Suspiciously Good at the Job (6)
The Council Spire, top floor.
A place that was usually devoid of crowds now echoed with footsteps of distinct character.
The reason was simple.
The Chairman had issued an emergency summons.
All squad leaders had gathered, excluding those dispatched on missions. From the Thousand Autumn Squad, everyone except the Dark Shadow Squad currently on campaign. From the Heavenly Guard Squad, even the Golden Sun Squad assigned to the capital's defense and the Radiance Squad's artillery unit.
Where a squad leader was absent, a silver badge representative stepped in.
The squad leaders clustered in groups of twos and threes in front of the office.
"Old man Galla. Heard you got locked in a secret room while supervising the cleanup team's exam yesterday? Impressive stamina for your age."
"Shut your trap. Want me to lock your yap in a secret room first?"
"Heh heh, get along now."
They jabbed at each other, asked about training progress, exchanged greetings—idle chatter flowed.
Then.
Creak.
The office door opened.
Click-clack. Click-clack.
One set of footsteps silenced all the banter.
The sound of heels striking the marble floor reverberated, dominating the space like an invading force.
There was something that clenched the heart of anyone who heard it.
Like prey animals reacting to a predator's tread.
It surely wasn't her intent. And those gathered here were individuals who could represent their territories alone—powers worthy of being called the strong.
Even they weren't immune to its influence.
"We greet the Chairman."
The squad leaders bowed in unison, prostrating themselves.
No one raised their head. No one dared look at her face.
Normally, she fully suppressed her aura, indistinguishable from an ordinary person.
But today was different.
Her energy flickered faintly. The demonic trait unique to her kind—power amplified by emotion.
You could feel it on your skin: she was in a foul mood.
The Chairman leaned indifferently into her office chair.
Her slender, long legs in a black dress crossed casually.
The dignity emanating from her fourteen-year-old frame was something only a being over 200 years old could possess.
Her plum-colored hair shimmered iridescently in the light filtering through the window.
"Raise your heads."
A low, flat voice.
The squad leaders cautiously lifted their gazes.
The Chairman's golden eyes swept over each one.
"ManShinJeon has raided the main hospital ward. The ward is now infested with Rule Yokai."
Silence.
The squad leaders' eyes changed in an instant, burning with the readiness to take any head on command.
But before the Chairman, none acted rashly.
Only the Subjugation Squad Leader clenched his fist, steadying his breath.
Crunch!
The lollipop in his mouth shattered, fragments falling.
"They timed it perfectly, exploiting a gap in the defensive barrier."
A smile appeared on the Chairman's emotionless face.
No one perceived it as a smile.
"Prepare for the simultaneous deployment of three armed forces."
One phrase froze the air in the room.
Simultaneous deployment of three or more armed forces—an unprecedented event in Council history.
One armed force alone could overrun a territory.
Three together? Wherever they went became the Council itself.
No wonder the Imperial Family legally forbade it.
Yet the Chairman had uttered those words.
"……."
No squad leader was ignorant of what that implied.
Total war.
One side dies.
"I'll secure the Emperor's approval."
As good as granted.
Not even the Imperial Family could ignore the word of the empire's foremost guardian, who had protected it for 200 years.
Even if it violated the law—her words carried that much weight.
Which was why she had always been sparing with them.
"Their insolence has gone too far."
Outwardly, the Council was a public authority, prioritizing civilian welfare and support.
Similar to the Holy Church, but handling a broader scope.
An organization under the state, created to safeguard ordinary lives.
But when it came to combat, the difference was stark.
The Holy Church specialized in great yokai battles; the Council in human warfare.
Different domains.
Because there were as many wicked, malice-filled humans as yokai.
They hadn't stepped up fully before, prioritizing the cries of those in need.
Now, it meant choosing a different path.
Then, the Subjugation Squad Leader spoke cautiously.
"Chairman, what of the personnel and civilians caught in the Rule Yokai?"
The Chairman's golden eyes turned to him.
Silence.
The Chairman let out a low chuckle.
It was laughter, yet not—it trembled the air, like a sigh.
Chills ran down the squad leaders' spines.
Her delicately crossed legs slowly uncrossed. Propping her chin, she gazed out the window.
"Don't worry."
The corner of her mouth, visible through plum strands, curved faintly upward.
"The next Golden is there."
At those words, the Subjugation Squad Leader, Heart's Eye Squad Leader, and Thousand Autumn Squad Leader reacted.
In unison.
The image of one boy came to mind.
I yawned as I made my rounds.
...Something's off.
The patients' conditions had worsened dramatically since yesterday.
