First Person POV — Raito
A few minutes later, after sending the five off to meditate and prepare for the upcoming ritual,
I settled on the fallen trunk at the edge of the clearing. The night was still young, and the air was quiet again.
Asami approached with his usual stiff posture, though the slight tremor in his arms told me he was still aching from the spar.
"Raito-san," he began, with a slight nod of his head.
"How have things been the past month? Are all the tasks I assigned you and the others complete?"
"Our entry into Aokigahara was successful. A large majority of the sealing tags you gave us have been positioned. " He first narrates the good news, then grimaces into hesitation.
'So they didn't completely use the [Gathering Tags]... That won't do at all.'
The [Gathering tag] is a seal I newly developed. Its purpose is just as suggested by the name. It attracts and stores the ambient malevolent energy around it.
Though there is plenty of that in the air as a consequence of the weirdly insufficient purifiers in this world's nature.
After weeks of trial and error, a diffusion-based capture was the only stable method I could get working. But diffusion naturally had a price:
You needed a place where negativity pooled especially sharply, or it'd take weeks to gather enough for even a minor ritual.
[Aokigahara], as a place filled with the lamentations of those who died in despair, fits the qualifications quite nicely.
It also comes with the added benefit of being on Earth and untouched by the various terrestrial factions.
Other options include: Naraka (Unfortunately overseen by the Hindu and Chinese), Yomi (is in the hands of the Shinto), and the Underworld need not be mentioned.
Regions like this, though plentiful enough, are unfortunately not places I could just stroll into without confronting anyone important.
Now hearing that there is an obstacle even here...
"(Sigh), What issues did you and your boys encounter?" I lead
He straightened and produced a small scroll from within his cloak. Chakra-suppressed parchment. Good—he followed instructions.
"The situation has grown… complicated," Asami said carefully. "After skimming and distributing the tags through the forest, we observed that the gathering sludge attracts local evil spirits and ayakashi."
"We cleared some of them and recruited whom we could, but we were forced to escape when some of the stronger ones from deeper into the forest moved towards the seal zones.
"They now guard some of the zones like territories, and the... Commotion is starting to attract attention from the Yokai. They even sent probes."
He even gave a shallow bow in apology.
"Though we got most of it up and running, we had to leave early so as not to be discovered..."
'Sh*t! Yokai.'
Of course it was. Tokyo was restless, and Kyoto never slept. If it wasn't Yokai playing tricks, it was the Shinto gods doing 'routine oversight', and not actually doing anything, or the human clans pretending not to see anything while setting traps and provocations everywhere.
'Such a drag...'
I gestured for him to continue.
"So now..."
"First," Asami said, "the West Youkai Faction has tightened security around Tokyo, and some scouts are now exploring the forest. Multiple sightings of minor rogue spirits spilled out as a result of the forest now taking in more negativity from the outside world. Some rogue groups are getting restless again."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
'The cultists. Of course...' They never let you forget about them...
"Next," Asami added, as if sensing my irritation, "the East Youkai Faction has
also begun to take notice. It is expected that they will soon send envoys to probe the situation.
I'd say they would decide sooner," He shrugged, "but the elders seem to be delaying for some reason... Retarded as always."
I stifled a snort. It was amazing how much someone could change in two years.
"You sure you should be badmouthing your own elders like that Asami?" I asked with a slight smirk.
He appeared to relax slightly and even replied in a similar tone.
"As someone once wisely said, 'An ancestor who refuses to die is a thief.' Those old fossils should have been cleared out long ago. I'd do it myself, but..." He gestured, implying, 'What can you do?'
I sighed and turned my attention inward.
'So I caused them to move... Unfortunate, but I can work with that... Just lie low for a bit. I crafted the tags with the intent of blending in, so they shouldn't be discovered for a while. For all they know, this is a completely natural phenomenon.'
I made my decision.
'The next major concern is increasing strength before moving in...'
"Acceptable work, Asami. You've convinced me that you are suitable for this task. Keep me updated."
He nodded at the praise, looking relieved before jolting.
"Ah, yes, I forgot!"
He rummaged through his clothes for a bit before producing a rolled-up sheet of parchment.
"You wouldn't believe what I came across."
I raised an eyebrow as he unrolled it:
=====================================================
A sketch or stylized ink portrait dominates the center, showing the masked fugitive.
Raito's features are sharp and angular, hair dark with a red tuft highlighted though it was skewed to the wrong side.
