The air in Japan held a heavy moisture, a stark contrast to the parched dryness of Sardinia. As I stepped out of the arrival gate, Shinomiya Kaoru stood there in silent composure, her obsidian-black suit tailored without a single wrinkle. Behind her, a black official sedan waited in anticipation.
I offered a slight tilt of my chin in place of a greeting and climbed into the car. Kaoru, taking the passenger seat, delivered her report.
“My King, was your journey comfortable? The preparations at the shrine are complete. The Elders are awaiting your arrival.”
“Good work.”
I replied briefly, shifting my gaze toward the window.
Deep within the Izumo region lies a place called the Susa Shrine. It was one of the most prominent ancient shrines in Japan. Massive trees of uncalculable age formed the boundaries of the divine sanctuary, and within them resided a profound silence, as if the time of gods—not men—flowed there. As I stepped out of the car, a girl who had grown considerably since two years ago was waiting for us at the shrine's entrance.
A beautiful black-haired girl in a black sailor uniform, carrying a long sword wrapped in cloth at her waist. It was Seishuin Ena.
“Long time no see, kid. You’ve grown quite a bit.”
When I spoke first, Ena’s eyes sparkled with delight.
“Your Majesty! It’s been so long! Of course I grew! I’ve been training super hard, you know? If I use Divine Possession, I could probably even subjugate a Divine Beast class! Though I’m still a long way off from Alice or Alessandro!”
Ena puffed out her chest boastfully. Seeing this, Alice Louise of Navarre approached and gently stroked the girl’s head.
“It’s been a while, Ena. You’ve done well. You really have grown.”
“It seems that blade has truly become a part of your body. Congratulations, Ena.”
Alessandro Gaspare also offered a gentle smile, congratulating her on her progress.
Though shy, Ena couldn't hide her joy as she guided us to the deepest part of the shrine, in front of an ancient tree cordoned off by a sacred shimenawa rope. She unwrapped the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi at her waist. Her movements were far more proficient and decisive than they had been two years prior. Adjusting her grip on the sword, she began to chant an invocation in a clear, serene voice.
“O divine blade that smote the eight-headed calamity and appeased the God of Storms, let your edge rend the veil between the surface world and the Netherworld, and open the path to the hidden gods!”
As if responding to her cry, the blade emitted a radiance invisible to human eyes and slashed through the empty air. Space tore apart like silk. What lay beyond the rift was not a landscape of this world.
“Wait here.”
After giving the brief command to Alice and Alessandro, I stepped through the rift without hesitation.
The place resembled the land of immortals known as the Peach Blossom Spring. Instead of the sun or moon, orbs emitting a soft light floated in the sky, and mist flowed beneath my feet like a river. The trees growing from the earth bore leaves as transparent as crystal, producing a clear, chime-like sound as they brushed against each other. A garden of the gods, ruled by absolute peace and eternal time. At its center, three beings awaited me: Susanoo, Yurihime, and Seisoku.
“Ooh, so you’ve come. Seventh.”
Susanoo was the first to speak.
“What kind of brat is the one born in Sardinia this time?”
I wore a look of blatant annoyance.
“Is that all you called me here to ask? You could have gone and seen for yourself.”
At those words, Susanoo let out a boisterous laugh. It was a laugh I was familiar with.
Two years ago.
It was a time when I had completely seized control of the History Compilation Committee and was reviewing the stale records accumulated over centuries. I had discovered several bizarre commonalities. Traces of ‘adjustments’ that couldn't be explained by official records—catastrophes capable of shaking the nation subsiding for inexplicable reasons, or powerful gods of calamity suddenly vanishing. I figured that leaving such matters alone could lead to annoying variables, so an investigation was necessary.
“Kaoru.”
To her, who appeared instantly at my call, I shoved the relevant records forward.
“What are these blanks? It looks as if someone I don't know is handling business in this country under my management.”
At my cold question, Kaoru bowed her head deeply and replied in a tense voice.
“That is... the will of the 'Hidden Ones' who have protected this land. They are those not recorded, operating in the shadows of Japan’s magical world for hundreds of years.”
“Who are they?”
“They are Susanoo, the God of Storms; Yurihime, the immortal shrine maiden; and Seisoku, the living Buddha.”
