"Have Hinata hold back and prioritize her own safety."
"Once I finish with the Heretic Gods here in Egypt, I'll head to Japan to help."
Damien hadn't forgotten that four of his dependents were still waiting in Japan for his summons: Luminas, Egwepon, Shuna, and Shion.
Just the divine essences they had stolen would grant him the foundational power of two entire mythologies.
Besides, Japan was the heart of the Campione storyline.
The Last King, Rama, still slumbered there.
Barring any surprises, Rama would likely be the final boss of Damien's visit to this world.
"Drag things out as long as possible?"
"Understood…"
After receiving instructions from the Demon Lord Council, Hinata's attitude toward Amakasu softened a little.
"Until recently, I was training in curses and swordsmanship deep in the mountains."
"I only entered the world recently, following my elder brother."
Hinata calmly slipped the Prometheus Grimoire into her personal storage space. "I apologize for entering the country so abruptly."
"Ah, not at all. Having a talented witch like Miss Sakaguchi return is a blessing for Japan's mystical side."
That was easy to say, but the History Compilation Committee was taking the sudden appearance of a powerful witch very seriously.
They had already completed a background check on Hinata.
The results showed she was born in Japan to ordinary parents.
About ten years ago, however, Hinata—then still in middle school—had vanished, apparently spirited away.
She had reappeared in a Chinese port city before flying back to Japan.
Under normal circumstances, the Committee would have treated the whole thing as one of those "Eastern adventures" or lucky encounters.
The problem was that every trace of Hinata's past had been wiped clean.
There were no records at all.
Her parents, the school she had attended, her social connections—everything felt fabricated, as if dropped into existence out of nowhere.
When the Committee followed up, the people and events connected to Hinata existed only in memory.
Ask any classmate and they would swear they had gone to school with a girl named Hinata.
Neighbors near the Sakaguchi home could recount family stories.
But if you asked for concrete proof—the house address, school records, photographs—nothing existed.
A nationwide memory alteration.
That was the Committee's conclusion after their investigation.
Someone—or something—had deceived the entire world and forcibly inserted a girl named Sakaguchi Hinata into history.
It was hard to imagine anyone capable of such a feat.
That was precisely why Susanoo was being so cautious and why the Committee had chosen to make contact first while keeping her under observation rather than risking conflict.
Elder brother…
Amakasu had clearly noticed the other person Hinata had mentioned.
No information had turned up about this "elder brother." The two had separated at the port, and Viel had not arranged any tight social connections.
Was this a hint?
Hinata had said she had an elder brother.
Did that mean some sect or organization stood behind her?
If the History Compilation Committee moved against her, would that force provoke conflict with Japan's authorities?
Amakasu's mind raced through the possibilities.
The large-scale memory alteration and the completely untraceable background both put him on high alert.
"May I ask what procedures I need to follow if I wish to settle in Japan, and what I should watch out for?"
"Or," Hinata added, "are you not welcoming my return?"
"Not at all!"
Hearing that she planned to stay, Amakasu snapped back to the moment and flashed a smile. "It's our honor to have Miss Sakaguchi back in the country."
"Please leave any paperwork to us."
"And if you have any everyday needs or requests, just let us know," he continued. "We may not be able to fulfill your every wish, but ordinary matters are well within the Committee's influence."
"Is that so?"
"Then right now I need a place to live."
Not a place to rest—she could have simply checked into a luxury hotel for that.
But her wording made it clear she meant something more permanent.
"A residence suitable for a witch…"
"What kind of environment do you prefer?"
Amakasu's plan was simple: keep Hinata where the Committee could watch her at all times and prevent any trouble.
After all, she was an elite witch.
Japan had very few of that caliber.
Bringing her into the official fold would be excellent news for the Committee.
"I don't have any specific requirements."
"I'm not picky about living conditions. Somewhere clean and quiet will do."
"Also, I'd like to interact with Japan's mystical side, so a location connected to that would be ideal."
Hinata's stated reason was that she had trained in remote areas for years and now wanted to meet other members of the hidden world.
Whether it was a nearby house or actually staying with someone else didn't matter to her.
She was deliberately lulling the Japanese authorities into a false sense of security.
You want to monitor me? Fine. I'll live right where you can see me.
That should put them at ease, right?
On the surface it looked like she was proving she had nothing to hide.
In reality, she was preparing the ground for Damien's arrival.
Since his next stop was Japan, all she had to do was wait.
In the meantime she could gather information on Japan's mystical side and see if there was anyone worth recruiting for the Monster Kingdom.
"I understand."
"I'll ask my superiors right away. Please wait just a moment."
Amakasu immediately reported Hinata's requests to his boss—the head of the Sayanomiya family, one of Japan's four great clans, Sayanomiya Kaoru.
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