Chapter 33: Rise of a New Conflict

"Hey, there's someone who has his mask equipped inside the establishment."

An old man then stood in front of her.

"Don't mind him, that person can only do his job with his mask on after all. He's capable so we're giving him a special case."

It was Gwyn who just arrived at the scene.

The envoy seems to be convinced with Gwyn's statement. He looks like someone who does not mess around after all, also, Gwyn is already well known on Kirisame's side. With that said, the girl gave him a respectful bow.

"Commander Gwyn of the [Swords], I have just arrived. As per customs, I'm here to be of assistance with regards to building connections as well as gathering datas along the way."

Gwyn nodded. He already knows the necessary procedures and the datas that the Magnolian Business Enterprise wants.

"Should we fill out some survey forms to start off then, Kirigiri?"

"Ah…ahmm, please do…"

Kirigiri handed out some survey forms to the available [Swords] members in their area. Survey forms, for those curious, are what businessmen consider a golden ticket for them to develop products that will answer most people's needs. Ultimately, making it a merchandise so they can earn a lot.

Filling out these forms free of charge is already a huge investment for Kirisame, and they conduct it yearly. Since every needs of the people could possibly change each year, that's why businessmen want to gather those data as much as possible, and for free. (Watch out for website cookies everyone :>)

Going back to Kiyoto, after his conversation with Akafuyu, as promised, he is now on his way to Mylene and Fudo who is currently on the 2nd HQ which is in Gion's Hanami-koji street.

Kiyoto plans to walk it off as part of his daily exercise. He puts on his hood and jogs towards the gate. While on the way, he remembered the time when he left off alone to observe the nearby towns, then stumbling upon two unidentified journeymen who looked too obtrusive to be considered normal ones.

"I wonder if they also got tangled with the issue of the [Scythes]. Well, I haven't noticed or seen them ever since." Kiyoto mumbles to himself.

As fate wills it, he felt a piercing glare coming from a certain direction. As he turned around, somewhere quite far away, there was a figure of a young man in white cloak observing him.

He remembers that figure. It was the man who was accompanying the girl she stumbled upon the alleyways of a small nearby town. Strangely enough, she has no recollection of what the girl looks like again.

'What is he doing…why does it feel like I have done something to upset him so.' Kiyoto thought to himself as he stared back at the mysterious man's direction. As soon as the unknown man opened his mouth, a voice suddenly entered Kiyoto's mind.

"You…you are robbing me of my place..! You are not worthy of her!!"

A voice filled with heartfelt anger and malice.

This made Kiyoto snap and jump back as if he's about to get pulverized by something.

"W-what the!?"

But there was nothing on the scene. Kiyoto does not know what just happened, but it's clear that there is someone out there, again, that is targeting him although he has no idea this time about what he did to the person.

Kiyoto lets out a heavy sigh since he's being bombarded by more mysteries that he does not know of. He then went on his way towards their 2nd HQ to catch up with the two.

After a few hours, Kiyoto finally arrived, putting his hood down once inside the establishment. There, he saw Johan along with Chizue and Yamato, having some kind of tea break.

"Johan, Yamato, Chizue, what a coincidence seeing the three of you here."

Kiyoto is waving his hands as he walks closer.

Johan raised his hand as a greeting. "Ah Kiyoto, good timing. We visited because we thought Fudo should be here, but she's not, and well we thought you're gonna take a while so we went and started. Anyway, we're actually discussing what will be the team's new name since the [Scythes] is already disbanded."

Yamato nodded.

"Indeed. We also consulted Commander Gwyn if the team will be disbanded after the defeat of the [Scythes], and he said he's fine even if we continued being a team. But with that said, a proper name should be given first."

"How about a suggestion from you Kiyoto-kun? The two came up with lousy names after all." Chizue jokingly remarked.

"Heh, playing safe since you haven't thought of a name yet hm?" Johan retracted.

"Err…I'm not really the best to come up with names you see." Kiyoto was also playing it safe to not be called out when he comes up with a trite name.

As they ponder, Fudo finally arrives at the scene with Mylene who seems to be in the middle of nibbling a large parfait. Fudo raises her hand and trudges towards the group while dragging Mylene along.

"Yaho! What are you guys doing here? Ya all missing me?"

The group chuckled, meanwhile Mylene choked on her parfait after getting dragged along with Fudo's trudge. The two seem to make a stop and shop that's why they're not in the establishment back then.

"FUDO AND THE CREW!"

Fudo screams the name she came up with after getting debriefed.

"Wha- hey that name suggests that you're the Captain or something!"

Johan immediately refuses the idea.

"That's what you're worried about?"

Mylene commented on the side. She then sighs and takes a small bite from her parfait. She then added: "Aah…after all those fights, I think I want to have some day off taking care of the injured and all. Maybe Sakura viewing since they're going to bloom soon."

"Hm?'

Kiyoto finally remembered something. He takes out the Sakura leaf that he hid in his vest's pocket and shows it to the group.

"Speaking of which, I found this in my room this morning after waking up. Could this be a sign of some sort of good fortune."

Everyone rests their gazes on the Sakura leaf that Kiyoto is holding. It seems to be much different than the normal ones, though no one can actually tell a difference. Chizue then finally takes a closer look and gives a comment.

"No way, this looks like a leaf that fell from one of the Great Sakura Trees."

"Oh? So it's a rare find. Must be a sign of good fortune indeed." Johan remarked.

"I think that's not what she meant."

Mylene takes the leaf and inspected it as she wears and adjust her glasses.

"This can't just fly out here and fall into someone's bedroom. We're literally too far away even from one of the Great Trees. And…"

Mylene paused for a moment.

"This kind of leaf, it's a byproduct of Yamataka Jindai Zakura from the Jissoji Temple."

— — —

In the outskirts of Hokuto, inside a peaceful cabin surrounded by nature's beauty, Yato and his crew can be seen sorting out their belongings as they prepare for their return soon.

"Yato Sir, I believe we've been withheld a lot of information…I still don't get why-"

Yato scratches his head and sighs.

"You think I don't know that. There's something going on about this new ritual they are going to carry. And looking closely, the Tenth Herald doesn't even care to smile, not even once. This screams suspiciousness!"

He scratches his head a lot more, and now quite vigorously.

"But the servants always say the same thing: To bring change in their tradition…but, I mean…what change though. They refuse to give specifics."

It's not really a bad thing for their organization, it's just that it already piqued their curiosity. Not long after, a knock then came in, followed by a maiden's voice.

"Dear guests, pardon my interruption, but our Head Priestess is summoning you."

Yato raises his brow.

"The Tenth Herald wishes to see us, when we're about to leave?"

The shrine maiden replied:

"Yes. Miko-sama had a certain dream that she needs your counsel with."

"....."

Yato and his crew became speechless all of a sudden.

"What?"

"We didn't question it, she just deems it necessary to summon you. The details will be given once you arrive at the temple."

The shrine maiden bows and leaves them be.

"I don't know what that's supposed to mean, but I guess we don't have a choice. Be that as it may, she's still a Herald-"

"Ssh!"

Yato interrupted his member.

"Don't speak ill of the Tenth Herald while you're in her domain. The Shrine Priestess is known to have valuable and meaningful dreams. If she's summoning us…then maybe the [Swords] are somehow involved in that certain dream."

Everyone nodded at his statement. As to not waste any more time, the lot of them made their way towards the Jissoji Temple where the Shrine Priestess is currently residing.

Meanwhile, as the team left their lodging. Some suspicious individuals successfully bypassed the Torii gates that are surrounding Hokuto. One of them is currently equipped with a Legendary Mask.

"For Lord Kirisame's sake."