196 - - 196 The Abandoned Name and the Awakening of Disaster

"Tei-sama, ...... who the hell is this Yume person?"

Yukinojo-san muttered something like that to me after I had finished explaining the situation to the reunited friends.

"Mmm, ah ......."

But when he was asked about it, the emperor seemed to have a hard time saying anything.

"What did Haruomi mean when he said his wife?　Isn't my father's wife my mother?

The emperor roared at Yukinojo's earnest voice.

"...... huh, this is just another shogun's karma, huh?"

Exhaling a deep sigh, the emperor began to talk about the situation as if he had come to his senses.

"Youren Xiaotsuki, who was the general of this country, once had a wife named Yume no Kata," he said.

"Was there?　I mean, was that a long time ago?"

The emperor nodded quietly when Mina-san asked the question we felt on behalf of him.

"That's right. Yume's name was erased from the history of this country along with the name of the Togo family that she was introduced to because of a certain incident.

"Erased from the history?

We were puzzled by the sudden and disturbing story.

Isn't it a big deal that a noble family was erased from history?

"And there was a child between the Shogun and Yume no Mata. That is Yukinojo, your brother, the nightingale.

"Haruomi is my brother?

Yukinojo is upset as the truth is revealed one after the other.

"Are you sure Haruomi is my brother?

It is true. His real name, Haru-ningyo, contains a seasonal name that only the direct descendants of the Shogun are allowed to bear, doesn't it?

Indeed, Haruomi's real name is Haru-ningyo, which means "Japanese nightingale" in Japanese.

But I didn't know there was such a rule in naming in this country.

"If Haruomi really is my brother ......, then why did he betray me?　My father's wife was supposed to be my mother!　Why was your name erased?

The emperor began to speak slowly, saying that there were some things that were better left unacknowledged.

It is because the Togo family committed treason.

"Rebellion?

Yukinojo rolled his eyes at this unexpected statement of rebellion.

However, rebellions have occurred in my previous lives and the lives before that.

It is not something that would erase the name of my family.

What in the world could have happened to cause such a thing?

"No, no way!　There hasn't been a conflict in our country against the Shoguns in hundreds of years!"

Hundreds of years?　That's great!

I think that in a few hundred years, a rebellion or two would usually occur.

I mean, it's a number of years that could have destroyed the country.

It must be a very peaceful country that it hasn't happened for such a long time.

"Ostensibly. But in reality, rebellion has happened more than once or twice.

But it seems that this is not the case.

"The most important thing for this country is to stabilize the land of Tenpou with magic items. Therefore, we want to minimize as much as possible any incidents that could be a cause for concern in the operation of magic items. That's why we needed to punish them severely so that they would never want to be involved in an incident that could shake the country."

"Is that what you mean by making your name disappear?"

"Yes. Preserving the house is the highest priority not only for the warrior families of this country, but also for the nobles of other countries. Even if you are in a situation where your title is forfeited, as long as the family name and the blood of your family remain, you will be able to restore your house someday.

But then the emperor breaks off.

"If you rebel in this country, it will not be like that. The members of the rebellious family, women and children alike, will be executed and their names will be erased from the history of the nation. Even if there is a lucky survivor of the family, he or she will not be allowed to reestablish the family, no matter how big his or her name may be. After all, the family has been erased from history. You can't rebuild a house that doesn't exist. Of course, they are not allowed to start a new family from scratch.

Well, it is indeed a terrible punishment from the aristocrats who consider the preservation of the family as the most important thing.

If failure means that the family name will be erased forever and there will be no hope of reviving the family, there would be no way to revolt unless one is very confident.

If there is such a situation, other nobles, not only the weak ones but also the middle ones, are less likely to help the rebellion.

In some cases, they can even pretend to cooperate with the other nobles and get information to get rid of the other families that are in their way.

If the number of nobles is reduced, there will be vacancies in the positions and territories they were in charge of.

"Some time after a child was born to the Shogun and Yume no Mata, word came that the Togo family was preparing to revolt against the Shogun's house. The Shogun, who heard this, thought it was unnatural, but decided to investigate first. After all, the Togo family sent their daughter to become the Shogun's wife and even had a child. No sane person would have rebelled against the Shogun.

"Indeed."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

If the daughter we sent to her family will be the mother of the next general, then that family will surely be an important one for the country of Amagamine.

Our country is no different in that respect.

