Volume 3
Side Story 5
Close to the
Dream, and Wishing in Tears
Translator : PolterGlast
―In the depths of infinity spreading out into the void,
all the girl could do was weep and gaze.
The rain of sword
forest bullets spreads like wildfire, and the land is polluted by unfettered
desire.
The land that her
people and her feet had trod upon was being ravaged.
―Aaaah. Why is this happening?
Her role is not
confined to the present.
At the end of Nayuta
(TL note: Buddhism term?), it is her role to destroy the last generation and
connect it to the one to come.
This world has yet to
pardon her except to continue to slumber.
That is why, in her
dreams, she could only lament.
"―Don't
cry."
I said so
unintentionally. ―I had no choice but to do so.
In the face of
the weeping girl, I, who am not even a part of her believer, suppressed my
insolence and offered a series of idle consolations.
....... But
what else is there to say?
The only thing
I can do is to comfort the girl, and my own spirit scatters violet flames.
The sparks of fire
scattered in the void illuminated only the girl's surroundings, exposing her
limbs.
Her pale,
wheat-colored skin stands out in the midst of the void.
Her body, which looks
to be around 14 years old, is wrapped in a cloth woven with brocade and iron
ghungroo attached to her arms and legs.
Holding her slender,
flexible legs in her hands, she floated in the void with her face buried in her
knees and lamented.
"Don't cry.
......I'll be sad too if you cry."
I say it just
one more time.
This is just a
dream. My voice will never reach her.
Even though she was
convinced of this, she still couldn't help but say it.
―And,
The girl's shoulders
tremble slightly.
Her face rose from her
knees, and her gaze wandered through the void, as if searching for the person
who had called out to comfort her.
―Eventually,
*Ring-ring*. The
swaying Ghungroo chimed gently, and a pair of crimson eyes looked at me.
[......Who?]
An out-of-focus voice,
as if separated by a thin film, traveled across the distance.
At that moment, the
voices that should have been inaudible and figures that should have been
invisible, were indeed connected.
"I am..."
[You're not my kin.
Not my people. Not standing on my land.
―I see, you have a piece of the thorns (one of 28). Due
to the temporary connection between the beginning and the end, the dream has
delivered its voice to you.]
A sorrowful murmur
escaped from the girl's mouth.
She only lamented her
inability to respond to the voice calling out to her from a distant land.
The connection that
was faintly established was ripped apart by the girl's agitation.
[Why are my thorns in
such a place? There should be only one that I placed there. And it should have
already been pulled out and hidden away.
......I see, it's her.
I knew she had stolen it from my domain, but to think that she hid it in such a
place.
―Whatever, I don't care. My household has been banished
from the divine realm. There is no one left to wield my thorns.]
The monologue was
uttered in despair, and the girl tried to bury her face in her knees again.
Just before that. The
slight curiosity that was born spilled out of the girl's mouth and dissipated.
[Hey. If you're going
to pity me, at least tell me,
―What is your name?]
The chasm of the unseen.
Saki opened her mouth to respond to the question from far away, even if she
couldn't reach it.
"I am
......."
――――――――――
As the orange-blurred
morning sun was shining through the curtains, Saki was awakened by a light
shock on her forehead.
"―Ah!"
The book that was
supposed to be propped up next to the bed was slipped from its place, and fell
to her forehead and landed on the floor.
*Thud. The light sound
of the falling book resounded, but fortunately, it didn't wake up the other
girl in the same room.
Feeling relieved at
this, Saki put her feet down on the floor so as not to make any noise.
*Creak*. The old
wooden floor creaked slightly as she undid her white undergarment and slipped
into her training clothes.
The futon behind Saki
rustled, perhaps awakened by the presence of someone moving.
"...... Hmm?
Saki, did you wake up already?"
"Sorry for waking
you up."
It's okay. Kiyoko
responded to Saki's apology with a yawn, and turned her sleepy eyes to Saki.
Beyond her vision, she
saw Saki, with naginata bag in hand, heading for the door.
"Morning
training? You sure like to train, huh? Even though you've just finished your
guardian training."
