337. Only the One to Avoid (3)
As Sakuragi Oka’s sister took on the role of guide and explainer, she escorted Hitomi to the museum first, while Seoyeon stopped at the vending machine nearby and pulled two cans of coffee from it.
Upon returning to the entrance corner of the museum, the vivid red hair stood out even from a distance, all the more striking against the lush green foliage.
The owner of that striking red hair was squatting in a green yukata, her hand wrapped in a gauntlet extended forward. Resting on the fingertips was a snow-white cat.
The fur was whiter and cleaner than one would expect from a mountain dweller. The woman lightly tapped the top of its head with her fingers, then turned her head toward Seoyeon. Her purple eyes, somehow cool, gazed directly at this side.
“Thank you, Bartholomew.”
Without a word, Seoyeon extended the can. Kirra waved her hand to lightly shoo the cat away and accepted it willingly.
Kirra Korhonen Barbara. Also known as Apostle Matthew.
Among the Matthew & Zacchaeus, collectively called “Ceres,” she was regarded as the most powerful. With her hand resting on her knee, she rose smoothly. Even with the gauntlet on, she opened the can with effortless ease.
“Matteo-san. Why did you come here… No, this question is strange.”
It was because of taxes, of course. That was something that didn’t even need asking.
The reason she had come all the way to this foreign land was nothing but the taxes.
“Whose tax is it?”
So the question should have been phrased that way. Since it was clearly related to taxes, it was only natural to ask for the details.
“Is there an issue here that requires you to move directly?”
One must distinguish between the knife used for catching chickens and the one used for catching chickens. Especially if one could slaughter a dragon that flew in the sky.
If an Apostle moved directly, it was no trivial matter. Considering that Han Seoyeon was already residing in Japan, it was even more so.
If it had been another Apostle rather than Kirra, it would have been a crisis requiring the deployment of two Apostles, and Seoyeon would have been terrified.
But Kirra Korhonen was a double-affiliated individual in both the Roman Catholic Church and M&Z. If she moved as the premier Ceres rather than as an Apostle, it might not be as large a problem as one might imagine—though from the Church’s perspective, of course.
“The resident of this mountain has gathered unexpected income, causing a change in the settlement, so I’ve come to guide them.”
“Is that so.”
Fortunately, it was unrelated to the Church. At least, it wasn’t a case that required deploying two Apostles, so Seoyeon let out a relieved breath.
Kirra coming directly was nothing more than preparing the best person available to show respect to the other party.
Even so, one might think that an Apostle-level monster personally visiting was unusual, but it was surprisingly common. The other party had high status, or possessed the power to extort money if necessary… or the amount transferred at once was enormous.
“But if it’s the resident, which one is it? Ob ara? Motoise?”
However, income didn’t come from thin air. The larger it was, the more so.
It was impossible to earn income enough to attract Kirra without the environment supporting it.
But hearing that it had happened in such a remote mountain village made Seoyeon wonder. She was also worried whether something had gone wrong with the sacred mountain that had been stabilized a year ago.
“Onitake Inari.”
“…Um, sorry, could you say that again?”
“The collection target for this journey is also Inari no Kami of Onitake Inari Shrine.”
However, upon hearing the continuation, Seoyeon pressed her forehead.
This is like something exploded.
Mount Oe, due to its legends and characteristics, was overflowing with youkai. And the one who had long taken on the role of suppressing those youkai was Inari no Kami of Onitake Inari Shrine.
The problem there had occurred about a year ago. From the legend of Shuten-doji, a youkai had begun attacking hikers.
It should have been crushed by Inari, but it couldn’t because Inari had been greatly weakened at that time.
The fox deity had nearly starved to death because the chief priest of the shrine, Sanjo Yusuke, happened to be an atheist and didn’t receive faith.
Even so, she had suppressed the evil spirits by sacrificing her own flesh, buying Seoyeon time to intervene.
Anyway, the situation had been barely resolved, and by informing the priest of the existence from the other world, the faith issue had been roughly settled… according to what Seoyeon knew.
She had come to the mountain this time to check the status as an opportunity to visit.
But hearing that something had happened at the shrine again, the first thought that came to mind was ominous.
“May I ask what exactly happened?”
“A visual novel has exploded in popularity.”
“…I’m really sorry, but could you explain this again this time?”
“A visual novel game designed with the deity herself as the main heroine has made enormous profits.”
No, what the hell. What did you do. Seoyeon could only stare at Kirra with dazed eyes.
“Wait. So, does that mean the Freemason’s business too.”
Then muttering as if reaching some truth.
Sakuragi Oka had said she came to meet someone living on this mountain as a Freemason member. Considering that their organization valued “creations” as core, it didn’t seem unrelated no matter how one thought.
