Chapter 58: Datte nayo

Neither Litarr nor Tara was particularly well-versed in Eastern cultures, yet at this moment, they fully grasped the meaning of being utterly bewildered and overwhelmed.

Litarr opened his mouth to speak, but seeing Tara's face flushed red out of the corner of his eye, he closed it again.

Tara’s face was as red as a southern redneck’s, his eyes wide, and paired with his round face and thick beard, it lacked any sense of intimidation and instead looked utterly comical.

"Stupid islanders! Do you have any idea what you're saying? Your actions will enrage America, and the entire island nation will face severe sanctions from the United States!"

Everyone was left speechless.

It had to be admitted that Tara’s threat indeed struck at the Achilles' heel of the island nation.

No matter how fiercely supernatural beings fought, the fundamental situation of the country would not change; this nation had to answer to America, at least for a very long time to come. If they could secure supernatural backing, the situation would naturally be different, but the problem was the supernatural figures currently appearing in the nation—Master Dilu, Minamoto no Raiko, Ryoka Yamada, or even taking a bolder step and including that Princess Shimotsuki.

Every single one of them had no substantial connection to the island government.

Even Dilu was simply a kind-hearted soul who could not bear to watch the common people suffer.

Hmm? What about the Inari God?

How bold! To actually dare include a deity among human combat assets—just how many lives do you think you have to spare before plunging into the underworld?!

Only Director Hakuba wore a calm expression, stating serenely, "This is before the shrine of Lady Mikajutsu."

Everyone shuddered, subconsciously straightening their postures.

"Please show respect to our deity."

His words carried immense solemnity.

In the past, he would have had to grit his teeth and endure such threats, as American missiles certainly lacked eyes.

However, the arrival of the supernatural and its increasing frequency gave him hope that the island nation could break free from American control.

America could never abandon the island's supernatural phenomena, especially now that the supernatural warfare here had been witnessed by the entire world. Unless they wished to miss out on this opportunity to advance in the supernatural realm, they would simply have to learn respect!

"Wishing to have an audience with the deity requires ritual purification and burning incense; this is tradition and cannot be altered. If General Tara truly wishes to pay homage to Lady Mikajutsu, you had best return and make preparations immediately."

Ritual purification and burning incense? What does that mean?

Seeing Tara’s confusion, a lieutenant colonel nearby who had some understanding of Eastern culture whispered an explanation.

Upon grasping the procedure, Tara glared fiercely at the group of island officials before him, particularly Director Hakuba, but in the end, he could only stride away huffily... to go prepare for a bath.

As he left, Litarr quietly gave a thumbs-up to the chief of the island police.

*Well done, my good brother. I’ve found this guy unbearable for a long time.*

Director Hakuba responded with a faint smile.

Does paying homage to the island's deities require purification and incense... If you want to, you are free to do so, but in truth, visiting the island's deities didn't involve quite so many tedious protocols.

If time permitted, you could easily run errands all day and still visit while covered in the dust of the road.

However... glancing at the sole surviving building on the leveled open ground, he muttered silently, "Better go back and prepare properly before coming to pay respects to the deity."

No amount of reverence could be considered excessive when seeking an audience with a true deity.

Especially since this deity was the Inari God, who enjoyed the most fervent worship in the nation: Mikajutsu.

"You've done well." Turning to look at Tsubasa Sato, he nodded in satisfaction. The Metropolitan Police Department currently needed nothing more than such fierce and capable talent.

Tsubasa Sato saluted smartly. "Just doing my duty."

Noticing the approval in the eyes of the top brass of the Metropolitan Police Department, Tsubasa Sato blinked.

Could this count as catching the eye of this major player?

From now on, would she be able to cut loose during missions?

---

The Nakano Residence.

The four sisters stared at their younger/older sister with unfamiliar eyes.

Living under the same roof, how on earth did you secretly become so strong?

They desperately wanted to speak up, but out of the corner of their eyes, they caught sight of Toshiro Otagiri sitting stiffly on the opposite sofa—the head of the Metropolitan Police Criminal Investigation Bureau and a truly towering figure in the upper echelons.

Even Yotsuba, usually the most active of them all, had quieted down, one ear of her rabbit headband drooping disconsolately.

*Sigh—I have absolutely no idea what to say.* A drop of sweat rolled down Toshiro Otagiri’s forehead. He had no clue how to converse with modern high school girls, let alone quintuplets.

This bizarre atmosphere persisted until the front door was pushed open. A handsome middle-aged man in a tailored suit, carrying the faint scent of antiseptic, walked in with an anxious expression. That anxiety only began to fade when he saw the five sisters sitting obediently on the sofa amidst the somewhat strange atmosphere.

Behind him, several fully equipped Metropolitan Police officers stopped at the threshold.

And then... silence.

To be honest, as a father, his relationship with his five adopted daughters was somewhat complicated. By the time he adopted them, they were already old enough to understand things, and subsequently, due to the demands of his career, he rarely returned home to interact with them. Combined with his own reserved personality, their relationship somewhat resembled... traditional, distant father-son dynamics?

"Ahem, good afternoon, Mr. Nakano. I am Toshiro Otagiri from the Metropolitan Police Department. Pleased to meet you."

"Pleased to meet you."

The hands of the two mature men clasped together.

The relationship between the two couldn't be called close, but they were certainly acquainted. Being able to run a private hospital in Tokyo was a testament to capability in its own right, and as the director of a private hospital, Maruo Nakano knew many prominent figures, including Toshiro Otagiri.

Under normal circumstances, he would have engaged in a pleasant conversation with this powerful police official, but right now, all he cared about was the condition of his daughters.

"I'm doing fine." Nakano Miku sat obediently, her hands resting flat on her thighs, with the Spider-Cutter placed across her lap, attempting to muddle through with an air of innocent cuteness.

Maruo Nakano took a deep breath. He desperately wanted to question this usually quietest daughter of his about why she had suddenly drawn a blade and rushed onto a battlefield, only to see Miku's aura shift abruptly, blending maternal gentleness with the iron-blooded determination of a samurai.

"Please rest assured, sir. Miku's physical condition is completely fine; in fact, she is much healthier now than when I first laid eyes on her."

Minamoto no Raiko unhesitatingly exposed the fact that Miku had previously been in a sub-healthy state.

Maruo Nakano bowed... Though bowing to one's own daughter felt somewhat bizarre, recalling that the one currently in control was Minamoto no Raiko, a general from a millennium ago, made it seem entirely reasonable.

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for taking care of my daughter."

Seeing the situation settle down, Toshiro Otagiri spoke up at the appropriate moment.

"Here is the situation, Mr. Nakano. Miss Nakano has previously rendered meritorious service in banishing evil spirits and maintaining public order; our Metropolitan Police Department would like to invite the third young lady to join the force, and we require your consent for this matter."

My consent?

Naturally, the further away from it, the better.

And Miku had previously been involved in banishing monsters as well?

Fortunately, apart from showing gratitude toward Minamoto no Raiko, Maruo Nakano maintained a stern poker face that kept his true thoughts completely hidden.

"That will depend on my daughter's own wishes."

"I support Miku's decision." With that, Minamoto no Raiko returned control of the body back to Miku.

Toshiro Otagiri spoke earnestly, gazing sincerely at Miku Nakano. The four sisters waited anxiously for Miku's response.

Under everyone's gaze, and beneath the earnest look of a man pleading for the national fortune of the island country, Miku Nakano took a deep breath...

"Thank you, but I don't want to join the police department. I'm sorry." Delivered in one smooth breath, this was the reply from the girl named Miku Nakano!

Joining the police force? Absolutely not!