My Unique Skill is Fate Gacha(DxD)

Youkai.

The overarching term to describe the supernatural beings that populated the legends of Japan and China, demons, monsters, and spirits that lurked in the shadows of the human world. Historically, they were known as troublemakers, pranksters, and devourers of the unwary. They were capricious creatures, sometimes playful, other times violent and cruel.

Since before the Edo Period, countless legends spoke of youkai terrorizing villages, challenging samurai, and deceiving traveling monks. But within this dark and fascinating world, there were organized factions, led by the so-called Daiyoukai, the great youkai lords, wielders of immeasurable power.

Among them, three names have endured through the ages as the Three Great Monsters of Japan:

Shuten-Douji, the Oni of Mount Ōe, a voracious and depraved demon known for his brutal strength, insatiable thirst for blood and sake, and his cunning malice. It was said that his power was so great that few warriors dared to face him and lived to tell the tale.

Otakemaru, the terrifying oni lord of the Suzuka Mountains. A monster capable of manipulating nature itself and summoning disasters, known for his immortal hatred against humans and even the gods, having waged battles against the most celebrated heroes of ancient Japan.

But unlike the legends surrounding these two, those who know about the supernatural world know that Tamamo no Mae was a true aberration. A nine-tailed fox who, disguised as a celestial courtesan, conspired to subjugate the emperor himself. Her power was so absolute that she could have devastated all of Japan if left unchecked. After her defeat, Tamamo was sealed in the Uji Treasure House, a sacred facility managed by the Five Principal Clans.

These clans were ancient families, formed by mystics and Shinto priests, who served the gods directly. For generations, they confronted supernatural creatures to protect the country, though their attitude was quite extreme.

They were atypical believers who considered other religions heretical. They despised most other supernatural beings, demons, fallen angels, or Christian mages. Even within their own clans, those who possessed Sacred Gears were viewed with suspicion, as these artifacts were of Christian origin...

Their aversion should have attracted someone to teach them a "lesson," but they had a certain strength to back them up. Since ancient times, the Yellow Dragon, Ouryuu (Nakiri); the Blue Dragon, Seiyuu (Kushihashi); the Red Bird, Suzaku (Himejima); the Black Turtle, Genbu (Doumon); and the White Tiger, Byakko (Shrina) have been under the tutelage of the Five Principal Clans, with their hosts chosen by the Sacred Beasts themselves, and these chosen hosts also inherit their names, as well as becoming the next heads of their respective clans. They are known to possess such immense power that even the Daiyoukai could not oppose the Five Principal Clans due to their existence.

For example, Ouryuu Nakiri is known to be so powerful that not even the Balance Breakers of Longinus possessors can defeat him.

It goes without saying that the relationship between the Clans and the youkai remained fragile. The Five Principal Clans considered youkai natural enemies. Wars, hunts, and executions became frequent. Despite the existence of a peace pact sealed after the Meiji Era, the resentment on both sides never faded. Many hostile youkai were summarily executed, and the most powerful were forced to retreat into the shadows...

At this moment...

The Yasaka Shrine, located at the eastern end of Shijō-dōri in Kyoto, was a place where the ancient and the modern coexisted almost miraculously. There, the neon lights and bustling streets of the Gion district met the discreet grandeur of the red torii gates, eternally standing, guarding centuries of history...

The shrine was an elegant complex, composed of several traditional lacquered wooden buildings, including its ornate gates, the main prayer hall, and a sacred stage where ritual dances and ancient ceremonies were still performed during festivals.

The clear blue sky, dotted here and there with sparse clouds, contrasted with the dark wooden roofs and the vibrant red torii gates that seemed to glow under the strong sun. Paper lanterns swayed gently in the warm breeze, and the metallic sound of sacred bells resonated lazily with the wind.

The heat created ripples in the air above the light-colored stones of Shijō-dōri avenue, which ended precisely at the imposing shrine gate.

In a more secluded corner, walking toward the main building, were two small silhouettes.

They were Shuten-Douji and the little fox she had discovered to be Kunou, the daughter of the Leader of the Western Youkai Faction, whom her master had asked to arrange a meeting with...

Hmm? What was she doing in that forest earlier?

Well, by chance, she saw a little fox being followed by two men who seemed very wicked, and finding it amusing, she followed them. Her master would probably be angry with her for getting distracted like this, but she didn't care; she'd love his naughty punishments anyway...

And it's not like it wasn't a good thing, right? She saved the life of the faction leader's daughter; she must have earned some points for that...

Speaking of which, she looked at Kunou and teased.

"You know… I keep wondering… what were you doing alone in that forest, hmm? Running away from home? Or maybe… playing at getting lost?"

The little fox scowled, not responding. The tips of her tails even trembled a bit.

