Don't Bully a Poor Girl

"Let's go, time for school!"

In the antique-style manor, Amame Ei hoisted her schoolbag onto her back, full of energy.

"I wonder if the incident in Machiya Town has calmed down yet."

Nagisa Kazuha still harbored some worry; even as a young lady of her standing, she only knew that a 'terrorist attack' had occurred in Arakawa Ward.

After all, she was not the true power-holder of the Nagisa Zaibatsu and could only glean some 'inside information' from her elders.

"Don't panic."

"With a population of ten million in Tokyo,"

"It's unlikely we'll be unlucky enough to run into an accident."

Akihi Yu calmly reassured the group: the truth behind the so-called 'terrorist attack' was merely his handiwork while practicing Earth Style, done to keep the police from disturbing Akiyu Sora.

As for whether an accident would come, or in what form, that all depended on his mood.

"A full day has passed, the Metropolitan Police Department should have handled it by now, right?"

Class representative Nao chimed in, while Akiyu Sora continued to scroll through her phone as they walked. Just as the group approached the manor gate, two young women dressed in maid outfits pushed the tightly shut doors open.

A black sedan drove into the manor and came to a stop.

?!

The skipping Amame Ei's pupils constricted; she instinctively lowered her head, her entire body trembling slightly.

Because stepping out of that black sedan was a middle-aged man.

His graying short hair was combed back, and his stern, unsmiling face was etched with deep nasolabial folds, crow's feet, and sunken eye bags. He wore traditional dark clothing, giving the immediate impression of a man in his fifties or sixties.

However, that was not the case, for he was:

"Father."

Nagisa Kazuha bowed in greeting, and Akihi Yu and the others also came to a halt.

That's right, this man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties was actually only in his forties. He was Nagisa Kazuha's father, the head of the Nagisa Zaibatsu, and simultaneously, the father of Amame Ei!

As for why he looked this way, on one hand, his old-school aristocratic attire naturally made him look older.

On the other hand, sitting firmly in the position of family head was no easy task.

Internally, there were collateral branches of the family vying for power, and externally, up-and-coming talents were eyeing his position like tigers.

The 'nouveau riche' of Minato Ward were constantly challenging the authority of the old-school aristocrats.

"Kazuha."

"Are these your classmates?"

The stern middle-aged man's gaze swept over Akihi Yu and the others, his tone one of statement rather than inquiry.

"Are you heading to school? Stay safe."

"Yes, Father."

Nagisa Kazuha wanted to say more, but her father had already begun walking toward the main house.

From start to finish, he did not even glance at Amame Ei.

?

"Father!"

The middle-aged man, with his back turned to her, merely raised a hand slightly, signaling that he did not wish to hear another word.

Such a posture left Nagisa Kazuha feeling deeply dejected.

"Let's go, Nagisa-san."

"And—Amame-san."

He placed a hand on the shoulder of the trembling, petite girl who had her head bowed.

"There is a saying that goes: 'Thirty years on the east side of the Arakawa River, thirty years on the west side.'"

Amidst Akiyu Sora's silent question of 'Does Tokyo even have a proverb like that?', Akihi Yu continued to comfort Amame Ei.

"In short, even if he doesn't value you now; perhaps before long, you might become someone he needs to look up to, who knows?"

"How could that be? I'm just an... orphan."

Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, Amame Ei lifted her head and once again revealed a carefree, heartless smile.

"Heeheehee~~"

"I was just startled by that gentleman's aura, that's all."

"Ei-chan, I'm sorry."

Instinctively pulling the girl into her arms, Nagisa Kazuha's face was filled with guilt.

On one side was her father, on the other her sister. Caught in the middle, she found herself in a difficult position.

That's right—although Nagisa Kazuha was more like a sister in both height and her composed personality, in reality, the petite Amame Ei was the one born first.

"I'm fine."

Amame Ei brushed her sister's hand away.

"Little Kazuha, let's go!"

She took the first step toward the gate. For this place, she felt both longing and dread.

After all, it wasn't truly her "home."

"Wait, Ei."

A figure stepped out from the side. Akiyu Sora, who was always playing on her phone, put it away and stepped forward to take Amame Ei's hand.

"Let's go together."

"Okay, Sora is the best~~"

Nagisa Kazuha, the young lady who had also wanted to step forward, paused.

