The Shinomiya estate.
An eerie stillness lingered in the air.
Silence filled every corner of the once-mighty household.
Haruno had left.
Even the terrifying three-headed hellhound had disappeared.
All that remained was the dark flame of karmic fire.
But the members of the Shinomiya family were still trapped in the fear from before.
Their eyes were blank, their faces pale with terror.
Shinomiya Gan'an leaned heavily on his cane. His complexion was ashen, and his lips trembled faintly.
Even though Haruno had departed from the main seat, he still sat silently in the side seat, his expression deep in thought.
The final words Haruno left behind continued to echo in his mind.
"Kaguya…"
After a while, he muttered his daughter's name softly.
Gan'an closed his eyes. Bitterness rose in his heart.
He knew his youngest daughter's personality all too well.
It wasn't surprising that she had offended someone.
But this time, the one they had offended was a being the Shinomiya family could not afford to provoke.
Even so…
Gan'an didn't place all the blame on Kaguya.
After all, her personality was shaped by the Shinomiya family's education.
Besides…
Even without Kaguya's involvement, with the family's current trajectory, they would have eventually clashed with the Lynn Group.
Perhaps it was a good thing that this happened early.
If they had truly crossed a line and triggered irreversible consequences…
It would have meant the end of the Shinomiya family.
By then, it wouldn't just be Haruno's visit and a show of force from a hellhound. They wouldn't have even had the chance to become a subsidiary of the Lynn Group.
Still…
The thought of handing over the Shinomiya legacy to someone else made his chest tighten.
Discomfort and suffocating frustration churned within him.
Cough!
Gan'an couldn't hold back a cough.
Seeing this, Shinomiya Un'yo quickly stepped forward and patted his back. "Father, are you alright?"
Gan'an lifted a hand slightly. "I can still live for a while."
Un'yo's expression was complex. He clenched his fists and growled, "Father, do you really plan to—"
"Un'yo!"
Gan'an stopped him cold, his voice stern. "Don't even think about it."
Un'yo opened his mouth but swallowed his words angrily.
The bitterness in his chest didn't fade.
He might not have held much power within the family, but he was still the son of the head. When had he ever been forced into such humiliation?
But…
The image of the three-headed hellhound sent a chill down his spine.
Gan'an understood Un'yo's frustration.
However, the moment Haruno stepped into their territory, the outcome had been sealed.
Especially for Gan'an, who knew the deeper truths of the world.
As the head of a top-ranking conglomerate, he had long been aware of the hidden supernatural layer of society.
Naturally, he had made preparations.
The Shinomiya estate had been protected by a barrier he had acquired from the Onmyoji Bureau at an exorbitant price.
Thanks to it, the estate had been a sanctuary amidst a cursed spirit-infested society.
According to the Bureau's highest-tier experts, the barrier could even resist attacks from Grade A cursed spirits.
But now…
Gan'an looked down at the cracked soul stone embedded in his cane, eyes dull.
It had shattered.
The barrier had failed in an instant.
A barrier that could resist Grade A spirits hadn't lasted a second.
Could Haruno or that hellhound be Special Grade?
No…
Possibly even stronger.
Not even the top exorcists in the Bureau could pull off such a feat.
This was why Gan'an had submitted without resistance.
Even among the Onmyoji Bureau, only a handful could challenge someone of that level. The Shinomiya family was far from worthy of that level of protection.
Besides…
He couldn't even be sure Haruno was the strongest among Lynn's faction.
What if there was someone worse?
Surrender.
At least that way, some members of the family could survive.
Yes. Some.
Gan'an turned toward the karmic flame Haruno had left behind.
Only those who could withstand its burning were allowed to live.
The meaning was clear.
The fact that Haruno left it behind at all showed her confidence.
She wasn't worried about them trying anything.
That gesture alone said everything—if they wanted to resist or run, they were welcome to try.
Otherwise...
Walk into the flame, accept the judgment, and become Lynn's vassal.
She even gave them a choice. That made it hurt more.
To destroy a man's spirit is worse than destroying his body…
Gan'an's clouded eyes flickered with helplessness.
Seek help from outside?
Run?
He didn't even dare entertain the thought.
Unless the entire Onmyoji Bureau stood behind the Shinomiya family, there was no hope.
But even for a top-tier conglomerate like theirs, that wasn't happening.
So…
Just accept it.
Gan'an made up his mind.
Bang, bang!
He tapped the floor with his cane, snapping everyone out of their daze.
"Un'yo, gather everyone for the karmic fire trial."
Un'yo flinched. His fists clenched tightly. His eyes were filled with rage.
With that one line, Gan'an had sealed the Shinomiya family's fate.
But…
"…Understood."
Un'yo's voice dropped. He couldn't bring himself to argue anymore.
Besides...
