The next morning, when the gentle sunlight filtered through the thin shōji paper and spilled softly into the room, Satsuki was already awake.
If someone had seen her at that moment, they would have noticed her golden Tenseigan slowly rotating within her eyes.
Satsuki never truly 'slept' anymore—rather, the concept itself had been eliminated from her body. Instead, she merely entered a habitual state of calm observation, monitoring her surroundings even in rest.
Beside her, Ruri also opened her eyes. Since the battle in which she had activated her Three-Tails Mode, she had been recalibrating her combat parameters. For her, that had been the first true field engagement, one filled with valuable data to analyze.
Only now had Ruri finished her extensive processing and analysis, emerging from standby mode.
"Master, this is Katori Jingū?"
"Yes," Satsuki replied quietly. "It's quite an extraordinary place. The way they've constructed their barrier formations allows the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth to gather here naturally. Combined with the massive influx of human faith, it's no wonder the shrine has remained so vibrant for so long."
"Is that so?" Ruri stood, sliding open a side door. Her eyes glimmered faintly as countless streams of data and sutra-like formulas flashed across them.
Moments later, she transmitted the results directly into Satsuki's mind. "Environmental scan complete. Detected more than seven functional barriers surrounding this building. Estimated effects include: tranquility, spirit-gathering, purification, energy flow, aura balance, warding, fortune enhancement, and temperature stabilization."
"Oh? You can discern the functions of these barriers so precisely?"
"Master, did you forget? I possess the Akashic Records in my core. Cross-referencing these patterns is a simple task."
"I see. The Akashic Records are quite the useful tool."
Just then, the sound of light knocking came from the door.
"Miss Satsuki, are you awake?"
Satsuki rose and opened the door. Standing there was Miyo, the young shrine maiden from yesterday. She smiled politely.
"Good morning, Shrine Maiden Miyo."
"Good morning, Miss Satsuki. Breakfast has been prepared. Please follow the corridor through the Shoshin Hall and turn right at the second room. The meal period lasts for half an hour. Also, please refrain from speaking during meals—it's one of the shrine's rules."
Do not speak while eating, do not talk while resting. Such nostalgic discipline.
Satsuki nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for the reminder. I'll head there at once."
After putting on her black stockings and stepping into a pair of wooden sandals, Satsuki left the room.
Ruri remained behind—she had no need for food, and her consciousness could manifest within Satsuki's mind at any time. There was little difference whether she physically accompanied her or not.
A short walk brought Satsuki to the dining room.
Sliding the door open quietly, she found two shrine maidens already seated inside, eating in serene silence.
Behind them, two open shōji walls revealed a corridor lined with railings, beyond which stood a cherry tree. Beneath the tree sat a small household shrine.
As Satsuki entered, the movement stirred the morning air. A gentle breeze flowed through, carrying the fragrance of cherry blossoms into the room. Pale petals drifted down, settling softly upon the ground outside.
—It was a sight of breathtaking beauty. Yet even such a tranquil scene paled beside the quiet grace of the two shrine maidens seated within it.
Both possessed striking, exceptional beauty.
The first shrine maiden wore the standard red-and-white robes, but over them she had layered a dark violet jacket and light purple skirt. Around her neck hung a string of green prayer beads, beneath which were tied two deep-red cords. Her long black hair was smooth as silk, her dark eyes deep and mysterious, and her presence radiated a cool, almost divine allure.
Beside her seat stood a wooden nameplate engraved with the character for Tsubaki.
The other shrine maiden wore the formal attire of Katori Jingū—white top, crimson hakama. Her jet-black hair was tied into a neat hime cut with a white ribbon. She had delicate, refined features and soft pink lips, her expression calm yet tinged with melancholy.
A nameplate before her bore a single word—Kikyo.
As the two shrine maidens noticed Satsuki's arrival, the one named Tsubaki was the first to look up at her. A faint flicker of astonishment crossed her face.
Satsuki was well accustomed to that expression—everyone who saw her appearance for the first time reacted that way to some extent.
However, the reaction of the other shrine maiden, Kikyo, was rather unexpected. Her gaze upon Satsuki was as pure and clear as a mountain spring—untainted, serene, without the slightest trace of prejudice or curiosity.
Still, both shrine maidens soon resumed their composure, nodding politely before returning to their quiet meal.
