[114] It's a Disaster

After the brutal battle and Kaoru's relentless punishment of Shuten Douji in front of Reika and Rodrico, Kaoru turned, his face calm once more, but his eyes filled with concern as he approached them. Rodrico lay slumped in a corner of the room, coughing as he tried to quell the nausea that had overtaken him after witnessing Kaoru's merciless actions. Reika, on the other hand, looked at Kaoru with a different expression—her cheeks flushed, lingering remnants of the disturbing illusions still clouding her thoughts.

Kaoru stopped a few steps in front of her, his gaze soft and different from the fierce aura he had shown in battle. "How are you feeling, Reika-san?" he asked gently, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Reika, still affected by the influence of Douji's illusion, felt her face heat up, memories of strange visions and humiliating fantasies resurfacing in her mind. She quickly composed herself, taking a deep breath and bowing her head slightly. "I... I'm alright, Kaoru-sama," she replied, though her voice wavered a bit.

Kaoru nodded, noting the subtle changes in her expression. "It must have been difficult to break free from the illusion Douji cast. I apologize; he used my face to deceive you," he said, his eyes full of sincere regret.

Reika shook her head quickly, straightening up even as her cheeks remained flushed. "No, Kaoru-sama. You did nothing wrong, so there's no need to apologize. It was the work of a demon's trickery," she replied firmly, steadying her heartbeat.

Kaoru gave a faint smile, relieved to see Reika regain her composure. "Even so… it's still my responsibility to ensure everyone's safety," he said, before smoothly changing the topic. "By the way, I'd like to ask you about something. Could you explain more about the relic you needed me to find?"

In the library, now littered with debris and shadows from the battle, Rodrico, still a bit pale, suddenly interrupted Kaoru and Reika's conversation. "Before you two have a long discussion here, it might be wise to move to a safer and more comfortable place. This area is severely damaged, and we don't know if there are other dangers lurking around."

Kaoru and Reika exchanged glances, realizing Rodrico was right. They were still in the wreckage of the library. Agreeing with Rodrico, the three of them left the library to find a safer, more secluded room within the mansion to continue their discussion.

---

Elsewhere, Hippo had taken Towako to what appeared to be a private clinic. Towako awoke with a start, her breathing heavy as she scanned her unfamiliar surroundings. Across the room, Hippo sat casually on a sofa, nibbling on a snack while engrossed in a novel. Seeing his relaxed expression, Towako felt a mixture of shock and relief, though her mind was still spinning.

"Ah, you're awake, Towako-sama," Hippo greeted her without taking his eyes off the book, as if he had expected her presence all along. A slight smile played on his lips as he closed his book and placed it on the table.

Towako stared at the man lounging on the sofa, her gaze a mix of confusion and wariness. His relaxed demeanor did not signal any immediate threat, yet the mysteries surrounding him unsettled her.

"You… you saved me earlier? Who exactly are you?" Towako demanded, her voice cautious as she studied the man who claimed to have rescued her.

Hippo shrugged, unfazed, not bothering to hide anything. "It's natural for you to feel suspicious, Towako-sama. But don't worry—I'm here on orders from my master."

"Who is your master?" Towako narrowed her eyes, a growing sense of dread filling her.

Hippo grinned broadly. "Why, Kaoru-sama, of course!" he replied proudly. "He was the first to suspect something was wrong at the mansion, so I was instructed to monitor the residents' actions. That included overhearing certain suspicious conversations. Someone mentioned a location near the harbor… and not long after, I saw you heading there."

Towako's eyes widened, fear and anger twisting inside her. "Was it… my uncle, Abe Koso?" she muttered, her voice quivering with disbelief.

Hippo shrugged, his expression indifferent. "Hmm, I wouldn't know. Technically, I don't know any of you personally, so who can say?" he replied, rolling his eyes as though the matter were of no real concern to him.

Towako clenched her jaw, her mind swirling with conflicted emotions. She had long suspected her uncle's behavior, but as the vice-chairman of the Onmyo Agency, Koso held a position of power and trust from Abe Yumei. Yet, after the recent events, her suspicion had nearly solidified into certainty.

Hippo stood up from the sofa, brushing snack crumbs off his clothes. "Well, looks like my job here is done. Since you're awake now, Towako-sama, I'll be on my way," he said, moving toward the door.

Towako extended her hand, attempting to stop him. "Wait! You can't just leave like this!"

But with one nimble leap, Hippo vanished from the room with astonishing speed, leaving Towako surprised and stunned. He had disappeared as quickly as he had arrived, leaving Towako with a thousand unanswered questions.

Towako sat there in silence, replaying his words in her mind. With her emotions even more unsettled, she knew that her next step had to be finding Kaoru as soon as possible.

---

In a quiet room, Kaoru listened intently to Reika's explanation about the relic he needed to recover—the Star Eye, a fragment of an ancient artifact used in forbidden rituals. The ritual was designed to open a gate to the underworld, potentially unleashing a catastrophe known as the Hyakki Yagyō, the night parade of countless demons and Yokai that would bring chaos and devastation without end.

"Hyakki Yagyō…" Kaoru murmured, his gaze darkening with concern. "And this is all… to break the seal on Kyuubi?"

Reika nodded, her expression reflecting deep worry. "That's right. Kyuubi, the legendary nine-tailed fox, has been feared as a deity of calamity since ancient times. Her power is so immense and destructive that she was sealed away by the heavens. For centuries, her seal has been guarded with the utmost care."

Kaoru's brow furrowed as he weighed the terrible risks involved in this scheme. "The Kyuubi who stole the Enkidu Necklace… is that the same being you're referring to as the deity of calamity?" he asked.

Reika looked at Kaoru with a firm gaze. "Most likely, yes. We suspect Kyuubi herself is now active behind the scenes, stealing relics that can help her break free from the seal that's held her for so long."