"Those missing people really were found beside the Kokomi estate… Should I call it fortunate, or unfortunate? For the sake of the puppet compatibility research, Yasen and Shigetsu didn't kill anyone. But aside from the ten whose consciousnesses were transferred into puppets, the remaining eleven all suffered mental collapse… who knows what tortures they endured."
"Can they be healed?"
"Hard to say. It'll depend on their own willpower, plus medicine and physician care. Beyond that, only time will tell." Having relayed the latest intelligence, Kazuha looked toward Wilbur, who Victor Wang had laid on the deck to bask in the sun. "But he's the most serious, isn't he? At least the others can still speak."
"…He's suffered precisely because too much time has passed."
A day had gone by since the battle to defend the Sacred Sakura.
At dawn after that night, Kamisato Ayato had dispatched men to search the Kokomi estate. At the same time, he had to urgently restore his organization's communications. Given the recent trust crisis, that would be difficult, and along with the Civil Affairs Commission's heavy daily workload, he was running ragged.
Beidou had merely overexerted herself fighting the thunderous sea—one night's sleep and she had largely recovered.
Victor Wang's left arm injury had nearly healed thanks to copious healing medicine, though his chest still felt heavy from his heart's trauma.
Of course, there were also many gains.
They had solved the Inazuma disappearances for Beidou and Ayato, saved the Grand Narukami Shrine from peril, and surely gained Yae Miko's favor. They had slain the hated foe, the Cursed Blade, and rescued the Chief Instructor. His carefully studied Geo shield had broken through under battlefield pressure. There was even hope now to save Hanachirusato.
The Alcor could remain docked here only two more days, then it had to deliver supplies to Watatsumi Island. With Ayato's passes, travel was possible. But so long as Ei remained withdrawn, staying here held little meaning. Thus Victor decided to head to Watatsumi.
He had four reasons:
To unravel the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees. To rescue the people of Hiiragi Village. To rescue Teppei and his companions. To lay groundwork for Enkanomiya—for the sake of Khaenri'ah's relics, Byakuyakoku must be reached. And finally… to become close to the character he liked.
He dearly hoped Hanachirusato might be spared death by the Sacred Sakura cleansing. But that depended on Yae Miko's recovery—she was gravely wounded.
…Wait. Wasn't that Yae Miko herself on the beach?
"Hey! Little one, come down for a chat!"
"What is it?"
Though poor at handling groups, the Demonic Ring excelled at single targets. Concerned, Victor leapt from the ship.
"Mm… nothing grave. But I can't find the shrine maiden you spoke of."
"Not in Konda Village? Then maybe by another Sacred Sakura root."
"I've searched them all. I don't suspect you're lying. But… is it possible she's avoiding me?"
"…"
Hanachirusato didn't want to meet Yae Miko?
The Sacred Sakura cleansing was the shrine's duty. Yae Miko had prepared for it, but upon meeting Lumine, had unceremoniously outsourced the task.
Yet before the shrine could even enact it, Hanachirusato—bearing the memories of a former Guuji—chose instead to seek her 'fated one' on her own. Normally, a slight nudge would suffice—who could be more suited to the ritual than Yae Miko herself?
So yes, she truly was avoiding Yae Miko. Likely from shame, or guilt… or both.
"I'll help you find her."
…
From past experience, phantoms within range were mysteriously drawn toward him. Using this trait, Victor circled Konda Village repeatedly—but Hanachirusato did not appear.
"She's not daydreaming somewhere, is she?"
Broad daylight, villagers glancing about… climbing into the elder's well would be suspicious.
Victor tossed a Geo construct into the well, then slipped into the Light Realm from a hidden corner, unseen by anyone, and dove inside.
"Fox shrine maiden, are you here?"
His voice echoed in the enclosed space, unanswered.
At the bottom, he sighed deliberately, then walked to a fox statue, patting its head. "Funny, I don't recall this statue being here last time."
"…"
"Hm… on closer look, this one seems cuter than the others. Maybe I should take it home as decoration."
"…"
Still no response. Victor hesitated, then grasped the statue, hoisting it onto his shoulder.
"Heavy… gods, this thing is heavy…"
"Heh, of course it's heavy—it's a stone statue!"
"Who's there?!"
"…Please put me down."
"Ah—sorry, sorry! I wasn't saying you're heavy. I meant this fox statue is heavy—so heavy I nearly reopened my old wounds."