"Yep.
Tsuguho-sama has given me permission to be transferred to the garrison.
The garrison is a
men's place, so I'm a little awkward, but it's better than losing my combat
sense."
"...... But, once
you graduate and start your own family, there won't be many opportunities left
for you to wield a blade.
I don't think even the
young ladies of the Eight Families are any different in that regard."
Although Kiyoko's tone
of voice was one of dismay, her opinion was also a natural one.
In the traditional
sense, a woman's main duty is to stay within the family, even if she is a
member of a noble family. This is the common sense in Takamagahara.
The martial arts that
women learn are often only for leisure, and even if they have received the rank
of guardian in the [Shrine Parishioner Lottery], they usually do not have the
opportunity to be recruited to work as a member of the warrior class.
Even at Tenryō
Academy, which is home to many samurai and noble families, the women's
department does not offer a course in martial arts training.
―But,
"We never know
when an unforeseen disturbance may occur.
―I'm sure we'll get news of it soon, but there was a
Haykki Yagyo in Karen's first district."
"No way."
Kiyoko looked at
Saki's words with a dumbfounded stare.
Although she knew it was
not a lie that was worth telling, she still found the information hard to
believe.
Karen is the center of
the Shumon Province, and the 1st District is its heart, the knee of the Shumon
Province's Divine Pillar.
The headquarters of
the garrison was also located there, and it was supposed to be the most heavily
guarded district in Karen.
"It was a little
too small to be called Hyakki Yagyo, but a powerful metamorph went on the
rampage there.
Uncle Asogi happened
to be at the headquarters and was able to contain the damage."
"I see, Uncle
Asogi, huh?
...... That's a relief
then."
Perhaps it was because
her first love was mentioned, but Kiyoko was visibly relieved.
As one of the most
powerful individuals in Shumon Province, Asogi Genji has earned the trust of
both the nobility and the commoners, and deservedly so.
"In the Karen's
disturbance, the damage came mainly from among the nobility.
―I heard that an active guardian belonging to the
garrison was killed by the metamorph without being able to resist."
"That means
......"
Kiyoko's expression
clouded as she realized what Saki meant.
The garrison is the
front-line organization in the fight against Kegare. ...... It should have the
most experience in fighting against Kegare.
The fact that the
guardians, which is the symbol of this organization, have suffered casualties
means that the guardians' combat skills have declined significantly.
"I know that
women are supposed to stay at home, but as a guardian, it's not acceptable to
say that I couldn't fight in an emergency.
Kiyoko, you should
practice your spirit skills too."
"...... Got
it."
The Hyakki Yagyo to
the Central Capital has only received a warning from the Shumon Province, and
the situation has not yet been ascertained.
However, an emergency
might happen at any moment.
Kiyoko affirmed Saki's
warning.
Relieved that Kiyoko
had agreed with her, Saki left her room in the dormitory.
♢
Saki hurried her feet
in the opposite direction of the flow of male students who were heading for the
morning training.
Perhaps the sight of
Saki in her training clothes was unusual, or perhaps the eyes of passersby
unconsciously followed her swaying ponytail.
Passing by the tram that
had begun to move, Saki headed toward the dojo of the garrison, which was
located not far from Tenryō Academy.
Even though it was
early in the morning, the dojo was filled with activity.
The tips of wooden
swords were swung down in time with the rhythm, and the polished oak
floorboards creaked in unison each time.
Although most of the
participants were drill soldiers, she could see Akira and Genji standing in a
corner a little further away from the others.
The two men, who are
of different builds, were swinging wooden swords in unison.
At first glance, their
actions appear to be mirror images of each other, but Genji seems to be left
dissatisfied.
"You're not
moving fast enough! Don't break your offensive step!"
"Yes, sir!!"
Each swing was met
with a shout of rage, and Akira, too, was aware of it, and without rebuttal,
took the brunt of Genji's bare words.
"―Sorry I'm late,
Uncle."
"We're just
having a little workout ahead of you.
