Chapter 5

"Yep, it's a perfect day for exorcism!"

After transferring trains and then taking a bus, it took about two hours to finally arrive at the destination, which was a privately-owned mountain in a certain prefecture.

"Is there really such a thing as a perfect day for exorcism? Well, it's true that a sunny day isn't a favorable condition for demons."

Generally, demons, evil spirits, and vengeful spirits grow stronger the later it gets at night. In broad daylight, their power is indeed hindered. However, this effect is mainly limited to low-level demons. For mid-level and above, they are formidable regardless of day or night.

"Let me confirm again, what level is the demon this time?"

"Yeah. The report I received is that it's a low-level minor demon. It has the shape of a wild boar. It roams the mountain at night, wreaking havoc on other animals, fields, and livestock. Even when traps are set, they are destroyed. When we thought it was trapped in a cage, it broke out. No matter how you look at it, it's not a normal wild boar, right?"

"That's true. It's clearly a demon. But if it has the strength to completely destroy a cage, why is it classified as low-level?"

"Maybe it's mid-level. But I can handle it easily, even if it is mid-level, which is why I took this request."

"Are you planning to dump it all on me?"

"This is also experience. Besides, I'll help if it gets dangerous, and I'll support you until then."

Shuon was genuinely trying to give Mayu some experience. If Mayu were alone, he wouldn't have received such a request, and if another exorcist had brought someone like Mayu, who was a failure, they would have treated him as a mere baggage carrier rather than giving him experience.

Moreover, if he failed, not only would Mayu be held responsible, but also the person who entrusted him. No, the person who entrusted him would bear the greatest responsibility. That's why even his own family wouldn't bother to raise him after he had given up on being a Seiguard.

However, Shuon boasted that she would take full responsibility and was preparing a practical field for Mayu to become stronger.

Before crossing over to the other world, such things had happened a few times. Normally, someone from the Hinono clan would be assigned as a guard out of caution, but Shuon insisted that her friend would come along and stubbornly refused, bringing Mayu with her.

(Mayu has low spiritual power, but he's not a bad person. If he gains experience, even with low spiritual power and the inability to use offensive spiritual techniques, he can still be useful as a support or rear guard. With some achievements and a recommendation from his father, he can certainly make it as an exorcist!)

Shuon had various plans to train Mayu to become a full-fledged exorcist.

"So, Mayu, you don't have to worry. Just go all out and exorcise demons with confidence!"

"That's a stupid way to put it."

Mayu chuckled, but he couldn't be harsh because he could tell she had no ill intentions.

"So, how are we going to find this demon?"

"We'll search on foot!"

"In this mountain?"

"Of course! I'm not good at detection techniques, and Mayu can't use them at all. But we have information on the areas where it frequently appears and a map! Let's search systematically!"

Mayu's face twitched at Shuon's words. Well, what she said wasn't wrong, but wasn't it inefficient?

(I'm not good at detection techniques even now...)

If he released his trump card, it wouldn't be a problem, but with his current abilities, he couldn't expect much.

"Also, how about releasing spiritual power in the areas where it frequently appears to lure it out? My spiritual power is apparently delicious to demons, so it might be a good way to attract it. Even though it's nocturnal, it might come out during the day if it's tempted by delicious spiritual power."

"Go ahead. It's stupid to walk around and waste energy."

More than that, he had doubts about whether a nocturnal demon could be found during the day, but if Shuon could lure it out, it wouldn't be a problem.

(Also, since it's a low-level demon, I want to confirm how much is enough.)

He had confirmed that spirit talismans were effective against incorporeal entities like evil spirits, but he wanted to test how well he could fight against a demon that had materialized and had a physical body.

(In that sense, Shuon's invitation was like a boat in the river. No matter what, I know this guy to some extent, so he won't do anything to harm me. As long as I don't release that power, there shouldn't be any major problems.)

While Shuon muttered to herself, looking at the map and thinking about what to do, Mayu realized he was back.

The battles in the other world had become particularly intense in the final stages. Fierce battles with enemies and allies mixed together, and the final battle was filled with death everywhere.

The hero party's assault on the demon king's castle, the large-scale diversionary operation for it. How many of the total combat forces on the human side survived in that battle.

It was a miracle that all the members of the hero party, though not all in perfect condition, managed to survive without losing a single person.

