-513- You're no less

Later, Rozen didn't return to his hometown but chose to stay in Tokyo and went back to Onmyo Academy.

Although he felt sorry for parting ways with Harutora and Touji abruptly, Rozen had no intention of going back once things had unfolded this way. He decided to return to Onmyo Academy without making another trip back home.

Naturally, Rozen informed Natsume, who was still at their hometown, of his decision and asked her to apologize to Harutora and Touji on his behalf. He also told her to stay there a few more days and not rush back.

Unfortunately, Natsume outright refused. She claimed that since their parents were not around and she had already met her brother and friends, there was no need for her to stay in the countryside any longer.

So, the next day, Natsume also returned to Onmyo Academy and met up with Rozen.

The reason it took until the next day was because Natsume needed to tidy up the celestial altar on Mt. Gozan and finish up the aftermath of the Taizan Fukun Ritual. Otherwise, she would have come back immediately.

Once she was back, Natsume told Rozen some news.

"My father contacted you?"

In Rozen's room at the boys' dorm, Natsume visited him and conveyed this piece of news to Rozen, who had just woken up and was still yawning, causing Rozen to pause and furrow his brow.

"Yeah."

Natsume, somewhat shy or maybe a little blushy, sat on Rozen's bed, fidgeting as she informed him, "Shortly after you were taken away yesterday, I received a call from my dad, but on the other end of the line was Uncle's voice."

In other words, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi borrowed Tsuchimikado Takahiro's phone to call Natsume.

The reason for this was simple.

"He wanted to ask about the Taizan Fukun Ritual, right?"

Rozen, not bothered, picked up a towel, dampened it, washed his face, and confidently said these words.

This is the only possibility Rozen could think of.

And indeed...

"Uncle did inquire about the Taizan Fukun Ritual,"

Natsume said, somewhat puzzled.

"He just didn't ask much. He inquired if the ritual was successfully conducted and what the circumstances were during the ceremony, then he hung up."

As usual, she seemed indifferent to Rozen's affairs.

"And then?" Rozen hung the towel around his neck, glanced at Natsume, and asked, "How did you respond?"

"I simply reported the situation truthfully to uncle," Natsume said, her tone starting to sound off. "And about you making Dairenji Suzuka your shikigami."

"Uh..." Rozen suddenly fell silent.

Though Natsume didn't explicitly say it, Rozen could sense that she was quite bothered by the fact that he made Dairenji Suzuka his shikigami.

No, it was more like she was really displeased?

"That's great."

Natsume said expressionlessly, "Being able to have one of the 'Twelve Divine Generals' as a shikigami, and such an adorable girl at that, will definitely be very helpful to you in various ways in the future, various ways..."

See?

Quite displeased, isn't she?

"Miss Natsume?" Rozen asked cautiously, "Are you angry?"

The answer he got for this question was just like this.

"No, why would I be angry?" Natsume said coldly, "I should be happy that master could have such a powerful person as a shikigami. Why would I be angry?"

Can you be any more insincere, Miss Natsume?

While Rozen's mouth twitched slightly, Natsume continued.

"Anyway, since you already have such a powerful shikigami, and she's such a cute girl, you won't need those useless shikigami anymore in the future. Yes, no need to rely on those 'useless' shikigami anymore."

Natsume still had an expressionless face and a harsh tone.

At that moment, Rozen surrendered straightforwardly.

"I mean, Miss Natsume, even if she's one of the Twelve Divine Generals, you're currently just weaker than her. In a few more years, with your talents, becoming a Onmyouji at the level of the Twelve Divine Generals will definitely be possible. How can you consider yourself useless?"

Rozen expressed with some exasperation, "Besides, even if Dairenji is cute, you're no less, Natsume."

"I... I'm not any less?" A slight blush appeared on Natsume's cold face.

But then, Natsume got angry again.

"You... don't think that this will make me forgive you!" Natsume couldn't help but say.

However, being able to make Natsume show her emotions on her face was Rozen's success.

"I get it, I get it. I won't seek forgiveness," Rozen spread his hands and said, "But I wonder when Dairenji will come out."

Hearing Rozen say this, Natsume forgot about being angry.

"According to what you said, the Exorcism Division should handle Dairenji's matter with discretion, right?" Natsume sighed as if feeling tired, "Since that's the case, Dairenji shouldn't receive overly harsh punishment."

After all, Dairenji Suzuka ultimately didn't succeed in conducting the Taizan Fukun Ritual. Plus, she received an explanation about the forbidden actions from Rozen. In theory, the punishment should be lenient.

"However, Dairenji did research the forbidden jutsu after all, and this matter can't be overlooked. So, before issuing a punishment, the Mystical Investigator Department will likely conduct a thorough investigation into her research results. Once they confirm there are no additional issues, they will proceed with the disciplinary action against Dairenji."

Rozen made this judgment.

In other words...

"The girl probably won't be released for a while," Rozen said nonchalantly.

Upon hearing this, Natsume responded somewhat sourly.

"You've formed a shikigami contract with her, so you can know her current state through spiritual connection. Of course, you're not worried."

As Natsume mentioned, although they didn't know how Dairenji Suzuka was doing, through the spiritual connection, Rozen could tell that she was mostly fine for now, but probably under some sort of soft confinement, not allowed to move freely.

"Let's just see when she'll be released and what punishment she'll face," Rozen said with a philosophical tone.

The necessary actions had been taken, and now it was a matter of waiting for the outcome.

"Alright, let's put aside Dairenji's matter for now," Rozen stretched lazily and said to Natsume, "Let's think about how to spend the summer vacation and what to do next semester."

Rozen's completely relaxed words made Natsume nod in agreement.

So, the matter of Dairenji Suzuka temporarily came to a close.

What both Rozen and Natsume didn't expect was that Dairenji Suzuka would be kept confined for half a year.