The group had returned to Narukami Town. Enmadō Rokurou and Hanano Benio resumed their studies, and Charles found himself with some free time.

He had already learned almost everything worth learning, though unfortunately, [Mystery] hadn't gained enough experience points to level up.

Still, Charles was satisfied with what he'd gained. The experience points earned from mastering Onmyou spellcraft—an entirely different system—had brought significant progress.

In the days that followed, while things appeared peaceful on the surface, Charles had extended his awareness across all of Narukami Town.

If Ishikagami Yukito tried to pull anything like he had in the original storyline, it would be impossible. The moment he came close, Charles would detect him.

Charles sat atop the roof of the Seika Dormitory, gazing up at the dazzling stars.

Astrology had always been a traditional discipline among Onmyouji, and in this world, too, they had astrological spellcraft.

However, this was a high-level ability that required both immense spell power and profound understanding of spellcraft to wield effectively.

According to the materials Tsuchimikado Arima had given him, only a handful of Onmyouji over the past thousand years had ever mastered the technique. The one who excelled most at it was none other than Abe no Seimei.

To be honest, Charles wasn't sure whether it was because Abe no Seimei was considered the founder of the Onmyou Bureau, but every record about him used the most lofty, noble terms imaginable.

But when he thought about it, weren't the centuries-long conflicts between Onmyouji and Filth ultimately the result of Abe's failure?

If he hadn't arrogantly believed that gathering all negative energy into a separate space would resolve human malice, neither the Wasteland nor the Filth would have come into existence.

Worst of all was his proposed "solution": extracting all yin energy from humanity, leaving only yang energy, and turning everyone into soulless puppets. Absolute nonsense.

He was the typical kind of being whose unmatched power bred arrogance. Charles silently reminded himself never to become like that.

Charles wasn't stargazing for fun—he was experimenting with astrology. For some reason, despite the tranquility in Narukami Town, he had an uneasy feeling.

It just so happened he had recently reviewed some astrological material, so he decided to try it. Perhaps because he wasn't native to this world—an observer standing on the shore of its river of fate—Charles possessed a special advantage when reading its destiny.

A red pentagram lit up in his eyes, and the starlit sky within his vision began to shift. Several stars glowed brightly.

Charles furrowed his brow. The alignment indicated an overwhelming yin presence and a waning of yang—a harbinger of ill fate.

Which meant Ishikagami Yukito had already made his move—and succeeded to some extent.

The pentagram vanished from Charles's eyes. He flipped off the rooftop. Astrology had revealed all it could. Now it was time to act.

What Charles didn't expect was that the change would come the very next day.

Rokurou, Benio, and Chika Ootomi arrived at Seika Dormitory early in the morning, waking Charles with their commotion.

"Charles, turn on the news—quick!"

Sensing something was off, Charles immediately switched on the television. Onscreen, the anchor continued broadcasting, but it was the background that grabbed his attention.

"Is that… the Onmyou Bureau headquarters?"

He wasn't even sure. The image showed a pile of rubble—if not for the surrounding environment and a few recognizable structures, the site would be unidentifiable.

The destruction had been caused by an enormous tree, taller than a mountain, which now stood where the Bureau had once been. Its tangled roots had crushed the buildings to dust.

The tree's crystalline branches and cherry-blossom-colored canopy shimmered with a dreamlike light.

The anchor continued:

"Late last night, an unidentified giant tree appeared on the outskirts of Kyoto. Damages are still being assessed.

"Experts have not yet identified the tree species or whether it poses further risk to residents. The Kyoto Metropolitan Police Department has sealed off the area and urges the public to keep their distance."

"That's the Pillar of Heaven? It grew aboveground?" Charles muttered.

The colossal tree was unmistakably the Pillar of Heaven that had been beneath the Onmyou Bureau. How had it emerged?

Charles's first thought was Abe no Seimei—but he shouldn't be able to act yet. His resurrection conditions hadn't been fulfilled.

Then Charles thought of Ishikagami Yukito. Now that he had inherited Anmu's spell power and Abe's memories, he was likely the only one who could control the Pillar.

Charles turned to the others. "Calm down. Right now the priority is to understand the situation.

"Chika, have you contacted Seigen?"

Chika shook her head. "I already tried calling my dad, but he's not answering!"

Charles frowned. Not being able to reach Amanowaka Seigen was already a red flag—the situation was worse than expected.

Just then, Charles's phone rang.

He picked up the call and heard Mikage's voice.

"Thank goodness, Mr. Charles—I finally reached you!"

Charles raised an eyebrow. "Mikage? What happened at headquarters? Where are the Twelve Heavenly Generals?"

Mikage replied, "Last night, Ishikagami Yukito infiltrated headquarters. Somehow, he managed to take control of the Pillar of Heaven.

"Although the Celestial-Yama Ceremony had healed the Pillar, it was still missing one branch. The Twelve Generals were performing the final repairs on the barrier when it happened.

"No one expected the Pillar to suddenly go berserk. It drained the Generals of all their spell power.

"With the Pillar out of control, it erupted from the ground and opened the Wasteland. The Bureau's Onmyouji have exhausted themselves purifying the Filth. Right now, aside from your group, no one can stop Ishikagami Yukito."

Charles responded, "Understood. I'll head to Kyoto with the Twin Stars immediately."

He ended the call and looked at Rokurou and Benio.

"So, you heard. That's the situation. Get ready—we're leaving."

Both of them nodded in unison. Chika also stepped forward. "I'm coming too. I have to save my dad!"

Charles nodded. "Then get packed. We don't have much time!"

Once the three had gone to prepare, Charles remained behind, deep in thought.

This had been a miscalculation. He hadn't expected Yukito to bypass Rokurou and go straight for the Pillar.

But more troubling were the details.

How had Yukito known that the Twelve Generals would be repairing the barrier at that exact moment? And how had he managed to infiltrate such a heavily fortified location—especially after Anmu's previous attack?

But when Charles thought of one person, everything suddenly made sense.

After all, the one now acting as the Onmyou Bureau's leader in Tsuchimikado Arima's absence—Mikage—wasn't even human. He was a shikigami. Not just any shikigami, but a fragment of Abe no Seimei himself.

If that was true… then their true enemy wasn't Yukito, but the great Onmyouji himself.

But whoever the enemy was, Charles had no intention of losing.

Just then, a familiar voice spoke into Charles's ear. He smiled.

If that was the case… then maybe things just got a little easier.

------------------

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