At dawn the next day, Satsuki was already sitting upright on her bed.
Morning sunlight filtered through the gaps of the bamboo blinds, casting narrow beams across the cramped room. The light fell upon Satsuki's form, making her resemble a black mandala blooming in the morning glow.
She rose from the bed, purifying it once more with the blue radiance of her Authority, then folded the bedding neatly and placed it in a cabinet to the side.
"Host, are you leaving already?"
Just as she was about to step out of the shrine, Ruri stirred awake beside her, opening her eyes to gaze at Satsuki.
"I still have a few things to handle," Satsuki replied, glancing at Ruri. "You can wait for me outside the village."
"That's no fun. I'll go with you."
Ruri leapt up from the floor, quickly straightened her clothes, and followed Satsuki out of the shrine.
Beyond the shrine grounds, several villagers were already out and about, carrying farm tools or bundles on their backs. Compared to those from Ueno or Musashi Province, these villagers were dressed far more simply—but their eyes held a much fiercer light.
Perhaps it was due to Satsuki's aura or beauty—or perhaps simply because she had emerged from a shrine where priestesses resided—but every villager who passed by bowed respectfully to her.
Satsuki remained silent, walking straight ahead until she reached the enormous sacred tree at the village's heart. There, she began to carefully examine the kotodama sealing talismans etched across its trunk.
Ruri, standing nearby, tilted her head in confusion. To her, these were merely spiritual constructs—clusters of condensed energy bound together by final prayers, capable of releasing the caster's lingering power.
Still, sensing her host's uncharacteristically focused demeanor, Ruri chose not to interrupt.
Then, without warning, the ground trembled violently beneath their feet.
Ruri's eyes shot upward. The sky above shimmered with a vast protective barrier of spiritual energy—something that only manifested when the village's wards came under tremendous force.
"An enemy attack?"
Satsuki activated the Tenseigan, extending her vision far beyond the horizon. Instantly, the entire village came into view within her field of sight.
To the north, a horde of towering figures with horns growing from their heads—distinct from ordinary yokai—were pounding against the barrier with all manner of weapons.
At their forefront stood a gigantic mountain ogre, as massive as a small hill. Each thunderous strike of its palms shook the earth like an earthquake.
"Demons?"
It was the first time Satsuki had seen a race other than yokai in this world.
The most distinct feature of this race was the horns on their heads, symbols directly tied to their strength. Once those horns were severed, their power would be drastically weakened.
Most of these demons, however, lacked intelligence. Unlike yokai, they were driven purely by primal instinct—creatures of brute force and savagery.
Yet their physical might was formidable, easily rivaling the strength of most yokai. To ordinary humans, they were no less terrifying.
This was why, in the eyes of common folk, there was little distinction between "demons" and "yokai." Both were simply monstrous beings to be feared—and often, the same creature might be called one or the other depending on the region.
At the very front of the horde, Priestess Sakura Masaya swung her radiant naginata, its golden flames blazing like divine fire as she struck down any demon who dared approach the barrier.
The divine blessing enveloping her body had manifested into a tangible aura of fire, pushing her strength far beyond the limits of humanity.
Her movements were sharp and fierce, darting through narrow gaps in the encroaching swarm—like a streak of red light cutting through a black tide.
Her speed was mesmerizing.
Satsuki's golden eyes followed the priestess's every motion, watching her leap and spin amidst the sea of monsters. Each time she decapitated a demon, she stepped over its corpse without hesitation, her gaze unwavering as she set her sights on the next.
Behind her, blood blossomed like falling petals of cherry blossoms, painting the ground crimson in her wake.
This was a technique completely distinct from the Miko's True Transmission of Katori Shintō Style. It was not a form born of grace or ceremony—it was a killing art. Every motion was crafted for efficiency, for conserving strength, and for ensuring that each strike could take a life. There was no waste, no superfluous flourish, and no trace of mercy or compassion. It was a blade meant purely for exorcising demons.
Within the barrier, the other shrine maiden, Sakura Chizuru, stood in the center of a massive pentagram array. Beneath her feet, the formation pulsed with luminous energy as she chanted in rapid succession:
"The hands of a thousand reach, yet touch not the end. The sacred palms of the dark cannot be mirrored. O archer of the azure heavens, upon the path where radiance descends—stir the wind that kindles the flame. When gathered, hesitate not. Obey my command and converge within my grasp..."
