30. Hyakki Yagyo
Hyakki Yagyo. The Night Parade of a Hundred Demons. A festival where all manner of ghosts and yokai roam the midnight city, turning humanity upside down. Calling it a festival gives it a fantastical ring, but in the shitshow game Apocalypse Rhapsody, it was nothing short of the end times. You had to slaughter thousands of yokai that invaded the school, targeting only the protagonist and his heroines. That was Episode 2: Hyakki Yagyo. Defend the school and its territory for victory; fail, and it's game over. They vanished like mirages at dawn, but their sheer numbers wreaked apocalyptic havoc just by existing through the night. For a control freak like me who wanted to micromanage everything, it was a headache. But for those who only had to exorcise the yokai at the school, it was straightforward and easy. Just kill everything in sight.
But these guys didn't seem to grasp it that simply. The blood-red full moon had risen over ten minutes ago, yet the athletic field remained eerily still with just the four of us. Suddenly, moonlight pierced the clouds, illuminating the face of this generation's great hero.
"...Thousands of yokai?"
Kenichi's pupils quivered. He'd been riding high since awakening his mana recently. To bolster his spirits, I flashed a gentle smile and nodded firmly.
"Yes, exactly. This place, the spirit vein that all spiritual entities in the eastern region pass through—Karakura High School. It spawns an especially high number of yokai. If they absorb the spirit vein's energy and grow, that'll be trouble. So tonight, you'll all have to keep them company here."
The protagonist of Apocalypse Rhapsody, Kitagawa Kenichi, asked again in a trembling voice, his eyes unsteady.
"...You're kidding, right? You drag us to school out of nowhere and tell us to take on that many?"
"Come on, you can do it. Didn't you just awaken your mana? Swing your sword whoosh, whoosh—a few thousand times, and you're done."
"...Don't talk nonsense. Even if I'm stronger now, I don't have the stamina for that."
His confidence had plummeted at the number; now he was whining. I wanted to draw my sword and discipline him on the spot, but since it was an important night, I'd settle for words.
"Hey now, don't you trust your master?"
"...It's not about trust. How am I supposed to take on that many alone?"
"You're not alone."
"...What?"
Right beside the dimwitted protagonist Kenichi stood Cento, who'd mastered various spells from the grand sorceress, and the genius pint-sized mage Eris. Even I'd never assembled such overkill for Episode 2 after hundreds of bad ends. An unbeatable lineup.
"You know how strong Cento's gotten from our recent training, and our little Eris here is a genius mage on par with her, right?"
Did it finally click that his stellar teammates were right there? Kenichi's eyes widened as he looked at Eris and Cento on either side. After a moment of indescribable expression, he muttered glumly.
"...Still, thousands means at least a thousand each."
Maybe because it was reality, not a game, blind charges weren't an option. I sighed at Kenichi's persistent frailty and glanced sideways.
"Hmph."
Eris, shoulders puffed from my praise, snorted arrogantly, while Cento stared at me with a stoic face. Meeting her intense gaze, I dipped my head slightly and winked.
"...Urk."
Sawamura Cento's expression twisted as if she'd seen something she shouldn't. What an overly wounding reaction. As I clutched my saddened heart, puffed-up Eris tossed out a question.
"So why just us? You've been acting like you knew something since before. Why spill it now? I was in touch with the British Magic Headquarters this morning—no word about monsters coming. You expect me to believe you're the only one who knows about a worldwide apocalypse?"
So many questions bubbling up. But as an excellent teacher, I smiled warmly and explained kindly.
"Oh, this crisis is limited to Japan—Tokyo, specifically. No idea if monsters pop up in Britain or not."
"...Even so, why not warn us sooner? We could've helped prepare."
At her obvious point, I scratched my cheek awkwardly and laid out the situation.
"I did tell everyone, of course. This morning, I notified all the exorcist clans around Tokyo."
"...This morning? On the day of? That's still too late. And why no word to the magic branch?"
"Obviously."
Daytalks are for birds, nighttalks for rats.
"Can't go blabbing everywhere when leaks could happen. If the yokai catch wind and change timing or pull some trick, it gets messy."
"...Still—"
"No worries. I handpicked tight-lipped clan members and sent precise orders. A bit late, but they'll move like clockwork."
"... "
Eris scowled at me, then her eyes widened in realization.
"Wait, even if you told us late for fun, why are we the only ones here?"
"...Hey, I didn't delay for fun. I'm not that shady."
"Whatever. Explain. You said reinforcements are coming—why are we alone?"
The star mage, Eris Betelgeuse, fixed me with a stern look and sharp eyes.
"And where do you plan to go?"
She wasn't as dim as Kenichi, thankfully—no bad thoughts there. Or maybe her mage brain spun faster. Or had Kenichi, catching on late, just proven extra dense with his wide eyes? Either way, no changing it now. Trust was all they had.
Long ago, I'd decided to leave the spirit vein at Karakura High School to them. They needed to grow by slaying yokai, and more importantly, I was too busy to lend a hand here.