―As expected, it's a bit far from Ojou's dormitory,
right? Wouldn't it be better to rent the academy's training hall instead of the
garrison's dojo?"
In response to this
suggestion, Saki only responded with a wry smile and did not say a word.
Saki had already
considered Genji's suggestion.
Even with the rank of
guardian, women's skills basically do not go beyond the realm of self-defense.
This may be the reason
why the academy's training halls are exclusively occupied by male students.
If she went to the
academy's training hall, she was sure to be looked at with inquiry and
curiosity.
Although it was no
different in the dojo of the garrison, the presence of Akira and Genji might
make Saki feel more at ease.
It was a natural
decision for Saki to join Akira and Genji in the garrison.
She picked up a wooden
naginata hanging on the wall.
From the feeling of
the spiritual power passing through her palm, she understood that it was a
4th-rank spirit vessel.
Twice, thrice. The tip
of the blade drew a large circular motion, and then she stood in front of Akira.
It was the same
position she had taken throughout the summer.
Without anything in
particular being pointed out, the training resumed in silence.
♢
After a while, when
the chilly early autumn air could no longer disguise the heat generated during
the training, Genji clapped his hands to stop Akira and the others from
training.
"―Alright, I
think it's about time.
Let's wrap it up with
the next one."
""Yes,
sir.""
Saki and Akira turned
to face each other and readied their wooden blades as beads of sweat ran down
their cheeks.
―Eventually, with Genji's swinging hand gesture, Saki
and Akira closed the gap at the same time.
The power of the
spirit of fire-element represents the pure destruction of existence itself.
Therefore, the
Kihoin-school's techniques focused on continuous attacks.
Saki controlled the
spiritual power swirling around her and infused all of it in the spirit vessel
so as not to spill any of it.
She aimed at Akira's
upper arm, drawing an arc from Hassō-no-kamae.
Confronting Akira, who
has an absolute affinity for spiritual power, Saki is forced to realize one
fact.
Even if Akira's skill
was inferior to Saki's, Saki couldn't win against Akira who was fully
motivated.
―The blessing of Shuka that Akira possessed would never
disappear as long as Akira was filled with divine energy.
To overcome this
absurdity and defeat Akira, it was necessary to reduce the number of moves more
than anything else.
A Spirit vessel is
essential for exercising a spirit technique that falls under the category of
external power. If she could knock it off, there would be a small chance for
Saki to win.
Betting on that one
chance, Saki aimed at Akira's right hand.
Perhaps her aim was
obvious, Akira retracted the right half of his body and received the naginata
with the ridge of his wooden sword.
An impact that could
not be ignored, even if it did not become a spirit technique, swallowed Akira.
Perhaps startled by
the thunderous noise that resounded through the dojo, the drill soldiers who
were wielding wooden swords stopped their hands involuntarily and turned their
gazes to look at them.
However, Akira, who
had no time to pay attention to their gazes, took one step toward Saki with his
feet still on the offensive after receiving the impact.
He left a trail of
lingering flames at his feet as he moved toward Saki's front.
Small, but sharp.
Aiming at Saki's shoulder, a slash was struck down.
―If Saki's weapon were a wooden sword, there would have
been no way to escape from it.
The wooden naginata's ishizuki
(butt-end) sprang up in time with the trajectory of Akira's slash.
The thrust forcefully
parried the wooden sword and caused Akira's upper body to be exposed.
The advantage of the
naginata is that it can maintain uninterrupted attacks by using its spearheads
and its ishizuki.
Akira, with his wooden
sword, could not match the speed of the attacks.
The spearhead of the
naginata struck Akira, who was completely exposed, in the side of the head.
However, they had
crossed strikes many times. Akira had anticipated this turn of events.
He forcefully met the
spearhead with the hilt of the wooden sword, and parried the naginata away.
―And then, launched another slash.
"Ah!"
Saki's gasped as if
taken aback.
An intersecting
moment. Akira released a horizontal slash from the left side.
♢
"Umm, my
apologies. ......Ojō-sama."
"Hm, about
what?"
After the match was
over and Genji, who had work remaining to do, left first.
