Departure

In the dark night of Tokyo, atop a skyscraper amidst a sea of neon lights, Nura Rihyon, the leader of the Nura Clan, leaned on his cane. He gazed solemnly at the distant horizon, his Three-Winged Crows standing by his side. Around the rooftop, several dog yokai were sniffing in different directions, intently catching scents on the wind.

Suddenly, the dog yokai all froze. Their eyes widened as they turned their heads in unison, leaping toward the edge of the building.

"I smell it! I smell it! It's the Young Lord's demonic energy, over there! Over that way!"

"It really is the Young Lord's energy. It appeared so suddenly, and it's so intense!"

"Grand Commander! We've found the Young Lord's location!"

Standing at the edge of the roof and facing the same direction, the dog yokai excitedly reported to Nura Rihyon. Nura Rihyon and the Three-Winged Crows all turned their gazes toward the spot where the dog yokai were gathered. At the same time, an elderly dog yokai approached Nura Rihyon, bowing slightly to offer a warning.

"Grand Commander, while we have indeed caught the Young Lord's scent, there is something strange about this demonic energy... It's as if it erupted all at once. Judging the distance based on my experience, the intensity of this eruption is extraordinary. Even many of the clan's officers couldn't reach such a level... This doesn't seem like something... an incomplete yokai like the Young Lord could achieve! Please be careful, Grand Commander..."

Hearing the old dog yokai's words, Nura Rihyon paused. He tightened his grip on his cane, his expression turning grim.

"I understand. Regardless, I must go personally. Three-Winged Crows, let's go. Get to Rikuo at top speed!"

"Yes!"

...

In the outskirts of Ome City, Tokyo, outside the Old Fukiage Tunnel.

Looking at the hundred-meter-long crack stretching before him, Nura Rikuo sat on the ground, still panting heavily. He stared at the black-gold patterned demonic blade lying quietly nearby, reflecting the soft moonlight. His heart was still racing with lingering fear.

To Nura Rikuo, the power that the demonic blade had just displayed was simply terrifying. Even the officer-rank yokai in the clan had never shown such devastating destructive force. If the move he had just used were unleashed in the city, it would be enough to destroy an entire small street.

'This level of destruction... only the yokai of the Sengoku era that Grandpa used to brag about while drinking possessed it. I once thought he was just exaggerating... Looking at it now, those veteran officers who followed Grandpa in the early days are probably truly hiding their true strength...' Nura Rikuo thought. Of course, it wasn't just the power that made his heart pound, but also the consumption of demonic power.

For a young yokai like Nura Rikuo, who was only twelve years old, the drain from this demonic blade was horrifying. The key was that the blade itself actively drew out demonic power; if he couldn't control it, he could very well be sucked dry. After unleashing that move, Nura Rikuo felt so weak that he didn't even have the strength to stand up.

"It seems... your training is still far from enough."

As Nura Rikuo sat on the ground catching his breath, that familiar low voice reached his ears. He turned his head sharply and saw a black-robed figure walking slowly from the distance. The single red eye within the shadows was focused intently on him.

"You..." Seeing the black-robed figure approaching, Nura Rikuo propped himself up and stood shakily. After shaking his dizzy head, he asked, "Who... who exactly are you?"

Though his hostility was gone, a trace of wariness remained in Nura Rikuo's eyes. Looking at the young yokai before her, who bore an eighty-percent resemblance to an old friend, Miketsu's mouth—hidden behind bandages—curled into a slight smile as she asked back.

"What do you think?"

Hearing Miketsu's words, Nura Rikuo paused. After thinking for a moment, he spoke again.

"Are you an old friend of that old man in my house? A great yokai from the Sengoku era? You brought me here specifically to show me the consequences of a demon realm that has lost its order... You're just like that old man... you want me to make up my mind to inherit the position of the Third Head of the Nura Clan, don't you?" Nura Rikuo said in a serious tone. Miketsu, hearing his words, replied calmly.

"Quite sharp. You've guessed some of it... So, what does the Nura Clan mean to you?"