That must be why the Shogun was puzzled by the mysterious rebellion.

"So, if the Togo family was destroyed, was there actually a rebellion?

For some reason, the emperor shook his head in response to Yukinojo's question.

No, there was no revolt. The correct answer is that the evidence was found before the revolt broke out.

"Evidence?"

"Yes. A large number of magic items for battle were found in several warehouses and ruins in the Togo clan that were tipped off."

"""" magic items?

"Yes, the amount of magic items, which would be impossible in normal times, is a clear proof that the Togo family is planning a rebellion. It seems that they had quite a large amount of magic items, and it wasn't an amount that could be collected for pleasure. It is hard to imagine that they were collected for the purpose of war. However, the Shogun and his retainers decided that if war had not occurred in this country for hundreds of years, it could only be a rebellion, and they decided to exterminate the Togo family.

When he finished, the emperor let out a big sigh.

I see. Certainly, it is natural to be suspicious if a lord of an island nation, which is not worried about war with its neighbors, has such a large amount of magic items. Moreover, if a lord is so powerful that he can win a war against a country, the information of rebellion would almost certainly be true.

After all, in a previous life, a single magic item once caused a catastrophe that could have toppled a country.

Oh, I'm not talking about the magic item I made!

"Because of these circumstances, Yume's name was erased and Yukinojo's mother became his wife.

"That's what ...... is all about."

Yukinojo-san's face becomes indescribable when he learns the truth about the fact that there was a wife of the Shogun before his mother and that she was erased from history.

"Huh?　But if you start a rebellion, even women and children are executed, right?　How did this Haruomi person manage to survive?"

Mr. Norbu suddenly wonders why Haruomi is still alive.

Indeed, he is. If the emperor was right, Haruomi would not be alive now.

"Well, in fact, his retainers have been telling him for years that he should be killed. If we let him live, it would set a bad example. In reality, it was probably just a calculation to make his daughter the mother of the next Shogun, but still, as a Shogun family that protects the peace of this country, he could not show any weakness to his vassals. If the top does not follow the rules, it will not be good enough for the subordinates."

The emperor looks disgusted by the sordid tales of the country's samurai families as he says, "Oh no, no, no. He really doesn't care about politics, does he?

"However, the Shogun is a son of a man. He couldn't bear to kill his own child. He buried a baby who died around the same time as his own in his tomb and secretly let his child go. He changed the name of the king's nightingale, who was given to him as the next general, to Haru (Spring) Oshin.

"So you said that Haruomi is not my vassal. ......"

Haruomi must have said something to you.

Yukinojo nodded again when he found out the true meaning of what he had said.

"But how do you know so much about it?　It was the kind of event that would be erased from history, right?"

Yeah, that's right. How does this guy know so much for living in such a remote area?

"Oh, that's easy. I heard it directly from the general's son of a b*tc*."

"Directly from my father?"

Oh. He's practically the king of the land. He's the real king of this country. But as the symbol of this country and the emperor separated from politics... he can complain in peace. He used to listen to me complain when I made up some random general's duty.

I see. So you knew about it because you learned it directly from him.

"But I wonder where Haruomi got that information. The Shogun told me that he had put a gag order on the matter, and the baby passed through several hands through this village and was finally entrusted to an unrelated family. So he couldn't have known it was the Shogun's son. Well, you can't put words in people's mouths. Someone must have known that Haruomi was still alive, and they were obsessive in their pursuit."

And the emperor says that the demon people must have taken advantage of that information.

"Well, that's the end of Haruomi's story. We've got our work cut out for us here.

"...... you mean the magic item."

"Yes. Haruomi and Majin headed for Mount Amatsukami with another key. The key is unlocked when the registered owner dies, and the contract can be made with the next master. In other words, now that the Shogun is dead, Haruomi can make a contract with the next master.

"Isn't there a possibility that a demon person could make a contract?"

"I'm not worried about that. It is a magic item from a time when the existence of demons was a matter of course. To prevent misuse, it can only be used by humans.

Well, then the worst is averted.

But maybe that's exactly the reason why the demoniacs have teamed up with Haruomi.

Since they can't move the magic item by themselves, they want to control the magic item that was protecting the country through Mr. Haruomi.

"The magic item is powered by two sources of energy, the volcanic energy of Mount Amatsukami and the energy of the spiritual veins. It is the most dangerous place in the country where an active volcano and a spiritual vein intersect, but it is also the most ideal place to secure energy.

