The long, intense battle was finally over. The rising sun began to consume the darkness, driving away the yokai and evil creatures that had emerged from the gates of hell. They were drawn back into the shadows, returning to their origins in the underworld. The survivors of the battle—the onmyoji, Taimanin, and warriors from Gosha Village—could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Exhausted, Towako fell to her knees, beads of sweat streaming down her forehead. Beside her, Reika stood, her clothes torn and dirt-streaked from the fight, yet her face was lit with a victorious smile. They exchanged glances, acknowledging the tremendous trial they had just overcome.
Kaoru, still standing tall, watched as Sir Ethan approached him. Slowly, Kaoru removed his helmet, revealing a calm yet weary face. He regarded Ethan with deep respect.
Ethan observed Kaoru's face for a moment before chuckling softly. "Heh…" he murmured, a bit in awe.
Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Is something strange about my face, Sir?" he asked, trying to hold back a grin.
Ethan chuckled. "Not at all. It's just that… your expression looks softer than the last time we met."
Kaoru nodded slightly, realizing that this journey and experience had made him more mature. "Really?" he murmured, gazing over the battlefield he had fought so hard to protect.
Slowly, Sir Ethan's body began to fade into sparks of light. Sensing the moment, Kaoru bowed his head respectfully. "Sir Ethan, thank you for your help."
Ethan smiled warmly, returning the bow with a firm nod. "It was nothing, Sir Kaoru. We owe you as well. You've saved our world, so call on me whenever you need. Our brotherhood is eternal," he replied, full of reverence. In an instant, Ethan's form dissolved into shimmering light, ascending toward the rising sun, vanishing into the warmth of dawn.
As the barrier was finally lifted, the open battlefield revealed a hillside flattened to rubble, strewn with remnants of the fierce conflict. Some buildings lay in ruins, but tranquility had returned, replacing the darkness that had threatened them all.
Kaoru let out a long sigh, feeling a sense of peace settle within him. Around him, survivors slowly gathered, realizing they had survived the greatest threat they'd ever faced.
---
"Waaah! Master, are you really going to send me home?!" Hippo, the loyal gryphon who had accompanied Kaoru for so long, wailed at his feet. They were back at Kaoru's office, and Hippo wore a mournful expression.
"Yes, Hippo. I don't really need your help right now, so you can return… I mean, go home to your own world," Kaoru replied calmly.
But Hippo's reaction was far from what he expected. "Waaah! Now you're throwing me out?!" Hippo cried like a child, his voice echoing throughout the large office.
Kaoru could only sigh deeply, glancing at Hippo with a look of confusion and fatigue. It had been three days since their final battle, and though the major threat was gone, new issues kept cropping up. First, from the government—specifically, the DCST, or the Department of Countering Supernatural Threats. The department head, Matsuda, had been working tirelessly to manage the uproar caused by the battle, trying to reassure the public by claiming the incident was a large-scale natural disaster. Yet Matsuda knew the supernatural factions wouldn't accept such an explanation so easily. Supernatural organizations across the country were now watching the incident closely, and Kaoru knew their attention would linger.
Over the last three days, Kaoru hadn't sensed any signs of a new threat. Even so, he felt something was off. Usually, a major incident like this would trigger quick reactions from the various supernatural factions, but this time, everything felt calm—perhaps too calm.
In the midst of Hippo's whining, a knock sounded at the door. Kaoru ignored Hippo's fussing for a moment and turned his attention to the door. "Come in."
The door opened slowly, revealing Shiranui standing in the doorway. The elegant, long-haired woman hesitated slightly but entered with grace. Shiranui, who had lost her memories and now worked as Kaoru's assistant, had become a reliable companion despite her mysterious past.
"Sorry to interrupt, Kaoru-san," Shiranui greeted him with a gentle smile.
Kaoru nodded in return. "It's fine. Do you have something to report?"
Shiranui nodded. "I just met with Yatsu Murasaki, and he's finished the device we planned to temporarily transfer memories. With this, we might be able to speed up the recovery of my memories… if you approve, of course."
"Oh? The device is ready?" Kaoru raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this progress.
Shiranui smiled, slightly nervous yet hopeful. "Yes. It's based on a spiritual energy principle that connects with repressed memories. In other words, it's a sort of bridge between the subconscious and consciousness. However, since the memory transfer is temporary, I may not recall all the details of my past in one session. But at least, it could be a start."
Kaoru studied Shiranui thoughtfully for a moment. "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Shiranui nodded firmly. "I want to know who I really am, and if my past can offer clues about what's to come, I'm willing to take that risk."
Kaoru smiled slightly, admiring her courage. "Alright, Shiranui. We'll try it. But remember, any memories that resurface may bring a lot of burdens. Be prepared for anything that might come up."
Shiranui nodded with determination and added, "Thank you, Kaoru-san. By the way, we have guests from the Onmyoji Agency. Yangyu-sama and Shiki-sama have arrived."
Following Japanese custom, Shiranui respectfully used the guests' family names, but Kaoru understood at once whom she meant: Towako Yangyu and Reika Shiki.
"Send them in," Kaoru said, glancing at Hippo, who was muttering to himself under the desk, still reluctant to hear Kaoru talk about sending him back to his original world. "And you, Hippo, can you settle down for a moment? Or would you like me to send you back right now?" Kaoru teased, half-joking but firmly.
Hippo immediately quieted down, putting on an innocent face as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, Shiranui could only laugh softly, finding the exchange between the two both awkward and amusing.
A few moments later, the door opened, and Towako and Reika entered with graceful, steady steps. Towako exuded a calm and dignified aura, while Reika looked slightly shy but no less determined, dressed in the formal attire of an Onmyoji. Kaoru raised his gaze, offering a respectful greeting.
"Towako-san, Reika-san… welcome to my office. Please, have a seat," Kaoru said as Towako and Reika entered the room. Beside him, Hippo stood up straight, attempting to imitate a servant with a serious expression, though he still looked a bit ridiculous.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Kaoru," Towako replied with a polite smile, while Reika bowed respectfully.
"You're welcome, you're welcome…," Kaoru replied casually. "So, what brings you here?"