Volume 4
Chapter 3 Part
2
A Pivotal Moment,
Pointing to Light and Darkness 2
Translator : PolterGlast
With a heavy creak,
the gates guarding the Santen-ryō opened.
The flow of spiritual
energy heading towards the sacred precinct gently washed over the feet of the
gathered nobles.
A sense of
irresistible attraction brought a wave of relief to the throats of all who had
come.
"I thought things
would turn for the worse at one point."
"—It was merely
an impudence act of a bunch of defiled beasts, after all. The Imperial Families
won't be shaken by such a thing."
Pushed by the bustle
filling the gate, the nobles stepped forward. A dreary autumn chill swept over
the feet of the slowly walking nobles.
All the nobles
standing here were high-ranking nobles granted territories in Takamagahara. The
family crests they bore proudly fluttered on their respective kimonos.
Their steps were
steady. A lot of noises passed by.
Two figures quickly
overtook the crowd, who were leisurely walking on the gravel. On the back of
one of them, the guardian's haori danced lightly.
—A single character on the family crest.
This is the family
crest of the Mikuriya family, one of the old families.
Although they had
recently fallen into decline, they were an ancient family of guardians who had
governed the northern part of the Central Capital. Their power was deep and
hidden, and it extended into the politics of Central Province.
The former head, known
for his sternness, looked grim. Seeing this, the surrounding eyes turned away,
as if to say they didn't want any trouble.
"What's going on,
Hirotada?
The information I
heard is completely different."
"We only found
out about this last night, so we're a step behind. It's a painful
mistake."
The gravel under
Mikuriya Shishin's feet was kicked up, and his voice sharpened with emotion.
But no matter how much he asked, Hirotada had no more information to give.
He chose his words
carefully as he followed the trail of scattered gravel.
"The only thing
that's certain is the fact that Souma-kun is imprisoned. Apparently, it
happened when he personally tried to purify the pseudo-kegare."
"He is alive,
huh? As always, he gives us trouble.
—Could it be that Ugetsu Tenzan showed him some
mercy?"
"I don't think
so."
Hirotada shook his head
at his father's gnawing doubts. He had known Ugetsu Tenzan for a long time, and
he knew his character well.
He was loyal to Gioin,
righteous and harsh, the way a genuine Eight Family should be. He couldn't
imagine that Tenzan would leave any unnecessary feelings for a mere failure.
"Only one family
could have nurtured feelings for a pseudo-kegare and acted so recklessly
without regard for the old families.
—I believe the Giōin family was the mastermind behind
this incident."
"To disregard the
loyalty of the Eight Families that tried to seek justice is unbecoming of the
Sovereign Families. If we, as their peers who serve the Imperial Families, do
not stand up to correct them, the order of the laws will collapse."
"Yes, Father's
concerns are absolutely reasonable.
But regardless of the
facts, we must admit that the situation is severe."
"Why? Although it
is only circumstantial, the evidence is as solid as ever."
The selection and
elimination of children, while it is an unseemly sort of thing, has a history
of being tacitly accepted as an effective means of maintaining the noble
bloodline. Even the Three Imperial Families and the Four Sovereigns cannot
interfere with this right to maintain the noble lineage.
The Giōin family's
intervention against the Ugetsu family, which had been acting without revealing
its shame, should have been a bad move that would have invited criticism from
the nobility.
"Three years ago,
when I asked the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to recognize Souma-kun as the
legitimate heir, I heard Tenzan-dono complain about being treated coldly.
I guess things had
been moving since that time."
"……Why are they
making a move now? Did they think that the time to lay low was over?"
Shishin couldn't help
but groan at Hirotada's speculation.
It wasn't a matter of
advantage or disadvantage. The other party had already declared victory.
If Ugetsu Tenzan had
no trump card to turn the situation around, the only thing left was to
skillfully play the role of the defeated.
"Father. The
first day of the Kannamesai Festival, the meeting of the Three Imperial
Families, the Four Sovereigns, and the Eight Families is just about to begin.
As the Mikuriya
family, we need to have some insurance."Father. The first day of the
Kannamesai Festival, the meeting of the Three Imperial Families, the Four
Sovereigns, and the Eight Families is just about to begin.
As the Mikuriya
family, we need to have some insurance."
"……Should we
distance ourselves from the Ugetsu?"
"As you wisely
observe. Fortunately, the connection between the Ugetsu and the Mikuriya family
is a confidential one.
