Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Tension Rises
Kawano City.
Special Agency SEMA Branch.
“Indeed, the current head of the Tenjōin family has problems.” Ueda pondered as he looked at the investigation report in his hand.
Not long ago, a tip from a “mole” from Maki sparked an investigation into Tenjōin’s current head, “Tenjōin Sōgaku,” by the Kawano City branch of SEMA.
This was an exception.
For SEMA to intervene in a super-first-class multinational enterprise like Tenjōin, approval from headquarters was needed, and a commissioner would be dispatched for the investigation.
However, during that time, the senior management at headquarters was busy with another extraordinary incident, leaving no extra personnel or time to handle this matter.
By a twist of fate, the Kawano City SEMA branch received a “privilege” to act first and report later.
As the investigation deepened, SEMA’s investigators uncovered more and more strange intelligence.
The local SEMA branch had been in secret dealings with the Tenjōin “family” 14 years ago.
Lists of funds, equipment, and talents.
The materials uncovered were not recorded by SEMA’s headquarters.
This caused Ueda to recall the report regarding the “ACE Hybrid Dragon Princess” about the “False God White Spirit” incident.
It mentioned that the former head of the Kawano City branch had previously conducted experiments on “artificial fantasy monsters” here.
Because there was no substantial evidence to support this accusation, SEMA headquarters was skeptical about its credibility.
However, with the current documents about the transactions between the “former branch” and “Tenjōin” placed before him, Ueda had to start taking the previously mentioned contents seriously.
If the Kawano City SEMA branch was indeed conducting experiments on “artificial fantasy monsters,” then were they the initiators of the plan? Or were they assisting?
What did the initiators of this plan want to achieve?
“Can we get in touch with Mr. Maki?” Ueda asked one of the staff members busy monitoring equipment.
“No, since yesterday, the city’s magnetic field has been strange, and remote communications are not functioning well.” The staff member replied, “It might be the residual effects of that fantasy monster’s abilities from the day before yesterday.”
“…..Mark all the properties of Tenjōin in this city on the map.”
Ueda said, standing up.
…..
…..
Nanase Island.
The students’ dinner today was a BBQ supervised and guided by teachers on the beach.
After the meal, the students had some free time before the “Sea God Festival” ceremony began, allowing them to explore the nearby streets.
“Nagisa-chan….. why are you still dressed like that?”
Manami and others who intended to explore the streets of Nanase Island after dinner, found Nagisa waiting for them still in her bikini and a thin hooded jacket after changing from her school uniform.
Nagisa wore a look of grievance, her cute face flushed with an alluring crimson due to shyness.
“….. I forgot to bring my change of underwear.” Nagisa explained honestly, lowering her head.
She had been careless.
Unaware that the changing room in the seaside cabins was actually designed as single-person spaces, she had worn the bikini under her uniform today so she could quickly put on the jacket after removing the uniform to prevent anyone from spotting her in such a daring swimsuit.
Then she forgot to bring clean underwear.
And the bikini she wore was already smeared with sunscreen.
It was definitely not suitable to wear back under her uniform.
Rather than being in a “vacuum” uniform, Nagisa thought it was better to be dressed in swimwear.
After all, the streets near the beach had many tourists in swimsuits.
“It seems I’ll have to wait until we get back to the hotel to change…..” Nagisa sighed inwardly.
“Looks like sister Nagisa has some interests in that area—”
“—She does not!” Nagisa quickly interrupted Yukino.
However, among the group of boys and girls in uniforms, only Nagisa was wearing a thin hooded jacket.
With her beautiful body curve, she indeed stood out.
Passersby would occasionally cast glances at Nagisa.
Manami, standing beside her, had no choice but to change the topic thoughtfully:
“By the way, I didn’t expect the Sea God to have an avian image…..”
As the Sea God Festival approached, houses were decorated with various ornaments that fit the festival atmosphere.
What concerned Manami and others was—
Even though it was the “Sea God,” its image was that of a large white bird.
From its form, it didn’t resemble a seagull or anything similar.
It looked more like a blend of some pigeon and eagle, achieving a delicate balance between agility and ferocity.
It exuded an air of divine majesty.
The others echoed in agreement.
Only Nagisa turned her face away somewhat guiltily.
Just like the image of “White Spirit Shrine.”
As depicted in the previous work “Hoshihiki 1,” the Sea God’s image was designed only in recent years.
And she was the mastermind behind it all.
Familiar with the worldview of “Hoshihiki,” Nagisa had connected the “Sea God” on Nanase Island with a certain “fantasy monster” in her previous life.
She secretly swapped the concepts of the two.
In the original “Hoshihiki 1,” the true form of the “Sea God” was a massive sea turtle.
Thus, the torii gate of the shrine still showed carvings reminiscent of “waves” or “raindrops.”
However, due to Nagisa’s underhanded actions, the existence now referred to as the “Sea God” was indeed her first “contract beast”—
The embodiment of the storm, Garuda.
The ceremony process for the “Sea God Festival” was quite simple.
It consisted of two parts: “offering” and “ritual dance.”
During the offering part, a priest in a white ceremonial robe would carry the statue of the Sea God to the seaside for the offering ceremony.
At sunset, people from the island would present various fresh catches and seafood as offerings to the statue of the Sea God, praying for a year of favorable weather and bountiful harvests.
The priests would pray at the beach and place a portion of the offerings into the sea, symbolizing sharing nature’s bounties with the Sea God.
The ritual dance part would formally commence once the statue was returned to the shrine after the offering ceremony.
Traditional dances and music performances would take place in the Kagura Hall, where dancers donning splendid attire would perform graceful steps to pray for the Sea God’s protection.
Simultaneously, the festival surrounding Habahaku Shrine would also begin.
As long as Nagisa ensured she could stand beside the offering ceremony during the “offering” and correctly chant the name of Garuda, she could, through this ceremony, summon Garuda directly without going through her soul contract.
Just like when DD-chan recited the name of the “False God White Spirit,” allowing herself to return the “protective charm” to the “False God White Spirit.”
……
……
As the sun set.
The Tenjōin residence, shrouded in an orange glow, emitted a hint of ominous atmosphere.
Five hunters led by Old Sang were quietly approaching.
The surrounding area was eerily quiet.
The only sound echoing in Old Sang’s ears was their low and subtle footsteps.
The entire residence seemed devoid of any sign of servants’ activities.
Every window in the residence was dark, not a glimmer of light seeping through.
Something was off. Old Sang signaled another seasoned Silver-ranked hunter.
This time, Old Sang didn’t bring too many hunters, as the enemy’s strength was not to be underestimated.
Hunters below Silver rank were likely to serve as cannon fodder and wouldn’t be of much use.
Thus, apart from Old Sang, the rest were elite among the Silver-ranked hunters.
The latter nodded slightly, channeling their magic power to activate their abilities.
Immediately, their senses sharpened remarkably.
Even through the courtyard and walls, they could hear the movements within the residence clearly.
But surprisingly, there were no sounds even in the hall of the residence; it was eerily silent.
Only in the deepest bedroom could they hear a faint whisper of breath.
This hunter extended a finger and made a cautionary gesture.
There was only one person inside.
But that didn’t mean it was safe.
Just because there were no “people” didn’t mean there were no “monsters.”
Most fantasy monsters born from human imagination or impressions do not abide by the laws of life.
After instructing the hunters under him to prepare, Old Sang personally pushed open the door to the lair before him.
In that instant.
Unbeknownst to anyone above, a crimson star shone brightly in the sky.
Casting its radiant crimson light over the entire Kawano City.
The Star Ceremony.
Officially began.