“…Well, first I should go to the shrine and interrogate the culprit.”
×
Although called Inari no Kami, strictly speaking, this side was a spirit.
The main body in Kyoto had eaten the faith of a pig-like person, and moreover, since the shrine wasn’t one with many visitors, it was practically dependent on the priest alone to survive.
First, the faith as Inari came in, but it all went into the Shuten-doji sealing, so nothing remained.
Still, the priest Sanjo Yusuke, the shrine chief, served her with all his heart, so it wasn’t entirely unsatisfying.
It was subtle in many ways, but she knew that it was more out of sympathy than respect for herself.
The Inari of Onitake had nearly starved to death because the priest she was supposed to serve didn’t believe in the deity.
Since realizing that fact, Yusuke had been working hard for Inari out of guilt and apology.
Of course, whether that was very meaningful was a question mark.
It was only natural. If one could always succeed just by wanting to revitalize the shrine, this industry would be seen as the best stable job instead of civil servant.
“Grandma. Won’t you try our business?”
“…What?”
At that moment, the youkai wandering on Mount Oe suddenly proposed.
It was a fellow with some size among the ones on the mountain, though she was weeded out as she grew.
She was asking to be spared, saying she would live quietly and not increase her power, but the attitude was so brazen that Seoyeon was dumbfounded, wondering what silence meant, and it started talking about her story arbitrarily.
“I heard that in the world these days, there are many ways to gather faith from common people, right? It’s not just coming to a remote shrine, donating coins, and doing a bow.”
“…Well, let’s hear more.”
Once the conversation started like that, she felt like hearing it out once. Even if she didn’t know how appropriate it was, it seemed plausible enough for her to propose.
“The problem is that there are no takers for this rural place. So, isn’t it better for us to go directly?”
“To play the role of a wandering troupe? What do you think the age of our priest is, carrying the god body around? You need to say something that makes sense.”
“There’s no law against running on foot. These days, there are many things like full-body, and you can talk to people from the whole world while sitting with your butt glued to the floor.”
“So, shall we use the internet?”
“Existence can’t do without something.”
The Inari was strangely intrigued by the story of how people gathered for some electronic game festival last time.
“So, why are you bringing this story to me. If it was that good, you would have done it yourself already.”
But after thinking carefully, another suspicion arose. If it was truly only good points, she would monopolize it herself, so why tell it so kindly to her.
“Well, it’s obvious. To do business, you need money first.”
“In other words, you want me to become an investor.”
“Exactly. If I provide the capital, I’ll definitely give you your share.”
“Trusting me with money…”
Inari was indeed dark about worldly matters, but as a deity, she had heard various stories from people.
She knew cases where people went bankrupt by investing in business, and even lent money to someone else’s business and went bankrupt.
She wouldn’t nod excitedly at suddenly proposing such a thing.
Even if it was a complete stranger, she would have suspected it, but they were in a relationship of mutual sealing. She couldn’t blindly trust.
“It won’t cost much. Since I don’t need lodging at all, the actual labor isn’t much, and if I just provide appropriate equipment, that should suffice.”
“…Well, let’s talk about how much is needed. But not just me, but Yusuke… the priest also needs to be convinced.”
“Exactly. Just giving this opportunity is enough to be grateful.”
She probably would refuse. While saying that, Inari thought.
Suddenly proposing “Let’s make a new work from the bottom to promote the shrine!” would be troublesome. Especially if there was no separate investor and everything had to be solved by charity.
“Electronic game? Yes, let’s try it.”
It was strange that the answer came back so readily and simply affirmative.
“Is it okay to decide so simply?”
“Raising the deity’s status, what’s wrong with that?”
“No, the shrine’s income isn’t abundant either…”
“It’s fine. We have accumulated funds.”
While saying that, she rummaged in the cabinet and showed something. Upon close look, it was a bank statement.
The amount inside was quite large, making Inari’s eyes widen. The youkai beside her also started sparkling.
“Oh, what is this. Quite a lot. With this much, paying what I said is easy, right?”
“When did you gather this gold…”
“I was saving a little bit to supplement a bit when my daughter gets married.”
“…?”
And right after, the atmosphere suddenly turned tense. The one who said it had a calm expression, though.
“If it’s for this shrine, there’s nothing to regret. You can use it all.”
“No, that’s…”
The youkai didn’t expect this flow at all, only opening her lips in a daze.
Then, the hand of the fox deity was placed on her shoulder with a thud.
“Do it properly. The moment I lose even one coin of that precious money, I’ll turn you into a guest in the afterlife. I’ll bury you alive, grind your bones to powder, and use them as fertilizer for the rice fields.”
“Ah, if I cancel now… No, no.”
This was the reason the sudden game development at Onitake Inari Shrine began.