"I see, so you are using the energy of one disaster as energy to suppress another disaster."

That's what I'm talking about. On the other hand, to protect a country from many disasters, it would have required such a huge amount of power.

Well, that's an interesting way of thinking. I would have thought of solving the cause or directly eliminating the disaster itself.

Perhaps the emperor's ancestors were engineers who focused on energy reuse.

Hopefully his descendants will use this magic item for further development of the country in the future.

"But, well, magic items are unstable these days. We have been servicing them regularly, but there are still some materials that are not available in this country and some parts that can't be repaired while they are still running. On top of that, a large number of demons have been roaming around the village, and maintenance has been slow these days. And with the key stolen by the demons, anything could happen at any time.

The emperor scratches his head in frustration and says regretfully.

The magic item may be nearing the end of its life. We've done the best we can so far, but tools break down at some point. But I would like to at least maintain it one more time before it becomes irreversible and the disaster in the sea can be put to rest. And I want to get as many of the people of Amagamine out of the country as possible.

The emperor looks at us with a serious gaze.

So, the emperor wants his people to escape.

But it would be very difficult.

People who have lost their country will have a hard time finding a new home.

But I guess that's the way it is in this country.

"Please, get me back the key to the magic item. I want to maintain the magic item one more time before the demon destroys it.

"Yes, sir!　We'll take care of it!

I answer, and they nod vigorously.

"It would be a shame to leave here," he said.

Yes, many people will be in danger if we don't do something. As servants of God, we cannot let this happen.

"We are here at the request of the head patriarch's uncle, so we will help you."

"Yes, well, even if you don't ask me to do it, I'll do it if you do, Lex.

"Cu-cu-cu-cu!"

It's like Mohammed wants you to leave it to him too. You've grown so dependable after not seeing each other for so long!

All right, let's get going!

I stood up, but Yukinojo was the only one who was nodding silently.

I don't need to ask why .......

Haruomi who protected me to the last in the midst of the attack by the enemy was in fact the enemy.

Moreover, Mr. Haruomi is Yukinojo's brother.

Furthermore, his family was erased from the history after the rebellion, it is natural that Yukinojo would not know what to do.

The emperor also understood this feeling and was drifting his hands in the air, wondering how he could comfort him.

Everyone was hesitant to speak to Yukinojo irresponsibly after they had heard what had happened.

"What's the matter Yukinojo, we can't make a contract with the magic item unless you come too. You're going to be a Shogun!

But only Mina was talking to Yukinojo as usual.

"No, maybe it's better if I don't go.

"What are you talking about?　If you don't go, the magic items will belong to Haruomi!"

"...... isn't that good enough?"

"Huh?　What are you talking about?

With a nod, Yukinojo spins his words as if to spit them out.

"Originally, Haruomi was the next shogun. I merely took it away from him.

"It can't be helped. His family has rebelled.

"But that is not Haruomi's crime!　Haruomi, who was a young child, was the victim!"

Yukinojo-san raised his voice as if to say that was the thing that pierced his heart the most.

"In the first place, I could do nothing on this trip!　I was merely protected like a princess!　My desire to become a shogun was only because I thought it was my mission as the son of a shogun to become a shogun!　I was merely trying to become a general!　How can I, who took everything from my brother, be a general in a carefree way? ......"

Guilt, that was the true nature of what made Yukinojo despair.

He felt guilty because he was the one who had taken his brother's family away from his own father, and he was the one who had taken everything from his innocent brother.

"This country might be better off if Haruomi became shogun rather than you."

Yes, Yukinojo-san laughs to himself.

"That's it!　What's wrong ah!"

Mina slapped Yukinojo on the back with all her might.

"Whoooaaa!

Boom!　Yukinojo falls to the ground with a huge sound.

"What the hell, this country might be better off if Haruomi became shogun!　Don't be ridiculous!　You're forgetting something, aren't you?"

What?

"Haruomi told you that, didn't he? He said he was going to destroy this country. He said he'd take away everything from me, everything in this country. That means he's trying to ruin this country!　Do you really think that a man like that can be king and make the people happy?

"Ugh."

Not only Yukinojo-san but also the emperor rolled his eyes at the natural statement.

Liliela was also a little surprised, but Norbu and Megli seemed to be looking at her with a bit of happiness or amusement.

