The Last Invitation

Rito, also known as the Nightless Island, is an island located off the coast of Shimosa Province in the Kanto region. It is home to a massive Ghost Market—and a very special one at that.

While it is a large-scale Ghost Market, it differs from the town-oriented, comprehensive markets like Miketsu's Choyo-machi, which integrates commerce and residence. Rito focuses purely on business, specifically entertainment centered around gambling and pleasure. It provides various hedonistic services for yokai from all over the demon realm. As a world-renowned Yokai Hanamachi, it is a place many yokai yearn for. To those who remain loyal to their own desires, Rito is a paradise—provided they have the money.

Decades ago, Rito was not a paradise for yokai. Though it was still a Hanamachi then, it served humans. It was built by a wealthy human merchant who established Rito with the backing of the Taira Clan, a powerful magnate of Kanto. In a short time, the pleasure district became incredibly prosperous. It was said this was entirely because the merchant possessed a peerlessly beautiful songstress; countless people came from far and wide, drawn by her beauty and dance.

Just as Rito's fame was spreading through the human realm, a fire of unknown origin suddenly burned the entire island to the ground. The once-bustling Hanamachi was reduced to ruins, and many lives were lost. Just when everyone thought Rito would fade into legend, the master of the island who had supposedly died in the fire—that human merchant—actually transformed into a yokai after death. He became a yokai known as Sanmen-oni. Subsequently, he rose again from the ruins of Rito, returning to his old trade to establish a new Hanamachi and a new Rito. Only this time, as a yokai, he chose to profit from his own kind. After decades of development, the name of the Nightless Island spread far and wide once more, but this time within the demon realm.

...

"Hmph. Whether as a human or a yokai, he remains tirelessly immersed in money and lust. That so-called Sanmen-oni certainly has tenacity," Miketsu remarked with a light chuckle as she closed the letter in the empty Grand Hall of the Hata Clan residence. Before her sat a pitch-black crow. The letter she held, which contained information about Rito, had been delivered by this very bird. It contained a series of details regarding the Nine-Tailed Great Yokai Tamamo-no-Mae, the various Yokai Lords, and Rito—intelligence that the Onmyoryo had proactively shared with Owl.

"Very well. I have received the intelligence you shared. I will handle the matter of this gathering of Yokai Lords."

"Regardless, we are counting on you this time, General. The Black Tortoise spiritual power must not be allowed to fall easily into the hands of such malevolent yokai. Of course, the Onmyoryo will not pin all its hopes on you alone; we will also take action to prepare for the worst-case scenario." The crow opened its beak, emitting Yura's voice disguised as Ashiya Doman. The news of Tamamo-no-Mae using the Black Tortoise spiritual power as bait to organize a gathering of Yokai Lords was no secret. To prevent the worst outcome, the Onmyoryo had begun its own movements, refusing to rely solely on Owl.

"Then I wish you all success as well..."

Miketsu sent off Yura's shikigami, leaving the Grand Hall empty for a moment. She reopened the letter the crow had just delivered, murmuring as she read.

"The Nine-Tailed Fox, Tamamo-no-Mae... an ultimate Great Yokai with power surpassing a Yokai Lord, capable of rivaling a god? This is indeed a bit troublesome. To seize such a vast amount of Black Tortoise spiritual power and not use it for herself, but instead give it away—what exactly are you thinking?"

"She likely wants to cultivate a powerful ally. The Golden-Haired, White-Faced Nine-Tailed Fox's strength has already touched the divine level. The demonized Black Tortoise spiritual power isn't of much use to her, but if she can use it to mold another ally with divine-level strength, then she might achieve her goals more easily. That is my guess, my lady."

At that moment, a female voice very familiar to Miketsu rang out. Turning her head, she saw Matara Okina, dressed in her strange Kariginu, already seated in the sub-seat to Miketsu's right.

"A divine-level ally?" Listening to Okina's words, Miketsu fell into thought. She had grown quite accustomed to Okina's habit of appearing and disappearing like a ghost, especially in places like the Inari Shrine and the Hata Clan residence, where she could manifest suddenly at any time.

"Indeed... On the surface, even if the Onmyoryo lost the Black Tortoise Seal, they still have three Divine Generals. They can deploy up to three divine-level combatants at the same time. If Tamamo-no-Mae's goal truly is the destruction of Heian-kyo, then she must raise her side's combat power to a level equal to that of the capital." Following Okina's logic, Miketsu suddenly understood Tamamo-no-Mae's objective, and her heart tightened at the thought.

Tamamo-no-Mae believed Heian-kyo still possessed the strength of three Divine Generals, but Miketsu knew that in reality, only Yura and Mokou could manifest as Divine Generals. Furthermore, because the Four Symbols Array had a murky connection with Yamata no Orochi, manifesting as a Divine General would lead to severe consequences. Therefore, she basically wouldn't let the two of them do it. Strictly speaking, at this stage, the only reliable divine-level combatant defending Heian-kyo was Miketsu herself.

Suddenly, Miketsu felt that she absolutely had to stop Tamamo-no-Mae's plan this time. Sensing the gravity in Miketsu's tone, Okina smiled slightly and continued.

"Please rest assured. Regarding this gathering of Yokai Lords, I shall also accompany you in secret. At a critical moment, perhaps I can offer you assistance."

"You actually want to take action this time?" Miketsu asked, surprised. She had never seen this self-proclaimed Secret God make a move.

"Yes, because the location where this gathering of Yokai Lords is being held interests me slightly..." As she spoke, Okina's eyes narrowed slightly, her mind occupied by unknown thoughts.

"The location? You mean Rito?" Hearing Okina's words, a spark of curiosity rose in Miketsu's heart.

"Yes. Kanto... Shimosa Province... Rito. When I went there in the past, it wasn't called by those names..."

...

Somewhere beneath a dim sky, an Oboroguruma wreathed in demonic fire was speeding along. Inside the carriage, the yokai girl Dodomeki leaned back listlessly, counting on her fingers as she spoke.

"Hmm, let's see. Mount Oe, Mount Nukazuka, Suzuka Mountain, Mount Nanakaku, Sugo Ungo, Arakawa, Heian-kyo... That's seven invitations sent out in total... How troublesome. Lady Tamamo-no-Mae gave me eight slots. Who should the last one go to? The remaining fellows are all just small fry..." Dodomeki pondered the problem when suddenly, the many eyes on her body turned in unison, as if she had been struck by inspiration.

"I have it! This idea is quite interesting. We still have a month to take our time... Hehe. I wonder who that final invitation will end up with? I'm really looking forward to it."