In the Unnatural Countermeasures Team, members received rewards for successfully eliminating evil spirits.
Yet, very few actually took the cash. Most converted it into merit points, which could then be exchanged for a variety of items within the team. Special ammunition soaked in holy water, basic talismans—none of these were free; they had to be purchased. Naturally, most Onmyoji weren't short on money anyway, and those who bought such items were usually ordinary recruits, not born into exorcist families.
It was impossible for a large team like the Unnatural Countermeasures Unit to be made up entirely of elite Onmyoji. The core members numbered only a handful, while the rest filled support and logistics roles. Though monsters far outclassed humans in power, modern technology had leveled the playing field. Ordinary people, armed with special methods, could take down weaker yokai.
Take the so-called "Holy Spirit Bullets," for example—ammunition blessed with holy water and consecrated by shrine maidens. Against demons below D-rank, even an average person could dispatch them effectively. Just look at the rat demon horde Kujou Hinano's team faced: conventional firearms could wound them, but hitting vital points was critical. The difference was clear.
Core members like Yamato Kyuuka and Kamishiro Isshin generally didn't bother with "Holy Spirit Bullets." Their own skill far exceeded the need for such tools. Instead, they exchanged merit points for rare materials, enchanted talismans, or spiritual artifacts. In short, whether they were top-tier combatants or high-level support staff, cash rewards were rarely of interest.
So, Kamishiro Isshin looked understandably bewildered when Yuto asked about cash. To him, a gifted exorcist like Yuto should have no shortage of money.
What Isshin didn't know, however, was that Yuto's half-demon identity made him extremely cautious. If not for his recent rapid power growth and the rising frequency of calamity demon appearances, he wouldn't even consider stepping into the spotlight.
After a long pause, Yuto finally accepted the identification Isshin handed him, Isshin's face alight with excitement. As Isshin had warned, Yuto's current position was precarious. Some traditionalist exorcist families had already begun to cast envious or hostile eyes on him, and he wasn't invincible. For his family's safety, he had no choice but to play it safe—for now.
Still, "playing it safe" had its advantages. With the backing of the Unnatural Countermeasures Team, he could train and increase his strength without interference. Scores against rival exorcist families could be settled later, once he'd grown stronger.
Along with the team ID, Isshin handed Yuto a military officer's identification, granting him the rank of "Major." According to Isshin, core members typically start at this rank so that cooperation with local police departments could proceed smoothly when needed.
Yuto froze. Major? A high school student—he—already held the rank of Major? Was this some fantasy novel? Easily becoming a top officer, surrounded by adoring allies?
Isshin quickly shattered that illusion. "Don't get any ideas. It's just an operational rank. It doesn't give you real authority," he said, killing Yuto's fleeting fantasies.
Yuto's new team was the eighth unit of the Unnatural Countermeasures Team. Including him, the core members numbered only four:
Kazuki Isshin, the ever-practical team leader
Yamato Kyuuka, the aloof, mature prodigy Yuto had met before
Hakuba, a monk Yuto hadn't encountered yet
Though small in number compared to other units, the eighth team was already well-known thanks to Kyuuka's presence. Yuto's addition would only strengthen them further. In terms of overall reputation, Isshin estimated that this smaller but elite group might already be the strongest among the ten teams.
Isshin briefly introduced the core members' abilities.
Hakuba, abbot of the modest Hakuba Temple, had considerable strength. He specialized in using Buddhist scriptures against spirits and could summon guardian deities. His spiritual power ranked at C+.
Yamato Kyuuka, a prodigy among the younger generation, possessed C-level spiritual power and wielded the legendary demon-slaying sword Onikiri. With her shrine maiden blessings, she could even provide critical combat buffs. Purely in combat, Hakuba and Isshin themselves were no match for her youth and talent.
Isshin, the temporary team leader, specialized in spell-based combat. His spiritual power also ranked C+, but his youth suggested greater potential than Hakuba's.
"Yuto Tenjouin," Isshin said, "based on what you've told me, we'll tentatively classify you as coming from an exorcist family. Skilled with a sword, some innate perception abilities, and as for your demonic power… by your own standards, barely B- level."
After introductions, Yuto gradually revealed his own general abilities. Of course, he withheld a small portion of his true strength—he wasn't foolish enough to expose his full half-demon power within an exorcist organization.
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