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Inyouchuu Etsu Chapter 1 Part 1

CHAPTER 1: The Oni Factor

Ayagami village.

The place where those who hunt “youmas” that have continued to exist and plague mankind ever since the Heian period…… The hometown of those who call themselves “Exorcists”. However, at first glance, this place did not look like a town that would deal in such a mysterious and behind-the-stage matter as exterminating non-human monsters and other spiritual threats. The scenery of this place was that of a rustic village that was so commonplace around the region that no one would be none the wiser. Many of the houses here were lined up in a row and were very ordinary-looking single-family homes.

It was already getting dark by now. Tachibana Yamato, Shiratori Mikoto, and Shiratori Takeru, who challenged the final exam for becoming the fully-fledged exorcists at the Ikihimeyama, successfully completed their ordeal of placing the talismans at the shrine located at the summit of the mountain, and returned to the Shiratori’s estate where they three were living for the time being.

Normally, such news should have been a cause for merriment and celebration. The three exorcists were supposed to celebrate their passed exam together with Miktoto and Takru’s mother, Hatsune, upon their return, but for some reason the inner hall of the Shiratori household was enveloped in a solemn atmosphere. A young, gentle, beautiful woman in light iris-colored kimono was sitting on her knees in front of both Mikoto and Takeru.

Shiratori Hatsune, who lived here in Ayagami’s village, was the mother of Mikoto and Takeru.

Her hair, which was just over her shoulders, was beautiful like the threads of silk, and her gentle beauty was so youthful that it was actually hard to believe that she was a mother of two children. Her rich chest that could be clearly seen even from the top of the kimono she was wearing, and the intelligent and calm demeanor her body was giving off respectively, made one realize that she was indeed the mother of both Mikoto and Takeru. She was said to be an excellent exorcist, both in the past and at the present, but now she lived quietly in her hometown without taking any exorcism work.

Unlike the girls who were still immature and impulsive in many ways, her soft atmosphere and gentle body curves made her exude an aura of motherhood and tolerance. Seeing Hatsune’s uncommonly stiff expression, which would normally never stop smiling, her daughters couldn’t help it but to feel strange while looking at their mother. And normally, Yamato, the apprentice exorcist who should have been here with them to celebrate an exam well done, was gone.

[…… Hmm, I see. Azami, the Oni Princess. Are you certain that those were the exact words that it used?]

[Yes, Mother.]

Takeru, who was wearing a man’s uniform and metal framed glasses, looked straight at her mother with her intelligent eyes and answered.

Azami, an Oni beauty was apparently waiting at the three of them at the very summit of the mountain where the three of them happened to arrive after overcoming many obstacles and fighting off numerous enemies alongside the way. It was a hard ordeal, but they eventually managed to arrive at the top of the mountain where Azami awaited them right before the shrine that was their goal. At that time, Yamato said to Azami, “You’re the one who keeps on appearing in my dreams!” before he eventually fainted.

After that, Azami disappeared leaving her really meaningful smile behind, and Yamato quickly regained his consciousness for the time being.

The three exorcist apprentices placed the talismans that they were given on the mountaintop shrine thus successfully completing their training, but Yamato’s physical condition is still not all that good after all that, so for the time being he was sleeping in the guest bedroom. It was not that they were unable to celebrate the trio’s success, but given the circumstances surrounding the final exam, it was not a situation where they were to celebrate lightheartedly. Neither Takeshi, nor Mikoto’s face, could hide the color of anxiety that was painted all over them.

[Mama, who is that Azami person? Is she the demon that was supposedly sealed away at the Ikihimeyama? And Yamato, what will happen to Yamato now?]

[Please calm down, Mikoto. While it is true that that mountain is a sacred place for Ayagami’s people, and the legends do say about a powerful demon that was sealed away inside of that mountain, but I have never heard of an Oni Princess actually making an appearance just like that. Incidentally, what was the aura that she was emitting about herself?]

[………………]

Onis are supernatural beings that boast the strongest spiritual power of all the other youmas out there.

It was the first time for Mikoto and her friends to encounter a real Oni demon in the flesh, even though they’ve battled countless youmas before. No, the girls knew exactly what she was and what this was all about. The power of “Yamato” that was sleeping deep inside of Yamato, a boy who inherited the element of the demon from his mother.

[I don’t think that there was any doubt about that thing being an Oni. demon. Just by facing her, I could feel incredible power coming from her, and it was enough to make even Raikou tremble.]

[Although she was not exuding any hostility towards us, but I’m sure she is a special youma, if nothing else. But above all else, Tachibana-kun reacted to her presence.]

Seeing the twin sisters exchanging glances and nodding their heads in agreement, Hatsune let out a deep sigh.

[If that creature is indeed going to turn out to be a genuine Oni demon, this will simply no longer be our own problem anymore. We will have to consult this matter with the village’s Head Family, bur fortunately enough Yuu-chan should be coming here soon.]

When Hatsune said that, she let out her usual soft smile, and seeing her like that, the smiles have returned to the faces of Mikoto and Takeru. Then, as if it was waiting for its cue, all the women present in the room happened to hear a lovely voice of the doorbell being rung from the entrance to the house. The one who hesitantly entered the room at Hatsune’s call was a delicate and petite young girl.

She was wearing a loosely-lined one-piece dress, she had short hair, and dark red ribbons placed in them that were a perfect match for her big, wide-opened eyes. But probably due to her feeling the tension that permeated the room, the expression on the girl’s face was not all that bright to begin with.

[Thank you for all of your hard work, Yuu-chan.]

[No, it’s nothing, really. Umm, my Older Brother asked me to go and see just how Yamato-san is doing. That is all.]

The girl’s name was Shihouin Yuu. She was the younger sister of Shihouin Tatsuki, the young Head of the Shihouin family who managed the exorcists of Ayagami village, and she was also one of the exorcists herself.

She has the ability to become a spirit medium, but her ability to exorcise youmas was fairly low, and she was no better at doing just that than your average ordinary person…… Or at the very least that’s what she herself was saying. But it was true that her body was really petite, and she herself was still in the process of developing. There was very little sexiness to her as of now, but she possessed the cuteness akin to that of a small and lovely animal.

Although her breasts paled in comparison to the bust of Mikoto, who was oftentimes called a “Titumongous Monster” by Yamato in an insulting manner, and the slender and tight proportions of Takeru, the atmosphere of a timid small animal and the gentle curves of her limbs was giving her a fully pure and refreshing feel of girlishness.

There must have been more than a few men who could feel the desire to protect her just by looking at her alone. In fact, Yamato and the twins were immediately fascinated by the cuteness of the little girl, and Yamato especially would have Mikoto glaring daggers at him for fawning over Yuu way too much than it was necessary.

When the whole group once happened to go to a hot spring that was located just outside of the village, Yamato even used his very limited abilities to manipulate spiritual energy so that he could gamble it all on trying to peek at them inside of the women’s bath, which ended up for him being punished by Mikoto’s iron fist when Yuu managed to detect his presence and perverted intentions. And that was about it.

As for Yamato himself…… the boy’s straightforward if not simplistic desires were refreshingly unwavering, as always.

[Umm, if you don’t mind, I would like to see how Yamato-san is doing right away.]

[Yes, go right ahead, Yuu-chan. By all means. Yamato-kun should be sleeping peacefully in the guest room for the time being, so you should be perfectly fine with checking up on him.]