"Heh, haven't I already answered you? I will be the Third Head of the Nura Clan..."

As Nura Rikuo spoke, he looked toward the dark tunnel beside him, his expression full of resolve. Seeing this, Miketsu continued.

"Does this will belong only to the yokai side of you?"

"Of course not. Whether it's the yokai me or the human me, our will is the same. It's just that our thought processes are slightly different. In the past, the human me was protected too well by that old man; I couldn't see the state of the demon realm outside of Ukiyoe-cho. Now, you've helped the human me find the resolve I should have had long ago. Now, neither side of me is lost anymore."

As he spoke, a smile appeared on Nura Rikuo's face. He turned his head toward the city and said, "Just you wait. I will lead the Nura Clan to rule over all the monsters and spirits of Tokyo once again. Order will be restored to Tokyo's demon realm. Disgusting guys like the one just now—I'll cut them all down one by one..."

Looking at Nura Rikuo, Miketsu's heart stirred. She let out a soft laugh in that low voice and spoke.

"Heh... as expected of that kid Nura Rihyon's grandson. You're just like him..."

While Nura Rikuo watched with a stunned expression, Miketsu gathered her black robe and turned to walk into the darkness.

"I have heard your answer. I hope you can climb to the throne of the Lord of the Hundred Demons... grandson of the Slippery Nura..." With that, the elegant black-robed figure began to fade into the shadows of the trees. Nura Rikuo remained frozen in place because of what Miketsu had just said.

"Calling that old man... a kid? Are you kidding me?" Nura Rikuo muttered to himself. By the time he snapped out of it, the black-robed figure had already vanished into the forest. He hurriedly reached out and shouted.

"Hey! What's your name?!"

Nura Rikuo's voice echoed in the night sky. From the darkness, the low voice responded with only a single word.

"Owl..."

"Owl?" Staring into the empty darkness, Nura Rikuo chewed on the name. Then, his gaze turned to the black-gold patterned tachi still lying on the ground nearby.

"Hey! Your sword is still here!" Nura Rikuo picked up the tachi and shouted toward the darkness where Owl had disappeared. However, this time, there was no response at all.

For a moment, Nura Rikuo looked at the blade in his hand, unsure of what to say.

"Did she... forget it?"

Just as Nura Rikuo was muttering in confusion, the sound of whistling wings suddenly came from the sky. He looked up and saw the Three-Winged Crows—the three siblings of the clan—speeding toward him. Riding on the back of one of the Karasu-tengu was his grandfather, Nura Rihyon.

"The old man came personally..." Nura Rikuo muttered, waving the sword in his hand toward the sky.

"It's the Young Lord! The Young Lord is safe!" Seeing the scene below from the sky, the chibi Karasu-tengu beside Nura Rihyon was so happy he almost cried.

Sitting on the back of the Three-Winged Crows, Nura Rihyon first let out a small sigh of relief when he saw his grandson was safe. However, when his gaze caught the black-gold patterned tachi Nura Rikuo was waving, his heart skipped a beat. His eyes widened, he held his breath, and his mouth fell open. He suddenly stood up on the back of the Karasu-tengu, causing its flight to become unstable.

"That... that is..."

Finally unable to contain his inner impulse, Nura Rihyon leaped off the Karasu-tengu. Under the shocked gazes of the crows, he plummeted straight down toward his grandson.

"Hey! Old man... wait! Whoa!"

Nura Rikuo, who was in the middle of greeting him, was struck directly by the falling Nura Rihyon. He crashed to the ground and slid quite a distance. The tachi flew from his hand, only to be caught mid-air by Nura Rihyon's withered hand before he landed gracefully.

"Ouch... What are you doing, old man! So sudden... Huh?"

Nura Rikuo stood up slowly, patting the dust off his clothes. He looked at Nura Rihyon with a face full of complaints and confusion, but when he saw his grandfather's expression, he froze and didn't say another word.

