Survive in Azure Files

Izuna, who still had a sad face, was not very willing: "Strategic shift...? But Izuna still..."

"A good ninja must retreat at the right time! I think I read that in a book somewhere!"

When Izuna heard this, his attitude immediately changed: "I see! If that's the case...!"

I took in all of Izuna's performance, and thought to myself that, as expected, Chimeizu and the people behind him knew how to take advantage of Izuna's persistence in his dream.

"Master..." The little fox looked at me pitifully again, "Izuna really didn't lie..."

"Even so, we are now on opposite sides."

I shook my head and sighed, "I never thought that I would become an enemy of my favorite disciple. What a twist of fate. However, being dragged into a battle against one's will is also the fate of a ninja."

"Wow... Master, I understand!"

Izuna looked at me with tears in her eyes. "To practice the way of ninja, you must be able to withstand all kinds of tests, even fighting with a master. I saw this on a TV show! The next time we meet, Izuna will be three times stronger than now to prove my determination to you! So, be patient!"

After saying that, Izunai made a "whoosh whoosh" sound from his mouth and ran away at a very fast speed, and the people in the group of demons also retreated closely after him.

Shizuko and Fina did not pursue. As they were also responsible for the operations committee, they did not have much time and energy to focus on other aspects.

I also breathed a sigh of relief.

As of now, my second goal has been basically achieved.

By preemptively questioning her, I made the simple-minded Izuna want to prove herself to me even though she knew that I had accepted the commission from the festival management committee and had been deceived by others.

Then I can guide her without any worries and gradually uncover the truth about being exploited.

After meeting up with Shizuko and Fina, we returned to Hyakuya Hall together.

"Oh my god, they escaped again!" Shizuko complained as soon as she sat down, "After the Sakura Festival started, those guys from the Demon House started destroying everything!"

I thought about it and asked, "Do you know where Chi Mei Yi Zuo came from?"

Fina seemed indignant: "They are a group of guys who have been causing trouble at the Hundred Demons Night Parade for a long time!"

Shizuko then added: "Although they have always been a group of problem children, it seems that they have only recently become so organized... It's as if they are organizing to disrupt the Hundred Nights Spring Sakura Festival..."

In other words, they were temporarily gathered together for some reason.

I vaguely guess that there is a real mastermind behind all these evil spirits.

And its real purpose may not be to destroy the Sakura Festival, but to be closely related to the Sakura Festival.

for example……

Attack the pillar industry of the entire One Hundred Demons Night Parade?

If you think about it this way, perhaps they are spies sent by a rival academy, secretly providing funds to support the malnourished and asking them to sabotage the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

"No matter what, as someone who aspires to be a knight-errant, I absolutely cannot sit idly by and watch!"

Fina's tone was decisive, and her attitude was tough and firm.

“Oh really!”

However, Shizuka's emotions rose again: "What the hell is going on! Although we have successfully prevented the riots so far...but it feels like the frequency is getting higher and higher. If it continues like this...!"

The poster girl of Hyakuya-do shuddered slightly. "If this continues and the Sakura Festival is cancelled, we will be blamed from all sides! This is very bad!"

I suddenly felt that Shizuka was cuter when she was out of control than when she was in a business mood.

But this may also be because of the sharp contrast between the two completely different faces.

After venting her anger, Shizuko quickly reacted and used malicious cuteness to cover up poorly: "...Hey...Just kidding, Shizuko is so scared~☆"

I was speechless and could only look away.

At this time, Fina said worriedly: "Fina can't understand. Why do they want to interfere with the Sakura Festival?"

“…Although I’m just guessing, are they dissatisfied with the Sakura Festival?”

A hoarse and sharp voice sounded at the door of the store.

I looked in the direction of the sound and saw a tabby cat in a black kimono walking in.

Chapter 69: Unprecedented Innovation of the Sakura Festival

The person who came had a round head and big ears, big yellow-green eyes like almond kernels that were piercing and bright, a brick-red nose, and smooth, satin-like gray fur with beautiful black and brown markings.

