The black-haired girl smiled at them in passing.
It had nothing in common with Erica's refined smile; it was the smile of an opportunist.
Today, she was just making herself known. The girl leisurely passed them as she implicitly communicated her intent.
Part 4
The Nanao Shrine was built on a hill close to Shiba Park.
To reach it, one had to first challenge the highest stone steps in the metropolitan area.
For Mariya Yuri, who had no stamina, this was quite a penance. Actually, they also had an elevator that went up and down, but it was out of order. Yet, the serious girl did not complain.
She somehow kept on climbing with her wheezing breath.
It was still the hot beginning of September, so she was already completely drenched in sweat.
That was why she purified herself with the showers in the shrine office before beginning her duties.
While soaking in the hot water, she suddenly felt bothered by her own body.
Her smooth, ivory skin was so white it almost seemed transparent.
Her build was slender and scrawny. Her limbs had no muscles to speak of, and she was so slender she seemed like she would break unless handled with care.
However, she had moderate volume in the proper places like her breasts and hips.
Yuri stopped the shower and left the stall. The bathroom mirror reflected her figure.
When going through water purification with her fellow Hime-Miko or changing with her classmates, she was always inexplicably complimented and treated with envy.
Maybe she had a body she could brag about.
She payed attention to her weight and dry skin like any other girl her age, but she had never experienced being too worried about her own figure.
If I can, I want to become more slender. That was about it.
But lately that started giving her a bad feeling.
What floated through her mind this time was the overwhelming physical beauty of Lucretia Zola, whom she had seen on Sardinia.
"Do men find that kind of build more desirable after all...?" Yuri murmured while pretending she did not have a particular person in mind.
It was not her build. It was the assertiveness and confidence of those girls that she lacked. Then there was her bad habit of blurting out harsh words.
"Hahhh," Yuri let out a sigh.
Compared to those girls, Mariya Yuri's build and personality was on a lower scale.
Because the DNA she had been born with was different from a European woman's, it couldn't be helped. It was inevitable, but that reasoning did not lighten Yuri's spirits at all.
Maybe, if he preferred beautiful, bold women like that...
'For now, I seem to be winning against Liliana-san.'
The thought suddenly came to Yuri's mind as she looked down at her stomach and she started worrying.
"Ahh, what am I thinking about! Dirty! Imprudent!"
Liliana Kranjcar's body was reminiscent of a fairy and was like that of a slim model.
In other words, it meant she lacked curves.
Yuri felt she was winning when it came to being feminine. But to use that for comparison, she felt embarrassed that her feelings were so indecent.
In the face of her sacred duty, she must not do that.
To clear her head with a cold shower, Yuri returned to the stall in haste.
Having regained some level of calmness, Yuri put on the white robes and hakama[12] of her miko outfit.
She left the shrine office and headed for the front shrine. While on her way, she exchanged greetings with the priests working in the shrine and the other miko as they passed by.
The standings of a full-time employee and a Hime-Miko were completely different.
In the end, a Hime-Miko was someone with special powers who was dispatched by the orders of the History Compilation Committee.
They were only dispatched to various important spiritual locations. Because the authority structure was completely different, even the head priest of a shrine could not give orders to a Hime-Miko. The girls were respected like high-class guests.
Currently, there were about ten Hime-Miko in service near Musashino in the Kanto region.
One of those comrades was waiting for her at the front shrine.
"Ena-san? What happened? Why are you here today?"
"Hey, Yuri, long time no see. I just thought I'd say hello."
Seishuuin Ena playfully smiled at her.
The girl with beautiful, black hair and noble features had an atmosphere that made her easy to get along with.
She was not wearing the miko outfit that Yuri was used to seeing, but a white shirt and a beige vest and skirt. It looked like the uniform of a high school somewhere.
Then there was the long and narrow cloth bag lying on the floor of the front shrine.
The moment she saw it, Yuri gave a startled jump. Its divine power was as fierce as ever.
The cloth bag was woven with a special fabric to block the magical power. But Yuri's spirit sense could still perceive the presence of that divine blade.
"Hey, Yuri, according to the rumors you're currently a mistress for His Majesty, right?"
"M-miiiiis"
At such a blunt question, Yuri was lost for words.
"His Majesty" probably referred to a Campione. It was a way of speaking that lacked precision, typical for Ena.
"I'm not! I am not in such a shameless relationship with Godou-san!"
"Ehh, really? I mean, because the committee and the Mariya household offered you as a human sacrifice, everyone else gave up on becoming His Majesty's lover. It's different from what I heard."
She was right. Yuri regretted her verbal slip.
It was a very enticing prospect—to gain influence over a devil king, a Campione, and make use of him. So to keep a lid on that, they had prepared an excuse.
"T-that is, Kaoru-san and Amakasu-san said we'd act like that on the surface, so I helped them... could you keep this a secret?"
"Ahh, it sounds like a trick those people would pull... Okay, got it," Ena said indifferently.
Yuri was relieved. Ena truly was the greatest Hime-Miko. In spite of her behavior, Seishuuin Ena had the most outstanding talent and the best qualities not only in Musashino, but in the whole country.
