Starting With The Sefirah Castle In The Anime World

"I know about Mikado Sanzenin's granddaughter, but this Saginomiya... is her family really that mysterious?"

"Yes, very mysterious," Shiro replied firmly, backing his statement with evidence.

"Saginomiya is a shrine maiden family. Historically, their main business revolved around shrine-related work—specifically, exorcisms."

"Shiro, are you sure you're thinking straight?"

"I came to this conclusion after a lot of research. Don't make it sound like I'm some fool who blindly believes in supernatural nonsense."

Tomoko's reaction was natural, but even Shiro had found himself doubting his deductions at first. However, the deeper he investigated, the more apparent the truth became.

"Based on what I've found, the Self-Defense Forces often visit the Saginomiya family for certain matters."

"The Self-Defense Forces? Visiting the Saginomiya family?"

Tomoko couldn't wrap her head around it.

The Saginomiya family she knew of was involved in industries like food, beverages, and tea production. None of those businesses seemed significant enough to warrant attention from the Self-Defense Forces.

"Not just the Self-Defense Forces," Shiro continued, "but also high-ranking government officials, renowned priests, onmyoji, and even public security officers from the island nation. Politicians frequently visit the Saginomiya family for assistance with certain... problems."

"If their businesses aren't directly helping those groups, then it's clear there's something else—something hidden—that draws them in."

"This... all sounds so strange."

Tomoko found herself increasingly baffled by Shiro's explanation.

The Saginomiya family's business ventures were respectable, but nothing about them seemed capable of influencing the upper echelons of politics and public safety.

"Are you sure you're not being overly speculative?"

"No," Shiro replied, shaking his head. "This isn't speculation. There's substantial evidence supporting the notion that the Saginomiya family is far from ordinary."

"Prominent figures from all walks of life respect them. Even well-known priests seem to defer to them."

"And according to my research, Saginomiya controls 50% of certain industries in the country. What's more, no one competes with them for that share, it's as if it's been deliberately left for them."

Tomoko's eyes widened. "Fifty percent? And no one competes?"

"Yes. That portion of their industries remains untouched, as though it's an unspoken rule. It's enough to keep the Saginomiya family consistently ranked among the top families in the nation. Even the Sanzenin family could be shaken, but the Saginomiya family remains immovable."

"This... it's like some kind of rule," Shiro added.

The deeper he investigated, the more convinced he became that the Saginomiya family's position was deliberately maintained.

"This really is bizarre."

Hearing all of this, Tomoko couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The privileges afforded to the Saginomiya family seemed entirely out of the ordinary, and their relative anonymity among the general public only made them more enigmatic.

"A Sanzenin and a mysterious Saginomiya..." Tomoko mused. "Shiro, why do you think Mikado Sanzenin made a move against the Shinomiya family?"

"That... I can't say for sure."

Shiro wanted to give an answer, but even with all his deductions, the exact reasoning eluded him.

"Then why did you sound so confident earlier?"

"I was only analyzing the surface-level situation. How am I supposed to know what agreements exist between two thirteen-year-old girls and a sixteen-year-old girl?"

"But one thing is certain, there's an interest involved here. Mikado Sanzenin wouldn't act without a reason. My guess is that there's some sort of deal between Nagi Sanzenin and Kaguya Shinomiya."

"Do you think Mikado's granddaughter is helping Kaguya Shinomiya seize power?"

"Well... it's possible."

Tomoko's suggestion made Shiro pause, and he realized it wasn't far-fetched.

But there was one glaring issue.

"Why, though?"

"What would Nagi gain from helping Kaguya Shinomiya seize power? That child can already get whatever she wants. Why would she go out of her way to meddle in the Shinomiya family's affairs?"

This question stumped them both.

For someone like Nagi, who was born with everything, there seemed to be no reason for her to get involved in Kaguya's struggles.

Instinctively, Shiro felt that the reason behind it was crucial, but with the limited information available, he couldn't reach a definitive conclusion.

"All we can do now is wait and observe."

"If Nagi is helping Kaguya seize power, then Kaguya will likely fulfill her part of the deal after gaining control."

As he spoke, Shiro loosened the tie around his neck.

"We need to understand the true motive behind this."

"Is that really necessary?"

"Yes, absolutely," Shiro said firmly.

"I have a feeling that whatever agreement they've made is extremely important. And understanding it could be vital for us."

Years of experience in the business world had sharpened Shiro's instincts. He knew that the agreement between those girls wasn't trivial. It was significant enough for Nagi Sanzenin to involve Mikado Sanzenin and apply such overwhelming pressure on the Shinomiya family.

For now, all he could do was suppress his impatience and continue investigating while waiting for more information.

---

"I'm home!"

The sound of their daughter's voice interrupted the couple's conversation.

"Dad, Mom, why are you sitting in the living room looking so serious?"

Sonoko entered, curious about the heavy atmosphere.

"Is it about the business?"

"Go away, stop jumping to conclusions the moment you walk in!" Tomoko snapped, rolling her eyes at her daughter.

"You've been running around all weekend. Tell me, where exactly have you been?"

Despite giving their daughter plenty of freedom, Tomoko couldn't help but feel curious about Sonoko's whereabouts.

"Obviously, I've been with Ran," Sonoko replied.

"Yesterday, Ran went to Tropical Land with Kudo, so I went early to keep an eye on them."

"Turns out Tropical Land is more popular than I thought. Not just Ran, even that ice queen seems to like it."

"Ice Queen? Do you have a friend like that?"

Tomoko looked at Sonoko in surprise.

"Ah, I'm talking about Kaguya Shinomiya."

"Doesn't she always keep that cold, frozen expression? Just standing next to her makes me feel chilly, so I call her Ice Queen."

***

Bonus Chps for every 100 PS, and if we reach 10 reviews, I'll also drop 5 bonus Chps.