Chapter 13

"Both sides are here, aren't they? Look, look, line up, line up!"

In the center of the special venue stood a glamorous beauty with green hair flowing.

"Who is she?"

"That person is the current head of the Kiniwa family, one of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clans. She will serve as the referee for the divine trial."

Suna, the sister of the committee chair, informed me. I had never heard of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clans before, but from the names, I guessed that the Mizukami and Hinoyama families were also part of it. I didn't know, but it seems the modern world is quite fantastical.

Still, it's nice of her to tell me.

"Whoever you are, this match is about the future of our clan. I won't forgive you if you hold us back."

"Ah, yes."

Retracting my previous statement, she seems to have a rather tough character.

"Well, well, are you lined up? Then, stick this on. Make sure to stick it on your bare skin, like a plaster. Ah, Kien and Suna, you get two each."

As she said this, she handed each participant a paper cut in the shape of a human. What is this?

"This is a 'Substitute Talisman.' It will take the injuries that the person wearing it would receive. With this, even fatal injuries can be nullified."

What, that's amazing, isn't it? It can nullify death once. As someone who has experienced death, I would really like to see this sold to the general public.

"However, to create this, each of the five family heads must infuse it with spiritual energy over a long period. Therefore, it is not used outside of special ceremonies like the divine trial."

"I see."

So, it can't be mass-produced and is quite valuable. I can't make it, but I'll remember the technique. Hmm, hmm.

Also, unlike her sister, the committee chair is a kind person.

"Hey! Is everyone ready? Let's start soon."

With the referee's casual call, both sides lined up.

A red-haired, cheeky-looking young man glared down at the committee chair. He must be the head of the Hinoyama family.

Next to him was a handsome man in glasses and a suit, with a katana at his waist. Scary. Upon closer inspection, the blade was facing downward. It's a tachi, not a katana. It's surprising that my grandfather's knowledge of antiques is useful here.

Next to him was Kien, who was sent to the hospital after being attacked by a mysterious spirit. Is he really okay to fight? And he's glaring at me. He has a fierce tattoo on his arm, and he's scary too.

"Suna, if you admit your wrongdoing, you can forfeit the match. I don't want to hurt you."

"What are you talking about? You're the ones who attacked the Cat God and made baseless accusations. And don't call me Suna so casually, Hinoyama."

"Wha—!"

Wow! A perfect counter! Hinoyama flinched.

Probably, he has a crush on the committee chair. But he's doing things she dislikes and trying to act cool, so of course he's disliked.

"Hahaha!"

"Stop laughing, Kien! Hey, referee, start it already!"

"Hehehe, okay. Now, take a step back, keep some distance."

The arena is 50 meters square, so it's quite spacious.

Both sides lined up and took a little distance. The opponent in front is about 10 meters away.

I'm getting nervous now.

"Hey, all the mages, put up the barrier."

As the referee said this, the outside of the arena was covered with something like triple glass. This is the barrier I've heard about! I want to use it someday.

"The defeat condition is, if the Substitute Talisman is broken or if you are thrown out of the arena, it's over. Now, let's start!"

At the start signal, Kien, who was holding a talisman, muttered something. Then, the talisman caught fire, and a huge ball of flame appeared.

"Take this!"

He threw the ball of flame at me. Out of the blue!

But it missed, passing between me and the committee chair.

"Surprised... Oh!?"

Then, I understood his intention after it passed.

The flame burned the path it had taken, creating a wall of fire. The Mizukami sisters were completely separated from us.

"I will be your opponent. Please go easy on me."

In front of me stood a yin-yang practitioner named Mitsu. He must have been on this side of the wall too.

"Manifest, 'Three Sword Statues'!"

Ugh. A purple warrior with two large swords appeared. It's huge, almost three meters tall. Is this his spirit?

"It seems the other side has started too."

I could hear explosions from the other side of the wall.

"Then, I will start as well."

With the Mizukami sisters and I separated by the wall of fire, our respective battles began.

◇

"Mizukami, things have gotten complicated, haven't they? What are you going to do?"

The audience seats in the dome were filled with members of both families. Among them, in the special seat reserved for the Mizukami family head, a glamorous beauty lounged lazily.

"Kiniwa, is it okay for you not to watch as a referee?"

"I'm watching properly. I'm the head of 'Wood,' you know?"

"That's true."

Ryukai, who knew her technique, nodded in agreement.

"Still, what are you going to do? This."

Pointing to the divine trial taking place before her, the head of the Kiniwa family asked again.

"That's not a problem. I've contacted the former head of the Hinoyama family. He should arrive by the time this match ends."

"Oh, you're as sharp as ever."

The head of the Kiniwa family smiled dreamily at Ryukai's skill.

"But, couldn't you have contacted him earlier?"

"You see through me. However, this match is an experience for Suna and Suna. If they can't overcome this adversity, I can't entrust the Mizukami family to them."

"Hehehe, you're quite the father. But, that's not all, is it?"

Ryukai, with a slightly twisted expression, looked at the head of the Kiniwa family. His gaze implied, "Who's the sharp one here?"

Understanding this, the head of the Kiniwa family showed a slightly troubled expression.

"Of course, I'm curious about a yin-yang practitioner who defeated Kien and is favored by the Cat God. In exchange, I'm doing the tedious job of being the referee. No complaints, please."

"I understand, and I'm grateful. But, what do you think of him?"

He, of course, refers to the mysterious yin-yang practitioner who attacked the Hinoyama family alone and has the Cat God's trust. Kousuke.

"I didn't feel any spiritual energy from him at all."

"Indeed. I also felt the same when I shook his hand. I even suspected he might be a spirit or a demon."

There are rare individuals who do not manifest spiritual energy externally.

They are either born with a low spiritual energy production that balances with their consumption for survival, or they are highly skilled in spiritual energy manipulation and hide their true strength.

However, even among the heads of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clans, few can hide their external spiritual energy. Ryukai, the head of the Mizukami family, can do it, but only for a few minutes even with full concentration.

"I don't understand why he would hide his spiritual energy to participate in the match."

"Still, we should pay attention to his battle."

"True."

The two heads of the Five Great Yin-Yang Clans are watching him, but he doesn't know it yet.

A brief explanation:

The reason the Mizukami family head accepted the match is to give her two daughters experience.

The reason he allowed the protagonist to participate is to gauge the strength of the mysterious practitioner in his region.

Why did he accept the match, which could be disastrous if they lose? Why did he allow the protagonist, whose strength is unknown, to participate? These questions will be answered in the story after the match.