SOSHIKI HQ – SOMEWHERE DEEP IN THE FOREST, MOUNT UZUMAKI
"Please don't get carried away." Secretary Saiaka voiced out firmly, her tone sharp as steel, directed at V, who crushed her cigarette under her heel with deliberate force.
V ignored her.
With a snap of her fingers, she summoned her retainers. In seconds, they materialized before her—on their knees.
Both were Demons: a type of Spectre known for holding the highest caste among their kind.
Both were Demons: a type of Spectre known for holding the highest caste among their kind. One stood tall and lean, a pair of crimson horns crowning its head, a single glowing red eye spread across half its face. Its body shimmered, entirely encrusted with blood-red gemstones… is Ichii.
The other was shorter but more heavily built—stocky, grotesquely muscular, with a hippopotamus-like appearance. Its spiral-patterned horns curled in a peculiar, almost ceremonial way… is Nii.
Both stood at nearly three meters tall, cloaked in black-laced yukata that rustled softly in the breeze. Their aura alone always left Secretary Saiaka speechless—no matter how many times she'd faced them.
"Guard her. And her car." V commanded coldly. "It's cheap, but apparently it's fucking precious to her. If anything weird happens—you know what to do."
Saiaka clicked her tongue in irritation, mumbling under her breath as V disappeared into the woods without another word.
Mount Uzumaki, by law, belonged to the Soshiki. Though parts of it were technically open to the public, no human—outside of the Soshiki—had ever set foot in the prohibited zones. Areas like Soshiki Academy and the Outposts were strictly off-limits. Other sections of the mountain were reserved for the high-caste clans, sealed away from the world.
But the Soshiki Headquarters? That was sacred ground. Only the Higher-ups and the Elders were allowed entry.
Tucked deep within the mountain's heart, the Headquarters was guarded by the ethereal Guardians—spirit beings draped in flowing white silk robes. They drifted silently through the air, their presence as immense as it was untouchable. Their power equaled that of Azuma and Nishi, the twin spirits who guarded Soshiki Academy. A powerful barrier had encased the Headquarters since the beginning of its existence—impenetrable, unwavering. Not once had it been breached. Not by intruders. Not by Spectres. Nothing.
The place was built by the ancestors of the Soshiki—for the chosen few who ruled from the top. To enter it was to walk in power. And only power.
And Vivienne Ale Deveraux, was one with the highest power.
She shared the highest rank possible as one of the Four Elders.
The gate of the Headquarters creaked open the moment she reached the threshold.
And as she stepped through, every single Guardian bowed in silence.
SOSHIKI HQ – HOLY CHAMBER
Seated with her long legs crossed atop the polished oak conference table, V lit a cigarette, exhaling a slow stream of smoke toward the antique chandelier suspended above her. The revolver tattoo on her left thigh gleamed faintly, ever poised to be drawn, its presence radiating quiet menace through the chamber.
The room itself was a traditional council hall, an ancient meeting space centered around a large square oak table. Twenty-five chairs lined each side, making fifty in total—each one representing a clan of the Soshiki outside of the Big Four. These seats were reserved for the Higher-ups: the clan heads and their representatives. At the head of the chamber stood four golden chairs, distinct in their elevation and design, placed behind a separate rectangular oak table. A sheer white silk veil hung between the Elders' seats and the rest of the council, symbolizing both reverence and separation.
Looming around the chamber were the stone sculptures of Soshiki's founding ancestors—watchful, silent guardians of tradition and legacy.
At present, the room was still and empty, except for V, who calmly enjoyed her cigarette, and the four Guardians standing silently behind her. That quiet held until three glimmering lights descended gracefully into the golden chairs flanking V's own.
The Four Elders had arrived—each now seated in their rightful place, occupying the highest echelon of power within the Soshiki.
Arata Hidetada.
Minamoto Yoritomo.
Ikari Yoshinobu.
And Vivienne Ale Deveraux.
"I thought we'd agreed on the no-smoking policy within these premises, Vivienne." Yoshinobu, the eldest among them, remarked softly, his tone a gentle reprimand.
