Chapter 130: The Clinging Miko

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Before dawn, the morning mist swirled within Izumo-taisha. The eaves of the shrine and the branches of the pine and cypress trees could be faintly glimpsed.

The shrine maidens, led by Tazu, walked along the corridors between the great halls, preparing for their morning prayers.

The sun had not yet risen, and the grass and trees were still covered in dew. As their clothes brushed past, they would be dampened by the dew.

As they passed a side hall, they couldn’t help but stop.

The side hall was large. At this moment, it was enveloped in black light, golden radiance, and flames, standing majestically and sacredly in the thick mist, like the dwelling of a god.

“They’ve already started training!” a shrine maiden couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise.

“I thought we were early enough.”

Tazu didn’t care about the shrine maidens’ whispers, unlike her strict master.

She looked at these little shrine maidens and said warmly:
“You are forced to wake up early. The Divine Medium and the others wake up early on their own. Excellent people are not just because they are smart; they are very strict with themselves.”

The little shrine maidens listened to her attentively.

“You don’t need to worry about whether you’re smart or not, but you must make yourself wake up early, earlier than today, and keep it up.”

“Yes,” the little shrine maidens replied in unison.

Their voices were as clean as the morning dew. They were flowers that unfolded with the dew in the early morning. Tazu looked at them with a loving and nostalgic gaze, her thoughts surging, her heart full of reluctance to part.

Without her, who would lead them in their morning prayers?

Izumo-taisha didn’t have anyone with enough strength to be one of the Twelve Shrine Maidens yet.

And when she went to Kyushu, in the loose and free Shinto sect, who would do morning prayers with her?

“Sister Tazu?” a little shrine maiden who was close to her called out.

“Sister Tazu, what’s wrong?” another little shrine maiden also looked at her curiously.

Tazu came back to her senses and said with a smile, “It’s nothing. I was just looking at you and thinking about when I was little.”

“Sister Tazu, tell us about your training back then!”

“Yeah, yeah, listening to a senior’s training experience is also a kind of morning prayer! I often watch those big shots on my phone, talking about their past!”

Tazu looked at them with a helpless yet doting expression. After a moment of thought, she said, “Alright, I’ll tell you about these things today.”

“That’s great!”

“I love Sister Tazu the most!”

“We don’t have to do morning prayers anymore!” The little shrine maiden who said this was immediately silenced.

Tazu smiled and led them to the Kagura-den.

The little shrine maidens formed a circle, their eyes full of anticipation as they looked at her.

“When I became an apprentice shrine maiden, I was a bell-ringing shrine maiden. I ran around with a Kagura bell all day.”

“Ah! In that case, isn’t the next Izumo Miko me?”

“Wow, Sakura, you’re so bold!”

“Sakura, you should learn to wake up on your own first!”

The little shrine maidens burst into laughter.

Tazu looked at the bell-ringing shrine maiden, Sakura, who was being teased by the others but was instead smug, convinced that she was the next Izumo Miko. A smile couldn’t help but appear on her lips.

When she was her age, she would run out to play all day, sometimes to the city, sometimes to the beach to pick up crabs and secretly bring back beautiful shells.

Until everyone had to pick up their longbows, carry their demon-breaking arrows, and subjugate yokai. The people around her kept dying.

She remembered after the first subjugation, when everyone brought Yuko’s body back to the shrine. All the apprentice shrine maidens gathered around Yuko and cried. She ran to the beach alone and sat there until the sea was dyed red by the setting sun.

Her master found her, but didn’t make her go back. She stood by her side and watched the sunset with her.

“Master, will I die too?”

“Master doesn’t want you to die. I hope you live a good life. But Master knows better than anyone, and Little Tazu, you must also know, this world is not so tolerant. Life is cruel.”

From then on, she never went out to play again. She would only go to see the wild deer when she passed through Nara.

She started to come to the beach often, training alone. Sometimes she would wake up to find that the tide had already submerged half of her body.

At those times, she would think of Yuko lying on the ground. Was the feeling of death the same as the feeling of being submerged in seawater?

Tazu told these stories to the little shrine maidens. The bell-ringing shrine maiden, Sakura, immediately declared that from today on, she would also go to the beach to train.

The other little shrine maidens, while teasing her, also said they wanted to go.

“Sister Tazu, can we have our evening classes at the beach from now on?”

