Chapter 1

――――Why did it come to this?

The strange night of peace.

In the burning mansion, I, on the brink of death, can only think about this.

I have lost most of the talisman dolls, and all the shikigami are sealed.

The demon, my trump card, has been defeated. Its remains have crushed the mansion and are still burning with blue flames.

I have lost my left arm. I can no longer form perfect seals.

My lungs are scorched by smoke, and I can no longer chant mantras.

Praised as the strongest onmyōji in history.

Feared as the "Night Parade of One Hundred Demons" and the "Living Gate of Hell."

I, who lived for over a century in a youthful form.

This is how it all ended.

Since childhood, I sought power.

I thought that with it, I would never lose anything. I thought I could be happy.

I obtained the power I desired and became the strongest.

And then, I lost everything.

Intrigue and betrayal.

That is the name of the one who killed the strongest.

Looking back, everything was orchestrated.

The fact that my disciples were taken hostage.

The fact that I had to turn against the court.

And... the fact that the child who wept while slaying me.

It was brilliant.

I don’t know if the mastermind was a noble or a royal, but they truly cornered me brilliantly.

Being the strongest was no help at all.

Perhaps there were limits to power alone.

I should have devised strategies and skillfully maneuvered to always have the majority on my side.

What I lacked is now clear to me—cunning.

Now that I understand, it’s all right.

Next time, I will do it right.

With my trembling right hand, I form an incomplete seal.

I chant a mantra in a whisper with my scorched throat.

A single talisman I kept safe floats up in the smoke.

The secret technique I use in this life’s final moments is the curse of reincarnation.

I will start over, once again.

I don’t know how Japan will change in the future. No, more than that, there’s a high possibility I will be born in a completely different country.

But this time, I won’t fail.

In my next life—this time, I will be happy.

The talisman emits light.

A magic circle appears centered around me as I fall.

My consciousness fades away.

And I—

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