Natsume Yuujinchou Go

Natsume Yujin-cho Go

I couldn't turn down Matoba-san's request.

I ended up going with him to a meeting where he'll attempt to lure out the exorcist

who is attacking the other exorcists.

I'm very happy you came today.

Why have you been wearing a suit the past two days?

I was meeting with a politician in this area.

People with a lot of enemies are often very superstitious.

We've had a long relationship,

and I like to keep on good terms with people who can be useful.

You should make use of what's available to you, as well.

No matter what it is.

The Matoba Clan was originally

formed by the eleven great exorcist families which

were lead by the Matoba,

as part of a contract they each signed out of their own self-interest.

Self-interest?

Some of those families are gone now, though.

I wonder what happened to my letter, though?

Shadow of Linked Chains

We're here.

This is the place.

It's huge!

What is this? Your house?

It's one of our villas where the meeting will be held.

A villa?

Again?!

Welcome back.

Welcome back.

You'll have to change for the meeting in an hour.

Use the room in the back.

This place is huge.

How many of these villas do you have?

We call them villas,

but we simply use the homes of families who worked for the Matoba

that no longer exist, or whose masters are gone.

What do you think happens to exorcist families without an

heir who can see youkai?

Just because they can't see youkai,

the hatred the youkai have for them doesn't disappear.

Most clans are confronted with this problem and the terror that results.

Even the Natori clan, a famous family that had many enemies,

ran around desperately seeking heirs to adopt that could see youkai.

In the end, they abandoned the business.

I'm told that the clan became

terrified with every small disaster that a youkai was behind it.

And then Shuuichi-san, who can see them, was born.

I'm sure he got sick of his relatives.

And so the Matoba clan supports each other whenever a family no longer

has someone who can see youkai.

It can be a bother, sometimes, running the clan,

but there's quite a few advantages.

So now we're looking for more people to work for us.

So how about it?

Do you want to join the Matoba clan?

If you do, I can protect you.

You just told me to use whatever I can.

Are you serious?

That's true.

My apologies.

I often say the wrong thing.

Let me put it this way...

Master.

Yes.

I'll go check that out.

You wait here.

It's no good.

I don't even want to talk to him.

And I don't like the way this place feels.

It's filled with the presence of humans and youkai,

and I feel like I'm going to be sick.

What do you think, Sensei?

Sensei!

That's the Matoba clan for you.

This barrier is brutal, and I feel just awful.

Hang in there, Sensei.

After all you said...

Weren't you going to eat a bunch of them?

Don't talk about eating or drinking...

I've got heartburn...

Why are you talking like a middle-aged man who drank too much?

Even a family with a big mansion like this

can cease to exist, huh?

Oh, my. I haven't seen you before.

Sorry to scare you.

Are you human?

Don't worry. So am I.

From the look of things, did Matoba blackmail you into coming here?

Are you with the Matoba clan, as well?

Of course not.

I'm an exorcist, too,

but I haven't fallen far enough to join the Matoba.

I don't know what's going on with you, but cheer up.

Have some gum.

It'll calm you down, if you chew it.

No...

Kids shouldn't refuse their elders.

Thank you.

I don't like the Matoba, do you?

They always dress so weird.

Huh?

What was that?

I'm back, Natsume-kun.

A youkai leapt through the barrier and was causing chaos in the yard.

I took care of—

Oh, there you are.

Yes.

I thought I'd participate in today's meeting, too.

I have something secret to talk with you about, as well...

This is weird.

It's hard to tell, unless you look carefully.

It looks like she's moving, but she isn't...

except for her eyes.

Why are you wearing a mask?

It's no mask!

Get back!

There's a youkai on her face!

You'll pay for seeing through my disguise, kid.

You'll pay for interfering!

Splendid, Natsume-kun.

That's amazing.

It's almost impossible to tell when someone's being possessed.

A youkai who clings like a mask to people's faces and controls them?

Likely it's a type of Magatsumen.

Magatsumen?

Yes.

The Magatsumen possess someone,

then send out other masks to control people who can be of use to them.

You could call the original mask the parent,

and the one on this woman the child.

In other words, if we can't deal with the parent, this will never end.

Is she all right?

Yes, I suppose.

But who knows who will be attacked next?

From my perspective, it just looked like a normal woman talking.

But perhaps with eyes like yours,

you could see that her face was strange, like a mask.

I know you don't like exorcists,

but why not help us this one time?

Call it your good deed for the day.

The possessed people will keep attacking talented exorcists.

They might go after Natori-san eventually.

I think back then I wanted you to be my ally.

But now, I'm happy to be able to help you.

Just this once.

And I'm not doing it to help you.

I'm doing it for myself.

To know how I can protect the people I want to protect,

and what I'm supposed to fight, and how.

The meeting will now begin.

It's been so long!

You, too!

Things have been violent lately.

Look, the Master of the Matoba is here.

All of his shiki look so creepy.

I see one with him that's slightly different...

Matoba-sama, who is that?

Oh, that's my new shiki.

Don't mind him.

Seal

And he may not look it, but he's very short-tempered,

so stay away from him.

Thank you all for coming today.

I hope that this gives you a chance to establish new relationships

and exchange information on spells and youkai.

Please enjoy yourselves.

Matoba-san.

Thank you for inviting me.

Matoba-sama, I hope you'll hire us again.

Will I be able to find the person who's possessed by a youkai

in this crowd?

Just what I'd expect from a meeting sponsored by the Matoba.

There's a lot of big names here.

Is the young Natori here, come to think of it?

No, it seems he didn't come.

Good.

If he saw me like this, who knows what he'd say?

Hey, you.

You're Matoba-san's new shiki, huh?

Him?

He looks weak.

Exorcists?

Hey, pour me something to drink.

What can he do?

Do a trick!

Come on, do it!

What?

I feel something heavy on my foot...

What is this sack-shaped cat-like thing?!

Sensei!

Excuse me!

You're running?

You brat!

What happened?

Are you okay?

I think something brushed against my foot...

Sensei, do you feel better?

Yeah.

This mask nullifies the barrier.

Now let's go hit up that free sake!