It has a short but strong body, an imposing manner without even getting angry, and moves with great vigor. It is truly a majestic and heroic cat.

Shizuka quickly stood up and greeted the tabby cat, "Ah, President!"

The tabby cat walked over and nodded to Shizuko, then sat down on an empty chair at the table and introduced itself to me, whom I had just met:

"Hello, I'm Meowtenmaru, the president of the Hundred Demons Night Parade Shopping Street."

"Hello."

Meow Tenmaru looked very familiar with the festival management committee, with his arms folded and a calm expression on his face.

Shizuka didn't shy away from anything and naturally accepted Meow Tenmaru's joining in the discussion. She continued the previous topic and said distressedly:

"Why are they dissatisfied with the Sakura Festival...?"

"I don't know..." Miao Tianwan stroked his furry chin, "But if I have to say, there is a big change this time compared to the past."

Hearing this, I suddenly remembered that Shizuko had mentioned on the phone before that they were going to make unprecedented innovations at this Sakura Festival.

Nyanakamaru paused and continued, "Since ancient times, at the end of the Hundred Nights of Spring Sakura Festival, fireworks have been set off according to tradition. But this time is different, right? I heard that you are going to try something new."

Shizuko, with a sad face, nodded hesitantly:

"Yes...it's specially prepared for this Sakura Festival."

As Shizuko spoke, she leaned over, took out a device from a cardboard box under the table, and placed it on the table to demonstrate:

"This is a special installation specially ordered from Millennium for the end of this celebration."

Fina added, "I heard it's a really cool device that can reproduce fireworks using holographic images!"

...Wait? What the hell? A cyberfirework projector?

I looked at this obviously expensive machine and could not help but feel confused. It seems to be useful, at least it can avoid air pollution caused by fireworks and possible fire hazards...

But think about it, this product is totally unnecessary in Kivotos, right? There are other cheaper alternatives that already exist, right?

Take air pollution, for example, taking Abydos, which I am familiar with. Even though the pollution has accumulated to the level of a sandstorm, the cost of a single treatment is not high.

The decline of Abydos was purely due to the excessive number of sandstorms, coupled with the deterioration of the living environment, which led to the residents and students moving away and the city becoming unable to make ends meet.

I doubt whether Shizuka can make back her investment on this holographic imaging device before it reaches the end of its service life.

This kind of machine, which is necessary but not necessary, is indeed very Millennium-style. I still remember Noah's description of the history of Millennium when he introduced it to me.

But on second thought... in another style of the millennium...

Could this thing explode suddenly?

I frowned, calmly changed my sitting position, and moved the briefcase containing the Shiting Box in front of me.

At this time, Miao Tianwan also pondered and said slowly: "It looks like a very expensive machine... But no matter what, not everyone can easily accept changes in things."

"That's true... but to interrupt the Sakura Festival for such a reason..."

Shizuko's eyebrows drooped, her eyes flashed with a lost light, and she looked aggrieved: "I just want to make the Hundred Nights Spring Sakura Festival better than before..."

I touched my nose and couldn't help feeling embarrassed and ashamed for my previous actions that were purely motivated by self-interest.

If you think about it from this perspective, the unprecedented holographic fireworks may indeed be able to serve as an innovation, bringing a different experience to visitors to the Sakura Festival.

My thoughts were too dirty and I failed to understand Shizuka's feelings at the first moment. This was my fault as a teacher.

"After all, these are just speculations." Miao Tianwan said in a cold tone, "and now that things have come to this, there is no way to regret it. I just want to tell you that there may be people who cannot accept it. Like students actually spending so much money in a place like this... or something like that."

Miao Tianwan's voice was not loud, but it seemed to have a powerful impact.

This makes me, who has similar thoughts, feel quite ashamed.

