The Snake Eaters are based deep in the mountains of Nara, and their power is not to be underestimated for a family lineage of gifted people, and they are known as a group of talented people.
　And the Snake Eater family had specialized its contracted targets to a certain kind of high-ranking existence.
　 In addition, unlike the other contractor families, the Snake Eater clan would make contracts with the Snake God, who had separate abilities for each of them.
　It is said that there are snake gods that are specialized in combat and have great power, snake gods that bring great blessings, snake gods that give wisdom, and even some snake gods that can prolong life.
　In this way, the Snake Eaters could be said to be a heterogeneous group of people with different abilities, each with their own specialties, even though they were of the same clan, by making a contract with the Snake God with different ability characteristics.
　Rumor has it that the Snake Eater Family is paying a certain price for signing a contract with this powerful Snake God, but the details are not certain.

''So, Hualen, what are you doing here?''

I was sent here by the agency.

'What?　Really?

　Karen nodded at Yuto's question.

''Hey, Yuto. The agency is, as I recall, the one you mentioned before, right?

Yeah, it's the organization that unites people with abilities like us.

　Even Ichigo is surprised, but seems to manage to keep up with the conversation. Mari also listens to these everyone's remarks and gets the whole picture without asking any questions of her own.

''Is it alright to ask about that request?　Hualien-san.

''No problem.

　Before she knows it, Karen calls Mizuho and Marion by name, and even the head of the Japanese branch, Hisae, but her demeanor is the only one that is imposing. Mizuho and Marion look at each other and sigh.

''I didn't hear that..........Hisae.

''Well, well, well, Mizuho-san. It's possible that Oomine-sama just forgot about it, and I'm sure the head of the branch is busy, too.

'That's the problem. It's always appropriate around here...

　Marion and a gasping Mizuho follow Hisae.

'Nissae said it's free (free) to ask Mizuho and the others...'

'Hey!　d*mn it!　That's why I didn't say anything!　I figured if Nisae told me about it, it would be a request and I'd get paid!

　Marion, as expected from Hualen's story, is unable to follow up and lets out a troubled smile.
　Yuto, too, with a dry laugh, turns to Hanaren.

''So?　What is the nature of your request, Mr. Snake Eater?　Could it possibly have something to do with the guys who attacked us at lunch?

"?　That's new to me. I'm not suited for combat, so I don't want them to come to me by force........ I have to contact Nisasae!　Yeah, but I told Papa-sama to go do it on his own........ I won't find out that Mizuho and the others will help me, but.......

　Seeing the little Karen who had begun to cringe overtly, Yuto hurriedly quieted her down. It's as if the little one has lost its way and can't be left alone.

''Nah, it's okay, snake eaters, calm down. We don't know what kind of people they are yet. But after all, can you still tell me what Snake Eaters are asking for?

　At Yuto's words, I nodded with some composure.

'About a week ago, the Snake Eater family received a request from an agency. It was because certain capitalists and businessmen in Japan had fallen ill all at once from an unexplained illness.

　Yuto and Mizuho look dubious when they hear that story.

'The client is the Japanese government.

!

　Yuto and the others looked at each other.
　They were surprised to see that the conversation had instantly become louder.

''Mr. Snake Eaters, the fact that the Japanese government sent you a request means that the Japanese government decided that this was an attack from somewhere?　And when the government comes out with a civilian anomaly... what, were those people doing something that involved the state?

　Karen nodded at Yuto's question.

''Yes. Those people are supporters of methane hydrate mining for energy development projects in the Sea of Japan. This attack is probably an organization that is uncomfortable with this... or...''

The state............ I'm sure the other party knows that it's that blatant of a harassment........ It may mean that the other party is deliberately showing it off too....

The Japanese government officials have my sisters in blue escorting them.

....

　Yuto turned serious as he thought about it.
　Seeing that Yuto, Mizuho asked Karen.

''Then what did you come to this academy for, Karen-san?　What's your purpose?

I'm here to protect the families of those capitalists and industrialists.

