Just as Angelene was drowning in anxiety, Luo Shu turned to her and asked:
"I believe you're skilled in disguise magic, Angelene?"
"Huh?" Angelene looked up at Luo Shu, her expression blank.
"Hmm?" Luo Shu raised an eyebrow, puzzled by her reaction.
Had he said something wrong? Was calling her by name too familiar? But that was something only Japanese people cared about, wasn't it?
He repeated:
"Captain Angelene?"
"Oh! Yes, I'm here." Angelene nodded quickly. "What is it?"
Luo Shu: "..."
Seeing Luo Shu's speechless expression, Sylvie covered her cheeks and whispered a reminder:
"Director Luo was just asking if you're skilled at disguise magic."
"By the way, you weren't actually thinking he called us to stay behind just to scold you, were you?"
As she said this, a teasing smile spread across Sylvie's face:
"Looks like you really enjoy being reprimanded, Angelene... Oh my, could it be someone actually likes being told off?"
"Shut up."
Angelene turned to glare at Sylvie before looking back at Luo Shu. Her face flushed slightly as she said somewhat guiltily:
"I am... somewhat proficient in disguise magic."
Angelene made a tiny gesture with her fingers, narrowing the gap between them even further.
Luo Shu remained silent for a moment before asking:
"...So, can your magic be used on others?"
"It can, but it's easier to use on myself." Angelene gave Luo Shu a puzzled look, as if wondering who he intended to use the disguise magic on.
Luo Shu quickly provided an explanation:
"According to the records, our division recently captured Abe no Ariyuki, the fourth-generation head of the Gokadoin Family."
"With that in mind, I considered using Abe no Ariyuki's identity to infiltrate Nijo Castle and take charge of Hagoromo Gitsune's protection."
"Originally, I planned to use an Abyss Artefact for imitation and disguise, and even requested the relevant item. However, headquarters replied that your abilities are better suited for this situation."
"Oh, I see!" Angelene's expression cleared. "You want me to disguise myself as that Abe no Ariyuki?"
Luo Shu immediately corrected her: "No, it's to assist Miss Nightmare with the disguise."
'Miss Angelene, with your clumsy demeanour, how could I possibly entrust this task to you?'
Luo Shu internally sighed, then glanced sideways, catching Sylvie's subtle expression—trying not to laugh but failing to hide her amusement.
Clearly, Sylvie had guessed Luo Shu's initial intention to have Angelene perform the disguise herself, only to abandon the idea after seeing her reaction.
'How on earth did you raise your captain to be such a precious gem?'
Luo Shu shot Sylvie a pointed look.
But Sylvie, oblivious to his silent question, simply maintained her faintly amused smile.
"Assist Miss Nightmare?" Angelene turned to glance at Kurumi Tokisaki, pondering before replying:
"Since it's not being used on me, maintaining the disguise long-term isn't possible. Based on past records, the maximum duration is around three hours."
"That's sufficient."
Luo Shu had no issue with the time limit.
Besides, he intended to have one of Kurumi Tokisaki's clones perform the disguise.
If the magic's duration was about to expire, Angelene could simply cast the spell on another clone, and the City of Devouring Time could be used to swap them seamlessly.
With that in mind, Luo Shu promptly declared:
"Then, this evening, I'll arrange for you to enter the Hagoromo Group as members of the Gokadoin Family, tasked with protecting Hagoromo Gitsune at close quarters."
"Please prepare accordingly, Captain Angelene."
"Yes, Commander!"
...
In the deepening night, at the hour before dawn.
Ryōan-ji Temple.
Gorō Keikain, a towering man with dreadlocks clad in a white kimono, stood behind the temple's main gate, silently observing the dark clouds obscuring the bright moon above.
"Demon Power fills the sky... Has the Hagoromo Group already begun their move?" he murmured in a low voice before turning to the Onmyoji of the Keikain Family behind him.
"From now on, move in groups of three. Inspect the temple's barrier every two hours to ensure the seal remains intact."
"Yes, elder."
The Onmyoji of the Keikain Family responded quietly.
Gorō Keikain nodded, then frowned as he raised his gaze once more to the ominous clouds overhead.
"This ominous feeling... Which of the eight seals is the Hagoromo Group targeting?"
Just then, a low chuckle sounded:
"Why not attack all eight seals at once?"
The next instant, a tremendous explosion erupted.
The ancient wooden gates of Ryōan-ji Temple were instantly blown to splinters.
Amidst the deafening blast, a clear horse's neigh rang out.
Neighhh—!!
Black hooves clopped against the blue brick pavement amidst ghostly blue flames.
A snow-white steed, its feet wreathed in eerie fire and eyes glowing crimson, descended from the sky to the ground, casting an azure glow across the surroundings.
Astride the horse sat a girl in a black sailor uniform, sitting sidesaddle as if embodying darkness itself.
At the sight of the black-clad girl, many Onmyoji of the Keikain family screamed:
"—Hagoromo Gitsune?!"
"Enemy attack—! Enemy attack—!!"
Gorō Keikain had no time to acknowledge his juniors' screams, merely pulling out a string of prayer beads as he said gravely:
"Charging into our formation alone?"
"There's a limit to looking down on people!"
"Hah?"
Hagoromo Gitsune seemed to give Gorō Keikain a surprised glance from horseback before giggling:
"Are all youngsters these days so arrogant?"
"But you guessed one thing right—I'm indeed not alone."
As her words fell, towering black Demon Power surged through the shattered gates like storm clouds.
Beneath these clouds,
A horde of bizarre yokai smashed through the already ruined gates completely, flooding into Ryōan-ji Temple like a tidal wave.
Seeing at least three hundred yokai before him, Gorō Keikain's legs trembled, nearly buckling under terror.
The demonic horse carried Hagoromo Gitsune forward through the air.
Beneath the black clouds, she smiled faintly:
"You can still run now, little Keikain."
Gorō glanced at his petrified clansmen before roaring through gritted teeth:
"Don't underestimate humans, yokai!!"
Clutching his prayer beads, he charged straight into the demonic horde.