1:30 PM.
Mato.
Headquarters of the Tenth Unit, Anti-Demon Corps.
The atmosphere at the Tenth Unit's headquarters was calm as usual. Servants went about their respective duties, members came and went, but no one dared raise their voice too loudly near the Supreme Commander's office.
*KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!*
Three measured knocks sounded at the office door—precise, neither too loud nor too soft.
"Come in."
Ren's voice came from behind the door.
The door opened, and an unexpected figure stepped inside.
Ren looked up from her phone screen. The moment her eyes registered who it was, one eyebrow lifted. Not out of displeasure, but surprise.
"Good afternoon, Ren-chan." Tenka smiled warmly, stepping closer with her usual grace. "Have you had lunch yet?"
Ren set her phone down on the desk.
"I've eaten." She fixed Tenka with a probing look. "So, what brings you here? I don't believe you came all this way just to ask whether I'd had lunch or not."
Despite being addressed with the familiar -chan suffix, Ren didn't mind in the slightest. Her reaction was flat, indicating a long-standing working relationship—one where each knew the other's character well enough.
Tenka didn't answer in words. She simply placed the file she had brought onto Ren's desk—a clear plastic folder containing a document several pages thick.
Ren stared at the file without touching it, then looked back at Tenka.
"What is this?"
"This is my boyfriend's job application to the Anti-Demon Corps."
"Excuse me, say that again." Ren's brow furrowed, as if wondering whether her hearing had failed her.
Tenka smiled, completely unbothered by the reaction. "This is my boyfriend's job application to the Anti-Demon Corps."
This time, Ren was certain she hadn't misheard.
"Tenka..." Ren exhaled a long breath, her tone shifting to something serious. "You know what kind of organization the Anti-Demon Corps is, don't you?"
She held Tenka's gaze.
"I don't oppose nepotism. You know that. But the condition is that the person must have a certain level of capability. He can't just walk in because he happens to be your boyfriend."
Tenka nodded calmly. "I know."
Seeing that, Ren found herself at a loss for words.
*(I always thought the saying 'a woman in love loses her reason' was just a metaphor. Apparently, there's some truth to it after all.)*
That was her diagnosis of Tenka at this moment. Ren had known her for a long time—long enough to know that Tenka wasn't the type to act without thinking. But this time, she genuinely wondered whether love had blinded the common sense of the Sixth Unit's Chief.
Ren decided to explain—not because she thought Tenka didn't know, but because she wanted to emphasize just how illogical this decision was.
"The Anti-Demon Corps is an elite military unit established by the government to protect humanity from the threat of Shuuki originating from a mysterious dimension known as Mato."
Her voice was flat, as though reciting from a textbook.
"Within the dimension of Mato, there exist unique Peach Blossoms that grant superhuman power to anyone who consumes them. Biologically, the power of a Peach Blossom can only be awakened by women. Men who eat one gain no power whatsoever."
"Because only women possess the combat capability to fight Shuuki, they hold supreme military and political power, while men have become second-class citizens in society."
She emphasized those final words.
"That is why all active members of the Anti-Demon Corps are women—with the exception of Wakura Yuuki, who was able to join as a slave through Kyouka's special ability."
Ren had intentionally laid out this foundational knowledge—and this common sense. She wanted Tenka to grasp just how illogical this decision was.
"I know all of that, Ren-chan." Tenka let out an amused laugh, not the least bit offended. "Before you make up your mind, try reading the file I gave you."
Ren looked at her with skepticism. But seeing Tenka's unshakeable composure, she finally reached out and took the file.
"Fine. Let's see what has you so confident. I hope there's something genuinely remarkable about your boyfriend that would justify a place in the Anti-Demon Corps."
Without a shred of expectation, Ren opened the file.
At first, her expression maintained its characteristic haughtiness—eyebrow raised, the corner of her mouth faintly contemptuous. But the further she read, the more her expression changed.
She read the first page, then the second, then the third. She reread certain passages, as though she couldn't quite believe what was written.
Five minutes later, she looked up and fixed Tenka with a very sharp gaze.
"Is this accurate?"
