-610- Explain everything

Here is a secluded, unknown cabin far away from Tokyo.

Not only is the cabin located in a remote area, but the surroundings are desolate and rarely frequented by people. It's difficult to even find a complete road, making it inconvenient for habitation.

However, it's a shame to leave it abandoned, so the owner occasionally rents it out at a low price.

Currently, this cabin has been temporarily occupied by outsiders. They've set up barriers that are invisible to the general public and some jujutsu is at play, deterring intruders.

In one of the rooms inside this cabin, two young girls lie in futons on the tatami mat.

"Ugh..."

With a slightly groggy and unclear voice, Natsume slowly wakes from her slumber, opens her eyes, and looks at the ceiling.

"Where am I?"

Natsume stares blankly at the ceiling, appearing not completely awake, struggling to sit up and shaking her head, feeling somewhat lost.

"Where...where am I?"

Evidently, Natsume hasn't realized what has happened.

So, Natsume starts to dispel her drowsiness, trying hard to recall.

Gradually, Natsume manages to retrieve her memories from her mind.

"That's right! I was arrested by the Onmyou Agency!"

Natsume widens her eyes suddenly, recalling everything.

"I remember it was Akikan's ritual that almost caused a major spiritual disaster, so the members of the Exorcism Division arrested us and took us to the Onmyou Agency."

After arriving at the Onmyou Agency, they used the reason of not allowing shikigami to be near Rozen, and brought Natsume and Suzuka to the Mystical Investigation Department's interrogation room for confinement and questioning.

During this process, Natsume met Amami Daizen, who bore the title of "Divine Fan," and witnessed an argument between Amami Daizen and Suzuka.

Later, something happened at the Onmyou Agency, but Natsume didn't know what transpired. Amami Daizen's expression changed, and he left the interrogation room, heading somewhere unknown.

In that situation, Natsume and Suzuka remained in the interrogation room all along. Due to the curse tool suppressing their spiritual power and the high-level barrier in the interrogation room, they couldn't contact Rozen and could only vaguely sense each other's presence.

After that moment, for some unknown reason, the door to the interrogation room opened.

Shortly after, a figure that left Natsume astonished entered from outside.

"Big brother!"

It was Harutora.

Upon entering the interrogation room, Harutora, disregarding Suzuka's surprised expression, looked at Natsume. His eyes showed a hint of joy upon seeing Natsume, but then a lot of sorrow appeared. He whispered softly.

"I'm sorry, Natsume," leaving these words behind, Harutora muttered something softly, causing both Natsume and Suzuka to suddenly lose consciousness.

Now, looking back, how could Natsume not understand what happened?

"My brother used jujutsu on me...?"

Natsume muttered in disbelief.

Impossible.

In Natsume's understanding, her brother Harutora was an ordinary person completely unrelated to jujutsu. Forget using jujutsu; he couldn't even perceive spiritual energy, let alone see spirits. How could he do something like this?

"Could this be a dream?"

Natsume couldn't help but think so.

However...

"If you want to daydream, I have no objections, but I won't be in your dreams for sure. So, come to terms with reality quickly, stupid woman."

With this somewhat sharp-tongued voice coming from the side, Natsume finally reacted and quickly turned her head to look at her side.

There, Suzuka had also woken up, sitting in the futon, not looking at Natsume. Her expression seemed cold, but she seemed to have grasped the situation quickly.

"We're not at the Onmyou Agency now, are we?" Suzuka glanced at Natsume and said, "Could it be that guy who suddenly appeared before we fell asleep and, with a stupid look, rescued us?"

"I...I don't know." Natsume was a bit confused. "Where is this? What's the situation now? I have no idea."

"Is that so?" Suzuka replied indifferently. "If you don't know, forget it. But since we're here, where did that idiot who got us caught go?"

Suzuka's words reminded Natsume of the most important thing.

"Akikan...!"

Natsume immediately focused her consciousness on the back of her hand.

There were the mark formed by the three rings left by Rozen when she contracted with him.

As long as she concentrated her consciousness on them, it would enhance the spiritual connection with Rozen and allow her to sense Rozen's presence.

Now, the sealing curse tools on her body had been removed. Shouldn't she be able to sense the contract now?

Thinking this way, Natsume focused her consciousness on the contract on her hand.

However, when Natsume did this, Suzuka had already spoken first.

"It's useless. I just tried it. It's still as vague as before." Suzuka shrugged and said, "It seems there's a barrier set up around here, and it's of high level. It's probably the type designed to deceive people, so even if the spiritual connection isn't completely cut off, it should be greatly weakened."

Just as Suzuka said.

After focusing her consciousness on the contract, Natsume immediately felt a vague connection.

Although this connection wasn't as vague as it was at the Onmyou Agency, probably due to the removal of the curse tools on her body, it wasn't as clear as usual.

However...

"At least I can confirm that he's safe, and nothing seems to have been done by the Onmyou Agency. They probably managed to escape."

Suzuka said in a tone that seemed completely indifferent, but it made Natsume slightly relieved.

Regardless, now that Rozen is safe and seems to have escaped from the Onmyou Agency, with his abilities, he should be able to manage.

Even though there's still some concern, for now, let's clarify the situation.

"So, what do we do now..."

At that moment, Natsume wanted to say something to Suzuka.

But before that...

"Ah, you're awake?"

A joyful voice came from outside the door, startling both Natsume and Suzuka. They quickly turned to look at the source of the voice.

In the next moment, Natsume saw a very familiar person.

"Mom!"

It was Tsuchimikado Chizuru.

"You've finally woken up, Natsume."

Tsuchimikado Chizuru spoke with a mix of relief and happiness.

Beside her was Tsuchimikado Chizuru's husband.

"It's good that you're awake. I put a lot of effort into breaking the jujutsu on you two."

Tsuchimikado Takahiro, with a reassuring smile, greeted Natsume and Suzuka.

Besides them, another person appeared here.

"You must be eager to know what happened, right?"

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi looked at Natsume and Suzuka, his expression seemed complicated but still emotionless, and he spoke.

"Come to the main hall. I'll explain everything to you."