-511- The sharp retort

"What is 'spirit'?"

This question made the three highest representatives of the magical world in the office of the director exchange glances, then turn to face Rozen, who maintained a calm demeanor. They seemed to be trying to fathom his intentions.

Why ask such a question?

The three present were pensive.

Finally, the one to answer Rozen's question was not Kurahashi Genji, the head of the Onmyou Agency, nor was it Amami Daizen, the head of the Jujutsu Crime Department.

It was Miyachi Iwao, the director of the Exorcism Division, who wore a troubled expression.

"In modern jujutsu, there isn't an explanation directly related to spirits. The generally accepted view is the 'Common-Style' which claims 'we do not know if spirits truly exist.'"

Miyachi Iwao gave this response, appearing as if his eyes were closed.

"In this 'Commom Style,' when we talk about 'spirits,' we're not referring to the 'spirits' of the soul. Instead, we're talking about 'Qi' that creates all things in the world or, in other words, the 'Qi' residing within all things."

This is the concept of the existence of 'spiritual energy' and 'miasma,' and the like.

In Onmyoudou, the fundamental concept is the Yin-Yang Five Elements Theory.

Although interpretations of this idea differed significantly between ancient <Onmyoudou> before and after the war and modern <Onmyoudou>, this idea has remained the backbone of <Onmyoudou> to this day.

So...

"Yin and yang compose the world, and yin energy and yang energy are further classified into the more detailed Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, the Five Elements. This is the Yin-Yang Five Elements Theory."

Miyachi Iwao, with a unique voice that seemed to be filled with laziness and distress, explained this way.

"And the myriad things in the world, composed of these 'Qi,' also include humans. Therefore, even in the 'Common-Style,' it acknowledges the 'spiritual' body possessed by humans, referred to as 'spirits,' which we often mention. Then, people call it a 'soul' because there are examples of humans having only a spiritual body remaining after death, referred to as a residual spiritual body. This is the Common-Style's interpretation of 'spirits.'"

In other words, the so-called elusive soul of religious nature is denied by the 'Common-Style,' and it explains the nature of spiritual bodies and spiritual existence with modern doctrines, considering them as different entities formed by 'Qi.'

Thanks to this, whether it's gods, buddhas, demons, or other existences, they are all explained as aggregations of 'Qi.'

Even exorcism, studied by the Exorcism Division, is also included in this, claiming that so-called deities and Divine spirits are things formed from the lingering spiritual energy of great past beings, permeating every corner of the world.

"Since you are the top of this year's Onmyo Academy freshmen, you should be aware of the classification of spiritual disasters," Miyachi Iwao asked.

The classification of so-called spiritual disasters refers to the categorization based on the scale and nature of the spiritual disaster.

Using 'Phase' as a prefix, spiritual disasters are classified into five levels: Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, and Phase 5.

Phase 1 involves unstable spiritual energy that cannot naturally recover.

Phase 2 involves strengthened spiritual energy, causing physical damage to the surroundings.

Phase 3 involves mobile spiritual disasters with physical manifestations, commonly known as moving spiritual disasters. They act like summoned Shikigami, using something as a core and forming various postures.

Phase 4 involves a state where countless spiritual disasters occur in a chain reaction, centered around a massive spiritual disaster. It is also known as the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons. The terror attack caused by Dairenji Shidou two years ago was at this level of spiritual disaster.

Phase 5 refers to a stabilized spiritual disaster accepted by the world. Textbooks offer no further explanation for this level of spiritual disaster, but it's acknowledged by the authorities, though its true nature remains unknown.

"Spiritual disasters are formed from 'Qi,' just like everything in the world. They manifest as miasma due to a distorted, unnatural twist in the 'Qi' of all things," Miyachi Iwao explained.

"And after Phase 3, miasma can manifest physically. What we commonly call demons(Oni) and ghosts fundamentally stem from the existence of spiritual disasters at this level. Even exorcism is a special spiritual disaster with differences in spiritual aspect compared to ordinary spiritual disasters. When a human with an overwhelmingly strong spiritual power meets certain conditions after death, their residual spiritual body becomes the core of a 'special spiritual disaster,' and thus, takes form. This is exorcism."

This is the flawless and comprehensive explanation of modern interpretation of 'spirits.'

"Thus, even your Shikigami, that dragon under your command, strictly speaking, is a type of special spiritual disaster. It's a spiritual existence formed from the unnatural distortion of 'Qi' in all things. Therefore, in the Common-Style, the so-called 'spirits' and 'Qi' are the same entity. Do you understand now?"

The chief of the Exorcism Division, who specializes in handling spiritual disasters, provided Rozen with a perfect answer to his question.

"Do you understand now?"

Amami Daizen received Miyachi Iwao's words and smiled at Rozen.

"The denial of the soul is modern Onmyodo. You touched it without authorization, akin to an anti-social terrorist. Isn't it obvious whether you should be held accountable or not?"

Amami Daizen said this, but the smile on his face didn't resemble the way one treats a criminal; rather, it seemed more like teasing and mockery.

"In that case..."

"Since that's the situation, why hasn't the Tsuchimikado family's 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' been prohibited, and why was the former Exorcism Division allowed to research exorcism?" Rozen asked with a cryptic smile, addressing the three present.

Yes.

Given the circumstances, why hasn't the Tsuchimikado family's 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' been prohibited, and why was the former Exorcism Division allowed to research exorcism?

"The answer is actually simple. Both the Tsuchimikado family's 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' and the research on exorcism by the Exorcism Division are approved by the imperial family," Rozen boldly stated, regardless of the reactions from the three.

"Besides being a ritual passed down through generations, the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' of the Tsuchimikado family holds significance in performing rituals for the imperial family."

"The research by the Exorcism Division is similar. It is established within the Imperial Palace and is acknowledged for its research on exorcism, also receiving approval from the imperial family."

"The Tsuchimikado family's 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' not only serves as a ritual passed down through generations but also holds significance in performing rituals for the imperial family."

"The research conducted by the Exorcism Division is similar. It is established within the Imperial Palace and is acknowledged for its research on exorcism, also receiving approval from the imperial family."

"If it were the imperial 'Taizan Fukun Ritual,' because it was once the culprit that caused a great spiritual disaster, it has been strictly prohibited."

"However, the Tsuchimikado family's 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' has an aspect of performing rituals for the imperial family, so it cannot be prohibited, even if they wanted to."

"In other words, carrying out the 'Taizan Fukun Ritual' passed down by my Tsuchimikado family for generations is an authorized matter."

Rozen's gaze shifted from Kurahashi Genji, Amami Daizen, to Miyachi Iwao in succession, and in the end, he casually stated, "Because of this, even you yourselves are unsure whether to convict me or not. That's why you've brought me here for this discussion, isn't it?"

Rozen's final words were like a conviction for the three present, leaving them completely speechless.