"My sincerest apologies, Ikari-jiji," V replied with a half-smile, dousing the cigarette in a silver ashtray. "Old habits die hard."
She lowered her legs from the table, snapped her fingers at one of the Guardians, and said flatly, "Let them in. This is taking forever."
"Don't go overboard, V." Yoritomo warned, his voice edged with concern.
V offered no response, but Hidetada spoke on her behalf.
"They were the ones who provoked her, Yoritomo-sama," he said evenly. "She is well within her authority to impose discipline as she sees fit. That said"—his gaze shifted to V—"the same applies to the former General. Don't forget that, Vivienne."
The youngest Elder in Soshiki's history gave no verbal reply. But the glint in her ruby eyes said everything.
And as the Higher-ups were finally ushered into the Holy Chamber, even the white silk veil between them and the Elders could not mask the intensity of her gaze. It burned through the barrier, felt as clearly as if she stood inches from them.
Their steps faltered.
Though they could not see her face, the weight of V's presence—of her intent to devour—was undeniable.
**
Meetings between the Elders and the Higher-ups had never been easy. In fact, they were often fraught with tension—an unrelenting undercurrent of power plays and deeply rooted rivalries. Yet, no matter how complex or incendiary the issues brought to the table were, a diplomatic resolution was always reached. Without fail.
Political leadership had always been the cornerstone of the Soshiki. From its founding, the organization thrived on structure, order, and a hierarchy that kept chaos at bay.
Over time, however, the clans came to be ranked by caste—from the lowest to the highest. And though the highest caste was largely hereditary, prestige still had to be earned. Among them, one clan had never faltered.
The Deveraux clan.
Feared, respected, and unmatched, it remained the most formidable clan in Soshiki's long history—despite the fact that only one of them remained.
"It's too late to save them now," Yoshinobu murmured, seated at the far left of V. His voice, though soft, carried the weight of finality.
"I take no sides, Yoshinobu-dono," Hidetada responded calmly. "By now, we all know how this convention will end. Still…" He cast a glance at V. "Despite being the youngest among us, she commands authority—more than any of us ever did."
He added under his breath, almost to himself… Even the Guardians lower their heads to her, for heaven's sake.
Yoshinobu exhaled a tired sigh. "Yare-yare… look at what you've done, Hirota-san."
**
Once the Higher-ups had taken their designated seats, the Guardians shut the reinforced metal doors with a resounding clang. The lights dimmed, casting long shadows across the chamber.
An unusual tension gripped the room… an anxiety that ran deeper than in past gatherings.
A man in his late fifties rose to his feet, clearing his throat to speak, breaking the silence with brittle authority.
"I believe we've been summoned regarding this morning's incident," said Kanji of the Matsumoto clan. "I speak on behalf of my clan. It was we who unsealed the gate. And we accept full responsibility for the betrayal committed by Matsumoto Hirota, for harboring the rogue Onis beneath his establishment." He paused. "We've executed him, along with the Onis from the Southwest Gate, all of whom were under our control. As of now, those Onis, including the ones he sheltered, should be eradicated. The gate has been sealed again. I hope that resolves everything. I offer my sincerest apologies for this unnecessary convention."
"Kanji-san," came a sharp interjection from beside him. Midori Rota leaned forward with a faint, derisive smile. "Have you already forgotten the Midori clan's involvement?" He adjusted his sleeves with deliberate calm. "Yes, we too helped unseal the gate. And while we admit that our actions went against Soshiki Law, we did it for a reason. A good one. Unlike the fiasco last week—when the supposed executioner failed to carry out her duty." His eyes slid over to V with a sneer. "Not that she's one to follow the law anyway. Everything's gone to hell since she sat on that seat."
"Rota-san! Show some damn respect!" Sakurai Genta barked from across the table.
Arguments broke out in waves, voices rising, accusations flung. Of the fifty Higher-ups in the room, sixteen—including the perpetrators—openly admitted to aiding the ambush at Matsumoto Izakaya Ramen. These sixteen had long carried disdain for the Deveraux clan. But their hatred for V, now seated as one of the Four Elders, ran even deeper.
