Volume 4
Chapter 3 Part
3
A Pivotal Moment,
Pointing to Light and Darkness 3
Translator : PolterGlast
Splish. His vision
cleared, and a rippling whisper struck his ears.
Sensing a massive
amount of water that couldn't possibly exist on Mount Kugatachi, Akira scanned
the area.
Far beyond, with the
mountain ridge in the background, a lake as far as the eye could see came into
view. After a while, Akira finally realized that he was standing in a gazebo in
the center of it.
A gentle breeze
caressed his cheeks pleasantly.
"Nothing has
changed.
—I want to say that, but the impacts of the Hyakki
Yagyo are severe."
"That seems to be
the case. The wind is blowing."
The vermillion-gold
maiden standing beside him looked around and frowned. Kihoin Tsuguho, the heir
of the Kihōin family, naturally replied with a deep sorrow in her tone.
"There are no
obvious signs of damage, though."
"This place
(Santen-ryō / the mountain peak) is Mother's sacred precinct.
The logic of the
scenes you see won't make much sense."
"—The fact that
ordinary wind is wandering in means that the sacred precinct and the mortal
world are becoming closer."
"Is it caused by
the fall of the Kanoe Shrine?
I apologize. I can
only be ashamed of my ineptitude."
Rindō Saki, who was
standing behind Akira, replied apologetically.
She was keenly aware
of her responsibility for allowing the collapse of the Five-Rlemental Barrier
by letting Yamamoto Gorōzaemon steal the Pārijāta.
"The
responsibility for how Kanoe Shrine was breached lies with the Kuhouin
family."
Shaking her head at
the embarrassed girl, Tsuguho continued to speak reassuringly. It was
unavoidable, but it was their decision to recklessly prioritize the fire
element.
"And even though
the outer shell was destroyed when the inner gate was pierced, the main part
was intact. —I'm not saying there was no impact, but it wasn't the direct
cause."
When Tsuguho pointed
this out, Akira recalled the spiritual path he had destroyed with his own
hands. The shards of crystal shattered at the request of the great divine
pillar of the Earth element, who called herself Takamikura.
"Quite the
opposite,”
"As you imagine,
Akira.
Perhaps, in order to
knock Rāvana back into the mortal world, they destroyed the outermost layer of the
Santen-ryō where the spiritual path was connected."
"—Therefore,
Saki, there's no need to worry.
Since it was Mother's
plan, it can't be your fault."
Fufu. Right before the
chuckling girl's eyes, coming out of nowhere, a mist began to spread over the
lake. As her outstretched arm was dyed milky white, her fingers wrapped around
Akira's palm.
Shuka's innocent smile
turned to Akira.
"What's wrong?
...You seem quite at ease."
"Yes. This is the
first time I've been in such a quiet place."
Hearing Akira's calm
response, Saki looked around. The wind had stopped at some point, and only the
ripples on the calm lake returned a whispering sound.
Certainly, it was
quiet, but it wasn't uncommon for there to be no human presence.
"……Isn't this
normal?"
"—I can't hear
the spirits' commotion. I haven't seen any spirits since entering the
Santen-ryō."
Saki looked around in
question, and an answer came from the back of the group.
Meeting the gazes of
everyone who turned around, a blond-haired, blue-eyed woman smiled softly.
The reason why
Benedetta Casalini, the Miko of Vansuir, was standing on the Santen-ryō, the
central part of Takamagahara, was as a reward for helping defend the
Cornerstone Mountains.
Of course, only
Benedetta was granted permission. But there was no doubt that it was an
exceptional treatment.
"Normally, the
dragon den would not be able to sustain itself if it were not filled with the
spirit.
"The concept that
the Earth element divine pillar governs is the foundation for all things.
Due to its ability to
imitate other elements, the Earth element alone can maintain the world."
Her Eminence
Takamikura, who could reproduce the five elements alone, did not need to fill
the sacred precinct with spirits. That is why there are no spirits in the dragon
den, as the Earth element spirits are rare.
"In the
Santen-ryō, where there are no spirits, most blessings are subject to
restrictions.
—Just like the event where your Western Continent
called the Iron Age, please understand that any mischief here will be in
vain."
"Yes. As the
representative of Vansuir, we would like to thank Kihoin for the
thoughtfulness."
