-505- The decision

Silence visited the entire tranquil battlefield.

The first time Dairenji Suzuka lowered her voice and humbly begged, Natsume didn't know what to say, and even Rozen fell silent.

Thinking about how confident and superior the other party was when they first appeared, and now seeing them on the ground, trembling and begging, anyone would find it hard to speak, wouldn't they?

And to make Dairenji Suzuka like this, one can imagine just how helpless and desperate she has become deep inside.

"Akikan..."

Natsume turned his head, looking at Rozen, her eyes filled with inquiry.

Presumably, Natsume strongly opposes Dairenji Suzuka performing the Taizan Fukun Ritual.

Even though Dairenji Suzuka is pitiful, even though she has repeatedly claimed that there would be no danger, Natsume still opposes.

This is not only because it's a taboo, but also because of the so-called "correct payment" that Dairenji Suzuka mentioned earlier.

As long as someone is willing to sacrifice their life for the exchange, then it can be done.

So, who would be willing to sacrifice their life to exchange for Dairenji Suzuka's brother?

Besides Dairenji Suzuka herself, who else?

Dairenji Suzuka definitely wants to use self-sacrifice to resurrect her brother.

Natsume saw this point, so without a doubt, she would object.

If Natsume were to be the next head of the main family, she would definitely refuse Dairenji Suzuka's plea.

But now, Natsume is Rozen's shikigami, and the decision should be made by Rozen, not Natsume.

Rozen naturally understood what Natsume meant.

At that moment, Rozen let out a sigh, facing Dairenji Suzuka.

"Firstly, I've already said it, I am not Yakou's reincarnation. Even if your assumption is logical, if this precondition is not met, then everything said is in vain."

Rozen expressed this way.

However...

"If you are not the reincarnation of Yakou, then who is?" Dairenji Suzuka vehemently retorted.

"Clearly, you're just a student, yet you effortlessly defeated me and froze Tsuchigumo. Even the dragon practically obeys your every command, unleashing such immense power. Such a person could only be Yakou's reincarnation!"

This was no longer Dairenji Suzuka's wishful thinking; it was what she genuinely believed.

It had a persuasive force.

Facing an entity on the level of the "Twelve Divine Generals," even if they were at the lowest position and were a researcher with little combat experience, it wasn't something just anyone could defeat.

Frankly, even if a whole unit of mystical investigators came, they would only have to swallow their bitter defeat against Dairenji Suzuka, let alone a mere student.

In this situation, Rozen expertly manipulated the dragon, a legacy passed down in the Tsuchimikado family, and skillfully subdued Tsuchigumo, a monster of a shikigami, almost single-handedly overwhelming Dairenji Suzuka. How powerful he was could be easily imagined.

Such a strong individual wouldn't just appear out of thin air, especially as a member of the Tsuchimikado main family and the heir apparent, the rumored reincarnation of Yakou.

Therefore, Dairenji Suzuka could only think that the rumors were true.

Rozen was Yakou's reincarnation.

Only this explanation made sense as to how he could effortlessly achieve all this.

"Perhaps you've only awakened your power and not the memories of your past, but you are undoubtedly Yakou's reincarnation. Otherwise, you wouldn't possess this level of strength."

Dairenji Suzuka asserted this way.

Consider this: Dairenji Suzuka herself had her abilities enhanced through forbidden arts, making her one of the "Twelve Divine Generals." However, even with that, she had many weaknesses, such as insufficient combat experience and not being proficient in jujutsu battles, indicating her immaturity in many aspects.

But Rozen?

Without undergoing any forbidden arts enhancements, he possessed astonishing abilities, even extraordinary strength, yet was just a student.

His combat experience was exceptionally ample, and he was very adaptable to battles. It was as if he had gone through decades of rigorous training and countless life-or-death battles, as skilled and seasoned as one could be, abnormal in its obviousness.

Fundamentally, the students of the Onmyou Academy, including Rozen, had hardly participated in jujutsu battles, let alone practiced jujutsu techniques more than a few times. So how did they cultivate such astounding combat instincts and experience?

Dairenji Suzuka found herself in the same situation. Being too young and dedicating a lot of time to research led to the same circumstances.

However, Rozen was different—or rather, abnormal.

In this way, Dairenji Suzuka naturally believed that Rozen possessed these abilities because of his past life.

Dairenji Suzuka probably didn't anticipate that, although Rozen hadn't engaged in many real battles in this world, he had indeed undergone decades of rigorous training and countless life-and-death struggles before coming to this world.

Furthermore, with his exceptional ability to absorb experiences, devise strategies and tactics, and possessing the "Mind's Eye" technique, even as a beginner in jujutsu, he knew how to apply it with remarkable proficiency, not to mention his current level of expertise.

So, Rozen truly isn't the reincarnation of Yakou.

But Rozen couldn't explain this matter at all.

Furthermore, even if he could explain, when the hopes of Dairenji Suzuka were shattered, she would undoubtedly be completely despairing.

At that time, considering how a seemingly strong-willed but inwardly weak young girl would turn out, just thinking about it made Rozen feel uncomfortable.

Perhaps it was because of Dairenji Suzuka's past experiences that Rozen felt a resonance?

After all, he himself...

"Akikan."

Just as Rozen fell into silence once again, Natsume couldn't help but call for him once more.

Rozen then regained his focus, looking back at Dairenji Suzuka.

Under Rozen's gaze, Dairenji Suzuka's eyes quivered slightly, revealing hope and supplication, perhaps even unbeknownst to herself.

Looking at Dairenji Suzuka like this, Rozen contemplated for a while and finally made a decision.

"I won't help you conduct the Imperial-Style Taizan Fukun Ritual to revive your brother."

Rozen responded this way.

"Whew..."

Natsume let out a sigh of relief.

"..."

Dairenji Suzuka remained silent, lowering her head, her face ashen.

Presumably, Dairenji Suzuka had already mentally prepared herself for the rejection.

After all, how could Rozen, as the heir of the Tsuchimikado family and the future head of the Onmyou Agency, blatantly touch the forbidden ritual?

At that time, the Tsuchimikado family would be completely branded as criminals in the jujutsu world, trampling on their past glory, leaving nothing.

How could such a thing possibly happen?

So, Dairenji Suzuka had long prepared herself mentally, but she made this last struggle only when she had no other options.

Now, this final struggle had been ruthlessly crushed.

So, what meaning was there for her to live in this world?

Dairenji Suzuka couldn't help but think this way.

Just at this moment, Rozen said these words.

"But..."

Rozen looked at Dairenji Suzuka and said so.

"If it's the Taizan Fukun Ritual passed down through generations in the Tsuchimikado family, I can help you conduct it once."

Rozen made this decision.

"Akikan...!?"

Natsume was astonished.

"The Taizan Fukun Ritual passed down through generations in the Tsuchimikado family...?"

Dairenji Suzuka was also stunned.

Yes.

It wasn't the Imperial-Style Taizan Fukun Ritual, but the Taizan Fukun Ritual passed down through generations in the Tsuchimikado family.

"Although I can't manipulate the soul, the Taizan Fukun Ritual passed down through generations in the Tsuchimikado family can summon ancestral spirits, and theoretically, it should be able to summon other spiritual entities."

Rozen decided this way.

"I can help you summon the spirit of your brother, so you can meet him."