Horitake was just beginning to ponder where to start his investigation when he noticed his Kasugai Crow. The bird flapped its wings and landed on a nearby eave, staring down at him with an unblinking, fixed gaze.
He understood immediately: a message was being delivered.
Since they were on a busy street with pedestrians milling about, it wouldn't be appropriate for the crow to start squawking out its report here. He needed somewhere quiet.
After a quick glance around, Horitake ducked into a small, nondescript park nearby. He found a wooden bench tucked away in the deeper shadows of the greenery where no one else was around. He gave a sharp whistle and beckoned; the crow soared down, perched on the back of the bench, and strained its throat to speak.
"Horitake-sama! Horitake-sama!"
"Go ahead," Horitake said calmly. "What is it?"
"A message from Oyakata-sama! Oyakata-sama says: If you find yourself at a loss for where to begin your search upon arriving in Kyoto, seek out Inspector Eguchi of the Kyoto Police Department. Inspector Eguchi is one of the primary officials in charge of the missing person cases!"
A look of realization dawned on Horitake's face. "I see. Cooperating with the authorities, then? That's not a bad idea."
He leaned back, considering the logistics. "Even though the Demon Slayer Corps isn't officially recognized by the government, we've always existed in a sort of unspoken partnership with them. It makes sense to work with an insider. But wait—how am I supposed to find this Inspector Eguchi? Do I just walk into the Kyoto Police Station?"
The thought felt inherently wrong. "Thinking back, between this life and my previous one, I've never once set foot inside a police station. Would they even let me in? I can't exactly force my way through the doors. How am I supposed to track him down?"
The Kasugai Crow, possessing a remarkably high intellect, shrieked its response to his dilemma. "Oyakata-sama has already provided instructions regarding that matter!"
"And those would be?"
"Oyakata-sama says that since the Demon Slayer Corps is a secret organization, entering a police station haphazardly would be indiscreet. If Horitake-sama wishes to find Inspector Eguchi, you must head to the Fushimi District—to the Inari Shrine!"
"Where? The Inari Shrine in Fushimi!?"
"Correct!"
Horitake fell silent for a moment, processing the information. This Inspector Eguchi was a police officer; why was he spending his time at a shrine? Or was the shrine merely a hub to contact him?
"Fine, I've got it. Fushimi Inari. What do I do once I get there? How do I pick the Inspector out of a crowd?"
"Once you enter the shrine grounds, look for a Miko named Amane. Tell her you are looking for Inspector Eguchi and show her your Nichirin Sword. Once you do, she will use a... specific method to notify the Inspector of your presence. You need only wait a short while at the shrine, and Inspector Eguchi will come to meet you."
Listening to the crow's detailed instructions, Horitake felt a wave of speechlessness wash over him.
This... why does it suddenly feel like I've walked into a spy thriller?
Wasn't this exactly how underground secret agents conducted a clandestine rendezvous?
On second thought, he could understand the necessity. As previously established, the existence of both demons and the Demon Slayer Corps had to remain hidden from the public eye. Discretion was paramount. To maintain that secrecy while coordinating with government officials, they had no choice but to mimic the cloak-and-dagger tactics of spies and informants.
Horitake committed the instructions to memory. "Alright, I understand. I'll go find this Inspector. Having someone with official standing helping me out is definitely better than stumbling around in the dark by myself."
With that, he rose from the bench and exited the small park. After asking a local for directions, he set off directly toward the Fushimi District.
Horitake's pace was swift. It didn't take long for him to reach Fushimi, and finding the shrine was a simple task—Fushimi Inari was the most famous landmark in the area.
The shrines of Kyoto shared the city's overall atmosphere: an air of ancient, refined elegance. Just stepping into the grounds, Horitake could feel the sophisticated, timeless aura of the place.
He walked along the paths paved with blue stone slabs, climbing steps that wound through lush trees and picturesque scenery. Passing under gate after gate of the iconic vermilion Torii, Horitake eventually reached the inner sanctum of the shrine.
Before him lay a spacious courtyard, also paved in stone. Situated at the very center of the rear courtyard was the main hall of Fushimi Inari-taisha, where the Inari God was enshrined.
To be honest, Horitake wasn't entirely clear on the specifics of the deity housed here. He vaguely recalled that Inari was the patron of agriculture and industry. People seeking a bountiful harvest or prosperity in business flocked here, making it one of the most popular shrines in the region with a constant flow of incense and offerings.
However, Horitake was still Chinese at heart. He didn't feel any particular spiritual connection to Japanese deities. Even though the shrine felt quiet and mysterious, and the main hall was undeniably grand and imposing, it didn't leave much of a psychological impact on him.
His primary focus was his contact.
As luck would have it, there was a Miko (shrine maiden) nearby, rhythmically sweeping the ground. She wore the traditional red-and-white vestments, her face was serene and free of makeup, and her long hair draped over her shoulders. She moved with a tranquil grace, focusing entirely on her task.
Judging by her concentrated expression, she didn't seem to be merely performing a chore; it looked more like a sacred ritual. Perhaps to her, purifying the grounds where a god resided was indeed a solemn act of devotion.
Unfortunately, Horitake had to interrupt her.
He approached her and asked in a polite, level tone, "Excuse me. Is there a Miko named Amane here? I have some business with her."
The girl stopped sweeping and looked up, her eyes showing a hint of curiosity as she regarded Horitake. "I am Amane. May I ask what you require?"
"Oh, so you're Amane-san? Excellent. That saves me a lot of searching."
As he spoke, Horitake subtly shifted his stance to reveal Weiguang, the sword strapped to his waist. He maintained a friendly, smiling demeanor to put her at ease. "I'm looking for Inspector Eguchi."
The Miko glanced at the Nichirin Sword at his hip, then briefly scanned the Demon Slayer uniform he wore. Her expression didn't flicker, and her calm aura remained undisturbed.
"I understand," she replied softly. "I will go and contact Inspector Eguchi immediately. Please wait here for a moment."
"Much appreciated."
After a slight bow, Amane moved with practiced poise toward a small side door in the courtyard, disappearing into one of the adjacent buildings.
Horitake didn't know how she intended to contact the Inspector, but he didn't particularly care. As long as the man showed up, the method was irrelevant.
"Honestly... this feels more and more like a secret agent meeting," he muttered under his breath.
Chuckling at the absurdity of it, Horitake walked to the side of the courtyard. He found a spot under an old pine tree and leaned casually against a stone statue of a fox, settling in to wait.
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