As Saki was returning
the borrowed naginata back to the wall, a hesitant voice of Akira was heard
coming from behind her.
"About the match
just now. I think I dealt a pretty serious blow."
"Yep. It's a
little bit of a challenge.
...... I was even stopped
breathing for a moment."
She was struck on the
side, and there was nothing that could stop the impact from rising in her
lungs.
She wiped her sweat
with the cotton hand towel offered to her and activated her spiritual power to
relieve the dull pain that remained.
"Are you all
right?"
"Don't worry
about it. It's normal to lose in a match, and I've done a fair amount of blows
myself, too.
―Look. Akira-kun, you even have a bruise, too."
Despite Saki's unchanged
tone, the expression on Akira's face remained unconvinced.
Even though it was a
match, it was a man beating a woman. Akira must have had some regrets about
that fact.
However, Saki ignored
him and forcefully grabbed his left arm.
The bruise on the exposed
arm was apparent blue.
"...... See,
you're bleeding."
"This much is
fine."
The blood was slightly
seeping from the wound. Frowning at the small, swollen crimson bead, Saki
forcibly picked up the bandage that had been prepared.
Wipe the wound with a
cloth and carefully wrap a bandage around it.
"Don't. What if
you get an infection?
―Moreover......."
Saki leaned in close
to Akira and whispered into his ear.
"Akira-kun, how
much divine energy do you have left?"
Akira's expression
tensed at Saki's concern.
The current Akira is
only blessed with enough divine energy to keep it filled.
Now that he is not
standing in Shumon Province, Shuka's blessing can only be maintained until his
divine energy runs out.
"......I've never
paid attention to how much divine power I have left, but I haven't felt it
diminish to the point where I can physically feel it."
"I'd like to
remind you that your current spirit power is limited.
So, please refrain
from using unnecessary spirit techniques."
"Alright."
Spirit techniques are
superior in terms of power and speed, but on the other hand, they also have the
problem of consuming more spirit power than Onmyojutsu.
Saki and the others
who have spirits in their bodies, can wait for recovery over time, but the problem
is that this is not possible for Akira, who is away from Shuka, the main source
of his divine protection.
In any case, if Akira
so wished, he could draw out an unlimited amount of power.
Even if the price for
this is the loss of spirit power, the right to control it rests entirely on
Akira's part.
―In the current situation, the challenge that Akira
faced was, above all, how to restrain himself in this land far from divine
protection.
Good. Saki looked at
the neatly wrapped bandage with satisfaction and moved away from Akira.
Realizing that they
were too close, even for the purpose of treatment, they naturally smiled shyly
at each other.
The morning training
was over, and before they noticed it, the soldiers standing around them were beginning
to disperse at a rapid pace.
"We should go
back to the academy as well. Or we'll be late for classes.
―Have you gotten used to the academy's classes,
Akira-kun?"
"Yes. The content
is the same as that of an ordinary junior high school."
Saki looked at him
enviously as they walked side by side.
Although Akira was not
standing out, he was showing his talent in all aspects of literature and
martial arts.
He is not only adept
at swordsmanship, but also at history, mathematics, and even politics.
Regardless of him
being a Kanna-no-Mikura, it is the result of his own talent and efforts.
Although he did not
attract attention because he kept using concealment by wishing to the spirits,
the existence of Akira had begun to rise in this short school life as he
remained hidden.
The ginkgo leaf which
showed a color change in a cold winter swayed. A scene of such a morning.
―On this day, Akira plucked one from Saki for the first
time.
-----
Thank you for my Patrons !!
[Platinum]
Aiden Elliott
Duncan Rodgers
Edgar M
Elite
Max Kneifel
Swagaraga
[Gold]
Brandon robinson
Hikari Ashta
Mathias Tucunduva
[Silver]
CoolmanMTD
Creris
Frédéric Bertrand-Hudon
Glasses Kun
Pristia
Abhinav Choudhury
Anton Lim
Ctdela
Curious Panda
Hikigaya Hachiman
Read Advanced Chapters only on my Patreon
-----
