Volume 4
Side Story 6
For a Moment,
I Miss the Days Gone By
Translator : PolterGlast
With a slap, a new
document, stamped with an approval seal, was dropped onto the already towering
pile of papers on the desk.
The papers riffled
slightly, and the midday bustle faded into the distance.
Hariin Homare
stretched lazily, taking a deep breath in the familiar conference room of
Tenryou Academy.
"Oh, it’s already
noon. I envy the students who only have to worry about their studies."
"With all the
depleted talismans and various expenses, there’s a mountain of work. And it’s
not a work we can entrust to them."
Behind a desk full of
documents, Kihoin Tsuguho responded to Homare's complaints.
Gioin Shizumi,
grabbing one of the stacks of papers that came later, sighed and tapped her
abacus.
"Since we're the
ones who convened this meeting with our names, the workload has naturally
concentrated on us.”
"But that doesn't
mean it's alright to give us even more unnecessary work, like repairing the
mountain and maintaining the access road. I’m pretty sure that’s not in my
jurisdiction.”
Homare picked up a
newly delivered document, taking advantage of the weariness of her juniors. It
must have been hastily prepared. The ink was still wet in some places,
revealing the hard work of the officials.
“You brought this upon yourself, Homare-sama. You’re
the one who incited Yuge Kojou under the pretext of mediating between the Gioin
and Kihoin families.”
"In the end,
Akira-kun ruined it, though. What the heck with that Celestial Throne? It was
like overturning a table.”
Even after the Hyakki
Yagyo and the Kannamesai Festiva were over, the duties of the high-ranking
officials were far from over. They had to allocate budgets for damage
compensation. In fact, their main job was to process the appeals that had been
raised.
For the officials,
this was an unprecedented opportunity.
Normally, documents
had to go through a series of approvals from lower to higher levels. It often
took several months just to put a proposal on the table.
However, with the
reconstruction after the Hyakki Yagyo as an excuse, it was easier to get
proposals approved. And with the three people who had the authority to act on
behalf of the clans stationed in the capital, it was even easier to get
proposals approved.
That said, they were
still human. After dealing with similar documents over and over again, they
were more inclined to chat than to work.
With a bored sigh, a
casual whisper escaped their lips.
“Speaking of which, what is the lord of the Yotsurugi clan
up to?”
"...What are you
plotting now?"
“What do you mean by ‘plotting’? I’m always sincere,
you know?”
The other two demigods
exchanged suspicious glances at this incredibly unreliable statement. Unabashed
by Shizumi’s sharp remark, Homare looked away.
It's true that they
can't lie, but as long as they don't speak falsehood directly, they have a
surprising amount of freedom. If one can't read between the lines of her words
and actions, Homare is definitely not someone one can let one guard down against.
After a moment of
silence, Homare raised her hands in surrender.
"I don't have any
ulterior motives. A report came from the head of the Fuwa clan, saying that
Fuwa Naotoshi had successfully arrived at Tsudzura."
"...I see."
During the banquet,
the conversation between Yotsurugi Akira and Fuwa Noriyori was short. However,
they had been informed that Akira had asked for something.
Although they did not
know the details, it was easy to imagine that it had something to do with the
Ugetsu clan, given the relationship between Akira and Fuwa Naotoshi. As if
sensing the scrutiny of Tsuguho and Shizumi, Homare smiled mischievously.
"Want to
know?"
"I wouldn't deny
being curious."
Shizumi replied, and
Tsuguho nodded in agreement. As if there was no need to hide it, Homare
shrugged and opened her mouth.
"He asked the
Fuwa clan for two things. First, to convey the decision made by Tsukinomiya to
Ugetsu Tenzan word for word, in the form of a personal letter. Second, to not
tell him that Akira made the decision."
"...That's a
risky gamble."
"It is. But I'd
bet ten to one that Tenzan will have no choice but to cling to it."
Humans, no matter how
far they have fallen, always search for a lifeline. Especially at the moment of
death, the possibility of life shines all the more sweetly. Even if it's an
obvious trap, they'll see it as a chance at a miracle.
"In other words,
it means that there's a way out."
"Oh, that's
putting it poorly. Ugetsu Tenzan will definitely fall into Akira's trap. After
all, even after seeing reality in the Imperial Match, he didn't understand the
Kanna-no-Mikura."
"Indeed."
Shizumi nodded in
agreement with Homare's assertion.
The Gioin clan had a
fair share of conversations with the head of the Ugetsu clan. Tenzan, the
previous head, left a particularly strong impression on them.
Even though he was the
head of the Eight Families, Ugetsu Tenzan himself was nothing more than a
mediocre man. He wasn't stupid, but he wasn't exceptional either.
Tenzan himself must
have been keenly aware of this. He had repeatedly told everyone that he was
merely a foundation for the next generation (Souma).
Ordinary beliefs can
easily turn into obstinacy. He had become accustomed to Souma's brilliance.
Even if he knew the truth, it wasn't enough to sink into his bones.
"We'll wait until
spring and let Akira make the decision. I wonder why he's going to Kokuten
Province right before winter... A few months of understanding will make all the
difference."
"And you allowed
that to happen?"
"There was no
reason to stop him. It would be better for the Hariin clan if Kokuten Province
calmed down."
―And, besides,
"If anything,
Akira's plan is a kind of mercy. It only turns into fangs for those who don't
understand."
"That's
true."
Tsuguho shrugged at
Homare's enigmatic smile.
The Ugetsu clan had
always been given the chance to turn back. The fact that they didn't was
ultimately their own decision.
There was no point in
interfering any further.
"Let's leave them
alone.
...So,"
"Yes?"
"Aren't you going
to call Akira-kun?"
"Unfortunately,"
Tsuguho replied with a triumphant smile, feigning disappointment at Homare's
request.
"A few days ago,
Akira-kun left the Central Capital. He said he wants to prepare for his homecoming
in Karen with Saki-san as his escort."
She gave a mischievous
smile in revenge on the dumbfounded Homare. Finally realizing she had been
tricked, Homare could only manage a wry smile.
"This is a
problem. I had mistakenly thought he would be at the academy all the time"
"Akira-san's
invisibility is something even we demigods can't resist."
"And besides,
Akira-san has become accustomed to the academy. So much that everyone
mistakenly thought it was natural for him to settle down here."
Shizumi responded
calmly, laughing at Tsuguho and Homare's playful banter. Her gaze fell on the
documents in front of her, and her pen danced across the paper without pause.
"When is
Akira-san expected to depart from Kokuten Province?"
"Considering the
matter of the ordinary middle school that he attended in Karen, and the fact
that he has to hand over his duties to the garrison, it will probably be around
the time the frost passes."
"I see."
Shizumi stopped
writing as she received Tsuguho's answer. A delicate smile bloomed on her
serene face.
"Tsuguho-sama, I
will be taking care of Akira-san during the winter."
"Yes, please take
your time. ...Fill your time."
As November passed,
the season of snow was not far behind. The students' breath turned white,
announcing the arrival of winter.
♢
— Myokaku Mountain, outskirts of Karen 3rd District,
deep in the mountains.
—Giii, gii, woaaaahhhh!!!
Leaving behind the
cries of the beasts, Akira slid down the slope, which was shrouded in darkness.
A moment later, a herd of wild boars tumbled down with the roar of a landslide,
accompanied by a putrid stench.
The urgency of being
pursued carved an unusual smile on his lips. But even that felt good, and Akira
cried out until his throat was dry.
“Kansuke! Can you corner them!”
“—Seko-team! Prepare the
flutes!”
In response to Akira's
voice, Kansuke shouted from the high ground. The Shield-unit, whose job was to
corner the boars, was out of sight. But trusting in their original plan, Akira
kicked off from the rough, steep slope.
The boy's body danced
in the air as his black spirit power contorted and accelerated. As if attracted
by the spirit power of unprecedented purity, miasma mixed with saliva flew from
the tusks of the pursuing boars.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden―."
"―Tsukitadori"
The trail of spirit
light danced in the air, and Akira's foot landed on one of them. Using the
moment when the black glow shattered as a foothold, Akira's body danced high in
the night sky again.
Below him was a raging
torrent of bestial desire. With a clear view of the mindless killing intent,
Akira unleashed his spirit power. The tip of his unsheathed spirit weapon was
dyed jet black in an instant.
The glow was deeper
and more vivid than the night sky, overwhelming those who saw it.
Gioin-style Spirit
Technique, Chuden―
"―Seigetsu-no-Kagami"
—Gii, wo, aoahh!?
Multiple ripples,
accompanied by an impact, shot through the middle of the raging corrupted
beasts. A large amount of earth and the bodies of the boars drew a parabolic
curve and separated into two groups.
Without pausing for
breath, Akira pointed his spirit weapon at one of the boars that had formed
into a group.
A vermillion-gold glow
resided in his white breath. As a signal, a violet glow flared up on the slope
above.
Yotsurugi Akira and
Rindou Saki, a boy and a girl who had fought together, raised their spirit
power in perfect unison. And then, two transparent and clear lights dispelled
the night from a corner of Myokaku Mountain.
Kihoin-style Spirit
Technique, Finisher Move――
""――Ishiwari
Tonbi""
A sharp, overlapping
voice tore through the darkness. The tip of the blade that was swung down at
the same time scorched the herd of boars with intense heat.
The momentum of their
landing carried them down the slope to the middle before finally stopping.
Blown by the heat wave created by the spirit power, Saki looked into the
distance.
"Is this the
end?"
"Not yet. The
herd that the Shield-unit was driving hasn't joined up yet."
Akira, standing
shoulder to shoulder with Saki, expressed his caution. He had confirmed that
the Sshield-unit was luring the wild boars from the other side of the darkness.
Only the Spear-unit
was waiting at the last planned location. Even though they had taken the lead
and rushed down the mountainside, it was strange that they hadn't joined up
yet.
