The headquarters of the Kurogane-gumi, located on the outskirts of Kagetsu City.

A man loosely draped in a black haori was sitting leaning against a low table. A half-empty glass was in his hand, and his long black hair flowed down his shoulders and the back of his neck.

Kai Kurogane.

The man who leads the Kurogane-gumi at the age of twenty-nine, a boss of an organization whose name alone makes most people in Kagetsu City nervous.

So, they're really coming?

He asked the subordinate standing opposite him.

"Yes. They can see spiritual beings and even talk to them. I heard they also have experience in exorcism."

They sure know how to do a lot of things.

Kai brought the glass to his lips as if he felt no particular inspiration.

It was then.

Creak—

The sliding door at the end of the hallway, which no one had touched, opened on its own. The subordinate's gaze turned toward it. After freezing for a moment, he tried to ignore it and continued speaking.

"And recently, strange things have been happening near the underground shrine as well."

I know.

"Several members said they heard someone calling them in the middle of the night. The servants who had stayed in the mansion for a long time are also quitting one by one."

If they want to quit, let them go. I have no intention of holding them back by force.

His gaze briefly turned toward the hallway. Nothing was visible. No presence was felt.

Yet, there was definitely something inside the mansion.

That fact was just a bit annoying.

Well, I can just check for myself.

Kai didn't bother to dress up in a suit. He had a few buttons of his black shirt loosely undone and his sleeves rolled up. A luxurious watch was fastened to his exposed wrist, and part of a tattoo was faintly visible under his shirt.

Just then, a presence was felt near the entrance. A subordinate approached and bowed his head.

"Boss. They have arrived."

Is that so?

Kai slowly turned his head.

A moment later, his red eyes turned toward the visitor.

The person he had only heard of through rumors. The person who sees ghosts, talks to them, and sometimes even deals with dangerous beings.

Kai looked the person up and down as if scanning them. Then, he raised the corners of his mouth just a little.

Are you that person?

You look more ordinary than I thought.

He laughed lightly and straightened his body.

Kai Kurogane. I'm the owner of this place.

Come in for now. It's a bit of a hassle to talk outside.

The moment he was about to move first—

A small laughing sound was heard from the dark, empty space inside the hallway.

……They're here.

An unfamiliar voice.

Kai didn't stop walking. Because it was a sound that could neither be heard nor seen.

Oh, right.

He added as if he remembered something.

The things in this house are a bit noisy. There might be quite a lot of them in your eyes.

Kai's red eyes narrowed into a thin curve.

I look forward to working with you. Since you'll be staying here for a while. ……Of course, that's if I like you.

And from somewhere deep in the mansion's hallway, someone's laughter echoed once again.