Western Kanagawa Prefecture, Tokyo.
Deep in the Tanzawa Mountains, within a small tribal settlement on a peninsula-like stretch of land, lay a vast lake.
Its waters were crystal clear, its scenery breathtaking. Though currently unseen, it was usually a popular spot frequented by anglers and mountain hikers—a well-known landmark in the Kamioda region.
This lake was none other than Shinjin Lake.
And overlooking the lake, nestled deep in the western Tanzawa Mountains, stood an ancient shrine.
It was an unusual shrine, one that couldn't even be confirmed as an officially recognized religious institution.
This shrine was the Kamioda Shrine.
Though virtually unknown to the outside world, its history was ancient, deeply intertwined with the art of jujutsu.
It was said that the shrine's head priestess had, in the past, repeatedly suppressed large-scale magical disasters. Her connections with the government's magical institutions were strong, and during the year-end and New Year holidays, the shrine bustled with visitors—both officials and local worshippers—keeping the shrine maidens busy with preparations.
But today, the grounds of Kamioda Shrine were eerily silent.
The lights in the main hall and shrine office were extinguished.
Not a single trace of human presence could be felt.
Surrounded by dense thickets, the shrine grounds were enveloped in darkness, as if pure blackness had seeped into every corner.
An invisible barrier surrounded the area, signaling that Kamioda Shrine was closed to visitors this year.
Only two types of people could enter under these circumstances.
The first were fully armed soldiers, dressed in military gear.
They were members of the Self-Defense Forces, equipped with the latest anti-magic weaponry, their firearms specialized for Demon extermination. Their disciplined demeanor made it clear they were highly trained.
The second group was entirely different.
They were few in number—no more than a handful.
At this very moment, they were gathered in one of the shrine's side buildings.
"Very well, I understand."
The speaker was a young woman with an alluring figure—curvaceous, with a striking hourglass silhouette.
Her face was exquisitely beautiful, the kind that could captivate at a glance, but her most striking feature was her snow-white hair, reminiscent of an Arctic fox's fur. Her aura was mystical, carrying an almost enchanting presence.
Yet, despite her youthful appearance, her tone was firm and aged, making her actual age impossible to guess.
Right now, this ageless girl was on the phone. After listening to the report on the other end, she hung up without ceremony.
"Hmm."
She let out a thoughtful murmur.
"This is rather troublesome."
Hearing her words, another voice responded—one that matched its owner's elderly appearance.
"Was that a call from the Lion King Agency, Shirona?"
The voice belonged to an older woman, her posture rigid like a martial artist's, her long silver hair tied simply behind her back. Her face bore the wrinkles of age, yet her demeanor was dignified and imposing.
This was the head priestess of Kamioda Shrine—Akatsuki Hisano, the grandmother of the Akatsuki family.
And the girl she had addressed as "Shirona" was none other than one of the "Three Saints" of the Lion King Agency, one of Japan's strongest Attack Mages—Kuraki Shirona.
Here, in this shrine, were two of the most influential figures present—the shrine's overseer and the Lion King Agency's elite.
Alongside them were two more girls, standing guard at the entrance like attendants.
The one on the left was slightly shorter than 160 cm, with a bob cut that gave off a pure, innocent impression. Her bangs were pinned to the side with a ribbon-shaped hairpin, and strapped to her back was a fully metallic silver longsword.
The one on the right wielded a silver Western-style bow, her black hair cut short except for slightly longer strands at the sides, giving her a fierce demeanor.
These four women—two seated in discussion, two standing guard—formed a clear hierarchy.
And now, Shirona and Hisano began discussing the contents of that phone call.
"It was Yukari who called."
Shirona revealed the caller's identity without hesitation.
"Endo Yukari?" Hisano straightened slightly, unsurprised. "If it's from the Itogami Island branch, then something must have happened involving Shizuka?"
"Indeed. And it's quite the problem." Shirona shrugged. Despite her youthful appearance, her mannerisms carried the weight of someone Hisano's age. "You're aware of that boy—the one closely tied to your granddaughter and No. 12? The younger brother of the Witch of the Void? He's learned about this situation."
"He knows?" Hisano's brows furrowed sharply. "How?"
"Simple." Shirona met her gaze. "Shizuka was suppressed by him. She had no choice but to confess everything."
"What?" Hisano's voice rose in disbelief. "That Paper Noise was suppressed?"
This revelation didn't just shock Hisano—the two girls at the entrance stiffened, their eyes widening in disbelief.
After all, Shizuka Koyomi was someone even the Primogenitors treated with caution. As the strongest Attack Mage in Japan and the leader of the Lion King Agency's Three Saints, she stood at the pinnacle of human combat prowess.
For her to be suppressed was unthinkable to her subordinates.
Yet, it had happened.
"The boy in question is someone who sealed the world's strongest vampire, summoned vanished gods, and even gained divine protection. He was raised alongside that Demon Slayer—his fate was never ordinary. While Shizuka's defeat is unexpected, it's not entirely illogical."
Shirona, however, accepted it far more readily—as if she were the elder here.
"And now, this individual is coming to intervene in our affairs—for your granddaughter and No 12's sake. This could be a minor issue… or a catastrophic one."
Indeed.
If he chose to pursue this matter seriously, the Lion King Agency would face dire consequences.
But if he let it go, the situation would pass without incident.
The problem was—
"What should we do about it?"
That was the real question.