"The reason for deploying a Demigod... surely you're not completely ignorant, Second Head? After all, no one's in the mood for cold jokes now."
Abe no Ariyuki, or rather, the Kurumi Tokisaki's clone disguised as him, spoke with playful amusement.
Her gaze flickered to the stern-faced Abe no Yoshihira before sweeping across the confused Gokadoin heads below, a light chuckle escaping her:
"Actually, if the Second Head would just explain why our progenitor requires this resurrection ritual... that would answer everything, wouldn't it?"
Hearing this, Hiruko Gokadoin and others immediately understood Nue's resurrection ceremony concealed deeper secrets.
At this moment, Abe no Orochi unexpectedly spoke in her father's stead:
"The ritual will grant Grandfather a stronger physical form to complete Japan's purification, creating a world ruled by our Gokadoin lineage."
To this, Abe no Ariyuki responded with a smile:
"Such platitudes are familiar - the so-called Gokadoin ambition. But that's not the true reason, is it?"
Then he suddenly looked surprised at Abe no Orochi:
"Could it be... even Lady Orochi was kept in the dark?"
Abe no Orochi's golden, serpentine eyes snapped open, fixing intently on Abe no Ariyuki, who remained unfazed by the reptilian stare.
After a long silence, Abe no Yoshihira finally spoke, his voice icy:
"Is this the result of your investigation? Is this why you sent a shikigami clone to attend the meeting?"
Hearing this, the other heads of the Gokadoin House finally realised that Abe no Ariyuki had intended to clash with the family from the very beginning. And the reason was related to the long-cherished wish of the Gokadoin clan?
What exactly was the Gokadoin clan's long-cherished wish? Wasn't it to grant the first head, Abe no Seimei, a stronger body so he could establish a Japan ruled by the Gokadoin House?
All the uninformed Gokadoin heads were stirred by curiosity, especially Yuiyui Gokadoin, who was tempted to capture Abe no Ariyuki's shikigami clone and extract its memories.
However, Abe no Ariyuki gave her no opportunity. Facing Abe no Yoshihira's cold gaze, he responded with an equally indifferent expression:
"It seems the rumour is true—that ascending to Demigodhood requires a special ritual."
Upon hearing this, Hiruko Gokadoin was stunned:
"What nonsense is this? Ascending to Demigodhood requires a ritual? So the ancestor went to such lengths to have Hagoromo Gitsune bear him again... just to complete the ritual for becoming a Demigod?"
At this moment, the eleventh head, Nagachika Gokadoin, sighed:
"I see. That explains why the SDS dispatched a Demigod to deal with us."
"Not wanting Japan to harbour forces beyond their control? That does sound like America's usual approach."
The expressions of the remaining Gokadoin heads shifted, clearly indicating that they were beginning to believe this explanation.
Otherwise, they couldn't fathom why the SDS, who had no prior grievances with them, would target the Gokadoin House.
At that moment, apart from the seventh head, Tenkai Gokadoin, who was absent guarding Nijō Castle, along with the eighth head Yasutada Gokadoin and the tenth head Arihiro Gokadoin, the rest of the Gokadoin heads turned their gazes uniformly towards Abe no Yoshihira.
Among them was even Abe no Orochi, the third head and Abe no Yoshihira's own daughter.
Now, even Abe no Orochi was sceptical. She had previously believed herself privy to the full plan for Abe no Seimei's resurrection, including the intention to dispose of Hagoromo Gitsune afterwards.
As his granddaughter, she had questioned Abe no Yoshihira before—why their grandfather would eliminate his own mother. Abe no Yoshihira answered that the new body needed to be free from weaknesses.
The logic had been flawed, but out of deference to her father and grandfather's shared stance, Abe no Orochi had kept silent, merely remarking that Abe no Yoshihira and the others shouldn't be surprised if the younger generations followed their example and eliminated them in turn.
But if disposing of Hagoromo Gitsune was part of some ritual—a necessity for ascending to Demigodhood...
In an instant, everything clicked into place for Abe no Orochi.
Unable to hold back any longer, she addressed Abe no Yoshihira:
"Father... is Grandfather truly preparing to ascend to Demigodhood?"
Faced with his own daughter's challenge, Abe no Yoshihira finally sighed and nodded.
The moment he did, the entire Gokadoin clan held their breath.
Not out of fear—but excitement.
"So the ancestor's preparations, the Gokadoin clan's thousand-year slumber... It was all for ascending to Demigodhood?"
"The Gokadoin clan is about to have a Demigod? Wouldn't that make us the first Demigod family? Our clan will finally have a powerhouse like that monster from the Asakura family!"
"What's so great about a Demigod family? Didn't you hear the SDS is already preparing to send a Demigod to deal with us?"
"What's there to fear? With all eleven generations of leaders working together, can a single Demigod really defeat us? Don't forget, the first patriarch was only one ritual away from becoming a Demigod himself!"
Listening to the heated discussions among the leaders, whose words were almost as gossipy as market aunties, Abe no Ariyuki silently turned and slipped away unnoticed.
Abe no Yoshihira, standing on the raised platform, made no move to stop him, seemingly tacitly permitting his departure.
When Abe no Ariyuki returned to the Seimei Shrine above ground and prepared to leave, he suddenly tilted his head towards a large tree by the roadside:
"You actually followed me?"
As he spoke, Yuiyui Gokadoin, dressed in a frilly gothic dress like a porcelain doll, stepped out from behind the tree with a curious expression:
"Fourth patriarch? Are you truly planning to leave the Gokadoin clan?"
"What else?" Abe no Ariyuki gave Yuiyui a mocking glance. "Accompany those fools downstairs to their deaths?"
Hearing this, Yuiyui felt a chill in her heart and couldn't help asking:
"Just how powerful is a Demigod?"
In response, Abe no Ariyuki asked:
"What is the Gokadoin clan's long-cherished wish? I mean the one written in the family precepts."
At this, Yuiyui fell silent for a moment before answering:
"To purge humanity and establish a pure world ruled by yokai. That is the Gokadoin clan's aspiration."
Abe no Ariyuki nodded, then turned towards the torii gate at the shrine's exit, saying calmly:
"Without another Demigod to oppose them, fulfilling the Gokadoin clan's ambition would merely be a matter of time for a Demigod."
With these words, Abe no Ariyuki spoke over his shoulder to Yuiyui:
"If you want to live, surrender to the SDS!"
"Before the twilight hour arrives."
As this warning echoed in her ears, Yuiyui finally overcame her shock and looked towards where Abe no Ariyuki had disappeared, her expression gradually turning grave.
"Surrender..."
Yuiyui fell into prolonged silence.