His eyes are crimson and intense, almost glowing faintly, a hint of menace in the gaze. The sketch is slightly exaggerated to emphasize danger.
Wanted (Alive): Red-eyed Menace
Species: Yokai (with unknown augmentations)
Known Abilities: Extreme martial prowess, Fire manipulation, Lightning Manipulation, tactical genius, Speculated Senjutsu mastery.
Threat Level: S-Class / Top Priority
Crimes:
Breaking in and entry
Assault and neutralization of multiple underworld operatives
Attempted kidnapping of a high-profile target
Attempted murder of a pillar head
Escapes from multiple containment attempts
Interference with Underworld territorial claims and Yokai factions
"Last sighted: Lilith (Slums), successfully murdering five individuals. Movement patterns unpredictable. Avoid engagement alone."
Notes: Approach with extreme caution. Do not engage without specialized containment measures and senior operatives.
Suspected to employ both physical combat and arcane techniques simultaneously.
Footer / Warnings:
"Anyone caught harboring, assisting, or hiding this individual will be subjected to the full wrath of the new Satan faction."
=====================================================
I glibly looked through the poster, and I have to say that I was unimpressed. The bounty offices back home did better, even with less advanced technology.
Asamis' shock spilled out into the air, making a bit of a commotion as I kept reading.
"What in Kamis' name have you been up to this past month?! You have the devils up in arms!"
He questioned wildly. A hint of excited eagerness in his eyes.
I kept on calmly reading without responding. It all seemed pretty normal so far.
And then I saw it:
.
.
.
.
.
.
[Reward: 75 million jewels] (Turn in at the nearest Phenex-Affiliated institution)
I stared in shock.
75 million jewels!
Going by Japanese currency:
------------------------------
1 jewel = 13,334 ryo
We have:
75,000,000 jewels = 1,000,000,000,000 ryo
------------------------------
1,000,000,000 ryo!
A whole trillion.
It was enough to make me almost consider turning myself in for the bounty.
'Am I really worth that much?! How come I didn't know?!'
But then confusion set in:
'But I've done quite a bit down there, mortally wounding the Phenex head and robbing them blind... Why still alive?'
.
Meanwhile, in the Underworld — Lillith
Rosar Phenex was in Hell, quite literally.
Slumped in his ornate chair, face buried in one hand as the pile of reports before him teetered dangerously. "How did this get so out of hand?!" he groaned, throwing down the latest file.
The office was a cacophony of scribbling quills, shuffling feet, and desperate voices. Hundreds of would-be bounty hunters crowded the waiting room, each clamoring to claim the massive reward. Imposters, fanatics, overconfident rookies—every type imaginable, all waving "evidence" or schematics of the red-eyed menaces' supposed capture.
"Sir! This one claims he's located the Red-Eyed Menace in the Naraka sector!" one junior operative shouted, nearly toppling a stack of wanted posters in his excitement.
"Dismissed! That's the fifth one this hour," Rosar snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Do you have any idea how many false leads we've already processed? Get out!!!"
The poor devil scurried out in a panic.
"DON'T COME BACK UNTIL YOU HAVE SOMETHING USEFUL!" Rosar yelled out the closing door.
Taking a deep breath, he slumped once more.
"Fu*k! I just got discharged! Now this?!"
He sparked in irritation. His normally impeccable composure was cracking. The Underworld bureaucracy was insufferable as usual.
*Bang!* The door slammed open
"Daddy, have you found him yet?!" a high-pitched voice piped in as it barged into the office.
Quickly donning the most pleasant smile he could currently muster, Rosar looked up. His daughter, Ravel, had somehow wiggled past security and now perched on the armrest of his chair, wide-eyed and expecting miracles.
Unfortunately, none had appeared for the past two thousand years.
Rosar delivered the cold, hard truth in the softest way he could.
"Not yet, dearie," She began to tear up. He flinched at the sight. "B-but! Dad will find him soon. I promise!"
The promise seemed to cheer her up.
"...okay." She nodded, agreeing in a small voice.
Rosar sighed in relief; she seemed satisfied.
"Good! Now run along. Your etiquette lessons are starting soon. Daddy has work to do."
He gently shuffled her out with a smile before turning back to his desk.
The papers seemed to loom even higher.
...
Maybe he should have just died...
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A/N: Devils are so weird...
End chapter.
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