Mid–summer arrived without much of a sign.
The air in the forest felt warmer than usual, the sun shone longer, and the nights were filled with the endless chorus of insects that never truly stopped. Jun stood on the porch of his small cabin, looking up at the clear blue sky while stretching his shoulders.
It had been quite a while since the last time he truly rested.
Training, cultivation, monitoring supernatural movements—everything went on in repetition. Even with Rina now living with him, Jun's life rhythm still felt flat. Stable, safe… but far too monotonous.
"Beach," he murmured quietly.
Sea breeze, the sound of waves, the liveliness of ordinary humans—simple things he hadn't enjoyed in a long time. Aside from refreshing the body, it was the most effective way to reduce mental fatigue. He had even already thought of the place: a beach lively enough to blend in with humans, yet not too close to any supernatural faction's territory.
And of course—
He would bring Rina along.
Jun turned around to head back inside the cabin to tell her his plan, when—
A subtle vibration was felt in his pocket.
His steps stopped.
He took out his phone. The name displayed on the screen made his brows lift slightly.
Penemue.
"Hm?" Jun answered the call, his expression turning alert.
"—What is it?"
The voice on the other end was far from calm.
[Sorry for contacting you at a time like this, Jun–san… but there's important news.]
That tense tone made Jun lean against the porch railing, his gaze focusing on the forest in front of him.
"Just say it."
[Is Zekka with you?]
Jun let out a short breath. "No. I haven't seen him since the dojo incident. Why? Don't tell me—"
[Yes.] Penemue's voice grew tighter. [Zekka has gone missing. Since two days ago.]
Jun closed his eyes for a moment.
Penemue continued, quick and fragmented, as if afraid to waste even a second.
[I've already activated Grigori's network across Japan—sensors, informant contracts, even Sacred Gear monitoring. But the result is nothing. No trace. That's why… I thought you might be able to help.]
Jun fell silent for a few seconds.
He wasn't close to Zekka. They weren't teacher and student, not family, not comrades. But there was one thing he couldn't ignore—
Zekka was still a child.
And the supernatural world was not a place that forgave carelessness.
"When was the last time he was seen?" Jun finally asked.
[Last time—] Penemue paused briefly, as if checking data. [He went home after club activities that afternoon. Two days ago. After that… nothing.]
"So he disappeared since then," Jun muttered.
[I think so too.]
A brief silence followed.
The summer wind blew again softly, stirring the leaves. But inside Jun's mind, a pattern was beginning to form—and he didn't like it.
And right at that moment—
A notification appeared in the corner of his vision.
[Quest Received][
[Rescue Zekka Miyamoto from the Hero Faction]
Jun showed no outward reaction.
No change in expression. No surprised mutter.
But inside his head, the final piece fell into place.
He opened his eyes and spoke again, his voice now deeper.
"Penemue–san," he said quietly, "have you detected Hero Faction activity in Japan recently?"
On the other end—
[…Jun–san.] Penemue's voice hardened. [Don't tell me you're thinking the same thing.]
"I don't have proof," Jun replied honestly. "But it fits too well. A child with a powerful Sacred Gear, and they're also short on manpower, so it's possible."
[…]
Silence.
A few seconds passed before Penemue took a long breath.
[The last time the Hero Faction appeared… it was in the Kanto region.]
"Kanto," Jun repeated. "Then that's the territory of the Eastern Youkai Faction."
[Correct.] Penemue's tone grew more serious. [Information is still limited. But there are minor disturbances—appearing and disappearing—around the border areas. It's highly possible they're still hiding there.]
Jun stared straight ahead.
"In that case," he said calmly, "send me the necessary support. Information, contacts, anything you have. I'll head to Kanto."
[Jun–san…] Penemue hesitated for a moment. [Thank you.]
"Mm."
Jun ended the call.
The notification tone faded, replaced once more by the forest's quiet—but now that quietness felt heavy.
He turned around.
And found Rina already standing at the cabin doorway.
Her black–onyx hair flowed down, an apron still tied around her waist. Her expression was not panic, not confusion—but alertness.
"…Zekka?" she asked softly.
Jun didn't answer right away.
He simply looked at Rina for a moment, then gave a small nod.
"It seems," he said calmly yet firmly, "our summer vacation will have to be postponed."
The air between them seemed to change.
And far away, in the Kanto region—a far more dangerous game had already begun.
...
Dim red neon lights illuminated a wooden sign that read Black Dog BAR.
