Volume 3
Chapter 10
Part 2
Suddenly, a
Smile Announces the End of Days 2
Translator : PolterGlast
―Takamikura.
The girl who sat down
in the corridor told Akira this with a smile in her golden eyes.
She wore a white robe
and indigo kimono. Unlike Shuka, her appearance was simple and plain, but the
golden glow of her clothes convinced Akira that she was a Divine Pillar.
"First, let me
apologize for my aggressive approach in inviting you here.
After all, it will be
difficult to have a chance of having a calm conversation with you after
this."
"―Are you really-"
"Takamikura?
Undoubtedly, it is I, the one who has drilled the stake of earth into the high
heaven.
Divine Pillar does not
lie. I believe that fact is the best assurance I can offer you."
Her long golden hair
swayed as she gazed at her toes resting in the courtyard.
Her appearance seemed
so human, but Akira didn't feel the ups and downs of emotion as Shuka did.
The Divine Pillar
known as Takamikura is the most famous and at the same time, the least known in
Takamagahara.
She is the first
Divine Pillar of Takamagahara, who presides over the Earth Element among the
Five Elements, and heralded the beginning of Takamagahara.
That's all that is
publicly known.
Besides, the premise
that a Divine Pillar cannot lie has already been destroyed by Nurarihyon.
Therefore, Akira could
not be completely certain that the girl in front of him was really who she
claimed to be.
"There are a few
things I don't understand."
"Let me hear
it."
"With one
exception (Arawakamioroshi), Divine Pillars are not supposed to be able to
leave the Divine Realm.
―How did you manage to get here?"
Although it is close
to the windhole on Mt. Shōrō, the place where they currently stand is neither a
dragon den nor a windhole.
A divine pillar will
never just come face to face with a human being. This is because the divine
pillar, which is a concept itself, is an existence that changes the world with
its concept just by existing.
No matter how powerful
the Divine Pillar may be.
―No. It is precisely because they are so powerful that
it is impossible for them to walk around in this real world with their feet on
the ground.
"I have already
given you the answer. It is not that I have visited you, but that you have
crossed over to my dream."
"Dreamwalking,
huh?"
The girl bluntly
asserted, and Akira also recalled that the word came to mind in the
conversation just a few minutes ago.
It's one of the most
typical ways in which the Divine Pillar delivers words to people.
"Correct. I
noticed from the very beginning that you had stepped into my domain.
Kihoin and Yuge were
trying their best to play tricks on me, but they were too naive.
―Even if I were to describe it in words, it might be
difficult to truly believe it, but the Central Capital is my altar in every
way. Because it is the surface of my sanctuary."
Perhaps remembering
Tsuguho and the others' schemes, her shoulders swayed happily.
At the fact that they
had been protected in a particularly detailed way, a blush also appeared on
Akira's cheeks.
"......Then, what
do you want from me?"
He straightened his
posture and spoke with vigor.
Even Shuka would show
such obsession and frenzy when she knew that Akira was Kanna-no-Mikura.
"Nothing in particular."
But the girl of pure
gold responded in a very simple way.
"There is nothing
to fret about. Whoever puts a stake through the divine age is promised freedom
in the world of men. You may do as you wish and behave as you please."
"That's ..."
―That would be nothing more than a charade.
As memories of his
days at Ugetsu passed through his mind, Akira clenched both fists.
As long as one's
current life is good, one can forget about past misfortunes? Even if someone
slapped him on the cheek with such a righteous argument, he would not accept
it.
No matter how kind
someone is to him now, no matter how much he is healed, the past cannot be
rewritten.
For Akira, what is
burned beneath the thin layer of kindness that exists today is the memory of
being forced to prostrate himself in the Ugetsu's inner hall.
His dignity was
trampled on for no good reason,
"Kanna-no-Mikura
is, in fact, such a being.
There are many, but
each of them can never be replaced."
"―But that doesn't mean I can do whatever I want.
If I were to be
allowed to do as I please with this anger, it would eventually become
uncontrollable."
"We, the Divine
Pillars, will accept all of it.
Do as you please. That
is what I mean.
―You are not the only one. I have told the same words
to my late husband and to all his predecessors."
Even in the face of
Akira's hesitation, Her Eminence Takamikura, repeated herself without wavering.
The gaze she directed
toward him, who was enduring the memories of the past, was like a mother who
accepts a troubled child,
...... and filled with
the arrogance of a Divine Pillar who has no regard for the world of man.
"It is alright to
be in doubt. The right to freedom also means the obligation to reach a
conclusion.
If it is an end that
must be reached eventually, the best thing to do is not to be in a hurry, but
to hesitate and surely lead the way to the desired end."
Takamikura's fingers,
swimming in the air, played with a small carved wooden cup no bigger than her
palm.
While moistening her
lips, she pointed the simple cup at Akira.
"It is merely an
imitation of poison, so don't mind it, just drink it."
