At the foot of the snowy mountain, more and more exorcists continued to arrive. Some had already changed into thick down jackets, carefully organizing the talismans and spiritual tools they carried with them.
The reason no one had rushed into the mountain earlier was simple—the environment was far too harsh. Only around noon each day did the wind and snow ease slightly, and the temperature rise just enough to be bearable.
Even then, the relatively warmer noon temperatures merely allowed everyone present to barely withstand the cold.
Based on the intelligence they had gathered beforehand, they knew that at the mountain's base, heavy down jackets were enough to keep the cold at bay.
But the closer one got to the summit, the more brutally the temperature dropped. Ordinary people would be frozen into ice sculptures the moment they set foot there. Even exorcists like them could only rely on their spiritual power to resist the cold.
Of course, there were also some particularly unusual individuals present.
At this moment, they didn't even need to wear thick down jackets like everyone else, instead strolling around in light, casual clothing.
"That should be the Kagura family—the ninth-ranked house among the Thirteen Demon-Slaying Families."
"Really makes you jealous, doesn't it? Because of their special spiritual cultivation method, their spiritual power carries a strong fire attribute. In an environment like this, they're practically blessed by heaven."
"Tell me about it. While the rest of us are burning through spiritual power just to keep from freezing, the Kagura family can sit back and conserve their strength."
"When we actually encounter the Yuki-onna, our spiritual power will already be partially depleted. How could we possibly compete with the Kagura family then?"
"I'd say the Sesshōseki will most likely end up in their hands. Everyone else is probably just here to make up the numbers."
"I don't know about that. Sure, the Kagura family has the environmental advantage, but they only brought four people this time. Aside from that old man who's A-rank, the other three are two B-ranks and one kid who's barely B-minus."
"Now look over there at the Onmyō Bureau. They may not have any A-rankers, but they've got over a dozen people, all B-rank or above."
"And to avoid wasting spiritual power, they're even lavishly using fire talismans to keep warm. That alone shows how determined they are to claim the Sesshōseki."
Wherever there are people, there will be rivalries—and this place was packed with exorcists.
While waiting for noon to arrive, many who had nothing better to do began analyzing the strength of their competitors.
After plenty of discussion, most concluded that the Kagura family and the Onmyō Bureau had the highest chances of taking the prize.
Meanwhile, over on the much-talked-about Kagura family's side, a red-haired少年 was being thoroughly scolded by an elderly man.
"I told you this morning that today was important and warned you not to run around. And yet because of you, we nearly missed the optimal time to enter the mountain!"
"Just because you've achieved a few results, you've gotten full of yourself again, haven't you? Let me guess—you ran off somewhere to show off today."
The Kagura family elder looked at the boy standing before him with his head lowered, listening to the scolding with a carefree, almost shameless expression. In truth, the elder felt deeply helpless.
Though the Kagura family was one of the Thirteen Demon-Slaying Families, their numbers were small. Even before the age of yōkai chaos, their accumulated wealth and influence couldn't compare to the other great houses—some might even call them declining.
After the yōkai upheaval began, their clan was given a chance to rise again. Yet because their numbers remained few, even their ninth-place ranking among the Thirteen Families had become precarious.
If not for the old clan head's formidable strength, they might have already fallen to the bottom.
But the older generation would inevitably age. If the family wished to maintain its standing, nurturing the younger generation was paramount.
The boy standing before the elder was precisely the Kagura family's most outstanding prodigy—Kagura Yūichi.
Yūichi was barely fifteen years old, yet both his spiritual power and curse technique talent were the strongest the Kagura family had seen in years.
At just fifteen, he already possessed B-minus–rank spiritual power. While the earlier spiritual vortex anomaly had played a significant role, even within the broader exorcist world, Yūichi's talent was undeniably exceptional.
Even the famed sword shrine maiden of the Yamato family—often praised as the standout among the younger generation—had not been this impressive at Yūichi's age.
Just a few days earlier, Kagura Yūichi had even entered the exorcist rankings at the youngest age ever, a list now considered the most prestigious in the field.
However, overwhelming talent, combined with constant praise from those around him and his young age, naturally bred arrogance.
More importantly, to the Kagura family, he was a treasure—a child entrusted with the hope of restoring the clan's glory. As such, he was rarely subjected to harsh punishment.
That indulgence, however, only worsened his pride, even pushing him down the wrong path.