Though it might be rude to say, compared to herself, who was doted on by their parents, perhaps Akiyu Sora, who had lost her own, could better understand her sister's feelings?

"Don't overthink it, Nagisa-san."

As he stepped out, Akihi Yu tilted his head slightly.

"As long as the bond between you and Amame-san is genuine, that is enough."

As for her parents?

He believed their attitude toward Amame Ei would soon undergo a transformation.

Of course, whether that change was for the better or the worse was a matter only the individual involved could truly know.

Akihi Yu was simply preparing to give the girl a chance, and likewise, a chance for those two parents.

Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo Metropolitan Koishikawa Secondary Education School, Sitting by the window, Kishida Jun frowned slightly.

The target had started moving again.

Yesterday, he had tracked it all the way to Arakawa Ward and fought the "Flame Skeleton" it released. Although he managed to obtain a fragment of "Sessho-seki," he couldn't do anything about that Black Fish, which could dive into the earth and carried a torii gate on its back.

The creature possessed a large fragment of Sessho-seki!

Ever since accepting the mission from the "White Ghost Messenger," Kishida Jun had been able to vaguely perceive the presence of "demonic energy."

According to the "White Ghost Messenger," at this point in time, almost all the demonic power appearing in the human world originated from fragments of "Sessho-seki."

Because "Sessho-seki" possessed the ability to imprison souls, it effectively infringed upon the "jurisdiction" of the Underworld, which was why he needed to help collect these fragments.

The "White Ghost Messenger" had promised that if he retrieved one hundred fragments of "Sessho-seki," he would make an exception and resurrect Miyashita Ryoko!

Collecting Sessho-seki was equivalent to making an enemy of the legendary "Demon Kings."

But as he was now, how could Kishida Jun possibly care about that?

Even if it were the leader of the three great Demon Kings, He would never back down!

"Tamamo-no-Mae."

The boy muttered to himself. In the legends of the island nation, there were countless ghost gods, known as the eight million deities; however, only three could truly be called "Demon Kings."

The Great Tengu, Shuten-doji, and the White-Faced Golden-Haired Nine-Tailed Fox!

Strictly speaking, Tengu was not a single monster, but the name of a race.

In the records of ghosts and monsters, there were as many as eight monsters known as "Great Tengu" in the island nation. The remaining ordinary "Tengu" were even more numerous.

The characteristics of a Tengu were a bright red face, a long nose, and a pair of wings. Relying on these wings, a Tengu could soar freely through the sky. At the same time, they held a round fan, a feather fan, or a treasure mallet, capable of whipping up gale-force winds that could connect the heavens and the earth.

Although famous throughout the island nation, their strength would only be considered formidable if all the Tengu were gathered together—if the legends were true.

Of course, that was impossible.

Because Tengu inherently represented "arrogance," making them cooperate was a fantasy.

As for "Shuten-doji," he was the Ghost King who entrenched himself on Mount Oe.

He possessed two appearances: a "handsome youth" and an "ugly evil ghost." His human form could bewitch thousands of women, while his ghost form could spew flames to burn the heavens and boil the seas.

However, in legend, he had his head cut off by Minamoto no Yorimitsu of the Minamoto clan shortly after his debut. Although it was said to have been achieved by tricking him into drunkenness, this feat was truly not worth mentioning.

Only Tamamo-no-Mae.

Flipping through the copy of Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki he had borrowed, Kishida Jun couldn't help but feel that this was a thorny problem.

Unlike the Great Tengu or Shuten-doji, Tamamo-no-Mae was a being who had truly gone head-to-head with the onmyoji, powerful monks, and samurai of the Heian period!

Legend had it that she lurked within the imperial palace, absorbing the vital essence of Emperor Toba. Although she was eventually suppressed by the great onmyoji Abe no Yasuchika using the full might of the nation, her demonic power, ambition, and obsession remained preserved in the form of the Sessho-seki at Nasu-no, immortal and indestructible, waiting for the moment of resurrection.

Just one year ago, the Sessho-seki cracked!

Recalling the news from back then, Kishida Jun fell into deep thought.

Perhaps from that very moment, yokai—or rather, supernatural beings—had already been lurking among humans in the shadows?

If he had once been skeptical and dismissive of the talk of "Ghost Gods," he was now a firm believer in their existence.

Ryoko.

His gaze fell upon the umbrella beside the desk, the boy's eyes turning exceptionally gentle.

I won't make you wait much longer.