"Good?　It can't be helped that you and Haruomi had a history. But that's what your parents did to each other. It has nothing to do with you. And Haruomi holds a grudge and wants revenge. And he wants to bring all the people of this country down on him!　In fact, your guards and the people in the castle were attacked!"

"Well, that's not the case, but ......"

But that's not the point!　That man is doing bad things right now!　And once we get the magic item, more damage will be done!　So I'm going to say it. You are not the son of a general or the brother who took everything from Chun Ying, what do you want to do with yourself?　Do you want to throw everything away and watch your country die?　Just sit back and watch a bunch of people die?　Is the general you said you wanted to be a king who would allow such a thing to happen?"

Mina-san, as if to say, "I don't listen to your complaints," and she folds hers into Yukinojo-san's face.

"Answer me, Koki!　As just one man, you believe in the spirit of the warrior of Tenpou!"

Then, for some reason, Mina called Yukinojo by a different name.

"What?

Yukinojo's eyes widened as if he felt something when he was called by that name.

"I am ......, I am ......."

Yukinojo-san looks up as if to dispel any doubts.

"My ideal of a samurai is ...... the father who has devoted himself to the people of this country. I am the image of Shogun Yoren Xiaotsuke.

Slowly, but with determined eyes, he rises to his feet.

"Mina, I am not Kouki. I am Yoren Yukinojo, son of Shogun Yoren Xiaonori. And I, Haruomi, will not allow my brother's heinous acts to go unchecked!　As the next Shogun, it is my duty to protect the people of this country!"

Yukinojo-san made it clear that he would fulfill the role he had inherited from his father rather than his family's feelings or guilt.

"Well, that's all right then, isn't it?　If that's what you want to do, then that's what you're going to do."

"Yes, but you're tough. No time to be discouraged."

Yukinojo-san laughs as if he has lost all his possessions.

"That's Mina, who beat up the biggest kid in the village and gave him a sermon. I don't care what he's going through.

"Yes, Gyro-kun, when he was burnt out after the death of his father, he was overpowered like that.

"Thanks to you, Gyro can't get his head out of Mina's ass."

Megli and the others laugh.

Maybe Mina-san has always been a big sister like this?

"Alright then, after we beat up the demon and get back the key to the magic item, I'm going to grab Haruomi and give him a lecture!"

"Mm!　Haruomi will pay for his crimes!　After that, I will face Haruomi as his brother."

"Yes, good luck."

Mina looked at Yukinojo with renewed determination, and her eyes were kind as she whispered to him to encourage his words.

◆Haruyoshi

"Oh, so this is the magical tool that rules the land!"

I smile to myself as I look up at the huge magical tool sitting in front of me.

We are in a cave at the foot of Mount Amatsukami.

The true heart of the country, protected by wards.

"Thanks to the key, we've finally made it here.

The demon who came with him approaches the magical tools with the key in his hand.

However, just as he was about to touch the magical tool, the demon's hand was violently jerked away.

"Whoa!

The demon's arm is torn to shreds, and a large amount of blood flows from his arm.

"d*mn, not only the entrance, but also the magical tool itself has been protected against this!

The demon stared at the grim-looking grimoire and sprinkled a healing potion on his arm.

Then he tossed me the key in his hand.

"I guess I'm going to need your help after all."

"Mm."

I take the key and look up at the grimoire again.

"Ah, here we are at last!"

Clutching the key, I recall the day I first met the demon.

I grew up the son of a poor samurai.

But I am not his biological son. I was brought up as a child brought from somewhere else.

Naturally, no family would welcome such a child.

My mother-in-law and brother-in-law were hard on me.

My father-in-law had a duty to raise me, but he never tried to correct my mother-in-law and her family's behavior.

Why did they do this to me? I spent my days in depression, living like a servant.

That's when it happened.

A man who claimed to know my real father came to visit me.

He was a demon disguised as a man.

I was surprised. A demon who existed only in stories was real.

And he told me everything.

"You are the son of a general of this land. But you were defeated in a political struggle and your family perished.

And the demon said more. I have a half-brother.

And that he was given everything I was supposed to get and lived in comfort.

That's unforgivable. That's what I thought.

I didn't have a proper education and I didn't know the meaning of the word "political strife," but I understood that I had been oppressed and my blood brother had been given everything.

"If you want revenge, I'll help you. And you can have it all ...... or take it back. What you were really meant to have."

