-2029- Go back and wait

As Rozen clapped his hands suddenly, the already-formed Spiritual Disasters seemed to sense a threat. They all turned their heads sharply in his direction and roared before charging toward him without hesitation.

However, not only did the Hyakki Yagyō forbid these Spiritual Disasters from crossing the line, but even the shikigami guarding Rozen sprang into action.

"Seeking your own death?"

A fierce glint flashed in Ōtakemaru's eyes as he grabbed a divine sword beside him and swung it. A terrifying sword light swept out, cutting the approaching Spiritual Disasters in half instantly, scattering miasma everywhere.

"If you want to harm Master, you'll have to get past us first, okay?"

Momiji smiled sweetly and waved her hand. Torrential flames erupted, sweeping forward and incinerating the incoming Spiritual Disasters.

"Master's safety is ours to protect."

Suzuhiko-hime twirled gracefully, her entire body spinning like a dance. The sound of bells rippled outward like waves, causing the approaching Spiritual Disasters to momentarily freeze before exploding one after another.

As for Ibaraki-dōji, his approach was even simpler.

"If I fail to protect Master, I'll be in trouble when Shuten returns."

With that, Ibaraki-dōji clenched his single arm into a fist and punched forward. Instantly, a shockwave surged like a violent storm, blasting away the incoming Spiritual Disasters.

The shikigami stood guard around Rozen, allowing him to perform his jujutsu with peace of mind.

This was the advantage of having guardian shikigami.

That was why all onmyōji longed to acquire powerful guardians and make them their shikigami.

With their shikigami's protection, onmyōji could perform their jujutsu effectively and without distraction.

"—By the words of divine blessings offered to Takamagahara, cleanse and purify all things—"

Rozen began chanting solemnly.

This was the Norito of Supreme Exorcism, possessing the power to purify spiritual energy.

"—With the divine words of Takamagahara, may the sins of the world be swallowed and the body and soul purified—"

Rozen continued to clap his hands rhythmically as if performing a sacred ritual. The crisp sound echoed like a drumbeat, spreading clearly.

As a result, the speed of the Spiritual Disasters slowed, their roars turning into painful groans. The distorting atmosphere and spiritual veins, under the invisible suppression of jutsuryoku, gradually stabilized.

This was an extraordinary feat.

The Norito of Supreme Exorcism could indeed purify spiritual energy, but even the most skilled onmyōji could only cleanse a limited area, restoring it to a calm state. They could never exorcise Spiritual Disasters outright, let alone suppress spiritual veins.

Yet, Rozen accomplished it.

Using his spiritual energy, which far surpassed that of the spiritual veins and atmosphere, Rozen forcibly corrected their distortions.

However, the body of Souma Takiko—limp and suspended midair with closed eyes—continued to exude divine energy, once again disrupting the spiritual veins and spiritual energy.

That immense and seemingly endless divine power felt as if it could crush everything.

Unfortunately...

"A god that hasn't fully manifested isn't much to look at."

Rozen smirked nonchalantly and formed a mudra.

"—The god of the eastern sea is called Amei, the god of the western sea is called Shuryou, the god of the southern sea is called Kyosei, the god of the northern sea is called Gyu-kyou—"

Rozen recited his incantation.

This was a famous anti-Spiritual Disaster jujutsu within Imperial Onmyojutsu, personally developed and implemented by Yakou for repelling the Hyakki Yagyō.

Now, Rozen was using this technique.

"—The Four Seas Deities, repel the Hyakki Yagyō, expel all disasters—"

Rozen scattered five talismans—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth. They aligned in a pentagonal formation, connecting to form a glowing pentagram.

Radiant spiritual energy surged from the pentagram.

"Order!"

Rozen changed his mudra, launching the pentagram forward.

In the next moment, the pentagram expanded rapidly, growing into a massive magic formation that shot into the sky, spinning before descending upon Souma Takiko.

All the miasma and spiritual energy were instantly suppressed under the enormous magic formation, like a turbulent force being forcibly sealed away.

"Buzzzz...!"

The divine energy leaking from Souma Takiko's body fluctuated violently, as if struggling to resist.

Yet, Rozen's expression remained unchanged in the face of this seemingly world-shattering spiritual energy.

Just as he had said—an incompletely manifested god was no match for him.

"Since you haven't fully descended, go back and wait a little longer."

Rozen maintained his mudra as his jutsuryoku surged once more. The pentagram in the sky expanded, glowing even brighter.

Slowly, the magic formation pressed down on Souma Takiko.

Finally, it completely dispelled the divine energy emanating from her body.

"Clap! Clap!"

Rozen clapped his hands once more, chanting the Supreme Exorcism Norito to purify the remaining spiritual energy.

"Ugh..."

Souma Takiko let out a barely audible groan, as if released from a binding force, and fell from midair.

The surrounding demons and monsters instinctively backed away, and no one stepped forward to catch her.

She plummeted straight toward the ground, headfirst.

Then...

"Princess!"

"Princess!"

Two voices called out as two figures shot forward at high speed.

They simultaneously reached out, catching Souma Takiko as if cradling a priceless treasure, their entire bodies flickering with distorted signals.

It was none other than Souma Takiko's two loyal shikigami—Yashamaru and Kumomaru.

"Princess!"

Yashamaru landed while holding Souma Takiko, his voice uncharacteristically anxious.

"Princess!"

Kumomaru's face was filled with worry, looking extremely distressed.

Watching these seemingly devoted shikigami, Rozen smirked.

"Relax. Your princess is fine. I simply dispelled her incomplete divine possession."

Upon hearing this, Yashamaru and Kumomaru snapped back to reality and turned their gazes toward Rozen.

"Tsuchimikado Akikan..."

Kumomaru was shocked as he looked at Rozen, who was surrounded by powerful demons and an entire army of monsters.

"..."

Even Yashamaru tightened his gaze on Rozen. Seeing Rozen's current state and sensing his jutsuryoku, his pupils contracted sharply.

"It's been a while, you two."

Rozen greeted them with the same casual tone he used with everyone.

"They are...?"

Kurahashi Kyouko, who had been watching everything unfold in fear, looked at the two unknown Yase Doji in confusion.

Rozen didn't bother explaining.

Because...

"It seems today is destined to be a day of familiar reunions."

Rozen turned his head toward another direction.

Then, he smiled.

A smile tinged with nostalgia.

"Isn't that right, Harutora?"

As these words fell...

"...I guess I've been found out."

A voice filled with resignation echoed in response.