"We have reliable information that Tsukigara Yomyo is missing, but her adopted sister, Ayaka, and retainer, Matsudaira, are at the Renjo Trading Company's hall..."
"The Renjo Trading Company? If we attack them carelessly, it could cause a conflict between our clan and Renjo Senjuro!"
"It won't matter if no one knows."
The old monk wearing a sedge hat grinned, his mouth twisted. His sunken eye sockets hid jet-black, malevolent eyes, and the wrinkles around his eyes spread out like chrysanthemums.
The black-clad woman in the Shell Serpent Troupe added, "If something really happens, we can push the blame onto Renjo Senjuro's enemies—"
"In that case, let's begin the operation!"
With that, several figures leaped into the air like bullets, quickly heading towards the trading company's hall.
...
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Amidst the earth-shaking explosions, the trading company hall's barrier was broken again, and the ceiling shattered with a "thud," creating a large hole. The collapse occurred in that instant—
Tiles and debris rained down, as if spewing from a funnel, smashing onto the ground, sending dust billowing into the air.
Three figures fell from the hole. Leading the way was the old monk "Jakuun" wielding a shakujo, followed by a woman in black, and a large man who seemed to be an attendant.
"Strange?"
The old monk Jakuun landed lightly on the ground like a withered leaf. He used his shakujo as a walking stick, his aged gaze sweeping around, his eyes filled with doubt.
"Speaking of which... where are the people from the trading company?"
"We've had people monitoring the outside. Before, people were coming and going through the main gate of the hall!"
The black-clad woman also looked suspicious.
The entire trading company hall was empty, and there was no sign of people. The three experts from the Shell Serpent Troupe sensed the abnormality and made no sound.
An unnerving silence enveloped the surroundings, lasting for about ten seconds, before a low footstep sounded.
"I didn't expect to have guests calling at this late hour..."
A lazy male voice echoed.
The three turned their gaze towards the direction of the footsteps and saw the newcomer wearing a brightly colored, authentic Yuki Tsumugi kimono. Judging by his impressive attire, he was someone of importance. It was Renjo Senjuro, the owner of the Renjo Trading Company and purveyor to the Kyoto Imperial Family.
"It's quite unexpected to have such distinguished guests."
Renjo was not alone. He was followed by three doll-like girls. He tucked his hands into his sleeves and smirked.
"I don't seem to recall inviting the three of you. You... wouldn't happen to be unwelcome guests, would you?"
Seeing this, the old monk Jakuun understood the situation. The Shell Serpent Troupe's operation had been known in advance—meaning that a mole had learned of the family head's mission. The situation was quite unfavorable.
Thump!
Before the situation could worsen, Jakuun took the initiative and raised his shakujo, striking it against the ground. The dull-colored rings at the end chimed, producing a crisp, full sound.
"Mr. Renjo, please hear me out."
The old man said, "We do not intend to be enemies with the Renjo Trading Company. If Mr. Renjo hands over the people of the Tsukigara clan, we can avoid this conflict."
"A good suggestion."
Renjo sneered. "But why would I negotiate with three thieves? You... all get out of my sight!"
He stomped his right foot on the ground. In the next instant, the ground bloomed with light, and patterns emerged. It was a circular pattern, hidden beneath the feet of Jakuun and the others since who knows when.
Buzz...
A strong light rose up, engulfing the three figures.
"It's 'Shrinking Earth'!"
The old monk Jakuun realized the danger and shouted.
'A transfer technique...'
"Not good!!!"
The black-clad woman and the tall man also cried out in alarm—by the time they understood, it was already too late.
The old man's figure vanished in the next second, and the man and woman beside him were also caught in the vortex of light in the blink of an eye.
The light dissipated, and the three were sucked into a spatial rift, as if they had been thrown somewhere, suddenly disappearing without a trace.
"Well then."
Renjo sighed. "What a pain. These guys are so rough. If they're going to come, why do they have to break the repaired hall again?"
After receiving a secret "contact," he had transferred Ayaka and Matsudaira, who were hidden in the hall, and the trading company's staff to outside the city through a tunnel.
In addition, Renjo had set up a "Shrinking Earth" formation for transfer in the hall as requested.
Of course, Renjo could not have modified such a powerful technique like Shrinking Earth into a formation. The collaborator who provided assistance was an unknown person. All he did was follow the instructions and stick the talismans disguised as the ground in the hall.
After the transfer technique was activated, thick white smoke dispersed, and many talismans fluttered in the air, scattering down.
"But... now that I think about it, where exactly does this spatial transfer magic send these three people?"
...
The old monk Jakuun, the black-clad woman, and the strong man—these three experts from the Shell Serpent Troupe were caught in the transfer magic. Their vision spun and reversed, multiple images overlapping. In the blink of an eye, the dizziness disappeared.
'It seems Renjo Senjuro received information and set up a trap specifically for us to fall into...'
The old monk Jakuun, dressed as a monk, snapped out of it and noticed that he was in a spacious area lined with broad-leaved trees.
"We've been completely played."
The black-clad woman, Utsusemi, sighed softly. "This was a pre-emptive, pre-arranged tactic."
The strong man remained silent, simply observing his surroundings.
"The situation is not good."
Jakuun, the most experienced of the trio, nodded.
