Tokyo Ravens - Volume 3 - Chapter 5.3

Part 3 
"......Tch, to think they dealt with it......" 
On Aoyama Road, above the bridge from the south Aoyama Sanchome crossroad leading to the Omotesando Station, Kagami muttered a curse. 
Though he cursed, his expression was very joyous and he leaned his body on the railing, his eyes staring intently in the direction of Omotesando Station - towards Harutora and the others who had purified the Nue. 
The purification carried out in the Meiji outer garden had already ended. Kagami had recognized the situation and left the area beforehand alone. He announced that he was going ahead to chase the escaped '02', but actually he was interested in Tsuchimikado Natsume - more accurately, the group of Onmyou Academy students with him as the head that he had encountered in the evening. 
But, it actually wasn't correct to say he was 'interested'. With his peculiar sense of smell, Kagami had sniffed out that instead of dealing with '01', whose redeeming trait was its size, and participating in that large-scale spiritual disaster purification similar to that of sport events, this side was surely more interesting. 
His intuition proved correct. Outsiders were in charge of purifying a phase three spiritual disaster. Though Kogure's shikigami were assisting on the side, it was still a rare scene. 
If this incident got out, the rumors that Tsuchimikado Natsume was Yakou's reincarnation would definitely gain credibility and they would spread like wildfire. The Twin-Horned Syndicate had planned this series of spiritual disasters, but they might jump for joy more excitedly when the Nue were completely wiped out. It was ironic. 
"Alright...... What should I do?" Kagami leaned on the railing, muttering and laughing coldly. 
The Exorcist Bureau was using all its power to purify a spiritual disaster and didn't have anyone to supervise Kagami's every move. Because of this, no one would be the wiser even if he 'intervened' from the shadows. He wouldn't make that kind of mistake. Moreover, the person who made him feel the most interest right now wasn't Tsuchimikado Natsume, but rather the student who had become a living spirit - Touji. 
Before the operation had started, Kagami had accessed the records from two years ago. Touji had indeed been involved in the spiritual disaster Dairenji Shidou had brought about and had even directly come in contact with Dairenji who had become a phase four. In other words, he had been assaulted by the spiritual pressure and miasma of a phase four 'Type-Ogre' spiritual disaster and almost become a spiritual disaster. 
The 'Type-Ogre' spiritual disaster Dairenji Shidou had used himself as the core for hadn't been a simple spiritual disaster. No, the situation hadn't been simple at all. 
"......Unfortunately, the information was all destroyed......" 
There was nothing in the world that could escape Kagami's sharp eyes, including the 'Child Prodigy' Dairenji Suzuka. Kagami and her had met a few times, and he had seen that she was a 'vessel' in a single glance. Her ability as a Divine General - the surprising ability that she wielded at such a young age - was at best just an additional effect. 
Dairenji Shidou had made his own daughter into a 'vessel'. But why had he done this? Of course, this was in order to let some kind of spiritual being possess her. Dairenji had made his own daughter into a 'receptacle' to receive spirits, rearing and cultivating her for that purpose. 
But when Dairenji brought about the spiritual disaster two years ago, he had become the core instead of his daughter. Not only Kagami, but also all the Mystical Investigators couldn't find the reason behind it. 
Since Dairenji had 'prepared' a vessel like his daughter, it was hard to think of him as a normal spiritual disaster after he became a 'Type-Ogre'. A phase three spiritual disaster - a mobile spiritual disaster - actually meant a 'materialized spiritual being'. In other words, the most suitable explanation was that Dairenji had made himself into a vessel for possession, which led to spiritual disaster transformation as a result - a demon transformation. 
Then Dairenji Shidou - as the previous head of the Lingering Spirit Division and the cadre of the Twin-Horned Syndicate, what exactly had he planned on letting possess his body? 
And what exactly had attached itself to his body as a result? 
Dairenji who had transformed into a spiritual disaster had been purified by the Exorcist Bureau, which caused the Lingering Spirit Division that was the lair of the Twin-Horned Syndicate to fall under inspection. The Mystical Investigators had carried out a thorough investigation, but unfortunately not a single definite fact had been dug up, and right now they were only left with intractable questions. 
But, what if someone had been affected by Dairenji Shidou and had become a living spirit? Would the demon inside that living spirit's body just be an ordinary demon? 
"......Interesting, it's way too interesting......" 
The answer was hard to figure out, but he could find the truth by opening the lid, and that container holding the answer was right in front of him, in front of him who was unattended. 
"......But, it would save a lot of trouble if he fell to the path of the demon......" He murmured, stepping back from the railing, an unkind smile emerging on his lips. But, that smile didn't last very long and vanished in the blink of an eye. 
Knock-- 
The sound of wood lightly knocking against the cement...... Footsteps sounded from behind him. His heart leaped, and something hard immediately pressed against his back. 
