4-39: The Children’s Burden (4/6)

4-39: The Children’s Burden (4/6)

Im asking just in case, but what are the odds that you have the wrong person? It would be terrible if after going out of my way to train you, this ended with you saying, sorry, I got the wrong guy,' Shinichi said.

Upon being asked such a senseless question, Ryou found his face twitching.

Give me more credit, will you? I did my homework properly. I got his DNA information from the official database when I drifted over to Garesto. I checked it several times, so theres no mistaking it, Ryou said.

I see. Thats fine then, Shinichi said.

Huh? Ryou said.

Shinichi was the one who raised the issue, but he accepted his answer so easily just like that.

Because of that Ryou ended up the one being flustered.

He said his motivation was vengeance, but given their relationship, it wasnt hard to come to terms with it.

He was also sensible enough to investigate the matter thoroughly, so Shinichi was easily able to accept his answer and didnt bother finding fault in him, but because of that this matter ended on an anti-climatic note for him.

Do you really not mind? Ryou asked.

I dont see anything wrong with it at all. Even if that man really does have some reason for his actions, he clearly hasnt considered enough the problems his actions would cause. Thats why I acknowledge your right to defeat him, Shinichi said.

Just be sure to beat him thoroughly without holding anything back.

As Shinichi spoke such dangerous words with a smile, a chill crawled up Ryous back.

That was true for Tomoe too, who was sitting beside him.

I told you to stop smiling like that, sheesh!

It was such a creepy smile that it made her complain with a cramping face.

The gap was just too terrifying with how harmless his face was.

But the person himself just laughed and didnt give a clear reply.

Your answer just now got you a lot of points. Its good that you didnt just start attacking the moment you found out where he was, and instead wholeheartedly trained because you felt the gap in power between the two of you. That calmness and objectivity is important. Dont forget that, Shinichi said.

When Shinichi suddenly praised him, Ryou became speechless and froze up, then he became embarrassed.

When Tomoe saw that, she looked at him with a knowing gaze, as though to say, I understand exactly how you feel.

At the same time, she wryly smiled because in just a few days Shinichi had already broken through the guard of this childhood friend of hers, who was always so guarded with people.

Im up next then, I suppose, Tomoe said.

Although she was delighted to see her childhood friend having the same experience as she did, when she saw Shinichi and Ryou become quiet and look at her, she calmed from down her excitement and prepared to give her answer.

Perhaps, without her knowing, she mightve also been delaying broaching the subject regarding her motivation.

During the exam, you mentioned wanting to leave your mark on the world. From how this conversation has gone, Im guessing your motivation is also your parents? Shinichi asked.

Yes, I want the honor of being recognized officially, Tomoe said.

But despite saying that, she didnt seem overly zealous about it.

That was likely because being recognized was merely a means and not the goal itself.

Thats why there was embarrassment in her next words, as well as a silent anger.

As for why, its probably because I need proof. Both my parents have passed already, so its up to me to prove that my birth wasnt a mistake, and neither were my parents for falling in love with each other, Tomoe said.

But he did not see that sort of thinking for complacency, but her strong resolve to fight it out.

Yes, this was a fight against the world, both for her and for the exorcist clans. The chance of victory was low, and the opponent was enormous, but despite that, this girl would continue to put on a bold front and challenge the world at any cost.

So cool, completely unlike someone superficial like me, Shinichi muttered.

For a moment, a tinge of envy surfaced on his eyes at her method that was similar and yet fundamentally different.

Huh? Did you say something?

But the boy hadnt said that out loud, and just said it was nothing when she asked, then as though to catch her off guard, he asked a question.

More importantly, why did it have to be your families? Shinichi asked.

What do you mean? Tomoe asked.

The problem of your blood concerned your whole clan, and yet from the way you were talking, it seemed as though the only ones who accepted outsider blood were your mothers families. It also seemed as though some kind of permission had to be given, Shinichi said.

Otherwise, it wouldnt make sense for them to be the only ones to be treated coldly, and it wouldnt have been so easy to bring in people related to foreign exorcists or influential people.

What was the reason that made that possible?

Ah, its not like we were trying to hide it, but it strayed off topic, and it seemed like youd just make fun of us if we told you, Tomoe said.

Agreed. Hell definitely make an unnecessary remark, Ryou said.

In that case, Ill be sure to live up to your expectations. Now, tell me, Shinichi said.

Despite their justified prejudice, Shinichi happily pursued this matter.

Having unexpectedly brought trouble to themselves, the two looked at each other and sighed.

There are three families in charge of bringing together the exorcist clans. Just one or two would cause conflict, so they went out of their to make sure there were three families in charge, Ryou said.

The other two are as good as dead, though. The Abe, the Tsuchimikado, and the Shinguuji. Normally, the other families would come under these three, and the three families did do well keeping each other in check, but the blood problem was especially pronounced among these three families, and it was even worse for the Abe and the Shinguuji, Tomoe said.

The way we saw it, they just barely managed to reach two digits in our grandparents generation, and thats after combining both families numbers, so Yeah. Theyre done for, Ryou said.

In that moment, they became leaders of the clan in name alone, Tomoe said.

Considering how even the excommunicated Ootsu had at least 30 executives the ones gathered at that place then its only a given that the Abe and the Shinguuji would lose influence among the exorcists.

So in other words, the introduction of outsider blood was a desperate measure to turn things around. And because they were supposed to be the leading families, they were able to take a heavy-handed approach, Ryou said.

As for the results, they pointed to themselves.

After their plans fell through, there now remained only one person from each family to carry the blood.

To make things worse, the two remaining members were a long way away from the clans, and were more hostile than neutral.

But what got Shinichis attention was something else.

Wait, youre from the Abe family? That Abe?

Since, Ryous mother was from the Shinguuji family, then Tomoe must be from the Abe family.

When it came to spiritual matters, there was one person especially famous in the field.

A person who has even appeared in many fictional works, the onmyouji, Abe Seimei.

As soon as the name was mentioned, Shinichi immediately thought of him.