He looked at Kansuke,
who was descending from beyond the flickering flames.
"Kansuke, what's
the plan?"
"They're already
here. Don't intervene, as we agreed."
A large fire could
easily provoke the corrupted beasts unnecessarily. Especially since Akira and
Saki's firepower far exceeded that of the other protectors.
Even Kansuke, who knew
the power of the enormous flames and their impact on the corrupted beasts,
couldn't predict what effect they would have on the corrupted beasts.
"That's fine, but
with the regular soldiers deployed elsewhere, there's only us here. I don't
want any—"
—Woaaaa!!!
Before Akira could
finish his sentence, a herd of wild boars burst out from a slightly distant
slope. The boars, which had been lured, were thrown onto the slope from between
the trees lining the edge of the cliff.
The momentum of the corrupted
beasts was too much for the Spear-unit to handle. Akira had a vision of the corrupted
beasts breaking through the ranks of the trainees.
"I knew it!"
"Don't! The plan
hasn't changed."
Kansuke sharply
stopped Akira from taking a step forward. Behind Akira, who stopped in his
tracks, Kansuke shouted another command.
"Spread the
net!"
As if they had been
hidden, a thick net rose from the ground in front of the rampaging boars.
—Gii!?
The leading boar
stumbled and rolled headfirst, entangled in the net with a muffled cry.
Once one was caught,
the rest followed like a snowball. One after another, the corrupted beasts and
the net became a large ball, and when they finally stopped moving, the trainees
thrust their spears into them.
It didn't take long to
determine the end of the battle.
Perhaps sensing
Akira's thoughts, Saki only said a quick greeting and walked away. Feeling
grateful, Akira stood beside Kansuke.
In the distance, he
could see boys struggling to untangle the net and the boars.
"That net is
amazing."
"When you went to
the Central Capital, Vice Captain Nikura decided to introduce it. I'm glad we
were able to master it in time for today's mountain hunt."
The idea of reducing
the number of corrupted beasts using nets and various other traps has been
persistent throughout history. If this were possible, it would allow them to
reduce the number of corrupted beasts without suffering direct harm.
However, the reason
why it hasn't become a common practice is clear.
The most terrifying
aspect of a corrupted beast is its ability to harbor miasma that can rot all
things. Even if a net captures the corrupted beasts, it would be pointless if
the net is corroded by the miasma.
In fact, there were
records of nets being torn apart by the corrupted beasts on the very first day.
"If this works,
would our daily tasks be easier?"
"It's
complicated. It can withstand the miasma to a certain extent, but there's a
limit. It needs maintenance after each battle, and it's expensive."
The edge of the net
crumbled with a hissing sound. Seeing this, Akira understood why they had kept
a distance between themselves and the net.
Fire inherently
possesses the power of purification. Akira couldn't be optimistic about the net
being able to withstand the flames.
"For now, we'll
just have to get used to it by doing more mountain hunts. Thanks for today. We
were able to minimize the damage during this pre-winter hunt."
"...Any
casualties?"
"One of the
Shield-units seems to have inhaled a lot of miasma. ...You're the only one who
can inhale miasma and be fine."
Kansuke forced a
smile. He had heard that the number of casualties had increased considerably in
the few months since Akira had been away.
Although he seemed a
little down, he tried to keep his tone light.
"I heard you're
going home. When are you leaving?"
"As soon as
Captain Asogi returns, I'll report to him and leave immediately."
The two walked side by
side, and their gaze fell on the spot where a pale, purifying flame was rising
from the purification water. The bodies of the boars were melting into the blue
flame as if they were being licked by the miasma.
Apart from the
Imperial Match between Akira and Souma, the Imperial Tournament is held every
three years for the samurai and noble families. He had heard that this year's
Imperial Tournament was heating up with predictions about the outcome between
the previous first and second place winners.
Perhaps because of the
unsettling news, Asogi Genji had been busy in the Central Capital, putting off
the festive atmosphere.
"...Everyone here
was driven out as expendable."
"Yeah."
Akira nodded briefly.
"You're lucky to
be able to go back."
"I wonder about
that. ...Maybe I hate it."
Akira could tell from
his own tone that his hometown had become even more distorted for him than it
was for everyone else.
"It's okay to
hate it. But there are hateful people everywhere.
So, in the end, those
hateful people not just in your hometown."
"That's
true."
"Then let's think
that there are just as many good people."
Kansuke walked past
Akira and put his hand on the corpse of a boar. He had vomited at the
nauseating putrid smell when he first joined.
This feeling had
become a part of his daily life.
"For your
hometown, you're just a part of it.
...I think you'll
realize that when you get home."
The two of them worked
together to throw the corpse into a hole. The flames that rose from the
purification water that was poured over it burned even higher.
There were no more
words to follow.
A few days later,
Akira boarded the provincial train to Kabeju Province with Saki.
It was early morning
on a cold day. Amidst the bustle of the passengers, the whistle of the ship
sounded lonely and loud.
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