"Ufufu… No need to get so serious, kid. I actually think it's cute, you know? A little girl running around on her own… reminds me of my days on Mount Ōe. Except back there, if someone did that… well, they'd be devoured before sunset."

Kunou stopped.

She took a deep breath.

"…I just…" she began, her voice low and hesitant: "I just wanted to go out for a bit. But they followed me…"

Shuten tilted her head, her smile as wide as ever.

"Oh? So you admit you were foolish? Ufufu… good girl. I love honest kids. It's been a while since I've seen someone admit their own stupidity like that…"

Kunou frowned, her cheeks flushing slightly with anger, and she looked away, muttering.

Even so, she didn't quicken her pace or try to move away. As cruel and mocking as she was, Shuten-Douji had saved her life that morning. And deep down, she knew there could be more of those men lurking around Kyoto; it was better to endure the insufferable woman's company than risk encountering something worse.

Wait…?

Who had this woman said she was…?

Kunou's heart nearly stopped.

Shuten-Douji?!!!

The living legend that every youkai child in Kyoto heard stories about before bed—or rather, stories that kept them from sleeping afterward. One of the Three Great Monsters of Japan who terrorized humans and weak youkai…

And she… was walking right beside her.

Kunou felt her tails bristle. A chill ran down her spine.

The fear she had felt earlier, which she thought had dissipated, came rushing back, as if her stomach suddenly sank.

"I can't believe it…" she thought, biting her lip. "She said that… I heard it… and only now…"

Why hadn't she realized earlier who she was?!

She should have paid more attention to that!

It was as if, until that moment, her brain had refused to process the gravity of the situation, too busy fleeing, breathing, not crying, and not thinking about things. But now, walking side by side, smelling that faint scent of sake that never seemed to leave the woman, it finally hit her.

Kunou clenched her fists, trying to control her panic.

"Y-you said you're Shuten-Douji?"

"Yep, that's right… You must have heard me introduce myself to those two pieces of trash…"

"B-but aren't you supposed to be dead?"

"Indeed. I owe my return to my master… Ufufufu…"

"You're not going to eat me, are you…?"

"Ufufu… relax, relax. If I wanted to eat you, I would've done it back in the forest, don't you think? You even smell nice, but I prefer meat with a bit more spice, you know… Besides… you're Yasaka's daughter, aren't you? Ufufu… my master would be pretty annoyed with me if I chewed on your cute little face…"

Kunou swallowed hard.

Shuten burst out laughing at the sight of the girl's pale face, raising the sake bottle she pulled from who-knows-where, taking an elegant sip before shrugging.

And, without haste, she resumed walking ahead, leaving Kunou a couple of steps behind, not looking at her… but with that sly, corner-of-the-mouth smirk that said she'd had quite a bit of fun.

Kunou let out a long, relieved sigh and followed her.

The two had just crossed one of the stone corridors lined with red lanterns when, suddenly, a group of youkai appeared out of nowhere.

There were three of them: a tengu with dark wings, a kappa with a surly expression, and a silver-haired tanuki, all wearing light summer kimonos, their eyes widening the moment they spotted Kunou.

"Kunou-sama!" the tengu practically shouted, landing in front of them with a flap of wings: "Thank the heavens! Are you okay? Are you hurt?! What happened?! Your mother is frantic; we sent teams all over the city!"

Kunou choked on her words, trying to think quickly of what to say, but before she could…

The three youkai's gazes turned to Shuten-Douji.

And they immediately misunderstood.

"Kunou-sama, come here! We'll save you from this kidnapper!" shouted the tanuki, stepping forward, while the kappa began conjuring water with his hands.

Kunou paled.

"W-WAIT! NO! NO, NO, NO!" She jumped in front of them, arms spread as wide as she could, her voice coming out almost in a hysterical scream: "STOP, YOU IDIOTS! YOU'LL DIE!"

The three froze in place.

Kunou was panting, eyes wide, tails bristling.

"She didn't kidnap me! She saved me! GOT IT?!" the little fox shouted, her voice nearly cracking from sheer desperation: "She… she saved me from those guys in the forest who were chasing me! If you touch her, you'll end up in pieces on the ground!"

The three youkai exchanged tense glances, and with sidelong looks, they cast another glance at Shuten-Douji, who… just watched the scene with a wide, mischievous smile, as if she were enjoying herself more with every second.

She tilted her head, the sake bottle dangling in her fingers.

"Ufufu… so impetuous, these little creatures of today…" she murmured, her eyes half-closed and gleaming: "But I must admit… I liked your courage, little fox…"

Kunou swallowed hard.

"T-t-t-okay… now stop this scene! Take me to my mom! And if you say anything about this, I… I…" She hesitated, searching for words, until she just bared her tiny claws: "I'll scratch you!"

The tengu cleared his throat, sheathing his weapon.

"Understood, Kunou-sama… p-p-please forgive us."

