Chapter 22 - The Hidden Thing.

A Demon-Rearing Ground? Do these onmyoji really have a place specifically for raising demons? After hearing Ono no Yasuharu's words, Miketsu couldn't help but wonder.

"It has long been rumored that the various onmyoji families of Heian-kyo have built their own Demon-Rearing Grounds to provide a stable supply of shikigami and materials for their arts." Yura said slowly, gazing at the dark, ominous forest before them.

"By the looks of it, they must use this place for training as well. Heh, as expected of the great families. Their boldness is nothing like us country folk can compare to." A trace of unconcealable envy was in Yura's tone, causing Miketsu to glance at her sideways.

Ono no Yasuharu ignored the quiet discussions among the crowd and continued to explain the details of the selection trial in his dry voice.

"We have placed thirty magatama imbued with spiritual power within this Demon-Rearing Ground and have bound yokai nearby to guard them. Your objective is simple: enter the Demon-Rearing Ground, find the magatama, and bring them back here. That will be considered a completed mission."

"You will have to exorcise the yokai you encounter along the way and those guarding the magatama yourselves, by any means necessary. The yokai within are all minor ones and not too powerful, but if you still die by accident, the Onmyoryo will not be held responsible."

"The demonic aura here is extremely dense. Any yokai can easily cross over. Being inside is equivalent to being in the Demon Realm."

"It is now the third quarter of the Hour of the Rooster. You must find the magatama and bring them back before the Hour of the Rat. As for how you find your way back, that is also your own concern."

"Bringing back one magatama will allow you to become an external member of the Onmyoryo, able to earn rewards by completing missions. If you bring back five magatama, you can directly enter the Onmyoryo as an apprentice, with the prospect of one day becoming an official onmyoji."

Ono no Yasuharu finished his explanation in a few sentences, ignoring the increasingly heated discussions in the crowd. He glanced at the moon that had already risen in the sky, estimating the time.

"The time has come. You may begin." After speaking, Ono no Yasuharu walked directly to a prepared outdoor tea ceremony spot, sat down, and began to drink the tea handed to him by an attendant.

Seeing the examiner announce the start, the chattering crowd could no longer stand still. With a great rush, they all surged into the forest.

Once most of the people had gone, Miketsu and Yura, who had remained at the back of the group, exchanged a look. Then, they too passed through the row of giant logs carved with talismans and entered the dark forest.

Ono no Yasuharu finished his tea, handed the cup back to the attendant beside him, and looked at the empty clearing, stroking his beard.

"Yasunori, how many people do you think will pass this time?" Ono no Yasuharu said to Kamo no Yasunori beside him, his eyes half-closed.

"I thought you would ask how many would make it out, Lord Yasuharu." Kamo no Yasunori replied respectfully, though a hint of disdain remained in his tone.

"You haven't changed, Yasunori. Although this is the first time the Forest of Transformation and Slaughter has been used for the selection, we just had a hunt here not long ago. There aren't any slightly stronger yokai left inside. As long as they have some ability, they can protect themselves. It won't be so easy to die." Looking at the junior from another family, Ono no Yasuharu chuckled and said.

Seeing that Ono no Yasuharu seemed to be in a good mood, Kamo no Yasunori raised an eyebrow and spoke tentatively.

"More than the selection trial, I am more concerned about the Minamoto clan's intentions. For them to be so kind as to gift an entire Demon-Rearing Ground to the Onmyoryo... what are they thinking?"

After hearing Kamo no Yasunori's words, Ono no Yasuharu's expression hardened. He pondered for a moment before continuing to speak to Kamo no Yasunori.

"Heh, they have a bigger and better Demon-Rearing Ground now, so naturally, they look down on this Forest of Transformation and Slaughter." As he spoke, Ono no Yasuharu's gaze towards Kamo no Yasunori sharpened.

"Yasunori, although you and I are from different clans, as an elder, I must warn you. There are many things you shouldn't randomly guess, think, or speak about. Your status is special. If you misspeak, you could very well bring trouble upon your father."

Meeting Ono no Yasuharu's gaze, Kamo no Yasunori became flustered. He lowered his head and said,

"I understand, Lord Yasuharu. Thank you for your guidance."

