…The fog was enough to make me immediately realise that we had entered a supernatural territory. As the four of us walked into the shrine, we noticed that Sona-senpai and Shinra-senpai were already waiting for us. A gigantic elliptical mirror stood in the centre and gave off an eerie glow — there was a mouth and eyes on the mirror. Sona-senpai said
“This is the current Ungaikyo who has inherited the ability.”
After being introduced, the Ungaikyo opened its mouth and spoke as it looked at me with intrigue
<<A dragon with tremendous power.>>
We immediately told the Ungaikyo about the reason why we had come, hoping that it would be able to summon a close relative who knew about the circumstances of Koneko-chan. We didn’t bring Koneko-chan with us. It was possible that we would touch on a subject that she was better off not knowing, so we didn’t bring her just in case that happened. After all, we were looking for Koneko-chan’s parents who had already passed away, or perhaps just one of them. However—. <<I’m sorry, but I cannot fulfil your request.>>
The response to us was a refusal. We couldn’t help but feel confused. After hearing the Ungaikyo’s response Sona-senpai quietly murmured
“As expected, it’s no good huh.”
The Ungaikyo continued
<<Not to mention the living, the secret technique for communicating with the dead is related to the value of my clan. I cannot use it so freely.>>
Shinra-senpai asked
“But the previous generation showed us…”
<<The previous generation is the previous generation, and unlike the previous generation, I will not do everything asked of me. After inheriting this ability that is even watched over byShaka Nyoraiand theGreat King Enma, I have long wanted to disappear.>>
It actually said the names of Shaka-sama and Enma-sama that I was familiar with. I guess it is a difficult matter to meet with the dead. Ravel said
“Youkai and Devils…once the supernatural die, they are considered to be extinct, so it is very difficult to call their souls out again.”
Well, that’s true. Koneko-chan’s mother was a Nekomata, and that’s why it was difficult for this Ungaikyo to summon her. We also wondered about using Valerie’s Holy Grail to try…but we gave up on the idea as it might have an adverse effect on Valerie. Awakening someone who was originally dead would certainly have a bad influence on the present world. This was something that I thoroughly understood from the Evil Dragon War. Although I didn’t think Koneko-chan’s parents were bad people…doing so would strain Valerie’s mind and body, so it was better to give up. Just as we felt troubled by this, a small figure suddenly appeared. It was a calico cat with seven tails. I’ve seen this cat before! Indeed, this person is—! The calico cat stood in front of the mirror and spoke in a human language. “Young mirror, could you listen to the request of these children?”
The Ungaikyo appeared to have been startled by the appearance of this cat. <<M-Magari-sama…>>
The calico cat — the seven-tailed Youkai cat named Magari looked at us. “Long time no see, Ryuutei boy.”
The elder of the cat Youkai, Magari-san! She was an eight hundred year old Youkai! She was one of the Youkai that I had met when we made peace with the Japanese Youkai. Presently, Koneko-chan and Kuroka would occasionally visit her for regular training. If the two of them said that they were going to the mountains, then it was highly likely that they were going to train with Magari-san. Though Kuroka seemed quite reluctant every time! “Why are you here?”
When I asked, Magari-san squinted as she said
“It’s nothing, I just happened to hear that you wanted to find out about the situation behind those sisters, Kuroka and Shirone.”
And then Sona-senpai said
“If we’re to find out more about Koneko-san and Kuroka-san’s background, I thought that the power of a cat Youkai elder would be necessary, so I invited her.”
I see, if it’s Magari-san, then I’m sure she’d know about Koneko-chan’s mother. Magari-san said
“As an elder of the cat Youkai, I cannot ignore that matter. So, what will you do, mirror?”
After hearing Magari-san’s words, the current Ungaikyo resolutely answered
<<I understand.>>
It looks like Magari-san has a rather strong influence on the other Youkai. It’s best to rely on other Youkai for these so-called remedies and persuasions I guess. The Ungaikyo accepted our request, allowing us to tell it about the details of Koneko-chan and Kuroka, and then it used its ability to begin searching. The mirror flashed with a radiant glow and the Ungaikyo said
<<…The situation of their parents is quite complicated. The religion that the father’s family belonged to is Buddhism, so it is necessary to perform negotiations with that hell.>>
Speaking of which, the Buddhist and Hindu mythologies also have a Heaven — paradise and hell. Depending on a person’s religion, the place where they would go after death also differed. Magari-san, who seemed to know a bit about the circumstances of Koneko-chan and Kuroka asked
“Can you summon him? I think the mother Fujimai would be more difficult.”
—Fujimai. So that was the name of Koneko-chan’s mother. The Ungaikyo bitterly said
<<The father’s side…I don’t know what he did during life, but his soul is bound by a troublesome seal. Even if I summon him here, he won’t be able to speak very well.>>
There is a seal on the soul of Koneko-chan’s father? Just what did he do in life…? Magari-san said to the Ungaikyo
“I guess I’ll go and ask Great King Enma for a bit of help.”
<<I appreciate it.>>
“Nekomata are often regarded as Youkai who govern the death of humans, so I have had a few meetings with Great King Enma in the past.”
Magari-san asked us to prepare a tub filled with water, so I quickly jumped back home and returned with a tub. After the tub was filled with water, Magari-san stared into the depths of the water. “——”
Her mouth constantly moved as she chanted a long string of incantations. After around ten minutes, Magari-san lifted her head and said to us
“…Apparently, it seems like that side can’t do anything about that soul either. It’s said that several layers of a Devil’s demonic energy combined with a magician’s seal have been used together to have that soul sealed. Even Great King Enma’s side can’t do anything about it.”
It looks like this is rather complicated! The matter of Koneko-chan’s parents was more serious than I had expected, and the six of us looked at each other with solemn expressions. Magari-san added
“If we could get the cooperation of a Maou-san and a magician’s association, there may be some leeway.”
Upon hearing this, Rias immediately said
“It’s a good thing that we’re part of [DxD] right now. I’ll go and ask them.”
After saying that, everyone except me — Rias, Akeno-san, Ravel, Sona-senpai, and Shinra-senpai used their own respective channels to begin seeking help.