Some curses had reignited, but there were injuries I couldn't treat too.
Arms torn off. Ribs exposed. Half a face missing.
What kind of bizarre dream is this?
Still, I lifted all the curses.
Touching them still drew out the black energy.
But the patients' reactions were weird.
Normally, they'd be grateful once the curse lifted and pain subsided.
Instead, they all stared at me like I was some grotesque entity.
Why are they like that?
The first one did. The second. The third.
Mouths agape, eyes wide in horror, just staring.
Well, it's a dream.
Weird reactions in dreams are par for the course.
As I left the ward.
...
Eight nurses were already trailing me.
All with bandages over their faces.
...Must be a trend these days.
Exhausted and sleepy, I didn't dwell. It was a dream anyway.
Whatever.
On the stairs to the third floor, I bumped into the headless doctor again.
Patient. Examination—
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blasted me into the wall.
As expected in my dream, I'm the strongest... right?
The trailing nurses flinched back, then sleepily followed again.
...
Down to the second floor.
But.
At the end of the hall stood a group in black robes.
Three of them.
Their faces visible through the robes writhed. Unmistakably yokai-like.
And a sweet scent hitting my nose.
Cookie smell.
...ManShinJeon?
I muttered, and they startled, turning to me.
Their gazes locked on the golden badge on my chest.
"S-Subjugation Squad Leader?! How did you break through the yokai tale to reach here already?!"
Instantly battle-ready. Black tentacles extended from under the robes.
Different vibe from the ones I'd seen before.
Of all things, ManShinJeon shows up.
I scratched my cheek.
"Tentacles on the body... you're basically a patient at this point."
I blurted out my impression.
The nurses clustered behind me whispered.
Patient? Patient? Not staff?
With a hunch, I sought their agreement.
"...He looks like a patient, right?"
At my words.
Five nurses' hair stood on end in unison.
Patients aren't allowed to roam~
Tentacle-like hair lashed toward the ManShinJeon members.
"Wh-what?! These yokai! Why aren't they under control...!"
The ManShinJeon countered with black tentacles.
Nurses' joints twisted grotesquely as they charged; ManShinJeon shed robes to fight back.
In moments, the hallway became a battlefield.
...
I leaned against the wall, staring blankly at the scene.
Is this really a dream?
Nurses turning out to be yokai and fighting ManShinJeon, no less.
Dream or reality, I rooted for the nurses inwardly.
But the ManShinJeon weren't pushovers. Individually stronger than the nurses.
One handled two nurses at once, pressing them.
But as time passed, the tide turned.
Fallen nurses were replaced by fresh ones from other floors. Endlessly.
ManShinJeon tired, injuries mounting.
The moment they turned to retreat to the first floor.
Bang!
The blast door slammed shut on its own.
Hm?
Looking down, the bear doll glared furiously at the door.
The bear doll's containment ability. Trapping the ManShinJeon with the nurses.
Screams and flesh-tearing sounds echoed from behind the door.
A while later.
Creak.
The door reopened.
Three blood-soaked nurses returned behind me, licking their lips. The rest were shattered.
Black robes littered the floor.
Faces twisted in spilled blood, terror, agony.
Too realistic.
...This doesn't feel like a dream anymore. Hard to deny now.
I joined the Council to avoid yokai, and they invade here too.
Really didn't want to believe it.
Squeeze.
The bear doll tugged my chest like seeking praise, so I petted it.
"Yeah. Except you and Lannancy sis."
Thought I could live normally for a bit.
What the hell is going on...?
I rubbed my face, shaking off the daze.
Just in case, I checked the wards.
Good, no injured patients in sight...
One realization hit while checking patients: I'd been on the fourth floor earlier.
And this wasn't my ward—it was Wish's.
Is Wish okay?
I hurried to the first floor.
And.
Uh.
Two people in the first-floor lobby.
One: Wish slumped on the floor, clutching only the dagger's hilt, face pale as death. Eyes lifeless.
The other.
A red-haired woman with deep crimson sheen. Revealing black dress with silver ornaments jingling.
...Where have I seen her?
Face from brushing past at the Imperial Capital library surfaced.
The red-haired woman looked up at me descending the stairs.
I looked down at her.
"Wish?"
I called to the slumped Wish.
"...Outsider?"
A faint focus returned to Wish's vacant eyes.
"No injuries?" "Wh-why are you here...? You went home! It's enough if only I get caught up!" "Could you quiet down? I'm thinking."
A voice brushing off her desperate cry indifferently.
My gaze shifted to the voice's owner, crouched beside Wish.
The red-haired woman tilted her head at me.
"...What are you?"