Because Ren had clearly explained the traits and behavior of the yokai called Nurikabe, Yusaburo didn't bring many people along that night. Just like during the daytime investigation, it was only him and Kujō Hinano.
As Ren had warned earlier, the more people involved tonight, the greater the danger. A small, reliable team was far better than a large group full of nervous amateurs.
This way, they wouldn't have anyone panicking halfway through and getting others killed. After all, the Countermeasures Division's evaluation didn't specify how many people would be tested—or targeted.
Kujō Hinano had already proven herself; despite being a young woman, she had been the bravest of them all during the rat demon swarm. That was why Yusaburo insisted on bringing her.
And seeing Yusaburo and Hinano now—fully suited up, each gripping a long staff, bodies trembling ever so slightly—Ren couldn't help finding the sight a little amusing.
"The Nurikabe isn't particularly dangerous," Ren reminded them gently. "When its darkness surrounds you, just stay calm. Remember—fear is beaten by facing it head-on. And I've already told you its weakness. You two even survived the Rat Demon incident; this thing is far less deadly than that."
Indeed, while the Nurikabe's body was as impenetrable as a mountain wall, it wasn't without weaknesses.
Legend said its massive form was supported by a pair of absurdly short legs. If someone encountered the Nurikabe blocking their way, sweeping at those stubby legs from below would topple it instantly.
Of course, using your own leg to pull off some flashy sweep kick would be suicide.
Short legs or not, when that giant wall of a body fell, its full weight could flatten anything beneath it.
Just as Ren, Hinano, and Yusaburo were about to re-enter the building, they had no idea two shadows had appeared on the rooftop of a nearby office tower, quietly observing them descend.
One was a beautiful young woman dressed in red-and-white shrine maiden robes. Even those loose ceremonial garments couldn't hide her striking figure. Her long black ponytail fluttered behind her, and a sword nearly as long as her thigh hung at her hip.
The other was a scruffy, unremarkable middle-aged man with faint stubble. A cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth as he watched the trio enter the building below, his eyes thoughtful.
Had Yusaburo been present, he would have immediately recognized the pair as members of the Unnatural Countermeasures Division—the same elite duo who'd come to clean up after the rat demon incident: Yamato Kuka and Kamishiro Isshin.
In reality, the Division hadn't assigned this incident to Yusaburo merely to test their qualifications as support staff.
They wanted to figure out the identity of the mysterious powerhouse who had slain the Rat Demon King.
At first, Yamato Kuka and Kamishiro Isshin hadn't doubted Yusaburo's report. But after examining the Rat Demon King's corpse, they noticed gunshot marks.
The Rat Demon King hadn't been killed by bullets—the marks were old, shallow—but they were clear.
Which meant Yusaburo and his team's claim that they had "never met" the person who defeated the Rat Demon King was impossible.
Since the bullet wounds happened before the demon received its fatal attack, there was only one explanation:Yusaburo and the others knew the one who killed the demon king—and they were deliberately hiding him.
Assigning this obviously dangerous, clearly yokai-related case to Yusaburo's group was simply the Division's attempt to flush that person out.
And it seemed to be working. Faced with a threat they couldn't resolve alone, Yusaburo had indeed gone to seek Ren Kuroda's help—exactly as predicted.
"What do you think, Mr. Kamishiro?" Yamato Kuka asked, her eyes fixed on the three shadows disappearing into the building. "Is that boy the one we're looking for?"
"I'm not sure," Kamishiro Isshin murmured, taking a drag from his cigarette. "My spiritual vision didn't detect any particularly powerful aura from him. Of course, he could be concealing it… or maybe he's not the one. Or maybe—just maybe—he's completely ordinary?"
"Mr. Kamishiro, please don't joke like that," Kuka replied with a rare frown. "No matter how you look at him, he can't be an ordinary civilian. Yusaburo wouldn't seek help from just anyone. And besides—there's something about him. A sharpness… like a blade being drawn from its sheath."
Kamishiro let out an exaggerated "Oh my!" and shot her a teasing grin.
"Kuka-chan, don't tell me you've developed feelings for him? Handsome, capable, sword-skill-vibes—checks all your boxes, doesn't he? I heard your elders have been pestering you to get married so you can return and inherit the family shrine, right?"
Miko weren't forbidden from marriage. In fact, families like the Yamato clan—whose numbers were dwindling—placed even greater emphasis on children to preserve the lineage.
As the sole heir, Yamato Kuka's marriage prospects were a matter of great urgency to her family.
Unfortunately for them, she was already of marriageable age and still had no boyfriend.
Not because she wasn't good enough—but precisely because she was too exceptional. Her talent was unmatched, her swordsmanship renowned, and her beauty only made her even more intimidating.
And this was Japan, after all.
Modern or not, societal expectations lingered. Women's status had improved but not by much, and traditional male pride still ran strong.
Most men struggled with the idea of marrying into their wife's family.
And Kuka's husband would have to marry into the Yamato clan—that alone scared off nearly all suitors.
Worse yet, due to the unique nature of the Yamato family, her partner couldn't be a normal human. At minimum, he'd have to be an exorcist or someone from their spiritual world.
Only children born to spiritually gifted parents possessed the talents necessary to continue the family line's sacred duties. The Yamato family valued this above all else.
Combine all of that… and Yamato Kuka's standards became impossibly high.
A man willing to marry into her family.A man with exceptional ability.A man of suitable age.
But men willing to marry into another household were usually undervalued by their own—and those undervalued were rarely talented.
A vicious cycle.
And so, despite being every definition of a wealthy, talented, beautiful heiress, Yamato Kuka remained impossibly single.