Chapitre 23: Chapter 23 : The Final Test l
Soon, time passed, and it was time for the final exams.
Though it's an Onmyouji school, it still operates like any other school, with exams, albeit different from regular ones.
Each year, the final test varies, and this year's test was the "Purification of a Spiritual Calamity."
Despite being called a spiritual calamity, it was merely a simulation, as it would be too dangerous to have mere students purify a real spiritual calamity.
Nevertheless, there were many exceptional students this year, such as the twins from the Tsuchimikado family and the heirs of the main families like the Kurahashi Clan's heir and the head of the Souma Clan, Namanari Ato Touji, etc.
Due to their extraordinary strength, Arata, Natsume, and Takiko were exempt from the test and received full marks.
"Is it enjoyable to watch them?" Arata asked curiously, looking at Takiko beside him as she observed the students purifying the spiritual calamity with great focus.
"It's quite entertaining," Takiko replied with a smile, finding it intriguing to witness her peers utilize the knowledge they had accumulated over half a year to accomplish the task.
"But seriously, you've been so brave to stay by my side for so long, knowing that I'm not the reincarnation of Yakou," Arata said lovingly and took a bite of strawberry mochi.
Strawberry mochi was Takiko's favorite treat, and as someone with a sweet tooth, Arata couldn't resist it and became almost addicted to it because of Takiko.
"But I'm not as courageous as a master who deceived the whole world," Takiko remarked sarcastically.
Some time ago, Takiko had disclosed to Arata that she knew he was not the reincarnation of Yakou.
Initially, she believed he was Yakou's reincarnation, which is why she wanted to become his Shikigami. However, after becoming his Shikigami, she sensed that Arata's soul was not from this world.
As someone who could harness the power of deities, Takiko naturally gained knowledge about those deities, which allowed her to know things no one else did.
Takiko was aware of the existence of other worlds, as well as the Dimensional Wall and how a soul crossing it obtained a unique power.
And this is how Takiko knew that Arata was not Yakou's reincarnation, as Yakou undoubtedly belonged to this world.
Though she was saddened by Arata's deception, her curiosity got the better of her, and she chose to stay by his side, eager to learn more about people from other worlds and his purpose for coming to this world.
As she observed Arata with curiosity, she felt happy and engaged in exciting activities, fulfilling her wish to live a normal life with her friends.
Takiko had been revered as the Souma princess by the adults around her. However, they kept her away from anyone who wasn't a relative, let alone friends her age. She was raised first as the 'Souma Princess' before being acknowledged as a 'girl.'
That's why her dream was to live like an ordinary girl, enjoying a normal life, rather than being restricted to her role as the Souma princess. Arata made this dream come true for her, and that's why she didn't want to leave his side, even after being deceived by him.
A few days ago, Arata confessed everything to her, and she was quite surprised by his response.
"Oh, you do," Arata replied nonchalantly.
To be frank, this angered her, and she wouldn't forgive Arata until he treated her to a lot of strawberry mochi.
"Do you still want to see Yakou?" Arata asked, his gaze naturally falling on Harutora.
"Hmmm," Takiko murmured, pondering Arata's question for a moment before replying, "Not really."
Initially, Takiko had wanted to meet Yakou because he was highly esteemed by the Souma clan's adults, and she thought that being with him might grant her a normal life. However, now that she had achieved what she desired, her interest in Yakou had faded.
"I see," Arata said, closing his eyes and expanding his spiritual senses, for the moment he had been waiting for was about to happen.
Arata had been very busy over the past six months, meeting many people.
First, he communicated with Ashiya Douman, someone who had stayed in this world for over a thousand years and possessed extensive knowledge. Arata reached out to him, hoping to find information about the Great Soul Ritual.
As luck would have it, Ashiya Douman seemed to have some information about the Great Soul Ritual, although it was limited and not very useful.
It appeared that Abe no Seimei had sought the Great Soul Ritual, but he abandoned the search promptly, as the Ritual required a constant supply of spiritual power until its completion, and it was not a small amount that needed to be provided.
Even Ashiya Douman, at his full strength as a Level 5 Spiritual Calamity, wasn't confident about using the Great Soul Ritual.
This indicated the tremendous spiritual strength required to perform the Ritual.
During his communication with Ashiya Douman, Arata also connected with his student and Shikigami, Saotome Suzu.
Suzu had a fascination with Yakou, so she had diligently researched the Taizan Fukun Ritual due to Yakou's involvement with it.
Talking to Suzu made Arata notice something he had overlooked – Yakou's reincarnation was perfect.
Indeed, Yakou's reincarnation was flawless, which struck Arata as strange since the Regular Taizan Fukun Ritual always had some flaw or loophole preventing a perfect reincarnation. However, Yakou had somehow managed it.
(A/N: By "ideal reincarnation," I mean being reincarnated without losing memories, spiritual power, or sacrificing anyone, etc.)
After a thorough search, Suzu concluded that Yakou achieved the perfect reincarnation by combining and modifying two Taizan Fukun Rituals into one, which he used to attain this perfect state.
Upon realizing this, Arata solved the mystery of the missing Taizan Fukun Ritual that required self-sacrifice.
The Ritual had disappeared because Yakou utilized it with another unknown Taizan Fukun Ritual to create a new one, and then he destroyed the original Ritual that demanded self-sacrifice.
Having figured this out, Arata decided to restore Harutora's memories as soon as possible but needed to prepare and ensure he obtained Harutora's Taizan Fukun Ritual once his memories as Yakou returned.
Therefore, Arata decided to team up with the head of the Kurahashi Clan, Kurahashi Genji, and the Twin Horn Syndicate.
Upon hearing Arata's decision to collaborate, they couldn't be happier, as they saw him as their god and relied on him to recover his memories of his past life to lead them.
As soon as Mutobe Chihiro's presence was detected, Arata halted the expansion of his spiritual senses, opened his eyes, and curiously surveyed his surroundings.
'Shiro, make sure to protect Kyouko if she's in danger,' Arata commanded using spiritual telepathy.
'I hear and obey,' Shiro respectfully replied, ready to rush to Kyouko's aid if necessary.
"It has begun," Arata murmured with a slight smileupon sensing the steady rise of spiritual calamity's power.
...
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Akasaki_Ryujin Hello here the author. Firstly, I am sorry for the long hiatus, but there were many things that I had to deal with, but I am back now. Secondly, I need an editor with the same conditions as before, and if you want, please contact me on the discord account: akasaki_ryujin8486
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