Campione 06

by Flying Phoenix of Divine Mountain

  Before the entrance of Toushouguu flanked by cedar trees, the first torii[46] could be seen in front, entering it would reach Toushouguu while Nikkousan Rinnouji was to the right and Futarasan Shrine was found by following deep along the left path.

  "By the way, Liliana, where are we staying tonight?"

  "Right, I already booked a room nearby, so do not worry about the noisy crowd over there. Furthermore, according to your orders, I also picked a hotel that was less expensive."

  Liliana replied to Godou's inquiry with a very capable tone of voice.

  She had always had a habit of paying attention to small details, and thus was very suited to handling these kinds of errands. In this area, she was completely different from Erica.

  "Yes, Lily, I want one where I can wear a yukata, with outdoor hot springs like those open air public baths, so that I can drag Godou out at night and enjoy the night sky together as we bathe."

  Erica drifted into a seductive smile.

  This blonde girl had particular talents in politics, strategy, and negotiations. She was also very aware of the big picture and understood economics. However, mundane and sundry affairs, as well as delicate tasks like cooking and the economic mindset to go with it, were not her forte. If given such tasks, she probably could still complete them, but Godou will definitely not assign these jobs to her.

  "The place we are staying tonight does offer open air baths, but requires reservations. As long as Kusanagi Godou wishes, I will make arrangements..."

  "Oh? Is that so! Godou, let us enjoy the two of us together!"

  "Who is going to enjoy that kind of thing!"

  Godou angrily snarled and rejected her offer.

  Erica had her reasons for not arranging these things herself. From the looks of it, the rivalry between Erica and Liliana was still in Erica's favor, and she was able to maintain this delicate balance indefinitely.

  As a side note, the Mariya sisters who accompanied them on this trip...

  "So, Godou-san, it is almost time to set off."

  "Onii-sama, we're finally about to reach the shrine at Saitenguu, I'm feeling a little nervous!"

  They had spoken, ignoring the conversation between the knights.

  Serious Yuri had already grown accustomed to Erica and Liliana's excesses, and would not nag them with righteous principles. As for Hikari, she was the type who could quickly get along and make friends with anyone. Her having this kind of flexibility was really wasted here. Godou increasingly had thoughts like that.

  "So, we'll start our separate activities now. Lily, is that OK?"

  "No other way, if we came along with you, we might end up being in your way."

  And so Erica and Liliana took off, because going for the trial at the shrine of the divine monarch, it would be best to avoid having outsiders present.

  "By the way, has Mariya ever visited that whatever temple?"

  "Yes, I came here once before I became a Hime-Miko, but I only entered the main hall and did not go into the sacrosanct."

  Yuri advanced towards the torii of Toushouguu without hesitation.

  Following behind her was Godou and Hikari.

  Nikkou Toushouguu, was the mausoleum and temple built to venerate the deified Tokugawa Ieyasu -- Toushou Daigongen. As a luxurious and magnificent shrine, there were frequent visitors from school trips. The official tour route consisted of climbing the stone steps up towards the five-story pagoda, passing through the torii, entering the worship hall through the famous gates of Youmeimon, then the main hall, and finally entering the Okusha inner shrine.

  But halfway through, Yuri led them towards an unassuming looking building.

  Speaking of Toushouguu, it was a luxurious space built by the equivalent of several tens of billions of yen in modern day terms. It gave a golden shiny impression, and was full of sculptures and delicate little decorations.

  But over there was a very small and undecorated building, very different from the five-story pagoda and the Omotemon gate seen so far. However, there were still many tourists and it was an unexpectedly popular scenic spot.

  "It feels like this place is particularly dull, since all the others are so magnificent."

  "This is the Shinkyu Sacred Stables... The building that binds the fateful connection between Toushouguu and the divine monarch."

  Yuri replied to Godou's first impressions. Sacred stables? Godou noticed there were two horses in the stalls, which meant that this was a barn for keeping horses.

  "Onii-sama, look quickly, there are monkeys!"

  Hikari pointed with great liveliness at the wall of the building.