I don't know how much I can believe in the words of the demoniacs.

After all, they are our enemies.

I don't think they're telling us the truth out of the goodness of their hearts.

There must be something more to it.

But still, the words of the demon was hope for me.

I have nothing now.

No money, no food, no warmth, no love, nothing.

Only the scornful eyes of a nasty person.

"Give me strength. I don't care what you're up to. I want to take back everything that was taken from me, and I want to take back everything they took from me!

Ny and the demon smiles.

"That's good. You don't have to trust us. We can use each other."

Thus, I abandoned my country and joined forces with the demons.

The demon burned down my in-laws' house and I was adopted by a high ranking samurai through the help of the demon.

In that house, I received an education as a samurai that I had never been allowed to learn.

It was a hard, hard life.

I received an education that children of other samurai families learn at a much younger age, even though I had not yet reached adulthood.

But I gritted my teeth and endured that education.

All for the sake of revenge against the Shoguns. And to bring despair to Yukinojo, who had pushed me aside and taken everything!

And to get the key, I took advantage of the witch's message and took an official position at the castle.

The reason things have worked out so well is that the demon used a transformation tool to disguise himself as a human for this day, and to get hold of my lore and weaknesses.

In a sense, I'm one of their liaisons, but we're both using each other anyway.

Let's make the most of it.

With the secret agent who had infiltrated the castle ahead of us and the grimoire that the mages had prepared, the general's assassination would be easy.

But since we do not know the identity of the key, we have narrowed down our target to Yukinojo, the son of the Shogun.

By acting as his bodyguard, he gained Yukinojo's trust and waited for the time when he would come of age, the time when the key would be handed over to him.

I reported Yukinojo's daily life to the Shogun and patiently searched for information as to whether he had given the key or not.

I have to admit that the task of mediating between the man who abandoned me and the man who took everything from me made my stomach churn.

I wanted to kill them right now, but I kept enduring.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, the general seemed to trust me after such a long period of patience.

Thanks to this, the number of his guards visibly decreased when I asked him about Yukinojo.

Instead, I had to listen to the General's tales of how difficult it was to act as a parent, which was a real pain.

But it was worth it.

One day, the Shogun finally slipped up.

He gave his son what he needed to succeed him. Now he could die whenever he wanted.

When I finally heard the words I wanted, I assassinated the Shogun that night.

I placed the blame for killing the Shogun on the first lieutenant and urged Yukinojo to run away.

Yukinojo, who had trusted me so much, easily trusted me.

To tell the truth, I was having a good time.

It was the moment when all the hatred I had felt for him was rewarded.

I laughed at Yukinojo's foolishness inwardly and had my men disguised as his pursuers kill Yukinojo's bodyguards.

Some strange people interfered on the way, but the result was a good one.

We were able to draw the demon into the village and take the key to the magical tool.

The only thing I regret is that I couldn't kill Yukinojo right then and there.

"Come on, sorcerer!　Recognize me as your general!"

Holding up the key, I touch the grimoire.

"Oh?

Then the grimoire and the key glowed faintly and connected to each other with a line of light.

The light of the key further enveloped my body.

What is this?

"Don't worry. The grimoire and the key are linked, registering you as Lord.

"At last, at last, I am the master of my magical tools!"

As soon as the light had completely enveloped my entire body, the key and the grimoire faded in radiance, and the line of light connecting them to each other was broken.

"Looks like you're all registered."

"Oh, so now I am the true king of this land!"

"Now, try to operate the grimoire. Well, it's a grimoire with such a strong user registration. Judging from the absence of any switches or levers, it must be operated by the user's thoughts. Touch the big jewel there and think about it.

"Yes, yes. Let's do it."

I do as the demoness says, and touch the jewel visible on the surface of the magical tool and think.

"Fools, I will show you who the true king is!　Weaken its workings, O instruments of magic!　Let the fools fear disaster!"

As I thought of this, the light emitted from the magical tool faded.

At the same time, a dull tremor echoed from beneath my feet.

The tremor gradually became louder and louder.

"Uh-oh?

"It seems that the power of the magical tools has stopped, and the sealed disaster has come back to life.

Yes!　The grimoire has heard me!

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!　At last!　The time has finally come!"

Unable to contain my laughter, I shout to the heavens.

"Regret abandoning me, General!　Yukinojo, you will pay for taking everything from me!　All that did not save me!　They will take everything from you!　You will find out who the real Shogun is!　Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"

◆ ◆

Yukinojo-san had regained his motivation and was about to go outside.

