All Eyes Were on Her

"Third Tactical Squad has arrived at the scene!"

"Target—target is that creature at the Divine Child's feet? Should we attack?"

A group of fully armed Self-Defense Force soldiers arrived on the battlefield first. But instead of seeing a giant monster, they spotted something dark and fishlike swimming around at the feet of a "Divine Child" in the distance.

The so-called "Divine Child" was a female shrine attendant who presided over religious ceremonies in Japan. She could also be respectfully addressed as a "Miko."

No Japanese person could mistake the girl in her elaborate ceremonial robes for anyone else.

"Hold your fire!!"

A roar exploded in their earpieces, nearly making several soldiers stumble.

"All personnel, stand down! Cancel the attack order!"

"I repeat, all personnel, stand down! Cancel the attack order!"

"Then what do we—"

The Self-Defense Force soldiers who had just arrived exchanged confused glances, though they were secretly relieved.

The area around Arakawa Ward had been filled with roaring artillery and billowing smoke. The battle had been so fierce, it looked like a clash between two nations. Just catching a glimpse of it from afar had made the soldiers' hearts sink. Now that their superiors had suddenly ordered them to stand down, they couldn't have been more grateful.

"Get the 'Miko' out of there, wait—"

The orders blaring through their earpieces kept changing, making the soldiers on the scene, who had no idea what was really happening, frown.

The higher-ups were idiots!

But it wasn't really the fault of those "bigwigs."

They could see the center of the incident clearly through the drone cameras.

"Xiao Yie, your leg."

"I'm fine. It's just a little scrape."

That inexplicable fall had made Nagisa Kazuha slam her knee against the ground. Her delicate skin had split open, leaving a finger-length gash, and blood had pooled on the ground.

Under normal circumstances, an injury like that would have been a huge deal.

But compared to the life-or-death situation they'd just been in, it was nothing.

"Ei, what is—"

Nagisa Kazuha pointed at the strange fish by her "older sister's" feet. Having just escaped death, she didn't know how to ask about it.

"Oh, this? It's the monster from earlier."

"I don't know how it happened, but I managed to tame it."

Even now, Amame Ei, still dressed in her "ceremonial robes," couldn't make sense of what had happened. But there was something new in her mind, something that felt almost instinctive.

For instance, the "strange fish" wouldn't attack anymore. It would obey her instead.

And then there was—

"Let me try. I think this is how it works."

Jingle, jingle—

Out of professional habit, she shook the Kagura Bell with one hand and placed the other against her younger sister's knee. As a green glow appeared, the bleeding stopped, the wound healed rapidly, and the skin became smooth and flawless again.

"It worked!"

Amame Ei had succeeded in using a "Divine Art" on her first try.

That made her more certain of the "knowledge" that had appeared in her mind.

Meanwhile, at the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters in Chiyoda, Director Takeya watched it all through countless cameras. He practically threw himself at the monitor, staring fixedly at Amame Ei.

Don't get the wrong idea. As the head of the entire Tokyo police force, he'd seen plenty of beautiful women.

But someone who could command a supernatural creature and heal injuries?

He'd never seen anyone like that!

"Three minutes."

"I want all the information you have on that girl!"

Director Takeya waved a hand and delivered the classic line of a domineering tycoon.

But how could an ordinary "domineering CEO" compare to one of Tokyo's top power brokers, the man in charge of sixty thousand police officers?

In an instant, one order after another went out from the "command room," and then a flood of information came pouring back. The convenience of the internet was on full display.

It wasn't just the "resurrected" Director Takeya. The other bigwigs there, from Brigadier General Thomas to high-ranking Self-Defense Force officers, all had eyes shining with excitement. Through the drone cameras, they'd clearly seen the "Miko" touch another girl's knee, after which the girl stood up as good as new.

This was the kind of supernatural power they wanted most!

Fire and lightning, bizarre Ghost God retribution—such things were more likely to fill the bigwigs with dread.

But no one would turn down the power to heal!

The bigwigs invested hundreds of billions, even trillions and quadrillions, in biotechnology research every year. Was it really to benefit the public?

Don't make me laugh. They were chasing humanity's ultimate dream:

Immortality!

Ordinary people weren't qualified, nor did they have the means.

But for powerful people throughout history, no matter how absurd or unbelievable the method, they were willing to try it.

Of the Eight Wonders of the World, some were tombs and some were statues of gods.

The reason was obvious.

"Quick, bring that girl in—no, invite her. No, I'll go meet her in person!"

Reports from his subordinates kept coming through his earpiece, and Director Takeya changed his order three times in a row.

He was so excited that he was almost beside himself.

The Earthquake Catfish, which had nearly caused a catastrophe, was now swimming obediently at the feet of the "Divine Child." She'd also displayed a supernatural healing ability, and the report on the girl's background had only made him more delighted.

Amame Ei.

The illegitimate daughter of the head of the Nagisa Zaibatsu.

Abandoned as a child, she'd been raised by the Chief Priest of the Inari shrine in Sugamo Town, Toshima Ward.

Six years ago, the previous Chief Priest passed away, and Amame Ei inherited the shrine. Naturally, she became its "Miko" as well.

Inari God...

This was a renowned deity in Japan, worshipped at more than nine thousand shrines!

After all, Inari God presided over "abundance," making the deity unquestionably one of the highest-ranking gods in any era.

"Wait."

"Mr. Takeya, I'm going too."

