Volume 2
Side Story 10
Cheeks Soaked
in Divine Tears, Perplexed but Distant 1
Translator : PolterGlast
―Kokuten Province, in the mountains.
"Guh, ku,
kuha,..."
Every time he coughed,
his lungs ached with burning pain, and Fuwa Naotoshi writhed his body in
excruciating agony.
Is it the remnants of
the night dew? As he scratched at the wet rock surface, remnants of green moss
coiled thickly between his fingernails.
Crap. Understanding
that there would be no assistance for a while to come given that the
surroundings have lost all signs of life, he turned the cursing words that
loomed at the tip of his throat into a loud sigh.
...... A blunder. A
great one at that.
Desperately running
along the surface of the cliff from which he had slid down, he rolled his body
down into the shade of a boulder.
The cold, wet surface
of the boulder was draining him of his stamina, but he didn't care, and he went
deeper into the cliff to hide his presence.
At that moment,
―ko, ko, ko, ko.......
The wailing of an
emotionless, cold, hard cry fell on the mountainside where Naotoshi was hiding.
...... There were no
footsteps, and the source of the wailing was simply weaving its way across the
heights beyond human reach.
Even as he was trying
to hold back the dull ache that ran through his body, he encased himself in
multiple layers of concealment formations and looked through a gap in the
shadows of the boulders to the voice's source.
―Ko...,
Standing ahead of him
was a deformed figure in the shape of a monk wearing a kesa (priest's robe).
It was about six
meters tall. The head of the figure is so smooth and slender that the border
between the head and the body is so vague that one can see beyond it.
"Who said that it
was Tsuchikorobi!? It is none other
than Hidarugami! This is not the
kind of mistake one can simply brush off!!"
When Naotoshi was on
his way home after successfully completing his mission to support the
extermination in Sangamisaki territory, he was right on the doorstep of
Samidare territory.
Naotoshi's return,
caught up in the frequent occurrence of miasma, was delayed from the original
schedule.
Naotoshi had come to
assist in the extermination of the Tsuchikorobi, a group of medium-level
defiled beasts that infested the eastern part of the territory, with the aim of
joining forces with the local people who had requested a prolonged residence in
the area.
Although Tsuchikorobi
is one of the largest of the medium-sized defiled beasts, they are timid and
weak even among the defiled beasts, despite their huge stature.
However, the people of
Kokuten Province, who belonged to the water elements, were not a good match for
Tsuchikorobi, who belonged to the earth elements, and the garrison of such a
small territory, which did not have a sufficient number of defenders, was
suffering serious damage.
Then, a guardian from
the Eight Families, and of the wood elements, came to their aid.
Seizing this
opportunity, the feudal lord welcomed Naotoshi with open arms.
Naotoshi was not so
reluctant to accept the request, partly because he was renting the house.
The other reason was,
that wood conquered earth. Naotoshi had a track record of defeating
Tsuchikorobi single-handedly, even when they were in a group.
―However, as Naotoshi and his men were on their way to
defeat the Tsuchikorobi, the Hidarugami, who were of the same height but
belonged to completely different elements and posed a completely different
threat, attacked them from behind the trees during the daytime, when the sun
was still high in the sky.
After all, this yokai
is so strong and troublesome that it is enough to be considered a deity.
Moreover, it belongs
to the metal elements.
Metal conquers Wood.
For Naotoshi, who is part of the wood elements, Hidarugami is his worst match.
The garrison that had
been assembled was helplessly crushed by the unexpected daytime assault, and
even Naotoshi, who managed to avoid a direct hit, was blown off the cliff by
the impact.
―It would be lucky that only a few ribs were broken.......
Naotoshi judged calmly
that the worst he could get from the resounding pain would be broken ribs at
the very least.
He put his hand around
his waist and fiddled with the talisman case that had been fastened there.
However, the clasp might have been detached by the impact, and the fingertips
that sought for the regeneration talismans only ended up scratching the bottom
of the case, where only a few offensive-type talismans remained.
How fortunate
that the monster had followed me. Naotoshi let out a sigh of pain that almost made him
feel depressed, and he leaned back against a boulder, not caring if he got
soggy from the wet surface.
...... Ever since he
heard the news of Akira's death, there have been a series of troubles around
him.
Although each
individual was able to keep up with the smallest problems, what could be the
plight of those who would have to pay the price for this?
―It is natural that the blessings would be reduced if
one leaves the domain of the land god, but even if that were the case, this is
.......
Naotoshi could not
feel the blessing of the land god now, to the extent that he almost thought
that the blessing had been removed.
In addition, he felt
that the surrounding miasma had become much thicker.
It would have been
unthinkable a month ago that a medium-level defiled beast (yokai) would be
walking around during the daytime in an area that is not even a miasma pool.
"Is it a dead end
for me? ...... No, wait."
After pressuring his
brow to shut his mouth, which was only feebly leaking out a few words, he
picked himself up, forgetting the pain rushing through his body at the
slightest glimmer of light that passed in his memory.
His fingertips,
gliding with impatience, explored the hidden pouch sewn into the back of his
collar, and plucked out its contents.