  Along the lower edge of the eaves of a typical house, there were many carvings of monkeys. A whole clan of monkeys, there were monkeys covering their eyes, monkeys covering their mouths, monkeys covering their ears, sitting monkeys, monkeys watching the sky, monkeys sprawled and lying around. In total there were ten-odd monkey sculptures.

  "Ah yes, that's 'see no evil, say no evil, hear no evil.'"

  Three monkeys that covered their eyes, mouth and ears respectively.

  This was a famous sculpture, and seeing it here made Godou finally recall.

  "Right, from ancient times, there was a rumor that monkeys can cure the illnesses of horses, so this stable is full of monkeys!"

  "Oh, I did not know that, what relation does Tokugawa Ieyasu have with monkeys?"

  Hearing Hikari's recited explanation, Yuri asked with a surprised expression.

  "Didn't you know? The divine monarch is not Toushou Daigongen!"

  This time it was Godou's turn to be surprised, if the divine monarch worshipped at Nikkou Toushouguu was not Tokugawa Ieyasu, then who on earth could it be?

  Realizing she was too subjective, Yuri hurriedly apologized.

  "I am really sorry, because I heard that you already received information from Kaoru so I thought you knew everything already. Though Saitenguu is a part of Nikkou Toushouguu, it is dedicated to a different god, and is an independent holy sanctum."

  "The divine monarch worshipped at Saitenguu is called the monkey divine monarch! He is the incarnation of a monkey, and the protector of dragons. Actually, that's all I know."

  Hikari felt a little embarrassed.

  Why does a monkey have to protect dragons? Godou pondered puzzled, no matter how you look at it, a dragon should be much stronger than a monkey. Probably some kind of complicated mythological reason again.

  "So, let us head to Saitenguu, please follow behind me."

  Yuri took out a rectangular piece of a paper -- a charm. Asking her the reason, it turns out Saitenguu had a barrier that repels humans.

  With Godou and Hikari following her, Yuri held the charm and entered a vast forest behind Shinkyo Sacred Stables.

  This was the intermediate area within Toushouguu that led towards Futarasan Shrine. Very inconspicuous, none of the tens of tourists noticed it.

  After following Yuri in the forest for ten-odd minutes, Godou already had no idea where he was.

  The three of them finally reached an ancient shrine.

  "Welcome, I have been waiting for everyone."

  The Kuhoudzuka gentleman came out to greet them, wearing Shinto shrine attire.

  Behind him was Amakasu who they had left behind earlier. He probably arrived first by taking a different route. Adhering to his role in the background, he only greeted Godou with a glance.

  "We Kuhoudzuka of this shrine are greatly honored by the arrival of the [King]. Very soon, the doors to the sacrosanct will be opened and you will be able to meet the divine monarch. Please wait a moment."

  The Kuhoudzuka gentleman welcomed them cautiously and respectfully, but Godou was perplexed.

  "Did you just mention meeting the divine monarch?"

  "Yes, for a trial at Saitenguu, the best course of action would be having a direct face to face conversation with the divine monarch she will be serving in the future. As long as Hikari-san can use disaster purification, the sacrosanct can be opened, which
is why this method was selected."

  I see, it was as he said, as long as there was no substantial risk.

  "But isn't it dangerous to meet with a [Heretic God]?"

  "You are completely correct. Since that is the case, we will do as you requested. You will accompany Hikari-san together into the sacrosanct and meet the divine monarch together."

  The Kuhoudzuka gentleman's suggestion made Godou deep in thought.

  If he meets a [Heretic God], wouldn't there be trouble? They were natural enemies hardwired on a genetic level, if a great battle began from this at Toushouguu, it would be a huge problem...

  But letting Hikari see him alone was also too dangerous, and Godou was the one responsible for forcing them to allow this in the first place. At this time, the guardian should be accompanying her.

  Godou had no choice but to nod.

  Godou, Amakasu and Yuri despite her spirit vision did not notice.

  Today's visitors at Saitenguu included a nonhuman existence, a tiny lizard that watched these people superciliously from a corner in the area.

  Since it was close to the ground surface, it was very hard for tall humans to notice.