"Is it
henwakamizu?"
Akira tried to pick it
up, but his fingertips wavered hesitantly.
Because in his memory,
for some reason, the vermillion-gold girl's lips twitched.
"You have
probably drank Aka's, haven't you?
―Or are you saying that you can't taste what belongs to
Takamikura?"
"No.
―Itadakimasu."
Takamikura's
mischievous question provoked him, and he took the sake cup in his hand with
great vigor.
As soon as he put it
in his mouth, the overwhelming sweetness and refreshing aroma passed through
his nostrils.
In the sunlight, which
showed no signs of life, a peaceful moment simply passed by.
"Now, let's get
down to business.
―The Hyakki Yagyo, with Nurarihyon as its leader, has
already begun."
"!!"
"Exactly. Since
his target is the Central Capital, it is inevitable that the oracle will be in
my hands.
But the problem is the
limit of the oracle. I could only read where the battle of Hyakki Yakko would
begin."
Putting the carved
wooden sake cup aside, Takamikura raised her eyebrows in annoyance.
Akira tilted his head
upon seeing this.
"Isn't an oracle
supposed to be given by the Divine Pillar itself?
It seems rather
strange that the one who gave the oracle was the one who doubted it."
"Haven't you
heard the principle behind the oracle from Aka?
An oracle is to
connect the cause from the effect and read the threads of the connection.
―If we read the result poorly, the oracle will be
confirmed as the absolute result."
There are countless
possible futures to choose from.
But it is also an
absolute truth that there is only one future to come.
The moment the future
is observed by the Divine Pillar, who cannot lie, the process is fixed and the
outcome is also determined.
The observed result is
inevitable. It is the same even if it is a future of defeat.
"What is an
oracle then? ......"
"It is to read
the juncture at which victory or defeat is determined.
Normally, the oracle
should be able to predict every detail of what is going to happen, but this
time, we can't see through most of the upcoming Hyakki Yagyo."
This was a new
experience even for the Divine Pillar who reigns over Takamagahara.
There was only one
thing she could obtain. It was the fact that the Hyakki Yagyo was about to
attack Central Capital.
"But if we follow
the logic in reverse, we can also formulate a countermeasure.
The fact that we could
only read up to the Hyakki Yakko's beginning of the battle means that the
subsequent strategies were bad ones."
In strategy, there are
always only two choices: offensive or defensive.
Neither the Divine
Pillars nor the Dragon Dens can be moved. Therefore, the strategy chosen would
essentially be a defensive one.
―However, if the turning point to determine victory or
defeat was before the Hyakki Yakko's battle, it can be concluded that all the
options that should have been taken by Takamikura would eventually lead to
defeat.
"Therefore, I
have decided to go on the offensive against Hyakki Yagyo.
Specifically, I delayed the oracle to
Fujinomorimiya and made it appear that I was adhering to a defensive stance.
...... In other words, I created an environment that made it easier for
Nurarihyon to maneuver.
―But it is about time that the other party realized the
maneuver I laid out for them."
♢
The dense pool of
miasma is comfortable, but as expected, being exposed to the outside breeze
brings a different kind of emotion.
Under the blazing sun,
the Great Demon, a.k.a. Kangyō Doji, exhaled with satisfaction the air of the
outside world that he had not tasted in decades.
Throb. The muscles of
his rusty body creaked and groaned in pleasure at being free for the first time
in a while.
―Ku, Ru, Ru..................
The miasma lingering
in the air around him growled in agreement with the joy the giant old demon was
experiencing.
A man's voice,
containing a hint of dismay, called out to the back of the demon.
"Doji-dono. What
in the world is going on here?"
"......We are not
in control of the Hyakki Yagyo, you know.
The creatures and
defiled beasts that gather here are merely acting out of instinct."
No matter how powerful
the miasma and how intelligent he is, Kangyō Doji is still classified as a
medium-level defiled beast (metamorph).
As long as he is not a
high-level defiled beast (incarnation), the core of the miasma reservoir
itself, it was impossible for him to truly take control of the swarm of kegare
beasts, which moved by instinct.
The limit of what
Kangyō Doji could do was to induce the behavior of the swarm by tampering with
the flow of miasma.
The ones he gathered
were generally of low intelligence, little more than frenzy-hungry beasts.
Individuals who have
lost their patience will start to ride the flow of the miasma to their
destination.
And if one of them
takes action, two or three will follow.
It is a foregone
conclusion that the collapse of the swarm would only be a matter of time.
―That is certain. Just as the dogs were starting to run
wild under Kangyō Doji's eyes.
"......This is
bad. The Four Sovereigns are still not in the Five Elemental Barriers.
Unless Gioin and
Hariin enter the mountain, our plans will only be half-baked."
"Wouldn't it be
impossible for us to move if the barrier was reinforced?"
"Not at all. I've
already found a way to infiltrate the surface of the Central Capital.
