Kapitel 94: Convictions and Purposes
"I have heard your reasons and I will not allow your request to be fulfilled!"
"But Inari-sama! This is bigger than what you expect it to be!"
"And what am I missing then, human?!"
Inside the inner sanctum of the Main Kitsune Shinden, I and Inari-sama was arguing about my statement.
"The husband of Kurumi's friend, that guy that Kyo-san failed to hunt down that you directly eliminated. I believe he and his family were not alone when they escaped that night!"
"What? You do know that I watch over every nook and cranny of this Sanctuary, aren't you? I watch over humans and Yokai folk born in here and my fox envoys patrol and maintain the barrier in the forest without any fail."
"Exactly! You watch over humans and Yokai born in here, but what about those who aren't from here?"
As soon as I said that, the fox goddess' irises went wide in shock.
"Impossible… The barrier surely hasn't been breached… but then-"
"I noticed it when you narrated your last battle against the First Kirin Lord. He pulled all four guardian spirits out of their shrines in order to fight you at Onnoki plains using a forced expulsion ritual… but at the same time, you described him as one whose entire aura was negative and dark… someone who doesn't have enough spiritual energy to perform a demanding ritual."
"Inari-sama, is it possible that the ones who created the holes to Yomi and the ones who performed the rituals before your battle with the first Kirin Lord are one?"
"It is not just a possibility… It's definitely them…"
As soon as she gave that reply, the fox goddess stood up and assumed her physical form as she paced around the room, seemingly trying to think deeply about something.
"Those cultists… I thought this would simply be a defense against the demons. At this rate, our own preparations are going to be insufficient."
"Should I lead some of our kitsunes to check the villagers? If they created those holes recently, they would most likely still be here."
"No. It's possible that they placed spells on the forest long before it activated and created the holes. If what Hiroshi is saying is consistent, it would mean that whoever convinced Manjiro to escape with his family 7 years ago just used them as a distraction to safely escape from the hunt."
"But that doesn't make sense… how can a Yomi cultist enter the Sanctuary if- No way…"
"You realized it now, Kurumi? That's the only possible way for them to enter the Sanctuary unnoticed."
Kurumi and Inari-sama talked to each other for a moment until Kurumi seemed to have a realization and finally connected the events together.
"That is the same week before the Summer festival when Reika overslept, and we blamed her for letting the hostile Yokai to get out of the forest… However, what if Reika's negligence wasn't the cause of it but instead, it was a trial run for the cultist to make sure that he did open a hole to the underworld?"
"Then that person used Manjiro's curiosity and naivety to create a suitable distraction for them to escape during the new moon after the summer festival…"
I didn't know that much about this place, but one thing that I am aware of is that supernatural things like this don't happen without the input of just the same supernatural people.
"Tch! Just when I thought that things will be fine…"
"About that… I think given the situation now, you'll accept my request, Inari-sama?"
"…"
With an anxious and irritated expression on her otherwise graceful face, the fox goddess casted a spell and in an instant, dozens of unconscious people appeared in front of us in a pile.
"Argh… my head…"
"How long was I asleep?"
"I feel sore all over…"
"Hey, all of you. Stand up already."
While they are still holding their aching heads and trying to awaken themselves, I knelt down to tap them on the backs and tell them to stand up immediately.
"I-Iwasawa-sama!"
"Are you alright, Kou-sama?!"
Once they saw my face, they hurriedly threw themselves towards me and formed what seemed to be a human shield around me.
"Who are you?! Where did you bring us?!"
"We won't let you hurt our master!"
"All of you! I didn't ask to be swarmed immediately!"
After I was surrounded by what seemed to be like 25 or so people, my annoyance in being suffocated in the human shield circle made me shout at them as I pushed my way out of there.
"I-Iwasawa-sama…"
"We overreacted… what a shame…"
"Argh… You guys…"
"You're blessed with loyal and affectionate subordinates, aren't you, Hiro?"
"Oh please… don't use this as a joke now."
Hearing Kurumi joke about this was the least of my concern. I looked around for my two direct retainers and after sensing that I need to talk to them, Minori and Kotori went in front of the crowd as I gave a short recap of all the things that happened.
"We're in the realm of Inari-no-kami. We're supposed to stay here until the end of their summer festival, but things changed, and I negotiated with them to bring all of you out earlier than what was planned."
It was at this moment that the others finally finished processing their surroundings did they realize that the woman with fox ears and nine tails on her back was a legitimate great spirit. The patron spirit of their homeland no less.
"I-Inari-sama!"
"W-We are delighted to be in your presence!"
"I-I-It's a great honor to face you, o great fox spirit!"
All of the people that came from Kiko and even some of Kotori's followers who identify themselves as faithful to the fox goddess, bowed down till their foreheads touched the floor as they shouted praises towards her.
"My, my… I never thought that there are still believers in Kiko long after I left it."
"I-Inari-sama! You shouldn't have-"
"Wait, what did you say, Inari-sama?"
"Ahem!"
"…"
Before the situation can blow up after the fox goddess' haphazard comment, I audibly cleared my throat to gather their attention which Kurumi silently thanked me for.
"The situation is as follows. Someone from a Yomi cult infiltrated the Sanctuary years ago and set-up time-delayed spells that will open up portals to the Underworld of Yomi. The reason why I negotiated to have all of you released early is to help out in the clearing operation that Inari-sama is planning before the Mazoku demons come out and start their attack."
"Which I am against, Hiroshi."
Before I can tell my men about the raid, Inari-sama interjected and instead, gave us an alternative task.
"The clearing of Yomi is best left to my little ones. I believe Kyo, Kurumi, Reiha and their spirit envoys are enough for the task and more than capable than mortals like you."
"I understand that. But since we have better weapons-"
"This isn't about your strength in battle, Hiroshi! This is about your willingness to shoot at each other!"
"""-!"""
The fox goddess' reply shocked all of us.
"…What do you mean?"
"This is the reason, Hiroshi."
After Kurumi spoke and showed me the fox mask that protected me earlier from being possessed by a demon, I understood why Inari-sama was so adamant with not letting any of us enter Yomi.
"Since you are humans, you will be targeted by the demons who wish to possess your body and make it their own. Against the rabid demons of that realm, all of you are nothing but sheep marching to a lion's den."
She paused for a moment as she assumed a grander form where she is clothed in a shrine priestess outfit and her tails grew larger.
"If even one of you gets possessed, the others will have to shoot them until they die… If you wish to clear out all of the passages, none of you will be left alive after shooting those who gets possessed… I don't want any of you to carry that burden."
"…"
My stubbornness and wish to help out crumbled into nothing after that statement.
"Kurumi, Kyo just sent me a telepathic message. He asks you to prepare for the attack. Reiha are standing by at the largest hole as we speak."
"Understood. Excuse my leave."
Kurumi teleported out of the room as Inari-sama gave us our task.
"While they are away for the preemptive attack and I will stay here to resist the incoming corruption of the land, I want you and your men to guard the village if ever some demons come out earlier than expected."
She waved her hand and suddenly, we found ourselves holding our weapons that strangely glowed bright blue.
"I've imbued them with my power. Every bullet and metal on your weapons are now capable of slaying demons."
"Incredible…"
"This sword will be a holy regalia once we come back to Kiko…"
"Slaying demons, huh? I've never imagined myself as an exorcist."
While they are marveling about the weapons on their hands, I walked forward until I reached the forefront of her throne.
"Everyone. Please leave the room for a while. I have something private to talk about with Inari-sama."
"""Yes, Kou-sama!"""
All of them responded and walked briskly towards the door leading out of the room. But I noticed that Minori and Kotori stayed behind.
"You two. I said that I have something private to talk about, didn't I?"
"Pardon me, my lord. But I wish to stay behind you."
"The same goes to me, Iwasawa-sama… You can rest assured that I will not interject with your conversation."
Seeing that both of them aren't willing to leave, I simply ignored them as I faced the fox goddess.
"I have one question about this, Inari-sama…"
"Well then, say it."
"…Is this the reason why you have kept the villagers trapped in here like this?"
After I asked that, the room went quiet to the point that I can even hear their own breathing.
"…Yes."
"-!"
"Iwasawa-sama!"
"Kou-sama! Don't do that!"
Her reply that came out so naturally and without any pause made me to involuntarily draw out my katana and point it towards her face which made Minori and Kotori to shout at me in shock.
"…"
"…"
My piercing gaze didn't even make her flinch. I tried to express all of my anger with just my eyes, but she seemed to be awfully stubborn as her expression remained calm and indifferent.
"Explain this."
"I have nothing more to explain."
"You have everything to explain to me!"
I never lowered my sword as I pushed her to answer me.
"…Well then… If I said that all of this happened because I don't want to feel guilty and die of weakness, would that suffice?"
"What?"
"…Of all the four great spirits, I am the only one who are left alive."
"-!!!"
Her sudden statement garnered the shock of everyone in the room.
"A spirit like me who is no longer bound by nature can only exist if there are humans dedicated to worshipping me. The reason why I left the land of Kiko is exactly because their praises has been mired with the dirt of self-interest and greed… the same meager praises that poisoned and killed my three other counterparts."
"Then the Sanctuary exists solely as your life-support… And the reason why you don't want them to leave the Sanctuary or question your authority is because your life literally depends on them."
"I have answered you. Can you sheathe your sword now?"
"…One more question."
"Speak it before you lose your arm."
She replied while giving me a threatening gaze.
"Is the reason why the Yomi cultists are after you is because this place contains the cave to the underworld?"
There was a pause before she opened her lips, and the truth was revealed.
"Yes. The Yomutsu cave is underneath this temple. The four shrines around us are seals I placed here to cleanse the corruption of the land before I made this my Sanctuary… This place that for thousands of years, I called home, is a land wanted by no one because it used to be the land of the dead."
I placed my katana back to its scabbard as I turned around to face my followers.
"…Kou-sama."
"Minori, Kotori… Let's leave now and prepare for battle… If anything, we should protect the innocent lives that are at stake here."
"U-understood."
With a heavy heart who is enraged with what I just learned, we left the temple as me and my men hurriedly came to the village of Furuya to guard the people who may end up as food for the demons later.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Back when we spirits are still freely battling each other over land and influence, we saw humans as nothing more but mere insects caught up with our feuds. Nothing more but inconsequential things that at the end of the day, nothing important to us.
All of it changed when 5000 years ago, a man that came from the ancient province of Nichi, which is now called as Hitachi, became renowned for his talent with the sword, spear and bow.
At first, most spirits saw him as just an upstart that will not change the course of our fights. But as soon as he was hailed by his master, the first emperor of Japan, as his direct retainer and general of conquest, his actions created a great discord in the spiritual realm.
At first, it was only the weakest of us who feared him, but as soon as the emperor sent forth expeditions throughout his lands and the provinces of his vassals and allies to exorcise the lands free of Yokai and hostile nature spirits, everyone came to fear the banner of the Kirin of Eternity that represented the most destructive group of all those expeditionary people.
Some old Yokai said that the order was given after the then small empire was repeatedly thrashed by our fights with each other and how the long-awaited rice harvest that can feed the starving young nation was flooded by a young and territorial water dragon. Others said that the first emperor was aiming to prove his competency by raising his nation without the patronage of the spirits, but one thing that all of them can agree on is that when the champion of the humans slew a Kirin that forced a remote village to offer up their children to be its wives, the carnage has began.
In the course of just five years, the Kirin Lord's expedition group who went southward from the Imperial capital garnered the highest kill rate among all other groups. At one point, when they reached the great forest of Len that is now owned by the Kusanagi clan, the death of the local tree deity twisted the previously picturesque forest into one that allows no sun or moonlight to come to its soil. And on the place where that tree deity died, the Kirin Lord ordered his men to pile up the bodies of the spirits and mythical creatures into a mound that rose higher than any tower or castle.
In the words of his subordinates back then, the Kirin Lord looked as if he was a man standing atop a thousand lives that will shape the future of the empire. Although he is still a human, his body and soul has been shaped by the massacre that he made.
In order to save their brethren, I and three other great spirits came to convene with the emperor. We assumed human bodies while keeping our definable appendages to show our supernatural identities.