From the outside, the place looked like an ordinary drinking tavern—slightly shabby, quiet, and clearly not the kind of spot busy with late–night customers. But to those who knew, the bar was a crossroad of the underworld, a place where supernatural information changed hands along with a glass of liquor.
Behind the counter, a young man with black hair was polishing a glass with a worn cloth. His movements were relaxed, almost lazy, yet his eyes were sharp—the eyes of someone used to observing more than what appeared on the surface.
That night was quiet.
Until the wooden door opened with a faint kring.
The sound of high heels touched the wooden floor. A neatly dressed woman stepped inside, wearing a dark business suit—too formal for a bar like this, yet too casual for a meeting room.
Tobio lifted his gaze.
"Oh?" A faint smile appeared on his face. "Are~ Penemue–san?"
He leaned his elbow on the bar counter. "What brings you here?"
Penemue walked in and sat at the bar stool without much fuss.
"Why? I'm not allowed to drop by?" she replied flatly.
"That's not it," Tobio chuckled lightly. "It's just that you rarely show up. I figured you'd be busy handling students and upper–level affairs."
He stopped wiping the glass, studying Penemue's face more carefully.
"But… your expression doesn't look like someone here to relax and drink."
Penemue didn't answer right away.
She looked at the bottles on the bar shelf—some filled with ordinary alcohol, others sealed with faint magical symbols. Then finally, she shifted her gaze to Tobio.
"Tobio," she said softly. "Even though I'm not Azazel… could you help me?"
The air in the bar changed.
Tobio's smile didn't fade, but his eyes narrowed slightly—a sign he was getting serious.
"Hm," he murmured. "Sounds heavy. What's wrong?"
Penemue took a deep breath, then began to speak.
About Zekka Miyamoto.
Tobio remained silent for quite a while after she finished.
He put down the glass he'd been cleaning, then leaned back, staring at the dark ceiling of the bar.
"…Haaah," he sighed quietly. "If they're the ones moving, then this isn't an ordinary kidnapping."
"So you know?" Penemue asked, her voice low yet tense.
"Of course," Tobio replied casually. His tone sounded relaxed, almost indifferent. "They like to collect talented people. Especially children—their minds are still soft, easy to direct, easy to break."
He lifted his gaze, looking back at Penemue. This time, the smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a cold glint in his eyes—one he rarely showed from behind the bar counter.
"Haaah…" Tobio let out a long sigh. "Looks like I'll have to postpone my summer vacation with the others."
He glanced toward the shelf of bottles behind him, as if bidding farewell to the quiet night.
"Who's my partner this time?" he continued. "My people? Or has Grigori prepared a special unit? Or…" He turned again to Penemue. "…do I have to move alone again?"
Penemue slowly shook her head.
"Someone has already moved ahead. He's most likely already in Kanto."
Tobio's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"Oh?"
"You know this faction," Penemue went on seriously. "The Hero Faction. And their leader is the wielder of the True Longinus."
Silence briefly wrapped around the Black Dog BAR.
The neon lights hummed faintly.
Tobio chuckled softly—not because it was amusing, but because it was bitter.
"Wow, heavyweight," he muttered. "No wonder that kid disappeared without a trace."
He reached for the black coat hanging behind his chair.
"All right," he said shortly. "I'm heading out now."
Without further talk, Tobio walked toward the corner of the bar. His shadow on the floor suddenly thickened, writhing like living black liquid. From within it emerged a large black dog, its eyes glowing red yet its expression gentle—his familiar.
"Wake up, Jin," Tobio said.
"Woof!"
Jin's tail wagged once, then he stood firmly at his master's side, his youkai aura tightly restrained yet undeniably dangerous.
Meanwhile, Penemue raised her hand. Pale violet magic light formed a teleportation circle on the bar floor, Grigori symbols slowly rotating along its edges.
Tobio stepped closer, then paused for a moment and glanced back.
"Oh yeah," he said with a lazy smile. "Please take care of the bar while I'm gone, alright? And since Azazel has a lot of wine stored here…" He narrowed his eyes. "…I hope you don't mess with it."
Penemue clicked her tongue irritably.
"Hah? How long do you think I've been working under Azazel?" she snapped. "Before your grandparents were even born, I was already his subordinate!"
Tobio burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! I'm just kidding."
He patted Jin's head.
"Let's go."
"Woof!"
They stepped into the circle of light.
In an instant, the black shadow and sharp aura vanished from the Black Dog BAR—leaving the bar quiet once more, and a looming conflict slowly shifting toward Kanto.