“We also want to train under the setting sun and feel the seawater submerge our bodies.”

“If you want to go back, then go,” Tazu agreed with a smile.

“That’s great! Long live Sister Tazu!”

Just then, a ray of light pierced through the mist, passed through the gaps in the leaves, and shone on a corner of the Kagura-den.

‘Dusk? Have I been talking all day?’ Tazu thought.

“Ah! The sun is out!”

“Hurry up and sweep the floor, the tourists are coming!”

“Ah, annoying, annoying. I have to officiate a Shinto wedding today! I have to hurry up and prepare!”

The little shrine maidens stood up in a hurry and bowed to Tazu in unison, “Thank you very much for your guidance!”

They hurried away from the Kagura-den. Tazu, who was left behind, looked at the gradually brightening sky.

“So it’s morning,” she murmured.

◇

Minamoto Kiyomoto’s face was calm as he continuously absorbed the divine energy. The divine power within him was growing at a visible rate.

When the first ray of sunlight slipped in through the window, he opened his eyes.

Black light enveloped his entire body, and his gaze had a sharpness that could pierce through everything.

After deciding to fight the remains of the Yellow Springs Demonic Dragon, his training speed had increased again.

But this was like a dagger. It could cut the enemy, but it could also cut himself.

Minamoto Kiyomoto spread his right hand, then slowly clenched it into a fist. A smile appeared on his face. He was looking forward to the battle with the Yellow Springs Demonic Dragon.

Sometimes, he wished he could fight every single yokai that had appeared in the mythological era.

As his cultivation deepened and his capacity became more distinct, his blood, his heart, and every cell in his body yearned to overwhelm everything, from ancient times to the present.

His entire body, including his soul, had no fear or hesitation.

After finishing his morning training, he had breakfast with Kamibayashi Miko and Himegami Izayoi, and then strolled through Izumo-taisha.

The dense forest was full of the breath of life. Walking on the pine-lined path, he could feel a mysterious atmosphere.

There were indeed occasional shikigami flitting through the trees.

“You’ve been getting more and more energetic lately,” Himegami Izayoi said to him.

“You’re also becoming more radiant day by day,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh.

“Go on, I’m not exchanging compliments with you,” Himegami Izayoi also laughed. “You haven’t been secretly doing things with Miko that make you feel good, have you?”

“He’s looking forward to the battle ahead,” Kamibayashi Miko glanced at Minamoto Kiyomoto and said faintly.

“Speaking of being energetic, I wonder how the Hokkaido Miko is doing,” Minamoto Kiyomoto looked at the students praying not far away.

Although Shimane Prefecture couldn’t compare to Kyoto or Tokyo, Izumo-taisha was a famous matchmaking shrine, and some schools would also choose it as a destination for their school trips.

“What, you miss her?” Himegami Izayoi asked with a grin.

“No, I was just changing the subject. I didn’t expect to change it to an even worse one.”

The three of them chatted as they walked and arrived at the main hall.

A wedding was being held here. The bride, in a white shiromuku, was holding a red umbrella and linking arms with the groom in a black kimono.

They stopped and watched the happy couple as they were led by the Shinto priest and shrine maiden, surrounded by friends and family, and slowly walked towards the shrine.

“You can’t hold a wedding at Hakusan Shrine, can you?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked Kamibayashi Miko.

“No one can afford to have the Divine Medium officiate a wedding,” Kamibayashi Miko said.

“Then how much does it cost to marry the Divine Medium?”

Kamibayashi Miko laughed, a contemptuous laugh.

“You should pay off your loan first.”

“Then I’ll marry Izayoi first, get her family’s assets, and then marry you.”

“What do you take me for?” Himegami Izayoi said with dissatisfaction, wrapping her arms around Minamoto Kiyomoto’s, her soft, full breasts pressing against him.

“A chaste young lady, my future wife,” Minamoto Kiyomoto patted her hand like an old married couple.

In fact, the virgin’s mind was all on her breasts.

Kamibayashi Miko let out a mocking, cold snort.

“What’s wrong, my lady?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked her.

The lady Kamibayashi Miko’s gaze was extremely cold.

“I say,” Minamoto Kiyomoto removed Himegami Izayoi’s hand, “one of you is charming and moving, the other is deliberately jealous. It only makes me love you more and makes my determination to marry both of you even stronger!”

