"Isn't the Hagoromo Group trying to resurrect Abe no Seimei? That Great Onmyoji from a thousand years ago..."
At Yukino Yukinoshita's naive response, Kirika merely smiled:
"I know. But precisely because I know, I suspect there's something more to it."
Kirika didn't intend to speak in riddles, reminding them again:
"The Intelligence Department's archives contain a high-risk individuals dossier listing particularly dangerous sorcerers in modern society."
"Figures like the Truth Astronomy chairman or the Twin-Wings of the Seven Knights Alliance are classified as extremely hazardous."
"Based on the Astronomy Club's internal rating system, I suspect they might even be Demigods."
At the mention of "Demigod", Luo Shu's gaze instantly sharpened, his expression turning grave.
—Demigod!
That was a truly transcendent level, wielding power far beyond that of Heroes, grasping fragments of divine authority, utterly incomparable to the Hero Rank.
Even though Luo Shu possessed the unique Class of Calamity Bringer and could rely on its special abilities to challenge Heroes at the Elite Rank, achieving such a feat of surpassing ranks, against a Demigod, he would still be as powerless as a child.
Luo Shu often observed Kurumi Tokisaki's self-challenges in the Dream Simulation Chamber through the Divine Pantheon Reconstruction System, so he naturally understood the terror of Demigods.
Even a modern metropolis with tens of millions of inhabitants could be obliterated by a Demigod in mere seconds.
How could such terrifying beings still exist in this world in numbers?
The chairman of Truth Astronomy and the Twin-Wings of the Seven Knights Alliance, perhaps.
As Luo Shu pondered this, Kirika Tachibana continued:
"Yukinoshita mentioned Hao Asakura in her previous report as precisely this kind of highly dangerous individual."
"What?" Yukino Yukinoshita stared at Kirika in shock before involuntarily turning her gaze to Luo Shu, who was beside her.
It was from Luo Shu's unsurprised expression that Yukino realised just how troublesome the situation he'd described earlier truly was.
The true pinnacle of the mystic side, beings half-human and half-divine...
"Is there some connection between the Hagoromo Group and Hao Asakura?"
Yukino didn't believe Kirika would mention one of the few suspected Demigods in the world without reason.
At this moment, Luo Shu seemed to suddenly think of something, his expression uncertain as he said:
"You're referring to the Chō-Senjiryakketsu?"
Kirika's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Luo Shu: "You know about it?"
"Wait, did you use the Mysticism Encyclopaedia? Can that thing even divine information like this?"
As Kirika frowned in confusion, Yukino asked, puzzled:
"What is the Chō-Senjiryakketsu?"
"It's a work on Yin-Yang Arts compiled by Hao Asakura, detailing the application and cultivation of the Five Elements techniques - essentially the mathematics textbook for the Shaman Class."
After this explanation, Luo Shu added meaningfully:
"Quite similar, isn't it? The name of this work."
The Fairy of Knowledge Class triggered terrifying associations in Yukino at this moment:
"Abe no Seimei's Senji Ryakketsu?!"
"One wrote the Senji Ryakketsu, the other the Chō-Senjiryakketsu - what connection could there be between Hao Asakura and Abe no Seimei? Master and disciple? Or something else?"
Yukino voiced these doubts aloud.
Kirika sighed at this point:
"According to Intelligence Department investigations and some records we've collected from Chinese mystic texts, there's a high probability that Hao Asakura is Abe no Seimei."
Hao Asakura is Abe no Seimei? Though he'd suspected as much, Luo Shu still found this answer absurd.
Meanwhile, Yukino's eyes suddenly gleamed with an eerie light.
Her gaze flickering, she turned to look at Luo Shu and said:
"My Fairy of Knowledge Class seems to be developing a new spell based on the knowledge that Hao Asakura is Abe no Seimei."
"What?"
This declaration left both Luo Shu and Kirika stunned.
"The Fairy of Knowledge Class has that ability?" Luo Shu clicked his tongue, his face full of doubt.
