Hearing Tsuruha's question, Miketsu suddenly felt a wave of embarrassment, unsure how to answer. She hadn't expected to blurt out something about Choyo-machi in front of Tsuruha.
“This, I happened to see it in the ancient texts of the Onmyoryo's Spell Archives. Tsuruha, you know, those onmyoji investigate yokai very thoroughly.” After a moment of being stunned, she finally said to Tsuruha.
“So that's how it is…” Tsuruha, hidden within Miketsu's sleeve, nodded slightly, though a hint of doubt still lingered in her voice.
“Let's not worry about this for now, Tsuruha. Since everything is resolved, we should head back. If we leave now, we should be able to return to Heian-kyo by morning.” Miketsu quickly changed the subject. Since she had dealt with Morita's haunted house around noon, she and Tsuruha had a good rest and caught up on sleep throughout the afternoon, so they weren't tired now.
“Indeed. Lady Uka and Tsuruha cannot be away from Inari Mountain for too long.”
After Tsuruha finished speaking, she immediately leaped out of Miketsu's sleeve, grew larger, and allowed Miketsu to ride on her. Thus, one deity and one fox bid farewell to this mountain village plagued by resentment, and began their journey home.
Miketsu and Tsuruha's journey was very smooth. By sunrise, they could already see Heian-kyo in the distance. Considering the desire to minimize extra trips, Miketsu decided to first go to the Onmyoryo to submit the mission before returning to Inari Mountain for a good rest.
Several days passed, and Miketsu's craving returned. She mused internally about taking Konkiku to Choyo-machi that evening; tonight happened to be the day they had previously arranged.
Recalling the delicious cuisine, Miketsu finally entered the city. She didn't go directly to the Bumingtang but instead entered the Greater Imperial Palace first. She wanted to see if the Spell Archives had reopened; if it had, she could copy some spells to take back. Unfortunately, when she arrived at the Archives Bureau, the Spell Archives remained tightly shut.
Disappointed, Miketsu went directly from the Greater Imperial Palace to the Bumingtang of the Subjugation Bureau. As she reached the entrance of the Subjugation Bureau, a presence caught her eye.
An elderly man dressed in a high-ranking kariginu was emerging from the Subjugation Bureau's main gate, accompanied by several attendants. The old man's appearance instantly gave Miketsu a sense of familiarity.
His face seemed familiar, yet she couldn't recall anyone with that appearance.
She could count the people she knew in the Onmyoryo on one hand, so how could she encounter someone whose face was so familiar yet she couldn't remember them?
Thinking this, Miketsu quietly stood by a distant wall, silently observing the old man and his attendants walk away with their backs to her. At this moment, Miketsu keenly noticed the family crests on the attendants' clothes.
The descending fuji-maru crest, with something like a three-leaf clover in the middle. Miketsu remembered this family crest; it belonged to the Fujiwara clan.
Seeing this crest, Miketsu finally understood why the old man's face seemed familiar; she had seen someone with a similar appearance elsewhere.
It was none other than Fujiwara no Saneyori, the Onmyo Taiyu of the Fujiwara clan, who had introduced Miketsu to the Onmyoryo. This old man bore a resemblance to Fujiwara no Saneyori.
Why would a high-ranking member of the Fujiwara clan suddenly come to the Subjugation Bureau? A question suddenly arose in Miketsu's mind. After a few days of understanding, she knew that the Subjugation Bureau was a relatively neutral institution within the Onmyoryo, not exclusively controlled by any single family.
Miketsu wasn't the only one with this question; some Onmyo-sei who also witnessed the scene immediately began to whisper among themselves.
“Hey, what do you think Lord Kanehira is suddenly doing here at our Subjugation Bureau…”
“Who knows? The Spirit Tool Bureau is quite far from here…”
Kanehira… Fujiwara no Kanehira? Is that the old man's name? And from the Spirit Tool Bureau? Given the rank of his attire, he might even be the head of that bureau.
Watching the old man disappear into the distance, Miketsu shook her head, deciding to focus on her own tasks and not dwell on useless matters.
Anyway, I'm just a nominal figurehead in the Onmyoryo; the affairs between those onmyoji noble families have nothing to do with me.
Thus, Miketsu passed through the Subjugation Bureau, entered the Bumingtang through the back door, submitted her mission to the Onmyo-sei at the counter, and then left the city, returning to Inari Mountain.
The day quickly passed. When night fell and silence reigned, Miketsu resolutely threw off her covers, rummaged through the shadows of the small building for her bandages and long robe, and began her transformation.
She took off her clothes, then meticulously wrapped the bandages from bottom to top, finally donning the black robe. Before long, the mysterious, black-robed, one-eyed yokai, Owl, reappeared in the world.
“Good evening, Lord Owl~”
Miketsu, having successfully transformed, left the Secret Realm and made her way to the shrine's torii gate. Konkiku, the small white fox, had been waiting for her for a long time, and greeted her warmly the moment she saw her.
“Good evening, Konkiku.”
Miketsu nodded to Konkiku, and then the two of them descended Inari Mountain. Miketsu, riding the white fox Konkiku, galloped swiftly across the wilderness.
During this time, Konkiku made a very strange request to Miketsu.
“What? You're saying I need to try to be taciturn, fierce, and cold in the future?” Miketsu asked in surprise, listening to the strange request from the white fox beneath her.
“It's not that Lady Uka needs to be taciturn, fierce, and cold, but rather that the mysterious and powerful yokai Owl needs to be, you see. Last time you went to Choyo-machi, that's the impression you gave the other yokai. You've already established such an image for them, and I hope you can maintain it going forward.” Konkiku explained to Miketsu, but this answer only raised further questions for Miketsu.
“Why specifically maintain such an image? It's quite tiring, you know.” Miketsu continued. Being taciturn was understandable, as speaking less meant less interaction with yokai, indirectly reducing trouble. But being fierce and cold was somewhat incomprehensible. The only reason those yokai thought her actions were ruthless was due to an accident. Miketsu had originally planned to be friendly and approachable this time, to neutralize the previous negative impression.
“Because such an image will make those yokai feel that you are a powerful, hidden master. Lady Uka, you might not know this, but the yokai world is one where the strong are respected. You only need to appear strong enough to earn the respect of all yokai, which will make it easier for you to operate in the demon realm.” Konkiku explained to Miketsu, though at this moment, she had a different thought in her mind.
More importantly, I already praised you greatly in front of the Cat Shop Owner. Now, they probably all think your persona is mysterious, cold, ruthless, and powerful. I've already set the stage for you, so if you don't stick to the script, I'll be in a difficult position!
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