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Under the cover of night, Yasaka Shrine was thick with a wild, eerie aura.
All kinds of bizarre yokai had gathered there—over a thousand of them. The sheer numbers made for a powerful force, and the atmosphere buzzed with feverish excitement.
"Leader! Should we lock these people up in the dungeon?"
A jorōgumo—beautiful woman above the waist, spider below—slid up with a sweet smile. On the ground behind her lay over a dozen captives, humans and devils alike, all trussed up tightly in spider silk like dumplings.
They came from the Five Great Families, the Buddhist faction, and the devils.
Holding Kuroka in his arms, Ryo casually stepped aside, clearly uninterested in the spider-woman pressing close. She simply wasn't his type.
"Take them away. If you want ransom, don't eat them."
"Yes, sir. Rest assured. In this day and age, yokai who eat people are long obsolete."
The jorōgumo didn't mind being avoided—in fact, she seemed delighted.
It hadn't been easy. Yokai had been forced into hiding in Kyoto for years, their influence shrinking year by year. If not for Lady Yasaka still holding the positions of Inari and Kyoto's leylines Kyuubi—crucial for regulating the natural balance—the last stronghold of yokai might've already been snatched away by devils and fallen angels.
Seriously, what was with those foreign freaks from Europe always crossing into their territory?
Well, now they'd crossed the line and gotten smacked down.
The new Leader had been in power for less than a day, yet he'd already driven out the fallen angels and devils. Those who resisted had been captured, and even the Five Great Exorcist Families—longtime adversaries—had been reduced to prisoners.
Years of pent-up frustration had finally exploded.
It wasn't easy. It really wasn't.
Because of that, none of the yokai cared about Ryo's mysterious origins or the unclear stance of the previous leader.
Anyone who could lead them to victory and claim territory? That was a leader worth following—no questions asked.
"Leader, the banquet's ready! What would you like to drink? I, Shuten-douji, guarantee your satisfaction!" A red-haired, middle-aged man thumped his chest confidently.
"Just regular red wine. No sake—I'm not used to the taste."
Ryo replied casually, then paused and glanced at him. "Wait, aren't you another yokai boss? And earlier today, weren't you following me around, fighting harder than anyone? Pretty sure you took down several members of the exorcist families."
"You've got the wrong person—I'm your subordinate, Tenji."
The man scratched his head, looking utterly confused.
…Seriously?
The surrounding yokai were screaming internally.
You're one of the Great Yokai Lords of Japan, and you're here pretending to be a lackey just to follow Ryo Yagami? Have you no shame?!
Tenji, my ass—who do you think you're fooling? You already said your name was Shuten-douji. Ugh, how is there a yokai this shameless?
"Oh, is that so? Whatever. If you were fighting behind me, then you're one of my people."
Ryo didn't bother digging deeper. Anyone who claimed to be his subordinate was good enough for him.
This was a rough makeshift crew anyway—no need to sweat the details.
Once things connected with Little Garden, he'd bring this force along to participate in divine battles. They'd get their training then.
Besides, managing day-to-day affairs wasn't his problem—that was Kurousagi's headache.
"Come on, let's drink!"
"Hell yeah!" xN
The yokai grinned and followed him into the shrine's rear courtyard, quickly taking over the space and setting up a feast.
Yokai banquets weren't fancy—meat, food, alcohol, and somewhere to sit. That was more than enough.
"To celebrate today's victory, drink up!"
"Cheers!" xN
The crowd roared as cups were raised and drained in one go.
After finishing a bowl of wine, Ryo set it down and started eating some sashimi. A fox-eared girl approached and quietly refilled his drink.
Noticing the attendant had been swapped out, Ryo didn't mind. Instead, he reached out and gave her fox ears a playful rub.
"What tribe are you from? These ears are pretty cute."
"Kitsune."
The touch made Yasaka's daughter, Kunou, tremble slightly. She carefully poured him another drink.
"Leader, this cup is my toast to you."
Without hesitation, she picked up the very bowl Ryo had used and drank from it.
"Nice tolerance!"
Ryo laughed and clapped, then grabbed a clean bowl.
"Come on, drink with me."
"Yes!"
Kunou wiped the corner of her mouth, smiling brightly, her eyes sparkling like she was staring at an idol.
"OHHHH!!"
The yokai crowd erupted like lunatics at the sight of the former leader's daughter toasting the new one.
"They've all lost it… every single one of them."
Kuroka, still very much in her catlike mindset, was completely dumbfounded.
Earlier that day, she'd stolen something from the "Mother of Devils" and accidentally summoned a being like Ryo Yagami.
He'd suppressed the two yokai lords who'd been protecting her, then taken their place as the new leader. After that, he wiped out Kyoto's entire underworld scene.
And now, that same night, the former leader's daughter was blushing as she toasted him.
That lovestruck look—Kuroka felt like the world had gone insane.
Good grief!
Miss Yokai Princess, do you have any idea your mom nearly wet herself from fear because of this guy earlier today?
No? Of course you don't.
But doesn't it feel a bit wrong to be pouring drinks for the man who just took your mother's position?
You're basically a princess of the old regime, and he's the new king. Isn't this relationship a little… off?
Wait, why are you sitting in his lap now?!
Princess, did something break in your brain? Why are you chugging alcohol like that?!
…He picked you up. Hold on—isn't that the direction of the shrine's rooms?
Whoa, whoa—Princess Kunou, are you trying to....?!
Lady Yasaka! Lady Yasaka, where are you?
Your daughter just got carried off into a room by some random guy!
Kuroka stared, her mind going completely blank.
By the time the moon climbed high above the willow branches, the yokai lay scattered across the ground, fast asleep.
Only a lone black cat remained, sitting on a cushion and staring up at the sky.
"I was so stupid… I should never have stolen anything. If I hadn't, the yokai group I relied on wouldn't have turned out like this…"
"I'm such an idiot…"
"Awoo~ Shirone… I miss you."
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