Aside from the sharp-tongued Spider Princess whom they secretly adored, the society ladies—who dropped by Ayami's home every few days under the pretense of "paying a visit"—had recently encountered yet another breathtaking maid.
She possessed long, silver-blue hair that shimmered like frost under moonlight, an aloof, almost glacial presence, and a beauty that rivaled—if not surpassed—even Spider Princess herself. Though she rarely smiled, the sight of her in a maid uniform somehow made her appear more like a true noble lady than the actual daughters of wealth standing before her.
The socialites didn't recognize this new maid. But instinctively, they sensed she was no ordinary attendant.
As for why? It was obvious from her tone and standing within the household.
They had visited Ayami's residence enough times to understand the personalities of the shikigami serving the household. On more than one occasion, they had even tried discreetly to curry favor—harboring faint hopes of poaching one or two of them away.
If one wanted to determine the hierarchy within the Amagami household, the simplest method was to observe the attitude of Nurikabe.
Nurikabe's bullying-the-weak, fearing-the-strong personality was practically common knowledge by now. Toward the few Red Oni weaker than himself, he barked orders constantly, puffing up like a self-proclaimed boss.
Yet in front of Spider Princess, the head maid, he shrank into something resembling an obedient grandson.
When facing Yukihime, his attitude wasn't outright fearful—but it was undeniably respectful. And when Yukihime stood before Spider Princess, whose presence was queen-like, she did not lower herself excessively either.
From these observations, the noble ladies concluded that Yukihime must also be a shikigami—one likely no weaker than Spider Princess herself.
True, she seemed just as difficult to approach as the sharp-tongued head maid. But having two such powerful beings by their side gave the women an undeniable sense of security.
Yet today, they discovered something unsettling.
Neither Spider Princess nor Yukihime was by Ayami's side.
If something were to happen right now… would four Red Oni and Nurikabe truly be enough to protect them?
"It seems Spider Princess and Yukihime were called out early this morning because Yūto had something urgent," Ayami said with a helpless smile when asked about their whereabouts. A trace of worry lingered in her eyes. "It's actually quite rare. Yūto hardly ever sends them out on errands. And with everything feeling so unsettled today… could it have something to do with him?"
Even when Yūto went out on missions, he seldom brought Spider Princess or Yukihime along. And even if he did take one of them, they would usually return within half a day.
But today, both of them had been gone for over half the day—without a word.
No message. No sign.
As the one who had raised him, Ayami knew her son best. Yūto was fiercely proud. Even when facing danger, he would always act calm and breezy in front of his family.
First Spider Princess and Yukihime left at dawn. Then he himself departed in a hurry.
If nothing serious had happened, Ayami simply didn't believe it.
"Stop right there! This is the Amagami residence! We are the Four Heavenly Kings of Security—the Red Oni—under Lord Yūto's command!"
Rushing at full speed, Yamato Kuka had arrived at Yūto's home in the shortest time possible. Just as she was about to knock, four towering, crimson-skinned figures blocked her path. Each had tusks protruding from their mouths, waists as thick as barrels, and massive spiked clubs resting in their hands.
"You carry power capable of posing a threat to Lady Ayami and Lady Ruki! We cannot permit you to enter!"
Kuka recognized the four Red Oni immediately. They had once been minor yokai used by the Onmyō Academy to train students.
Yet in just two years, Yūto had somehow raised them from D-rank to B-rank monsters.
The Four Heavenly Kings of Security?
What the hell kind of title was that?
Kuka tried to explain, but the four stubborn brutes refused to budge. To them, she was a potentially dangerous entity. If she wished to enter, she would have to step over their corpses.
"In that case… forgive me."
Her hand wrapped around the hilt of Onikiri. With no time to waste, Kuka decided to force her way through.
As long as she avoided fatal blows, the Red Oni wouldn't die.
The atmosphere turned razor-sharp, tension crackling in the air—
And just as they were about to clash, the entrance door swung open.
