Meira left the place where Akane was, and walked quickly to the room where Zabanosuke, Hayoun and the others were gathered. Right now, Sabanosuke and the other heavyweights of Shitennji were supposedly reviewing the results of the first round of this tournament.
　Akera arrived at the room where those heavyweights were gathered and entered, and inside, including Zamanosuke and the others, Hisae and Swordsman Alfred Arkwright were also showing serious expressions in front of the monitor.

''Meira where have you been?''

''I'm sorry, Zamanosuke-sama. I was with Akane-sama just now.

''Well... what did Lady Zhu Yin have to say?''

Oh no, not really.

　For a moment, Meiliang recalls her conversation with Zhu Yin, but she replies as if nothing is wrong.

''So, what did you all think about the results of the first game?　If you were to invite them to Shitenji, were there people you would be comfortable with?

But the thing is....

　The head of the Omine family, Soun, interrupted him with a bitter smile as he crossed his arms.

''That's the thing, Akera-kun. We all agreed that the winners this time around ... were all better than we had imagined. Well, although I say this, when Akane-sama suddenly said that she was going to hold the Great Festival of Entrance, I honestly felt that neither Omine nor Shinzen had to go that far.... Besides, considering Mizuho-sama's emotions, I thought it would be good to take a little more time. And there's a lot of history.

　When Hayagumo looked at Zabanosuke, Zabanosuke nodded to himself in mockery.
　Meira immediately understood that the past history was probably referring to the one with Sanzenin Mizushige.

''That's right. But because of that, we, too, had been too cautious in some ways. With a long history, the issue of succession should have been the most important issue for the Four Heavenly Temples to resolve as soon as possible, but due to the breakup with Sanzenin, we had ended up choosing someone with a family history as good as that of Sanzenin. In order to avoid trivial rumors from outsiders who did not know the inside story of the breakup with Sanzenin, he insisted on a family as famous as Sanzenin and also placed great importance on the character of the young lady. However, because of this, the only people who would receive the name of Shitennji as the daughter's partner would be those who were disproportionate in their abilities. It seems that that is exactly what we had done to ourselves. And I was taught that at this great festival of our initiation.

Is that...?

That's why Shitenji is the Shitenji. What Shitenji seeks first of all is power. Power is the source of Shitenji. Power is the source of Shitenji. And just as importantly, those who know the weight of the Shitenji family's history deserve to know it. The Great Festival of the Entry was a test of that power, the basic premise of the Shitenji family. Perhaps Lord Zhu Yin was trying to remind us, foolish as we are, of that.

Totally....

　Both Sahumanosuke and Sahoun were grateful for Zhu Yin's deep thoughtfulness, and also meditated on his eyes as if in deep reflection.
　Sweat flowed from their foreheads as Meira looked at the two heads of Omine and Shinzen, the two heads of the Shinzen family who supported that Shitenji.

(Ah ... what a wonderful misunderstanding this is.)

　Ming Liang glanced at Nisasae and Kensheng, and the two of them quickly looked away.
　Apparently, the two of them could tell that they knew Zhu Yin's true intentions.

''So, how did you see the winners of the first round?　Are they worthy of the Shitennji?

''Mm ... I was just examining that now. First of all, these are the ones who have won this time.

　Sanbonosuke handed Akera a brief summary of each winner's data that he had him put together.

Game 1: Sanzenin Mizushige
Match 2 - Douglas Gans.
Fight #3: Julian Knight.
Match 4
Game 5: Victor Bakration.
6th match Tendokushi
Game 7 Tenchan
Match #8 Yuto Du Du

'All of them were more talented than I expected. How could you have gathered all of these men together?

　Hayoun nodded at Sahumanosuke's impressions.

''Yes. What surprises me is that there are a few of them who don't even belong to an institution and are equally unknown. I even thought I had to brace myself for the fact that there were people of such ability in the field. This must be something unique to the Grand Festival of Irike. But I don't know how far these people are willing to go to show their hidden abilities. That's why I've instructed our security to be even more vigilant.

　As Soun said, Akera and even Hisae's eyebrows moved as well, including Akera.
　Seeing this change in attitude, Hayoun let out a seamless smile.

''It's only natural. We are inviting all these talented people into the bosom of Shitenji. We should always be prepared to deal with unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunately, there are many people who don't think well of Shitenji.

''Exactly. I'll leave that part to Hayoun, okay?

Yes. Yes, Master Zamanosuke.

　This kind of calmness and coolness was not forgotten, and Ming Liang's tongue rolled in his mouth at the Omine, the head of the Godhead family.
　Although he had heard of Zhu Yin's made-up story, it was not impossible. Ming Liang thought so too, and thought he had been careful in the management of this time, but there was something to be learned from the high tension these two usually possessed.
　This is what it means to be a part of both wings of the Shitennji.

''I've watched the match through and I'd like to hear your opinion on it, since we're here, I'd like to hear your opinion on the Kensei. Was there anyone else you were curious about?

　When Hayagumo urged Ken Sei to do so, Hisae's expression became subtle, but without saying anything, she exhaled heavily. While watching his reaction, Kensei also laughed bitterly but turned a serious face to Hayoun.

''Well I'm not in a position to give my opinion on the Shinto rituals of Shitenji, but if you mean my personal opinion, then I'll answer you.

That's fine, Mr. Swordsman.

Yes, then, all of the participants seemed to have a high level of ability. But if I had to pick one of them, I'd say there are two that I'm interested in.

What's that?

　Left Umanosuke squinted at the fact that Kensei had already narrowed it down to two people from this talented and granular group of participants.

''One of them is........Sanzenin Mizushige.

....

　Nissae and the others, who were also spirit masters, were also thinking about it.
　In the past, the Sanzenin family was a famous family of spirit wielders, known as the Four Heavenly Temples of the East and the Three Thousand Inns of the West. Nowadays, they were greatly outnumbered by the Four Heavenly Temples in terms of their achievements and power.
　Mizushige, the spirit maiden of the Sanzenin family, was described as a devilish talent.
　And the brilliance she displayed today was enough to silence the bigwigs of Shitenziji.
　It was not inferior to that of the genius born into the Shitenji family, Shitenji Mizuho.

''As I thought........should I say. No, should I say that it had reached such a high level?''

　Hisae, the head of the World Ability Agency's Japanese branch and herself a rank S, was also surprised by Mizushige's sensitivity to the spirits at that time.
　She had sensed that it was different and different from other spirit users she had met before.
　Spirits are taught in Shitenji that they are the world itself and that they are with us.
　For this reason, the spirits are honored and feared at Shitenji, and their wishes are entrusted to the spirits. This is also the way to deal with the spirits that represent the world.
　In comparison to that, that of a water-heavy man.......it was as if he controlled and used the spirits, as if the spirits were faithfully following the orders of the superior, the water-heavy man.
　Even for a spirit user, there are many different families of spirit users, and they have different ways of relating to those spirits.
　This is something that Hisae knew, but Mizushige's is one of the things that sets her apart from the others.
　It's something that doesn't feel so good for the same spirit user....... No, if it was Shitenji, the feeling that Nisae remembered might be something that they all had.
　In that sense, Zabanosuke's decision to cancel his blind date with Mizuho in the past even seemed like a wise decision.

''I'm sure all of you who are also spirit users feel more than I do, but how should I put it, he seemed to be in a different position compared to the spirit users I know...''

(Laughs)

Al what does that mean?

　Nissae and the others are intrigued by the way Kensei says it.
　I also think that this might be the opposite, because I'm not a spirit user, so I have an insight into it.

'I felt that when he invoked his jutsu... well, Nissae, for example, before you invoked your jutsu, I think you made the arrangements for sensing with the spirits, constructing the phenomenon, and communicating to the spirits... what do you think?'

'Well it's more of a sensory thing, but I don't think there's much wrong with that.

　Kenshou nodded in response to Hisae's reply, who is a long time spirit user.

No, it's strange for me to say that I don't have that much understanding of spirits.

"....!　Al it is.

　Hisae was surprised, and Sabanosuke and Hayoun also put some effort between their eyebrows.

''.........Hmmm, interesting things you say, Kenshyo.''

''Yes........if what the Sword Saint says is as we understand it, then that would be.......stepping into the realm of Master Yi Cheng and Master Zhu Yin.''

'No, I may be missing the point, after all, that's all I've seen. But I feel that he is different from other spirit users. His power and his handling of power.

''But I hear you, but in your opinion, as a swordsman, that Sanzenin's coveted ability is better than Nissae?''

!

　Hisae's eyes widened. Akera, who was standing behind her, did not hide her surprise, as expected.
　This question is asking if he is more competent than himself, a rank S and head of the Japanese branch, one of the highest forces in the World Ability Agency.
　Normally, it would be impolite to compare them, but Zabanosuke can ask, and Kensei can answer that question.
　And the expression on his face was serious, as if he was trying to confirm that fact rather than questioning the Kensei.

''If I were to compare him to the current.......................Hisae, I would consider him superior. No, if I were to deal with him, I would treat him as such.

I'll try to remember what your sage said.

....

　Hisae is silent. But that doesn't mean she's frustrated at being compared.
　Rather, it makes Hisae calmly think about Mizushige's abilities. In this world, this kind of thing happens a lot, and it's not something to worry about. Rather, the fact that the heir son of Sanzenin, who had grown up to be so capable, had no interest in the institution was a bigger problem for Hisaeda.
　Naturally, he knew of the existence of Mizushige.
　He had also heard that his talent and abilities were highly valued by that Zhu Yin.
　However, Mizushige had no interest in the outside world, and he had been abandoned by the Sanzenin family, and was currently treated as an eccentric who was only preceded by rumors.
　However, Mizushige's ability shown today blew them all away, and he was said to be no less than a rank S self as determined by the agency as a leading figure and swordsman of the Shitenji family.
　It was input for Nisae as an entity that needed to be paid attention and watched.