The rooftop glowed under sunset gold.
Thirteen figures waited there, each with a distinct hair-colour, build, and style of dress. They were the Twelve Guardians, highest rank of all onmyouji, plus the leader of the Exorcist Group, Tsuchimikado Arima.
Twelve Guardians present:
Taijo Arata Inanaki; Kochin Narumi Ioroi.
Byakko Seigen Amawaka; Suzaku Shimon Ikaruga; Genbu Kengo Ujii; Seiryu Kankuro Mitosaka.
Toda Tatara; Rikugo Sakura Sada; Kijin Tenma Unomiya; Tenko Subaru Mitejima; Daion Miku Zeze; Tenku Cordelia Kasukami.
All of onmyouji's top combat power had gathered to meet the boy who had destroyed the Kegare Realm and erased every impurity.
Tatsuki.
"You made good time," the school-uniformed youth said.
Thirteen pupils shrank at once—they hadn't even felt him appear. In that heartbeat of shock Arima lowered himself as far as possible and greeted with a smile:
"Lord Tatsuki, I am Tsuchimikado Arima, head of the Exorcists Group."
At first more than a few Guardians had doubted anyone could truly wipe out the entire Kegare Realm; some had even come itching for a test of strength. But the instant they saw the boy, they knew: the rumors were all true. Power beyond measure wrapped him—exactly as much as Tatsuki allowed them to feel.
I hate trouble, that calm gaze implied. If I show power and you still refuse, there's no need for chatter—see you next life.
His eyes swept the ring of faces; satisfied that no hot-head stepped forward, he said simply, "Speak."
Arima bowed again. "We came to thank Lord Tatsuki for eradicating Kegare and its tainted spawn, and for rescuing Lord Abe no Seimei."
Tatsuki caught the subtext—they wanted Seimei's condition. "She's living quite comfortably at my place."
"Understood." Arima backed off; his part was done.
Tatsuki folded his arms. "So—you wish to thank me. I do have one thing I need."
"Name it, my lord."
"From this moment, all onmyouji will serve me."
A jolt rippled through the Guardians. Serve? Just like that? Impossible—!
"You have no right to choose." His voice iced over; starlight flared in his pupils.
"Master!" Thirteen bodies fell to one knee. Shock, awe, resignation—emotions crashed through their minds, but the fact was plain: like shikigami bearing a master's sigil, they still thought… yet obedience was absolute.
"Relax," Tatsuki said, the starlight fading. "I won't have onmyouji commit evil. I demand only one rule—never reveal your powers in front of ordinary citizens. Can you do that?"
Thirteen voices answered as one. "Yes!"
"Good. One more thing: use your network to watch for anomalies and report them to me." With that he turned and left the rooftop.
The thirteen rose. Arima gave an exaggerated sigh—"Losing both bride and troops, eh?"—yet the smile never left his lips. At least, every Guardian thought, his order breaks none of our principles.
…
Recruiting the onmyouji was one link in Tatsuki's wider plan: their leash would slow the march of Cognition-class apocalypses, and their shrines would serve as an early-warning net for fresh anomalies.
School over, Tatsuki told Yukino, Eriri, and the others that he wouldn't be going home. He pinged Nami for a portal—Shinobu deserved attention, but so did Nami.
Tatsuki: Nami, open a gate? I'm coming over.
Nami: Right now? Is it that urgent?
Tatsuki: Pretty urgent.
Nami: …All right!
Eager to see Nami counts as urgent, he reasoned.
The moment he materialized he froze. Two stunning, naked bodies stood before him. Nojiko's figure was fully mature now—milk-white skin—and since killing Arlong, Nami had grown her hair long; perhaps thanks to Tatsuki's nourishment, her curves were already approaching the shape she would have two years hence.
Water, shower-spray, tiled tub—this was clearly a bathroom.
So her earlier "urgent or not" had meant she and Nojiko were bathing.
"Er… I…"
Nojiko stared, stunned.
Nami, too flustered to care about modesty, asked, "Is something urgent, Tatsuki?"
Given he'd called it urgent, she assumed real business; Nojiko being seen was awkward but survivable. She stepped forward, waves swaying, and he couldn't tear his eyes away.
"I… actually… I urgently wanted to see you…"
Silence hung between them for a beat.
"Ha?!" Nami's voice shot up an octave, equal parts shock and bafflement.