Compared to that, this demon exorcism seemed like a simple task.

(The demon king was god-level in this world, but he summoned an evil god and fused with it, becoming an even higher-level deity.)

The god-level, which is above the supreme level, is a realm that can no longer be handled by humans, literally the domain of gods. The demon king, who was in the other world, ascended to an even higher level when cornered in the final battle.

The despair of the demon king, who had defeated generations of heroes, becoming even stronger was immeasurable. The fact that they managed to defeat him somehow was a testament to the power of the hero's will, which performed a miracle. Of course, it was also thanks to the help of his companions, including Mayu.

(Now, even if a super-class exorcist, who is rare in this world, came, I could probably handle a decent fight alone. At the very least, I could handle a special-class demon with ease.)

"Hey! What are you spacing out for? Let's go!"

"…Okay, okay. I understand, but don't rush me."

Shuon, shaking her hair, led the way up the mountain, and Mayu followed, making sure not to fall behind.

Then, Mayu sensed the presence of a human different from theirs in the mountain.

(Is it a colleague? But what is this presence? It's incredibly tense, almost hostile.)

Although Mayu lacked detection abilities, he could sense the presence growing stronger as they went deeper into the mountain.

"What's wrong, Mayu?"

Shuon, noticing something was off, asked Mayu.

"Hey, Shuon. Did anyone else take this demon exorcism request besides you?"

"Huh? Of course not. I received this request directly from the Hinono clan. I haven't heard of any collaborators or supporters, so there shouldn't be anyone else here."

"I see. Then we might be getting involved in something troublesome."

"What do you mean…?"

As Shuon was puzzled, the person in question appeared immediately.

"What are you doing here?"

The one who spoke to Mayu and Shuon was a boy about their age with spiky blue hair and glasses, wearing a black exorcist uniform, typical of exorcists today. Behind him were several people in similar uniforms, presumably other exorcists.

"That's what I want to know. What are you doing here?"

Shuon, on guard, asked the boy.

"Who are you? You look and feel like an exorcist. By the way, my name is Hinono Shuon, the daughter of the main family of the Hinono clan."

"I know. That's why I'm asking what you're doing here."

"We're here on a demon exorcism request. This is the property of our client. Aren't you the ones trespassing? Besides, I've introduced myself, so you should do the same!"

"…You don't know me?"

The boy, adjusting his glasses, asked Shuon irritably.

"Huh? I don't know you."

As Shuon spoke, the boy's temples twitched visibly. Mayu, watching the scene, struggled to suppress a laugh.

"What's so funny? It's unpleasant to be laughed at by a Seiguard failure."

It seemed he had been holding back, but his cover was blown.

"Huh? Sorry, sorry. I just didn't expect you to say that to this guy."

"What? Do you know him?"

"Sort of, a little. But Shuon, you're a member of the main family of the Hinono clan, one of the six exorcist families, right? You should remember the heirs of the other six families."

"Six families' heirs? Which family?"

"Maybe it's because the Hinono clan doesn't get along well with them, but you should remember. I'm sure you've met at family gatherings. The next head of the Mizuhara family, a water user, Mizuhara Ryushu."

The Mizuhara clan. They are one of the most renowned users of water-based spiritual techniques. The person in front of Mayu and Shuon was the son of the head of the Mizuhara clan and the next in line to be the head, Mizuhara Ryushu.

"Wait, he's the next head of the Mizuhara clan?"

"Didn't you know? He's a fairly famous exorcist. A genius of the Mizuhara family, he's one of the top five exorcists in the family at a young age."

"…Oh, I see. Sorry, I'm not very familiar with that. Besides, those gatherings are usually attended by my uncle, the head of the branch family, and my cousins, not me."

Shuon looked away and let out a dry laugh.

"Hmph. The Hinono clan has really declined. To think that someone like you is a member of the main family. And to be seen with a Seiguard failure, it shows the level of exorcists you are."

"What did you say!?"

"Shuon, I think you can't really argue with that."

"Mayu too!? Whose side are you on! And you're being mocked too!"

"I'm just stating an objective opinion. And in my case, it's a fact."

"Get angry a little!"

For some reason, it seemed like Shuon was more angry about Mayu being mocked than about herself.