"Mm... let's not mention this again. For now, let's just enjoy the tea here and wait for the selection to end."

"Yes..."

...

In the dark and dense forest, a chilling cold seemed to seep into the skin. Dressed in only two simple layers, Miketsu shivered slightly.

Treading on the withered branches and fallen leaves, Miketsu and Yura walked through the woods. Two balls of fox-fire floated beside them for illumination, secretly released by Tsuruha from within Miketsu's sleeve. This act made Yura immediately suspect that she was a curse master skilled in fire spells.

Yura led the way the entire time. Her steps were unwavering, heading straight forward as soon as she entered the forest. This prompted Miketsu, who was following her, to ask, Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"Do you know where the magatama are hidden?"

"Of course. Didn't he say the magatama are imbued with spiritual power? As long as you can sense spiritual power, their locations are obvious. I suppose sensing spiritual power is also part of the selection trial." Yura explained as she walked, glancing curiously at Miketsu.

"Can you not sense the spiritual power?"

Miketsu was at a loss for words. Not only could she not sense spiritual power, she didn't possess any. A god's divine power was clearly different from an onmyoji's spiritual power.

"I'm not very good at sensing..."

"Hmm, that makes sense. After all, no one can be good at everything." Hearing Miketsu's words, Yura nodded and spoke as if it were a matter of course, without a hint of suspicion. She even secretly rejoiced, thinking to herself that although this person named Hao was strong with curses, he wasn't omnipotent. At least her own sensing ability was stronger than his.

I... I got away with it just like that?

Seeing Yura's reaction, Miketsu was in disbelief. She hadn't expected the other girl to be so easily fooled, believing her after just a casual remark.

To have wandered the world for so long and still be so naive... if this girl weren't so strong, she probably would have met a terrible fate long ago...

Miketsu thought to herself as she continued to follow Yura. Before long, they arrived at their destination.

Before them stood a large tree. Not too high up on its trunk was a hollow, and inside it, Yura and Miketsu could see a magatama emitting a faint green glow.

"We found one? So quickly!" Miketsu said in surprise, looking at the magatama in the hollow. It had only been about ten minutes, and they had already found one.

"Finding it is one thing, but first..." As she spoke, Yura took out a paper talisman and threw it straight at the large tree holding the magatama. An unseen force made the talisman stick directly to the trunk.

"Reveal yourself!"

With Yura's sharp cry, the talisman on the trunk burst into flames and burned to ash. Accompanied by a strange sound, the tree began to change. The bark squirmed, a hand of dead wood reached out from within, and then a treant, its entire body made of tangled, withered branches, pulled half of its body out from the trunk.

"Rokuzon!"

Yura threw out a paper doll she had long prepared. Amidst azure flames, the powerful stag shikigami appeared once more. The moment it materialized, it charged forward with flying hooves towards the treant that had yet to fully emerge from the tree. Its massive antlers slammed the treant directly against the trunk, the immense impact completely shattering its chest. After a wail of agony, the treant fell apart into pieces of branches.

"Exorcism complete." Yura clapped her hands, walked over to the tree hollow, and picked up the magatama inside.

It's over just like that?

Looking at the scene before her, Miketsu's mouth fell open. She had a new appreciation for Yura's strength.

'This girl is very strong. In terms of spiritual power, she's far stronger than most of the people participating in this so-called selection. She's even stronger than some of the onmyoji we met today.'

'In terms of aptitude, she might not compare to that boy named Seimei, but she's still far beyond ordinary people. Lady Uka, you've befriended another genius.'

Tsuruha's voice echoed in her mind, leaving Miketsu deep in thought.

An onmyoji... genius?

...

Demonic aura filled the dark forest. And beneath the forest floor, an even denser aura nourished something terrifying. A hoarse whisper echoed in the darkness.

"Living people have come... more living people..."

"Are they onmyoji... they are, but they don't seem to be..."

"If they aren't, we can eat them... yes... he said so... if they aren't, we can eat them..."

"So annoying... I don't know if I can eat them..." Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"I must endure... we must endure... for freedom..."