At the foot of the stone steps leading to Higurashi Shrine, several black Honda cars were parked by the roadside.
Inside one of the vehicles, Shirayuki Hotogi listened intently as an Onmyou Agency staff member delivered his report.
"The shrine's Shinto priest went missing approximately 72 hours ago, as reported by a part-time shrine maiden working there."
"Initially, the part-time shrine maiden didn't notice anything amiss. But as time passed, not only did the priest remain missing, but another part-time shrine maiden also stopped responding to contact. That's when she alerted the police."
"Local authorities in Ito City received the report and, after preliminary investigation, notified personnel from the nearby Otonashi Shrine. They escalated the matter to the Shizuoka branch of the Onmyou Agency."
"The Shizuoka branch dispatched three Onmyoji for reconnaissance 32 hours ago. All three have since lost contact."
"Their final communication, sent via comms device before disappearing, contained just two words: 'Abyss Descent'."
"This incident was reported to the Onmyou Agency headquarters 24 hours ago."
As the staff member concluded, Shirayuki Hotogi—who had been gazing up at the shrine—furrowed her brows deeply.
"'Abyss Descent'?"
"And one that's persisted for over 72 hours?"
"That defies all logic."
"Indeed."
The staff member beside her nodded grimly.
"Normally, Abyss Descents are extremely brief and rarely occur at the same location."
"The longest recorded Abyss Descent was during the Chernobyl disappearance incident in Soviet Russia, lasting 11 hours and 23 minutes."
"A 72-hour continuous Abyss Descent is indeed an abnormal phenomenon."
"Regarding this, the Onmyou Agency's many Onmyoji diviners hold differing opinions. However, based on current divination, it's highly likely that an object tentatively identified as an Abyss Node has appeared within Higurashi Shrine."
"This Abyss Node possesses the ability to connect to the Abyss. By distributing the total connection time across three days through intermittent intervals—without exceeding 12 hours cumulative—it creates the illusion of a continuous 72-hour Abyss Descent."
Hearing this, Shirayuki Hotogi appeared somewhat startled: "So you're saying there's an object within Higurashi Shrine capable of connecting to the Abyss?"
"Has the Director performed divination on the target?"
The current head of the Onmyou Agency held the position of Director, directly subordinate to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Thus referred to simply as "the Director" by agency personnel, he was an elderly man exceptionally skilled in divination.
The shrine staff member replied solemnly:
"The Director has already employed a Grade 3 Abyss Artefact—the Divination Crystal—as assistance. He fell unconscious during the divination process, repeatedly uttering the words 'Sacred Tree' before losing consciousness."
At this, Shirayuki Hotogi immediately looked up towards Higurashi Shrine, her expression turning grave as she observed the towering sacred tree visible at the mountain's base:
"So the sacred tree is most likely this so-called Abyss Node?"
"We cannot rule out that possibility," the staff member in the car said heavily.
Considering this, Shirayuki Hotogi fell silent for a moment before retrieving a trimmed paper doll from her pocket. She arranged it in a Bagua formation on her lap, clasped her hands together, and directly performed a divination for auspiciousness.
"Minor auspiciousness?" Examining the final hexagram, Shirayuki Hotogi pondered briefly before narrowing her eyes slightly. Activating her Spirit Sight, she gazed up at the sacred tree.
Upon seeing the massive, flickering blue flame and the black currents coiling around it within the sacred tree, she took a deep breath and declared:
"In my name, request the Onmyoji in the rear vehicles to disembark. According to protocol, they shall accompany me for a second exploration mission. Primary objectives: investigate the Abyss connection and rescue any trapped Onmyoji."
"Understood, Vermilion Bird General." The staff member promptly bowed in acknowledgement.
...
Three hours later.
Reports of the Onmyou Agency's Vermilion Bird General going missing began appearing on the desks of Tokyo's various official intelligence personnel.
...
3:00 PM.
Hidden Management Department, third floor, Luo Shu's office.
Meer walked to the window, opening it to allow the wisps of smoke from Kirika Tachibana's cigarette to drift outside before turning back to observe the room's sofa.
There, Lacus and Luo Shu—having just concluded their gathering—sat closely together.
Opposite them, Kirika Tachibana sat with a lady's cigarette between her lips, her brow deeply furrowed.
Witnessing this scene, Meer clasped her hands behind her back and approached Luo Shu's side, leaning down slightly to inquire:
"Have you reached any conclusions yet?"
"Not yet."
Luo Shu shook his head, then pinched the bridge of his nose before leaning back against the sofa:
"The system has too many types of abilities, even knowledge-related purchases. Finding a suitable ability system, or even a Class, to promote within the SDS is quite troublesome."
Opposite him, Kirika Tachibana exhaled a smoke ring with a helpless expression and said:
"In my opinion, Dying Will Flames are already sufficient for now. Verde has a series of development experiences with Dying Will Flames. In the short term, it's enough for the rank-and-file to focus on researching them."
"And don't forget, you only have 459,000 Points after accounting for our inclusion, with an additional 101,500 Points added at the start of each month."
"With such meagre points, don't even think about popularising Classes or anything like that. Being able to popularise Elite Rank abilities would already be an achievement."
Kirika Tachibana could also view the exchange list and had thoroughly researched the pricing of abilities.
The minimum for Common Rank abilities was 100 Points, 1,000 for Excellent Rank, 10,000 for Elite Rank, 50,000 for Hero Rank, and 100,000 Points was the baseline for Demigod Rank abilities.
"From my perspective, the top priority should be developing high-tier strength, such as nurturing a second Demigod."
At this, Kirika couldn't help but glance at Luo Shu, her gaze filled with subtlety.
In truth, had Luo Shu not confessed openly, she would never have known that Kurumi Tokisaki had successfully ascended to become a half-human, half-divine powerhouse.
This was the first Demigod whose existence Kirika had learned of, and currently, the strongest individual she was aware of.
Recalling the technique Luo Shu had called 'Concept Bestowal' that she'd just experienced in the Dream Simulation Chamber, Kirika couldn't suppress a shudder.
The gap between Demigods and those below was simply too vast, to the point where Kirika was now considering whether they should even bother developing rank-and-file members at all, and instead pool resources to create another Demigod.
But Luo Shu held a different view. Frowning with a troubled expression, he said:
"Demigods aren't so easily nurtured."
"Kurumi Tokisaki only reached Demigod status because of her own unique traits combined with assistance from the Divine Pantheon."
"To cultivate a true Demigod, even if I poured all 450,000 Points into it, it would probably just be money down the drain."
"Don't forget, advancing to Hero Rank alone costs me 300,000 Points, and I don't even know how to perform the ritual, let alone the ritual to become a Demigod."
"Moreover, possessing Demigod Rank abilities and being a true Demigod are two different things. Those fake powerhouses who only have the abilities could probably be killed by Kurumi with a single punch. What use are such inferior goods?"
"We'd be better off strengthening our foundation."
Hearing this, Kirika took another deep drag of her cigarette before saying:
"Then how about we first find a way to complete the ritual and advance you to Hero Rank?"
As Kirika's words fell.
Both Luo Shu and Meer turned their gazes towards Lacus's face.
After all, the method for Luo Shu's next-stage Class, Calamity Priest, seemed to everyone like repeatedly jumping on Lacus's bottom line!