"Hmph. It's pointless to say anything to him. He has low spiritual power and failed to summon and contract with a guardian spirit beast, a secret technique of the Seiguard clan. What else can you call that but a failure?"

Ryushu said mockingly. Mayu smiled wryly at his words.

The secret technique of the Seiguard clan. Failing to learn this technique completely determined Mayu's evaluation.

The secret technique of the Seiguard clan is a method to summon and contract with a spirit or phantom beast from another world, making it a guardian spirit beast.

This is similar to the spirit pacts of onmyoji, like Abe no Seimei, who is said to have had twelve spirit pacts known as the Twelve Divine Generals (or Twelve Celestial Generals), each possessing immense power.

After Abe no Seimei's death, the Twelve Divine Generals are said to have been lost, and it was believed that no one would surpass him as a user of spirit pacts.

However, the Seiguard clan inherited the power of Abe no Seimei's spirit pacts. The difference between the spirit pacts of other exorcists and the Seiguard clan's is that there is no upper limit to the strength of the beings they can contract with.

Typically, exorcists can only make spirit pacts with beings that are lower in rank, equal, or slightly above them.

However, the Seiguard clan is called the strongest not only because of their power and spiritual energy as exorcists, but also because they can contract and command beings that far surpass their own abilities.

Guardian spirit beasts contracted as guardian spirit beasts can descend into this world at the summoner's call and wield their power. High-ranking phantom beasts can have power that rivals or even surpasses a special-class exorcist.

The first head of the Seiguard clan is said to have had a guardian spirit beast of supreme-class strength, and subsequent heads have contracted with beings of at least special-class or higher. After contracting, the guardian spirit beast's power grows with the summoner, and there are cases where a guardian spirit beast has grown from a low rank to a supreme or special class.

Mayu's father, the current head, has contracted with a supreme-class guardian spirit beast.

However, Mayu couldn't even perform the summoning, let alone the contract. Failing the direct line of the Seiguard clan was unprecedented in the history of the clan.

"…But that doesn't mean you can mock Mayu."

"But it's the truth. It's presumptuous for someone with no power to call themselves an exorcist. An exorcist needs strength based on innate talent and high spiritual power. Someone who lacks all of that will eventually lose their life in this world. It would be kinder to guide them to the afterlife sooner."

"What did you say!?"

"Shuon, stop. He's not wrong, is he?"

"Mayu! Is it okay to just take it!?"

Shuon, as if it were her own matter, showed anger at Ryushu's words.

"Hmph. I don't recognize you as an exorcist. If you are an exorcist, you must be strong. An exorcist who can't fight is meaningless."

"That's harsh. But you're not wrong."

"Moreover, you can't use any offensive spiritual techniques. You're a defective product. It's annoying to have someone like you in front of me. We'll take care of the demon in this mountain. Leave now."

"Are you kidding me! We received a formal request! Besides, this is the property of the client who hired the Hinono clan! You're the ones who should leave! If you don't, we'll win! And we can formally protest to the Mizuhara clan from the Hinono clan!"

Individually, it might be different, but if it became a major issue involving the clans, it would not be a good outcome for the Mizuhara clan.

Ryushu looked like he had bitten into a bitter pill.

"Ryushu-sama…"

"We're leaving this place. We don't have time to waste here."

"Hai."

They weren't leaving the mountain, just moving away from the two of them.

"We'll back off for now."

"Wait a minute! At least explain the situation before you go!"

"There's no need. There's nothing to tell you…!"

Suddenly, Ryushu turned his face toward the mountain's peak.

The other exorcists and Mayu, following his gaze, looked in the same direction a moment later.

"Huh? What's going on? !?"

Shuon, who couldn't keep up, looked around but quickly realized something was approaching from near the mountain's peak.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!

Suddenly, a beast's roar echoed through the mountain, shaking the trees and the air.

"It's him! Everyone, get ready!"

As Ryushu shouted, the other Mizuhara exorcists took their stances. The creature, pushing aside the trees, came straight toward them.

"Is that… an Oni!?"

It was a massive humanoid creature, nearly three meters tall. It had a fearsome face, a body and legs covered in steel-like red muscles, and a tiger-striped loincloth. Sharp, pointed teeth protruded from its mouth, and its face was terrifying. Two horns protruded from its head.

It was a demon known as an Oni.

"Damn! It must have sensed our presence and come here!"

"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr