Chapter 91: Protecting the Heir (4)
"I was surprised that Natsugahara Hina could speak properly to someone she had just met... but it turns out she wasn't a first-timer."
The miko muttered as she climbed the stone steps of the shrine.
"Compared to that, she speaks quite well...?"
But Ninomae had no choice but to ask. She replayed the conversations from earlier in her mind.
'That' was considered relatively well spoken?
"She didn't bite her tongue or hyperventilate in the middle."
"Well, the evaluation criteria are quite... low."
"That's just the way it is."
Honestly, Akane considered it a huge growth that Hina had said she wanted to meet her in person.
After all, Seoyeon had a rather intimidating appearance, and she had even prepared for the possibility of Hina fainting on the spot.
After all, overcoming fear wasn't easy. Even if the word was overused, severe phobias that could lead to mental illness couldn't be ignored.
Even after learning through Seoyeon that they could now treat Vampire Syndrome, Hina still covered her entire body with masks and clothes.
It wasn't something that could be cured with just one sentence.
"I'm sorry about what happened back then."
As she thought about the old incident, Seoyeon looked at Hina and apologized. After all, even if she thought about it, threatening with a gun on first meeting was too harsh a measure.
"No no, it's okay...... Well, I even imagine sometimes that you should have shot me back then... hehe."
"I'm really sorry...!"
And it was also an apology for twisting someone's personality.
Two life-threatening crises in a relatively short time, and a narrowly dramatic rescue.
That drastic emotional drop was enough to turn one person into an addict. Adrenaline, dopamine, whatever.
Hina, or Rokumondera Aki's stream has a masochist meme. It's also a character setting, but she mentioned in the stream that she has a bit of masochism herself.
Ninomae, who was watching Aki's stream, didn't expect it to be this serious... but the trigger for Seoyeon was even more unexpected.
By the way, Seoyeon was still climbing the stairs, avoiding Seoye'son's gaze as if she were the culprit.
Sakuragi Oka had left the shrine saying she had business, and with the only surface resident gone, Seoyeon started the old story she had postponed.
It was also the time when Ninomae learned that Hina was half-alien.
She learned why she could do the Prashova marathon even though she didn't need to sleep, because she couldn't sleep.
Anyway, since she had come for a visit, it was only natural to visit the main hall first... and that's how it ended up.
Of course, the 'surface' main hall had already been passed before Akane's residence.
But what she wanted to say now was that the place they were heading to was another 'main hall'.
Even when the Japanese government tried to change the name of Gomas Shrine to Takaku Shrine and move the shrine location down the mountain, this building couldn't be moved.
The reason was simple. This place was actually where the god resided.
In other words, this was the real shrine.
"...You followed well."
Akane, who was leading the way up the stairs, turned her head and glanced at the back, muttering. Despite the stairs not being particularly low, no one was lagging behind.
After all, it was a demon-contracted superhuman with enhanced physique and vampire blood flowing through her veins, so it was strange if she didn't pant.
Some roads allow speeding tickets, so of course, walking wasn't considered.
"Still?"
"We're almost there. Just a little more past that torii."
But that didn't mean the boredom of moving disappeared. To Ninomae's question, Seoyeon pointed to the red torii at the end of the stairs.
"Just until there..."
Ninomae sparkled with eyes when she heard her words.
After all, the difference between seeing and not seeing the destination made a big difference in motivation. Naturally, her steps quickened.
Ninomae, jumping two steps at a time happily.
Since it was geta with zori for kimono, Seoyeon had left a warning to be careful, but she wasn't that worried. After all, Ninomae was now a proper magician.
Most physical enhancements don't end with just increasing strength. Reflexes, concentration, flexibility that allow control of that power come as a set.
Perhaps Ninomae could now run across an average road with her eyes closed. No need to worry about falling...
"Hyaah?!"
"What."
And immediately, Ninomae started staggering and falling backward, making Seoyeon jump in shock.
"...Are you okay?"
"T-thank you..."
The only saving grace was that Akane had quickly grabbed her from behind faster than Seoyeon could react.
Thanks to her, Ninomae only stumbled one step and ended up thanking her. Akane pulled her hand away as if it was nothing and smirked.
"Ninomae-san, are you okay? You didn't sprain your ankle, did you?"
"No, I'm fine."
Seoyeon, making a fuss and worrying, Ninomae answered with a wry smile.
"You're overreacting too much? This much doesn't hurt."
"Completely unexpected, so I even thought maybe you hadn't done physical enhancement..."
"If it's magic, I had it properly set, so don't worry. The stumbling just now wasn't a real sprain, but... I don't know exactly, but I just got startled by something blocking the way."
"Blocking?"
Seoyeon asked in surprise. Upon hearing it, the scene from earlier seemed like she had bounced off a transparent wall.
"Well, soft and fluffy..."
As she muttered, Seoyeon looked at the spot where Ninomae had stumbled. A point not far from the torii. As expected, nothing was visible, nothing felt.
No presence, no smell, no mass. A space where it was hard to think something existed.
"Hmm."
But she could guess what it was. After confirming Akane's expression staring at the same spot, she was sure.
That's why Akane, who was just an ordinary person who had done some exercise compared to Seoyeon, could react first. She had 'seen' it.
"Sanmeedora-nim. You're being quite mischievous?"
Akaba Akane said in a cold voice. In reality or virtual, she gives off a dangerous atmosphere, but her mind is still good.
...The way that kindness is expressed is again a threatening atmosphere.
Anyway, as her god, it was unpleasant that her junior almost got hurt.
Yes, a god. Not the Japanese Shinto god she was presenting on the surface, but the real god brought by the people from across the sea and tied here.
Sanmeedora no Kami. Two-headed tiger god. The only miko who can see his form stared at him.
"What? Is this side something to be angry about? Hey, what nonsense is that? A business partner trespassing on my territory?"
But her expression soon turned to confusion. She couldn't understand the other person's words at all.
"I don't know well... but I don't want to look at him, do I? No, if I block it like that, what will the host think?"
Even the other people found it hard to understand the god's emotions. After all, they couldn't hear the voice.
But the intention to block Ninomae was clearly conveyed.
"Hah! Wait a minute. Then the sensation I felt just now..."
"What... It's the sole of our god's foot."
"Whoa..."
...No, even after almost falling, she was so distracted by the big size nyangelie that she didn't think.
"Hmm. Even so, how can I not do it? I don't particularly like boasting, but this is the first visit to the shrine for the New Year of the Apostle Seat."
"L-le... Akaba-san. H-how is the god's reaction...?"
"A rather troubled expression."
The actions of those in high positions are inherently political. Who they meet and where they go often gets political interpretations.
Sometimes used to express intentions, sometimes they move with tears and blood to be conscious of others' gazes.
It was the same from the perspective of the bizarre and faith. Those who bear great bizarre shake the thoughts just by existing.
When it comes to direct religious events like visits, it has a significant impact on the target. Especially the first visit of the year.
A god who received the first visit from an Apostle? At least for that year, it would be good to expect a significant power amplification. That's why Sanmeedora was troubled.
"...Well, it seems it can't be helped."
But the answer that came back was negative. Just a negative with room.
"It seems like there are conditions."
"That's it... Haa. I wanted to fight once. It seems you didn't like what I stopped you from doing last time."
Last time would be the first meeting of Seoyeon and Akane.
At that time, Akane had prepared a surprise attack with Sanmeedora, which Seoyeon had seen through, and ultimately Akane had her god bitten back.
Since it was a directive as if there was no chance of winning if it was a frontal battle rather than a surprise attack, it must have been somewhat annoying for the god. At least to the extent that she could hold it until now.
"...Indeed, you are from Goguryeo."
"...Well, our ancestors, but honestly, I won't deny that they were quite gangsters."
Then Ninomae and Seoyeon nodded at each other. Studying folklore inevitably came with history studies, and they had a lot of empathy in that area.
"......?"