He wasn't the family's first heir. Let Oko and the others deal with this mess.
With that thought, Un'yo cast a glance at the others around him.
The family members who met his eyes shivered.
"No!"
"I'm not doing it!"
"I refuse to walk into hellfire!!"
Someone snarled, face twisted with fear, taking several steps back before turning and running.
"You're all insane! You want to destroy the entire Shinomiya family?!"
Gan'an didn't even react.
They all knew what sins they had committed.
This was the natural result.
"Un'yo, don't let anyone escape."
Un'yo's expression tensed, but he nodded, "…I understand."
He immediately issued orders.
Enforcers moved in, dragging anyone who resisted and forcing them to line up for the trial.
Those who attempted to flee had their legs broken and were dragged back, tied up like criminals.
Eventually…
Gan'an gave one final order. "Bring Kaguya and Oko back immediately."
He didn't intend to blame Kaguya outright.
But they at least needed to figure out what exactly she'd done.
And...
Gan'an's expression darkened.
Kaguya had been living under Oko's nose. How had she been allowed to make such a foolish mistake?
Once they were back, Oko would be the first to walk into the karmic fire.
As a father, Gan'an wanted to see what idiocy his son had been up to while he was bedridden.
Meanwhile—
Outside the estate, Haruno stared at the hellhound beside her in awe.
"When did the Peerage get a monster like this?"
Hone Onna sat lazily on a nearby branch and replied,
"That thing appeared after one of Inukimi's people descended into Hell. I'm not entirely sure about the details."
Haruno narrowed her eyes.
So even working in Hell comes with perks now?
Hone Onna looked toward the estate. "Do we still need to monitor the Shinomiya family?"
Haruno responded with a soft hum. "If anything weird happens, just kill them all."
"Oh, right."
As if remembering something, she added, "Leave the women."
Hone Onna: "…"
…
Some time later—
After receiving an urgent message, Kaguya, Oko, and Seiryu returned to the estate in confusion.
Then they saw what looked like the aftermath of a blazing inferno.
Charred craters lined the ground, as if left behind by some massive creature.
Thump!
Kaguya's heart skipped a beat.
An ominous feeling crept over her.
They quickened their pace toward the main hall.
Then—
They saw something even more surreal.
A pillar of black fire burned quietly at the center of the hall.
One by one, family members walked into it, either willingly or forcibly.
"AAAHHHH—!!"
Agonizing screams echoed from within the flames.
Some collapsed from the pain. Others vanished into the fire entirely.
Oko and Kaguya froze at the scene.
Gulp!
Oko swallowed hard, then looked toward the man sitting at the side seat.
Did he join a cult or something?
Kaguya was speechless. She could only stare at the bizarre scene, mind blank.
What… happened?
Gan'an didn't explain anything. Instead, he made a declaration.
"From this day forward, the Shinomiya family is a subsidiary of the Lynn Group."
"!"
Kaguya and Oko were stunned.
"W-What?!"
"Lynn?!"
Kaguya repeated the name instinctively, her voice cracking.
Gan'an narrowed his eyes.
So it really was because of Kaguya.
"Wait, the Lynn Group?! Lynn?!"
Oko exclaimed in realization.
Gan'an: "…"
Right. This idiot probably had something to do with it too.
Soon after—
After hearing everything from Gan'an's mouth…
Kaguya collapsed to the floor in a daze.
She murmured, "It was really him…"
Those words Haruno had left behind…
There was no mistake. It was the Lynn from the Supernatural Investigation Club.
So that was why…
Instead of retaliating against her directly, he brought destruction upon the entire Shinomiya family.
It was completely outside her expectations.
And yet…
The family had no power to resist.
A three-headed hellhound.
Flames that judged sin.
Even if she hadn't seen them herself, the evidence left behind was chilling enough.
Looking at her broken family, Kaguya could only imagine what horrors they had endured.
"This is all my fault…"
She lowered her head. Her crimson eyes had lost their light.
"It's because of me…"
If she hadn't offended Lynn...
None of this would have happened.
With a trembling voice, she explained everything that had occurred between her and Lynn.
"You idiot!"
Oko's face turned red with rage. "I told you to get close to him, not piss him off!!"
He raised his hand, about to strike her.
"Enough, Oko."
Gan'an's voice halted him.
He froze.
Gan'an continued, his tone low. "There's no point placing blame now."
"Besides…"
His voice turned cold. "Weren't you the one chasing after supernatural power?"
From just a few pieces of the story, Gan'an had already pieced everything together.
Kaguya had acted foolishly, yes.
But the root of the issue stemmed from Oko's obsession.
Gan'an's gaze turned sharp. "Go ahead. As long as you survive the fire of karma, you can become a member of the affiliated family."
Oko's body trembled violently.
(To be continued.)