However.
Is that all?
I asked.
Is that all? What?
Yomiko looks at me with a surprised face.
Was there some other power?
.I
It’s the satori’s power2 a power to read the other party’s mind through sex, isn’t it?
Michi said.
Master has experienced Shingetsu by having sex with me, so he knows that having sex shows such power
Right.
I heard the story about the shrine maiden mediating with the Yakuza by having sex.
I was sure that the shrine maiden also had that power.
Does the Takakura shrine maiden have no power like that?
Was it really just a power to manipulate people at will?
Can they really use only that power and mediate with the Yakuza?
I think there is. However, Yomiko-sama doesn’t have it
Michi looks at Tsukiko.
Tsukiko-sama, you do know about it, don’t you?
Tsukiko’s spine suddenly shakes.
What do you mean?
I asked.
It means that Grandfather fooled us
Misuzu said.
I know that Takakura shrine was one with a long history with it
That’s what Misuzu first told me.
However, Grandfather endless talked about the story of the wandering maiden who ended up with Takakura Shrine at the beginning of Meiji Era, so there was an impression that the Takakura shrine maiden’s power were all coming from the wandering shrine maidens Yes. Therefore, we didn’t think about the Takakura shrine itself
Ruriko also speaks.
But, why is Takakura shrine the place to gather for those wandering maidens who lost their place due to the suppression of the Meiji government?
Misuzu?
Could it be that Takakura shrine is a place where Miko power was famous even before the wandering shrine maiden came in?
Misuzu looks at Tsukiko.
I see, the shrine maidens there were famous from the start.
The wandering shrine maidens can consider asking for help.
I don’t know
Tsukiko said
I think you already understood from when Nei-chan and I were talking about earlier
Earlier? Oh, the story about Amaterasu and Susanoo?
There’s a theory that the Sun God, Amaterasu, is based from Amateru, but as for the God of Moon, Tsukuyomi The two faiths were ancient. They were born from the reverence on the Sun and Moon, which is the nature Misuzu said. However, faith that only embraces nature gradually disappears as the dramatic stories told at the age of heroes begins. The sun god, Amaterasu, is one of those that survived the hero drama legends but, Tsukiyomi, the moon god hasn’t established a dramatic story Tsukuyomi hardly appears in Kojiki or Nihon Shoki after all
Ruriko.
Takakura shrine, a shrine dedicated to Tsukuyomi is an ancient one!
Edie smiles.
I see. Takakura shrine was established as one that enshrines Tsukuyomi even before the story of Kojiki and Nihon Shoki were formed.
What I noticed is the later. The story of Susanoo has eroded the faith of the sun god Amaterasu and moon god Tsukuyomi, and the myths did a patchwork
Myths are a collection of old and new stories added, pasted, shaved off, and arranged to a single form.
Takakura shrine’s Miko power must be one of the patchworks as well
Misuzu asks.
The wandering shrine maiden’s power was the new one, but there was another power before them
The power of the wandering shrine maiden and the power Takakura shrine maidens originally had.
With the two powers combined, they have obtained a much higher power
Misuzu asks. Tsukiko;
I don’t know anything
She looked down and said.
Indeed. But, I’ve been wondering since earlier
Ruriko speaks while brushing Luna’s hair.
Earlier, Luna-san said that her father wished that she was a boy instead
Tsukiko;
That’s because if Luna-sama were a boy, then she could’ve been the priest. With the state now, the next Shrine maiden must give birth to a boy
Yeah, if there were no boys among the child of arbitration, then.
The currently present on the shrine is Tsukiko-sama’s mother’s sister. Kiyomi-san means that it’s the Yomi child, that means that she was the daughter of the former generation priest and shrine maiden, am I wrong?
Ruriko asks with a gentle smile.
Yes, However, those who separated from the Takakura shrine isn’t allowed to return to priesthood again usually. After Kiyomi-sama left the shrine, her shrine maiden training has stopped, and. How about Kiyomi-san’s children?
Ruriko asks, cutting off Tsukiko’s line.
There’s two boys and one girl And if her daughters start their training now, can they become shrine maidens? Can the boy become a candidate for a priest? No, that’s not allowed, even so, those people don’t know anything, so they’re trying to put Kiyomi-san as the shrine maiden
The Yakuza who took over Takakura shrine intends to have Kiyomi-san as the substitute shrine maiden?
Err, if I recall, he’s Satake. Unryu Kaizan Mori family’s 7th Generation Patriarch, Satake Nobuo
He’s the big boss.
Then, let me ask; Who’s the father of Kiyomi-san’s children? What is his job? That’s
Ruriko asks. Tsukiko hesitates to speak.
He’s Yakuza, isn’t he?
Edie said.
Yakuza?
So the sister of the late shrine maiden is married to a Yakuza?
Edie, why do you think so?
I asked.
Earlier, Luna said that she’s an offering
Offering?
Err, what do you mean by that?
It’s somewhat embarrassing to ask Edie, the meaning of a word that I’m native.
But, if I don’t know, then I’ll ask.
It means that she’s a food offered to the Gods
Huh?
Huh? What does that mean? Luna’s food?
Edie smiles.
Darling, think about it, there’s three of them but what would happen to those who couldn’t become a shrine maiden?
I look at Luna, Yomiko, and Tsukiko.
Well, if they didn’t become a shrine maiden then there’s nothing to be done so they could live somewhere else?
That’s what I want.
No, they become offerings!
Edie said. Luna looks down.
Wait. Offering them to the gods as a meal. Could it be?
I can’t believe that it happens even in the current era, but.
Are they killed off as human sacrifices?
Edie shows a dumbfounded face.
Darling, it’s the 21st century, you know? What age are you living in? But
Then.
After the foods offered to the gods were held up then who will eat it? It’s not gods but humans
Ruriko tells me
Eating something dedicated to God brings us closer to them and gives us protection. Did you know about the ritual Naorai? 3
That’s my first time hearing it.
I didn’t have the Miko power, and Yomiko-oneesama’s the one to become the next shrine maiden, I’m not a boy so I can’t become a priest either. Therefore, I was decided to become an offering
Luna said.
It’s okay now, Luna-sama will not be an offering to the Gods anymore
Tsukiko tells her younger sister.
Huh? Why?
I don’t get it.
I at least get the meaning of offering to the gods but still.
How did Luna escape that fate?
That’s because Onii-chan ate her first before she’s offered to the Gods
Mana said.
Huh?
What?
Those who didn’t become shrine maiden and didn’t have the power had that fate awaiting them
Tsukiko?
After they’re offered to the Gods, they are paid to the Yakuza, and they become their toys.
Mana!
If my father were alive then he’d take her. As he’s dead and the status is given to the next generation, he’s lost the authority
Tsukiko said.
In that case, the boss which is a relative will want to take custody of her by all means
Take custody? But they’re not going to take care of her.