First, there was Ryujin, the sea dragon that came from the sea near Nichi. Second, there was Shirotora, the white tiger that came from the northern islands of Niijima. Third, there was the Hino, the phoenix bird from the province of Tadai. And lastly, there was me, Inari, the Kitsune fox of Iso river basin.
We discussed about the war and how our species may become extinct due to the expeditions, but instead of the emperor, it was the Kirin Lord who talked to us and said that unless we come to an agreement of stopping the spirit battles that are harming their people and agree to remove our temperamental control over the events of nature, they will continue to massacre us.
With sure extinction coming our way if we don't settle it quick, we agreed to a consensus. As we can't fight each other anymore to entertain ourselves, we agreed to be patrons of four provinces and look after them as a means to pass time. As we can't control the effects of nature anymore as we wish, we instead became deities who provide an annual blessing to our circles of influence and nothing more. And lastly, we came to an agreement with the Kirin Lord to have him and his men watch over the cave to the underworld that his slaughter opened.
For the next few decades, the country was at peace. There we minor engagements between humans and spirits due to the fact that some spirits still wish to act as they wish, but either we persecute them or humans themselves send exorcists to slay the spirits. But overall, nothing much happened as we four great spirits found ourselves pleased with our positions as new deities.
However, one day when we least expected it, we were forcibly taken out of our shrines and brought to the plains of Onnoki by the Kirin Lord. Since we didn't understand the reason for the sudden event, we were caught off-guard as the still brisk and strong man charged towards us with a sword.
The battle went on for weeks. Even after we assumed our full spiritual forms, he still overwhelmed us to the point where we thought we will die. And this is from a 40-year-old Kirin Lord… what could've been our end if we fought him in his prime?
After a long battle when the white tiger spirit and the sea dragon was already prepared to die in their last attack, that man sheathed his sword and without any explanations, burned four talismans that brought us back to our respective shrines.
Months later, we received news that he committed seppuku in front of his emperor and that the answer about our last battle that we wished to hear from him is now gone.
For the next few millennia, we simply watched over the country that he left. Elders became lords and towns became provinces. As the empire stretched further and further, we did nothing but the exact same thing that we promised to do as our side of the deal. We did nothing but to watch over them as they expanded their lands, created communities, lacked resources and eventually went to war with each other.
We remained neutral and sided with no one as we gave our blessings fairly.
Years went and gone by, and we noticed something changing in ourselves. Slowly, our robust and energetic selves became weaker and weaker even though our circle of followers grew and grew… it was only when the White tiger spirit has died during the Naisen period did we notice that instead of the dedicated and disciplined believers that we once had, the majority of the believers that we now had are no longer dedicated to their service and saw us as nothing more but a means to receive blessings for their own greed. But still, we can't do anything.
The Sea dragon spirit later resigned from his post. He left his shrine and retreated to the bottom of the sea, still promising to come to the surface once a dangerous event takes place, but he said that with the corruption that the fraudulent believers gave him, he would likely die in battle once that time comes.
The Phoenix spirit was the next to abandon her post due to the corruption. With her land becoming a hub of trade and sexual tourism, she has retreated from her shrine and turned into an egg in the middle of a great volcano, wishing to be left alone for all eternity and be considered as dead.
It was me who last resigned from her post just a little hundred years ago when I saw my dear Kiko be invaded by foreign ideas that contrasted against my values and virtues. I know that many of them are still adamant with upholding those values, but since they are human, I no longer wanted to hold my breath and wish for the best when it is clear that they will eventually change and their praises become a poison to me.
With no more responsibility on my shoulders, I went through a phase of feeling anxiety and loss. For the first time in thousands of years, I have no purpose to fulfill. There are no more fights to fight, as many spirits of equal power has either died or rested indefinitely. There are no more humans to look after as I am not bound by any oaths anymore. There was nothing more to do… At some point, I also thought about going into indefinite rest, but I was reminded of something that I have been looking back on for a while.
"Why did he attack us back then, only to not kill us in the end?"
