Chapter 18 - Doman.

"This is a shikigami!?"

Looking at the tall stag behind him biting his arm, the man in floral clothes was stunned. It was the first time he had ever seen a shikigami of such a size; it was clearly in a different league from the three rats before.

"To resort to violence over a mere squabble and involve innocent people you should be protecting... Scum like you bring shame upon all of us who exorcise demons."

The androgynous voice came from beside the stag shikigami. A short, mysterious person, dressed in wide robes with a masked turban covering their head, was staring at the man in floral clothes through the gap in their head covering, particularly at the three talismans he still held in his hand.

Miketsu, having just dealt with the talismans rushing toward the crowd, turned back just in time to see the man in floral clothes, his face dark, clutching several talismans and staring intently at her. He was about to throw them, and she quickly prepared to aim her hand at him, ready to burn the incoming talismans with Tsuruha's flames.

But before she could act, the stag that had suddenly appeared bit the man's hand. Seeing this, Miketsu froze on the spot.

Is that the masked person's shikigami? It's so huge. That person's power is not to be underestimated.

Miketsu wasn't the only one with this thought. The man in floral clothes, whose arm was still being bitten, felt it even more strongly. He looked at the mysterious masked person, his face contorted with suppressed rage, but the thread of his reason had not yet snapped.

Such a powerful shikigami was a clear indicator of the other's strength. On top of that, his hand was currently in their grasp. If he were to say anything more insolent, his life would likely be forfeit. Although the man in floral clothes had a vile personality, he still possessed basic reason.

Just as the man in floral clothes was pondering how to escape, a commotion arose from the crowd. A moment later, two men dressed in kariginu and wearing eboshi hats made their way through the people. Upon seeing them, the surrounding commoners couldn't help but make way and even bow.

With such formal attire, their identity could only be one thing: onmyoji from the Onmyoryo.

The onmyoji scanned the surroundings, his gaze finally settling on the man in floral clothes whose arm was being bitten and the masked person. He couldn't help but show a flicker of surprise upon seeing the robust stag, but he quickly composed himself.

"What happened here?" As official onmyoji, they had rushed over the moment they detected a spiritual disturbance. Because many unusual practitioners had gathered in Heian-kyo today, the Onmyoryo had dispatched numerous onmyoji throughout the city to maintain order.

"This man attacked someone over a squabble and endangered innocent bystanders." Hearing the question, the masked person spoke first. Facing the two official onmyoji, their tone was neither servile nor overbearing, which slightly displeased the officials.

"Hehe... My lords, please hear me out. What just happened was a misunderstanding on this esteemed person's part. I was merely sparring a bit with that monk from Awaji. It was my first time fighting a human, so my skills are unrefined, and I didn't know the proper measure." Turning to face the onmyoji, the man in floral clothes's angry expression instantly relaxed into a smile, his attitude completely changing.

Hearing the man's explanation, the masked person was suddenly at a loss. They clearly hadn't expected the man before them to be so shameless.

"Don't listen to his nonsense. Was your attempt to attack the young lady who burned your talismans and saved the innocent also just a matter of unrefined skills and not knowing the proper measure?" As they spoke, the masked person glanced at Miketsu in the distance, meeting her gaze as she was observing them.

Hearing this, the onmyoji's gaze shifted to Miketsu. Seeing this, Miketsu nodded and said directly.

"What they said is correct."

Seeing Miketsu corroborate the masked person's words, the man in floral clothes showed no sign of panic. He looked respectfully at the two onmyoji and spoke unhurriedly.

"I merely took out my talismans to guard against a sudden sneak attack from the fleeing monk. Unexpectedly, I was restrained by this esteemed person."

By now, the man in floral clothes had figured out the masked person's personality. Though powerful, they were very naive when it came to worldly matters.

"You..." Seeing the man's words, a surge of anger rose in the masked person's heart. In their agitation, they wanted to order the shikigami to attack, but seeing that the Onmyoryo onmyoji were still present, they finally suppressed the impulse.

"My lords, I believe the misunderstanding between us has been resolved." Seeing his chance, the man in floral clothes immediately continued speaking to the onmyoji. The lead onmyoji pondered for a moment before speaking directly.

"Hmm... It seems it was just a misunderstanding. There's no need to continue this conflict. You can release him now."

"Hey! Don't be fooled by this guy, he's playing you!" Seeing this, the masked person was clearly getting anxious and couldn't help but blurt out. Unexpectedly, this only worsened the onmyoji's already poor impression of them.

Where did this ill-mannered rustic come from? Though their shikigami is impressive, such a person could never grace a formal occasion.

"I said release him, so release him. If you refuse to comply, I have the authority to have the Onmyoryo revoke your qualification for the selection trials on the grounds of causing public disturbance!"

Upon hearing the onmyoji's words, the masked person was left speechless. Though extremely dissatisfied, they could only endure it for now.

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With a soft click of the tongue, the masked person reached out and patted the stag beside them. The stag instantly vanished into nothingness, leaving only a paper doll with the character for "Rokuzon" written on it fluttering down. The masked person caught it smoothly.

"Whoa!"

The moment the stag disappeared, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of the man in floral clothes. Then, as if he had suddenly lost his support from leaning on the stag, he stumbled towards the masked person, bumping into their side.

"Damn it, get away from me!" The masked person shoved the man away in disgust. The man in floral clothes immediately stood up straight and chuckled at the masked person.

"My apologies, I slipped just now."

Saying this, the man in floral clothes steadied himself. He first bowed to the two onmyoji in the distance, then turned to the masked person and gave a slight bow, also glancing at Miketsu who was not far away.

"I am Morimura Saemon, a humble curse master from Omi. It has been a great honor to witness your shikigami today. But for now, please allow me to take my leave. I hope we shall meet again..."

...

On the street, the man in floral clothes and the onmyoji had already left, and the crowd had dispersed, leaving only the frustrated masked person standing there unhappily.

Seeing this, Miketsu, who was standing to the side, didn't plan to linger either and prepared to turn and leave. Just then, the masked person happened to see her.

"Please wait!"

Hearing the masked person's voice, Miketsu paused. She turned back to see them jogging towards her.

"Is something the matter?" Miketsu adjusted the ichimegasa on her head, looking at the mysterious person before her.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to thank you on behalf of the people you saved," the masked person said directly. Her attitude surprised Miketsu; most of the conflict had occurred in the Demon Realm, and the onlookers had likely noticed almost nothing.

"It's nothing. I didn't do it for thanks," Miketsu replied. She had acted purely out of necessity in a moment of crisis. She would prefer that as few people as possible knew there was anything unusual about her.

"What a noble person..." Seeing Miketsu's demeanor, the masked person's mood seemed to improve considerably. She thought for a moment, then made a decision in her heart.

"My name is Ashiya Doman. In the upcoming selection trials, could we perhaps work together?"