Chapter 299
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 299: Mountains and Water
Back at the inn, the four sword witches gathered to discuss the information they had gathered.
The results, however, were not very fruitful.
They only learned that Shikoku Town was preparing for a sacred ritual ceremony dedicated to the Mountain God, but when they tried to ask the villagers for more details, everyone remained tight-lipped.
“We haven’t uncovered much either. It seems Kamitsumi Shrine has been abandoned for quite some time,” Jingūji commented.
“This is odd,” Mizuko noted, pointing out the contradiction. “If the shrine has been abandoned for so long, then why are the townspeople still holding a ritual? Their faith must not be as strong, considering they’ve neglected the shrine.”
Jingūji pondered, “Perhaps there’s another explanation. Maybe Kamitsumi Shrine isn’t the actual place where they worship the deity?”
“That could be true,” Mizuko agreed. “Kamitsumi Shrine might be dedicated to the goddess of water, while the townspeople primarily worship the mountain deity, given the area’s mountainous surroundings.”
“But wouldn’t having two deities in one place be strange? Didn’t they have a unified belief system?”
“I’m not sure,” Jingūji replied. “There’s only one Kamitsumi Shrine mentioned in the records. Could there really be two deities worshipped there?”
“Alright, let’s call it a day,” Shimizu said. “Rest up tonight, and tomorrow you two can check out another shrine location. Be sure to bring your gear, just in case. Even if there are no demons in the mountains, snakes and wild animals can still pose a threat.”
“What about you, Elder?” Mizuko asked.
“We’ll continue investigating the ritual,” Shimizu replied. “Even though we couldn’t extract any useful info directly, we have other ways of gathering information.”
“Using beauty, right?” Mizuko said with a mischievous grin. “Isn’t that too much of a sacrifice, Shimizu? You really should reconsider, especially when carrying the divine pearls.”
Shimizu rolled her eyes. “What are you thinking, you naughty girl? I’m looking forward to getting married in the future. Besides, seduction isn’t the only way.”
“Is it… bribery?” Jingūji murmured. “The funds this time aren’t much, right?”
Shimizu flicked her wrist dismissively. “I can only temporarily use my own funds. Luckily, we have a shrine and temple at home, so we’re not lacking money.”
Mizuko’s eyes widened. “Unbelievable, you’re handling matters of life and death… And here you are, the heir of both a temple and a shrine, getting married? This goes against everything we believe in!”
Shimizu laughed. “My grandmother’s house is a Shinto shrine, and my grandfather’s house is a Buddhist temple. They’re very close. My parents fell in love over time, not in the typical childhood sweetheart way. They matured early, with few peers their age. By seventeen, my mother was pregnant with me. But they weren’t even married yet.”
Mizuko blinked. “So, why did you choose to become a witch, Elder?”
Shimizu chuckled, “There was no choice. How can a woman become a monk?”
The next day, Shimizu and Ise, two of the sword witches, visited a local official’s house in the town. They introduced themselves with their forged fake identities.
“Oh, you two are so young, and yet you’re already scholars of folklore?” the official exclaimed.
“I’m not exactly a folklore scholar. I’m still learning,” Shimizu said with a smile. “That’s why we’re exploring the local customs and traditions. We were hoping you could share some insider information about the ceremony for our report.”
“In that case, you might want to ask other officials. I’m just a minor figure, and this isn’t really my area of responsibility,” the official stammered, clearly uncomfortable.
Ise pulled out a purse and handed it over. “This is our sponsorship fee.”
A thick stack of money.
“Hahaha, you’re too kind. In that case, I won’t hide anything from you,” the well-fed official said eagerly. “The ceremony itself isn’t complicated. Apart from all the fanfare, it’s mainly a way to replicate the ancient worship of the Mountain God. The people of Shikoku Town believe that the Mountain God is fiery and passionate, while the Water Goddess is gentle. These two deities used to clash—fire and water, completely incompatible.”
“The Water God and the Mountain God had a great battle, causing widespread destruction. The floodwaters nearly swallowed the entire mountain, bringing calamity to the villagers. After this, the Water God deeply regretted the chaos and wanted to convince the Mountain God to cease the conflict, but he was stubborn, insisting that he must defeat her.”
“Fearing for their peace, the villagers went to the Water God, who agreed to make a promise to them. If they could convince the Mountain God to end the fight, she would fulfill one request of the people.”
“The villagers then sought out the Mountain God, who had hidden himself away in the shadows, unwilling to meet anyone. The villagers came up with a plan: they held a grand festival and ceremony, hoping to lure the Mountain God out.”