Behind a sheer veil, the Four Elders watched in silence. Observing. Waiting.
Then, a sharp tap—one single strike of V's index finger against the oak table.
The room fell silent instantly.
"All sixteen of you," she began softly. Rising from her seat, she stepped into view, descending the three steps from the throne. Her voice was gentle, yet unmistakably commanding. "Was the unsealing of the gate—and the ambush—approved by each of your clans? Or was it merely the decision of you sixteen?"
A beat passed.
With an exasperated sigh—equal parts irritation and unease—Midori Rota replied. "What difference does it make, oh mighty Miss Deveraux? The deed's done." He scoffed. "Besides… we're just following in your footsteps." He gave her a twisted smile. "You break the law all the time and get away with it—"
"Answer the question, Midori Rota-san," she cut in sharply, her gaze piercing as she approached the head of the table. Calm. Controlled. Terrifying.
He swallowed. "It was us. Just us sixteen. The meeting was off the record. And the ones attacking the Izakaya aren't our soldiers—they're mercenaries. From unregulated clans without any diplomatic seat."
"I see." Her ruby eyes darkened, glowing like smoldering coals. "Then, Midori Rota-san, please do us the courtesy of reciting—clearly—the punishment for violating the Fundamental Law of the Soshiki."
"You… are you fucking kidding me?" His voice rose, incredulous. "I've lived longer than you've been alive! I've held my position longer than you've worn that damned dress! Don't play games wi—"
"Hiring assassins," she continued, as though he hadn't spoken, "constitutes a high crime."
"Now you're really pissing me off. Who the hell do you think you are? Sitting up there like a queen doesn't mean you're worth more than us!"
Others joined in, voices rising in outrage. Jeers and curses echoed across the chamber, aimed squarely at her.
"You arrogant little bitch! Acting like you're above the rest of us!"
"In summary," she said with quiet finality, "the sixteen of you have committed treason—against the Soshiki, and against US, the Elders."
"You little wench! You—!"
"Punishable by death." V declared.
She stepped forward, calm and unflinching on her ten-inch heels. Her fingers reached toward her left thigh—ink shimmered, unraveling into the form of a revolver drawn directly from her body.
Then—
She pulled the trigger.
One shot per head. Sixteen bullets. Sixteen corpses.
All in under ten seconds.
Silence.
"I discovered their coup this morning. Matsumoto Hirota is alive. And I, Vivienne Deveraux, will see to his execution personally." She gestured to the Guardians. "Remove the bodies. This meeting is adjourned."
BACK AT MATSUMOTO IZAKAYA RAMEN
The assassins—twenty in total—fell with ease. Not because they were incompetent, but because the gap in power between hired blades and an elite Fighter like Tomo was damn near astronomical.
What a waste, Tomo thought bitterly, surveying the carnage. All that potential, gone. They could've signed up as Men in Black, lived cushy lives under the radar, but no. They chose chaos. They chose death.
He exhaled, annoyed. "Ryosuke, hold the entrance. The Men in Black are en route to clean up this mess."
"Tch! Stop ordering me around." Ryosuke snapped.
"My apologies, dear nephew," Tomo replied, smirking like the smug bastard he was. "Yamachin, would you mind taking over instead? Sakura, Ren—you're with me and Matsumoto-sama. We're going underground."
"Huh? What the hell am I supposed to do then?" Ryosuke barked as the group descended the hidden staircase—recently revealed by Matsumoto Hirota in the hallway.
"Hey! I'm talkin' to you—what do I do!?"
True to his charming nature, Tomo ignored him without a flicker of guilt. Sakura giggled. Ren just shook his head, still trying to figure out what kind of twisted love-hate dynamic the uncle and nephew operated on.
"Grrrgh! Whatever! Yamachin, wait up—I'm comin' with you! My idiot uncle's a fuckin' troll!"
**
That day, one hundred and twenty Onis were discovered beneath the Izakaya.
