---
"That voice is..."
Harutora was momentarily stunned, then his expression shifted into one of resignation as if he had already figured out the answer.
Besides Harutora, Yashamaru also reacted to one of the voices.
"This is..."
In the midst of his fierce battle against Kakugyouki, Yashamaru's gaze flickered as he furrowed his brows.
Meanwhile, Kakugyouki and Ibaraki-douji, who had been standing protectively by Rozen's side, both seemed to sense something. They raised their eyebrows and turned to look in a particular direction.
There, two girls were rushing toward them at full speed.
One had long, jet-black hair and delicate features. Her slightly boyish outfit paradoxically enhanced her gentle aura.
The other was a petite girl with golden, twin-tailed curls, dressed in a pristine white dress and glossy leather boots, resembling an exquisitely crafted porcelain doll.
Seeing these two girls, those who recognized them were visibly shocked.
"Natsume!"
Kurahashi Kyouko called out to the boyishly dressed girl.
"Suzuka?"
Yashamaru also turned to look at the doll-like beauty, a cold smile appearing on his face.
Tsuchimikado Natsume.
Dairenji Suzuka.
The newcomers were none other than Rozen's two shikigami.
"They finally arrived."
A smile played at the corner of Rozen's lips.
His other shikigami, who had been guarding him, also sensed the spiritual energy link between Rozen and the two girls. Their gazes shifted toward Natsume and Suzuka.
Under such circumstances, Natsume and Suzuka made their entrance.
As the last ones to arrive, they joined the chaotic battlefield.
---
A year and a half ago—
Having deeply realized their own weakness, Natsume and Suzuka, upon learning of the Onmyo Agency's schemes and the inevitable conflicts to come, decided to obtain the qualifications needed to stand in this battle. They chose to become Living Spirits.
Natsume inherited the guardian spirit of the Tsuchimikado branch family, becoming the living vessel of the legendary Kuzunoha, mother of Abe no Seimei. Kuzunoha possessed her body.
Suzuka, on the other hand, chose to become a Ogre, absorbing an ancient, powerful spiritual entity that had manifested unexpectedly due to Rozen's Divine Descent Ritual. This entity had no physical form but carried an overwhelming presence, and by absorbing it, Suzuka transformed into a Ogre Living Spirit.
From then on, in order to master the fox and ogre powers within them, Natsume and Suzuka followed the Tsuchimikado family. While being hunted by the Onmyo Agency, they constantly honed their abilities, improving steadily and significantly.
This continued until just recently.
Upon hearing the news of Rozen's reappearance in Tokyo, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, as an Star Gazer, also foresaw a looming catastrophe in the city. Thus, he decided to send Natsume and Suzuka back to Tokyo—to Rozen's side.
Naturally, Natsume and Suzuka had no objections. Carrying the expectations of the Tsuchimikado family, they returned to Tokyo.
For the past few days, they had been searching for Rozen's whereabouts while also investigating the Onmyo Agency. Their goal was to reunite with Rozen as soon as possible.
Until today—
Rozen's presence was exposed, prompting a full-scale attack by the Onmyo Agency. With the Hyakki Yakou manifesting and Souma Takiko's powers spiraling out of control, turning all of Tokyo into a Demon Realm, Natsume and Suzuka finally made their move.
Perhaps because of their spiritual energy resonance with Rozen, the Hundred Demons did not attack them. Instead, the creatures guided them toward Rozen's location.
Thus, Natsume and Suzuka finally arrived here, returning to Rozen's side.
---
Feeling their restored spiritual energy connection with Rozen and seeing the familiar boy surrounded by fearsome shikigami, Natsume and Suzuka couldn't contain their emotions.
But soon, they noticed the other people present.
"Nii-san...!?"
Natsume's eyes widened as she looked at Harutora, who wore a bitter expression.
"Dairenji Shidou...!"
Suzuka, meanwhile, saw Yashamaru. Her pupils contracted, and her face momentarily showed fear—only to be replaced by steely determination.
With the arrival of these two girls, the chaotic battle came to a halt.
Yashamaru seized the moment to withdraw. Stepping lightly on Kakugyouki's incoming fist, he released a surge of demonic energy, causing his body to retreat like the wind. Kumomaru also swung his curse-infused blade, severing the jujutsu chains wrapped around his arm, before grabbing Souma Takiko and pulling back.
The two Yase Doji regrouped, putting distance between themselves and Kakugyouki as well as Hishamaru.
Kakugyouki and Hishamaru also returned to Harutora's side, standing on either side of him.
The battle had reached a temporary standstill.
Natsume and Suzuka finally stopped before Rozen.
Rozen raised his gaze, meeting their excited eyes with a smile.
With his Wise Eye, Rozen immediately noticed that both girls had undergone significant growth. Their spiritual energy had greatly increased, and within them, terrifyingly powerful forces remained sealed. The aura they radiated was no weaker than that of Kakugyouki, Yashamaru, or Kumomaru.
Of course, that wasn't the most important thing.
The most important thing was—
After all these years, Rozen had finally reunited with these two girls.
In this world, the two people Rozen cared about most were undoubtedly them.
So even though he had remained calm until now, seeing Natsume and Suzuka again stirred his emotions.
"Natsume... Suzuka..."
Before he even realized it, Rozen had called out their names.
"Akikan..."
Natsume's voice trembled, her eyes moist with emotion.
Heaven knew—
This was the longest she had ever been separated from Rozen.
Perhaps a year and a half was nothing compared to the decades Rozen had lived through. But for Natsume—
Since childhood, she had never been apart from Rozen, not even when they enrolled in the Onmyo Academy.
In her entire life, Rozen had always been there.
That made this year and a half feel like an eternity.
As for Suzuka—
"You bastard!"
Without hesitation, she raised her fist and aimed a punch at Rozen's stomach.
"Smack!"
A sharp sound rang out as Rozen effortlessly caught Suzuka's small fist in his palm.
"What are you doing?"
He looked at Suzuka's furious expression with helplessness.
However, upon hearing Rozen's words, Suzuka became even angrier.
"You have the nerve to ask!?" Suzuka fumed. "You took me in as your shikigami, then abandoned me for a year and a half! What kind of master does that?"
Rozen let out a bitter chuckle at her accusation.
In all fairness—
She wasn't wrong.
Before becoming Rozen's shikigami, Suzuka had lived only to resurrect her brother. When that dream shattered, and she lost all purpose, Rozen appeared. He made her his shikigami and gave her a new reason to exist.
Although part of it was Suzuka's own recklessness at the time, there was no denying it—
Rozen had taken her in, yet left her alone for over a year.
That was indeed unfair to her.
With that in mind, even Rozen found himself at a loss for words.
////Got end term exams so update schedule is pretty messed up. It'll return to normal once my exam is over.////