The tanuki bowed his head, the kappa dissipating the water.

Shuten just shrugged, utterly unconcerned.

"Ufufu… well, well… looks like I'm unpopular around here, huh?" she commented, before taking another sip of sake.

Kunou huffed, her eyes narrowing.

"You know exactly why."

But deep down, she just wanted to crawl into a hole.

The group quickly organized to take her back to the main shrine building, with Kunou, embarrassed, ordering that no one do anything against the oni. Shuten, of course, just followed nonchalantly, amused by everyone else's discomfort.

The journey back was quick.

The escort youkai walked hurriedly, casting furtive glances at Shuten-Douji with every step, as if fearing that at any moment, the oni might flash a too-wide smile and start tearing them apart on a whim.

They crossed the final torii gate and passed through a stone corridor lined with paper lanterns, where the air shimmered with magical energy.

And a mist appeared, enveloping the group as they walked.

Urakyoto.

As they crossed the thick mist, the world changed.

The sky took on a deeper shade of blue, almost purple, and the urban sounds of Kyoto vanished, replaced by the cawing of youkai crows and the rustling of leaves. Small spirits floated through the air like golden fireflies.

Urakyoto was a replica of Kyoto, where the youkai kept their own rules and territory, hidden from mortal eyes. There, ancient mansions sprawled across the hills, dark-watered lakes reflected the eternal moon of that surreal sky, and Shinto temples hid forgotten secrets.

Kunou shrank a little closer to the escort accompanying her, while Shuten just looked around with disinterest.

Without delay, the group headed toward the largest building of all, the main mansion, an immense structure of noble wood and curved roofs, adorned with talismans and banners bearing the symbol of the nine-tailed fox.

At the main entrance, two youkai sentinels, both blue-skinned oni, looked at Shuten with suspicion, their eyes narrowing as they caught the strong scent of sake and the dark oni energy emanating from her. But without orders to intervene, they merely stepped aside.

Kunou bolted up the stairs as if her life depended on it.

Yasaka was waiting at the top.

The leader of the Western Youkai Faction wore an impeccable white and gold kimono. In her human form, she appeared as a young woman with a voluptuous figure and very long blonde hair, with matching eyes. She was a woman with delicate facial features, her eyebrows cut short and rounded, a traditional symbol of nobility. Her hair was tied in a loose ponytail that cascaded down to her legs, ending in a spiral, with bandages stretched to keep it in place. She was strikingly beautiful and possessed a truly devilishly seductive body.

"Kunou!"

The little fox didn't hesitate.

She threw herself into her mother's arms, burying her face against the silk kimono, her nine tails intertwining with those of the matriarch.

"Mommy…!"

Yasaka enveloped her in a tight embrace, relief and worry mingling in every movement.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? What happened?" Her voice carried that gentle authority only leaders who were also mothers could muster.

Kunou shook her head, clinging to her.

"I-I'm fine… sorry, Mommy, I went out to play and ended up being chased by two men… but… but she saved me…"

Yasaka frowned but kept her tone calm.

She…?

Only then did her attention fall on Shuten-Douji.

The oni had stopped a few steps below, leaning lazily against one of the pillars, swinging her sake bottle as if watching a mediocre play. Her usual smile on her lips, her half-closed eyes observing the scene.

Yasaka's eyes studied her up and down.

She stared at Shuten for a few seconds. You could feel the strong oni aura, and it made anyone uneasy… But instead of being curt, Yasaka took a deep breath and smiled, still holding her daughter.

"Thank you for saving my Kunou. No matter who you are, I am grateful…"

The guards exchanged surprised glances.

Shuten-Douji blinked, as if she hadn't expected that. Then she laughed.

"Ufufu… You guys used to be a lot more jumpy; I thought you'd attack me or something… This is unexpected. I guess I see why you took over their leadership…"

Yasaka kept her smile.

"I'm a mother before anything else. And you saved my girl. That's enough."

Kunou looked at her mother, relieved, and hugged her waist tighter.

"Her name's Shuten-Douji, Mommy. Yes, the one from the stories told to this day…"

The atmosphere grew heavy. Even those who didn't know much about the supernatural world knew that name.

The guards paled, but Yasaka remained calm. She wasn't foolish; she knew who Shuten-Douji was and knew that antagonizing someone like her could be worse…

"It's an honor to meet one of the Three Great Monsters of Japan… Welcome, Shuten-Douji. Would you like to come in? We can talk. I have tea… and, from the smell, I think you prefer sake…"

Shuten let out a light laugh and straightened up.

"Ufufu… I like you. Let's go…"

Yasaka motioned for the guards to relax, along with the group that brought Shuten-Douji and Kunou, and led the two inside.

The three proceeded to a more suitable location.