I curled the corner of my mouth, intrigued.
“So such beings existed in this land. I’ll have to meet them. I’m curious to see what they look like. Can you arrange it?”
“My King, please reconsider! They are not beings that can be contended with by human common sense—!”
“I am not human; I am a Devil King. See to it that you arrange it.”
Despite Kaoru’s protests, my will was firm. A few days later, through a passage to the Netherworld that a then-youthful Ena had barely opened with all her might, I faced the hidden powers of Japan for the first time. I gave them a slight nod and spoke.
“So it was you. The identity of the annoying blanks left in this country's records. I’m disappointed to meet you. If you had just stayed quiet, we wouldn't have to bother each other.”
At my cynical first impression, Susanoo tilted his sake bottle as if fascinated.
“So you are the new King of this land. Indeed, a rather usable vessel. So, what business does a youngster have with us old folks?”
“The business is simple. Let’s not infringe on each other's territories from now on. I have no intention of interfering in your garden, so I’d appreciate it if you didn't meddle with my stage as you please. Let’s not make things tiresome for each other.”
My words weren't a declaration of war. It was an extremely pragmatic proposal intended to prevent annoying incidents before they happened. At that attitude, Susanoo roared with laughter.
“What an amusing brat! Whether you are a King or not, this place has been our garden for thousands of years. And now you come here wanting to draw lines?”
“The lines were already drawn. You were just crossing them at will. I’m telling you to respect them from now on.”
The look in Susanoo’s eyes changed at my retort. In place of playfulness, a ferocious divinity worthy of the Storm God flickered.
“Rules decided only by words are child's play. We must properly gauge each other's strength to know just how sturdy those lines are!”
Hardly had he finished speaking when a storm erupted from his hand, and the phantom of the divine sword Kusanagi appeared. I let out a small sigh, as if I had no choice.
“...It ends up like this after all. I suppose I was wrong to think words would work.”
I released my Authority with an annoyed air. The Authority of a King clashed with the Authority of a God, and the peaceful earth of the Netherworld screamed under the aftermath of our power. The exchange, which lasted all through the night, was a tiresome yet necessary ritual to etch the depth of the new ruler's power into the very bones of this land’s oldest god.
Back to the present. I spoke sarcastically, recalling those memories.
“If you're so curious, go test him yourself. Just like you did to me.”
“Gwahahaha! If I did that with this old body now, my joints would ache so much I wouldn't be able to stand it!”
As Susanoo chuckled heartily, Yurihime opened her elegant lips and gave him a low reprimand.
“Your exaggerations are as constant as ever.”
“Namu Amida Butsu... frailty comes from the mind.”
“Hmph, noisy. Well, if I let my cute miko give him a little poke, I'll probably get the gist of it.”
Susanoo spoke, hinting at his intent to test the new King through Ena. I had no intention of entertaining their pointless chatter any longer.
“Let’s get to the point. Is there any problem with the seal of the King of the End? Three years ago, that woman Guinevere caused a commotion in Britain trying to manifest King Arthur. I have information that they are plotting something in America now. Are you managing things properly?”
At my rebuke, Susanoo took a sip of sake and answered slyly.
“The New World has a King of the New World, so they'll handle it fine on their own. I told you, I'm retired.”
“Then what is the real reason you called me? If this is all, I’m leaving.”
At my prodding, Susanoo finally dropped his playful smile.
“If a new King enters Japan, do you intend to completely withdraw your hands from this land?”
“I’ll hand it over as a branch office and leave the management to him.”
I replied curtly, thinking of Kusanagi Godo.
That brat—he's not someone to be underestimated. If luck is on his side, he might even be able to take down a high-ranking chief deity.
“My business is done. It’s a bother, so I'm going.”
Without waiting for further answers, I turned my back and headed toward the exit of the Netherworld.
After I vanished, silence returned to the eternal space. It was Yurihime who broke the quiet.
“Elder... will you tell the new King the truth about the ‘King of the End’?”
At her question, Seisoku also quietly looked toward Susanoo. Susanoo drained the last bit of sake from his bottle and fell into deep thought.
“...If he passes my miko’s test, I’ll consider it then.”
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