The Old Man Who Saved Another World 15 Years Ago is Now Getting Caught Up In A Modern Fantasy - Episode 8

When I arrived at the scene where the demon was said to appear, there were already several people gathered there.

From their demeanor and sense, it seems that four of them can fight. They are likely exorcists under the Shiraha family.

Everyone is a man, and perhaps because they are exorcists by profession, they are all well-trained and muscular.

Additionally, with scars on their faces and bald heads, they exude an impressive aura. They clearly do not look like ordinary people.

There’s one more person who looks like a non-combatant in traditional Japanese clothing.

I heard that there are four exorcists and one barrier master heading to deal with this matter.

So, that means he’s a barrier master, huh?

“I kept you waiting, didn’t I?”

“Thank you for your hard work! Young lady!”

When the white feathers fell from the car, the people present lined up, bowed their heads in unison, and greeted in unison.

As for my impression of the scene I saw from behind Shiraha, I wondered which group it was.

By the way, it seems like Shiraha is being called “Ojou.”

Should I start calling her that too? From now on, she’ll be my boss, so I need to think about my attitude as well.

If I call you by the surname Shiraha, I won’t be able to distinguish you from other members of the Shiraha family.

“The barrier master is you, right? Situation report.”

“Hah! The demon has already been observed at this coordinate, but there are no signs of its manifestation yet. The ‘gate’ is already prepared.”

When Shiraha asked the barrier master about the situation, he straightened his posture and answered without hesitation.

“Thank you for your hard work. Please continue as is.”

“Understood!”

Somehow, seeing Shiraha move around confidently and take charge like this makes me realize just how amazing he really is.

Because our first encounter was marked by intense misunderstandings and him attacking without listening to what others had to say, seeing him in such a proper state feels strange.

First impressions are important.

It seems like being here right now is also an impulsive action by Shiraha, judging by the conversations I’ve been overhearing.

This decisive and swift action and momentum must be part of Shiraha’s character.

“Miss, who is that over there?”

One of the exorcists questioned Shiraha.

The one at the end of his gaze is me.

“Newcomer.”

“Nice to meet you, my name is Yukimura Sano. It’s a bit embarrassing to be a newcomer at my age, but I look forward to your guidance and support.”

“He’s an incredibly talented and promising newcomer. No doubt he’ll soon stand out as an exorcist. You should definitely remember his name, Sano.”

Since it was the flow of the greeting, I introduced myself.

Then, because I added the words “Shiraha is expecting it,” the expressions on the faces around me changed to ones of curiosity.

You really put a lot of pressure on me, didn’t you?

After that, I learned everyone’s names and their ranks as exorcists.

It’s tough to remember the names of five people, but I’ll manage to remember them somehow.

“This time, Sano-san and I will handle the demon exorcism. I feel bad for everyone who gathered here, but I’ll have to take the lead on this one.”

“Miss, I’ve heard it’s a top-tier B-rank. Even though it’s just the two of you, isn’t it a bit too much for the newcomer Sano?”

The one who questioned Shiraha’s unilateral declaration was a bald, large man wearing sunglasses.

I’m pretty sure it’s the Genda theorem.

He is a 42-year-old B-grade exorcist whose well-tailored gray suit makes him look like a yakuza.

The tone also seems somewhat fitting.

It seems that he is the only one older than me in this group, so personally, I feel like he would be relatively easy to get along with.

Let’s put appearances aside.

“No problem. This person is a novice exorcist, but they’re strong enough to hold their own against me.”

“Wh-What!?”

At Shiraha’s words, everyone present gasped in surprise.

“Seriously? This is surprising.”

“That’s why, there’s no need to worry.”

“I apologize. Please forgive me for raising doubts. Sano, I’m sorry for questioning your abilities.”

“No, it seems you were worried about me. Thank you for your concern.”

It seems that Mr. Genda was worried and intervened because the rookie me was going to fight a high-ranking B-class demon.

Well, if you think about it normally, it’s just crazy.

Mr. Genda, despite his tough appearance, seems to be a caring and considerate person.

“Well then, Sano-san. We’re about to engage in battle with the youkai. Are you mentally prepared?”

Shiraha asks me.

“Ah, it’s fine. Shira-ha… I should probably use honorifics too, right? Like ‘Ojou’.”

“Anyway, Sano-san, it’s fine just the way you are. I recognize you for who you are. I want to be seen and see others based on their abilities, not their positions.”

“Meritocracy?”

“I hate being given preferential treatment, being denied, or being looked down on just because I’m a woman, and I also hate being respected just because I’m a daughter of the Shiraha family. I’ve worked hard and become strong to get to this point. So, if others respect me, they should respect my strength, not my position. Conversely, I show respect to those who are strong in their own right.”

It feels like meritocracy combined with a rebellious spirit.

The world of onmyoji seems to be a male-dominated society.

The fact that everyone here except Shiraha is a man is certain.

And women, due to their structural body differences, have certain aspects where they simply cannot surpass men. Things like muscle mass and physique. For exorcists who make a living through combat, this is, needless to say, crucial.

In the male-dominated world of onmyoji, how much effort has been put in to be awarded the title of the strongest?

Moreover, Shiraha is the daughter of a prestigious family.

Behind a wealthy lifestyle, there must be strict education and the constraints of being a woman.

I heard she is 24 years old this year, but at such a young age, she must have already gone through many bitter experiences.

Her words were filled with genuine feeling.

“That’s why, Sano-san, who I recognize as a capable person, doesn’t need to show me any respect or use honorifics. No need to call me ‘ojou’ either—let’s just stick with ‘Kukuri’ since ‘Shiraha’ overlaps with family.”

“Got it. Don’t call me Kukuri.”

“Hmm, it feels a bit strange, doesn’t it? It’s unfair, so should I call you Yukimura too? Ugh, hmm.”

It wasn’t Shiraha, who seemed restless, but Kukuri.

Well, calling a guy who’s 14 years older than you by his name would feel even weirder, right?

You can just call me Sano normally.

From my perspective, it feels like calling a niece or a relative’s daughter by their name due to the age difference.

There’s a bit of discomfort, but I guess I’ll get used to it. If I can’t call her by “Shiraha” or “Ojou,” then I’ll just have to call her by her name.

“Ahem, let’s get back to the topic. Yukimura will be fighting demons with me from now on. There are exactly two of them, so shall we take them down one by one?”

“Ah, got it. So, when will the demon show up? Should we just wait here?”

“No, if we wait, it will eventually manifest, but it’s best to defeat it before that happens.”

“How are we supposed to defeat the ones that haven’t even shown up yet? And besides, where exactly are these youkai supposed to be?”

Come to think of it, I haven’t learned much about youkai yet.

The term “emergence” suggests that it will certainly appear here, but then the question is, where was it before it appeared?

As far as the eye can see, there isn’t even a trace of such a shadow.

And apparently, it’s best to take them down before they come out.

How do you defeat an opponent who doesn’t exist?

“Yoma are basically in a different space from here.”

“Another space?”

“Yes. They may seem similar, but in reality, they are completely different. They do exist simultaneously, but originally, they are spaces on the other side of parallel lines where neither observation nor interference is possible—an alternate world.”

Shiraha lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

“The demon is on the other side of this place.”