Musashi Province, Daimyo's Castle, Underground Dungeon.
"Ugh...ah...it hurts...please stop...no, don't, don't cut that off, NO!!!"
The low, anguished moans made the torches illuminating the walls flicker unsteadily.
Outside the prison cell, Kuesu Jingūji was quietly reading from a collection of feudal lords' books.
Compared to the peaceful reading of Kuesu Jingūji, Shirayuki Hotogi nearby was casting uneasy glances towards the direction of pained screams:
"Isn't this... going too far?"
Shirayuki's voice carried a hint of guilt.
Hearing this, Kuesu Jingūji lifted a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear:
"Which part do you consider 'too far'? The human puppet modifications of Ministry of Environment operatives? Or taking control of the entire feudal castle to capture yokai for Demon Power testing experiments?~"
"Oh, given your usual temperament, Shirayuki, surely you mean both?"
Faced with Kuesu's half-mocking words, Shirayuki offered no rebuttal, sinking into silence.
Observing this, Kuesu closed her scroll with a resigned sigh:
"No wonder Aunt Shirayuki always said you'd make better wife material than a Divine General of the Onmyou Agency."
Too much empathy made one unsuitable for combat roles - at least that was Kuesu's firm belief.
Resting her chin on one hand, the childhood friend whose personality often gave her headaches remarked impassively:
"Relax. Though it's my Familiar performing the control modifications, once this man called Noriyuki Izuna survives the rejection period, his combat capabilities should increase by roughly 300%."
"Admittedly, he'll lose his gender-defining characteristics, suffer hormonal imbalances requiring regular estrogen intake, develop more feminine facial features, and experience menstrual-like pain weekly. But the performance enhancement is substantial."
As the list continued, Shirayuki's expression grew increasingly strained:
"Kuesu, are you certain this is human puppet modification? Not some... personality-altering surgery?"
Kuesu kept her chin propped as she admitted:
"Ah, that sort of procedure. I did borrow some techniques from Thai shamans."
"But it's perfectly reasonable appropriation."
"Post-surgery, without testosterone interference, the puppet's brain operates with greater clarity while extending the host body's lifespan by preventing organ bacterial mutations. Quite elegant, really."
"Neutering?"
Shirayuki's face twisted strangely:
"In Kuesu's eyes, has Mr. Izuna been demoted to pet status?"
"What a curious assumption."
Kuesu regarded Shirayuki with genuine surprise before correcting:
"Pets are animals kept for emotional companionship. This is clearly a manufactured tool for practical utility."
Shirayuki fell silent again, studying Kuesu with complex emotions.
She recalled Kuesu's mother mentioning how exposure to Western forbidden artefacts was gradually eroding her humanity. The evidence seemed undeniable now.
The old Kuesu, while morally questionable enough to employ human puppets, despised manipulating male specimens. Yet here she was, initiating such procedures via Familiars.
'Is her capacity for feeling slipping away...?' Shirayuki's heart grew heavy.
As Shirayuki Hotogi remained silent, a black crow flapped its wings and landed on Kuesu Jingūji's outstretched arm.
The crow let out a raucous caw.
"Oh? You've already extracted the swordsmith's memories?"
Understanding the crow's message, Kuesu Jingūji nodded thoughtfully, then narrowed her eyes.
"So his name is Tōtōsai? A yokai swordsmith? How interesting."
After saying this, she glanced at Shirayuki Hotogi and snapped her fingers.
Snap.
A thick, dictionary-sized book with a black cover materialised before Kuesu Jingūji.
She casually flipped it open, tore out a page, and folded it into a paper crane. With a light tap of her fingertip, the crane trembled slightly before fluttering its wings and rising into the air. It circled Shirayuki Hotogi before hovering near her.
Kuesu Jingūji spoke nonchalantly, "I've imprinted the swordsmith's knowledge onto the paper crane. If there's nothing else, Hotogi, you should take it and leave this Abyss."
She tilted her head slightly, smiling.
"After all, possession is nine-tenths of the law, no?"
Shirayuki Hotogi didn't object, simply offering her thanks.
"Thank you for this, Kuesu."
Kuesu Jingūji turned away, stowing the book as she replied indifferently, "No need. The Onmyou Agency already paid upfront."
Shirayuki Hotogi's expression stiffened slightly. She caught the paper crane and tucked it away, then hesitated before asking,
"Speaking of which, Kuesu, why did you send Miss Isayama to find Kikyo, the Shrine Maiden of Musashi Province?"
She was worried Kuesu Jingūji intended to craft a human puppet out of a shrine maiden.
If she kept making forbidden puppets like this—ones the mystic side of Japan strictly prohibited—Shirayuki Hotogi feared she might one day see Kuesu Jingūji's face on a wanted poster.
Kuesu Jingūji merely shrugged.
"Nothing much. I was just curious about the source of this world's shrine maidens' power. Besides, I'm a little interested in that Shikon Jewel in Kikyo's possession."
She then shot Shirayuki Hotogi a sidelong glance.
"What? Are you hoping the Onmyou Agency can secure a few more Abyss Artefacts?"
"If that's the case, I could let you have the Shikon Jewel... but..."
She raised a finger.
"The price goes up!"
"The forbidden technique of the Onmyou Agency—the Taizan Fukun Ritual. I'm quite curious about that restricted text."
At first, Shirayuki Hotogi was surprised to hear that Kuesu Jingūji was willing to yield the jewel. But when she mentioned the taboo ritual that manipulated life and death, she relaxed, even letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Of course. Kuesu will always be Kuesu, forever collecting forbidden knowledge."
Kuesu Jingūji chuckled but didn't deny it, pressing instead,
"Well? Do we have a deal?"
"No, I've been here over a month already. I should head back and report in."
Shirayuki Hotogi shook her head, retrieving her extraction device. She glanced at Kuesu Jingūji one last time.
"I hope everything goes smoothly for you here."
Kuesu Jingūji arched a brow, watching silently as Shirayuki Hotogi activated the device and vanished from the Abyss.
After her friend left, Kuesu Jingūji's expression gradually faded until it became completely blank:
"The interference is gone. It's time to begin."
"Let me see how much interesting truth this world holds."
Within the prison cell, the silver-haired girl curled her lips into a faint smile under the firelight...