The soft light filtered through the slats of the lanterns and fell over the main hall, where Yasaka led Shuten-Douji to a veranda overlooking the inner garden.

There, the sound of leaves and the trickling of small water fountains mingled with the faint scent of incense.

After a few minutes, a maid appeared silently, carrying a tray with a steaming teapot and two hand-painted porcelain cups. Yasaka served tea for herself and, without ceremony, grabbed a sake bottle for Shuten, who accepted it with a satisfied smile.

"Much better…" murmured the oni, taking a leisurely sip.

Kunou sat beside her mother, her tails still twitching slightly, nervous by instinct. Shuten-Douji seemed less threatening now, but she was still… strange. The kind of person you didn't take your eyes off for a second.

Yasaka gently stroked her daughter's hair.

"Kunou…" she said, in a gentle tone: "Sweetie, why don't you go play in the garden for a bit? The lady Shuten and I have some matters to discuss. Adult stuff…"

Kunou's eyes widened, a bit reluctant, but she knew arguing was pointless. And, to be honest, part of her didn't want to sit through adult talk either.

"Okay… but if she tries anything, scream, okay, Mommy?"

Yasaka chuckled softly and made a peace sign.

"I promise."

The little fox stood, cast one more suspicious glance at Shuten, who just looked at her sideways and winked lightly, and headed to the garden, where small spirits floated among the trees.

Yasaka poured more tea for herself and rested her hands in her lap.

"Well… now that we're alone…" She looked at Shuten and said: "Thank you again for saving my daughter…"

Shuten-Douji smiled, swinging her sake bottle.

"No need to thank me. I just got curious about what was going on and followed those two goons chasing Kunou-chan~ and ended up in this situation. Either way, it was a good thing for me. Otherwise, I'd have to deal with politics to meet you, Yasaka-dono…"

Yasaka picked up her teacup and looked at the oni with surprise.

"You wanted to see me…?"

"Yes…" Shuten-Douji's expression took on a slightly more mischievous edge: "My Anata ~ wants to meet you in a week, a political business meeting…"

"Your husband…?" Yasaka looked at her with a strange expression.

"Yes, yes ~ the Director and Leader of Chaldea, the Official Human Faction…" Shuten-Douji: "It's thanks to him that I'm in this world…"

"What—"

Yasaka was shocked, her teacup nearly stopping halfway to her lips before she set it back on the table, her eyes fixed on Shuten-Douji, trying to process what she'd just heard.

One of the Three Great Monsters of Japan was alive… And not only that, she was now on the side of humans… How was that not shocking?

Especially since Chaldea was currently at the center of the world's news; everyone had heard of this mysterious and secretive organization that appeared out of nowhere and its leader, Ryougi Kazuya, who was called many nicknames, but undeniably "The Strongest of Humanity."

"Director of… Chaldea? The Human Faction?" she repeated, slowly, as if each word were more absurd than the last.

Shuten-Douji just gave a lazy smile and said: "Ufufu… exactly. My Anata is wonderful, you know? Charming, strong… and a bit cruel, just the way I like…"

Yasaka blinked, trying to maintain a serene expression, but it was impossible. She took a deep breath and asked: "So, can you tell me what your husband wants with this meeting?"

"He didn't make it clear to me… or did he?" Shuten-Douji put a finger to her chin and said: "Well, he's not looking for any kind of conflict, just wants to talk. That said, I'll be staying around here for the next week… So, I'm counting on you, Yasaka-dono ~"

At the end of her words, she gave a slight, mischievous smile.

Yasaka felt her heart freeze; she had a terrible feeling about this…

"Stay here…?"

"Yes, yes… No problem, right, Yasaka-dono?"

"No… I suppose not, as long as you don't cause trouble…"

She felt that agreeing to the oni's request standing before her wasn't a good idea…

But it was better not to anger one of the Three Great Monsters of Japan, wasn't it?

Someone she wasn't even sure she could defeat in a fight…

______________________

(A/N: Author's Note

Yo! This is the author speaking.

First of all, thank you for reading this far! This chapter was more of an official introduction to the next story arc — the Youkai Arc. I also took the chance to move a few pieces on the board for what's coming next. And yes, if you noticed the length, it's the equivalent of two regular chapters, so congrats to those who powered through it in one go!

Oh, and about the other Servants… just a reminder: it hasn't even been a full day since Kazuya gave that order, so chill — each of them is still moving behind the scenes. Everything in due time.

Speaking of what's next… I'm almost done polishing the Karna vs Indra battle — and honestly, it's turning out insane. Get ready, because this fight's going to leave a mark on both the battlefield and your hearts.

💬 And hey — want to just read ahead a bit?

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Anyway, thanks to everyone who's reading, supporting, and commenting.

You're the fuel (and the healthy emotional pressure) that keeps this going.

Now let me get back to the keyboard before I almost miss another deadline 😅

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