Between his fingers,
there was a single regeneration talisman, visible through its poor handwriting.
It was the regeneration talisman that Akira had created.
In the past, almost
all of the regeneration talismans created by Akira were sold by Naotoshi in
order to secure money for Akira, but Naotoshi kept the first completed talisman
as a good luck charm because he could not bear to sell it.
Since Akira created
it, it was an empty container with no spiritual power, but fortunately,
Naotoshi's spiritual power remained almost intact.
If he could infuse his
spiritual power as an emergency, he would be able to heal his broken ribs
completely, even though it was merely a child's poorly crafted talisman.
Naotoshi carefully
kneaded his spiritual power so that Hidarugami wouldn't detect it.
Although the fine wave
of pain almost dredged up his consciousness, Naotoshi managed to channel his
spiritual power into the talisman.
―*Snap*.
"......
Impossible."
Naotoshi's eyes opened
in shock as he heard the quiet blasting sound.
His spiritual power
interfered with the spiritual power of the regeneration talisman, and the proof
of resistance was scattered with sparks.
It can't be. Denying
the reality, Naotoshi cut the sacred thread of the regeneration talisman.
As a result,
―*Flash*.
The black spiritual
power flared up from the released talisman, and after it was released, a
healing ember engulfed Naotoshi.
Akira who possessed no
spirit shouldn't be able to contain spiritual power. This was the common
understanding not only for Naotoshi, but also for all those who were members of
Ugetsu.
―Naotoshi has been watching the entire process of Akira
creating the regeneration talisman.
Akira was able to
store spiritual power into the talisman.
This fact drew further
questions into Naotoshi's mind.
"...... I can't
just fall and die here."
The healing embers
caressing Naotoshi's body erased the pain as if it were all an illusion, and
his body, having regained its freedom, moved away from the boulder's surface.
―Naotoshi unsheathed his tachi, which he wore at his
waist, and after bracing himself, he leaped out from behind the boulder where
he had been hiding.
His body floated in
the air, and his haori fluttered in
the wind.
Hidarugami, who was
roaming below the cliff, sensing Naotoshi's presence, turned its body to point
its huge physique along with its sword at him.
Slow.
Its slow speed allowed
Naotoshi to take one step further.
The swirling spiritual
power within the blade surged forth.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Shoden―
―Enbi
―Ko!
"Kuh!!"
A surprise attack. It
was an advantageous and ideal attack.
Nevertheless,
Hidarugami's roar transformed into a shockwave, and Naotoshi was sent flying
backward along with his spirit technique.
Hariin-school is the
best short-range offensive technique.
However, it also means
that they lack the means to respond outside of the attack range.
...... One of the few
long-range offensive techniques available is Enbi, which he used in an attempt
to bridge the gap until he could get into Hidarugami's chest, but
unfortunately, he was pushed away due to the other party's spells.
―Is this the troublesome nature of Hidarugami, a Youkai
that is said to be close to mysterious beings!?
After failing to close
the gap, Naotoshi's chances of victory were slim.
―But even so, it would be a disgrace for a guardian to
retreat. He held his spirit vessel in plain sight and kicked at the ground,
making a twisting motion from his slightly lowered waist.
―Ko, ko, ...... ko~~!!
"Haaa!!"
Several layers of
intangible flying debris, kneaded from the shockwave, were released by
Hidarugami.
Using the excessive
amount of spiritual power he had put into his body, Naotoshi dropped his body
until it scraped against the ground.
The shockwaves passed
over his back as he ran at full speed, just missing him by a hair's breadth.
Hidarugami's huge
frame might have had an adverse effect, making it difficult for him to maintain
a clear line of fire from his lowest position.
―Ko, ko~!
When Naotoshi's blade
was only a few steps away from reaching it, Hidarugami's roar made him
emotionally alert.
What it contained was
a clear irritation―!
"Ugh!!"
In an instant, the
miasma, which had turned into a cannonball, transformed into a surging wave and
pressed down from above Naotoshi's head. His speed was slowed down by the
enormous mass of the miasma.
Even so, he could not
let the progress he had made to this point go to waste.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Shoden―
"Unari
Nekoyanagi!!"
The spiritual techniques
to strengthen his body, which were piled up on top of another, repelled the
weight of the miasma that was trying to crush his body,
―Last step.
―Ko!
He, who was supposed
to be inferior to Hidarugami. Perhaps pressured by Naotoshi's fighting spirit,
whom it had underestimated, Hidarugami's footsteps yielded one step to the
approaching Naotoshi.
"―Are you going
to retreat!? Hidarugami!?"
A sharp provocation
that caught Hidarugami off guard.
"Let me teach you
what we call a dead end!"
A direct descendant of
the eight families. The spiritual power befitting this title fiercely enveloped
Naotoshi's body.
To keep Hidarugami
from escaping, Naotoshi thrust his tachi into its solar plexus.
The Hariin-school,
which never retreats.
If one has allowed them
to close in to such a degree, there can be no word of retreat for
Hariin-school, no matter how good or bad their suitability with their opponents
may be.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Chuden―
"Aogi
Suisen!"