On the other hand, Hina, who wasn't her country's history and wasn't good at neighboring country's history, wasn't following the story at all.
(But she was the type who would immediately go to play mode and enjoy it.)
"Well, if that's the case, I don't mind. It will be dangerous, though."
"D-dangerous...? Isn't it better not to do it, Sion-san?"
"Since I came, I should at least throw a coin into the offering box."
"Wait a minute. Your perception of visits is quite different, isn't it?"
"I'm Korean and Christian. I'm a bit weak on Japanese culture."
Seoyeon left such words half-jokingly and reached her hand to her waist. Toward the sheath on her obi.
But she didn't draw it, just lowered her waist slightly to set her stance.
"Everyone else, step aside. ──The deity may enter whenever she wishes."
In front of the torii stone steps. Silence flowed there. Even the thin, soft wind like a thread.
Kuung! And dust rose where Seoyeon was standing. The tiger that had rushed forward had struck its paw.
Of course, Seoyeon had already jumped back several steps down the stairs.
"The god Masakayamatsu-mikami."
No breath was disrupted. Unlike appearance, it wasn't a sudden surprise attack.
The moment movement started, it was roughly known by following the miko's eyes. And by thinking about each other's positions, the attack direction was easy to draw.
"The god Odo yamatsu-mikami, the god Oku yamatsu-mikami."
And no matter how formless the god was, the moment the attack hit, it affected reality. By seeing the aftermath, she could again identify the current position.
"The god Kura yamatsu-mikami, the god Shigi yamatsu-mikami, the god Haya yamatsu-mikami."
So, if only evading, it was not difficult.
"The god Hara yamatsu-mikami, the god Toya yamatsu-mikami."
Seoyeon was going up and down the stairs, dodging the attacks from various directions.
But like this, it would only lead to a stalemate.
And no matter how much an Apostle, a human with lungs and heart. If you fight a spiritual being with infinite time, of course this side would fall first.
So, at the time when Ninomae joined, they couldn't withstand several days.
But attacking was difficult.
Again, if only evading, it was not difficult. If only evading.
"Then gather, Kagou. Then scatter and disperse..."
The opponent's exact position could be grasped in an extremely short time between the attack and the next leap. In that short time, evasion and counterattack had to be done.
"──Kagou, Futsushimitamano Tsurugi."
Of course.
"Bone Piercing."
By somehow doing that, she was called an Apostle.
She turned the sheath, aimed. Pushed the pommel with the thumb to pull out the bitten blade. From behind the waist, she drew the sword handle in a curve. Moved the tip of the sword from lower left to upper right, but made the trajectory untraceable by the eye.
She cut. For the remaining three, it was all they could recognize that the sword had been drawn at some point, but they could still recognize that Seoyeon had cut something.
"It was close. ...The clothes you said suited Ninomae-san for once were about to be ruined in just one day."
"Eh... Is it dangerous that maybe that side...?"
Seoyeon exhaled a sigh of relief and accepted it. Ninomae, looking at her, let out a dazed voice.
"No, wouldn't it be better not to stubbornly insist on the Bone Piercing technique if it's more inefficient?"
"But this way is faster. It's a technique that uses the sheath as a runway to accelerate even more."
"There's no way..."
It was similar science fiction that could be seen in some light novels. To put it bluntly, nonsense. But Seoyeon smiled faintly even after hearing that criticism.
"But there are people who believe it like that and make works, right? Quite a lot."
Pseudo-science based on irrational grounds is itself already in the realm of religious faith.
And if there is faith, the law of the other side is that the bizarre grows.
"This is a sword that barely forged by gathering such faith to the limit. With various sorcery and miracles as support, it can barely break through sound speed from the Bone Piercing timing."
"Eek..."
"It's a masterpiece of Mister F through some kind of public opinion induction."
"L-le... Because of what you said just now, from now on, every time I see pseudo-science, I have to suspect the government's conspiracy?! Is it a joke...?"
"Haha. Shall we do the visit now?"
"Don't dodge the words, okay?!"