"......You're the same as always." 
A hearty and passionate Kansai accent. But Kagami could hear the ice-cold chill hidden beneath the calm tone. 
"I taught you to always be on your guard on the very first day. You really aren't suited to be a Mystical Investigator, I really made the right choice in guiding you to become an exorcist." 
Ohtomo pressed the short cane in his hand against Kagami's back, speaking leisurely. His tone was regulated as if he were pressurizing an egg grasped tight in his hand, yet afraid of crushing it. 
Kagami's lips rose, showing an unruly smile. Though it was sharp as a blade, the smile was filled with tension. He couldn't turn around, his entire body taut. 
"......Well, well. Isn't this Ohtomo-senpai?" 
"It's been a long time, Kagami-kun." 
The two of them greeted each other, seeming friendly, but their words actually hid blades. Kagami felt like someone behind his back was holding him at gunpoint, ordering him to raise his hands high, and he was extremely clear that the current situation was as dangerous as that analogy. 
"......Why are you in this kind of place? I heard you retired, could you have come to visit?" 
"How's that possible, it's no place for me to take the stage right now. I was just on a nighttime walk. That's a recent hobby of mine." 
"It's those old man hobbies again. You haven't changed at all, senpai." 
"You're just like old days too. You don't seem civil at all, you're just a punk." 
The two of them smiled, but greeted each other with veiled words. 
"You're so shrewd that you would realize right away even if I didn't tell you, but I'll tell you first. I'm a teacher right now." Ohtomo continued speaking. 
"A teacher?" 
"That's right, I'm a teacher at the Onmyou Academy." 
Kagami's body went rigid and he glanced towards Harutora and the others. 
"......Ha, I see......" He murmured while grinding his teeth: "How unexpected...... to think senpai would switch to becoming a teacher." 
"Even I myself didn't expect it. But being a teacher is actually pretty interesting, and I noticed that I'm extremely used to dealing with problem children. It's not easy to find someone more difficult than Kagami Reiji." 
"How hurtful, and I thought we got along very well." 
"That's true, I really miss those days." 
Saying this, Ohtomo snorted, and a deeply abhorrent mocking smile emerged on Kagami's lips. 
"Alright." Ohtomo spoke: 
"I finally ran into you, but I don't have any intention of keeping a busy official Independent Exorcist tied up in this place. Let me take my leave first." 
"That's truly regretful, I wanted to chat for a bit longer...... Right, I'll come to the Onmyou Academy some day to stir things up. There's a student who interests me a lot." 
Kagami deliberately spoke those provocative words, and Ohtomo only laughed coldly and quietly upon hearing. 

"I don't think that will be so easy. You'll have to spend a long time just to undo the curses, so you'll be staying here for a while." 
"What did you say!" After Ohtomo uttered those words, Kagami showed anger for the first time, turning around to look at Ohtomo. 
Ohtomo grinned in satisfaction, showing a cold gaze. 
"You're a bit too careless. Who knows how many curses I laid during the time you and I were chatting. Let me warn you out of goodwill that none of them are common curses. They're all strange curses no one knows about that you won't find the names of unless you check some ancient books. But don't worry, I set an ample period of time, so you have some time to investigate slowly." 
"......Don't think you can scare me like that." Kagami immediately replied. The leisure from before wasn't audible in his tone, and it was full of boiling rage instead. "We've known each other for so long, do you think I'd believe that prized silver tongue of yours?" 
"Hahaha, those are some really interesting words. But, don't waste your breath. In any case, you also understand what kind of person I am. Do you understand why I brought you to so many tragic battlefields when you were under my care? It was for you to realize that I'm a person who will do anything if there's a reason to." 
"............" Kagami gritted his teeth ferociously. 
Ohtomo spoke the truth. Back when Kagami had entered the Onmyou Agency, his ability had obtained approval, but his style and personality were believed to be problematic, and the higher-ups decided that Ohtomo would bring Kagami around for practical training. 
At the time, Ohtomo had been the 'Shadow' of the Mystical Investigators, the capable confidant of the 'Sacred Fan' Amami Daizen. He dealt with the Onmyou Agency's work that didn't see the light and definitely couldn't be made public, belonging to the darkness of the magic community. Kagami had witnessed first-hand the contents of Ohtomo's work during his practical training. 
No, more accurately, it should be said that Ohtomo had 'deliberately' let him witness those scenes. 
Controlling the opponent's knowledge was the basis of second-class magic, and its essence was to use the 'unknown' to its fullest. 
"Like I said just now, you're very shrewd. Even if my words are ninety percent bluff, you cannot ignore the last ten percent, definitely not. Alright, why don't you go spend some time slowly researching until you're completely sure that my words were all complete nonsense." 
Ohtomo forcefully twisted the short staff pressed into Kagami's back like he couldn't wait to damage his flesh. 