With a tremendous roar, a bright red pillar of fire rose up from Mt.

Mount Amatsukami!

Heeeeeeeeeeeee!

The villagers screamed at the sudden eruption.

"Oh my God. ...... Mt. Amatsukami erupted. ......"

"Oh, no. The volcanic power of Mt. Amatsukami was being consumed by the operation of magical tools. ......"

"I guess I didn't make it. ......"

The emperor and the priests collapse with despair plastered on their faces.

"It's over, once Mount Amatsukami erupts, you can no longer reactivate the magical tools ......."

The priests who know what is going on are shaking their heads and saying, "We are doomed.

"No, not yet!　It's not too late!"

Yes, not yet.

It's too early to give up!

No, Mount Amatsukami has already erupted. Even if we reactivate the grimoire, we'll never get it back in time. The old magical tools may have worked in the past, but the degraded tools of today can't stop the power of the volcano while it's erupting. There is a difference between absorbing the power when it is still and suppressing it when it is rampaging.

"No!　Yet another volcano just erupted!　So we just have to stop it!"

What?

We're running out of time.

I put off explaining the situation and concentrate my magical power, casting spells one after another.

Stream control!

First, the airflow manipulation magic gathers the volcanic ash and rocks in the sky in one place, and then gently lowers them to the ground.

Volcanic funnels!

Next, a funnel made of magic power is used to direct the magma flow inside the volcano, preventing the magma inside Mount Amatsukami from escaping any further and stopping the eruption.

"Oh, oh, oh?

Blizzard Cocytus!

Furthermore, the magma that flowed out by wide-area extreme cold magic and the magma in the crater are quickly frozen to stop magma outflow, pyroclastic flow, and forest fire at the same time.

"Na, na, na!"

Weather control!

Then he calms the storm with weather manipulation magic and calms the weather.

"Haaaaahhhhh?

"Grand Calm!"

Finally, by manipulating the earth, he quelled a nearby earthquake.

"Jeez, the earthquakes have stopped!

What's happening?

Okay, I guess we're done with the first aid!

With all that taken care of, I tell the slumped villagers that I have finished the first aid measures.

"We have stopped the volcano from erupting for now. However, this is only a temporary measure, so we need to get the environmental protection magic items back from the evil ones while we still can.

"ha,ha ......"

"Well, it looks like we're going to be okay for a while now, so let's get back to the ruins!"

"......, I'm going to kill the witch."

"Yes, yes!　It's okay. We have Lex!

"...... Wait, what the hell happened?　How did you ...... disaster?"

"Just go ahead. Let's go do what we have to do first!"

"Ummm, umm ......?"

Mina rebuked Yukinojo-san for wanting to hear the details of the situation.

Yes, we need to solve this problem first.

Besides, this is just a temporary disaster calming magic for emergency evacuation.

It is not a permanent solution.

"Yo, take care of it, you guys. ......"

"Yes, I'm on it!　Let's go then, everyone!"

""""Oh!!!""""

"Oh, oh?"

And so, we were off to the battlefield with the demons.

"......I have to admit, this time I was more scared than I've been in a long time."

"Yeah, I thought I'd gotten used to Lex's ridiculousness, but I didn't expect him to stop a natural disaster so easily. ......"

What is it?　Does it seem like everyone is acting strangely?

Are they nervous about fighting to protect this country from a major disaster?

But it's okay. You're all getting stronger.

No matter how the demons try to use their cowardly ways, you are strong enough to handle it!

◆ emperor ◆

We watched in amazement as the late Shogun's men made their way to Mount Amatsukami, where the magical artifacts were enshrined.

Who the hell is that monk?

Not only had Mt. Amatsukami erupted, but the storm and earthquake had subsided.

I still can't believe it when I saw it.

They said it was only temporary, but how could anyone do such a thing ......?

"Don't tell me those people are incarnations of the gods that protect Tenpō. ......"

Saburo, who was standing by my side, said something that made me think it was impossible, but I could not deny it.

After all, there was no way that a mere mortal could stop a volcano from erupting, erase the plumes that rose into the sky, or even quell the wrath of the earth.

"......"

I don't know who those monks, or those boys, are.

But as we looked in the direction they had gone, we naturally adopted a posture of prayer to the gods and offered our deepest thanks.