"I'd love to watch you all struggle from the sidelines, but tonight, I've got a mountain of work."
Hyakki Yagyo. With the spirit vein's seal broken, souls across eastern Japan rampaged. True, Karakura High would see a ton relative to size, but this land couldn't contain them all. Tokyo, though—vast, teeming with grudge spirits. I gazed at the crimson moon overhead, smiling faintly.
"While you handle the spirit vein's core, I'll take the outskirts."
After wrapping up explanations, Ichimaru Shiki vanished without a trace. With their leader gone, Kenichi looked lost, like a chick without its mother. Praise had spiked lately, making him uneasy, but he never imagined being tossed into hell like this.
...Should I bolt now?
He'd talked up its importance, but it didn't hit home. If it were truly critical, he'd guard it himself. The thought of thousands of yokai twisted his gut.
"No use."
Blonde mage Eris, sensing his vibe, stated flatly.
"I didn't get it at first, but as midnight nears, the coordinates are blurring."
"...Coordinates?"
"Means the human world and spirit world are splitting."
She'd been etching something into the ground since Shiki left, now sighing deeply.
"We're an isolated island now. No escaping. No one in or out till dawn."
"...What the hell."
Kitagawa Kenichi swallowed dryly, dark thoughts swirling. Felt like being buried alive somewhere inescapable.
...Is Shiki trying to kill us?
No way, why?
One bad idea snowballed. Despairing, he buried his face in his hands and muttered.
"...Why, Shiki."
Eris Betelgeuse scowled, hating his gloomy vibe.
"Quit whining and prep. Time's short. Your moping's distracting my magic circle."
"...Sorry."
"Shut up and step back to pull yourself together. Kill half your thousand, and I'll handle the rest."
"...?"
"Killing monsters is my specialty over people. I'll keep you alive, so stop sniveling."
Kenichi blinked dumbly. Her tone was rough, but it felt oddly warm. Dazed, he looked down at the girl shorter than his shoulder.
"What're you staring at? Scram!"
Unfazed, she used her staff like a brush, etching geometric patterns into the earth. Kenichi watched the mysterious designs, then nodded.
"Yeah, I'll go."
His heart eased a bit.
Meanwhile, Sawamura Cento busied herself with spells and barriers. Unknown to Kenichi, the sorceress and mage were dividing the area, fortifying their lines. Better a safe rear than encirclement. And while Kenichi swung his sword wildly, they'd hold the center.
Etching defensive ritual spells across the ground, Cento suddenly recalled Shiki's parting words.
Eris and Kenichi are dim and hot-headed, so I'm leaving them to you.
The brooch he'd gifted gleamed on her uniform, reflecting moonlight. Its red gem pulsed ominously—beautiful yet menacing. Shiki had added:
If your life hangs by a thread, think of me.
With that shady grin.
I'll come save you.
Pretty convincing. Cento smirked faintly but didn't pause her rituals. A safety net didn't mean slacking.
"...No need to call Shiki."
Her lifetime as a cursed child, finally finding purpose.
She'd prove it here, tonight.
I'll show them.
Having inscribed dozens of rituals, midnight loomed. The spirit vein surged; space rippled. Black shadows erupted.
The moment she registered it, the world had changed.
"...Impressive."
Yokai filled every inch of sight.
"Wow, it's all clear for once."
Leaping onto a skyscraper's roof, I overlooked the city's nightscape—dark sky and world be damned, Tokyo still glittered. Big city perks. Though the foul weather kept streets surprisingly sparse.
"Lucky break."
I didn't care, but other exorcists had to mind prying eyes. Easier movement meant fewer casualties. Nodding satisfied, I scanned the yokai-free streets.
"All tucked away nice and tight."
Unbelievably peaceful before the storm. It'd erupt at the spirit vein's peak surge—and soon.
Pulling my phone from my inner pocket, I checked the time.
—11:59 PM.
The storm was coming. Hordes of yokai as adversity. Closing my eyes, I envisioned it all, then opened them with a smile.
"What, that all?"
Stalling at Episode 2's boss? My ambitions were grander. Hell, I'd cleared the game—time for the true ending.
Grinning slyly at the serene skyline, I resolved.
"Shall I kill them all?"
—And midnight struck.
BOOM!
A massive roar from the distant spirit vein echoed across Tokyo; shadows convulsed. Flames of grudge spirits—fierce, soul-scorching infernos unlike city lights—erupted everywhere. An army of fire rose in the dark, visible only to the chosen, painting a hellish nightscape.
Countless flames, grudge fires, yokai. Thousands? Tens of thousands? Over a hundred thousand. Including grudge scraps from sealed years—a million strong.
And scattered across vast Tokyo—too wide to run.
"Haa, no helping it. Only a kind, capable guy like me can handle the work."
Wonder if I'd get a commendation. Etching the view one last time, I smirked and reached into empty air.
Shing. Gripped my sword.
"Let's go."
Time to exterminate the wicked.