Kihōin Shion, who was
leading Akira and the others, scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes.
Benedetta responded with a cool, sarcastic nod of understanding.
The flickering milky
white color was gradually washed away by the slight breeze from the outside
world. In the gradually clearing view, a watadono (corridor connecting two
buildings) that had not been there before appeared.
The group stepped down
onto a low corridor that floated at the shore of the lake. Creak, creak. The
cypress floor beneath their feet creaked like nightingales as they walked on
without hesitation.
"Oh my."
Shion muttered in
surprise.
At the same time, a
human presence suddenly appeared on the other side of the corridor.
Both sides stopped
walking at the sudden encounter.
—A tortoiseshell pattern with a nine-layered knot.
The family crest of
the Giōin family swayed on the chest of the girl walking at the front.
The girl standing next
to her, whose appearance looked like a girl of about 10 years of age, raised
her gaze.
Her single black
kimono danced, and the obsidian glow returned to her eyes.
The face of Genrei,
the great divine pillar of Kokuten Province, blossomed into a smile like a
magnificent flower.
"Akira!"
As if to convey her
feelings, she called out and took a step forward.
Her toes froze, along
with the sensation, as they were blocked by the crimson girl.
The girl of
vermillion-gold intercepted her, and her toes froze.
"To cast
flirtatious glances at my throne, your sleepy head hasn't caught up with the
times, has it? —Kuro..."
"To snatch away
my husband and then forget your manners, a bird's brain is indeed beyond
saving. —Aka..."
A flat tone greeted
the triumphant vermillion-gold. Suppressing the boiling emotions beneath the
calm surface, the two divine pillars glared at each other.
"If you think you
can defeat me in the mortal world, you're naive!"
"Look at the
reality. No matter where it is, there's no doubt about my victory!!"
The silence lasted
only a moment. Vermillion-gold and obsidian danced and wrestled in the narrow
space between them.
The internal pressure
swelled, and the corridor lifted.
The planks were torn,
the roof tiles shifted, and distorted ripples were etched on the lake surface
reflecting the divine energy.
"—Oh my."
A clear voice echoed
as the bursting divine energy shook the Santen-ryō.
A group of people was
seen walking beyond the corridor, which had transformed into a crossroads,
leaving only the whispering of the lake.
—The crest of a tiger biting its tail surrounded by
bales of eagle feathers.
The family crest
swaying on the chest of the woman walking at the front belonged to the Jinrōin
family, which ruled the Hakudō Province.
The pure white beauty
walking beside her smiled joyfully with her eyes closed.
"Those two girls.
They're already baring their fangs, huh? How hasty."
"Shiro, is it?
—You should already know the situation, so there is no room for you to
interfere."
With a cool tone,
Tsukishiro hid her mouth with a pure white fan.
From behind her,
Kagura peeked out and waved a small palm at Akira.
"Considering the
current situation, it would be unwise to allow such foolishness to continue.
—Don't you think so, Ao? Four hundred years ago, you
experienced it firsthand after all."
"Even so, I don't
feel like taking the initiative to stick my hands in.
—Can you even breathe a sigh of relief after disrupting
Mother's land? Both of you."
Tsukishiro's murmur
went beyond Shuka, and a responding voice came from the last one of the
corridors.
A girl with a blue
kimono and glowing azure hair shot a sharp look at her surroundings.
Seiran, the great
divine pillar of the Kabejū Province, came to a halt on one of the last
remaining sides.
On the chests of the
two women standing beside her, family crests embroidered in blue brocade
swayed.
—Dragon's claws. Grasping a tied bridle with a jewel
crest.
The Hariin family,
which ruled the Kabejū Province, arrived last.
Divine energy swirled
in all directions, and only the center was still like the eye of a typhoon.
As everyone standing
there watched each other warily, Tsuguho cautiously opened her mouth.
"For all four
provinces to meet in this corridor, is this also Takamikura's
arrangement?"
"Looking at all
the devastation, I suppose it can't be helped.
Rather than disturbing
the depths of the sanctuary, it seems that Kuro-sama has calmed down."
"—What in the
world is the intention behind this?"
"Stand back,
Ugetsu."
From behind Shizumi,
an unbearable question was raised by someone.
The voice, engraved in
Akira's memory, was as fresh as it had been three years ago, stirring Akira's
emotions.
Ignoring Giōin
Shizumi's restraint, Ugetsu Tenzan arrogantly directed a stern gaze at Kihōin
Shion.
When asked about her
intentions, the head of the Kihōin family tilted her head.
"What do you mean
by my intentions?"
"I know. I heard
that the heir to the Ugetsu family is accompanying you,
—Where is Ugetsu Souma being kept at this time of great
importance to the Ugetsu family?"
"Hmm? Even if you
ask about the heir to the Ugetsu family, the Kihōin family is not keeping
him."
The information Tenzan
had received was that Ugetsu Souma was working with the Kihōin family.
The Three Imperial
Families and Four Sovereigns cannot lie.
When he confirmed this
with Shizumi Gioin, there was no room for doubt in Tenzan's mind.
However, when he
received completely opposite words from Kihōin Shion, who was from the same
Sovereign family, Tenzan was confused, as a contradiction arose.
However, even if the
premise that they cannot lie is true, it doesn't necessarily follow if the
information received itself is wrong.
Tenzan sharply turned
his gaze to the person he had first heard from.
"……I'm not lying,
though, Ugetsu-dono.
All I said was that
your son was with Shumon Province."
Dōgyou Harutane,
standing ahead, shrugged lightly in reply.
"But he's not
here. If you know, I would like you to tell me the truth."
"Oh come on. It's
too heartless of you to forget.
—If it was Ugetsu-dono's son, he was already standing
there."
"W-What...?"
A dumbfounded question
leaked from Tenzan's throat at the unexpected reply.
His gaze circled
around Akira several times,
—and eventually met Akira's gaze, which carried no
emotion.
"No way—"
Stunned, Tenzan's
expression distorted into a hideous rage.
As if it were someone
else's problem, Akira calmly spun his words.
"Long time no
see, Ugetsu Tenzan."
"—Not only did
you not die, you even came to defile this sacred precinct. Have you forgotten
even the warmth I gave you, you pseudo-kegare?"
The ugly sight of the
existence he had once hated and even given a name to, now standing side by side
with the Kihōin family with such arrogance.
Upon witnessing this
reality, a spiritual light scattered from Tenzan in a fit of rage.
Dōgyou Harutane
mentioned the existence of a spiritless being that had been hidden from
everyone.
—Without a doubt, false rumors about Ugetsu were being
spread.
He recalled Giōin
Shizumi's indifferent attitude. Assuming that she had been fed lies by the
pseudo-kegare, it made perfect sense.
Tenzan could easily
imagine that it would be impossible to recover from the situation in which he
had fallen behind if he didn't remove the pseudo-kegare here.
With his refined
spirit power raging, he reached for the spirit weapon hidden in his pocket.
Gioin-style
Spirit Technique, Shoden―
"Oopsie. We're in
a sacred place, Ugetsu-dono.
—That kind of violence will not be tolerated."
"You, Dōgyou. A
mere seventh-ranked family, know your place!"
The wakizashi he tried
to draw clashed with Dōgyou Harutane's dagger. The spiritual light that erupted
from Tenzan's hand collided with Dōgyou Harutane's spirit power.
Gioin-style
Spirit Technique, Variant, ―Byakuyadzuki.
Since he allowed such
close proximity, he would have no chance of victory against Dogyou Harutane.
He endured for a
while, but as the confrontation of the refined spiritual power came to an end,
Tenzan took a step back as if he were being repelled.
If it were just the
useless spiritless being, he could finish it off with one blow, but the
difficulty would skyrocket if he had to pass through the Dōgyou family first.
"This is a
warning, Dōgyou family. Just turn a blind eye while I purify and exterminate
one stray.
If you do so,..."
"—What were you
barking about? Ugetsu."
Hearing a stern voice
that returned from the divine pillar, even the tip of Tenzan's tongue
involuntarily froze.
The black obsidian
glow, shimmering with anger, pierced the speechless Ugetsu family head.
"You're the one
who should know your place. This sanctuary is not a place for misfits like you
to stand and be pardoned."
"……B-but..."
The very rage of
Genrei, who bared her fangs, pressed down on Tenzan as a reality more powerful
than words.
With difficulty, he
spent all his spirit power on defense against the pressure that would crush an
ordinary person.
Genrei, no longer
interested, removed Tenzan, who was prostrating on the floor in a miserable
state, from her sight.
"……Kuro seems to
be furious, doesn't she?
I'm a little
scared."
"With all due
respect, I've heard that Ao-sama 400 years ago was quite something.
—I mean, I don't think anyone wants to hear that from
Ao-sama, who gouged out the inner bay of Suzuyashiro."
"Ah. I told you
that was taboo.
It's unfair to bring
it up."
"If Ao-sama had
calmed down, I wouldn't need to say it either."
Hariin Homare's
sarcasm stung at Seiran's murmur as she muttered something about the scene.
Seiran is
fundamentally a cheerful character, but precisely because of this, she is
easily influenced by her emotions.
There have been three
cases of Aragami corruption in the past. Except for once by Shuka, the other
two are well known to be Seiran's.
"Are you really
my Miko?
—Midori, say something too."
With tears in her
eyes, she turned her gaze to Hariin Midori, the head of the Hariin family.
It was a conversation
between a lord and servant that was somewhat childish. Placing her hand on her
forehead, Midori reluctantly opened her mouth.
"Homare. Don't
take this situation lightly.
I won't say you're
wrong, but you're partly responsible for creating this situation."
Without denying the
head of the Hariin family's (her older sister's) remark, Homare simply shrugged
in reply.
She glanced around.
The commotion between the north and south was proceeding as expected.
—Ideally, it would be better if the situation calmed
down a little more. ...Counting one's chickens before they're hatched, huh?
(An idiom that means someone should not depend on
something happening until they know for certain that it will).
The only concern was
whether the results of relying on the conversation with Yuge Kojou had been
achieved.
When she turned her
gaze toward Kojou, he nodded slightly in return.
At that moment, the
passing wind swept away the swirling emotions.
Silence reigned over
the place, and—a golden color dropped its toes into the center of the four
provinces.
Eyes filled with a
melting golden glow scanned the surroundings, and a smile appeared as they
fixed on Akira.
Akira, coming to his
senses, looked around in astonishment.
The crossroad that was
the corridors had somehow changed into a single road about five times wider
than it was before.
"Now then. Looks
like you have calmed down. First, let us celebrate the fact that we are all
here together, after overcoming the Hyakki Yagyo."
Not wanting to waste
any time, Her Eminence Takamikura, dressed in a single robe similar to that of
a shrine maiden, began to lead the way through the corridor.
She was followed in
turn by the Kabeju Province, the Hakudō Province, and the Shumon Province.
As their presence
gradually faded, only those from Kokuten Province remained.
Following Genrei, who
had taken a step forward, Giōin Shizumi turned her back on Tenzan.
The pressure of divine
power waned. Tenzan, who had breathed out in relief, was about to get up to
follow Shizumi and the others when,
"I told you to
stay put."
—Tenzan was once again forced to kneel on the floor by
the cold words of domination thrown at him by Shizumi.
"G-Giōin-sama."
"—From here on,
only the current heads of the Eight Families are allowed to participate.
You, who have
abandoned your role as one of the Eight Families, have no right to enter."
"Please wait.
We—"
"You made a great
mistake, Ugetsu.
—Please wait patiently in the Raden Room for the
decision."
The Raden Room was one
of the few halls that was rarely used even on the Santen-ryō.
—Its main purpose was for the execution of criminals.
The unwavering
pressure was the anger of the Giōin family itself. Understanding it too late,
despair dominated Tenzan's heart more than humiliation.
♢
The path gradually
cleared.
The sight that
appeared in their vision was a large hall with surprisingly simple interior
decorations.
Walking through the
space between the flags sewn with the family crests of each province, Her
Eminence Takamikura went to the innermost seat of the hall.
The three women who
had been waiting bowed their heads slightly, offering only a welcoming gesture.
The golden divine
pillar, who surveyed everyone, flashed a melting smile.
"There's no
longer any need to worry about being heard by the impurities. —Good."
Leaning her cheek on
the armrest, Takamikura opened her mouth.
Finally, the
long-awaited moment had arrived.
"We will now
begin the Grand Feast."
In a solemn
atmosphere, a Grand Feast was held in Takamagahara where all the divine pillars
gathered together.
—The opening of the Kannamesai Festival was announced.
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