I loaded the geek game

A few days later.

Changshi, the administrative building of the Sea Kingdom.

With the official promulgation of the "Proposal for the Joint Council of the Lord of the Demons and Gods and the Takamagahara Consultation Board", various preparatory work has been rapidly launched. In fact, many department leaders have shown great enthusiasm and submitted drafts of topics to be discussed at the first regular and plenary sessions of the Joint Council of the Lord of the Demons and Gods to the administrative center ahead of schedule.

Kamiya Kazuma sat alone behind his large desk, casually flipping through the issue documents that Isohime had just presented.

[Standing Committee Meeting Agenda]
[Feasibility study and application of the "Power of Rules" in the amusement park market billboards]
This proposal was submitted directly by Special Advisor Satoru through Chief Executive Isohime.

Within a certain area, the billboards at the amusement park market possess a peculiar "rule-binding" power. Early in his conquests of Takamagahara, Kamiya himself had skillfully utilized this power of rules on more than one occasion, turning the tide of battle at crucial moments.

Today, Jue proposes a systematic and structural analysis and study of the "rule-based forces" within billboards.

If this research achieves a breakthrough, its results may be epoch-making.

It may be applied to the drafting of the "Takamagahara Code," which is being vigorously promoted by Oboro as the Supreme Judge.

According to the pre-established meeting rules, the advisor who proposed the motion, Jue, who is responsible for routine administrative decision-making, and the chief judge, Oboro, who is directly related to this issue and responsible for legislation, are both required to attend the discussion of this issue.

[Plenary Session Agenda]
[Strategic Planning for Comprehensively Advancing the Development of "Spiritual Civilization" within the Takamagahara Military System]
This issue was raised personally by Chief Executive Isohime.

The discussion begins by clearly stating the current situation: the two core armed forces under the command of the General Staff—

The core composition and historical origins of the now-reorganized standing army and garrison army are still fundamentally rooted in the forces of the Ghost Clan and the Sea Clan.

Although both Kamiyagawa himself and Iso-hime consciously enriched the ethnic composition of their recruits when assisting Kinkuma-doji and Kani-hime in expanding their military strength, adding ghost stories from other ethnic groups to their ranks in an attempt to dilute the single ethnic character, their core essence remains when viewed from the perspective of ideological identity and the deep structure of their internal culture.

Therefore, Isohime explicitly proposed a systematic project in the agenda.

The Ministry of Education and Culture will lead the ideological construction and value indoctrination, while the newly established military governors, led by seven members of the Imperial Guard, will provide assistance and supervision in terms of discipline and loyalty. They must also obtain the full cooperation of the Standing Army's Supreme Commander, Kinkuma-doji, the Garrison Army's Supreme Commander, Kani-hime, and their core command. The first round of "spiritual civilization" construction movement in Takamagahara will be fully launched within the military.

This move aims to completely dismantle any remaining narrow ethnic identity within the standing and garrison armies that may exist, such as those who identify themselves as "ghost army" or "sea army."

It is hoped that through systematic education, rituals, the reshaping of the honor system, and daily cultural immersion, the new identity and mission of the two armies, "Spear of Takamagahara" and "Shield of Takamagahara," will be deeply rooted in the consciousness of every soldier.

Every soldier must clearly understand that, before primary identity labels such as "I am of the Ghost Clan" or "I have the blood of the Sea Clan flowing through my veins," the more fundamental and primary identity is—

"I am a soldier from Takamagahara."

"My only and highest object of loyalty is Kamiyagawa, the lord of all gods and spirits."

"Where my sword points, and where my flesh and blood protect, lies the survival, glory, and future of the entire Takamagahara civilization."

This is Iso-hime.

Even though she herself is descended from the sea people and is a mermaid princess, in her spiritual realm and political considerations, "the overall interests and long-term stability of Takamagahara" are always placed above any ethnic group, region, or even personal feelings.

Frankly speaking, Isohime's current level of thinking and strategic foresight have long surpassed the scope of simply being an "excellent assistant".

……

Kamiya's fingertips gently traced the edge of the last page of the draft: "Everyone's enthusiasm... is very high."

The first regular and plenary sessions of the Imperial Council will be held soon.

Kamiyagawa will definitely be there at that time.

By reviewing the drafts of more than a dozen topics, it is clear that each one is well-organized and has a clear objective, whether it is from technological research to the shaping of military spirit, or from economic development to cultural identity.

"After that, Takamagahara will continue to function properly."

The idea took clear shape in his mind.

And in that instant when those thoughts settled...

Dude, dunk, dunk.

A series of slow, deliberate knocks broke the silence in the office.

"Come in."

The door was silently pushed open a crack.

The first thing to slip into the room was not a guest, but a large, jet-black serpent whose scales shimmered with a dark luster under the light. Its movements were silent and elegant as it slithered into the room, bringing with it a faint, chilling aura befitting a powerful demon.

Following closely behind was the clear and melodious sound of bells—ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling.

It was Ibaraki-dōji who arrived, an unexpected visitor.