Nura Rihyon was currently examining the black-gold patterned tachi with extreme care. His expression was incredibly focused, as if he wanted to see through every detail of the sword and study every line of its pattern. Seeing Nura Rihyon so serious, the Karasu-tengu in the sky were baffled but didn't dare to speak.

"There's no mistake... no mistake... it's real... it's real..." Nura Rihyon spoke with obvious excitement as he stroked the blade. On the other side, Nura Rikuo asked bluntly.

"Um... old man, what is this..."

"You brat! Where did you get this sword!?" Before Nura Rikuo could finish, Nura Rihyon roared at him. Startled by his grandfather's sudden outburst, Nura Rikuo instinctively took two steps back. After thinking for a moment, he slowly spoke.

"This... this sword was left here by the yokai who kidnapped me. He said his name was Owl. Old man, is he someone you used to know?"

"Owl..." Hearing his grandson's words, Nura Rihyon stood frozen on the spot. Then, a word involuntarily slipped from his lips.

"Commander..."

"!?"

Hearing Nura Rihyon's words, both Nura Rikuo on the ground and the Karasu-tengu in the sky were stunned. They couldn't believe their ears. How could the First Head of the Nura Clan use such a title? For a moment, almost everyone assumed they had misheard.

"Where is he? Where is he now?! The owner of this sword, the Owl you mentioned—where is he!?" Suddenly, Nura Rihyon asked Nura Rikuo loudly. Being questioned like this, Nura Rikuo immediately pointed in the direction where the black-robed figure had disappeared.

"Uh... he already left. That way..."

Seeing where Nura Rikuo pointed, Nura Rihyon leaped into the air and landed on the back of one of the Karasu-tengu, pointing in the direction his grandson had indicated.

"That way! Quick!"

"Yes, Grand Commander!"

In an instant, the Karasu-tengu carrying Nura Rihyon flew forward at high speed, leaving Nura Rikuo and the other Karasu-tengu behind, staring in shock.

...

In the dense forest, Miketsu, who had already removed the bandages from her head, stood in the darkness. She looked up at a shadow flying rapidly over the canopy and couldn't help but smile slightly, murmuring to herself.

"Next time, I'll come to see you alone, outside of your Night Parade, Nura Rihyon..."

It wasn't that Miketsu didn't want to see her old subordinate from a thousand years ago, but now wasn't quite the right time. After all, if she went to see Nura Rihyon, they'd have to have some sake, right? If things got out of hand, that guy would throw a massive banquet, and who knew when she'd be able to get back. Miketsu had school the next day, and it was already very late.

So, if she was going to see Nura Rihyon, she'd wait for the next holiday when she had the chance.

"Now, it's time to buy a watermelon to take back and soothe my throat..."

After saying that, Miketsu turned her head and looked through the gaps in the trees toward the distant city.

...

The moon set and the sun rose; the night ended and the day arrived.

For the entire Tokyo demon realm, the night of chaos had finally ended. The incident of the Nura Clan's Young Lord being kidnapped was resolved, and he had successfully returned to the clan. This news was undoubtedly good for most of the Nura Clan members and the human government, as most people did not want Tokyo's demon realm to fall into an even more chaotic state.

Although the Young Lord's successful return allowed the yokai of the main house to breathe a sigh of relief, by the next day, another matter caused them to worry again.

"What? You're saying Grandpa has locked himself in his room?"

Having just returned from school, the human-form Nura Rikuo immediately heard the anxious cries of the Karasu-tengu.

"Yes! Ever since he came back yesterday, the Grand Commander has been very off, as if he can't figure something out. Since this morning, he's been alone in his room with the sword he brought back from Ome City. He's barely eaten anything. Young Lord, please go and try to talk to him!"

Looking at Nura Rikuo, the Karasu-tengu spoke urgently. Hearing this, Nura Rikuo frowned, immediately thinking that this might be related to the yokai named Owl he had met yesterday.

So, who exactly was this Owl? And what was the relationship between him and Grandpa?

"I understand, Karasu-tengu. I'll go..."

Nura Rikuo responded. Now, he intended to properly ask his grandfather about just what kind of existence that Owl was.