  Its eyes carried a haughty royal presence, and as the Kuhoudzuka gentleman led the miko forward, the lizard began to move languidly.

  Moving with leisure, as if it was the ruler of this place.

  Part 2

  In preparation for the meeting with the divine monarch, Hikari changed into a miko outfit.

  Led by the Kuhoudzuka gentleman to the Shamusho[47] building, her sister Yuri also followed by her side.

  Though Godou was offered a waiting room, he refused because he didn't want to create trouble for others, and waited with Amakasu in the vicinity of the Shamusho.

  "...The Kuhoudzuka family has surprisingly few people here."

  Godou pointed out what he noticed. Other than the Kuhoudzuka gentleman, there were no other people.

  Currently, Godou and Amakasu were the only ones present.

  "Since it is the day when the sacrosanct of the monkey divine monarch will be opened, most likely everyone was dismissed other than the young master in charge. His way of handling things is appropriate for opening a divine seal that has been untouched for a century."

  "Anyway besides that, why do they worship a monkey deity here?"

  Shouldn't they worship a more advantageous deity?

  As if hearing Godou's thoughts, Amakasu smiled slightly wryly and scratched his head.

  "You say he is just a monkey, but he is actually a very useful divine beast. Unexpected, right?"

  "Curing illnesses of horses and protecting dragons... That's what I heard just now."

  "Oh, so you already know. Furthermore, he has other important attributes, such as vanquishing evil. Kyoto is a place inhabited by monkeys. This place is located at the Gen[48] position relative to Kyoto -- in other words, the northeast. In onmyoudou[49], the northeast is regarded as the demon gate, namely the direction from where demons and evil spirits invade."

  You see, northeast -- Gen's opposite is the Shen[50] position of southwest, which is why the monkey is used for vanquishing evil, that was how Amakasu explained, somewhat inexplicably happily.

  "Using the monkey to establish a formation as a guard for the demon gate, is one of the most prided wizardry techniques of the Tendai[51] monks."

  "Tendai...? That Tendai from Mount Hiei's Enryaku-ji[52]?"

  "Yes, by the way, the Buddhist High Priest Tenkai who designed Nikkou Toushouguu, apprenticed at Tendai originally."

  Mount Hiei is located to the northeast of Kyoto -- the position of the demon gate. Amakasu added.

  High Priest Tenkai. Godou had heard this name before, known as Tokugawa Ieyasu's think tank, he was a monk with great wisdom. He served until the third Shogun[53], Iemitsu.

  "The religious device known as Nikkou Toushouguu was constructed for the sake of deifying Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu as the guardian god of the country. As for the secretly built Saitenguu here, it is the shrine for worshipping the dragon slayer vanquisher of evil, the monkey divine monarch."

  "Why would they choose this place deliberately...?"

  "Because relative to Japan's supernatural center, this happens to be the position of the demon gate, so the worship of the country's guardian deity Lord Ieyasu, as well as the evil-vanquishing monkey god, were both established here.

  Godou was intrigued. What was the supernatural center?

  "You'll understand if you look at a map. Japan's symbol, the sacred grounds with the highest energy -- is the holy peak Mount Fuji. Nikkou is northeast relative to it. Yes, according to records, the monkey divine monarch has gone out from Saitenguu a number of times."

  "Letting a [Heretic God] run around outside? Isn't that very dangerous!"

  "You are correct. A hundred years ago, when the divine monarch was last released, the entire Saitenguu and related personnel were blown away, and the current shrine was rebuilt after the incident."

  Who knew there was this kind of back story.

  Godou felt increasingly worried. Was this really OK for Hikari?

  "How did the [Heretic God] leave if it was sealed with so much effort? Also, why would an escaped deity return on its own?"

  "If you want an explanation, then I will have to start telling stories about gods, the kind that Kusanagi hates the most."

  Come to think of it, though Amakasu explained about religion and wizardry, he did not go into any detail about gods. Was he paying attention to my reactions? Which was why he then continued and gave the following explanation:

  "The reason why he came back, was due to that great wizardry spell mentioned before that required a life time's work. The magical power gathered from sacred sites around Japan is converted into the divine power of Toushou Daigongen, and then used to restrain the monkey divine monarch. Even when he went out to cause havoc, he was obliged to return and accept being sealed in the end."