On the screen, Kirika rolled her eyes in response."You ask me, but who should I ask? This is the first time I've heard about this girl's Class."
At that moment, Luo Shu asked curiously, "What effect does the spell have?"
Yukino Yukinoshita focused for a moment before answering uncertainly:
"It seems to create a false version of myself, like a doppelgänger?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu looked rather surprised:
"A false self? That's quite a useful ability, in a way."
Though for some reason, his mind conjured an image of himself holding a ponytailed Yukino Yukinoshita by the scruff. Had he overworked his kidneys?
"So, special knowledge can form unique spells? The Fairy of Knowledge's Class is clearly extraordinary."
Kirika Tachibana glanced at Yukino Yukinoshita, thinking Luo Shu's decision to make her his secretary was quite fitting.
The Director's secretary in the Hidden Management Department would have easy access to classified materials from the mystic side, and Yukino Yukinoshita, as the Fairy of Knowledge, could extract spells from those very documents.
The pairing was simply perfect!
"However, if the Fairy of Knowledge can derive spells from this, another question arises."
Kirika's expression turned peculiar as she said:
"How exactly does the Hagoromo Group plan to resurrect someone who's already been revived?"
"Or rather, does Hao Asakura—who can freely manipulate life and death and has reincarnated multiple times in this world—even need someone to resurrect him?"
"Does the Hagoromo Group's leader, that Hagoromo Gitsune, truly understand Abe no Seimei's identity?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu recalled the intel on Hagoromo Gitsune—wasn't she from Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan?
According to that series' lore, Abe no Seimei's identity wasn't in question.
But due to the merged worlds, the settings seemed to clash with Hao Asakura's background.
A conflict between worldviews?
As Luo Shu pondered this, he tentatively asked:
"Then... is there a chance the Abe no Seimei they want to resurrect isn't Hao Asakura?"
"You mean an imposter?" Kirika guessed. "Surely no one's that insane?"
To impersonate a suspected Demigod Rank threat—wouldn't the fake be terrified of Hao Asakura's Spirit of Fire?
That man was notorious for recruiting followers worldwide and eliminating those who refused, yet he remained at large.
Who in their right mind would provoke such a monster?
At this, Luo Shu's expression turned odd:
"How many people actually know Hao Asakura is Abe no Seimei?"
"...I see." Kirika was momentarily speechless.
Within the SDS, Hao Asakura's identity as Abe no Seimei was only speculative. Kirika herself had only confirmed it after Yukino derived a spell from the information.
In other words, this was a secret known to an extremely select few.
So, it made sense if the Hagoromo Group was unaware.
"It seems we'll need a thorough investigation into the Hagoromo Group."
Regardless of how much Kyoto's Hagoromo Group knew, an investigation was essential.
"Investigation is all we can do for now." Luo Shu chuckled dryly. "After all, who knows how deep this rabbit hole goes?"
Then, Yukino Yukinoshita raised a question:
"What about the Hagoromo Group's plot to attack the minister's family?"
Kirika replied casually:
"Notify the Cabinet Secretary to communicate with the Prime Minister. Of course, it's highly likely this will be concealed. Have the Bujin-shū investigate discreetly."
Yukino Yukinoshita looked surprised upon hearing this:
"Why would the Secretary conceal it? Isn't the Prime Minister his direct superior?"
Hearing this, Luo Shu curled his lip:
"Because the Secretary needs the Prime Minister to believe his safety is being fully protected!"
Yukino Yukinoshita was even more confused now: "Isn't the Prime Minister actually being protected?"
"He is protected, but barely. The effectiveness is roughly about 3% of what's shown in the Metropolitan Police Department's reports." Kirika Tachibana said calmly. "The SDS has run simulations. The results are never optimistic."
"67 battles, 67 victories. That's Chisato's personal record. Oh, and this is internal data, so remember not to leak it."
Simulations of what? What were these 67 victories against? Yukino wasn't stupid—she understood exactly what this implied.
At this realisation, Yukino Yukinoshita could only sigh:
"How truly secure our security services are..."