Chapter 4

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In a certain place in Mukojima City, S Prefecture.

"--- What kind of magic is this? A demon... No, I have never heard of a demon or even a member of the demon race releasing such power in the human world."

In a provincial city far from the capital, Tokyo, there were guardians who had been secretly protecting people since ancient times. Mizuki Ayame, the 33rd head of the prestigious Suigetsu family, known for generations of water-controlling psychics, was sitting in seiza with her eyes closed, meditating in a room of her house. She suddenly opened her eyes wide, sensing an unprecedented release of magical power. A strong wave of magical power had reached the center of Mukojima City. It was a superior power that only those with a certain level of strength could sense. Ayame, being the head of the Suigetsu family, was powerful enough to detect it.

"Someone."

"Hinoe is here."

When Ayame spoke, the shoji door quietly opened, and a woman in her thirties knelt on the veranda. She had long black hair tied in a ponytail, with her bangs hanging down, covering half of her face. Under her hair, she wore a black eye patch and was dressed in a black suit.

"Hinoe, did you sense that magical power?"

"Yes. It was a terrifying power that made me shudder."

"Only a member of the demon race could release such power. And it's one of the higher ranks."

"...While it's true that low-level demons can easily leave the demon world, members of the demon race cannot do so easily."

"I understand. Still, many demons have come to the human world in the past, and we psychics have been able to handle them. ...However, this time, it's a question of whether we can even stand against the source of that magical power."

Ayame, sweating coldly, received a silent response from Hinoe, who could not argue.

The Suigetsu family, along with other psychics, secretly protect humans from threats. These threats include evil spirits, monsters, demons, and members of the demon race. If psychics were to fail, humans would be at risk of harm from these non-human entities. As the head of a prestigious psychic family, Ayame should not, or rather, is not allowed to show weakness. However, she did, indicating that the opponent in Mukojima City is far beyond the norm.

"Try to minimize casualties. But you must find the source of that magical power."

"Understood."

The woman—Hinoe—disappeared as if she had vanished.

Ayame let out a deep breath.

There was no doubt that something beyond human capability was in this Mukojima City.

"--- In the worst case, we may have to seek the assistance of the gods."

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Unbeknownst to Yura Natsume, who had casually released the magical power, things had already begun to move.

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