Brigadier General Thomas's words made Director Takeya pause just as he was about to reach the door.

"Mr. Thomas, the Earthquake Catfish is still at the scene. If something happens to you when you go there—"

"It's fine."

"If you're not afraid, why should I be?"

While the bigwigs from the Metropolitan Police Department were hurrying over, the police officers and soldiers on the front line received their orders too.

"Divine Child..."

"Ahem, Divine Child."

"Huh?"

"Are you talking to me?"

Amame Ei, who was treating an injured classmate, turned around.

She glanced at her ceremonial robes and finally realized that the police officer beside her, bowing respectfully, was talking to her.

"Sorry, sorry."

"I didn't realize this was my status now."

"No."

"I'm the one who disturbed you, Divine Child. I'm very sorry."

The police officer bowed again, not merely at a ninety-degree angle, but almost forty-five degrees.

"Ah..."

"Divine Child, is there anything you need?"

"Please don't. I'm not in a position to give orders. Could you help rescue the injured?"

Thinking of the power she'd just acquired, Amame Ei added:

"If you find anyone seriously injured, please let me know."

"Yes!"

After giving a crisp military salute, the police officer immediately turned and issued orders.

"Everyone, help rescue the injured!"

"Bring the seriously injured over here—"

"Huh?"

Amame Ei, still a little flustered, lowered her head and saw the "Black Fish" swimming around her feet. She thought for a moment, then patted it on the head.

"Little Black, you go help rescue people too."

At her words, the Black Fish flicked its tail and swam toward the ruins.

By the time Director Takeya

and Brigadier General Thomas climbed down from the helicopter,

they saw the Earthquake Catfish prying open the rubble and "carrying" out the people trapped underneath.

"Incredible..."

Having just commanded their soldiers in a battle against it, Director Takeya and Brigadier General Thomas knew all too well how powerful this supernatural creature was.

Yet this ferocious creature behaved like a pet cat or dog in front of Amame Ei.

"Amame."

Watching the "Miko" use the light in her hands to stabilize the injuries of one seriously wounded person after another, Director Takeya grew even more eager. He straightened his tie, put on a smile, and walked over.

"I'm Takeya Haru, Director of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department."

"Ah, ah? Ah!"

"Director..."

Amame Ei was stunned. Wasn't someone at his level the sort of person who only appeared on the news?

"Don't be nervous, Amame."

"I'm here on behalf of the government to thank you for stepping in. If you hadn't, many people here wouldn't have made it to the hospital. And I also want to thank you for—"

His gaze fell on the Earthquake Catfish at the girl's feet. Facing a supernatural creature capable of taking on a modern infantry battalion, Director Takeya continued smiling as he spoke.

"Subduing this supernatural creature."

"No, I can't really say I subdued it. This should be the power of Lord Miketsu."

Amame Ei didn't even know what the Black Fish was called, let alone how she could claim to have subdued it. But she recognized the "torii gate" on its back. Wasn't it the same as the "gate" at her shrine?

"I see."

Director Takeya's expression turned serious.

Just as he'd thought.

Amame Ei's background was impeccable.

Although her parents had abandoned her, she was cheerful and outgoing, did well in school, and was self-reliant. Since childhood, she'd helped the "grandfather" who adopted her conduct shrine ceremonies. Later, she'd managed the shrine on her own. It was only natural that someone like her would earn the favor of a "god."

"May we visit your shrine to pay our respects to Lord Miketsu?"

"Of course."

As the person in charge of the shrine,

Amame Ei had no reason to turn away worshippers.

And "Miketsu" was the name of Inari God!

Who would dare show disrespect to the Divine Child of the "God of Abundance"?

Especially in a world where the supernatural had suddenly appeared. The Earthquake Catfish had just given the Self-Defense Force a harsh lesson.

If even a demon could be this powerful, what about a god?

They didn't dare imagine it!

"You're late."

At Ousakura Academy, Akiyu Sora, who had patiently waited there as Akihi Yu had told her, opened with her customary complaint.

"I couldn't help it. I ran into some... trouble on the way."

"?"

"Your face."

Akiyu Sora stepped closer and studied her older brother carefully. She was so close that her breath fell against Akihi Yu's neck.

"You look a little pale?"

"Ah, maybe it's—"

Akihi Yu's gaze drifted as he tried to think of an excuse. The Class Monitor, Nao, cut in beside him.

"The terrorist attack in Arakawa Ward spread here, and Yu was worried about you."

"I didn't need you to tell me that."

After snapping back at her, Akiyu Sora's expression softened.

"I'm fine."

The reason Akihi Yu looked pale was simply that he'd used up too much magic power. Fighting the Self-Defense Force and bringing the "gate" from the Amame family shrine over here had both cost him dearly. Fortunately, the whole "show" had finally ended without incident.

"If you're fine, let's go home."

"What about Ei?"

As they walked, Akiyu Sora asked,

"She's with Nagisa. She should be home by now, right?"

Turning down two streets, the three of them saw a road blocked by the ruins of a high-rise, with luxury cars strewn across it. And—

Amame Ei, surrounded by a crowd of important people!

?!

"That's..."

"Yeah, that's Amame. But—"

Akihi Yu raised a hand, pointing toward the cordon of police officers and soldiers around the area, and joked,

"Looks like a tragic wall has already come between us."

At the same time, Amame Ei, dressed in finery, happened to turn around.

She saw her three friends in the distance, walking away.