Shigeru impatiently changed the channels and settings, but the TV only showed static.

"Strange… The telly isn't working well. I'll go for a walk, then. Sometimes all it needs is a little time to fix itself." — He thought. He got up from the sofa, grabbed his keys, and left. Shigeru was a "man without worries", as he described himself. He had been living on his parents' money ever since finishing high school last year. An inheritance from his deceased mother, the only child of a rich couple, and a weekly allowance from his well-off father were all it took to make his life comfortable. What more could a young man want besides living alone in peace and buying anything he wished to? Most of his friends and classmates passed the entrance exams and were studying in universities in Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, and Kyoto, yet it didn't bother him at all. Ambition was useless to Shigeru. Living comfortably was his prime goal.

Just as he locked the door, two small figures scurried past him. "That's a big pair of cockroaches. Lucky me the windows are closed." He heard high-pitched laughter and the sound of small feet pitter-pattering around.

— Kararin! Kororin! Kankororin! Three eyes and two feet! — The voices chanted.

"What the fuck? Did these things get inside my house?" Something tugged on his sleeve. Shigeru quickly grabbed it and stared in disbelief. It was a Bakezōri (1), a straw sandal yōkai. It had a single large eye and a jagged mouth formed by a tear on the sandal's surface, from which a bright red tongue hung. From its sides sprouted small arms and legs. He tossed the yōkai on the ground and ran away as fast as he could. "I can't believe this. I must have slept too little last night." — He reassured himself. Running all the way from the dead-end street in which he lived to the avenue it faced, he looked at both sides. There were people walking around, shops and restaurants were still open, and even a few cars passed by. Relieved by the presence of other people, he resumed his walk, regarding what had just happened as a delusion.

— I swear me mobile wasn't working, luv! — A man explained to his girlfriend in a heavy accent. — I didn't even see yer calls!

— Hmph! Yer lucky mine isn't working, too. Now come on, let's eat somethin' tasty.

— Oi, why did ya scold me then?

They walked away. Shigeru hardly, if ever, used his mobile phone and preferred to leave it at home. "First the telly and now the phones? I'll check mine later." — He thought to himself. After a few minutes of walking, he stopped by an art supply shop. Not to buy anything, but simply to look at the art pieces made using such-and-such brand of paint, or so-and-so type of brush.

— Nitai-san? — A soft voice called him by his surname.

The cashier who called him was a former classmate back in high school. She was a plain girl: short, perhaps a bit over 150cm, used thick glasses, and had jet-black straight hair in a hime cut. He slowly approached the register while slightly squinting his eyes.

— Heyyy… Erm…

— Watanabe. Chihaya Watanabe. — She said patiently.

— Chihaya-chan! — He exclaimed while making finger guns. — Sorry, I haven't been sleeping well lately. It's good to know you work so close to my house. How do you do?

— Just fine. — She sighed. — Do you need anything from the shop?

— Nah, just browsing. I like those paintings. — He said, pointing to a piece with bright colours portraying a dog running through a field. — Who made them?

— I did.

— Well, then I must say you're a good artist! Why are you still here? Your work should be displayed in expositions!

— I'm working here to help my parents. — She smiled with insincerity. — Once things are better, I'll apply to an entrance exam.

— I see… Well then, I gotta dash. — He said, looking at a small wall clock mounted at the shop. — We'll see each other again some time.

She nodded quietly and waved her hand as Shigeru left the shop. "Seems like I'm not the only one left here in Obihiro." Strolling along the street, he noticed people running in the opposite direction. They were terrified, some even tripped along the way. Shigeru thought it better to turn around and run as well despite not knowing what made the crowd run so desperately. "Wait, what about Chihaya-chan?" — He thought just as he passed the art supply shop. He turned back and entered the shop only to find Chihaya already jumping over the counter.

— You're smart, Chihaya-chan. Come on, let's run!

— This is what you meant when you said "I gotta dash"? — She humorously asked.

