Web of light. Part 1. part 37

"It's all very beautiful, but it's complete nonsense! How are you going to enforce the basic rules and laws? We're Youkai! For as long as I can remember, no group has really been able to ensure the stability of the spirit society: only one strong leader, who is obviously the strongest of all! "Who will guard the guards?""

Kashi and I exchanged glances: That's all, Tengu has driven himself into a logical trap.

"Believe it or not, Smasher-san, that's the whole point of my participation in the Takamiya project. You are probably aware of the "Amakawa Oath" — my clan is the only one who has been able to develop a functioning system where a spirit and a magician can agree on a voluntary basis. Amakawa's ancestral ability does not interact with the creature's power directly— it is an independent guarantee. Do you see our concealing amulets? I don't need to prove my strength to ensure that the majority of those who have agreed to join the Takamiya Mutual Aid Society comply with their obligations. That's why I speak on behalf of everyone: I am the guarantor of the entire new social system that we have developed. Yes, I will not hide it, defending the new society, the Yokai who agreed will protect me too... just as it is true that the collapse of this whole venture will put a fat end not only to my life, but also to the history of the clan. But for the sake of the future — my own and the common future — I am ready to take a risk and put myself and my descendants, if I have any, outside the current social coordinates of the modern world. If we lose, nothing will change, meaningless deaths will continue on the fronts of the invisible yokai war against the circle magicians, and the reasonable on both sides will die just as stupidly. If we win, the future is in our hands. That's it, Tengu-san."

Silence hung over the table: several LED lamps dispelled the darkness above the table and illuminated the dry, withered (Mizuchi, you are priceless!) the grass of the "floor". The silhouettes of the surrounding mountains had long since disappeared into the darkness, and it seemed that we were the only living beings in this world. Only the muffled rumble of the generator is barely audible...

The "Smasher" pushed back his chair and stood up to his full considerable height. He rolled his stiff shoulders and looked into my eyes.

"We talked a lot here, and it wasn't as stupid as I'd hoped... But you didn't think that I would rush to swear an oath to you right away, Amakawa... Sama? First, let's fix the obvious nonsense that you young people have been making up here... and then my school will join this worthy project."

Under our dumbfounded gazes, Tengu sat down again as if nothing had happened, pleased with the impression he had made, and took a piece of paper on which he was making notes.

"So, the first remark on the structural organization of the rules of social regulation of conflicts in the basic version of civilian residence..."