-446- [ Kurahashi ]

"Are you Tsuchimikado Akikan?" When these words rolled out of the other person's mouth like heavy rocks, Rozen felt the atmosphere in the air change.

The man stared at him with an appraising look, radiating a cold and stern aura that added a significant amount of pressure.

Feeling this pressure, even Rozen couldn't help but hold his breath.

However, he didn't show it and instead walked into the hall naturally, smiling innocently at the imposing man.

With this smile, Rozen said, "I suppose you must be a distinguished guest from the Kurahashi family?"

Upon hearing this, the man's eyes twitched slightly, and even Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi squinted at Rozen.

"Hoho..."

Tsuchimikado Takahiro let out a sound of amazement.

Tsuchimikado Chizuru, with an astonished expression, directly inquired, "How did you know, Aki?"

It seemed that everyone present knew that Rozen had not been informed in advance about today's visitors.

However, Rozen had managed to deduce the identity of the guest.

The reason was simple.

"The person who can make my father invite both my uncle and aunt over to welcome them, and is also a member of a branch family, I could only think of the Kurahashi family."

Rozen explained with these words.

—Kurahashi.

In the current world of jujutsu, this surname represented something extraordinary.

In the history of Onmyoudou, Tsuchimikado was undoubtedly the pinnacle, the king of the world of jujutsu, and had long influenced the world of Onmyouji. Anyone aspiring to become an Onmyouji or anyone using jujutsu would unquestionably know of Tsuchimikado.

While the Kurahashi family was a branch of the Tsuchimikado, they had since become completely independent and were now a true noble family.

Moreover, compared to the Tsuchimikado, who had declined into a rural family, the Kurahashi family was a genuine prestigious clan.

What kind of prestigious clan?

The number one clan in the world of jujutsu!

The Kurahashi clan was currently the dominant clan in the world of jujutsu, standing at the pinnacle of the jujutsu world.

In other words, they were the ones who could make Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, who had been their former master, invite all the branch family members over so respectfully.

Of course, the reason Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi treated these guests so cautiously wasn't just because they were from the Kurahashi clan.

"I suppose you must be the current head of the Kurahashi family, Kurahashi Genji?" Rozen straightforwardly revealed the guest's identity.

This made the man's eyes narrow slightly, just like Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi's.

Yes.

The man in front of him was indeed the head of the Kurahashi family, as well as the Chief of the Onmyou Agency, and even the Director of the Exorcism Division, making him the highest-ranking individual in the world of jujutsu.

The Exorcism Division was not a separate organization from the Onmyou Agency. It was also part of the Onmyou Agency but had a different role. The Exorcism Division dealt not with jujutsu-related crimes but with the exorcism of Spiritual Disaster.

Everything in the world had its own spiritual energy, but this spiritual energy was usually stable, either peacefully radiating or calmly flowing through the spiritual veins, like the natural vitality of the earth, existing at all times and everywhere without danger.

However, in this world, natural spiritual energy sometimes became imbalanced, exceeding the self-purification capabilities allowed by the natural world and unable to autonomously recover.

This would result in spiritual energy twisting into miasma harmful to the human body, thereby becoming a spiritual calamity.

This type of spiritual calamity was what they called a "spiritual disaster."

And the Onmyouji responsible for exorcising these spiritual disasters were known as Exorcist.

In the past, Tsuchimikado Chizuru had been an outstanding Exorcist.

As for Kurahashi Genji, not only was he the Chief of the Onmyou Agency, but he was also the Director of the Exorcism Division within the Onmyou Agency, overseeing all the Exorcist. His high status was self-evident.

Furthermore, aside from his position, Kurahashi Genji was one of the top Onmyouji in the jujutsu world.

In the jujutsu world, there were generally three categories of formal Onmyouji.

The first category was Onmyouji who obtained the qualification known as "Onmyou Third Class" through a third-class Onmyou test. These individuals were usually ordinary personnel working in the Onmyou Agency and couldn't be considered professional Onmyouji.

The second category was Onmyouji who obtained the qualification known as "Onmyou Second Class" through a second-class Onmyou test. Only they could be considered professional Onmyouji, allowed to use generalized jujutsu, and engaged in various important roles, such as Exorcist and Mystical Investigators.

However, whether they could be accepted for these roles was a separate matter.

The third category was Onmyouji who obtained the qualification known as "Onmyou First Class" through a first-class Onmyou test.

There were only a few dozen of them in the entire jujutsu world, and they were the elite among elites, the stars among Onmyouji.

People referred to them as the "Twelve Divine Generals."

Kurahashi Genji was the leader of the Twelve Divine Generals, hailed as the best Onmyouji of his generation, with the alias "Heaven's Bearer."

Therefore, without a doubt, Kurahashi Genji was the strongest Onmyouji among all present, and even Tsuchimikado Takahiro and Tsuchimikado Chizuru, this married couple, might not be his match.

After all, this couple had only obtained the qualification of "Onmyou Second Class," and theoretically, they fell short of Kurahashi Genji, who had earned the "Onmyou First Class" qualification.

Of course, that was something that happened before the two of them retired. Now, many years have passed, and whether this married couple's strength is enough to obtain the qualification of "Onmyou First Class," no one knows.

As for Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, it's even more uncertain how strong he is. He has never displayed his true strength, so even Rozen doesn't know if Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi is strong or weak.

But regardless of strength, since the visitor has such a prominent background, it's worth Tsuchimikado family going all out to welcome them.

With this, Rozen deduced the visitor's identity.

This made Kurahashi Genji look steadily at Rozen. In the face of this oppressive gaze, Rozen continued to smile casually, appearing entirely nonchalant.

As a result, Kurahashi Genji's eyes briefly flashed with an unusual light.

"I see. Indeed, you are an exceptionally outstanding individual," Kurahashi Genji said calmly.

"To possess such magnanimity and potential at such a young age, you will undoubtedly contribute to the resurgence of the Tsuchimikado family."

Kurahashi Genji gave such a surprising evaluation.

Then...

"You truly are..."

Kurahashi Genji's voice lowered, and he muttered something.

Due to the low volume, Rozen couldn't make out the content, but Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, Tsuchimikado Takahiro, and Tsuchimikado Chizuru all seemed to have an idea of what Kurahashi Genji had said. Their expressions changed to varying degrees.

The atmosphere instantly became even heavier.

This made Rozen furrow his brow in surprise, wondering what had happened.

(What's going on?)

Was there something he didn't know about?

Rozen pondered this, but at that moment...

"Let me introduce you."

Kurahashi Genji suddenly spoke again.

"This is my daughter."

Kurahashi Genji was naturally referring to the young girl beside him.

The girl, just as at the beginning, continued to glare at Rozen.

After a while, she finally introduced herself.

"I am Kurahashi Kyouko. Nice to meet you."