"Cracking jokes right at this time? At least it shows she's in control of her emotions, I think." Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream echoed from the direction of the unknown threat. Chihaya stopped running, prompting Shigeru to halt as well.

— Are you daft? Come on, we need to get away from here! — He exclaimed.

Chihaya clenched her fists. Without looking Shigeru in the eye, she answered:

— I don't want to regret not helping someone in need. I must at least check what's happening.

She turned around and sprinted towards the horrifying sound. "Shit, you're not a hero, and neither am I!" Shigeru decided to follow her after some seconds of quick and careful thinking. He thought he was able to bear the weight of letting a stranger die, but not his former classmate. Chihaya stopped right before a street corner and stopped on her tracks. Shigeru hesitated again but increased his speed once hearing the scream one more time. Once approaching Chihaya and looking in the same direction, Shigeru felt paralysed. A red-skinned humanoid creature with a short pair of horns held a club in one hand and a being that looked like a horse's head on the other. Its mouth, filled with sharp and crooked teeth, was stained with blood. Some corpses could be seen from behind the bizarre pair.

— It's an Oni (2)... — It was all that Chihaya could mutter.

— Oooh, these ones look like proper desserts! What do ya think, Sagari?(3) I'll let ya have the boy. — The Oni said with a distorted voice.

All the Sagari could do was breathe heavily before letting out another scream. The Oni readied its club.

— See? I'm not a blighter! This yōkai here can mimic human screams. All I need to do is club the curious idiots that come to check on us!

The Oni laughed heartily as the Sagari tried to smile with its bizarre horse-like anatomy. Shigeru had already accepted his fate while Chihaya still seemed to be in shock. He closed his eyes to make his death more bearable.

— I will not allow you to die. — A deep voice echoed in Shigeru's mind.

Shigeru opened his eyes to quickly analyse the situation. Looking like an amalgam between a bird's feet and a human limb, his hand had moved by itself to stop the heavy blow.

— Let go of my club, you blighted mutant! — The Oni exclaimed with clear horror in its voice.

— I will lend my power to you. — The voice stated. — Now destroy that heinous Yōkai!

Shigeru swung the other arm, releasing the club from the Oni's grasp and launching it far away.

— Bloody hell, I'm not staying here! Never expected to find a native god messing around!

It threw the Sagari to the ground and began running away from Shigeru. The macabre creature pitifully heaved on the pavement. It couldn't take its yellow eyes from Shigeru.

— Kotan koro... Kamui... — It muttered.

Again, Shigeru moved as if he was possessed and stomped down the Yōkai, leaving only a bloody mush on the ground.

— It is Kotan kor Kamuy, (4) you despicable demon! — He furiously exclaimed with a distorted voice.

He looked back at Chihaya, who had silently watched everything. His hands transformed back. Seemingly regaining control of his own body, he approached her.

— Chihaya-chan... I don't know what came over me! I heard a voice and...

— We're alive now because of that, aren't we? — She said while standing up and wiping away the dust from her clothing. — Well, priorities first. We should get you a change of clothes and some food.

Shigeru stared without understanding what Chihaya talked about. She pointed towards his leg, which was drenched in dark red blood. And worst of all, it had a barely tolerable stench.

— Oi, what's all this? I think you're surprisingly calm. We were just attacked by a fucking monster! You hearing me well? An Oni appeared out of nowhere and almost killed us! — He exclaimed, clearly upset with the course of events.

— Why should I let fear and madness control me? This is obviously the beginning of the Apocalypse.

He breathed in to talk more but was silenced by a raised index finger from Chihaya.

— And you are useful. We can join forces against the monsters.

— Wretched Yamato (5) wench... Slit her throat, human. Let none of their people command you again. — The voice urged.

— Kotan kor Kamuy, is it? Listen well, I'm not going to kill anyone. Chihaya is my friend. — He answered.

— Who are you talking to, Nitai-san? — Chihaya inquired.

He suddenly grabbed her neck and lift her up in the air. Shigeru was desperate. He didn't want to do this, but the mysterious being's influence was stronger than his own willpower.