Ibaraki's attire today is similar to that of "Burrito-hime" when Kamiya first met her.

She wore a pristine white Japanese-style robe, but her waist was tightly bound by a bright red ribbon, with a string of delicate golden bells hanging from the end of the ribbon.

Pink lips, clear yet deep eyes unique to the demon race, and a face that blends feminine beauty with exquisite glamour, all naturally exude a subtle and alluring charm.

All of this was partially concealed beneath a large white fur cloak. The hood completely covered her head, hiding her signature horns entirely, with only two barely noticeable bulges visible on the fabric. Her long, flowing white hair cascaded down from the edge of the hood, loosely tied behind her.

Ibaraki walked gracefully to the table, her right foot clad in pure white footed socks—the socks were delicate and tight, perfectly outlining the curves of her instep and arch, while the front cleverly left bare space for her flexible toes.

As she stopped, her foot gently and steadily landed on the smooth, cool back of the jet-black serpent Shuten-dōji below.

"Such a deep sibling bond... Is it really okay for you to step on your brother like this?"

A vague thought flashed through Kamiya's mind, but his expression remained calm, and he uttered only two words: "What is it?"

"Can't I come to visit you if there's nothing wrong? My—Kami~Tani~-sama~?" Ibaraki's lips curved into a smile that was both alluring and provocative. His voice trailed off softly and long, with a unique rhythm, like a cat's claws gently scratching.

As for Kamiya, he was already immune to Ibaraki's ever-changing attitude, and simply watched her noncommittally, waiting for her to continue.

A brief silence followed in the lingering echo of the ringing bell.

Ibaraki seemed to have no intention of continuing this pointless teasing. She tilted her head slightly, and her eyes, hidden in the shadow of her hood, shimmered with an unfathomable light.

After a brief pause, Kamiyagawa spoke, but it was a sentence that seemed irrelevant to the present: "You did not submit any opinions on the appointment of the joint council of the rulers of the demons and gods and the Takamagahara Consultative Council."

"Because I am very satisfied with the arrangements made for you and the Chief Executive," Ibaraki replied with unusual cheerfulness.

"Is that so?" Kamiyagawa's gaze did not leave.

Looking back at previous appointments—

Whether it was the system of checks and balances within the military where Kin-kuo was located, or the arrangement of promoting the young, old man with unquestionable seniority, loyalty, and ability to the position of Foreign Minister, with Hoshiguma as Vice Minister, everything was based on rigorous logic, making it fair and efficient.

Meanwhile, Kamiya is still personally pushing forward with the "semi-divine transformation" plan.

After the shikigami regained their freedom of movement, they naturally needed suitable places to live during the breaks between their "duty" duties.

The Tengu resides in the land of Ainu's origin, the Kujira returns to the sea kingdom, and the Baku dwells in the moon palace... These arrangements are logical, giving the shikigami a place to belong and rest, while also strengthening the protective power of these key administrative regions.

Inugami's residence was arranged in Mount Oe.

Inugami gained the power of the dragon-serpent by devouring the Ibuki Orochi, and has a deep connection with Mount Ōe, so this action is reasonable.

However, this will undoubtedly subtly change the power structure within Mount Ōe, and will inevitably create some kind of invisible checks and balances and dilute the influence of Ibaraki, who has regained his autonomy and is now the Oni King of Mount Ōe.

At this point, combined with the appointments of Kinkuma and Hoshiguma, a clear conclusion becomes apparent:

In the new Takamagahara regime structure, the power of the three core Oni Kings of the Oni Clan was consciously decentralized and constrained to a certain extent.

They were placed in three independent systems: the military, the administration, and the temple. This formed a stable triangle, preventing any one party from gaining an overwhelming advantage in any single area. In particular, it eliminated the possibility of a "monster clan dominating" situation during the period of slumber in the Kamiya River.

This arrangement is calm, rational, and absolutely necessary.

It is not just aimed at the Oni race, but a systemic design that any force that could potentially form a large interest group would face.

"What's Hoshiguma's attitude?" Kamiya asked again, changing his perspective.

"Hmm~" Ibaraki's voice rose slightly at the end, with a hint of amusement, "I don't think she has any complaints about your job arrangement. Rather than accepting it, it's more like she's moved."

As she spoke, she leaned forward slightly, her white hair hanging from the edge of her hood swaying and the bells jingling softly.

Those alluring eyes stared directly at Kamiya, her tone laced with a mixture of genuine and feigned frivolity and admiration: "How impressive, Lord Kamiya. You've just handed over the power to decide the future of the outside world to Hoshiguma. Hoshiguma, she now values ​​the responsibility you've given her more than her own sake bowl. From now on, whatever you ask her to do, she'll probably do it willingly, won't she?"

Kamiya remained noncommittal, then tried to bring up Kinkuma, but stopped himself from speaking.

Forget it.

There's no need to ask about Jin Xiong's side at all.

Ibaraki and Hoshiguma are both smart enough, but Kinkuma... with his brain, he can't understand so many twists and turns.