In a situation like today's, the elder didn't need to think twice to know why Yūichi was late—he must have gone off to show off somewhere again.
And as for the scolding, the elder assumed it would go in one ear and out the other.
But—
Just as the elder finished his tirade and was about to report to the clan head that the boy's upbringing needed serious adjustment, Kagura Yūichi did something unprecedented.
He apologized.
"Second Elder… this time, I was wrong."
"And I won't do something as stupid as showing off my achievements on the streets ever again."
"Because a true exorcist, no matter how much they accomplish, never forgets their original purpose."
"Only those intoxicated by their own glory remain standing still. If I want to grow stronger—strong enough to earn that person's acknowledgment—I can't stay like this."
When the elder heard these words come from Kagura Yūichi's mouth, his furious expression froze solid. For a moment, he even wondered if he'd imagined it.
Turning to look at the two clansmen behind him, he saw that their faces wore the same stunned, ghost-seeing expressions.
There was a reason for this reaction.
For someone like Kagura Yūichi to say such things was utterly bizarre. This was a boy who, when in a mood, would openly argue even with the clan head himself.
Yet now, this arrogant youth not only admitted fault but spoke words that struck them deeply.
So much so that the elder actually grabbed Yūichi's head and inspected it from side to side, checking whether the boy had hit his head too hard—or had been possessed by something else entirely.
After his head had been shaken back and forth like a pendulum, Yūichi finally snapped and explained the reason behind his sudden "awakening."
"No. This is non-negotiable."
"While I'm grateful to that man—Tennōin Yūdō—for making you realize your mistakes, and I'm glad you've changed…"
"As the hope of the Kagura family, you cannot take that man as your master."
"Leaving aside the fact that what he practices isn't suitable for you, his status alone makes him completely unfit to be your teacher."
"You are the most outstanding talent of the Kagura family's younger generation. And he is nothing more than the orphan of a fallen minor clan. The gap in status is far too great."
The elder spoke firmly.
It was no joke. Even if the Kagura family had fallen on hard times, they were still one of the Thirteen Demon-Slaying Families.
And Kagura Yūichi was their treasured hope. How could they allow some wild, unorthodox exorcist to become his teacher?
If the other great exorcist families heard of it, where would the Kagura family's dignity be?
"Hah. I'm not asking for your approval," Yūichi shot back coldly. "I'm just informing you."
"And what good are status and rank, anyway?"
"A true exorcist never abandons the resolve to protect others, never seeks gratitude, and constantly refines themselves on the path of slaying yōkai."
"You old fossils only care about power, rank, and status—what would you know?"
"I've already awakened. From today on, I'm going to become a true exorcist—one who doesn't chase fame or profit!"
Polite discussion had clearly failed, so Yūichi reverted to his usual stubborn temperament. After all, this wasn't the first time he'd done so.
This time, however, the elder wanted to scold him again—but found himself unable to.
Because Yūichi… wasn't entirely wrong.
Instead, it felt like they were the ones who had been taught a lesson, leaving the elder's face flushed red with suppressed frustration.
On the other side, among the Countermeasures Division, Kamishiro Isshin handed out down jackets to everyone, reminding them as he did:
"Once we enter the mountain, just stay near the lower areas. There's no need to fight them for the Sesshōseki."
"The Yuki-onna is extremely troublesome in her home terrain, and the Sesshōseki itself is far too dangerous. Even if we managed to get our hands on it, we wouldn't be able to keep it."
When noon finally arrived, the blizzard on the mountain eased slightly under the sun's influence.
Taking advantage of this brief window, all the exorcists gathered at the mountain's base began their ascent.
Most of them weren't here for the first time. The mountain was vast, and finding the Yuki-onna was no simple task.
Of course, some who entered would eventually return.
Others… would remain forever in the mountain.
Meanwhile, inside a rocky cave high on the mountain, a breathtakingly beautiful woman dressed in a pure white kimono was playing with several snow children. Even her hair was as white as freshly fallen snow.
But at the exact moment the exorcists stepped into the mountain, the woman's gentle laughter froze.
Her smile vanished, replaced by an icy coldness.
"These humans never learn," she murmured. "They're like locusts—kill one batch, and another comes swarming in."
"My mercy before was mistaken for weakness, it seems."
"Well then… as a yōkai, I should do what the others do—make them feel fear."
"This time, I'll put in a bit more effort…"
"And wipe out every last piece of trash that dares invade my domain."
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