— Believe me, I'm not the one doing this, Chihaya-chan!

Sharp claws suddenly slashed Shigeru from behind, making him drop Chihaya. Heaving and massaging her own neck, now red and bruised, and holding her mobile phone with the other, she said:

— We will fare better if we cooperate... I'm lucky I summoned the Kappa (6) in time...

Shigeru turned around only to find a bizarre short green amphibian creature ready to fight. Its webbed hands had sharp claws on the tips of the fingers and its turtle-like beak looked even sharper.

— Hmph, a devil summoner. — Shigeru said again with the distorted voice. — I thought it was merely a rumour, yet they really released that power into the hands of the mortals...

— And I'm not afraid to use it! Now listen to me if you don't want to fight my demons!

"She had this power all along? Perhaps she didn't even need my help. Then why was she just observing as I sent the Oni dashing off?" — He thought. His body was possessed, but not his mind. Once regaining control, Shigeru felt a sharp pain on his back. There were six horizontal wounds bleeding profusely on his back.

— Fuck, this hurts! Couldn't you have been gentler? — He shouted.

— I could say the same. Stay still, I'm going to fix you.

A greenish energy revitalised Shigeru and instantly closed his wounds. He asked in surprise:

— What's that? Healing magic?

— It apparently is a spell called Dia. I can use others through my phone. — She explained.

A grey owl landed near them. As it opened its beak, Kotan kor Kamuy's voice resounded.

— I have a proposal for you, Yamato wench.

— I'm listening. And would you be so kind as to call me by my name? — Chihaya retorted.

— Very well... I suggest an answer for an answer.

— Then I'll begin. — She interrupted as the owl scowled. — Why are you here?

— To free Aynu Mosir. (7) — He answered plainly.

— Wait, it sounds like you know him. Who are you exactly, Chihaya? How much do you know? — Shigeru asked with suspicion.

— I simply read too much during my spare time. This one is the Ainu owl god Kotan kor Kamuy. He was tasked with watching and protecting the villages.

Shigeru nodded in comprehension. "Well, shite. Who would have known someone as unassuming as Chihaya would have such a personality?" It still sounded like fantasy to him despite everything that had happened a few minutes ago.

— I want to know about this Devil Summoning Programme. — Kotan kor Kamuy requested.

— That's sort of a vague question. If I answer, will you tell me everything about the other gods?

— Hmph, damned evil people... Agreed. Speak before I lose my patience.

— Very well. It began around a week ago. This strange app downloaded itself on my mobile phone.

Glossary

This section at the end of every chapter will be used to deliver short explanations about certain terms the reader might not be familiar with.

1. Bakezōri (化け草履, lit. "haunted zōri"), a tsukumogami (付喪神, lit. "tool kami") occasionally created when straw sandals known as zōri have been mistreated and forgotten by their owners.

2. Oni (鬼, lit. "ogre, demon"), a famous Yōkai known for its great strength and savagery.

3. Sagari (さがり, lit. "hanging"), a Yōkai formed from spirits of neglected horse corpses. It hangs on trees and startles people roaming nearby with its horrifying scream.

4. Kotan kor Kamuy (lit. "Deity who protects the village"; also called Cikap Kamuy, lit. "Bird deity"), a kamuy of Ainu mythology that takes the shape of an owl. It oversees human behaviour to make sure rituals are properly executed.

5. Yamato (大和, composed of the kanji for "great" and "harmony") was the name of an ancient polity during the Kofun Period that ended up originating Japan and the eponymous Yamato Dynasty, the Imperial Family of Japan. Ryukyuans to this day call the Japanese people yamatunchu (やまとぅんちゅ, lit. "Yamato person/people").

6. Kappa (河童, lit. "river child"), a well-known aquatic Yōkai whose appearance is something between a human, a frog, and a turtle.

7. Aynu Mosir (lit. "Land of the Ainu") is the Ainu language name for the island of Hokkaido.