“But…” Kamiya leaned back slightly, refocusing his gaze on Ibaraki, “You came all this way to see me, surely you have something to say?”

"Mm-hmm." Ibaraki nodded. "I'm here to offer my advice."

"Huh?" Kamiya finally showed a rare hint of surprise.

"Am I not a member of the Holy Spirit Temple?" Ibaraki seemed to be speaking with confidence at this moment, and even the foot he was stepping on Shuten's back seemed to have increased its pressure slightly, causing the serpent's body to undulate slightly. "Logically speaking, I can offer advice to you, the sovereign of all gods and demons, right? This is my responsibility as a 'sacred pillar'."

"..."

Kamiya River was speechless for a moment.

But one has to admit that Ibaraki adapted to his new, extraordinary identity as a "member of the Holy Spirit Temple" very quickly.

"Go ahead."

"Hehe~" Ibaraki chuckled lightly, tilting her head slightly as her white hair slipped from under her hood onto her shoulder. But her next words made the air in the room almost freeze—

"Bear an heir, Lord Kamiya."

Kamiyagawa:?

Even with his composure, he couldn't help but pause for a moment.

Wait... how come this guy always manages to veer off into the topic of "having children" during every serious conversation?

Long ago, Ibaraki had made bold and explicit statements such as "We, the Oni clan, are willing to bear your offspring" more than once.

Ibaraki seemed completely oblivious to Kamiya's fleeting look of surprise and silence. Her toes, resting on Shuten's back, tapped lightly and unconsciously, her tone shifting abruptly from its previous flippancy to an unusual calm. She continued, her voice low but each word clear:
"You have chosen two disciples as the next generation to ascend to the throne. Kanoya Yukino and Tsurumi Aoi, those two lovely children. You trust them, believe that they can qualify within a dozen years at most, and believe that their existence will not bring chaos to Takamagahara in the future. I have no intention of questioning your judgment, Lord Kamiya, your vision has rarely been wrong."

She paused, and her alluring eyes no longer held any frivolity.

"But—what if?"

"I mean, if."

"What if...they ultimately fail and don't reach the destination you expect?"

"At that time, who should we choose to replace them? Should we spend more time cultivating new, uncertain talents, or should we launch a reorganization full of variables within Takamagahara?"

Ibaraki lowered his voice even further: "Thinking about it further, what if... we can't find a suitable candidate for a long time?"

"How long can you endure on that cold divine throne? Fifty years? A hundred years? Or longer? Beyond a certain limit, will the divine throne itself... begin to erode and deplete you? What will Takamagahara face then?"

"So, bear children, Lord Kamiya."

After a series of hypotheses and questions, even Kamiyagawa fell into an unusually long silence.

At this point, he had to admit that Ibaraki... might be right.

Seemingly sensing Kamiya's change of heart, Ibaraki's tone regained a hint of teasing, breaking the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

"Regarding the issue of offspring, I imagine there are quite a few people under your command willing to 'contribute.' For example—" she deliberately dragged out her words, "...the foot-selling old woman~"

Kamiyagawa:?

This sudden leap in thought caught him off guard.

“I mean—” A mischievous glint flashed in Ibaraki’s eyes, “Grandma’s unparalleled ability to shape and transform flesh and blood, isn’t it? She must have some… unique and reliable means to ensure that you give birth to healthy, strong offspring that match your bloodline traits, right? And the Medicine Seller, he can probably provide crucial assistance as well.”

She gently swung her feet, the bells ringing out crisply, setting a cheerful rhythm for what she was about to say.

“Of course, if you need any other help…” Ibaraki changed the subject, emphasizing the word “others” with particular clarity and ambiguity, “I mean… more traditional, more ‘natural’ help—”

She slightly raised her chin, and her red lips, hidden in the shadow of her hood, curved into an extremely alluring yet wild and frank smile unique to the demon race.

"Whether it's me or Hoshiguma... we'd be happy to serve you. No matter who you choose to have a child with right now, shouldn't you reserve a spot for our Oni clan someday? That's what you promised the Oni clan."

Kamiyagawa:……

It seems... there was indeed a very vague promise made in this regard.

In earlier times, in order to win the full support and loyalty of the Oni clan of Mount Ooe, some open possibilities regarding future connections and the continuation of bloodlines were vaguely mentioned as part of "political bargaining chips" and long-term bonds.

However, the timing and format were never specified, and it was never elevated to the level of needing immediate implementation.

This is Ibaraki's "advice".

It was unconventional and bold, yet it firmly adhered to the impeccable banner of "for the sake of stability in Takamagahara".

That's really her style.

But setting aside the superficial jokes and ambiguous suggestions, leaving behind bloodlines and offspring as an "alternative plan" and "ultimate insurance" in extreme circumstances, thereby constructing another layer of protection for the continuation of the Takamagahara legal system and the stability of the regime, in addition to the main line of succession through the Kanoya and Tsurumi branches... is indeed something that should be seriously considered right now.

Treat it as a serious matter.

There are still two months left; it should be enough time. (End of Chapter)