Nura Clan Main House.
Before the main gate.
Kejorō was sweeping the cobblestone path together with Tsurara.
"Speaking of which, Tsurara," Kejorō suddenly spoke up while sweeping fallen leaves with her broom.
"Hmm?" Tsurara looked up, her face showing confusion.
"Your mother has broken her record for staying at the clan headquarters this time, hasn't she?"
Kejorō glanced lazily towards the main residence not far away.
"Ah?"
Tsurara blinked, then, after serious consideration, realised it was true:
"That's right... Even during the annual executive meetings, Mother never stays for more than three days. But this time, it's been nearly half a month already..."
"Could it be Mother wants to give up her reclusive life and return to the main house?"
Hearing this, Kejorō couldn't help but laugh:
"Hahaha, you really dare to imagine such things, little girl."
After laughing, Kejorō shook her head:
"Setsura won't return to the main house. As long as the Second Head remains, she won't come back."
After all, it was Setsura who had concealed the whereabouts of the Second Head's former wife back then, resulting in them never meeting again before death.
Kejorō, who knew the inside story, understood perfectly well that Setsura could never return to permanently reside at the main house.
She herself would feel uncomfortable, and Nura Rihan would feel even more so.
"Rather than returning to the main house, I'd sooner believe Setsura wants to establish her own independence. At least that would be more plausible."
"What?" Tsurara looked completely puzzled.
Tsurara had been born through Setsura's Demon Power after Yamabuki Otome's death, so she naturally knew nothing about the grudges of the previous generation. Hearing Kejorō's words now, she couldn't grasp the logic.
"Never mind." Kejorō casually changed the subject: "Speaking of which, the Supreme Commander has actually recalled all the group leaders!"
"Yes! Everyone has rushed back." Tsurara's tone was full of emotion now.
As the greatest yokai force in Kantō, the Nura Clan naturally wasn't composed solely of the main family's direct line, but had numerous subordinate groups throughout the region that pledged allegiance to the main house.
Groups like Ushi-oni's Ushi-oni Group, Daruma's Daruma Association, the Great Eastern Ape Association under Hihi's jurisdiction - organisations like these under the Nura Clan's governance numbered at least forty or fifty.
These were further divided into factions directly affiliated with the main house and branch family factions. This time, Nurarihyon had summoned those veterans of the direct faction who had fought against Hagoromo Gitsune with him.
"Other than the annual meeting, this is the first time I've seen so many senior executives gathered together." Tsurara swept the ground as she marvelled.
Kejorō, who had encountered Hagoromo Gitsune's subordinates more than once, understood the Nura Clan's seriousness:
"After all, the opponent is that fox... Wouldn't you agree, Natto Kozō?"
Natto Kozō, whose head resembled a candy tied with a straw, nodded repeatedly with a grave expression.
Though weak as a Small Yokai, he had experienced Nurarihyon's battle against Hagoromo Gitsune four hundred years ago and knew full well how terrifying that fox was.
No amount of caution was excessive when facing that fox.
After all, she was that fearsome yokai whose power increased with each reincarnation!
Just then.
Creeeaaak—
The Nura Clan's massive gate, which generally required at least two physically strong yokai to open, suddenly swung open by itself.
Amidst the creaking, an elegantly modulated woman's voice rang out clearly:
"Oh? Not even a single guard yokai to be seen?"
"How lazy, the Nura Clan's lackeys."
At the sound of the voice, Tsurara and Kejorō turned their heads, immediately feeling an overwhelming wave of terrifying Fear.
That powerful yet unfamiliar Fear sent chills down Tsurara's spine, her limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Compared to Tsurara, Kejorō sensed more—because within that immense Fear, she detected a familiar presence.
"It can't be..."
Kejorō sharply raised her head, staring toward the entrance.
There stood a girl clad in a black uniform and stockings, as if bathed in darkness. Cold sweat instantly beaded on Kejorō's forehead.
"To come here alone..."
"Who is that?" Tsurara asked nervously, her voice tense. "This Fear, so saturated with darkness... it feels even more terrifying than when Rihan-sama is enraged."
Tsurara's world was small. The strongest person she knew was Nura Rihan, who once led the Hyakki Yagyō. The Fear he exuded back then remained vivid in her memory even after over a decade.
Yet now, someone even stronger had appeared—a woman.
"Could it be..."
Realisation dawned on Tsurara, her throat dry as she whispered:
"Hagoromo Gitsune?"
"Oh?"
The girl in black tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze shifting to Tsurara, who had spoken her name.
"This refreshing Fear... the Yuki-onna from back then? No, you're her daughter, aren't you?"
Tsurara didn't dare answer, only staring warily at Hagoromo Gitsune.
Unfazed, Hagoromo Gitsune smiled faintly before shifting her attention to the main courtyard.
There stood a tall man with a diagonal fringe, gripping a samurai sword, his cold eyes fixed on her.
It was Ushi-oni, a senior officer of the Nura Clan.
"It's you, Ushi." Hagoromo Gitsune said lightly.
Then, a male voice came from behind her.
"To barge into our stronghold alone... since when did you, Hagoromo Gitsune, start emulating our Supreme Commander's recklessness?"
A tall monk in beige robes, sporting a handlebar moustache, seemed genuinely curious.
It was Mokugyo Daruma, the Nura Clan's advisor.
"Mokugyo Daruma... another familiar face."
Hagoromo Gitsune's words trailed off as she tilted her head toward the eaves. There, a crow-headed yokai clutching a staff glared at her neck with blood-red eyes.
Sensing Karasu Tengu's Fear, Hagoromo Gitsune chuckled.
"The crow from back then seems to have aged."
"Whether I've aged isn't for you to decide," Karasu Tengu retorted coldly.
Just then, a youthful-looking Great Yokai wearing an ancient Noh mask spoke in a bizarre tone:
"Hey, hey, hey. Shouldn't we all just gang up and finish off this black fox?"
"It's you who'd be finished," Karasu Tengu said dryly, shooting him a glance. "You can barely walk with how old you are, yet you still come out for fights like this? Looking to die?"
"Other fights I can skip, but against this fox... if I didn't come, wouldn't it disrespect these fourteen scars?"
The yokai bared his teeth, glaring viciously at Hagoromo Gitsune as if ready to pounce at any moment.
Facing the elite cadre of the Nura Clan, Hagoromo Gitsune slightly lifted her chin, her gaze unfocused as she remarked:
"It seems our negotiation will need to be delayed by a few minutes..."
"Meaning you'll finish us off within those minutes?" Mokugyo Daruma sneered. "You've grown even more arrogant, Hagoromo Gitsune."
Tilting her head slightly with feigned curiosity, Hagoromo Gitsune asked:
"Would it even take that long?"
At these words, Mokugyo Daruma's expression darkened as he withdrew his hand from his robe, poised to strike.
But just then, a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.
A gentle male voice spoke from behind Mokugyo Daruma:
"Big fellow, could you do me a favour?"
"Would you mind lowering your hand?"