"Haa… I'm not angry. Not angry. It's just… her memories that are angry, not me…"
Murmuring to calm herself, Hanachirusato steadied her breath. Then, hand to her chest, she asked with concern: "You're injured?"
"just a small wound. Just nearly had my heart smashed, that's all."
Without elemental power—had the Demonic Ring not wanted him alive, that fist would've ended him.
"…I already feel the Sacred Sakura's strength restored. You've helped me greatly. But as I am now, I've nothing with which to repay you."
"Tell me," Victor pointed to himself, "am I a good man?"
"You are a good man."
"No, not purely. I helped you because our goals aligned. I've already taken my share of reward. You needn't give me more. Besides… you truly have nothing to give."
Aside from that mask, you had nothing left.
"I am ashamed—I haven't even asked your name."
"Call me Victor."
"Victor… what a fine name." She bowed deeply. "Then let us part here. I will remember you and your kindness always. I'm truly glad to have met you."
She turned to depart by her ghostly means. But Victor caught her arm, holding her fast.
"You're a kitsune shrine maiden. Why won't you meet Yae Miko? She's a kitsune too—Guuji of the shrine."
Was it shame? Or guilt? Or both?
"Men and women should not… please, release me."
"You think that'll work? Not until you tell me why."
That slender arm bore no warmth.
After a long silence, Hanachirusato sighed and explained:
"Do you recall the story I told you of Lady Kitsune Saiguu? I inherited her memory… She fought the dark calamity to protect Narukami Island, and was devoured in the end.
"The calamity that devoured her was cut down, its filth sinking into the earth. But Lady Saiguu's thoughts and memories returned to Inazuma's soil. So strong were they, even that darkness could not erase them.
"And so, I was born—Hanachirusato—formed from Lady Saiguu's memories fused with the filth. I… am filth."
Quietly, she removed her mask.
"Ugly, isn't it?"
"I think you're beautiful."
"Please, don't jest… As one born from the fall of Lady Saiguu, as spawn of the filth that killed her, as something she herself would have purged… I am proud to inherit her memories, but I dare not overstep. I cannot face Yae Miko."
But hadn't you already proven with your will to sacrifice yourself—you possessed a nobility no one could deny?
"Miko wants to see you."
"I won't."
"I told you, I'm not a purely good man. I follow my own will, my own desires. And I want you to live. Do you want to live?"
"To live… If I could live… who would wish to die?" Replacing her mask, she shook her head. "I inherited her memories, saw so many beautiful things… but they are not mine to touch."
"We just defeated an enemy who toyed with memory. Do you know what he did? With memory alone, he made a Vision live as a person.
"Memories might be a being's most vital part. Each present self is shaped by all past memories. If one's memories were entirely transplanted into another, unless they realized the truth, their actions would hardly differ.
You are keenly aware you're another born of Lady Saiguu's memories. But that is not your fault. You can carry her thoughts, protect the Sacred Sakura and Inazuma in her stead, and bravely do anything.
You were formed of filth, yes. But you are not filth.
If you tell me you want to live, I will help you."
"You…"
Her body trembled. Behind the mask, tears welled. She wanted to curl into stone again, to vanish. But one hand held her fast—denying her solitude in sorrow.
"Is it truly possible?"
"I will help you."
"I… I want to live. I want to escape the fate of being cleansed as filth. I am afraid. But I cannot flee. I…"
"That's enough. Come with me to Yae Miko."
"Oh? Thinking of me at last? I'm right here~"
A voice, utterly ill-fitted to the tragic mood, rang from above. There were two exits: the Konda well, and a coastal cave sealed by a mechanism—opened last time by Yae Miko herself.
"Miko? Since when were you here?"
"Oh, I've been here quite a while. Why, I even heard you calling my name so sweetly earlier. And now it's all 'Yae Miko' again?"
Victor rubbed his nose sheepishly.
"So, Lady Saiguu left her memories in Inazuma… Truly, aside from life itself, nothing is more precious. Strip a person of memories, and nothing remains."
"Yae Miko…"
Hanachirusato gazed up blankly. Though her inherited memories recalled closeness, they weren't truly her own.
"The real calamity is gone. Half of you may be filth, but the other half is our dearest treasure. Even if I cannot see you as Saiguu herself, carrying such a treasure—since you wish to live, I cannot bear to let you die.
"And besides…" Yae Miko sighed, sorrow flickering in her eyes, "She was so gentle. If it were her, she would surely let you live too."