Watched by All

"Third Tactical Squad has arrived on the scene!"

"Target identified. Is the target the creature at the Miko's feet? Requesting permission to engage."

A group of fully armed Self-Defense Force soldiers were the first to reach the battlefield. However, they did not see a giant monster; instead, they saw a pitch-black thing swimming around at the feet of a 'Miko' in the distance.

A 'Miko' is a female shrine attendant in Japan who presides over rituals, also respectfully referred to as an 'O-Miko'.

The girl was dressed in full ceremonial attire, which no Japanese person could possibly mistake.

"Stand down!!"

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

"All personnel, abort attack orders!"

"I repeat, all personnel, abort attack orders!"

"Then what are we..."

The newly arrived Self-Defense Force soldiers looked at each other, though they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Previously, the roar of artillery and rolling smoke in Arakawa Ward had made the battle seem as intense as a war between two nations. The soldiers who had rushed over felt their hearts sink just from looking at it from afar, so they were naturally relieved that their superiors had suddenly ordered them to abort the attack.

"You must protect that 'O-Miko', wait—"

The erratic commands in their earpieces caused the soldiers on the scene, who were unaware of the full picture, to frown.

Those idiots in high command!

Yet, it was not entirely the fault of those 'big shots'.

Because through the drones, they could clearly see the center of the event.

"Little Kazuha, your leg."

"It's fine, just a bit of scraped skin."

The inexplicable 'flat-ground fall' from earlier had caused Nagisa Kazuha's knee to slam hard into the ground, tearing a finger-length wound in her delicate skin and leaving blood all over the floor.

Under normal circumstances, such an injury would be earth-shattering.

But compared to the brush with death moments ago, it seemed trivial.

"Amame Ei, this is..."

Pointing at the strange fish at her 'sister's' feet, Nagisa Kazuha, who had just 'escaped death', didn't know how to ask.

"This? It's that monster from before..."

"I don't know how it happened, but I've subdued it."

Even now, Amame Ei, still in her 'ceremonial attire', was confused, but there was something new in her mind, as if it were instinct.

For instance, this 'strange fish' would no longer attack, but would obey her commands.

And:

"Let me try, it should be like this."

Ding-a-ling~~

One hand shook the Kagura Bell out of 'professional habit', while the other rested on her sister's knee. As a verdant green light shone, the blood stopped flowing, the wound healed rapidly, and the skin became as smooth as new.

"It works!"

The fact that her first attempt at 'divine art' was a success gave Amame Ei a bit more certainty about the 'knowledge' that had appeared in her mind.

Far away at the Metropolitan Police Department headquarters in Chiyoda, Director Takeya, who had witnessed everything through countless cameras, lunged at the monitor, staring fixedly at Amame Ei.

Don't misunderstand; as the head of the entire Tokyo police system, what kind of beauties hadn't he seen?

But one who could command supernatural creatures and heal injuries?

He had truly never seen that before!

"Three minutes."

"I want all the information on this girl!"

Director Takeya waved his hand, shouting a classic 'domineering CEO' line.

However, how could an ordinary 'domineering CEO' compare to someone who commanded sixty thousand police officers and was a top-tier power broker in Tokyo?

In an instant, orders were sent out from this 'war room', followed by countless pieces of information being fed back. The convenience of the network was displayed to the fullest at this moment!

It wasn't just Director Takeya who was 'brought back to life' by the sight; the other big shots here, whether it was Brigadier General Thomas or the high-ranking officials of the Self-Defense Force, all had eyes glowing with greed. Through the drone cameras, they clearly saw that 'O-Miko' brush her hand over the other girl's knee, and the girl stood up completely unharmed.

This was the supernatural power they craved most!

Fire, lightning, and the bizarre retribution of Ghost Gods were things these big shots actually detested.

But the 'healing' ability? No one would ever refuse that!

The big shots invested hundreds of billions, or even trillions and quadrillions, into various bioengineering research every year—was it really to benefit the masses?

Stop kidding yourself; it's all for the sake of pursuing the ultimate human dream:

Immortality!

Ordinary people lack the qualifications and the capability for such a thing.

But for the great figures throughout history, they are willing to attempt even the most absurd and inconceivable methods.

The Eight Wonders of the World are either mausoleums or statues of gods.

What they seek is self-evident.

"Quick, capture that young girl. No, invite her. Actually, I will go pay my respects in person!"

Reports from his subordinates kept pouring into his earpiece, and Director Takeya's orders changed three times in a single breath.

He was so excited that he was bordering on losing his composure.

The Earthquake Catfish that was about to cause a catastrophe was now swimming obediently at the feet of that Miko; the fact that she had displayed supernatural healing abilities, combined with the intelligence report on the girl that had just arrived, made him even more ecstatic.

Amame Ei.

The illegitimate daughter of the head of the Nagisa Zaibatsu.

Abandoned since childhood, she was raised by the head priest of the Inari God shrine in Sugamo Town, Toshima Ward.

Six years ago, the previous head priest passed away, and Amame Ei inherited the shrine, naturally assuming the status of the shrine's Miko.

The Inari God, no less.

This deity is incredibly famous in this island nation, with over nine thousand shrines dedicated to them!

After all, as the deity in charge of "abundance," they have been an indisputably top-tier god in every era.

"Wait a moment."

"Mr. Takeya, I am coming too."