―All we have to do now is retrieve the stake that the
little girl has been entrusted with."
The Five Elemental
Barriers are indeed powerful barriers.
If they are
strengthened by the hands of the Four Sovereigns and the Three Imperial
Families, even if it is an incarnation, mere contact with it could lead to its
purification.
However, precisely because
of this, there will be opportunities that can be taken advantage of.
"I had thought
that their actions were rather straightforward, but it seems that it is
Takamikura's scheme.
She thought that if
she could set the Hyakki Yagyo in motion while it was still in its infancy, she
would be able to destroy it, huh?"
*Grind*.
While clenching his
back teeth, Nurarihyon's body trembled with anger at being caught off-guard.
In military tactics,
it is always best to be swift.
But the situation was
moving too fast.
If the swarm of
defiled beasts, who had no tactical skills, moved before they could gather
enough numbers, they would likely be subjected to annihilation from the very
beginning of the battle.
"Shall I move?"
"Douji-dono, you
have another role to fulfill, so you can't move yet.
It's a bit of a bad
move, but it can't be helped. The sun is still high, but we will carry on with
the Hyakki Yagyo as it is.
Although our movements
will be restricted, we should be able to balance things out if the decisive
battle takes place at midnight."
"Hmm."
Nurarihyon's voice was
met with a sigh of dissatisfaction from the old demon.
But he had no other
choice.
"I'm merely a
decoy after all, so it can't be helped.
I will return to the
main camp and wait for the signal to move."
"......Yes, wait
for my signal."
Leaving Nurarihyon
still deep in thought, Kangyō Doji turned on his heel.
*Crunch*. Amidst the
sound of sand grains being trampled on, Nurarihyon's voice was heard on the
back of the old demon, who looked like a rock.
"Hmm?
"I want you to
lend me a Hannya under your banner, Doji-dono.
One that can speak in
human language, at the very least."
"No problem, I'll
send it over later."
After a short exchange
of questions and answers, the Great Demon's hulking frame vanished behind a
thicket of trees.
Nurarihyon looked up
at the sun, which was still not even close to fading, as the miasma filled the
area.
"I'll admit that
I gave up a move.
―I'm sure you never expected this level of resistance,
though.
Because we are aware
of your plan to gather the Four Sovereigns to strengthen the Five Elemental
Barriers."
―Hi, hi.
The fact that the
strengthening of the Five Elemental Barriers was still part of the plan
indicated that Nurarihyon's objective itself had not been seen through.
If the initiation of
the strategy was merely hastened, then the lineup could be changed to suit the
situation.
As long as the Four
Sovereigns reached the cornerstone of the Five Elemental Barriers, there would
be no need to change the strategy itself.
Once the plan was in
motion, the rest was a race against time.
"Now then, I
guess it is time I should make my move as well.
If I don't raise a
smoke signal, Douji-dono won't make a move either."
A thick miasma swirled
around Nurarihyon, and a powerful corrupted breeze drowned him away.
―The only thing that remained after that was the
darkness of the trees withered by the miasma.
♢
"―Hime-sama."
"Has he made a
move?"
Utanomiya Aya, who
looked slightly impatient, as if it were an emergency, turned her blindfolded
gaze toward Takamikura.
She must have
understood what was going on.
Takamikura nodded at
Aya's words without showing much impatience.
"Is it the Hyakki
Yagyo?"
"Correct. I took
advantage of his scheme and accelerated the beginning of the battle by a few
days.
Nurarihyon must be in
a panic right now.
After all, he has
always had a tendency to seek perfection."
Gold's gaze fell on
the sake cup that lay beside her, and she lifted it languidly.
Ignoring this carefree
gesture of her, Akira turned his feet in Aya's direction.
―I've stayed here too long.
"It's about time
for me to go."
"Hold on."
A gentle voice stopped
Akira in his tracks, and as he turned around, something reflected in his field
of vision.
He caught it without a
second thought as it danced in the air, reflecting the sunlight.
What was in his hand
was a piece of crystal.
"......What's
this?"
"Just a parting
gift. You will naturally know how to use it.
What? Would you like
something a little different as a souvenir?"
Akira's cheeks flushed
red as Takamikura's mischievous smile provoked him.
Seeing this, the
Divine Pillar, who looked like a maiden, laughed out loud.
"Sorry, it was
just a joke. Don't worry, I won't do anything to take my daughter's loved one.
―Besides, I'm a rather steadfast woman, so I won't do
something like that."
While clearing her
throat, Takamikura waved her hand allowing Akira to leave.
As he bowed his head,
Akira's vision slowly began to fade away.
"......I'll
definitely offer my thanks one day, I promise."
"No need to thank
me.
―But, let's see. If you are going to thank me, please
don't treat my youngest daughter too harshly.
She's simply waiting
for you to return to her."
The last words that
the Divine Pillar muttered as his vision faded away remained in Akira's memory
for a long time.
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