  "...This kind of thing is possible!?"

  Godou was overcome with surprise. No matter how many human magi were gathered, a super powerful [Heretic God] could never be defeated. This should be unchangeable truth.

  "This kind of thing is impossible, so how was it actually done? Kaoru-san and I firmly believe, that this set up must have been the culmination of the ancient sages' wisdom."

  Ancient sages -- in other words, the current successors of those residents in the Netherworld.

  As they chatted away, Yuri returned but Hikari and the Kuhoudzuka gentleman were nowhere to be seen. She had also changed into a miko outfit.

  "Mariya, why are you wearing a miko outfit? And where's your sister?"

  "Hikari is talking with Mikihiko-san right now. Godou-san, can you take me along to see Monkey Divine Monarch-sama?"

  Yuri pleaded with a determined expression.

  "You want to come too? No way, meeting a god is too dangerous."

  "Precisely because it is dangerous, if anything happens, Godou-san will surely protect Hikari, right? In that case, I have to be there as well."

  Realizing Godou's intentions for volunteering to go, and due to her ability to obtain knowledge about gods through spirit vision, Yuri concluded that her presence would be a crucial deciding factor if a battle broke out against a god.

  "I cannot allow myself to hide in a safe place knowing Godou-san is taking a risk for the sake of my younger sister. I beg you, please."

  Yuri pleaded with sincerity. To be honest, Godou was very grateful for her care and concern for him, but if he had to receive knowledge from the beautiful Hime-Miko, then it would have to be through that kind of behavior --

  Seeing Yuri's adorable cherry lips, Godou recalled that incident.

  Probably thinking the same thing, Yuri also started to act awkwardly, appearing very embarrassed.

  "...I-If something... like that happens, I-I completely do not mind..."

  Combined with her extremely soft murmuring, Godou felt a great shock numbing his brain and became spe
echless. He couldn't help it, to think she would say something like that.

  "-- It is true that there is a risk, but taking Yuri-san along will confer many conveniences. In consideration of the goals of this undertaking, there is no need for you two to act separately."

  Stuck in their own world, the two of them were suddenly brought back by the appearance of a calm voice. Godou had quite the surprise, and Yuri most likely as well. Right, that guy was still here!

  As the two of them turned to look, the unassuming youth was grinning to himself.

  "Although it's a little sad that my existence was forgotten, it's nice to see how far your feelings for each other have progressed. Back to the subject, Godou-san what do you think? Will you accept my suggestion?"

  "T-Then let's do it! P-Please, I am in your care, Mariya!"

  "Yes, right. Then I shall be relying on you, I am unworthy, please take good care of me."

  Due to being over nervous, the two of them began to speak incoherently.

  "Sorry for making everyone wait! ...Eh? Did something happen?"

  The long-awaited return of Hikari and Kuhoudzuka Mikihiko dispelled the awkward atmosphere.

  At this time, Amakasu silently saluted with his eyes and left. Though he was a member of the History Compilation Committee, to Saitenguu he was just an outsider, hence very tactfully he departed.

  Unexpectedly, the Kuhoudzuka gentleman readily agreed to the addition of yet another participant.

  Thus Godou and Hikari, as well as Yuri, were taken to the depths of Saitenguu.

  "--Strange? What is with this sword?"

  Hikari was carrying a kodachi[54] in her arms. Its scabbard and hilt were made of white wood, and appeared to be a precious blade with substantial history.

  "Ah, its name is Zanryuutou.[55] In order to meet Divine Monarch-sama, it is necessary to bring it along."

  "Like the divine monarch, this blade is the precious sword that protects Saitenguu."

  The Kuhoudzuka gentleman added.

  "Come to think of it, there are also shrines that venerate blades as divine possessed objects."

  Then there was nothing strange. Feeling that it is something he understood, Godou continued walking. They were taken to an ancient shrine that was not very large or glamorous.