Chapter 10

It has been three days.

The wound from the misunderstanding that I was confessed to by Mizukami has completely healed. At the same time, no one is talking about it anymore.

According to what I heard, the dark organization 'Mizukami Fan Club,' which has existed since middle school, seems to have covered up this incident. As soon as it was confirmed that it wasn't a confession, the rumor was completely erased by their perfect information control.

If it had really been a confession, I might have been the one erased... I should take that to heart.

Anyway, I had been working hard from early this morning, and during that time, I made a new discovery.

"Hmm, the young people these days are tough, aren't they?"

"No, no, not everyone is like that."

The washing machine that my grandparents used had broken down, and a new one arrived today. Though it's new, it's actually a hand-me-down from my parents' house, but it works fine, so there's no problem.

Therefore, I had the recycling company take away the old washing machine and immediately tried to set up the new one... but what is this? It's so light. I thought it was a block of polystyrene foam.

"It must be thanks to God..."

"Huh? God?"

"No, nothing."

I recall God's words: "Strengthen your physical abilities." It must be the effect of that.

Even so, for a washing machine that weighs nearly 40 kilograms to be as light as polystyrene foam... God, you're going too far.

"You are truly mysterious. You can use such powerful shikigami techniques without any spiritual power, and you even have such incredible strength."

The black cat murmured this while watching the white crow on TV.

In the end, the white crow hasn't disappeared in these three days. In fact, it shows no signs of disappearing. It's still making reservations for tonight's music program while looking at the TV guide.

"Really, I find it mysterious too. I just want to live a peaceful life."

It's a great blessing to have been given such a variety of abilities, but I don't really have anything I want to do.

I don't even want to be famous. I'd rather browse comics and light novels without worrying about what others think and lead a fulfilling otaku life.

"You have no desires. But I can appreciate a peaceful way of life."

"Thanks, coming from a cat, that's an honor."

With such casual conversation, I finish breakfast with the black cat. I have ham and eggs and instant miso soup. I like my yolks runny and gooey.

As for the black cat, it's cat food. At first, it was grumbling, but it seems to taste good, and now it's happily munching away. It costs 4,000 yen for 1.5 kilograms, so I'd be in trouble if it didn't like it.

"By the way, I'm going out a bit today."

"Going out? A cat gathering?"

"That's every Wednesday. Not today."

I was joking, but do cat gatherings really exist?

"No, I'm going to check on the place where I used to live. Thanks to you, I'm in perfect condition now."

"Hey, don't get hurt again, okay?"

"Don't worry. I won't fall into the same trap again. As long as that doesn't happen, I'll win."

Trap... Are you causing trouble in the neighborhood fields? But, is this part of the natural order? There's no point in thinking about it.

"Be careful, okay?"

"Sure."

◇

The scene changes to the school in the afternoon.

Before the afternoon classes started, Mizukami hurriedly prepared to leave and left early.

"Huh? Mizukami, leaving early?"

"Seems so. It's unusual."

Ishida doesn't seem to know anything. In fact, no one knows the reason because she left without saying anything.

"Could it be because of Kousuke? Maybe she said something when she called him... Ah!"

Several boys in the class glared at Takigawa. They are members of the dark organization. This is how they suppressed the rumors, scary.

"Anyway, I'll focus on studying today."

Today, another peaceful day passed.

◇

"Hey, Cat God!"

"Ah, Mizukami Junna. I apologize for being away from the shrine."

In a small mountain in the city, a golden lion had descended. He is the guardian of this land and the most powerful and renowned youkai, the Cat God.

The mountain was filled with the yin-yang practitioners of the Mizukami family, who had learned of the Cat God's return. Among them, Mizukami Junna, the next head of the Mizukami family, was the happiest to see the Cat God's return.

"Cat God, I'm glad you're safe."

"Ryukai, I'm sorry to have worried you too."

Pushing through the practitioners, the current head of the Mizukami family, Mizukami Ryukai, appeared.

The deep shadows under his eyes revealed the extent of his mental strain.

"Ryukai, what happened while I was away?"

"Well, actually..."

Although they deny it, the attack on the Cat God was carried out by the Hinoyama family. Additionally, a temple belonging to the Hinoyama family was attacked by a mysterious shikigami, and the Mizukami family is suspected. Furthermore, they have challenged us to a divine trial to uncover the truth of these incidents.

"Is it true that the shikigami that carried out the attack was not one of yours?"

"Of course not. The most skilled shikigami practitioner in the Mizukami family is my daughter, Junna, but she doesn't have the power to defeat the Kigen Hall, which was attacked. Moreover, it's impossible with just one reconnaissance shikigami."

"Kigen, the master of the explosive demon?"

"Yes."

"Was it defeated by a reconnaissance shikigami?"

"Yes."

The Cat God looked at Ryukai with a doubtful expression, then suddenly changed to a startled one.

"Can you describe the shikigami?"

"I saw the attack through the eyes of my shikigami. The one it fought was a shikigami in the form of a white crow."

"!!"

Hearing Junna's report, the Cat God was shocked. Then, he showed a look of confusion mixed with understanding.

"Cat God, do you know something!?"

"Yes, that shikigami is..."

He started to say but then closed his mouth. He remembered the words: "I just want to live a peaceful life."

"No, sorry. It was just a mistake."

"Is that so..."

Looking at the disappointed Junna, the Cat God asked a question.

"Are you looking for that practitioner?"

"Yes... If we don't, we will lose the divine trial. So, I thought we could ask for their cooperation..."

The trial will feature Kigen Gouki, who commands the explosive demon, and Shigetsu Yuen, a shikigami practitioner said to have equal power to Kigen, as well as the current head of the Hinoyama family, Hinoyama Gyou.

The Mizukami family advocates coexistence with youkai and maintains friendly relations with cooperative youkai like the Cat God to protect people. Therefore, they have far less combat experience than other factions and do not control youkai like demon practitioners.

On the other hand, the Hinoyama family is a faction specialized in combat, having built their status by destroying youkai that harm humans.

Given the background of these factions, the outcome of the conflict is clear. The Mizukami family has no chance of winning.

"Hmm..."

The golden lion thought for a while and came to a conclusion.