As her incantation flowed, the kagura bell in her hand gave a sharp chime~, a sound not loud, yet one that resonated through the surrounding space—linking to the vast reservoir of spiritual energy held within the kotodama talismans around the shrine.
Simultaneously, the same kind of power surged from her body, guiding the gathered energy into the mirror-like divine tool in her other hand.
The air churned violently. The influx of energy swirled around her like a storm, her shrine maiden's robes and long hair billowing fiercely in the surge.
In the next instant, dazzling light erupted from her body, radiating with an intensity that far surpassed even the spiritual might of Kagura Miku of the Saien Temple—one of the strongest priestesses Satsuki had ever encountered.
"Holy Bullet—Eightfold Body, Ninth Path, Celestial Canon, Swift Treasure, Great Wheel—gray turret of divinity, draw the bow toward the distant heavens, and fade in pure light!"
As her final words echoed through the air, a brilliant beam of light formed before her mirror—a colossal cannon of pure spiritual energy.
The beam burst forth, a radiant torrent that struck directly at the towering mountain ogre's face.
Too massive and sluggish to evade, the mountain ogre was obliterated in a single instant. Its enormous head was reduced to fragments by the devastating blast. The beam tore through its skull, piercing through its body and beyond, splitting apart the storm clouds summoned by the horde of demons themselves.
But that was not the end.
Without hesitation, Sakura Chizuru flipped the divine mirror in her hands, inverting it.
The beam that had shot skyward suddenly fragmented, scattering across the heavens before descending like a storm of light.
Countless pillars of radiant energy rained down, each one piercing through the ogre's remains and plunging into the countless demons below.
The mountain ogre's colossal body trembled violently under the barrage. Even its powerful demonic flesh could not withstand the divine onslaught. Within a few breaths, it was torn apart—shredded into countless pieces.
The lesser demons fared no better. Most could only let out their final screams before the ceaseless rain of light consumed them entirely, leaving nothing behind but ash and silence.
Such power was far beyond anything ordinary humans of this world could comprehend.
An army of demons as vast as a nation's troops was completely annihilated in less than half a day beneath the might of the two shrine maidens.
Compared to the overwhelming force they displayed, the exorcists of the Demon-Hunting Village where Satsuki once stayed seemed like children playing make-believe.
This—this was the true strength of priestesses who stood upon the most perilous battlefields of this age, yet still managed to protect the peace of their lands.
Even Sesshōmaru, who had been observing from the shadows of the forest with his usual disdain for humans, could not help but show a rare expression of solemn respect in his eyes.
"Impressive… those two shrine maidens," came a teasing voice beside him as Ruri's figure materialized. "No wonder they didn't seem worried about letting a yokai like you wander into their territory."
"..."
Sesshōmaru remained silent, as always, offering no response to the shikigami's provocation.
Ruri smiled faintly. "Still, after watching this battle, I finally understand why Lady Satsuki treated them so differently." Her expression softened into one of quiet pity. "Such tremendous power, burdened by such a tragic fate… what a shame."
With those words, Ruri's form vanished without a trace.
"Tragic fate? Humans like them don't deserve such words," Sesshōmaru muttered indifferently.
...
On the battlefield, as the radiant rain subsided, the invading horde of demons outside the village was wiped out as if by a divine bombardment.
Even then, the two shrine maidens had no time to rest—they still had to deal with the aftermath.
The countless corpses of demons scattered across the fields would soon corrupt the land with their miasma if left unattended. The soil would turn poisonous, making it impossible for humans to survive in this region.
Thus, Priestess Sakura Chizuru immediately began setting up a large purification array, intending to cleanse the demonic energy from the corpses and transform their remains into nutrients for the soil.
This practice had long been a signature skill of the priestesses of Yasaka Shrine—an art honed through countless years of battles and purifications.
As the chaos outside the village gradually subsided, Satsuki noticed that many villagers were emerging from their homes.
Most of them did not appear panicked; it seemed they had grown accustomed to such attacks—or perhaps they simply trusted in the power of the two shrine maidens to protect them.