“Then we won’t be charming and moving, and we won’t be jealous,” Himegami Izayoi crossed her arms in front of her chest, striking a pose of not serving.

“Isn’t it good to make me love you more?” Minamoto Kiyomoto uncrossed her hands, placed them on his arm, and forced her to hug him.

“Brother, aren’t you afraid of making your Miss Kamibayashi angry?” Himegami Izayoi asked innocently.

“Facing difficulties head-on is one of your brother’s qualities.”

“Whose brother?” Himegami Izayoi said with amusement. “Just because I called you that once, you really think you’re something, little brother.”

“I’m only a year younger than you.”

“It seems you really like difficulties,” Kamibayashi Miko glanced at the two of them and sneered.

“…I’m happy and in pain right now. When I think of the Divine Medium being jealous for me, my heart is full of satisfaction. But when I think of Miss Kamibayashi being jealous, I think, ‘Oh no, I have to do something’.”

“Have you thought of anything?” Kamibayashi Miko asked.

“Miss Kamibayashi, this is all your fault,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “If you had agreed to me earlier, I wouldn’t be happy and in pain, and you wouldn’t have to be jealous.”

“That’s right, that’s right, it’s all your fault,” Himegami Izayoi wrapped her arms around Minamoto Kiyomoto and accused Kamibayashi Miko.

Minamoto Kiyomoto: “…”

Kamibayashi Miko didn’t get angry because of their united front. Instead, she smiled at Minamoto Kiyomoto and said, “It’s not easy for you.”

“It’s not easy, but there’s no easy life. Someone will always cause you trouble.”

“Whoever causes brother trouble, Koyako will help you beat them up!” Himegami Izayoi waved her fist.

“I’m talking about you! Have some self-awareness, you witch who makes people love and hate you!”

Himegami Izayoi ignored Minamoto Kiyomoto and said to Kamibayashi Miko, “This move is very effective. He’s already hopelessly in love with me.”

“I’ll learn from it,” Kamibayashi Miko nodded in agreement.

“…Should I learn it too?” Minamoto Kiyomoto pondered.

“You still need to learn?” Himegami Izayoi said, and she and Kamibayashi Miko looked at him together.

“Hmm? Did I do something that made you love and hate me?” Minamoto Kiyomoto asked, puzzled.

Kamibayashi Miko and Himegami Izayoi exchanged a glance, and at the same time, their lips curled in a disdainful, helpless, and amused way.

Just as Minamoto Kiyomoto also showed a smile, the Izumo Miko walked over gracefully.

“Did the three of you rest well last night?” Tazu asked.

“It was alright, but I feel like it’s not as peaceful as Hakusan Shrine,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said.

Kamibayashi Miko glanced at him with a smile.

“Next time, I’ll take you to stay at Ise Grand Shrine,” Himegami Izayoi was interested in this matter.

“Compared to Ise Grand Shrine…” Minamoto Kiyomoto leaned close to her ear and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, “I’d rather stay in the Seiryo-den.”

As soon as they separated, Himegami Izayoi pulled Minamoto Kiyomoto back and said into his ear:
“You fool, the Seiryo-den is not for sleeping. The bedchamber is—”

“Mhm, mhm,” Minamoto Kiyomoto listened very attentively, nodding continuously.

“Pardon me, the two of them are children,” Kamibayashi Miko said to the Izumo Miko.

“It’s alright. Being as innocent as a young boy and girl is perhaps the reason why the Ise Miko and Lord Tsukushi-no-Kimi have such high cultivation at such a young age,” Tazu said with a smile.

She didn’t believe it at all.

The Divine Medium only said this one sentence and then fell silent, being cold to people.

Tazu’s gaze turned to the Shinto wedding that was taking place. She recalled the scene of her first time officiating a wedding.

In order not to make any mistakes, she had practiced for a week in advance, walking the wedding path alone every day, imagining the bride and groom following behind her.

Tazu’s expression couldn’t help but darken.

These little things that she usually didn’t pay attention to and thought she had forgotten were so hard to part with at the time of separation.

If she could, she really didn’t want to leave her hometown, leave her home, leave this Izumo that had raised her in the past and now needed her.

The bride and groom walked into the shrine to receive the blessings of the gods, and the crowd of tourists who had gathered to watch dispersed.

Tazu turned her head and saw that Minamoto Kiyomoto and Himegami Izayoi had finished their whispering and were preparing to leave.