I went to Onnoki to look for clues. I searched the bay for anything, but in the end, the answer was on the other side of the body of water… in the cave to the underworld that strangely, hasn't corrupted the land at all for the last thousands of years.
"This is… the sword he used back then…"
Atop the cave, I saw two objects. The same sword that he used at our fight, and a sealed letter written on a Kirin's scaled skin with the golden blood of an earth dragon.
"If you are reading this, you must be looking for answers. This is the answer that you are looking for."
The letter was long. But the main point of it is something that made me forget about every evil image that I had about him.
His reason for attacking us back then is to see if he can trust our promise of not hurting any humans directly or indirectly anymore. He also tested if we are strong enough to resist the corruption that our believers will one day come to give us with their fraudulent praises. And after being reassured about his worries, he fought us to gather enough negative aura that he later imbued to this sword along with his soul.
"I will come to grow old soon, old enough that I will die one day. And so, I shall keep my side of the deal just like how you kept yours'. This sword contains my soul and all the aura that I received with all the bloodshed that I participated in. This will seal the cave for all eternity so long as it is kept plunged into the boulder of the entrance."
To guard the entrance to the cave, I built a spiritual realm in the unclaimed province. I went from warzone to warzone, looking for orphans and refugees whose memories I wiped clean and made to live in my land. With the sanctuary now populated, I erected four shrines that will act as the cleansing area of the corruption that managed to spread to the surface through small holes to Yomi.
I recreated an entire civilization simply to fulfill my purpose again and honor the promise and sacrifice of that man… All of this, just to protect what he wished to protect…
For the spirits of old, the Kirin Lord is a bloodthirsty monster who knows nothing but murder and destruction. But for his people, and me who read his last words, he was a symbol of loyalty and service. Someone who keeps his promises even to the grave.
And now, it was time for me to choose…
"I can either start another sanctuary somewhere and live a thousand more years… or I can correct my mistakes and die happily, knowing that I did the right thing…"
Inside the underground keep of the temple, I held the sword that pierces a giant boulder and with a sigh, I spoke.
"This is the first thing that seemed goddess-like of me to do…"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Iwasawa-sama! The barricades has been piled up and the festival tower has been repurposed as a sniper nest, sir!"
"Good job. Place a 300-meter perimeter along the outer defenses and bring the women and children to the village circle to keep them safe."
"The perimeter has already been set-up, sir. Minori-sama has told us in advance."
"Is that so? Well then, go and tell Kotori to properly instruct her archers on how to use the firecracker arrows and the oil traps. These demons might be spiritual in nature, but any damage is still damage to them."
"Yes, sir!"
I was busy with setting up the defenses for the village when a six-tailed fox appeared near me and spoke.
"Hey, dumb face."
"Oh, the same fox envoy from before… Did Kurumi send you again?"
"Yeah. They're about to start the attack any minute from now. You better prepare your people as well, Inari-sama may have blessed your weapons but she doesn't have enough power to render you immune from being possessed."
"Don't worry. I already told them about what may happen. All of them are ready to kill or be killed if they or those around them get possessed."
"Very well. May the goddess' protection be upon you."
The fox envoy disappeared, and I stared off at the distance as I saw dark clouds gathering at the forest where the holes has been detected.
"They're here… I can already remember the feeling from before…"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Tanukichi team. Ready to enter."
"Momiji team. Ready to enter."
"Kyonshi team. Ready to enter."
"Yokai team. Ready for the incursion."
At the four largest holes in the forest, each respective team are ready for the assault. Some strong Yokai also surrounded the smaller holes. They are not there to enter and attack, but simply to hold off any demon that wishes to come out.
All of them are looking at the same direction. The direction of the main Kitsune temple where the fox goddess will signal the start of the attack.
"The Sakura blossoms are now glowing! Commence the attack!"
In a single instant, the preemptive attack has started.
AUTORENGEDANKEN 
Ephraim_Chronia
Ephraim_Chronia "Happy 150K reads everyone!"
-Editor KEY
"Are you guys on the subreddit now? There's no responses there yet."
-Editor ZERO
"Happy anniversary too for the book. I think it was the same month last year when I finally took this book seriously."
-Author Rai
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