By emphasizing our
connection with the Kuga family, it will be easy to cut off someone like the
Ugetsu."
The advantage of the
Mikuriya family lies in the fact that they had little overt contact with the
Ugetsu family. Although Sanae, the wife of Ugetsu Tenzan, was from their
family, their notable connections were limited to that extent.
Tenzan and Hirotada
had interacted to a certain extent, but even that was on a personal level. As
for Shishin, the last time he had visited Kokutn Province was when Sanae had
married into the family.
"There's nothing
we can do.
Even if the Ugetsu
family is shaken, we can simply re-establish our cooperative relationship after
things have settled down."
"Yes. ...After
all, only one pseudo-kegare is venting its bitterness and resentment.
Even if they are bound
by affection, they will not put the Ugetsu family on the same scale.
I believe that
denouncing them and sharing the pain is appropriate."
"Very well. Let
us focus on subverting the Ishizuki family."
"We are fully
prepared.
—We are prepared to devour the Ishibuki family's
goals."
By the time they had
finished their conversation, Shishin and the others had reached the outer edge
of the Santen-ryō.
Ahead of Shishin's
upward gaze, the vermilion-lacquered gate slowly opened.
The heavy, creaking
sound stirred up a sense of unease, shaking his feet.
"Let's go."
Shaking off the slight
unease he felt, Shishin took a step forward toward the other side.
The only time in
Takamagahara where all the high-ranking nobles gathered in one place. The
Kannamesai Festival began peacefully on the surface, despite the previous
turmoil.
♢
Suppressing his
irritation, Ugetsu Tenzan climbed the mountain path of Mt. Kayanowa.
There was no one accompanying him, and only
the quiet atmosphere of the mountain followed his shadow.
Suddenly, his field of
vision opened up, and the main shrine, which stood in the distance, came into
view.
Giōin Shizumi and
several other figures standing at the entrance of the main shrine turned their
gazes towards him.
It was an indifferent
gaze as if they were not interested.
"Sorry for being
late."
Tensan bowed his head
slightly at the sight.
Thirty minutes before
the scheduled time. It was not so late that he had to apologize, but since
everyone except Tenzan had gathered, it would be a different story
—Especially now, with the relationship with the Giōin
family being uncertain.
If bowing his head could
avoid unnecessary friction, Tenzan had no hesitation in lowering his head.
"Well, well.
Unlike previous years, your entourage seems to be quite small, Ugetsu-dono.
Is something
wrong?"
"My companions,
you see. On such a fine day, my son has been arrested.
Even when I inquired
at the academy, I was met with a stone wall and couldn't do anything."
Dogyou Harutane, the
head of the Dogyou family, the seventh of the Eight Families, approached with a
sarcastic laugh. Tenzan nodded, suppressing his bitter heart at Harutane's
unpleasant words.
It wasn't a lie.
He had told Souma
about today's schedule, but even after waiting until the last minute, he had
received no word from him.
It was an important
first step to be unveiled as the next head of the Ugetsu family. And
ultimately, this occasion was the final push to create an official de facto
situation as the partner of Giōin Shizumi.
Marriages involving
the Three Imperial Families and Four Sovereigns are basically established with
the approval of the Three Imperial Families, Four Sovereigns, and Eight
Families at the Kannamesai Festival.
Shizumi, who is 14
years old, had this year as the last opportunity to announce her engagement.
—Regardless of what happened, Giōin Shizumi had to be
engaged at this year's Kannamesai Festival.
Her engagement to the
heir of the Ugetsu family had already been announced. If Souma could be
approved as the heir of the Ugetsu family at the Kannamesai Festival, Shizumi
would not be able to let her emotions get the better of her and say
"no".
The long-cherished
wish of the Ugetsu family was at hand.
However, it would all
be in vain if Souma didn't attend.
Despite Tenzan's
bitter reply, Harutane simply shrugged his shoulders with a flippant smile.
"How strange.
I heard that your son
was coming from Mt. Kugatachi."
"What?"
"Oops, I don't
want to be pestered. I was just informed about it myself.
—O~u, Sonomi. Don't be unfaithful, tell Ugetsu-dono
about his son."
Harutane called out to
Dogyou Sonomi, who was standing in front of the main shrine, and she nodded
expressionlessly.
Their gazes met
briefly.
Although they were not
strangers, she was someone who had treated Tenzan with humiliation in the
capital of Kokuten Province.
