Chapter 6: The Chronicle of Lord Nobunaga

Watching the prisoner being handcuffed and taken away, the young police officer was surprised to see Hattori Heiji surrounded by a group of officers.

“Who’s that?” he asked.

Ishikawa glanced at him and replied, “Hattori Heiji, known alongside Kudo Shinichi as the high school detective. Aren’t you young enough to know him well?”

More than the media’s flashy label of “high school detective,” what intrigued him was Hattori Heiji’s other identity: the only son of Hattori Heizo, the Chief Superintendent of Osaka Police Headquarters.

Though he was suspicious about Heiji’s purpose here, they owed him for not having their identities exposed. Regardless, it was best to keep a low profile for now.

“Let’s go back to the room.”

Hattori Heiji, who was in conversation, glanced sideways at the departing group and murmured to himself, “There are signs of systematic training, and their movements are professional. Are they police or...?”

Though “high school detective” was an exaggerated title coined by the media, Heiji’s abilities were genuine enough to deserve it.

That was why he was so curious about the origin of that group.

Such a team appearing in Nara Prefecture, especially at a hotel where a murder had just occurred, was hard to ignore.

“Heiji!”

“Yes!”

A loud shout exploded beside Heiji’s ear, almost hurting his eardrums.

Tooyama Kazuha, with her water-green eyes, her hair tied in a high ponytail with a pink ribbon, and dressed in a youthful light yellow casual outfit, radiated vitality.

“What are you still thinking about when this is all settled? And next time, could you stop rushing headlong whenever you hear a noise? You almost knocked someone over just now.”

Heiji scratched his head and laughed, “It’s a murder case after all. If I’m too slow, the culprit might escape.”

Kazuha sighed at this guy and said helplessly, “I don’t care anymore. Just make sure you don’t oversleep tomorrow. It’s rare we get to hang out.”

————

At the library of Soobu High School.

Though it was after school hours, the library remained open, thanks to the vibrant club activities of Soobu. Various large-scale high school sports events were held, and students eager to compete stayed late for club activities. Thus, the library closed much later than the school dismissal time.

Deep within the maze of bookshelves, in a shadowed corner where sunlight could not reach, a girl wearing headphones stood on tiptoe, stretching her hand to reach a book on a high shelf.

Her fingertips brushed the book surface, and a smile of joy appeared on her face. Then...

“Ouch.”

She clutched her head, suddenly struck from behind. The heavy book she had been reaching for dropped to the floor, spreading open.

Mizunotsuki Shiro, who had witnessed the whole incident, lowered her gaze to the fallen book.

“Nobunaga’s Chronicle.”

She read the title aloud, word by word. The girl who had just cried out in pain suddenly felt no pain, hurriedly picked up the book, and upon seeing the visitor’s face, exclaimed softly.

“Mizunotsuki?”

“Nakano,” Mizunotsuki Shiro greeted her. She stepped past Nakano Miku and pulled a large tome titled “Japanese Yokai Compendium” from the shelf, determined to study the country’s mythological tales thoroughly at a nearby table.

Watching Mizunotsuki’s retreating figure, Nakano Miku lowered her head, clutching the book in her arms with a troubled and frustrated expression.

If this were a student from another class, it would be easier to handle. The school was so large that none of the five sisters would be readily recognized. But here it was Mizunotsuki Shiro from the same class.

Having been classmates for so long, she knew Mizunotsuki could always recognize her instantly, even when her other sisters were present.

“Earth Spider, possessing a tiger’s body, spider legs, and a demon’s face—a yokai. In surviving stories, the Earth Spider was slain by Minamoto no Raikou, though some legends say it was sealed by Emperor Jimmu,” Mizunotsuki read aloud.

Mythology was like that—sometimes a story had multiple versions. But considering how modern information online often becomes distorted after several transmissions, it was remarkable that these legends had remained relatively unchanged for so long.

“But having only great yokai isn’t enough. Even pigs know to run away when things get dangerous,” Mizunotsuki pondered.

Thanks to a widely read youth novel from her previous life’s high school years, she even knew the name “Spider Cutter.”

After Minamoto no Raikou slew the Earth Spider, the sword used was called Spider Cutter, now displayed at the National Museum.

Of course, that was just in name.

If a thousand-year-old technique really existed to preserve a sword so perfectly, then she would want to learn how it was done—at least to understand if supernatural powers existed in this world a millennium ago.

The one stored in the museum was authentic? Ha, no one believed that.

Even if it were real, would the sword glow? Would it unsheathe itself with a “whoosh” and automatically strike enemies?

No?

If not, then it’s a fake! Take my genuine strike!

While Mizunotsuki studied yokai legends, behind her at the table, Nakano Miku stood with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a troubled expression.

Though she wanted to greet Mizunotsuki, the idea of being seen reading such Sengoku-period books and then pleading with her not to tell anyone was completely out of character for her!

Besides, honestly, she didn’t have the courage.

Time ticked by slowly until the tinkling of the library’s wind chime at the entrance snapped her out of her endless thoughts.

Seeing only a few pages turned in the book and the now empty seat in front of her, her mood grew even gloomier.

Now, she hadn’t seen the book nor spoken a word—just her bad luck.

At the school gate, four identical beautiful girls looked around the increasingly empty campus in confusion.

“Strange, why isn’t Miku out yet?”

“I’m so hungry~~”

“You already ate my pineapple bun. Now be quiet,” Nakano Nino snapped, her long hair tied with black butterfly ribbons on either side.

Just then, the downtrodden Nakano Miku appeared in sight, heading toward the school gate, nearly bumping into a lamppost.

The four exchanged glances.

Something was off. Very off.

————

The next day, the sun rose early, fulfilling its daily duty.

The lush forest welcomed a few new guests.

Tooyama Kazuha carried an insect net, cheerfully enjoying the fresh morning air in the woods.

“The scenery and air are so nice.”

Hattori Heiji, camera hanging around his neck, wore a look of resignation.

He just couldn’t understand what was so fun about this. The whole Nara Prefecture was full of beautiful scenery, and the city even had deer waiting to be fed. Why trek all the way out to this nameless mountain?

“Heiji, come here.”

“On my way~~”

At a clearing on the cliffside—actually just an open space—Tooyama Kazuha smiled brightly and “instructed,” “Make sure you take a good picture of me.”

“Even if you say that, it’ll turn out the way it will. Cameras don’t lie,” Heiji muttered.

“What did you say?”

“Ahem, ready.”

“Click.”

The shutter snapped. Excited, Tooyama Kazuha stepped forward, “Let me see.”

Before she could react, Heiji snatched the photo away.

Not waiting for Kazuha to recover, Heiji pressed his eye close to one corner of the picture.

“This is... the group from the hotel yesterday.”