Bring in High Priestess Reiko

Eastern Isles Public Security Investigation Agency.

As the Ministry of Justice's principal agency for counterespionage investigations and operations, the director of the Public Security Investigation Agency had always commanded considerable authority.

But today, Director Hirota Takuma's face was dark as a storm.

When the Metropolitan Police Department's commissioner handed him a case from Eastern Heijō-kyō on the grounds that it threatened national security, Hirota had wondered whether Shishima Kazunari planned to leave his post and see a psychiatrist.

You can't handle a case, so you dump it on the Public Security Investigation Agency?

The Public Security Investigation Agency deals with espionage between nations and major threats to national security. Since when do we have time for a local public-order case?

But after reading the file the Metropolitan Police Department had sent over, he felt a throb between his brows.

The Slippery-Headed Demon, Mountain Child, Tall Woman, Rainfall Boy, Shiranui, the Red Monster... All those yokai had appeared in Eastern Heijō-kyō?

The case the Metropolitan Police Department was talking about was a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons through Eastern Heijō-kyō?

That wily old fox Shishima Kazunari didn't need a psychiatrist. He needed to teach a course in passing the buck. Every student he taught would be a natural.

Before Amenominakanushi displayed a miracle at the Gion Festival, Hirota would never have believed that a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons had taken place in Eastern Heijō-kyō.

Even with the Slippery-Headed Demon, Mountain Child, Tall Woman, Rainfall Boy, Shiranui, and the Red Monster clearly identified in the file and backed up by photographs, he wouldn't have believed it.

At most, he would have believed some cult was stirring up trouble in Eastern Heijō-kyō.

He would never have believed gods or yokai existed in this world.

But after Amenominakanushi's miracle at the Gion Festival, he had come to believe that supernatural powers really did exist.

He had personally touched the Sacred Tree in Kyoto City, which had been cordoned off and studied endlessly by researchers without yielding a single useful finding.

That Sacred Tree, visible yet impossible to touch, had turned his entire worldview upside down.

But I work in intelligence. Isn't asking me, Hirota Takuma, to deal with a supernatural incident a bit much?

Deputy Director Nagaosaki Akira looked no happier after reading the file. "Director Hirota, shouldn't the Metropolitan Police Department be handling this 'Night Parade of One Hundred Demons' in Eastern Heijō-kyō?"

I'm not trying to shirk responsibility.

But why should the Public Security Investigation Agency handle a local case?

Even if it's a supernatural incident, the Public Security Investigation Agency is responsible for supernatural matters of national importance. A little local case like this should go to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Hirota Takuma shook his head. "The higher-ups have already put us in full charge. The other departments will cooperate with us."

You think I don't want to send this case back?

The problem is, as soon as that wily old fox Shishima Kazunari handed it over, the Prime Minister called personally to put us in charge. The emperor is following it closely, too.

I really can't pass this one off.

Nagaosaki Akira: "..."

We're in full charge?

How are we supposed to handle it?

I'm not trying to shirk responsibility.

I know intelligence work. But catching yokai? Sorry, unless I can go back to university and study for it, I'm not up to the job.

Nagaosaki Akira gave his director a resentful look, then thought for a moment. "Director Hirota, judging by the file the Metropolitan Police Department sent over, this is a very serious and troubling case of yokai harassing the public. So far, they seem to be fairly gentle yokai, with none of the evil sort that kill for pleasure among them. The worst damage was a fire set in a building, and it was quickly put out without any casualties. But we must act quickly before the situation gets worse."

Are you spouting nonsense? Hirota Takuma's face remained grim. Of course I know we need to act quickly. The question is how.

"We should find professionals to handle it," Nagaosaki Akira suggested.

For the first time that day, Hirota Takuma's expression brightened. "Since you suggested it, I'll leave this case entirely in your hands."

Nagaosaki Akira: "..."

"Akira," Hirota Takuma said earnestly, "I'm almost at the legal retirement age. I plan to work another two or three years, then retire..."

Hirota Takuma gave him a meaningful smile. "Keep up the good work. I'm counting on you."

"Yes, sir." Nagaosaki Akira lowered his head in acknowledgment, a flicker of delight rising within him.

With that hint from his director, Nagaosaki Akira moved quickly. He had Tokyo's most renowned priest and Onmyoji brought in, then respectfully handed them copies of the file.

After giving them time to look through it, Nagaosaki Akira said respectfully, "Mr. Tomioka, Mr. Tanaka, you've both read the file?"

"Let me take another look."

"I need to study it further."

Tomioka Yoshimasa and Tanaka Shigenaga spoke almost in unison.

A group of yokai was running wild in Eastern Heijō-kyō, and the deputy director of the Public Security Investigation Agency had summoned them to read a file instead of doing his own work. His purpose was obvious—he wanted them to subdue the yokai.

But what makes the Public Security Investigation Agency think a priest/onmyoji who can do nothing but bluff people could subdue yokai that have turned Eastern Heijō-kyō upside down?

Nagaosaki Akira saw that they were stalling and came straight to the point. "The Eastern Isles have always been free and peaceful, and we bear no prejudice against yokai. But these yokai have troubled the residents of Eastern Heijō-kyō. Please send them back where they belong."

With that, he bowed. "Masters, I ask you both to help us."

In the past, he would never have treated them with such respect. The priests and Onmyoji he'd met had been no different from ordinary people, except that they were glib and could reel off myths and legends at will.

But now gods had appeared. Yokai had appeared. Perhaps priests and Onmyoji, with traditions stretching back thousands of years, possessed mysterious powers too.

As for why they had never shown off the legendary spells and Shikigami before...

Obviously, they simply hadn't considered an ordinary person like him worth the display.

Help?

I'd love to help.

Make a yokai my Shikigami, and I'd be famous nationwide in no time. I'd become an honored guest of the imperial family and every great clan. Fame and fortune, both mine.

But, my dear deputy director, my name is Tanaka Shigenaga, not Abe no Seimei. I don't know how to subdue yokai.

Tanaka Shigenaga was trying to think of an excuse to refuse when Tomioka Yoshimasa spoke beside him. "So many yokai have appeared in Eastern Heijō-kyō because Yomi and the Living World have become intertwined. I don't have the spiritual power to send them back to Yomi."