!

　Mizuho looked at Marion with wide eyes.
　Marion also generally understood the whole picture that Karen was talking about, and looked back at Mizuho.

'Already, there have been a number of cases of the families of the people I mentioned earlier who have fallen ill from unexplained illnesses. I have been sent to this academy where several families of those businessmen who have yet to suffer from the disease are enrolled. So, when the institution came to know about this pilot program, they pushed me into it. I was the right person for the job, both in terms of age and ability.

Wait a minute!　I'll see if I can get a report from Meira.

　Mizuho took out her phone and opened the material attached to the report email from Meira.
　Mizuho quickly looked over the material.

''What do you think?　Mizuho-san.

"....!　Now, that says almost exactly the same thing as what you just said, Hualien!　It also mentions a person of ability sent by the agency. So this is Hualen-san........

''Mizuho-san, what are the names of the families enrolled in that academy... the students of the academy?''

Um... wait a minute.

I know that. I've got it to remember.

　Karen shoved her hands into her pockets and pulled out a worn-out piece of paper with something handwritten on it.

'Houzuki Akiko, Fushimi Kimie, Kanae Mikako, Osanai Rinca, Toba Aiko...'

"Toba-senpai!

　Nina was surprised to see someone she had heard of among the names that Karen had told her. Ichigo also looked as if he noticed by Nina's reaction.

''Ah!　The upperclassman who was almost lectured at lunch that afternoon, who was cheated out of his unreasonable excuse of Millimer's dance practice?

....

　Nina glares at Ichigo with zit eyes.

''Oh no, I was surprised by that amazing wit!

'She was attacked by a curse today. I protected it.

No way!

　Yuto and the others made their faces tighten.
　Isn't Hualien amazing?　He turns his chest against his chest as if to say.

'Oh, could it be ... the one with the broken glass from that time?　Above that senior Toba.

Yes.

　Hualen replied to Ichigo's question with a sniffle.
　Beside her, Mizuho put her thumb on her chin.

''But ... we need to check on the others as well.

'Don't worry, I've checked that. All of them are under my protection except for Houzuki Akiko.

　Marion spoke to that Karen with a serious look on her face.

''Um.........Karen-san. What is Karen-san's ability...?　Since Hualen-san is a contractor, you used that contracted extrapersonal ability to repel the curse, right?

Yeah, I'll introduce you.

'You're going to introduce me!　Isn't that a secret?

It's fine. Come on out...

　Yujin and the others could see spiritual power overflowing into such a body of Hualen. Then, as Hualen clasped her hands together and made a gesture as if she were reminding herself of something, something like a shadow of a mollusk writhing appeared from Hualen's back.
　Immediately after that, a snow-white serpent appeared from Hualen's back as if to rest its chin on his shoulder, startling Yuto and the others.
　Especially the ordinary people like Ichigo and Nina stiffened their bodies as if they were gobsmacked, but they soon felt the tranquil atmosphere and holiness that came from the big white snake, and they couldn't help but gaze at it.

''This child's ability to curse and possess is controlled by a curse.

'What?　Really?　Oops, I don't feel that at all on the outside.

Yes, it's so beautiful...

　The sight of Ichigo and Nina being gawked at by the white snake that was moving and clinging to that Hualien, makes Hualien feel satisfied.

''A curse...!　So you're a specialist in spells and curses, Snake Eater?

You should think so.

　Yuto turned his head to Mizuho and Marion.
　This is certainly the right person to be the competent person sent by the agency. With this, the students who haven't been affected yet can be left in the hands of Karen.
　But I want to ask you something more important than that.
　This is a more serious matter for Mizuho and Marion, or rather, for the curse victim, Houzuki Akiko.

''Snake Eater-san the agency has heard from the Japanese government, right?　The source of this curse ... or that organization. .........what is it?

　At Yuto's question, Mizuho and Marion also looked serious and focused on Hanaren.
　Hualen nodded and opened her mouth.

''The ........Chinese Communist People's State.