“They left a young girl at the gates of the underworld, hoping to catch his attention.”
“When the Mountain God heard the lively celebration, he left his cave and encountered a lost little girl. She told him she was lost, and he offered to carry her down the mountain. Upon reaching the celebration, he was swept into the festivities. People danced around a bonfire, and the Mountain God, delighted, joined in, enjoying the revelry.”
“Afterward, the Mountain God revealed his secret desire. He had fallen for the Water Goddess and wanted to marry her but lacked the courage and strength to ask her directly.”
“The villagers took advantage of his deep sleep to share his feelings with the Water God, who was too embarrassed to speak at first. The villagers suggested that she marry the Mountain God, and thus the two deities would live in harmony.”
“The Water Goddess agreed to the villagers’ plea, and the wedding ceremony was held, where the two gods were united. The mountains and waters were brought into harmony, and the villagers of the town could live in peace.”
“The gods of the ceremony are the Water Goddess, Kamitsumiwoikirihime, and the Mountain God, Sengoku God of Rocky Mountains. The festival is divided into two stages: one to summon the Sengoku God and the other to marry Princess Kamitsumi.”
The official shared the full, detailed mythical story that had been passed down through generations in Shikoku Town. It was much more elaborate than what they had known before.
The sword witches exchanged glances, now realizing that this ceremony was not just about the Mountain God and the Water Goddess; it was tied to a marriage.
Shimizu asked, “Who is in charge of this ceremony?”
“I’ll write you a note,” the official said. “Just go find them directly. But beware, they might be quite busy…”
After confirming they couldn’t gather more information, Shimizu and Ise left the official’s house.
“What do you think about the meaning of that fairy tale?” Ise mused.
“The Water God married the Mountain God,” Shimizu replied. “In our mythology, when a woman marries, she becomes part of her husband’s family. So Kamitsumiwoikirihime would essentially become subordinate to the Mountain God.”
“That’s probably why Kamitsumi Shrine has been neglected,” Ise said thoughtfully.
“But the Sengoku God’s shrine is even more obscure,” Shimizu countered.
“The last time it was used in a ceremony was seventy years ago, and it wasn’t a big deal,” Ise remarked. “Now, with everything so lively, it’s hard not to suspect something strange is going on.”
Shimizu sneered, “Suddenly, I’m not so keen on spending more money on offerings.”
“Agreed,” Ise said. “Pretending to be cute and obedient is exhausting. My facial muscles are about to cramp. Can’t we just draw our swords and act?”
“Not yet. Hold on a little longer.”
The person in charge of the ceremony was well-known in the town, always busy, never seeming to have a spare moment. He was enthusiastic, energetic, and very efficient at managing the tasks at hand.
Later that evening, he went to the night market, stopping in front of a butcher shop.
“We just need one more girl,” he said.
“Are the others no good?” the butcher asked.
“The girl was too old. The ritual must be perfect, so she must be around ten years old.”
“Shall I catch one?” the butcher offered.
“No, forget it. You always mess things up. Let the mayor handle it. He’ll have a solution.”
“Alright,” the butcher grinned. “Do you want some lamb? Fresh, just arrived.”
The man with gray hair glanced at him. “You have wrinkles.”
The butcher smiled and smoothed his face. “Don’t forget to clean up those two tails behind you.”
“Hey…” the butcher chuckled. “I’m not sure I can sell all this meat; it might not stay fresh.”
“Let’s handle it for now.”
“Who is he talking to?” Shimizu’s voice turned cold. The figure appeared alone in the open space, talking to someone, but no one else seemed to notice.
In the busy market, people came and went, yet no one was near him. The eerie feeling crept in.
Ise grabbed Shimizu’s hand urgently. “Let’s go, quickly!”
Why could they see it, and no one else could? It wasn’t due to any extraordinary talent—they were meant to notice.
Realizing something was wrong, the sword witches hurried to leave, but as they turned a corner, everything shifted. They were back in the market again.
Shimizu pinched a talisman between her fingers and said with determination, “Break the illusion!”
The market rippled, but the illusion held. Their strength wasn’t enough to break through.
There were no other people or vendors in sight—only the butcher, still chopping meat with a sword.
He smiled widely, his face distorting as if his skin was being stretched tight.
The sword witches exchanged a glance. They had fallen into a trap.
Shimizu discreetly crushed the communicator in her fingers and drew her weapon.
The butcher emerged, wielding a large deboning sword. As he moved, a sinister aura surrounded him, and his body began to grow, swelling like a giant.
“Not bad,” he sneered. “Tender and full of energy. Your meat must be very succulent.”
