"Damn it!"
Sensai felt like cursing. Hadn't he gone through all this trouble to come here and ask for help? But in the end, he was told that the ones he sought help from were going to surrender?
Now, not only could he not protect his daughter, but he'd also be dragged into the mess. If he had to go down, he at least wanted to ensure his daughter's safety first.
Though his daughter was Cain's Miko, as long as she was on Itogami Island—Cain's Altar—the altar would do everything to protect her.
But who knew if the Fourth Primogenitor had other methods? After all, he was the monster who killed Cain with his own hands. Who knew his stance toward Cain's Miko?
"Surrender if we must. It's our own choice. Should we just let them die?"
Yukari looked at Sensai with a strange expression. Wasn't this what Japan and Itogami Island were thinking right now?
As dogs, they sought a good master—one strong and obedient. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gotten involved in this Blazing Banquet and become its organizers. Weren't they just aiming to be the Fourth Primogenitor's dogs?
But some weren't content with just being dogs; they also wanted to be masters. Overthrowing the boss was a long-standing Japanese tradition.
Besides, the Lion King Agency wasn't like the Astrology Bureau. The Lion King Agency took the route of nurturing orphans, loyal only to Japan's top brass. Simply put, they were good dogs and useful knives—an excellent tool.
The Astrology Bureau, on the other hand, was made up of the elite families' own people—real, living power. For years, the Lion King Agency had been forced to handle magical crimes and disasters, with losses so high that their personnel were long insufficient.
Add to that the Sanctuary Treaty, signed under the First Primogenitor's will, which made large-scale wars rare, making it even harder to find talented orphans.
"Not enough replacements" barely described the Lion King Agency's current state. The three Saints had been reduced to just Hedate Munechika, a seasoned veteran.
Kuraki Shirona and Shizuka Koyomi were reduced to girls fresh out of High God Forest, taking over. Becoming Saints in their teens sounded like they were strong and talented, but it was also a form of desperation.
If possible, who wouldn't want them to keep growing?
"But, seriously, Sensai, listen to my advice. Maybe it's not as bad as you think?"
Yukari looked at the photo on her phone, her eyes lingering on Natsuki's reluctant expression.
The Witch of the Void—why was she willing to work under the Fourth Primogenitor? The honest and responsible Minamiya Natsuki wasn't easily tamed. Though such people were easy to manage and predict, they were often incredibly stubborn.
Like Natsuki, she'd never bow to someone evil and anti-human. Even if kidnapped or forcibly threatened, she'd rather die than submit.
Yet now, Natsuki's face only showed slight reluctance, and she was still very obedient to the Fourth Primogenitor's orders. Simply put, she was stubborn, but her heart had already submitted.
Yukari knew that Natsuki's close friend, Tokoyogi Aya, was sent to the Prison Barrier by Natsuki herself.
"Or, think about it—what did you all say that made His Excellency angry?"
Yukari was reviewing data on reserve girls not yet graduated from High God Forest, searching for one who might match the Fourth Primogenitor's preferences and had strong Sword Shaman qualifications.
High God Forest was the Lion King Agency's institution for training Mikos, Shamanic War Dancers, and Attack Mages—a girls-only school. She decided to return to the Lion King Agency's old business. In truth, they'd never left it.
As stated before, the Lion King Agency absolutely didn't deserve to be called a matchmaking agency!
It was all slander from the Astrology Bureau!
How could helping two people who already liked each other be considered matchmaking? They always supported free love!
What era was this, still thinking about arranged marriages and matchmaking?
"Hmm… this one's good? This one seems nice too? A junior with a baby face, large chest, serious demeanor, a bit tsundere. Most importantly, she has top-tier Sword Shaman qualifications."
"Alright, she's the one."
While Yukari chose a suitable "observer" Sensai was lost in thought—or rather, reflection?
To become mayor, his memory wasn't bad. He quickly recalled the scene. Back then, it seemed the people in the meeting completely ignored Natsuki's advice. Instead, they kept talking about how they wanted to control the Fourth Primogenitor?