"Yes... but we are not just doing this for fun!" Shizuka's words were sonorous and her eyes were firm. "As the chairperson of the festival management committee, all of this is to make the Sakura Festival more exciting! I can say this with confidence!"

Fina agreed excitedly, "That's right! Festivals should be more joyful every year!"

The girls' enthusiasm also infected me who was listening in. I nodded slightly and made a decision in my heart. Even for Shizuko and Fina, I must lead Izuna back to the right path as soon as possible and find out the true identity of her employer, the mastermind who destroyed the Sakura Festival.

In my opinion, Miao Tianwan's speculation is not entirely reasonable.

Those who think that the changes to the Sakura Festival are against tradition cannot be so extreme as to secretly plot to destroy the entire Sakura Festival without saying a word;

As for those who are uncomfortable with students buying expensive machines, they probably won't spend a lot of money to control bad students who are full of evil spirits.

Well, the biggest possibility is that it is for profit.

Whose interests are affected by the changes to the Sakura Festival?

Or maybe even the Sakura Festival is just a cover, and the real target is the festival management committee that plans to make changes?

But no matter which possibility it is, at this moment, the enemy is still hiding in the dark, and it is impossible to even make a rough list of suspects, let alone narrow the scope by inferring a conflict of interest.

Unlike me, Miao Tianwan still had a cold face and a stiff attitude. He snorted and said indifferently:

"Hmm, really? Then let's work hard to achieve it."

Shizuko smiled gratefully and said, "Although you say that, the president always helps us. This time's Sakura Festival is also true. Thank you very much for worrying about us."

"Fina knows! That's called tsundere, right!"

"certainly not!"

Miao Tianwan retorted unhappily, then took a deep breath and calmed down: "So, what are you going to do? It's about time to stop those guys, otherwise if this continues, the Sakura Festival will become a mess."

I perked up and said the proposal I had just been thinking of:

"How about asking others for help?"

In addition to using Izuna as a clue to find the identity of the mastermind in order to solve the problem at the source, it is also necessary to deal with small-scale harassment by the evil spirits. As mentioned before, the festival management committee cannot go there in person to suppress it every time.

Therefore, more manpower assistance is necessary.

For example, would a certain masked swimsuit group who wishes to remain anonymous be interested in volunteering?

For example, should the head of the Disciplinary Committee of Gehenna, who is usually busy with official duties, take a day off after a long absence?

For example, are the maid agents of Millennium free to accept commissions from Xia Lai recently?

These are all options that can be included.

As for the Holy Trinity?

It is exam week at Trinity College. A few days ago, the dessert department asked me to help with tutoring after school. I will not disturb the students of Trinity College and sincerely wish them to achieve ideal results in the exams.

After hearing my suggestion, Shizuko hesitated: "Well... there are clubs or committees that I can ask for help... but can they really help..."

"……Eh?"

I frowned slightly. Listening to what Shizuka said, it sounded as if we had never asked for help from other clubs in the Hyakki Yagyo before.

Could it be that I am really the first person that Shizuka turns to for help when she encounters troubles?

There is a slight possibility that he has a crush on me.

Shizuka hesitated for a moment: "Hmm, but now is not the time to worry about these things..."

The poster girl of Hyakuya Hall smiled again: "I have an idea, let's give it a try. But... we need your help, teacher. You will help us, right?"

It seems that there may be some hidden secret that I don't know.

As I thought about this, I said decisively, "Of course, I promised that I would do my best."

Shizuka's smile became brighter and she nodded heavily: "Well~ Thank you!"

Chapter 70 The legendary ninja, Meow Tenmaru!

In a remote ruin somewhere in the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons Autonomous Region, a hoarse and sharp voice with hidden anger rang out:

"Let me hear the reason for your failure, Chimeizu. You should have promised me that you would interrupt the festival today, right...?"

Wearing a black kimono and a black eye patch, the tabby cat, who looked even more sinister in his majesty, narrowed his eyes: