Three days have passed since then.
　The wound I sustained when I mistakenly thought I was going to tell Mizukami-san about it has completely healed. At the same time, there was no one to talk about it anymore.
　According to what I heard, the dark organization "Mizukami-san Fan Club" that has existed since the middle school days covered up this matter. As soon as it was confirmed that this was not a confession, the rumor disappeared without a trace due to their perfect manipulation of information.
　If it really was a confession, I might be the one who was erased.

　At any rate. I had been working hard since early morning today, and in the middle of it all, I made a new discovery.

"Hmm, these young people are so tough these days.
No, no, no, not all of us are like this, okay?

　The washing machine that my grandparents were using broke down, and a new one arrived today. It's a hand-me-down from my parents' house, but it's good enough for us.
　So we asked a recycling company to take the old washing machine and we tried to install the new one, but it was so light. I thought it was a piece of styrofoam.

It's definitely God's fault........
Hmm? God?
No, it's nothing.

　It reminds me of God's words, "Strengthen your physical abilities". It's definitely due to that effect.
　Even if that's the case, a washing machine that weighs nearly 40 kilos is as light as Styrofoam.......God, that's too much.

It's really a mystery to me. It's really strange that a person who doesn't feel any spiritual power can use such a ritualistic technique and even have that much power.

　The black cat muttered as he looked at the white crow biting into the television.
　After all, the white crow hadn't disappeared for the past three days. Or rather, there's no sign of it disappearing in the future. I'm still looking at the program listings and making reservations to watch tonight's music show.

'Really, it makes me wonder too. I just want to live my life in peace.

　I'm grateful that I've been given the ability to do so many things, but that doesn't mean there's anything in particular I want to do.
　I don't even want to be famous. Rather than losing my freedom by being insinuated or criticized, I'd rather spend my life as an otaku, picking up manga and light novels without worrying about what people think of me.

'You have no greed. But I do like your peaceful way of life.
I'm flattered to hear it from a cat.

　With all that chatter, the black cat and I finish breakfast. I had ham and eggs and instant miso soup. I'm a fan of the half-boiled tender yolk.
　As for the black cat, it's cat food. It's 1.5 kilos and 4,000 yen cat food, so she has to like it.

Well, I have to go out for a while.
Out? A cat coven?
'That's every Wednesday. Not today.

　I was joking, but I don't know if cat meetings are really a thing.

'No, I'm going to go and check on my former abode. Thanks to you, I'm in good shape.
Hey, hey, don't get hurt again, okay?
He'll be fine. I won't fall into that trap again. Barring that, I've got a winner.

　Traps you're not going to ruin your neighbors' fields or anything, are you? But is this also the natural order of things? I can't help but think about it.

Well, be careful.
Hmm.





◇





　The place has changed and it's past noon at school.
　Before the afternoon class started, Ms. Mizukami hurriedly left early to get ready to leave.

'Huh? Mizukami-san, are you leaving early?
Yeah, that's what I mean.

　Ishida doesn't seem to know anything about it. Or rather, he left without saying anything and no one seems to know why.

'Isn't it Kosuke's fault?

　A few of the boys in the class stare at Takigawa. They are members of a dark organization. This is how they put the rumors to rest, scary.

Anyway, let's just study hard again today, shall we?

　Today, another peaceful day passed.






◇





Hey, Cat God!
So this is Mizukami Uruka. I'm sorry for leaving your shrine unattended.

　On a small mountain in the city, a golden lion alighted. He is the Cat God, the guardian of the land and the most powerful demon in the land.
　The entire mountain was filled with Yin and Yang practitioners of the Mizukami family who had heard of the Nekogami's return. The next head of the Mizukami family, Mizukami Uruka, is more excited about the Nekogami's return than anyone else in the place.

''Well done, Cat God, you're safe.''
Takumi, you had me worried about you too, didn't you?

　The one who emerged from the surgeons was the current head of the Mizukami family, Mizukami Tatsumi.
　You can see deep circles in his eyes and you can see how much heartache he was carrying.

"Ryukai, what happened in my absence?
'Yes, actually...'

　Although they won't admit it, the fact that this attack on the cat god was carried out by the Hinoyama family. Also, the temple belonging to the Hinoyama family was attacked by a mysterious shikigami and the Mizukami family is under suspicion. And I told him briefly that I had been challenged to a match to determine the truth of these incidents.

"The shikigami who carried out the attack is not really you, is it?
''Of course. The most outstanding shikigami practitioner in the Suigami family is my daughter Junkanai, but she is not capable of defeating the Qin Flame Hall that was attacked in this attack. Besides, with just one scouting shikigami, it's impossible.
Is the flame the master of the demon bomb?
On your left, sir.
And it was defeated by a scouting shikigami?
Yes, sir.

　The Nekogami stared at Long Hai with suspicious eyes, then quickly switched to a huff.

''Do you recognize that shikigami's appearance?''
'I watched the attack through the eyes of the shikigami. It was the shikigami in the form of a white crow who was fighting.
!

　Nekogami is astonished when he hears a report from Mizukami Uruka, who says she was watching the battle. Then he shows a puzzled but somewhat convinced expression.

''Lord Neko, do you know anything about this!
Hmm, the shikigami...

　He was about to say that much, and Nekogami shut his mouth. The reason for this is because I remembered his words, "I just want to live in peace.

I'm sorry. It was just my imagination.
Well.....

　Looking over at the disheartened Junkanai, the cat god looks at him with a question.

''Are you looking for that sorcerer?''
''Yes........If this continues, we, the Mizukami family, will lose the divine front match. Therefore, I was hoping that we could ask for the help of that magician...

　In the match, Kien Gouki uses Bakki as a puppet. Mitsurugi Yuen, a ceremonial diviner who is said to have the same power as Kien, and Mitsurugi Yuen, the current head of the Hinoyama family. And Hinoyama Gyo, the current head of the Hinoyama family, explained to Junkanai that there were three contestants.

　The Mizukami family is a faction that advocates coexistence with demons, and they protect their people by building friendships with cooperative demons like the Nekogami. As such, they have far less experience in combat than the other factions, and since it is only a cooperative relationship, they do not use demons like the subordinate magicians do.
　In contrast, the Hinoyama family is a faction that specializes in combat, and has built its position by destroying demons that avenge people.
　If two factions with such a background fought each other, the outcome would be obvious without even thinking about it. The Mizukami family has no chance of winning.

''Hm........''

　The golden lion pondered for a while and came to a conclusion.