"So, instead of you, I'll just become His Majesty's mistress. Now this is a serious responsibility..."
"Excuse me?"
Yuri stiffened when she heard the sudden proposal. What was she saying, all of a sudden?
"Actually, this time Ena was also made His Majesty's mistress. The head of my family has urgently asked me to. Grampsy thought it was interesting so he also recommended it. Hey, you know, Grampsy? That's why the people from the committee can't say anything either."
"G-Gram, the Old One?"
He was one of the Elders whom not even the Historical Compilation Committee wanted to offend.
Even among the Hime-Miko, he had taken a special interest in Seishuuin Ena and secretly granted her the divine blade. Yuri had never met him. Ena was probably the only Hime-Miko to have met him face-to-face.
"Right. He told me not to lose to you or anyone when serving him, so I felt a bit bad. But it's great you're not his mistress. I really didn't want to quarrel with you."
"You can't! I definitely won't allow that!"
Yuri unintentionally flared up against Ena's grin and her conceited words.
The girl with the alias [Hime-Miko of the Sword] opened her eyes wide at that angry reaction.
"Hm, why? Something bad about it?"
"Th-that is..."
"Apart from having Grampsy's orders, Ena can't go against the committee either, so there's nothing she can do about it. And you're not his mistress, are you? So what's so bad, OH! Ena gets it..."
Suddenly Ena's expression changed to a mischievous smirk.
Yuri's face grew crimson with shame as she looked back awkwardly.
"Hohooh. It's cute
how you're getting all shy. So that's it. Ena gets it... Oh, Yuri, you seriously fell for His Majesty?"
"I did not! Please don't make weird accusations!"
"Hehehe. Denying it while blushing to your ears, you really are cute. Why didn't you say so in the first place? Ena is no demon, she's properly thinking about things."
Seishuuin Ena proposed something astounding as she chuckled.
"Alright. Then let's split the roles. Ena will leave the perverted and child-bearing stuff, the work of a woman to you, Yuri. Ena will do the rest. You're fine with that, right?"
"Ehh? Ena-san, what are you...?"
Her fellow Hime-Miko showed the perplexed Yuri a radiant smile.
"I told you, right, I was ordered not to lose to anyone. It's fine since we're friends, but Ena will drive those other two mistresses out. Let's serve His Majesty, just the two of us!"
Ena picked up the cloth bag lying on the floor.
She opened it and pulled out what's inside. A broadsword, 3 shaku 3 sun 5 bu long, stored in a black lacquered sheath. The intensity of the magical power radiating from the divine artifact made Yuri dizzy.
"For now, Ena thinks she'll start with cleaning up that blond Erica-something-or-other. She seems quite skilled, that girl. Well, Ena's got her strong partner here so she doesn't think she'll lose."
Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi.
The most prominent divine blade in Japan. The power hidden within was unfathomable.
The strife these girls were involving Kusanagi Godou and Erica Blandelli in had only just begun.
Chapter 2 - Another Chaotic School Day
Part 1
Tamaura Shrine was located in the section of Yushima[13] closest to the Kuramaebashi Street.[14]
Seishuuin Ena was greeting visitors on its grounds.
A few hours have passed since her visit to Nanao Shrine, and it was already evening.
"How do you do, Ena-san. It's been a while. By the way, if you need a shrine, just pick any modest one you like..," said one of her guests, Amakasu Touma.
He was a man in the late twenties, clad in a cheap business suit. He usually ran errands for History Compilation Committee.
But that certainly did not make him an underling. Even amongst the experts from the committee, he was working directly for the Sayanomiya family in all of Kantou[15]
Facing him was Ena, who had already changed from her school uniform into her miko outfit.
White robes and a red hakama; in her hands, a cloth bag concealed the mysterious power of her broadsword.
"This shrine is fine. Those places with many people are a pain anyway, and Ama no Murakumo feels more comfortable here as well. Don't worry about it."
"If that's so, feel free to stay. I will take care of the paperwork, so use it as you like."
Ena nodded appropriately at Amakasu's words.
She had already talked to the administrator of this place and gotten the key to the shrine.
She intended to use it as she liked even without being told. The gods enshrined here were Oinari,[16] Yamato Takeru no Mikoto,[17] and Oto Tachibana no Hime.[18]
All of them had extraordinary compatibility with the girl and her partner. There was nothing to criticize, for a temporary home.
"I heard the story from Yuri-san and the head of the Seishuuins. Yeah, how should I put this..."
"'Don't meddle'?"
When Ena preemptively interjected with a smirk, Amakasu showed a faint smile.
"You can't be that blunt now, can you? You actually do feel close to the Committee, but since those feelings won't show this time..."
"It's what Grampsy said. Yeah, my sympathies..."
"Thank you. By the way, Ena-san, you've already come into contact with Erica Blandelli and Liliana Kranjcar, haven't you?"
As one would expect, the information had traveled fast. Not intending to hide it, Ena admitted immediately.
"Well yeah. The idea of assaulting Erica in her sleep last night came up..."
"And you left it at that? A wise judgment. The barrier that great knight of the [Copper Black Cross] raised around her home should provide more than just any normal defense. Although I would like you to refrain even more from interfering with her if possible..."