Donning makeshift bamboo armor, the villagers took up blades and metal farming tools, heading toward the outskirts to assist.
Satsuki followed quietly among them.
Beside her, a young man blushed at the sight of her and asked shyly, "Miss, are you also a shrine maiden?"
"I come from Ueno," Satsuki replied calmly, her golden eyes turning toward the distant field of falling light. "I'm a traveling shrine maiden, here to visit Yasaka Shrine. I heard that the priestesses of Yasaka are the strongest among the Four Great Shrines—and seeing them today, that reputation is well deserved. Such spiritual power is rare even in Ueno."
"Of course!" another young woman chimed in eagerly. "The priestesses and exorcists of Yasaka Shrine can defeat any demon or yokai, no matter how many come!"
Her face glowed with admiration as she gazed at the distant figures of the priestesses—clearly, this was not her first time witnessing such a sight.
"If only I had the talent," she added wistfully, "I'd join Yasaka Shrine myself. Even serving as a simple attendant to those priestesses would be enough for me."
An older woman nearby nodded in agreement. "That's true. The priestesses of Yasaka Shrine are kind to us, but they're very strict about accepting apprentices. My two daughters have gone several times to apply, but they were all turned away."
Hearing that, Satsuki asked softly, "Why does everyone want their daughters to become shrine maidens? It's such a dangerous calling."
After all, Yasaka Shrine was unlike the others—their shrine maidens were all black priestesses or exorcist priestesses, warriors whose sole duty was to fight.
The older woman, seeing that Satsuki had addressed her, immediately bowed respectfully and replied, "Miko-sama, you must have come from another land, so perhaps you don't understand. In these western territories, there is never a moment of safety. Unlike other regions, our villages have no protection from feudal lords' armies or exorcist guilds. Only a handful of wandering ronin, desperate for work, settle here—but even with their help, we can't rely on them to keep us safe. The only reason we're still alive is because of the priestesses of Yasaka Shrine. They, along with the few miko and exorcists from other places, protect us."
"But what does that have to do with wanting to become shrine maidens yourselves?" Satsuki asked softly.
"Of course it's related," another villager carrying a hoe chimed in. "Maybe in other lands, being a priestess or exorcist is dangerous—but here, in the West, where yokai rule, we're born into danger. Every day, our lives hang by a thread. If we can gain the power to protect ourselves, we're actually safer than living helplessly."
"I see," Satsuki murmured.
That logic was not difficult to understand. In a peaceful nation, becoming a soldier or a police officer was indeed a dangerous job. But in a place steeped in chaos and constant threat, having the means to defend oneself was the only way to survive.
As they spoke, the group reached the edge of the barrier and stopped.
Beyond the protective field, vast waves of spiritual energy drifted through the air, drawn toward the scattered remains of the slain demons. The once foul, venomous flesh of the demon race was gradually being purified by the lingering energy.
Moments later, within the barrier, Priestess Sakura Chizuru finished her purification incantation. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she announced, "The purification is complete. Everyone may now collect the corpses marked by Sister Masaya as fertilizer. There were many demons this time—next year's harvest should be a good one."
At her words, a cheer erupted from the villagers. They rushed toward the piles of demon remains, carefully selecting and cutting the purified flesh to carry back.
Satsuki approached Chizuru quietly and said, "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't have believed that in such an extreme environment, people could create such a unique way to survive."
"If they had the choice," Chizuru replied softly, "I believe none of them would choose to live like this."
"Perhaps," Satsuki said calmly. "But they have no other choice."
Then, after a brief pause, she turned to Chizuru and asked meaningfully, "Miss Chizuru, if you had another choice, would you regret becoming a priestess of Yasaka Shrine?"
At those words, a flicker of surprise flashed in Chizuru's eyes. "Miss Satsuki… you noticed?"
"Yes," Satsuki replied quietly. "The guardian spirits wandering here told me much."
"Is that so?" Chizuru murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then tell me—did those who came before us… ever regret it?"
"Their final words spoke of many things," Satsuki said softly. "But not once did they mention regret."
Chizuru smiled faintly. "Then… I suppose that's my answer as well."
—
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