"Remember, don't even think about touching those students while I'm still alive." 
Those words were like hot mercury. Though they were dull, they carried a breathtaking valor. 
Kagami was speechless for a while. He accepted that he had indeed been gotten the best of, and just as Ohtomo had evaluated, he didn't refuse to accept defeat so much to the point of risking death. 
"......Some day......" He barely held back the anger, hate, and anxiety that erupted like a volcano, gritting his teeth forcefully and saying: "Some day, I'll defeat you... I just can't wait for that day......" 
"Oh my, that's quite scary. I could smooth things over and have you die here in an unexpected accident, want to try?" 
"......I'll definitely kill you." 
"Hah, we've definitely both got 'silver tongues'." 
Ohtomo laughed. He knew that the killing intent in Kagami's voice was a deliberate provocation. He was still the same verbally abusing Kagami as always. 
On the other hand, Kagami was overjoyed. This was different, that living spirit and reincarnated brat were no match. Only jokes involving life and death and the aberrant games of adults could let him enjoy this kind of ecstatic feeling. 
"......Why don't you stop there, Jin." 
Kagami looked to the right in surprise upon hearing those words, noticing that Kogure who had walked up at some point was already standing on the other end of the bridge. Ohtomo leisurely made a sound different from Kagami's shock. 
Kagami pressed his lips together again. 
Whatever situation he was in, he would always be on his guard. Even in this kind of situation, Ohtomo had long since noticed Kogure walked over here. Vexation inadvertently spilled forth in Kagami's heart, not the same as anger or loathing. He was mad that he hadn't noticed earlier. 
Ohtomo frowned towards his old classmate. 
"Hey you, you're too reckless, Zenjirou! Why did you let my students run out to directly deal with a Nue? I was so surprised when I ran out to look. What's the Exorcist Bureau making underage outsiders do?" 
"I, I didn't want to, things happened suddenly. Mutobe of the Twin-Horned Syndicate tied me up, and I only got out just now." 
"What kind of stupid reason is that, you idiot! You should have developed countermeasures for Mutobe from the beginning, the Exorcist Bureau should be responsible for that. The chief's post might be in danger if I revealed this to the media." 
"Bastard! Don't make that kind of bad joke! This isn't funny!" 
Maybe believing that Ohtomo might actually do such a thing, Kogure's expression changed. It was really a farce. Kagami couldn't help but click his tongue. 
"......Kogure-san, did you successfully arrest Mutobe?" 
"Of course...... well, I really want to say that." Upon hearing Kagami's question, Kogure couldn't help but make a bitter face, grudgingly saying: "......He's dead." 
"What?" 
"Uwah, how bad, how did you let him die, Zenjirou?" 
"What a pity, our most important main suspect died again. It looks like we'll still have to play around for a while." 
"This clumsy man, really......" 
"Was he always like this?" 
"He was always like this." 
"Sh, Shut up! He had a suicide curse placed on him since the beginning, what could I do! And also, you two are normally always arguing so loudly, so why are you so understanding when you're talking bad about me! That's a bit strange!" 
Ohtomo and Kagami took turns continuously ridiculing him and Kogure's face flushed in anger as he protested repeatedly. From the contents of the conversation, it was hard to imagine that they were National First-Class Onmyouji - the premier practitioners in the nation. 
"Ah, found Zenjirou! Zenjirou's over here!" 
"You definitely won't believe it! They purified the Nue! Incredible, right? They did it, amazing!" 
The four crow tengu - Kogure's shikigami - flew towards the bridge one after another. Ohtomo casually put down the short staff. Kagami had managed to obtain release from the magic binds - the force of second-class magic - but he still felt unbearably fretful in his chest. 
This farce truly got worse and worse. Kagami cooperated with the performance while holding back his anger. Since Kogure had come, he would have to be careful for now and could only wait quietly for the next opportunity to have some fun. After the spiritual disaster was purified, in a while he would have to go out to deal with some annoying and downright boring aftermath work. 
But, he had clearly learned the location of Yakou's reincarnation, the living spirit related to Dairenji, and Ohtomo. 
The Onmyou Academy. 
He didn't want to give up on the prey that was so fascinating. Though he hated being patient from the bottom of his heart, as long as there was a need, he had the ability to endure various difficulties or hardships. He would wait in the wings and kill his rivals by surprise, whether it was the Exorcist Bureau, the Onmyou Agency, or Ohtomo. Kagami carved this point into his heart. 
But - he didn't expect that something fun would happen before he returned to his boring job. 
Suddenly - "Tch." Ohtomo looked over, then a chill went through Kogure's entire body. Then, Kagami also noticed that 'presence'. 
The three National First-Class Onmyoujis' expressions changed as they looked in the distance. The crow tengu didn't understand what had happened, and also followed their gazes over. 
Looking in the direction of Harutora and the others.