Reiko Had Arrived

Word of what had happened in Eastern Heijō-kyō quickly spread online.

Reporters who instinctively feared monsters discovered that these creatures did not kill people. Emboldened, they flooded into Eastern Heijō-kyō and filed report after report on what was happening there.

Between television coverage and the online frenzy, the monsters in Eastern Heijō-kyō soon became headline news.

"Monsters in Eastern Heijō-kyō? That editor Sima is making up stories again."

"The video looks real. Wasn't there news last month about a god blessing worshippers at the Gion Festival in Kyoto City? Are gods and monsters actually real?"

"Where's the Metropolitan Police Department? Someone come out and explain what's going on. Are there really monsters, or is the media making it up? Give us a straight answer."

Before long, residents of Eastern Heijō-kyō spoke up.

"It's all true. I live in Eastern Heijō-kyō. Lots of monsters appeared on the streets when the Obon Festival began last night. I'm too scared to leave my house, and everyone in my LINE work group feels the same."

"Monsters are terrifying. I caught a glimpse of one yesterday, and it looked so strange. After I got home, I came down with a fever. My nose feels awful, but I'm too scared to go out and see a doctor. When are these monsters going to leave?"

"Plenty of cities held Obon Festival celebrations yesterday. Why did this have to happen in Heijō-kyō?"

"My girlfriend is vacationing in Eastern Heijō-kyō. She's been crying to me about it since last night, and I haven't slept a wink. I demand that the Eastern Isles government deal with those monsters immediately."

Seeing that the situation was completely out of control, the chief of the Heijō-kyō Police Station resorted to a characteristically deep bow. At a press conference, he bent at the waist, apologized through tears, then announced his resignation.

The Prime Minister called Nagaosaki Akira's phone seven times in a row, urging him to bring the situation under control as soon as possible.

"Sorry for the trouble, both of you." Nagaosaki Akira hung up and looked at Tanaka Shigenaga and Tomioka Yoshimasa. "Once this is over, I'll reward you handsomely."

Tanaka Shigenaga and Tomioka Yoshimasa were not the only ones with him. A special operations unit under the Public Security Investigation Agency accompanied them as well.

The unit had an impressive combat record, and the monsters in Eastern Heijō-kyō did not look particularly powerful. Even so, Nagaosaki Akira pinned his hopes of resolving the crisis on Tanaka Shigenaga and Tomioka Yoshimasa, two masters who supposedly possessed supernatural powers.

Tanaka Shigenaga's face twitched as he listened. A generous reward? If I could deal with the monsters in Eastern Heijō-kyō, would I care about your reward?

A veteran con artist, Tanaka Shigenaga might not know what anyone else was capable of, but he knew his own limits all too well.

Perhaps some Onmyoji from ancient lineages truly knew spells and traveled the Living World with Shikigami at their side. He certainly was not one of them.

He was just an ordinary man who lived off the Onmyoji name. If they wanted him to talk, fine. If they wanted him to fight, forget it.

Tomioka Yoshimasa looked no happier. You know it's trouble, yet you're still asking me to subdue monsters? Do you think I'm High Priestess Reiko, able to summon Amenominakanushi? I've worshipped Susanoo for thirty years, and I've never managed to communicate with him outside my dreams.

"Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Tomioka, should we subdue Tall Woman or Mountain Child first?" Nagaosaki Akira asked.

Although none of the monsters causing trouble in Eastern Heijō-kyō had caused much damage, some were still more troublesome than others.

The worst were Tall Woman and Mountain Child. Tall Woman had started a fire, while Mountain Child had caused many people to catch colds.

Subdue Tall Woman or Mountain Child first?

What if I don't want to subdue either of them?

Tanaka Shigenaga glanced at Tomioka Yoshimasa without betraying a thing. "Priest Tomioka, which one do you intend to subdue first, Tall Woman or Mountain Child?"

Trying to dump this on me?

Not a chance.

Tomioka Yoshimasa put on a troubled expression. "My lord Susanoo has gone to Yomi to negotiate with Shikoku Maiden Kusozikome. He intends to seal Yomotsu Hirasaka and stop more monsters from entering the human world."

"Yomi stands between us, making it difficult for me to communicate with my lord or borrow his power. I'm afraid the task of subduing the monsters in the Living World will have to fall to Mr. Tanaka."

"Subduing monsters and protecting the Living World from their harassment is the duty of us Onmyoji," Tanaka Shigenaga said. Then he changed tack. "But I don't practice spells. I specialize in the Shikigami passed down by my ancestors. As it happens, Susanoo summoned me before I came here, and I sent my Shikigami into Yomi to help the great Susanoo seal Yomotsu Hirasaka and prevent a large-scale monster invasion. I'm afraid I can't fulfill the deputy director's request."

"So I'll have to ask Priest Tomioka to step in."

Seeing Tomioka Yoshimasa's mouth start to open, Tanaka Shigenaga cut in first. "Priest Tomioka, we're old friends. There's no need to be modest. With your own spiritual power, even without the great god Susanoo's blessing, dealing with low-level monsters like Tall Woman or Mountain Child would be child's play."

"Please step in, Priest Tomioka." Nagaosaki Akira believed him.

"You're right, but I exhausted my spiritual power blessing someone the day before yesterday, and I still haven't recovered. Tanaka, you should do it. With your abilities, even without your Shikigami or any training in spells, you could handle low-level monsters like these with ease."

"Normally, you'd be right, Priest Tomioka. But I went to subdue Ōtakemaru half a month ago and was injured. I still haven't recovered. I'd like to help, but I can't."

"You're injured, Tanaka? You look perfectly healthy to me."

"I only look fine on the outside. Priest Tomioka, it's been two days. Hasn't your spiritual power recovered at all?"

The longer Nagaosaki Akira listened, the more something felt wrong.

Were these two trying to pass the buck?

Tap, tap.

The sound of wooden sandals striking the ground suddenly came from behind them.

The special operations unit accompanying Nagaosaki Akira immediately went on alert. A moment later, he spun around and stared in astonishment at the little girl who had appeared behind him without anyone noticing.

The girl wore a white Hadajuban and crimson Hakama. Her small face was solemn, and she gave off an aura both stern and sacred.

"High Priestess Reiko."

Tomioka Yoshimasa blurted out the words the moment he saw her.

Ever since Reiko had summoned Amenominakanushi at the Gion Festival in Kyoto City, she had become famous among the priests. Tomioka Yoshimasa had committed the rising star's face to memory.

Tomioka Yoshimasa quickly lowered his head. "Lady Reiko, have you come to put an end to the monsters causing trouble here?"