-571- I will take full responsibility

Later, Rozen and his group left the Onmyou Agency and returned to Shibuku.

Rozen and Natsume naturally went back to their dorm, but Suzuka did not.

After all, Suzuka was not a student of the Onmyou Academy. Although she could technically enter the Onmyou Academy in the next year given her age, her level of skill would be wasted there.

Hence, a residence was arranged for Suzuka within Shibuku, Tokyo, specifically an apartment within the Onmyou Agency's staff housing. Being a national level Onmyouji, Suzuka got to use the top-floor, luxurious room, a rather decent treatment.

However, during their return to Shibuku, both Natsume and Suzuka remained silent, just as they had been before, showing no signs of initiating a conversation.

However, Natsume was continuously pondering about Soma Takiko. Suzuka, on the other hand, seemed to be immersed in some kind of dreadful nightmare. Throughout the journey, her emotions remained considerably low, lacking her usual sharp tongue and roughness, making any meaningful conversation nearly impossible.

As for Rozen, he did ask Suzuka a few questions.

For instance...

"What are your plans moving forward?" Rozen posed this question.

In reality, Rozen was more inclined to inquire about Soma Takiko's matters.

Judging by Soma Takiko's attitude towards Suzuka, the two of them should know each other.

A person like this, with two dangerous Shikigami, wearing the Onmyou Academy's uniform, yet freely moving within the Onmyou Agency — Rozen had never heard of such a thing before. It was normal to ask, even if Suzuka might react unpredictably.

So, in the end, Rozen asked this question.

In response, Suzuka glanced at Rozen and coldly snorted before replying, "Whatever, I'm just your Shikigami now."

Suzuka said this in a somewhat self-deprecating manner.

However...

"It's just as I expected," Rozen sighed.

Originally, Rozen had taken Suzuka as a Shikigami for three reasons.

One was the situation at the time, where making Suzuka his Shikigami was the only way to deceive the questioning at the Onmyou Agency, ensuring Suzuka wasn't held accountable.

Second was Suzuka's expertise in Imperial-style jujutsu, possessing significant knowledge of "Imperial-style Onmyoujutsu." Rozen thought he might gain some insights into "Imperial-style Onmyoujutsu" from Suzuka, which is why he made her his Shikigami.

The last reason was merely concern for Suzuka's future.

Having been treated as an experimental subject by her father since childhood, with only her brother as a lifeline, and later obsessing over reviving him after his death, this goal ultimately faded away. In this situation, how would an immature girl survive?

Perhaps, Suzuka didn't even know herself.

So, out of a sense of resonance and sympathy, Rozen firmly formed a Shikigami contract with Suzuka.

Now that Suzuka was finally released and granted her freedom, it was completely normal, just as Rozen had anticipated, that she had no idea what to do next.

For Suzuka at this moment, she was just going with the flow of things, right?

If it weren't for Rozen as her master, Suzuka, who had lost her purpose in life, might have completely lost her way or even been manipulated by someone with ill intentions. That was entirely possible.

Now, following Rozen, even if it was just surrendering to the current and going with the flow, at least there was a direction of action. This would prevent her from falling into complete confusion.

In that case...

"Since that's the case, Suzuka, use this time to prepare some things for me," Rozen, in his capacity as Suzuka's master, gave her some instructions.

Upon hearing Rozen's instructions clearly, Suzuka was initially dumbfounded, but relying on her understanding of Imperial-style jujutsu and exceptional professional knowledge, she guessed what Rozen was up to and exclaimed in astonishment.

"These... all of these are the necessary items for the highest-level spells and rituals specified in the Imperial-style techniques. Some of them are even used in the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual,' which is considered the highest tier in Imperial-style Onmyoujutsu. What are you preparing to do with these?" Suzuka's voice was filled with astonishment, startling even the usually silent Natsume, who hurriedly asked Rozen.

"Is... Is everything Dairenji said true? Rozen? What are you preparing to do?" Natsume anxiously pressed for more information.

Rozen didn't hide anything and explained what he was planning to do.

However, to explain this matter clearly, he needed to start with the fact that he had gained all of Yakou's knowledge of Onmyoujutsu from before Yakou's death.

So, Rozen disclosed to the two girls everything about how he was lured out by Kakugyouki, made a deal, voluntarily let Raven's Wing possess him, failed to be recognized as Yakou's reincarnation by Raven's Wing, but turned the situation around to control Raven's Wing's power and thus gained access to all the knowledge of Onmyoujutsu recorded by Raven's Wing.

Although Rozen had made an agreement with Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi and promised not to reveal his plan to take advantage of Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi's disappearance, he had already stated that he would not admit to being the reincarnation of Yakou.

So, Rozen told the two girls about gaining all of Yakou's knowledge of Onmyoujutsu from before Yakou's death.

"This... is really..."

Such an astonishing piece of news completely shocked Natsume.

Whether it was Rozen gaining all of Yakou's knowledge of Onmyoujutsu or the fact that he had been confirmed not to be Yakou's reincarnation, these were all major events that could shake the entire world of Onmyoujutsu.

"Could it be that the reason the Tsuchimikado family disappeared is because..."

Natsume seemed to have finally figured something out.

Suzuka, on the other hand, looked at Rozen with a complex expression, her face showing a mix of emotions.

But wouldn't that be natural?

Once, Suzuka saw Rozen as the reincarnation of Yakou and planned to have him assist in performing the forbidden ritual of the "Taizan Fukun Ritual." Now, she was told by him that this was all wrong. It was impossible not to feel complicated.

Moreover, Suzuka was an expert in Imperial-style techniques. Although she had gained quite a bit of knowledge about the Imperial-style, she still hadn't understood everything. She only knew one way to use the "Taizan Fukun the." One could imagine the depth of the Imperial-style; even Suzuka, who was considered an expert, had only grasped a portion of it.

Rozen, on the other hand, effortlessly gained all the knowledge of the Imperial-style, not to mention the knowledge from all the various magic systems integrated by Yakou during his lifetime. The amount of knowledge he had already far surpassed Suzuka's, causing her emotions to be understandably complex.

Even so, Suzuka wanted to say something.

"The thing you're planning to do is no different from a taboo. Once discovered, the Mystical Investigation Division might arrest you. Especially in the current times, considering what you're preparing as an occult crime in Onmyoujutsu is quite normal. Have you thought it through?"

Suzuka spoke in this manner.

Rozen, however, smiled abruptly.

"It's okay; I will take full responsibility."

That was Rozen's response.

Naturally, Natsume also attempted to intervene but was ultimately unsuccessful.

So, Rozen's preparations for what he was about to do were settled.