Chapter 31: Heian Era...! Meeting the Second-year.

Chapter 31: Heian Era...! Meeting the Second-year. During the Heian Era, the world was believed to be inhabited by soul reapers and demons, now called souls in the modern world. Soul reapers were tasked with guiding the souls of the deceased to the afterlife and maintaining the balance between the living and the dead. They wielded powerful abilities to combat this demons that threatened the peace of the living.

Akuma (Demons), were malevolent entities that preyed on human souls, causing chaos and despair. These demons could take various forms, from grotesque beasts to deceptive apparitions, and were often associated with darkness and misfortune. They sought to consume souls or lead them astray, creating a constant struggle between good and evil.

However, in the modern world, all the soul reapers had perished, leaving the exorcists to handle all the tasks alone. This was an era after the one in which Kurozai had nearly brought destruction, a gap of several decades. Now, this new age had awakened countless Akuma, threatening the lives of every citizen. If they could curb these malevolent forces here, they wouldn't have to battle against souls in the modern world.

This necessity was why transmigration into this realm—or rather, this era—was made compulsory. Additionally, it offered the chance to uncover the remaining fragments of Kurozai hidden within this time.

By doing so, they aimed to eliminate all the souls—rather, the demons—before this tragic event could unfold, thereby preventing the loss of countless lives. Humans had only just managed to survive, and the stakes had never been higher.

...Fortunately, some of the now-extinct clans might still exist in this era, as they had not yet begun to kill each other in the struggle for power.

***

[Map unlocked: Proceed through the forest and continue straight on the path. A small village with a population of fifty people (Forty five confirmed citizens and five spiritual travellers) is located there.]

[Village Name: Kurama, situated in the northern mountains of Heian-kyo (ancient Kyoto).]

"Now, I can see all your worth. The five spiritual travellers are the second-years for sure. Let's get going!" Gojin exclaimed as he pushed confused Kenji and Sakura forward.

Stepping gingerly in the puddled grounds with much reluctance, Kenji, Gojin, and Sakura took their feet away from the pond area before taking the narrow trail into the woods and out of the puddles. The atmosphere was cool, crisp with the scent of damp moss and dry decaying leaves. From the top, the sun peeked through the trees, creating a bright light.

They had walked for several minutes, the sound of rustling leaves and birds chirping close by made a pleasing atmosphere. The path was curved and had trees on both sides before being broken by small shrubs.

The trees finally began to thin out, and after what felt like a century, the three stepped out of the woods into a small opening. Before them now lay the mountain village of Kurama. It was located due north as demonstrated by the system, in the mountains, and was built with traditional wooden houses and thatched roofs. Vapours, in the shape of thin clouds, escaped from the above the chimneys into the cold air of the mountains.

The area around the village was green with blooming seasonal flower filled quite a few miniature farms. S~eaʀᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Additionally, there was a clean stream that flowed around the edge into sunlight. About twenty three people went around their daily tasks of agriculture, as well as warm and happy small talk, that transformed the atmosphere into that of sociable gatherings.

In the background were towering range of mountains with cloudy tops.

Kenji and Sakura exchanged an awkward chuckle. "Did we really... transmigrate to the Heian era!? This is definitely Kurama Village," Kenji stammered, bewildered.

Gojin grinned as he removed his blindfold and tucked it into his wet pocket. He then reached for another blindfold he had stashed in his left pocket—a white one. Tightening his grip on the wet blindfold, he used his Ki to dry it instantly.

"What are we supposed to do next? We look like aliens in this era—most people are wearing hakama, while we're stuck in beachwear," Sakura said, composing herself. They had two tasks: first, to blend in quickly, and second, to find the second-years.

"Let's tackle the first step: Based on my experience imagining places like this, there's likely a line of clothing behind one of those houses. That's where we can start blending in."

"...However, there's another issue: since the village's population is relatively small, the locals will definitely recognize each other, making it hard for us to go unnoticed. So, let's grab those clothes and find the second-years without drawing attention," Gojin said, instantly vanishing along with Kenji and Sakura.

Fortunately, the villagers hadn't spotted them.

As they arrived at the backyard of one of the houses, they found themselves in a serene, secluded space. The air was fragrant with the scent of blooming cherry blossoms, and the gentle rustle of leaves. In front of them, clotheslines stretched between wooden posts, laden with an array of traditional garments.

On one side, they spotted kimono and yukata hanging neatly with vibrant colors and patterns. The male garments included hifu jackets and hakama, while the female garments featured beautifully designed furisode, adorned with floral motifs.

Sakura quickly snatched a furisode, its flowing sleeves and elegant design had caught her eye. Meanwhile, Kenji and Gojin grabbed hifu jackets and hakama. Surprisingly, the clothes fit them well.