All of them were elderly—wandering souls who had fled their realm years ago and roamed the human world in silence and fear. It wasn't until they crossed paths with Matsumoto Hirota that they found refuge. He had listened when no one else would. And over the years, he built a hidden sanctuary large enough to house them all in peace.
"Matsumoto-sama... seriously, what were you thinking?" Tomo finally spoke once they reached the underground haven, his voice low, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"I did what was wrong by the Soshiki's standards," Hirota replied, taking a deep breath, "but I did what was right for them." He glanced over the elderly Onis with a calm, unshaken resolve. "And I have no regrets, kids."
He smiled—genuinely, with the kind of quiet pride that only comes from sacrifice. His eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but none spilled.
Tomo, Sakura, and Ren stood still, caught between awe and worry, unsure which weighed heavier on their hearts.
**
By dusk, under a full moon hanging like a silver eye above Mount Uzumaki, Tomo had delivered Matsumoto Hirota to Headquarters. Meanwhile, V's students were sent back to the academy.
"I don't get it," Ren said as the trio reached the school gate. "There has to be some way to save Matsumoto-sama, right?"
"Well, newbie…" Sakura drawled, already stretching her arms above her head with a yawn, "welcome to Soshiki, where we follow a bunch of sacred, stupid rules." She flicked him a lazy wave. "I'm exhausted. Dorm time. Later, suckers." With a puff of wind and a blur, she vanished using her ninja technique.
Ryosuke lingered, his brow furrowed. "I wonder if great-Gramps will pardon him…"
Yamada scoffed under his breath. "Let's not pretend, Ryosuke. Whether he meant well or not, Matsumoto-sama broke the Soshiki Law."
"But still—"
"Ryosuke," Yamada interrupted, voice quieter but firmer. "The Law is Soshiki. It's not just rules—it's what holds this whole damn system together." His fists clenched, knuckles pale, as something old and painful flickered through his expression. Ren could only stand there, quiet, drowning in questions he couldn't voice.
"I might be new here," Ren said, trying to pierce the gloom, "but… let's hope we hear something good tomorrow."
"It's out of our hands now, I think." Ryosuke said with a sigh, his voice dropping. He gave Yamada's shoulder a pat. "C'mon. Yamachin and I will show you to your room."
"My room?"
"Yeah. It used to be V-sensei's when she was a student. Before that, her older brother's—the fucking legend. Bit of a legacy spot. It's usually reserved for Deverauxs. Only a few of them have ever even attended this school." He paused, glancing at Ren with a faint smile. "She must've seen something in you to hand it over. You've got the key, right?"
Ren blinked, surprised. "Uh… yeah. Secretary Saiaka gave it to me earlier…"
STUDENT'S DORM
"Well, this is it." Ryosuke announced, gesturing at the door. "Class starts at nine. Don't be late—my uncle's a lawyer, punctual to a fault, and allergic to tardiness." He gave Ren a quick wave. "Night."
Then, without formality, he grabbed Yamada by the collar and started dragging him away. "Come on, Yamachiiiin… simmer down before you burn the dorm down."
Ren chuckled awkwardly. "Uh… yeah. See you guys tomorrow."
Once they disappeared down the hall, Ren pulled out the key Secretary Saiaka had given him and unlocked the door.
His eyes then widened. Glimmering.
The room inside was pristine, like it had been waiting just for him. A queen-sized bed with crisp white linens sat in the center, a polished desk by the window looked out over the school's serene, moonlit garden. There was a mini-fridge stocked with snacks, a walk-in closet filled with brand-new clothes and shoes in his size, and an en suite bathroom complete with a Jacuzzi tub.
He stood there, stunned. Slowly, his knees buckled and he sank onto the bed, tears welling in his eyes.
He had never had his own room before—much less one like this.
How did I get this lucky?
He sobbed.
V-sensei… I don't know what you saw in me, but… thank you. I hope I get to see you soon. Just so I can say my gratitude properly.
He wiped his face with the sleeve of his hoodie, but the tears kept falling.
Thank you.
Thank you so, so much.