16 Chapter 17

As fragments of memories ebbed between shadows of the past, Toji always felt that something was amiss. His suspicions didn't arise when he got involved in the Mato disaster incident. Even since childhood, he had sensed peculiarities surfacing.

His grandfather, Izaki Zenin, adeptly concealed something from Toji's sight. There was firmness and tenderness in his movements, yet hidden within were undisclosed secrets. The temple's statue—every time Toji stared at it, his head seemed to be attacked by dizziness, and his memories became momentarily unstable.

"Umm..." "..."

Toji waited for his grandfather, who was humming while stroking his white beard.

"So quickly, you realize the anomaly within you?" the grandfather asked.

The man merely nodded without saying a word in response.

"In that case, let me cut to the chase. Toji, do you know the history of our family?"

"Yes, I know... We are descendants of the greatest omnyoji of the Heian era? Then, what does it have to do with now? Not that I don't believe it, but the history of magic in that era can't be considered valid until now," Toji spoke, making Izaki snort and mutter.

"Hmph, the youths of today don't understand."

Seeing his antics, Toji gave a deadpan expression toward the old man, and Tenka beside him chuckled softly at the jest.

"Listen, magic did indeed exist back then," this statement left Toji and Tenka silent and shaken. "If you don't believe it, just look at this."

Izaki Zenin produced an ancient scroll filled with writings and strange symbols. Toji and Tenka's eyes widened upon seeing it.

"This is the Legacy of the Heian-era Omniyoji, our ancestors who possessed extraordinary power in facing supernatural creatures. They were spiritual warriors with high-level magical skills," Izaki explained carefully as he unrolled the ancient parchment.

Toji examined the writings on the scroll, attempting to comprehend their meaning. "Talismans... these are some kind of protective techniques, right?"

Izaki nodded. "Yes, talismans are the primary weapons of the Omniyoji. They have the ability to evoke spiritual power and provide protection against evil entities. Each line and symbol here has its own significance."

Tenka pointed to one symbol. "And this?"

"Different situations require different talismans. That symbol is the key to summoning specific powers according to the needs and the adversaries faced," Izaki replied.

Toji felt intrigued and slightly puzzled. "But why didn't we know about this before? And what does it have to do with us now?"

Hesitant to reveal it, Izaki sighed. "From what I know, it is related to Gazu Hyakki Yagyo."

"Gazu Hyakki Yagyo?" Tenka repeated with clear confusion. "The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?"

"Hohoho~ miss, it seems you have insight. Indeed, during that time, there was tremendous chaos that led to the opening of gates from another world, which in the present day is referred to as..."

"Mato..." Toji murmured, realizing the connection between the creation of the Mato world and the conflicts that occurred in the past. However, the story alone wasn't enough to explain everything. Tenka, who also heard it, felt doubtful.

"I understand, you don't believe it, but what I'm talking about is the result of my analysis after studying our family's old records. And to explain who you are, Toji..."

"Eh, yes!?"

"Do you feel strong every time you survive an opponent's attack?" Izaki asked, knowing that Toji was involved in the anti-demon military corps and must have faced Shuuki.

"Yes, I feel comfortable and strong every time I survive an attack," Toji replied. "And I also briefly hallucinate every time I survive an attack. I see an 8-toothed rotating wheel. At that moment, I feel strong and heal suddenly."

Izaki nodded at Toji's statement about his feelings.

"It's not just a hallucination, Toji..." He stood up and looked at Toji seriously. "Follow me."

Toji and Tenka exchanged confused glances. What exactly did Grandfather Izaki want to show them?

"When you were under my care, I conveyed some prohibitions, didn't I?"

"Yes... I obeyed your prohibitions, and I'm curious about what's behind that curtain," Toji was startled when he saw his grandfather's serious expression.

"Ohoho~, then today will be the first day you see this."