…
Not long after, Tatsuki sat in Nojiko's room while the sisters finished dressing.
Nami threw him a glare and marched straight to her own bedroom. Tatsuki sent an apologetic look Nojiko's way. "Sorry about that."
"No worries." Nojiko, cheeks pink, hid a giggle behind her hand. "You'd better figure out how to calm Nami."
"Right…" He gave a sheepish shrug, rose, and slipped into Nami's room, closing the door behind him.
Nojiko lingered outside. At first she heard only quiet conversation—then the rhythm inside changed. A dark vein popped on her forehead. That's how he soothes her? Curiosity won; she crouched and peered through the wooden slat.
"Hiss—" The sight inside stole her breath and glued her feet to the floor.
…
"Nami." Tatsuki's voice was low and coaxing.
The navigator, half-dazed, leaned back against him and stroked his cheek. He hesitated, then whispered in her ear. "Your sister is outside, doing this."
"Eh?" Nami blinked, unsure what Nojiko could be doing—until Tatsuki's demonstration made it painfully clear. She flared her Observation Haki and instantly sensed Nojiko's presence.
"…" Big sister spying is bad enough, but using me for… that? Embarrassed, she rolled her eyes at the man behind her. "Let her. We're not stopping."
Smack.
Tatsuki's playful slap landed. "Hold that thought. Fun is great, but duty first—open the group chat."
"Group chat?" Nami's brows knit, but she obeyed and saw a new, pinned notice.
[Ding! Miss Wednesday has joined the Apocalypse Chat!]
Miss Wednesday: "Is this some new Baroque Works thing?"
March 7th: "Welcome to the Apocalypse Chat Group!"
Chito: "Welcome."
Miss Wednesday: "Apocalypse Chat? What's that supposed to mean?"
Bronya: "In short, a hub where worlds facing apocalypse share intel…"
Miss Wednesday: "Apocalypse?!"
Saeko Busujima: "You can view your world's status under Personal Info."
Tatsuki's eyes brightened—Saeko was obviously back on her feet. He opened a private tab.
Tatsuki: "Saeko, how's your body?"
Saeko: "Fully recovered, my dear."
Tatsuki: "And Rei?"
Saeko: "Also fine—though she turns crimson if anyone gives her knowing looks."
Tatsuki: "Well, last night was noisy."
Saeko: "Mm. Shizuka-sensei and the others decided to live with us; order is slowly returning, so we're one family now."
Tatsuki: "Trying to tell me something?"
Saeko: "Only that they all seem interested in you."
Tatsuki: "Won't you be jealous, offering your man around?"
Saeko: "One woman can't satisfy you alone. As yours, I want you content."
Tatsuki: "You're too gentle—true Yamato Nadeshiko."
Saeko: "Then never leave me."
Tatsuki: "Never."
Saeko: "Good. About the newcomer—any thoughts?"
Tatsuki: "A hunch."
Back in the main feed, Miss Wednesday posted her apocalypse data.
Miss Wednesday: "Anomalous Apocalypse, 4-Star—that's what it shows."
(It matched Nami's own profile.)
Miss Wednesday: "Does an actual Apocalypse exist?!"
Tatsuki: "If it's anomalous, have you noticed anything odd on your side?"
Far away, a blue-haired girl in the desert bit her lip. Was this chat a trap set by Baroque Works? After a short struggle she decided to stay in character.
Miss Wednesday: "Anomaly? No clue. We are busy destroying a nation."
Tushan Honghong: "What! Destroying a country—are you the bad guys?"
Ainz: "Even saboteurs get invited?"
Tatsuki almost laughed—coming from Ainz of all people.
Esdeath: "Wiping out a nation? Bold. How far along are you?"
Miss Wednesday: "…We've turned an entire kingdom into desert. That's our power."
Esdeath: "Interesting ability. I'd like to test it."
Tatsuki:…
He'd already seen through the disguise. Time to lift the mask.
Tatsuki: "Enough. Drop the act, Princess Vivi."
In the desert the blue-haired girl—Princess Nefertari Vivi—gasped, fists clenching. Exposed? I mustn't admit it!
Miss Wednesday: "Princess Vivi? That's the royal we intend to topple."
Tatsuki smirked at her stubbornness.
Tatsuki: "You are Princess Vivi of Alabasta, infiltrating Baroque Works to uncover the mastermind behind your kingdom's destruction."
...
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