.

These inner thoughts, as observed by outsiders, meant that Hua's appetite had grown even larger.

"Hua, did you forget to eat breakfast again? Or was it breakfast?"

It was Yotsuya Miko raised this question. Hana merely glanced at the blockhead and continued to devour her bread. The more Hana looked at Yotsuya Miko, the angrier she became at this block of wood. She had clearly noticed it herself, yet this girl was still: a block of wood!

"No, I was just thinking about some things that made me angry."

"What made you angry?"

"Hmm, I don't want to talk to you about it."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but glance at Yuria.

"Speaking of which, Yuria, are you busy today? I'd like to go out with you after school; it's been so long since I've done that. That kid, Miko, always takes up your time."

So everything is my fault?

She didn't understand what had happened, but she didn't care to. Yotsuya Miko was simply impressed but quickly turned her attention back to her research on the Heavenly Demon. That was the real priority for her.

"Uh, you do have time, don't you?"

Yuria packed up her lunchbox; she did indeed have time today. Due to One Kyojun's visit and Yamada Mukawa's sudden death, her work was canceled for the day, so she treated it as a day off. Most of the employees at Divine Gate were in the same situation, plus One Kyojun had to talk to Yotsuya Miko. There was no point in her going to help with this.

So she nodded and agreed to Yurikawa Hana's request.

"I'd love to have some fun with Hua today."

She didn't resent Hua, but when she thought about certain things, she always had some inexplicable thoughts.

But it's impossible to escape these things, so it's better to accept them.

Chapter 229 Are you really willing to accept this?

"You like Miko, don't you?"

The words were soft, like a breeze, brushing past my ears in a daze, leaving only indistinct words.

Yuria kept her lips tightly pressed together. The wind's language traveled from her ears to her heart, caressing her beating heart. It was a tingling, numb sensation, as if she were standing on tiptoe over a transparent pane of glass high in the sky, and one corner of the glass had cracked. She couldn't move, she dared not go any further.