Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume2 Chapter 5 (section)

=== Part 2 ===

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Kirika smiled sweetly in gratitude, eliciting an instant greeting from the police officers.

The police roadblock shift slightly, opening a small gap large enough for a single person. Passing through that small gap, Kirika, Ayano and Ren entered into the secured zone.

“……What a thorough job,” Ayano conceded with shock, looking with wonder at their surroundings.

The normally bustling city corner had been transformed into a literal ghost town. Not only were there no pedestrians, even the people inside the buildings seemed to have been all cleared away.

Kirika shrugged her shoulders lightly.

“Actually we only evacuated a few people. Most of the people sensed an abnormality and escaped before we did anything.”

“An abnormality...?”

Catching what seemed link the odor of rotten fish in the wind, Ayano frowned. The asphalt road surface felt strangely gooey. With every step, her sole seemed to be glued to the ground by a thin, sticky thread. Perhaps because of the earth's corruption, the trees in the park tilted at a dangerous angle under the wind’s blow, as if they would topple any moment.

“It is rather common nowadays to hear others say that humans are a type of animal that has lost its basic instincts. But judging from this, it seems we have not completely lost them after all. Just think about it, isn’t it strange that no civilians or reporters have come to investigate the inspection area?”

“------Now that you mention it, it seems to be that way.”

Ayano recalled the scene when they were passing through the checkpoints.  The manpower present for this operation almost seems excessive for the empty streets, which would definitely arouse suspicion. Normally, Ikebukuro would never be so quiet with a police cordon set up. 

(Normally, huh...)

Faced with a meaningless imagination, Ayano couldn't help but reveal a bitter smile. In a situation where youki causes the wind and earth to be corroded, it isn't even appropriate to think of the word "normal."

It was convenient of the civilians to notice the unnaturalness and escape. This way they wouldn't have to worry about witnesses or casualties, and fight as they wished.

She grinned inwardly, and walked towards the center of the secured zone. The small church here was perhaps the farthest away from the word “Holy” in the world!

The preparations for battle were ready at the target area. Ten jutsu-shi surrounded the church, not letting even an ant through.

Sensing Ayano's approach, Masayuki turned around.

“Ayano-sama and Ren-sama, please do not take part in this operation.

“I know.”

Ayano impatiently waves her hand towards Masayuki who reminded them once more.

The jutsu-shi are concentrating, waiting for Masayuki’s signal. He knows that Misao is waiting inside, and at this stage he does not intend to spend more time searching the interior.

He plans to burn down the entire church.

If ten Kannagi jutsus-shi were to release flames all at the same time, this kind of building would be destroyed before it even began burning.

It would be best if the matter could be settled just with this. In the case that she survived, they would follow the plan and force her into the park and eradicate her.

There exists no element nor chance of failure. Everyone believed firmly in their victory.

“Okay, begi……”

Right before Masayuki gave the go signal, the door of the church opened slowly. Masayuki quickly stopped his hand, and stared closely at the door.

Following a sharp squeaking sound, the door opened gradually. They were unable to see the interior at all, the darkness within rejecting the entry of all light.

On top of that, the darkness even began infesting the light. A certain black object passed through the front door, and appeared in the space filled with light.

It is someone dressed in a pitch black kimono - a black-haired girl wearing funeral robes. The human-shaped darkness eyed the group of people.

“…… Are you…… Misao……?”

Masayuki called his daughter’s name, as if moaning. The immense youki surrounding Misao continued to spread and corrupt the area around her.

“I welcome everyone’s arrival. Father as well, I am glad to see that you are still so healthy.”

Misao elegantly greeted them, announcing her sincere welcome with a gentle smile.

But anyone who knew Misao would have noticed that something was wrong. In the last ten years or so, Misao had never smiled like this towards Masayuki.

Of course, Masayuki did not even realize this. To him, Misao, who as a woman was not fit to become a fighter, was nothing more than a worthless existence to him.

Staring angrily at the daughter who is smiling innocently, Masayuki shouted from the bottom of his heart, “Silence! A dirty and despicable thing like you is not qualified to call me its Father!”

For a moment moment, the smile in Misao’s eyes vanished. But remembering her facade, she returned to her original expression.

“Sorry to have been so rude then. By the way------“

Misao looked around, verifying the faces of everyone at the scene.

“Where is Kazuma-san?”

“That guy has already been dismissed!”

Ayano answered at an astonishing speed.

“Whether he is capable enough is only secondary. We have no intention of hiring someone who does not plan to cooperate with us. This is not charity work.”

Looking down on the girl who seemed to have been waiting to say this, Misao's lips curled up in a smile.

Ayano's eyebrows jump up in an instant. Even if it was just for a moment, she saw the meaning behind that smile.

It was a mockery, an expression of contempt that one would only use to look down on others. It was an intolerable expression for a jutsushi from a branch family to make, especially one that has been corrupted into a demon.

“What is so funny……?”

Ayano questions in a suppressed tone.

“The attitude of Ayano-sama is too ugly,” Misao replied, still smiling.

*swoosh. Ayano stepped out, leaning her right body into a battle stance. A terrified Masayuki could only jump out of the way.

Ignoring the killing intent directed at her, Misao smiled and said, “Does Kazuma-san caring only for me make you that jealous?”

“------!”

The uprising murderous aura shakes the area, but Misao shows no signs of backing off. Unsure whether she was confident in winning, or had lost her sense of judgement-----

“Very well…… Speaking of which, we have yet to settle the score from last time.”

“Is that so…… I can’t recall such a thing.”

The face-off was like one of clashing swords. Their exchanged looks alone gave off sparks, building the tension until it seemed ready to explode.

Ayano quietly drew her Enraiha, its golden brilliance exorcising the nearby youki.

Faced with a sudden battle of femme fatales, the jutsushi from the branch families began trembling.

“A…… Ayano-sama. Leave Misao to us……”

Masayuki hurriedly tried to halt Ayano, but was silenced by her murderous aura. After all, the level between the two was completely different.

No one can stop them. Just as everyone at the scene is thinking this way------

“Excuse me, sorry to disturb when the two of you are so busy.”

With her ear at the mobile phone that is switched to vibration mode, Kirika made a routine announcement.

“Yagami Kazuma has appeared. He is closing in from the direction of the main road.”

Ayano’s body shook suddenly.

(I'm saved------)

Seeing this reaction, Masayuki sighs in relief.

“Ayano-sama------“

“I know.”

Keeping Enraiha raised, Ayano glared at Misao once more. The woman only lifted her chin in a smug grin of victory, noticing Ayano's furrowed brow.

(There should still be time after killing her first……)

For a moment, Ayano considered this seriously. But now that she was calm, her personal feelings came second to the mission.

“Masayuki-san, please act as we have originally planned. Superintendent Tachibana, I will not ask you to fight with Kazuma, but please maintain the spiritual boundary. Okay?”

Ayano gives off commands one by one, and finally shifts her eyes to Ren.

“Let’s go stall Kazuma!”

“…… Yes……”

Ren droops his eyes, and nods to reply with a helpless tone. Ignoring Ren’s attitude, Ayano forcefully dragged him off.