"So this is the so-called third-generation heir of the Nura Clan? In my eyes, he's nothing more than an empty shell.
"No—forget the shell. Even that isn't as handsome as Lord Yūto. And as for strength? Lord Yūto is at least a hundred times stronger than you!"
Instead of the mutual verbal sparring he had expected, Nura Rikuo was met with a torrent of venomous insults from the cat-eared girl.
Still, one particular name immediately caught his attention.
"…Lord Yūto?"
Hearing Rikuo repeat it, the cat-eared girl suddenly seemed to realize her slip. She quickly covered her mouth with both hands, putting on an exaggeratedly cute expression—as if to say she hadn't meant to let anything slip.
Unfortunately for her, that reaction only confirmed Rikuo's suspicion.
"So it is him…" Rikuo muttered inwardly.
"Tenjōin Yūto?" Rikuo asked aloud, fixing her with a sharp gaze. "Who exactly is he? And why does he want me dead? Is it because I'm the successor to the third-generation commander of the Nura Clan?
"But if I remember correctly, you're not part of the Nura Clan either. Even if you kill me, that won't make you the commander."
Now that he understood who the nekomata and the others were serving, Rikuo only felt more confused.
Yes, he was the third-generation successor—but only a successor.
Even if Yūto succeeded in killing him today, so what?
If someone truly wanted to seize the title of Lord of a Hundred Demons in Kantō, they should be challenging his grandfather.
The one who currently held that position was Nurarihyon himself—not Rikuo.
Even if Rikuo died, all the Nura Clan would lose was a single heir.
—
"That's because I never ordered them to attack you in the first place."
A calm, unfamiliar voice echoed down the corridor.
From the darkness, a tall figure slowly stepped forward—his presence alone enough to silence the room.
Tenjōin Yūto.
Looking at Rikuo in his yokai form, Yūto had to admit it—this version of him was undeniably handsome.
Of course… still just a little less handsome than himself. That much was non-negotiable.
"Lord Yūto!"
The moment he appeared, the surrounding yokai all dropped to one knee in unison, their heads bowed in reverence.
At that sight, Rikuo's suspicions were completely confirmed.
The "Lord Yūto" they kept referring to was none other than Tenjōin Yūto, the newly appointed teaching assistant at his school.
Earlier, Yūto had been wandering through the abandoned school building with Saori and Natsumi.
But the clash between Aotabō and the nekomata had been so violent that the surging yokai energy flooded nearly the entire building. There was no way Yūto could have missed it.
After knocking Saori and Natsumi unconscious to keep them out of harm's way, Yūto had also encountered Kiyotsugu and Shimajirō, who were foolishly wandering around as well. He dealt with them the same way, placing them somewhere safe before heading straight here.
"I recall giving a very clear order," Yūto said coolly."Do not attack innocent humans indiscriminately. Didn't I?"
As he spoke, he strode past the kneeling yokai and grabbed the trembling cat-girl by one ear, tugging it upward with visible irritation.
"B-But Lord Yūto!" she protested hurriedly, her words tumbling out as her ear was twisted."You only said humans. This one's a half-yokai—she's not human at all!
"And we weren't trying to kill her! We just wanted to teach her a lesson… and prove that Lord Yūto is better than that pompadour guy!"
Still clinging to her innocent act, the cat-girl pointed indignantly toward Rikuo—still in his Nurarihyon form—clearly indicating that he didn't count as human.
Yūto turned to look at Rikuo.
After a brief pause, he covered his face with one hand, letting out a tired sigh.
…Annoyingly enough, what they said wasn't entirely wrong.
The Nura Rikuo standing before him really couldn't be considered human anymore.
"Then what about the girl who was with me earlier?" Rikuo interjected sharply."If I remember correctly, you attacked her too."
His gaze hardened as he spoke.
Kana—the woman who had been with him before—had also been targeted.
If it weren't for her, Rikuo would have already escaped with Hyōri and Aotabō.
Was he really just being stubborn?
There were only three of them. No matter how strong they were, they couldn't stand against so many enemies.
If not for worrying about Kana's safety, Rikuo would have already retreated and called in reinforcements for revenge.
Hearing his words, Yūto turned back to the yokai, his expression noticeably darkening.
"No," one of the demons replied hurriedly."We didn't do anything to that girl.
"We knew a fight was going to break out, and we were afraid she'd get caught in it—and then punished by Lord Yūto—so we sent her outside beforehand."
The surrounding yokai nodded vigorously.
They all knew that Yūto despised reckless behavior above all else. Seeing his displeasure, they wasted no time explaining themselves.
"…That's the situation," Yūto said after a pause."So, on behalf of my disobedient subordinates, I offer my apology for their rudeness.
"How about we end things here?"
His gaze settled on Rikuo.
"Nura Rikuo, successor to the Nura Clan's third generation."
Strictly speaking, Yūto's earlier orders had been ambiguous. And on top of that, the nekomata and the others had only acted out of excessive admiration for him.
He couldn't reasonably place all the blame on them.
Besides, while Aotabō's side had suffered injuries, Yūto's people weren't unscathed either.
Ending things here was the most reasonable outcome.
"You attacked our young master without provocation," Aotabō snarled, stepping forward before Rikuo could respond,"and now you think an apology is enough?
"The Nura Clan may not be as glorious as it once was, but we are not something you can trample on at will."
To Aotabō, the attack on Rikuo was no different from a direct insult to the entire Nura Clan.
Now the other side wanted to smooth things over with a few words?
No matter what Rikuo himself thought, every yokai of the Nura Clan felt their honor had been dragged through the mud.
"If I were you," Yūto replied coldly, his displeasure finally surfacing,"I'd accept my proposal—even if all you know how to do is throw punches.
"You understand the situation, don't you? If this turns into an all-out fight… do you really think you'll be walking away tonight?"
Yūto had already shown more courtesy than necessary.
Yet the other side was still trying to use the Nura Clan as leverage against him.
Avoiding war with the Nura Clan didn't mean he feared them—it simply meant he saw no reason for unnecessary conflict.
Especially now.
The Nura Clan was in a transitional period.
After Nurarihyon slew Hagoromo Gitsune, he had been struck by a powerful curse. His strength was now less than thirty percent of its former peak.
As for Rikuo—
He didn't even know how to properly use Demon Binding yet.
If a real war broke out…
There probably wouldn't be more than two members of the entire Nura Clan capable of stopping Tenjōin Yūto.