Chapter 1 - Betrayal and Reincarnation

“Tell me why… Answer me, Seimei!”

I held my bloodied and lifeless sister in my arms, shouting at the man before me.

In the ancient capital of Heian, Kyoto, a certain mansion is now engulfed in flames. The cries of despair echo throughout, as lives are being taken one by one.

“Michitomo, the Ashiya clan has grown too large.”

Seimei looked down on me with cold eyes. His pure white hunting robe was stained crimson with splatters of blood. Standing beside him was a massive red oni under his control, looming ominously.

“You killed them all for such a reason…”

I, Ashiya Michitomo, managed to utter these words in a hoarse voice.

Anyone familiar with onmyouji knows of the Abe and Ashiya clans. The relationship between the Ashiya and Abe clans was supposed to be amicable. Today, Seimei invited me to a banquet attended by members of both clans. Just a few moments ago, we were happily drinking and discussing the future of onmyouji.

However, the joyful feast turned into a battlefield in an instant, thanks to a surprise attack by Seimei’s shikigami from the Abe clan. In an instant, the renowned Abe Seimei turned the Ashiya clan into a mountain of corpses.

“The city only needs the Abe clan. The Ashiya clan is unnecessary, especially you, Michitomo.”

“I believed in you! I thought of you as my true brother… But, I was wrong!”

Breathing became difficult. The wounds I received earlier were deep. My time was running out.

“…I never thought of you that way.”

“You must think this is the end, and that you’ve killed me here, right? But I will come back! No matter what, even if I have to reincarnate, I will definitely kill you!”

I loathed him. This man who took away my family, my friends, everything. I glared at the man who was about to kill me with bloodshot eyes.

“Enough hesitation… Kill him.”

In response to Seimei’s words, the giant oni, who stood ten feet tall, swung its club down upon my head.

Just before the impact, I recited the reincarnation spell I had learned long ago.

My head was crushed by the club, and my consciousness faded away.

I heard the screams of a baby.

My eyes didn’t open easily. When they finally did, I saw an unfamiliar scene spread before me.

Where am I? Is my eyesight bad?

That didn’t matter. What mattered was that I was still alive!

If I’m alive, I can still fight. I must kill Seimei and avenge my clan.

However, despite my restless emotions, my body showed no sign of moving.

What’s going on? Is my body smaller than before?

I could barely see, but all I could make out were baby-like hands and an unfamiliar, old wooden ceiling.

And cries that came out involuntarily, contrary to my own will.

Could it be… Did the reincarnation spell actually work?

I never thought that the dubious spell I read in old books would actually succeed.

With that, a natural question arose. What year is it now in Tenryaku (Heian era)?

If I’ve been reincarnated a hundred years later, my target for revenge may no longer exist.

Amidst my despair, a young woman and a man in their thirties approached me from behind the sliding door.

“What’s wrong, Douya? Need more milk?”

“It’s good that he’s healthy.”

The man embraced me, murmuring softly.

“I wonder if he has the talent of an onmyouji…”

His voice was filled with concern.

“You always say the same thing. It doesn’t matter to me. After all, he’s so adorable.”

Her gentle voice conveyed true love, warm and sincere.

“Perhaps it’s cruel to burden him with the Ashiya family name. For now, there are other ways to live besides being an onmyouji…”

Even though he said that, the man’s voice sounded sad.

“Don’t make that face. Let’s rejoice in the fact that this child was born.”

These two are probably my parents.

Despite their calm conversation, I prayed that the present time was still the Heian era.