Izaki opened the curtain tucked inside the temple, revealing a large monster statue about two meters tall, muscular with four wings around its eye sockets, and having an eight-toothed rotating wheel, similar to what Toji had seen before.

"Is that it!?"

"Umm... The Guardian of the Zenin Clan, the strongest Shikigami ever possessed by the Zenin Clan, and the Omniyojin technique slayer. Eight-Handled Sword Divergent Sila Divine General Mahoraga."

"Huh...?"

Toji and Tenka were astonished by the extraordinary name.

"If it's too long, just call it Mahoraga... As I mentioned, this is the greatest Shikigami ever created by the Zenin family, and its magical technique is the Unlimited Adaptation and the creation of counters to attacks... And somehow this ability has been passed down to you, Toji..."

Toji fell silent, mesmerized, gazing at the statue. Suddenly, he noticed a slight movement made by the statue.

"So, does that answer your question?" Izaki asked Toji, who remained silent after the explanation.

"Hah, look at him... Don't dwell too much on it. There are some cases that can happen like this, and you won't become a Shikigami just by inheriting its abilities," Izaki explained, facing the stunned Toji.

"Umm..." Tenka couldn't contain her curiosity and immediately asked a question.

"Umm~ you have a question, Miss?"

"It's about, based on your story. Have you been involved in the Shuuki War since its emergence? Because I feel that Izaki-jii is strong with his knowledge of the omniyojin technique."

"Yes~ I was involved back then," he replied nonchalantly. "Actually, I was one of the people who fought against the Mato invasion before the anti-demon corps was formed."

"I-I see. There must be a reason why you never appeared in the media at that time..." Tenka mumbled a bit awkwardly, glancing downward. "Then, do you have any acquaintances in the current anti-demon corps?"

At that moment, Izaki's body tensed upon hearing that statement, and he seemed to dodge it by turning his face away. "T-That... Can we not discuss this?"

"Why?"

"T-That's because I don't have a good relationship with them, even now..."

"Ooh... I understand."

Tenka understood and didn't ask further, seeing that Izaki himself didn't want to discuss it while scratching her cheek.

...

"Are they headed this way, Yachiho?"

Yachiho panted as she was asked to lead the way to the hill where Toji lived with his grandfather, Izaki.

"That's right, Tobera-sama... Can you slow down a bit? We've been walking tirelessly for 3 hours searching this hill, and there's no sign of us finding that temple. I feel like we're just going in circles!"

Yachiho complained to someone she addressed with respect. Azuma Tobera, the current head of the Azuma family, was feeling both excited and happy to meet her old friend again.

"Come on, why are you young ones getting tired so quickly!! I've been waiting for decades to find that guy, and finally, he reappears in this world. There's no way I'm missing this opportunity!" spoke a woman who was the head of the Azuma family, Tobera Azuma, also a first-generation human from the resistance movement from the beginning of the Mato Disaster.

<<===================================================== >>

📚 Get Early Access to Our Epic Fanfic Stories! 📚

Hello, wonderful fanfic fans!

Have you ever been caught up in a storyline full of adventure, romance and unexpected surprises in the fanfic stories I wrote? I'm happy to see your support, and I want to offer you something special.

🔑 Join our Patreon community and enjoy exclusive benefits:

✨ Early Access: Get exclusive access to the latest chapters of our fanfic stories before they are officially published. So, you can read the rest of our story faster than anyone else!

💌 Bonus Content: In addition to early access, we'll also share bonus content like exclusive illustrations, additional characters, and "behind the scenes" information you won't find anywhere else.

🚀 Support Our Creativity: By becoming a patron, you help support our creative work. Your support allows us to continue writing and presenting the stories you love.

So, don't miss the opportunity to experience our history and become part of our amazing community. Join us on Patreon via the following link: [https://patreon.com/Poponioko]

7 chapters have been uploaded, so don't miss the story.

You're welcome! Thank you for your great support, and let's start an unforgettable adventure together in the world of fanfic!

Warm regards, [Poponioko]