The gathering place inside of the Furude Shrine is in fact the headquarters of the Onigafuchi Guardians.

Normally, a shrine should be a calm and quiet place, but there are anti-dam signs everywhere, making it very obvious what this location has become.

There are over thirty members of the Guardians here at the moment, and they are having a heated conversation about their plans for the future.

Although this meeting place is on the Furude family's property, it's a community facility, so it closes at nine PM.

Of course, sometimes a discussion gets so heated that it goes on past closing time, but meetings are supposed to end by nine.

If a discussion ends early, they usually chitchat until that time.

That's what usually happens.

Of course, they mostly talk about the dam even when they chitchat.

They talk about someone's mistreatment at the government office, or someone getting arrested unjustly, or complain that people at the dam construction site are too violent.

Since it's idle chatter, the topics are slightly emotional, and because of that, there was a good deal of badmouthing the Houjous.

"...Then she threw the circulation notes away!!

Can you believe that?!"

"That woman is crazy.

Just the other day, she got into a huge argument with Makino-san's grandmother at the trash pickup!"

"You know,

the husband is rude too!

He's so irrational!!"

"Ah, did you see him at the explanatory meeting?

That was bad, huh?

I can't believe they're still here.

I wish they'd just leave!!

He said something about money.

He has absolutely no shame!!!"

"No, no, no!!

If you talk about being irrational, his wife is the same or even worse!!!

Wahahahahahaha!!"

"It must be hereditary!!

I see their daughter shopping quite often, so I used to say hello to her, but she never replied. Can you believe that?

So I got tired of it and I don't say anything to her anymore."

"Hey, their son always looks sooooo depressed, doesn't he?

Hahahahahaha!"

By now, the Houjou family has become the enemy of the whole village.

Badmouthing the Houjou family was the greatest shared topic that anyone could easily contribute to.

...If he had known how powerful the Three Families were, especially the Sonozaki family...

And if he had known Oryou-san's character, he wouldn't have said the things he did.

The Houjou couple are residents here.

Though they were never very enthusiastic about the council activities, they should've known what kind of person Oryou-san is.

He could have imagined just what would happen to him if he talked to her that way.

Yet, he let his anger take over and voiced his unpleasant feelings.

So most people think the Houjou family brought their isolation upon themselves.

If they wanted to negotiate with the government regarding the move, they should have done so privately.

Yet he was foolish enough to express himself at a public gathering like that.

So not too many sympathize with the Houjou family.

Ever since the big fight at the explanatory meeting, the Sonozaki family has looked at the Houjou family as their enemy, and started to go after them.

...That caused the other pro-dam families to go quiet, fearing they'd be made into scapegoats too, and those who wanted to leave were bitterly forced to give up.

...Even those people started criticizing the Houjou couple, saying they could've gotten their compensation to leave if the two hadn't picked that reckless fight.

Both the anti-dam and pro-dam people hate the Houjous now, and the family has become even more isolated.

Moreover, the Houjous are both very aggressive. They should have stayed quiet at least until things settled down, but they didn't.

That alienated the handful of people who took pity on them as well, so now nobody even says anything to them.

All of that was immediately obvious by listening to the foul talk here and there at the gathering place.

Rika always helps out by putting the tea cups away, so I'm sure she hears what they say as well.

One of the Houjou family members they're bad-mouthing is Rika's friend, Satoko-chan.

It hurts to think about what Rika feels while hearing that.

As priest of the Furude Shrine, should I let this continue?

Oyashiro-sama is a god who makes peace between enemies.

When the humans and demons fought, Oyashiro-sama descended from heaven and mediated between both sides.

As the caretaker of this shrine, I must do something before it goes too far.

I'm sitting next to Oryou-san, who is spitefully disparaging the Houjou family.

"So that ass was talking shit to me!!

Who the hell cares!!

He'll be cursed by Oyashiro-sama, that's for sure!!"

The elderly people cheer her on as they listen to her speak.

......If I barge in now,

I have a feeling it won't be a peaceful conversation.

But I have to make up my mind.

As the priest of the Furude Shrine.

Also for the sake of Rika's friend, Satoko-chan.

"...Oryou-san,

don't you think you've said enough by now?"

"Huh?

What the hell are you trying to tell me?"

"Well,

I'm sure Houjou-san really didn't mean what he said.

Isn't it a bit much for this kind of treatment to go on for so long...?"

"SHUT UP!!!

You heard what he said, didn't you?

Weren't you pissed? He pissed me off!!

Shit, shit!!!"

Oryou-san is the head of the Sonozaki family.

The heir to the demons.

She never forgives anyone who stands against her.

So there's no way she would even listen to what I'm trying to say.

Oryou-san and the others became furious and refused to listen to me.

I also mentioned that the dam construction plan will be cancelled soon, so they should calm down already.

I said that because the staff at the Irie Clinic told me that the government is putting some kind of pressure on the Ministry of Construction.

But thinking that I'm being an opportunist,

soon criticism of me began to circulate the room.

...After that, I realize that I've become branded as a fence-sitter.

...If the demons are willing to listen, then there's a chance to make peace.

But how can I make peace with people who refuse to listen?

I destroyed their mood... so I just have to give up and shut my mouth.

Then I felt a little hand on my back.

"Rika...

It's getting late, why don't you go home?"

"......No matter how hard we try, we can't reach them."

Rika looked into the distance while she spoke.

"...The evil of this corrupted village is probably beyond the means of those of us living in that muck...

But... I won't lose hope.

...Surely... someone who will destroy this stagnation will arrive.

Very soon... I know..."

Her eyes shone as if seeing a future that only the maiden of the Furude Shrine could see.