She opened her mouth, the words on the tip of her tongue, and she suddenly asked, “Have the three of you found the Shinto sect?”

“Lord Mifune hasn’t found me yet, so there should be no news,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh.

Looking at his smile, that strange feeling of being seen through once again welled up in Tazu’s heart.

But at this moment, she had no time to care about these things.

“I have something I’d like to ask the three of you,” Tazu said hesitantly.

“Izumo Miko, please don’t be polite. Please speak,” Minamoto Kiyomoto made a gesture of invitation.

Tazu was silent for two seconds, then spoke in a slightly sad tone, “Do you think that every member of the Shinto sect deserves to die?”

“Are you questioning the decision of Her Majesty, as well as the ‘Ogosho’ and the ‘Taiko’?” Himegami Izayoi sneered.

This was not the coquettish pouting she showed Minamoto Kiyomoto; it was filled with killing intent.

That charming smile was like a knife tip coated in honey, a poison dripped into red wine.

“They say the Izumo Miko is the kindest of the shrine maidens. It’s really true,” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh.

Tazu, who was about to end the topic, couldn’t help but be stunned.

“Are you sympathizing with them?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said. “There are indeed some in the Shinto sect who are worthy of sympathy and can be given a second chance.”

“But,” he paused and continued, “whether they deserve to die or not, I will absolutely not hold back this time.”

“…I understand,” Tazu nodded.

Minamoto Kiyomoto suddenly sighed and said helplessly, “Too strict.”

“What?” Tazu asked subconsciously.

“The government’s policy towards the Shinto sect, and the requirements for practitioners, are all too strict.”

Tazu stared at him blankly.

“So I will absolutely not show mercy! I must stop the Shinto sect’s conspiracy and prevent them from completely angering Her Majesty! I must become the Honshu Shinto Lord, make the current system more humane, make practitioners safer, and publish more spells!”

Tazu suddenly remembered that Minamoto Kiyomoto had entered the sight of all practitioners precisely because he had published the “Dainichi Nyorai Spell” at Hakone Shrine.

‘This person might be…’ Tazu’s originally reluctant heart wavered even more.

“Why haven’t I heard about this?” Himegami Izayoi turned her head and questioned Minamoto Kiyomoto.

“You will definitely support me anyway.”

Himegami Izayoi sneered with some indifference, feeling that it was necessary to let him know that love is love, and matters of state are matters of state.

Minamoto Kiyomoto took her hand and placed it on his lips, “Won’t you support me, Koyako?”

“…So dirty,” Himegami Izayoi took her hand back with disgust, feeling that it wouldn’t hurt to let him try once.

“And you?” Minamoto Kiyomoto turned his face again, seeking Kamibayashi Miko’s opinion.

“It has nothing to do with me.”

“Meaning—as long as it’s my decision, the Divine Medium will support it?”

Kamibayashi Miko was stunned for a moment, then sighed helplessly, “You can understand it that way, except for marrying you and having a fool.”

“How can a mother say her own child is a fool? What about your overflowing motherly love?”

“I gave it all to you. Didn’t you feel it, my Susu?”

“…” Minamoto Kiyomoto’s feelings were complicated.

After the Izumo Miko left, Himegami Izayoi asked, “You want to win her over?”

“Is there anyone worthy of me winning over?” Minamoto Kiyomoto said with a laugh. “Since yesterday, her eyes have been full of reluctance. She is the leader of Group Four, and the original purpose she followed was to ‘protect the deserters who are afraid of yokai’. It’s just that she didn’t persist like Sayaka, but I can still give her a chance.”

“Mmm—” Himegami Izayoi looked him up and down. “You have some of the air of a ruler now.”

“Big sister taught me well,” Minamoto Kiyomoto immediately switched to a sycophantic tone.

“But, why do you know her eyes are full of reluctance? You… have been staring at her?” Himegami Izayoi showed what true ruler’s air was.

“I was just observing the enemy. It just so happens that she is a woman. I feel that a lifetime is too short to look at you two. Where would I have time to look at others?” Minamoto Kiyomoto replied.

“You were just missing the Hokkaido Miko,” Kamibayashi Miko said with a laugh.

“I miss her? I wish Hokkaido would float away, all the way to the center of the Pacific Ocean, so I’d never see her again. Think about it, how many times have I been scolded by you because of her?”

Seeing Minamoto Kiyomoto’s resentful look, both of them found it amusing.