Tenka didn't flinch under that look. She only smiled faintly. "Not a single lie. And it would be very easy to verify."
Ren was silent for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "You're right."
She closed the file, then leaned back in her luxurious chair. Her eyes drifted for a moment, processing the information she had just taken in.
"Truly astonishing..."
"A man has actually succeeded in awakening a Peach Blossom Blessing after consuming a Peach Blossom. This is the first such case since Mato first appeared."
As someone who stood at the very pinnacle of the world, she could immediately envision the enormous uproar that would erupt if this fact were made public.
A man with a Peach Blossom Blessing.
A man who could become a genuine member of the Anti-Demon Corps—not merely a janitor.
Well. This would change everything.
Ren turned her attention back to the part that had caught her interest most.
"«Pandemonium»—the ability to copy other people's Peach Blossom Blessings, is it... This bears a resemblance to «Learning», Azuma Himari's ability."
"Interesting. Very interesting."
The interest in her eyes didn't stem from fear. Quite the opposite. Knowing that another Peach Blossom Blessing existed with multiple abilities like her own «Vairocana», Ren felt no sense of threat whatsoever. On the contrary, she was eager to surpass whoever else held such power—eager to prove that her standing as the Apex of Humanity remained unshakeable.
A copying ability is practically a standard feature among elite practitioners, isn't it?
But Ren knew reality was never that simple. Himari's case was the best example.
«Learning» allowed Himari to replicate the Peach Blossom Blessings of others and use them herself. But replicated Blessings came with compatibility issues. Some could barely produce any power at all.
For instance, if Himari replicated Shushu's «Paradigm Shift», she could only enlarge her chest by three centimeters. But certain other Blessings could be used to their full potential—such as the Fifth Unit member's «Armed Belle», which transformed the body into a weapon. That Blessing had high compatibility with her, which was why she had designated it as her permanent ability.
Every ability Himari copied would become a card on her phone. As long as she completed a character's card, she could use that person's Peach Blossom Blessing. By swapping the equipped card, she could change her active Blessing at any time.
If Himari were truly that exceptional, even at seventeen she could effortlessly rise to the position of Supreme Commander and manipulate global affairs.
But that wasn't the reality.
The Blessings Himari replicated had compatibility issues. Sometimes they couldn't produce their full power. On top of that, her own physical condition was rather frail, making it impossible for her to draw out the terrifying potential of «Learning».
With all of that in mind, Ren had no reason to believe that Naoki's Peach Blossom Blessing lacked similar limitations. There were surely weaknesses, and surely a price to be paid.
But for now, the mere fact that a man could awaken a Peach Blossom Blessing was already more than enough to be fascinating.
"The recruitment of Kamikawa Naoki is approved."
Ren spoke those words with unmistakable interest in her tone—like a collector who had just discovered a compelling new piece.
Tenka smiled upon hearing it. "Thank you, Ren-chan~"
"However!" Ren raised one finger. "There is a condition."
"Yes?"
"Tomorrow there will be a Captains' meeting." Ren smiled with a hint of cunning. "Bring your boyfriend along."
Tenka had already anticipated this. Ren would never pass up the opportunity to see in person the mysterious man who had captured her heart—and more importantly, the first man to possess a Peach Blossom Blessing.
"Of course~"
Tenka exchanged a few more pleasantries before finally taking her leave. Her steps were light, as though she carried good news with her.
The office door closed behind her.
Alone in her office, Ren turned her gaze back to the file on the desk. She opened to the first page, studying the photograph of the white-haired young man with dark red eyes.
A sardonic smile spread across her lips.
"The first man to awaken a Peach Blossom Blessing... fascinating. But don't set your expectations too high, Kamikawa Naoki." Her voice was cool. "A man's social standing will forever remain that of a second-class citizen in this world. One person—even one with a copying ability—will not be enough to shake an order that has long since been established. Before «Vairocana», you are nothing more than a minor variation in history."
Closing the file, Ren leaned back in her chair, her eyes drifting to the ceiling.
"Tomorrow... I'll see for myself just how remarkable you truly are, Kamikawa Naoki."
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