Brigadier General Thomas's words caused Director Takeya, who was about to reach the door, to pause in his tracks.

"Mr. Thomas, that Earthquake Catfish is still at the scene. If something unexpected happens while you are there—"

"It's fine."

"If you aren't afraid, why should I be?"

Just as the bigwigs from the Metropolitan Police Department were rushing to the scene, the police and soldiers on the front lines also received their orders.

"Lady Miko."

"Ahem, Lady Miko."

"Oh?"

"Are you calling me?"

Amame Ei, who was in the middle of healing an injured classmate, turned her head.

She looked at the ceremonial robes she was wearing and finally realized: the police officer bowing respectfully beside her was addressing her.

"Sorry, sorry."

"I didn't realize my current status."

"No."

"It is I who have disturbed the Miko, I am terribly sorry."

The officer bowed again, not just at ninety degrees, but at a forty-five-degree angle downward.

"Ah."

"Lady Miko, do you have any instructions?"

"Don't be like that. It's not an instruction, but could I ask you to help rescue the wounded?"

Thinking of the power she had just acquired, Amame Ei added.

"Please notify me if you find anyone severely injured."

"Yes!"

After a standard military salute, the officer immediately turned and issued the order.

"Everyone, help rescue the wounded!"

"Bring the severely injured here—"

"Huh?"

Amame Ei, feeling a bit at a loss, lowered her head and saw the Black Fish swimming at her feet. After a moment of thought, she patted its head.

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

Hearing this, the Black Fish flicked its tail and swam toward the ruins.

By the time Commissioner Takeya and Brigadier General Thomas descended from the helicopter, what they saw was the Earthquake Catfish prying open the ruins and "carrying" the people trapped beneath out in its mouth.

"Incredible."

Having just commanded soldiers in a fierce battle against it, Commissioner Takeya and Brigadier General Thomas were all too aware of the power this supernatural creature possessed.

Yet, such a violent supernatural entity was behaving like a house cat or dog in front of that "Amame Ei."

"Student Amame,"

Watching as the "Miko" stabilized the injuries of the critically wounded with the light in her hands, Commissioner Takeya grew increasingly eager. He straightened his tie, wore a smile on his face, and walked toward her.

"I am Takeya Haru, Commissioner of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department."

"Ah, ah? Ah!"

"Commissioner,"

Amame Ei was stunned; to her, an official of this rank only existed on television news, didn't he?

"No need to be nervous, Student Amame."

"On behalf of the government, I thank you for your intervention. If not for you, many people here would not have made it to the hospital. And I also thank you for—"

His gaze fell upon the "Earthquake Catfish" at the girl's feet. Facing a supernatural creature capable of going toe-to-toe with a modern infantry regiment, Commissioner Takeya continued to speak with an unwavering smile.

"Exterminating this supernatural creature."

"No, actually, it can't really be considered my extermination; it should be the power of Lord Miketsu."

Amame Ei didn't even know what this Black Fish was called, let alone anything about "exterminating" it, but she recognized the "torii" on its back: wasn't it the "main gate" of her own shrine?

"Is that so?"

Commissioner Takeya's expression turned solemn.

As expected.

The background of this "Amame Ei" was impeccable, without a single flaw.

Although abandoned by her parents, she was lively and cheerful, had excellent grades, and was self-reliant. Since childhood, she had helped the "grandfather" who adopted her host festivals, and later managed the shrine entirely on her own. For such a person to receive the favor of a "god" was perfectly normal.

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

"Of course you may,"

As the manager of the shrine, Amame Ei had no reason to refuse a believer.

And "Miketsu" was none other than the name of the Inari God!

Facing the child of that "God of Abundance," who would dare to be disrespectful?

Especially in this world where the supernatural had suddenly manifested; the "Earthquake Catfish" had just taught the Self-Defense Force a harsh lesson.

If a demon was like this, what about a god?

They dared not imagine!

"Too slow."

Inside Ousakura Academy, Akiyu Sora, who had been waiting quietly in accordance with Akihi Yu's instructions, spoke with her habitual coldness.

"Couldn't help it, ran into some... trouble on the way."

?

"Your complexion."

Akiyu Sora stepped forward a few paces to examine her brother closely. Because she was so close, her breath brushed against Akihi Yu's neck.

"It looks bad?"

"Ah, maybe it's—"

His gaze drifting, Akihi Yu was wondering how to make up an excuse when the class representative, Nao, took over the conversation.

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

"I didn't ask you to speak,"

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

"I'm fine."

The reason Akihi Yu looked so pale was entirely due to excessive mana consumption: fighting a battle against the Self-Defense Force and moving the "main gate" of the Amame family shrine had both drained a massive amount of his mana. Fortunately, this "grand performance" had finally come to a smooth conclusion.

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

"What about Ei?"

As they walked, Akiyu Sora asked.

"She is with classmate Nagisa, so they should have already returned home by now, right?"

Turning past two streets, what met the eyes of the three was a road severed by the ruins of a building, with luxury cars scattered all over the ground. And:

Amame Ei, surrounded by a group of big shots!

?!

"That is..."

"Yeah, it's classmate Amame, but—"

Akihi Yu raised his hand to point at the large number of police officers and soldiers guarding the perimeter, saying jokingly.

"It looks like there is already a pathetic, thick barrier between us."

At the same time, the gorgeously dressed Amame Ei happened to turn her head.

What she saw in the distance were her three friends, leaving.