The blade, which had
penetrated halfway through, bared its fangs to rip Hidarugami apart using a
gush of spiritual power.
*Thump*. However, just
as he was making slight progress, he was blocked by Hidarugami's palm.
However, just as he
was making slight progress, he was blocked by Hidarugami's palm.
The miasma responded
to Hidarugami's struggle, chipping away the spiritual power from Naotoshi's
blade.
―Ka!! "Fu!"
The breaths of
Pseudo-deity and Naotoshi intersected in the fragility of the candlelight that
was about to fade away at the end of the summer battle.
In the vortex of the
enormous miasma, the tachi's blade screamed and Naotoshi's haori began to be
eroded and scattered.
Even though he was
pushed to that point, Naotoshi took another step forward, but the blade cuts
Naotoshi was able to inflict on Hidarugami's huge physique were only minor
wounds.
A nonlethal sword
wound. Naotoshi was exposed to the miasma and driven to the brink of death.
Perhaps seeing an
obvious opportunity for victory, the Yokai in front of him pressed closer to
crush Naotoshi, using its massive 6-meter physique to its advantage.
"As what I
expected."
―Koko!!??
However, the demon,
who was gaining momentum, received a ruthless statement in return.
Both arms of the demon
grasping the spirit vessel were severed in its midsection shortly afterward.
"This's the
end―!!"
Naotoshi let go of the
spirit vessel and instead grabbed another tachi that he carried at his waist.
It is not a spirit
vessel, but a tempered blade.
And this is one of
Hariin-school's hidden techniques of using a mere tempered blade as a
substitute of a spirit vessel.
―Nairifusou.
As his spiritual power
caused the tempered blade to disintegrate, Naotoshi's body dived deeper into
Hidarugami's chest.
Naotoshi's
determination was contained in the blade, and he sliced Hidarugami's knees in
two, without allowing any resistance.
―Kooo~~!?
Naotoshi, who had
already moved away from Hidarugami, who had lost both arms and legs and was
lying on the ground, threw his tempered blade away and grabbed the spirit
vessel that was on the ground once again.
Hariin-style
Spirit Technique, Finisher Move―
"Kasane
Sendan,"
Unable to resist, the
Yokai rolled over, exposing its vulnerable neck. Naotoshi's blade plunged into
it without a second thought.
A slashing blow that
was dropped blasted away the protective barrier made of miasma,
"Kari
Tsubaki―!!"
The second blow,
struck at the same time, perfectly severed Hidarugami's neck.
――――――――――
"Phew―"
He sheathed his tachi
along with his lingering fighting spirit.
Perhaps the edge of
the sword's blade has been altered, he felt a slight resistance as he sheathed
it.
This means I'll have
to repair the spirit vessel, Naotoshi thought to himself at his own
inexperience.
When he fiddled around
in his pocket, the purifying water that had fortunately survived the battle
touched his fingertips.
Although it had turned
into a corpse, Hidarugami was still a mass of miasma. Before it could
contaminate the land with the miasma, he must purify the corpse by sprinkling
it with purifying water.
―*Whoosh*.
The corpse, perhaps
doused in purifying water, turned pale and burned, then crumbled to dust.
As Naotoshi watched
this scene, he let out a lamenting sigh, despite being aware that it might
bring on depression.
What passed through
his mind was the scene of the burning and scattering of the regeneration
talisman he had used earlier.
―The healing embers.
"Who would have
thought that Akira-kun was able to create a regeneration talisman?
...... Did he even
aware of this?"
After saying this, he
laughed at himself for asking such a foolish question.
He was a smart boy. At
least, he should have figured it out not long after he was banished.
3 years. As far as he
knew, it would take a lot of luck or money to survive for a 10-year-old boy who
didn't even know anything about the world.
However, if he could
make regeneration talismans, then that problem would be solved.
And here's the thing.
―The regeneration talisman used by Naotoshi earlier is
the first talisman completed by Akira apart from the recovery talisman.
The creation of
talismans requires, above all, precise control of the spiritual pulses.
For this reason, there
is a method of training that deliberately fatigues the spiritual pulse and
makes the practitioner aware of its pulsation.
Although he was not
aware of it because he couldn't sense the spiritual pulse in the talismans, he
had instructed Akira to create about 100 regeneration talismans for Akira's own
future.
And Naotoshi witnessed
the whole process.
*Shudder*. A chill ran
down Naotoshi's spine at his own misunderstanding.
There is no unit to
measure spiritual power, but even if an Onmyoji who possesses a medium-ranked
spirit puts his spiritual power into a regeneration talisman, the limit is five
talismans a day.
100 of them. Moreover,
there was no sign of strain imposed on the spiritual vein in the creation of the
talismans.
Since all of them were
completed, then, Akira would have the spiritual power of 20 Onmyoji, even by
simple calculations.
"......I must
hurry and get back to Haraku."
Naotoshi turned on his
heel, his excitement at having defeated Hidarugami, a formidable foe, fading.
What was in his heart
was the determination to cross the territorial border, even if it meant pushing
himself a little harder than he had to.
Could it be the
survivors of the garrison? The presence of several people making noise reached
the tip of Naotoshi's toes.
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