Even if the other party didn't cooperate, they'd make him die in the Blazing Banquet.
Instantly, Sensai's expression darkened. He now had an even stronger urge to curse.
"In daily life, they always obstruct and cause trouble for me. And now, they've managed to screw me over here too?"
Sensai finally realized how dangerous those idiot teammates were. He considered himself careful with words.
In countless meetings, aside from necessary speeches, he was practically silent, knowing that speaking too much led to mistakes.
But after dodging so many times, he was finally trapped by those idiot teammates. Talking about controlling the Fourth Primogenitor in front of him? Not being killed on the spot was already a stroke of luck.
"So, figured it out? Go on, maybe now you can see your daughter having fun with His Excellency?"
Yukari said with a smile, helping Sensai up, making way for him, and letting him get into his car to find the Fourth Primogenitor.
After Sensai left, Yukari wiped the smile from her face and clapped her hands.
"Alright, Paper Noise, come out."
As she spoke, a village girl with glasses and braided hair dropped her book, her figure suddenly appearing in the antique shop.
"Paper Noise, what did you learn?"
Seeing the confused expression on Koyomi's face, Yukari knew this student, who only knew how to wield swords and spears, didn't understand her actions or intentions at all.
"Sorry, Sensei. I'm too dumb."
Koyomi lowered her head guiltily. Though she'd watched the entire scene, she still didn't grasp Yukari's actions.
Koyomi was one of the Lion King Agency's three current Saints, having taken the role a month ago. Just a month prior, she was a middle school student at High God Forest, graduating only recently.
Though she inherited the spiritual power of past Paper Noises and had superhuman abilities, Koyomi's strength wasn't weak. But in terms of interacting with others…
What could you expect from a village girl who lived in the shadows and only knew how to use swords and spears?
Not being fully exploited and ending tragically was already good.
Yukari wasn't surprised. She never had high expectations for Koyomi's growth in social matters. For that, the veterans were enough.
Koyomi needed to grow quietly. At least they weren't all dead yet and could protect her for a while. They couldn't let her be tricked and killed.
"Forget it. Just follow Sensai quietly, monitor his movements, and report to me." Yukari sighed in resignation.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other side, Sensai couldn't help clicking his tongue. He glanced at the antique shop through the rearview mirror.
"We're all thousand-year-old foxes. Don't play games with me."
He could naturally see Yukari's intent to use him to pave the way for the Lion King Agency.
If something happened to him, it meant the Fourth Primogenitor wasn't easy to negotiate with, and the Lion King Agency would need a new strategy.
If he was fine and learned the Fourth Primogenitor's stance, the Lion King Agency could surrender.
Being a dog—the sooner, the better. The earlier you became a dog, the more meat you got. If you were late, even the soup wouldn't be warm. They had to seize the opportunity now, before the Fourth Primogenitor's Night Empire was built, to join and become his dog.
Otherwise, being a dog wouldn't be so easy.
Adding icing to a cake was never as good as delivering coal in the snow.
"Go to Head Instructor Natsuki's residence."
But what was the point of being used? Just like he had to stay on Itogami Island, and his wife had to be gravely ill.
He had no choice.
With Itogami Island's current technology, what disease couldn't be cured? Even if it couldn't, what about becoming a vampire?
Becoming one or buying a vampire's rib at great cost?
Reincarnating as a vampire with eternal life force—what disease couldn't be cured?
At worst, she'd have a few horns on her head, but he could find a female vampire, right? To keep living, one needed a few horns.
But they wouldn't let Cain's Miko lose control or leave Itogami Island.
He always needed something tying him to Itogami Island; otherwise, if he fled, they'd have nowhere to cry.
Now, he could only bet on one thing: that his release from control was intentional by the Fourth Primogenitor.
Of course, if he was released due to his daughter's influence, that would be even better. It meant his daughter, Asagi, had gained the Fourth Primogenitor's protection. And he might even benefit from it too.