Protected behind Nurikabe, Ayami stood at the doorway. When she saw Kuka, surprise filled her face.
"Miss Yamato? Why are you here? Did something happen to Yūto?"
Hearing the commotion and a familiar voice, Ayami had insisted on coming despite Nurikabe's attempts to stop her.
Now, seeing Kuka travel-worn and visibly anxious, Ayami's heart leapt into her throat. She voiced the fear she had been dreading.
As Kuka explained the situation in brief, Nurikabe seized the opportunity to scold the four Red Oni—after all, they were the only ones in the household he could lord over.
"You four blockheads are all muscle and no brains! That Sword Shrine Maiden is not someone we can afford to provoke! Don't you know? She almost became our lady of the house! And you couldn't even recognize that?"
The Red Oni scratched their heads sheepishly—but remained firm.
Spider Princess had ordered them not to allow potentially dangerous beings inside. Yamato Kuka clearly qualified.
Even if they vaguely remembered her, face recognition meant nothing before the Four Heavenly Kings of Security—unless it was Lord Yūto's family.
"Miss Yamato… no, Kuka," Ayami said after hearing the explanation. "Thank you for risking your life to come and tell us."
Her earlier worry had transformed into unmistakable urgency.
To her, her two children were more precious than life itself.
She had always known Yūto protected her and Ruki—but she hadn't realized just how dangerous those battles were.
In her panic, Ayami frantically searched for her car keys—still clutching Kuka's hand and dragging her along in the process.
"Ayami Auntie, using a vehicle will be too slow. With the disturbance today, the entire Tokyo district is completely gridlocked."
Kuka sighed helplessly as she was pulled around. She was now personally experiencing what Yūto had once described: Ayami Auntie's adorably clumsy side.
Strangely enough, Kuka didn't dislike it.
If anything, she felt a flicker of envy. The more flustered Ayami appeared, the clearer her concern for Yūto became.
"Calling in a helicopter now would be too late. To conserve spiritual power, I ran here instead of using movement techniques. But I still have enough to use Shunkei Talisman to reach the site.
"However, I can only carry one person. I can't bring both Auntie Ayami and Ruki with me.
"And Shunkei Talisman is an onmyō technique. It places strain on the body. An ordinary person might be injured during transit. So rather than Auntie Ayami, whose constitution is weaker, I was thinking of bringing Ruki—"
"No. I can endure it," Ayami interrupted firmly. "Take me."
Her expression left no room for negotiation.
Kuka had originally planned to bring Ruki, then arrange for a helicopter to retrieve Ayami afterward.
But upon learning of Yūto's situation, Ayami refused to wait.
"If my child is in danger, then as his mother, I should be at his side," she declared.
"And if it's about waking Yūto's consciousness… taking me will be far more effective than taking Ruki."
There was no hesitation in her voice.
"No matter how strong Yūto becomes, he has never had a temper in front of me. I'm his absolute nemesis."
At that, Nurikabe nodded so hard it looked as though his entire body might crack.
Among the Hyakki, this was no secret.
Lord Yūto—who dared challenge heaven, earth, and air itself—would have his imposing aura naturally suppressed whenever Lady Ayami appeared.
And if she used her "ultimate move"…
Lord Yūto would immediately raise both hands in surrender.
Just as Kuka was feeling a headache coming on from Ayami's stubborn resolve, the usually quiet Ruki finally spoke.
"Yes, yes. Kuka Onee-chan should take Mom with the Shunkei Talisman. Otherwise she'll start crying again later."
Though Ruki was undoubtedly worried about her brother, she forced herself to remain calm. With their mother already flustered, she couldn't afford to panic as well.
She had grown.
Both she and her brother had.
But their mother…
It almost felt as though she was the one who would forever remain the child.
"As for me," Ruki added with quiet confidence, "don't worry about it. Just tell me where Onii-chan is. I might even get there faster than you."