He wondered if
Harutane was aware of how he was treated back then. He couldn’t quite gauge
that from his usual behavior as the head of the Dōgyou family.
"Dōgyou
Sonomi-dono, is the information from your family's head correct? That Souma is
coming from Mt. Kugatachi?"
"……Yes, Lord
Ugetsu-dono. If it's Ugetsu Souma, he should already be on his way to the
Santen-ryō."
Her tone remained
flat.
Doubt arose upon
hearing the girl's words, but Tenzan breathed a sigh of relief, a mixture of
impatience and reassurance.
As a member of the
Eight Families serving the Giōin family, being escorted from Mt. Kugatachi was
normally forbidden.
However, given the
urgency of the situation, it was much better than not coming at all.
"I see, that's
fine then.
I apologize,
Dōgyou-dono. It seems there was a miscommunication."
"It can't be
helped. Even though the telephone can connect words in all directions, words
won't be conveyed unless both parties mutually express them.
—You know, will you listen to this? Sonomi has no
intention of returning even at the end of the year. Don't you think she's an
ungrateful daughter? Even though her mother says she's worried about not eating
New Year's dishes—"
Dōgyou Harutane's
flippant tone was the same as always, and Tenzan felt a sense of relief,
thinking it was all in his imagination.
—At that moment, Sonomi, who had put her pocket watch
back into her sleeve, nodded to Shizumi.
"It's time, I'll
let Kuro-sama descend."
"I have a little
question, Princess.
How do you plan to
enter the depths of the Santen-ryō (sacred precinct) when the Five Elemental
Barrier is not functioning?"
Without answering
Harutane's question, a black radiance swirled out of Shizumi's body. The pure
black spiritual energy cleared and transformed into a black obsidian divine
spirit that held the brilliance of the night sky.
"—I
beseech thee."
Her cherry blossom
lips chanted an incantation to call upon the divine pillar, and the main shrine
of Mt. Kayanowa became connected to the sacred precinct of Nanatsuo.
Beyond that, filled
with the deep and bright brilliance of the night sky.
A girl of about ten
years old silently landed in the center of the main shrine.
The great divine
pillar that symbolized Kokuten Province, presided over the water element.
Genrei opened her eyes, filled with a faint obsidian glow.
"—Well done,
Shizumi."
"It's nothing
special, now that the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade is over."
"Indeed."
Exchanging a few brief
words, Genrei glared at those who bowed before the main shrine. The divine
power of the great divine pillar circled directly above the insignificant
humans, lingering only briefly at a certain point.
Unable to even raise his
gaze, an emotionless wrath pressed down on Ugetsu Tenzan's shoulders. Without
being able to question the intent, Tenzan envisioned his own soul screaming.
"—Kuro-sama. The
Arawakamioroshi of the Three Imperial Families and Four Sovereigns has been completed."
"Hmph."
"……Ka, ha."
At Shizumi's voice,
the girl snorted and turned on her heel. As the divine pillar's interest
passed, those who had been bowing in that spot folded their knees as if
collapsing.
Tenzan's lungs heaved
like they were gasping for air under the pressure of the divine energy that had
dissipated in an instant.
For ordinary humans,
the opportunity to directly worship the great divine pillar in Takamagahara
only comes once a year. And it is a precious honor that only the heads of the
Eight Families and their successors can receive.
Forcing himself to
stand up, he scolded his weakening knees.
Nothing was wrong. ―I
have nothing to be ashamed of.
To Gioin, or to the
god I served.
But even so, Tenzan
couldn't deny that a dark cloud resembling doubt was swirling in his heart.
The girl's slender
hand danced in the void. It was not ornate, but a flowing, endless dance of the
divine pillar.
The obsidian glow
filled the sacred precinct and eventually overflowed, covering Tenzan and the
others' vision. In the gap between the bright darkness, Shizumi's voice reached
them as if she had just remembered.
"Lord Dōgyou. The
Five Elemental Barrier has been lost, but alternative measures are always
prepared.
—One of them is the power of Rinne Eigo, the divine
artifact possessed by the Jinrōin family."
The metal element
(pure white) extended along the spiritual path, connecting the water element
(black obsidian) to the wood element (blue).
Temporarily, the
mountain of the five-element connected to the Santen-ryō , and the view
cleared with a dizzying flicker, revealing a lake that was quietly rippling
before Tenzan and the others.
Without realizing it,
Tenzan and the others were now standing in the sacred precinct of the
Santen-ryō , a place forbidden to ordinary humans.
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