Sakura hid behind a tree to change into her outfit. When she emerged, she looked stunning in the furisode that flowed gracefully around her. The fabric hugged her figure elegantly, with the long sleeves framing her arms. The blue colors complemented her complexion.

Gojin and Kenji changed on the spot, their outfits fitting them perfectly. Kenji wore a dark blue hakama that accentuated his athletic build, while Gojin donned a lighter-colored hifu. Gojin stood with his hands behind his back, striking a pose reminiscent of a palace official—though his blindfold somewhat undermined the official look.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of five pairs of feet rustling through the forest, likely chasing something. Gojin swiped his hands in mid-air, and a spiral of blood splattered across the trees and grassy ground, halting the footsteps. A sharp shuriken shot out from the forest toward Gojin, but a barrier he conjured stopped it in its tracks.

Moments later, a figure dashed out of the trees—a young man around 19 years old. He wore a striking white kimono with black accents. His sharp jawline and piercing blue eyes were striking, and he had silky black hair that framed his face. He bore a resemblance to one of the unconscious bodies they had seen back in the mansion.

Following him, four other figures emerged. The first girl, standing at 5'8", had long, silver hair and green eyes. She wielded a slender katana. The second girl, at 5'6", had short, fiery brown hair and amber eyes, holding a naginata. The third girl, 5'9", sported in a dyed blue hair tied in a bun, with sharp hazel eyes and a pair of twin daggers.

The two boys stood tall at 6'1" and 6'3", respectively. The taller boy had spiky blond hair and a confident grin, wielding a large tachi.

They all stared at Kenji, Sakura, and Gojin for a moment before lowering their weapons.

"You're the first years, right? Anyone would know you're not from this era with those faces and hairstyles," the first boy said. "Thank you for killing that demon by the way. Follow us; we'll introduce ourselves on the way and tell you more about this era."

Kenji and Sakura exchanged stunned glances while Gojin was busy checking out the cloth he wore as the five of them began walking back into the forest. The demon Gojin had eliminated was a low-grade Exile, and its body was already disintegrating into ashes.

As they walked deeper into the forest, the group began to introduce themselves.

"I'm Kaito," the black hair boy said, his tone was friendly.

The silver-haired girl smiled softly. "I'm Suki."

The brown-haired girl chimed in, "And I'm Hana."

The girl with the bun added, "I'm Yumi."

The taller boy grinned. "I'm Ren."

Gojin cleared his throat. "I'm Gojin." Kenji followed, "I'm Kenji." Sakura smiled and said, "And I'm Sakura."

"Gojin, right? You're that Seren clan young master with the doom ability? Fascinating that I finally met you. Is that why you keep your eyes covered?" Riku asked, his curiosity piqued.

"I keep my eyes covered because it has other implications, like showing off my beautiful emerald eyes," Gojin lied, not wanting to reveal the real reason.

The five of them turned their gaze toward Gojin, their expressions silent and curious. "So you can remove the blindfold?" Riku asked again.

Gojin sighed, deciding to demonstrate why his eyes were always covered. Practicality is better than theory. He removed his blindfold and fixed his gaze on the five of them. A chilling cold and palpable fear enveloped them as his aura became detectable. Instantly, he placed his blindfold back on.

"That's the second reason," Kenji and Sakura said in unison, smirking.

"Okay... that aura was actually incomprehensible. How strong are you? Do you have any other special techniques apart from causing destruction with a simple gaze?" Yumi asked, her curiosity piqued.

"You'll find out later," Gojin replied, feeling majestic as a rush of pride surged within him.

...

In a few moments, they made their way through the woods and suddenly found themselves standing in front of a huge temple. The temple stood towering with beautiful wooden engravings. The roof, which was decorated with beautiful colored tiles, raised up in a vertical position curving toward the sky reminiscent of ancient history.

In addition to the warm lighting offered by stone lanterns that lined the path and were strategically placed towards the temple, cherry blossoms trees adorned the temple's vicinity with their flowers falling down as if a soft rain. And about the temple, there was nothing else: simply the thick wilderness that reached the end of the visible curve.

"This is the Reikishi (Realm master) base; he is a soul reaper. This is the starting point of your journey in this era," Kaito said, moving ahead and crossing the large door of the temple.

"Tsk, why do I have a feeling that this is going to be more enjoyable than I thought?" Gojin pondered.

"In this era, I will have a retrial. I have never experienced this era, the beauty of everything, argh... Everything, I just want it, want it all, destroyed!!" Kurozai spoke with a wicked smile on his face in Kenji's mind. He was on his throne, one hand on the arm rest looking fierce.

'How did he even get a throne inside Kenji's mind?'