From Astrid's memories in the Golden Rose, Rozen found the key to unlocking the doubts in his heart.
That was—the reason why Izanagi sought to exterminate the Akabane clan.
"Over a decade ago, an unprecedented omen appeared within the Izanagi."
Rozen suddenly began to speak.
"It is said that this omen threatened even the survival of the Izanagi clan itself. It stirred great unrest within the clan, nearly shaking the nation to its core."
This was the beginning of everything.
"According to the omen, the one threatening Izanagi's existence was a being known as the Calamity Princess."
Rozen spoke calmly.
"That Calamity Princess was none other than the princess who had inherited the name of Akabane."
That was the omen foreseen by Izanagi's divinations.
And so, Izanagi panicked. After days of discussion, they finally decided to contact their long-standing enemy—the Akabane clan.
"This generation of the Akabane family happened to have only one girl born to it—our younger sister, Akabane Nadeshiko."
In other words, Izanagi identified Nadeshiko as the Calamity Princess of the omen. To eliminate the threat, they approached the Akabane family.
"Izanagi wanted the so-called Calamity Princess to disappear so they could rest easy."
In essence, Izanagi demanded the Akabane family surrender the life of the Calamity Princess.
They even offered extremely generous terms in exchange.
"As long as they executed the princess of the Akabane clan, they would offer the princess of the Domon clan in return—that was the deal struck between your house and the Akabane family."
That was the truth behind the engagement between two families of vastly different status.
The marriage alliance between the Akabane and Izanagi families began because of that.
"Since the Izanagi clan is vital to the nation, their survival meant the survival of the country. To oppose Izanagi would be treason. Furthermore, once the deed was done, the Akabane family would become kin to the Domon, restoring their broken political path, earning military merit, and returning to the national stage. Naturally, the Akabane clan had no room to bargain."
At this point, Rozen raised his head.
"But in the end, the Akabane family changed their mind and chose to take the risk to protect the life of the Calamity Princess."
That decision ultimately led to the annihilation of the Akabane clan.
"To preserve Izanagi, and to punish the Akabane clan's betrayal, they made the final decision—to wipe out the entire Akabane clan."
Rozen's voice remained calm, yet it brought heavy pressure to everyone present.
"And Akabane Tenzen volunteered to surrender and assist you. Under his guidance, Izanagi launched an assault on the Akabane clan, slaughtering all members, leaving behind only a second son without any magical aptitude—completely non-threatening and ignorant of the truth—and an adopted child without the 'Crimson Wing Blood.'"
Izanagi believed they had eliminated the threat and could rest easy.
However, Akabane Tenzen defected and fled the country, entering Walpurgis Royal Academy of Machinart in Britain. The omen Izanagi foresaw did not vanish. Instead, it became increasingly vivid with each passing year, finally becoming a dire omen this year, throwing the entire clan into terror.
Thus, the omen Shouko had previously mentioned referred to this very matter. Izanagi's extreme vigilance, the atmosphere of dread, the state of emergency—they were all caused by this.
"I don't know why the omen never disappeared."
Rozen turned his gaze directly toward Domon Kira, giving a faint smile.
"But while I'm not the princess of the Akabane family, I still came—because of what happened back then."
So then comes the question.
"I would like to ask the current head of Izanagi something."
Rozen's eyes were full of scorn as he looked at Domon Kira.
"I may not be the Calamity Princess, but why don't you guess—can Izanagi survive from my hands?"
Those words made everyone's expressions change drastically.
Especially Domon Kira—her face turned dark, and even Hinowa and the others went pale.
Rozen's meaning was already more than clear.
"Let me imitate the elders of the great Izanagi clan just once."
Imitate what?
"Annihilation."
When those words came from Rozen's mouth, Domon Kira roared in fury.
"Get him! Kill that brat!"
Kira's furious voice made Hinowa flinch.
"No!"
Hinowa's shout rang out.
But no one heard her.
Because everyone had already launched their attack.
"Shikigami summoning!"
"Shikigami summoning!"
"Shikigami summoning!"
One after another, the onmyoji formed hand seals, their mana resonating with one another.
The onmyoji cooperated to perform a summoning ritual—not relying solely on individual power.
The result: enormous Shikigami began to appear one after another.
"Come forth! Tamamo-no-Mae!"
"Come forth! Kushinada!"
"Come forth! Bishamonten!"
With each shout, Shikigami over five meters tall emerged from the miasma—like myriad demons unleashed upon the world.
These were all powerful Shikigami on par with Shuten-douji—modeled after legendary beings, boasting immense power.
Such powerful Shikigami filled the area, shaking the very air itself.
Rozen needed only a glance to determine that all these grand Shikigami were at least upper-tier familiars. Their numbers easily totaled in the hundreds—enough to flatten a small country or crush a military force.
Domon Kira shouted with rage.
"Let's see how you plan to wipe out the Izanagi clan all by yourself!"
Amid Kira's fury, the vast horde of Shikigami let out roars and charged at Rozen.
But—
"A bunch of fakes—you think you can flaunt that in front of me?"
Rozen stepped forward suddenly. A torrent of mana surged from his body, shaking the ground beneath him.
A magic circle spread out from beneath his feet.
"Summon Shikigami."
Rozen's voice echoed softly.
"Come forth, Hyakki Yagyo—the time for the Night Parade has come."
The gates of hell swung open.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous roar, from the spiraling magic circle, countless monsters, demons, and spirits surged forth.
"What…!?"
Domon Kira's face contorted.
"Impossible!"
The onmyoji of Izanagi widened their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing.
But it was real.
The Hyakki Yagyo—which once transformed an alternate Tokyo into a demonic realm—had returned.
They engulfed Tengu Mountain in total darkness.