Listening to Kagaya's account, Horitake realized that the situation was far more severe than a standard haunting.
"I see. Another disappearance case, but this one is on a different scale. Over a hundred people—men, women, young and old—all vanishing into the night. It certainly bears all the hallmarks of a powerful demon."
Kagaya nodded grimly. "The Kyoto police are at their wit's end. They've exhausted every resource and, out of pure desperation, reached out to our Corps through their high-level government connections. Unfortunately, the Hashira normally stationed in that region, Sanemi Shinazugawa, is currently in the middle of a pursuit elsewhere. The other Hashira nearby are either already engaged in combat or are simply too far away to pivot in time. With the pressure from Kyoto's elite mounting, I had no choice but to come to you."
Horitake understood the urgency. "I get it. A hundred people in a place as politically and culturally significant as Kyoto... it's no wonder the 'noble lords' in the government are losing sleep. If this continues, the social order in the capital will collapse. Leave Kyoto to me, Oyakata-sama. I'll settle this."
"Having the Heaven Hashira on the move is the best reassurance I could ask for."
With the mission officially handed over, Kagaya felt the weight on his shoulders lighten. Not wishing to disturb the work of the Butterfly Mansion any further, he took his leave.
Once the Master had departed, the "button-eyed" trio—Sumi, Kiyomi, and Naho—immediately burst into a flurry of excited whispers.
"I don't think Oyakata-sama has ever visited the Butterfly Mansion in person before!"
"He must have been truly stuck if he came to find Horitake-sama himself."
"Doesn't that just prove how important Horitake-sama is? He really is the Heaven Hashira!"
Watching the three girls chatter away with such enthusiasm, Horitake chuckled and shook his head.
"You've got it slightly wrong," he corrected them. "In my view, Oyakata-sama coming here personally means two things. First, yes, the situation is dire. But second, it shows that his health is recovering remarkably well. He's now willing and able to walk around the headquarters on his own. He wouldn't have made the trip otherwise."
The three sisters looked at each other in surprise. "Really? But the Master still looks quite frail to us."
"Compared to before, he's doing wonderfully. Before the curse was cleared, his condition was many times worse. Just wait... once Shinobu finishes her research, the Master will truly be in luck."
Muttering to himself, Horitake stood up and began preparing for his departure.
His first stop was the laboratory within the Butterfly Mansion to bid farewell to the woman buried in her work.
"Shinobu," he called out, "Oyakata-sama has a high-priority mission for me. I'm heading out, so I'll have to leave the research in your hands for a few days."
Shinobu didn't even look up from her beakers. She simply waved a hand dismissively as if shooing away a fly.
"Go on then. I don't really need you here anyway. Even without your help, I can handle the rest of the research on my own. It makes no difference."
Horitake's face fell, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"Shinobu, even if you don't want to beg me to stay, you don't have to kick me out the door. Don't forget, I'm the one who brought you this formula! What happened to 'we're in this together'? Using me up and then throwing me away... isn't that a bit cruel?"
Shinobu remained hunched over her notes, her voice cool and focused. "Say what you like, but your current contribution is minimal. Aoi is more than capable of being my assistant while you're gone."
Looking at her stubborn back and listening to that dismissive tone, Horitake felt a surge of playful irritation. He decided it was time to assert a bit of "manly dominance."
He walked straight over, gripped Shinobu's shoulders, and spun her around. Before she could utter a word of protest, he leaned in and kissed her—hard and authoritative.
Shinobu's eyes snapped wide in shock. Her first instinct was a flare of indignant rage, and she began to struggle. But as the seconds ticked by and Horitake refused to let go, her resistance crumbled. Her eyes fluttered shut, and she leaned into him, surrendering to the moment.
It was a long, breathless silence before Horitake finally pulled back.
Shinobu was gasping for air, her cheeks flushed a brilliant scarlet, her expression a mix of embarrassment and fury. "You... you idiot! What was that for?!"
Horitake smiled with the shameless confidence of a man who knew he'd won. "A parting kiss? Isn't that what couples are supposed to do?"
"I have never heard of such a thing being 'mandatory'!"
"Shinobu, we've been buried in this lab for weeks. We haven't had a moment to enjoy ourselves, and I haven't been able to get close to you since that first night. I'm about to go out and risk my neck; if I didn't take at least a little advantage of the situation before leaving, I'd feel cheated. Consider that kiss a blessing for a successful mission."
Shinobu gritted her teeth, though the fire in her eyes was more heat than hate. "Your shamelessness truly knows no bounds."
"Thank you for the compliment." Horitake grinned, finally releasing her. "I'm off then. Goodbye, Shinobu. I hope to see a completed medicine when I return."
Shinobu touched her lingeringly damp lips, the research once again calling to her, but her voice was softer now. "Go. It will be ready by the time you get back."
With their farewells concluded, Horitake said his goodbyes to Kanao and the rest of the girls. He returned to his house next door, packed a light bag, changed into his travel gear, and departed the headquarters, heading straight for the imperial heart of the nation: Kyoto.
After a period of rapid travel, Horitake arrived in Kyoto by noon the following day.
Kyoto lived up to its reputation as the ancient capital. It was a sprawling tapestry of history—teeming with people, lined with traditional wooden architecture, and filled with the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere of old Japan. Walking through its narrow alleyways felt like stepping back into a more elegant, bygone era.
However, Horitake wasn't there for a sightseeing tour. He was there to investigate a mass disappearance and hunt a demon.
Despite being in the city, he was currently "blind." He had no specific files, no leads, and no starting point for the investigation. How was he supposed to find a needle in a haystack this large?
Normally, he would have two choices:
1. Scour the streets manually for rumors and gossip.
2. Wait for nightfall and hope to stumble upon something suspicious.
Neither was particularly efficient. Fortunately, a third option arrived shortly after his entry into the city—delivered on the wings of a Kasugai Crow.
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