"Why? Finally Japan has its own king, and now some foreign girl is his mistress? Isn't it better to chase her out?"
At Ena's proposal, Amakasu shook his head as though he were disappointed.
"Maybe so during the era of national isolation,[19] but the times have changed. Whether it's the [Copper Black Cross] or the [Bronze Black Cross], they are both extremely powerful magic associations. It might be as you say if they were agents of riffraff organizations, but here..."
"Those girls are troublesome?"
"Yes. It's like laying hands on foreign diplomats. In the worst case it might spark strife between our countries."
Ena understood those feelings well. But she had no intention of changing her plans.
Politics and diplomacy were too complex for her. Fights were more fun when they were simple. Matching blades and competing with true strength; was not that enough?
"Uuuum, sorry. Granny and the others at my place had asked me to drive those girls out, so I can't just stop now. Fighting it out with her also seems like fun. Well, let's just leave it at that, okay?"
For the moment, Ena decided to apologize in advance.
Amakasu shrugged his shoulders at Ena's frivolous apology, and her other guest suddenly smiled.
"Your honored grandmother—the directions from the head of the Seishuuins? And your guardian, the Old One, approves as well. It's unlike him to hold an interest in worldly power struggles..."
They were the first words of the third party who had kept her silence thus far.
Sayanomiya Kaoru. As the leader of the Tokyo branch of the History Compilation Committee, she had authority over the Committee in Kantou.
"That's strange. Any idea why the Old Man gave such an order?"
"Who knows? There's no way Ena would know. But even if grampsy looks heroic, he can be unexpectedly wicked. Maybe he's plotting something?"
While happily giving her reply, she showed Kaoru a wry smile.
Sayanomiya Kaoru had a graceful beauty and an aura of being lost in some transient world. There was not an ounce of unnecessary fat on her slender frame.
"You never change, Ena, never bothered about anything. That's really like you."
The expression was a bit affectionate. Her smile was clear and charming.
Her delicate and androgynous appearance defied reality. If you called her a man, she could probably appear as a "gives off no feeling of reality" pretty boy in a shoujo manga.
But Sayanomiya Kaoru had the same sex as Ena. She was one of Musashino's Hime-Miko as well.
After finishing the fruitless interview with Seishuuin Ena, they left Tamaura Shrine.
As Amakasu Touma walked off, his superior Sayanomiya Kaoru followed next to him.
She was not only the next head of the Sayanomiya family, but also a candidate for the next leader of the History Compilation Committee.
It was fine that she was still a high school third year. There were no complaints to be made about her abilities, either. After all, the problem was her behavior—the crossdressing, for example.
She was currently wearing the boys' uniform.
A white shirt with necktie, blazer and pants. Not a pleated skirt, but trousers for boys.
"Still, I wonder why the Elders decided to increase the number of Kusanagi Godou's lovers," Amakasu tossed the question out to his neither male nor female superior.
"Until now, they never had any complaints against your plan of leaving it to Yuri-san alone, so it feels strange. It will only invite vain disorder, so I'd really like to avoid it..."
"Well, I think they have their own thoughts about this," Kaoru said thoughtfully. At times like these she looked like a dangerously frail beautiful boy, or maybe girl. Even though he knew her real gender, Amaka
su still felt that way. Strangers would feel the illusion more intensely.
"But if they're increasing the number of lovers around the Campione, wouldn't it mean it's okay for all the families to offer their daughters and start a debauched feast? But the Elders sent only Ena. I think that's gutsy."
"So the Elders caved in against pressure from the Seishuuin family," Amakasu grinned broadly.
That was impossible. While being convinced of that, he voiced the complete opposite opinion.
Kaoru probably believed the same thing. As expected, she smiled back evilly.
"There's no way. Just like the Sayanomiyas, the Seishuuins are one of the four families. Especially against the Old One, the Elders can't persist on such selfishness."
"So it's rather that the Seishuuins are being utilized? ...like adorning your cat with a bell?"
"Or possibly sticking insects onto a lion."
The Elders probably wanted to provoke some kind of reaction from Kusanagi Godou.
Having matched their opinions, the boss and underling made their way to the car in silence.
Part 2
Mariya Yuri's mornings began early. She woke up before seven o'clock and went to the kitchen.
Both her parents were employed. Her father worked for a certain restaurant chain (that being said, the proprietor was her father's father, in short her grandfather), and her mother lectured at a teaching school.
It was Yuri's daily routine to make breakfast in her busy mother's stead.
Sometimes, she would prepare lunch boxes for herself and her little sister Hikari.
But this morning she made one box too many and left home earlier than usual.
The Mariya family lived in an apartment complex in Toranomon.[20] Although their main house was in the Saitama prefecture, they used the Toranomon apartment for easy commuting to work and school.
Getting on the Chiyoda line and debarking at Nezu Station was her usual routine.
However, this morning she used the Ginza line and got off at Suehiromachi Station. It was to meet Seishuuin Ena. She was informed the girl occupied a small shrine in Yushima, so she would come to check up on her every once a while.
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