Chapter 54 - Onmyodo.

"Are you specifically waiting for me here?" Miketsu was startled when she heard Seimei's words. She initially thought he had just coincidentally seen her and wanted to invite her up for a chat.

Miketsu was not surprised that he knew her name; her appearance had been seen by many Onmyoji from the Onmyoryo that day, and descriptions had already spread.

"That's right. I'm here on my esteemed teacher's orders to ask you about the Demon-Faced Centipede incident in the Forest of Transformation and Slaughter that day, since you were the one who ultimately subdued it."

"Demon-Faced Centipede? I came to Heian-kyo today precisely to go to the Onmyoryo to talk about this. How about we go to the Onmyoryo now?" Miketsu said, somewhat puzzled as to why Seimei had sought her out first.

"If you go to the Onmyoryo, Lord Saneyori will question you. He'll ask his questions, and I'll ask mine." Seimei said as he filled an empty teacup with tea and handed it to Miketsu. His words made Miketsu even more confused.

Aren't you all from the Onmyoryo? Why are you so separate?

Confusion aside, since he asked, Miketsu recounted the explanation she had already prepared for Seimei. In her telling, the Demon-Faced Centipede was something she encountered by chance; it attacked her without any reason from the start, and she ultimately defeated it with the help of her shikigami. Most of the battle process was omitted, and she didn't specify what techniques she used. Seimei frowned slightly after hearing Miketsu's account.

"So... you don't know where that yokai came from either?"

"Of course I don't know. That yokai just suddenly appeared out of nowhere and attacked. I initially thought it was a test arranged for the selection." Miketsu said with a shrug, quite helplessly. She was telling the truth in this regard.

After hearing Miketsu's words, Seimei seemed to fall into deep thought. If no clues could be obtained from Miketsu, then it might be difficult to uncover the true origin of the Demon-Faced Centipede.

"Alright, you've asked your questions. Can you take me to the Onmyoryo now?" Miketsu continued, looking at Seimei in thought. Her purpose in coming here was to have Seimei take her to the Onmyoryo.

"Hehe, you might want to wait a moment. Before going to the Onmyoryo, I think you need to understand a few things first." Seimei finished his contemplation, then looked at Miketsu again, smiling.

"Things?"

Looking at Seimei in front of her, Miketsu suddenly felt a bit confused. What exactly did he want to convey?

"Exactly. Things about Onmyodo, the Onmyoryo, Onmyoji families, and the protective powers of the Human Realm. I believe that as someone about to delve into Onmyodo, you must understand these things first.

"My esteemed teacher asked me to inquire about the Demon-Faced Centipede incident. However, my true purpose in seeking you out is to make you understand the current situation of the Onmyoryo before you even step through its gates, so you can make your choice. Of course, this is entirely my own wish; whether or not you listen is entirely up to you."

Looking at the smiling young Onmyoji in front of her, Miketsu couldn't help but frown. She didn't know what Seimei's purpose was. Why had he suddenly sought her out to say all this?

Although she had doubts, Miketsu ultimately decided to first listen to what Seimei wanted to say. Perhaps after listening, she would understand his purpose.

"Alright... say what you want to say, I'm listening." After some thought, Miketsu spoke.

"Then I'll keep it short."

After this, Seimei began to introduce Miketsu to the basic situation of the Onmyoryo in Heian-kyo.

Onmyodo, so-called, is composed of Onmyoji families that use family as their primary link of inheritance. Such families are spread throughout the country, with the largest concentration in Heian-kyo. The Onmyoryo is an institution jointly established by these families under official organization, used to integrate the dispersed forces of Onmyodo.

Among the many Onmyoji families, three are the most powerful and influential. They are collectively known as the Three Great Families, and they are the main controllers of the Onmyoryo. These three families are the Kamo clan, the Fujiwara clan, and the Minamoto clan.

The Kamo excel at talismans, the Fujiwara at crafting artifacts, and the Minamoto at shikigami. Members of these three families hold high positions in the Onmyoryo and are the leading figures of Onmyodo.

In reality, Onmyoji families are often powerful aristocratic families with substantial influence in various fields. They weren't initially skilled in Onmyodo but, in the process of their family's development, gradually realized the importance of mastering extraordinary powers in this world of gods and spirits. Only by truly holding such power could they ensure the long-term prosperity of their families.

Therefore, many Onmyoji families initially had no Onmyodo tradition. They later developed their achievements in Onmyodo through the long-term accumulation of financial resources, material wealth, and power within their families.

The Fujiwara clan is undoubtedly the most prominent family in the world today, with great influence both locally and centrally. Countless estates continuously provide them with immense financial resources, and they hold high positions in the imperial court, controlling the government. The current Regent Kampaku is the head of the Fujiwara clan, Fujiwara no Tadahira, who is also the father of Fujiwara no Saneyori, the Senior Secretary of the Onmyoryo.

Like the Fujiwara clan, the Minamoto clan, descended from the imperial family, also possesses considerable power, in no way inferior to the Fujiwara in any aspect. The current head of the Minamoto clan is Minamoto no Mototsune, who holds the high position of Grand General of the Chinjufu in the imperial court. His eldest son, Minamoto no Mitsunaka, also serves as a Senior Secretary in the Onmyoryo.

Both the Fujiwara and Minamoto clans evolved into Onmyoji families after powerful aristocratic families developed their influence in Onmyodo. Different from them is the Kamo clan, which has been an Onmyoji family practicing Shugendo since their ancestor En no Ozunu. They don't own many estates and have few people in court. Their ability to hold a position in Onmyodo on par with the Minamoto and Fujiwara is purely due to their long-standing deep family heritage and the exceptional strength of their successive family heads.

No matter how vast the influence of the Fujiwara and Minamoto clans, the title of "foremost Onmyodo practitioner" in each era has always belonged to the head of the Kamo family. Just like Kamo no Tadayuki of this generation, as the Director-General of the Onmyoryo, the Onmyo-no-kami, he upholds the tradition of successive Kamo family heads, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the study of Onmyodo, protecting Heian-kyo and the Human Realm. He absolutely refrains from interfering in other matters, especially those of the imperial court, and maintains strict neutrality regarding the disputes between the Fujiwara and Minamoto. Therefore, although the Kamo are nominally the head of Onmyodo, they are far more low-key than the Fujiwara and Minamoto. Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

"Thus, the Three Great Families have largely established the structure of Onmyodo, but the protective power of the Human Realm is not limited to Onmyodo alone." Seimei said, fanning himself lightly with an unfolded folding fan, while Miketsu immediately asked without hesitation.

"What else?"

"There are also the Buddhist sects, primarily referring to the Tendai and Shingon schools. The Three Great Families and the Two Great Sects are the main forces guarding the Human Realm."