Chương 42: Chapter 42: The Legend of Shiranui
(TL Note: For those reading when this comes out, I fixed a translation error for earlier chapters. When you see Tōei, it really just meant Japan. So to clear up any confusion, Tōei=Japan)
Yae Sakura had once remarked that in this world, no human or monster could withstand a single strike of her blade and live.
Clearly, she was right.
Looking at the Ryūkotsusei before her—the dragon bone spirit killed by her ultimate attack—Yae Sakura felt grateful towards it.
The creature had gifted her with another fifty crystals.
But as she gazed upon the Ryūkotsusei's corpse, Yae couldn't help but acknowledge its formidable strength.
Despite taking her finishing blow, the creature still lay mostly intact. In other words, the dragon bone spirit's scales were truly incredibly hard.
"Sakura, are you alright?"
As Yae pondered over the Ryūkotsusei's body, Higokumaru arrived with Kikyō in tow.
Kikyō glanced at the dragon bone spirit's remains and then at Yae beside them. She found this sight perfectly acceptable now.
When Yae had slain the Gashadokuro earlier, Kikyō realized that Yae was far stronger than even great monsters. Now, seeing her kill a dragon bone spirit without a scratch seemed entirely plausible.
Perhaps only Tōga-ō, the legendary ruler of the Western Lands, might have stood a chance against Yae Sakura.
"I'm fine..."
"Big sister is too strong! What's so tough about some big monster like that dragon bone spirit? It's just a big lizard, isn't it? And you took it down easily," Higokumaru chimed in, skillfully flattering Yae.
"Kikyō, what should we do with this Ryūkotsusei corpse? Destroying it seems like a waste."
Actually, Yae thought, I'd love to take some Honkai fragments and see if I can turn this dragon thing into a Honkai beast.
Something like Sirin's Benares—a top-tier Honkai monster.
They were so cute! You could ride him during the day and at night too.
Compared to foxes, a demonic dragon as a mount would be way more impressive.
But on second thought, forget it. If I really did create Honkai here and messed up the world, that wouldn't be good.
"We can collect materials from its body and make magical weapons," Kikyō suggested after a moment of thought. "However, humans who use items crafted from monster parts for long periods might get tainted by their demonic energy.
"But since you're half-monster, you shouldn't have any problems with that."
"Hmm, that makes sense."
"Should we start gathering materials? Big Sister, let Higokumaru handle it—I'm the best at this kind of thing," Higokumaru eagerly volunteered.
"Uh, okay!"
Once Kikyō stepped off Higokumaru's back, she transformed into her usual animal-eared girl form. Looking at the Ryūkotsusei before them, she pulled out a magical blade.
"One whole dragon—so many treasures... Dragon teeth, claws, scales, tendons..."
Higokumaru got to work, extracting bones and tendons on the spot.
-
On a new moon night, when sleep eludes us, Fishing lights stretch out as far as the eye can see.
The wanderer looks back—no ties left behind.
In the Japan region of Kyushu, there's a legend about a strange fire. It appears on calm nights during the old July full moon or new moon phases, over the Hachiman and Ariake Seas.
This phenomenon is called Shiranui!
Shiranui ranks eleventh among the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.
It usually starts several kilometers from shore with one or two flames known as "parent fires."
More similar flames appear around them, eventually forming hundreds or even thousands of identical lights in a line. The entire display can stretch up to 4 to 8 kilometers wide.
"Legend has it that one night, a single flame suddenly appeared on the dark sea. The light split and multiplied until there were hundreds or thousands of them, stretching across the water toward the horizon. This was said to be Shiranui, the great monster. Every ten years or so, she would visit the seas off Kyushu, bringing either blessings or disaster."
An elderly man gazed at the copper coin in his hand, his face wearing a contented smile. He began explaining the legend of Shiranui, the great monster, to the two miko standing before him.
"How long has it been since the last appearance of Shiranui?" Yae Sakura asked, standing next to Kikyō with her cloak draped over her shoulders and Higokumaru transformed into a little fox in her arms.
After defeating the Ryūkotsusei, the trio hadn't returned to Maple Village but instead flew swiftly to Japan's Kyushu Island on Higokumaru.
"It's been about seven or eight years," the old man replied, recalling for Yae Sakura. "I remember that year... I was on a small island and actually saw the legendary Shiranui with my own eyes.
It was as if the entire sea had caught fire..."
"If you're looking for the legendary Shiranui, go to an island called Yoshinoya Bay. There... you might have a chance to encounter it."
"Yoshinoya Bay?"
Yae Sakura paused at this news...
Does Kyushu also have a place called Yoshinoya?
When one thinks of Yoshinoya, the most famous is undoubtedly Tokyo's first red-light district, "Yoshiwara", which during the Edo period served as the officially sanctioned hub for prostitution, located in present-day Taito Ward.
However, considering the current timeline, there were still more than a hundred years left before the Edo period began.
"Got it, thanks!" Having finished her questions, Yae Sakura thanked the old man. She took Higokumaru and Kikyō with her and left.
"Where are we going now?" Kikyō asked curiously as she followed Yae Sakura.
"Bungo!"
Yoshinoya Bay was on an island off the coast of Bungo, in Kyushu.
Kyushu—also known as Kyushu Island—is the third-largest island in Japan, located at its southwestern tip.
At this time, there were nine "powerful" countries on the island: Bizen, Bishū, Tsukushi, Takagi, Bunzen, Bungo, Hiuga, Osumi, and Satsuma.
Just like other parts of Japan, these states on Kyushu fought for power and resources through deceit and even war.
Among them, the Shimazu clan from Satsuma, the Otomo clan from Bungo, and the Ryuuzoji clan from Bizen were the strongest. These three families competed fiercely for control over Kyushu.
Around Kyushu Island, there were countless smaller islands.
However, except for a few, most of these islands didn't have enough resources to support life.
Japan claimed to have over 6,800 small islands, but only 315 of them had people living on them or were suitable for living.
After getting away from the crowd, Yae Sakura put down Higokumaru. She had her take both Kikyō and herself to the coast of Bungo.
With Higokumaru's speed, they reached their destination in less than half an hour.
(TL Note: So many new places and clans...😵)
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