"The transfer distance shouldn't be too far, but I suspect that Lord Kaoru might be in danger this time."
"What do you mean?"
Utsusemi asked in confusion, "Could it be Miss Kazura's doing?"
"Regardless, in the current situation, he will be at a disadvantage," Jakuun analyzed. "Although Lord Kaoru has guards from the Shell Serpent Troupe and the clan, their strength is not as great as ours."
"Then, if we go back now, we should still be able to make it in time—"
Utsusemi was about to turn around and leave when an inexplicable sense of pressure came from all directions, and cold sweat streamed down the black-clad woman's neck and back.
At the same time, the old monk Jakuun, without even turning around, felt an unprecedented sense of terror, his whole body stiffening. Even the strong man's skin broke out in goosebumps.
The night wind blew gently, the leaves rustling softly. The three felt as if time had stopped.
"You cannot leave here."
It was a clear voice belonging to a young girl.
"...You must stay here for a while."
The awe in the hearts of the three had already turned towards the figure before them.
It was the figure of a woman wearing a crimson mask of a butterfly or moth on her face, quietly floating down from mid-air.
She had a slender figure and seemingly transparent white skin, wearing a shrine maiden's outfit and bright red armor.
The three great experts of the Shell Serpent Troupe stood motionless, their bodies so stiff that they could hardly move. The absolute pressure emanating from this suddenly appearing girl seemed to have physical force, preventing them from moving.
Behind this mysterious girl were a pair of crimson, eerie wings, scattering large amounts of golden scales, making her figure appear to be in a golden mist.
"I will not harm you... However, I hope you can stay here for a while—"
Her words alone made the three have no intention of refusing. They couldn't even take a single step.
...
"Young man, I must admit, I really underestimated you."
Kurokami Mountain Misumi's "mind speech" was transmitted from the void, and she seemed quite surprised.
"I originally thought that without me showing myself, it would be difficult for you to get rid of Jakuun, Utsusemi, and Tessai, but I didn't expect you to be able to use such methods..."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"This person is a 'big shot' from the main shrine of the Sacred Cherry Tree. To think you could get in touch with this kind of person is truly an eye-opener for me."
"I, myself, am also very surprised."
Hyakusuke's tone was also surprised.
"Actually, I just suggested that I hoped the favor I sold before could be used, but I didn't expect the other party to agree directly."
Previously, Hyakusuke had conveyed a message to Yuki-Onna Hime and Mahoraga through a dream, hoping to get help from these two gods.
However, he had not expected that Hiiragi Hiruko would be willing to help. This great miko's status was noble, and no one would have thought that she would be willing to take the initiative.
'Actually, my original idea was just to have the Heavenly Sacred Cherry Tree Mahoraga find a way to strengthen the barrier and trap the Jakuun, Utsusemi, and Tessai trio for a while.'
Hyakusuke had inquired about the members of the Shell Serpent Troupe who had come here from Kurokami Mountain Misumi. Upon hearing the names of these three, he immediately combined the plot and came up with an operational plan.
Jakuun, Utsusemi, and Tessai were the three experts who pursued the protagonist in the later stages of the original game. Hyakusuke knew their abilities, personalities, and so on quite well.
He knew that these three guys had undergone physical modifications and had poor resistance to pure divine energy. If Mahoraga took action, they should be able to trap the trio for a while.
'These three guys are quite strong in themselves. If we really fight, I don't see any chance of us winning... But as long as we exclude them from this operation, there won't be any problems.'
Hyakusuke was very grateful that Hiiragi Hiruko was willing to get involved in this matter. Originally, this had nothing to do with the main shrine of the Sacred Cherry Tree. If she did this and it was exposed, it might cause the relationship between Kasumi Castle and the Kurokami Mountain clan to deteriorate, which would be a great loss.
"Young man, don't think too much."
As if seeing through his thoughts, Misumi chuckled in the mind-speech exchange.
'So-called connections are also a kind of power. Doing things that an individual can't do by borrowing the hands of others is not something shameful... In fact, being able to get help from others is a kind of popularity, and it's your ability. You don't need to be too hung up on it.'
'You're right.'
Hyakusuke didn't intend to have a pointless discussion on this issue. He gripped the spear in his hand and reminded Yomyo beside him.
"Lord Yomyo, prepare yourself... Next, we're going to play the role of kidnappers and bring back a hostage."
"I, I know."
Yomyo's expression was somewhat timid. She asked softly, "B-but, is it really okay to do this? If I do this... wouldn't I be biting the hand that feeds me at the Kurokami Mountain family?"
"No."
Hyakusuke shook his head.
"I don't think Head Misono's approach is correct. Otherwise, why would former Head Misumi be on our side? Miss Kohagi and Miss Kazura might not be able to accept this decision either."
He said calmly, "Furthermore, even if you are targeted, you shouldn't involve outsiders like Ayaka, Old Man Matsudaira, and the Renjo Trading Company. There's no way to justify this kind of thing..."
"Okay."
Hearing this, Yomyo's uneasy mood gradually calmed down. She gripped the hilts of her two swords with both hands, drawing the two precious swords from their scabbards.
"Then, I'll go first."
With that, she leaped down from the roof tiles, attacking the formation below with the speed of a swallow.