Satsuki bowed in return, then moved gracefully to her assigned seat, where a wooden nameplate marked her place. Kneeling upon the cushion, she began to eat.
The meal consisted mainly of vegetables, fruits, and a bowl of noodles. Though simple and unadorned in flavor, Satsuki's Tenseigan revealed something remarkable—the fruits and vegetables brimmed with pure spiritual energy.
Consuming such food regularly, even a shrine maiden with little natural talent could eventually develop considerable spiritual strength.
Such was the foundation of one of the Four Great Jingū.
Even from the meals alone, it was clear that the resources available to shrine maidens here far exceeded anything accessible to independent practitioners.
Perhaps this was one of the main reasons for the vast gap in power between shrine maidens of the Jingū and those wandering the outside world.
Exceptional talent, coupled with abundant resources and elite instruction—under such conditions, the superiority of shrine maidens trained within Katori Jingū was inevitable.
Time passed quickly in silence. When the allotted half-hour was over, a clear chime rang through the hall.
At the sound, Tsubaki and Kikyo set down their chopsticks, placed their hands together in prayer, and bowed toward the front. Following their lead, Satsuki did the same.
After leaving the dining hall, none of the three exchanged a word.
At Katori Jingū, every minute was precious to the shrine maidens. With countless arts and doctrines to study, their daily schedules were packed with lessons from dawn to dusk. After exchanging brief nods, Kikyo and Tsubaki each departed in different directions.
Satsuki, meanwhile, returned to her quarters to await further instructions from the shrine. Judging by the time, she suspected the results of her arrival and Miko's report would soon follow.
Sure enough, not long after she returned, there came another knock at the door.
This time, it was not Miyo, but a full-fledged shrine maiden of Katori Jingū—her aura radiating strong spiritual power.
She bowed respectfully. "Miss Satsuki, the Saigū-sama is awaiting your presence in the main sanctuary of Katori Shrine."
(Katori Jingū refers collectively to Kashima Shrine and Katori Shrine; hence, the Saigū's summons specified Katori Shrine in particular.)
When Satsuki, guided by an attendant shrine maiden, arrived at the main sanctuary under the jurisdiction of Katori Jingū, a shrine maiden was already there, standing with her back to the main gate, praying toward the divine seat where Futsunushi no Ōkami resided.
This shrine maiden wore the most resplendent of ceremonial garments—the twelve-layered jūnihitoe—and upon her head rested the maetengai crown. Her hair cascaded down to her ankles, and within Satsuki's Tenseigan, she could see that this woman was completely enveloped in a brilliant aura of divine blessing. The spiritual power radiating from her body was the strongest Satsuki had ever witnessed.
Compared to her, even Miko's remarkable spiritual energy seemed insignificant. Layers upon layers of barriers and sacred artifacts surrounded the woman, and under the blessing of the gods, these merged into a solidified [Divine Domain].
As Satsuki observed her, the shrine maiden slowly turned around—and in that moment, their gazes met.
For a brief instant, both of them felt a jolt of recognition, reading in each other's eyes the same flash of surprise.
No wonder—they were simply too alike.
Though their appearances and attire differed, something deep within their spirits resonated: calm determination, steadfast will, unshakable confidence, quiet strength—and a proud, untamed defiance.
After that moment of shared astonishment, the shrine maiden's expression soon softened. Composed and graceful, she descended from the altar, offering Satsuki a gentle smile.
"Pleased to meet you, Miss Satsuki. I am the current Saigū of Katori Jingū, Kagura Gen Senmu. Welcome to Katori Jingū. May I ask what impression you have of our shrine so far?"
Satsuki returned the smile with calm grace.
"Before coming here, I often imagined what an ideal shrine might look like. Yet upon my arrival, I realized that my imagination had been far too shallow. This place truly lives up to its title as one of the Four Great Jingū—filled with beauty and vitality in every corner, almost like a paradise. Even the shrine maidens here are unlike any others. I can sense that each of them possesses spiritual power strong enough to vanquish demons."
The Saigū's smile deepened. "It seems you truly have a pair of extraordinary eyes, Miss Satsuki. To perceive human spiritual power through vision alone—such an ability cannot be achieved by training alone."
Satsuki never concealed the existence of her Tenseigan. She replied frankly, "These eyes are indeed the product of both innate and acquired factors. They were born by chance from a fusion of the two. Their name is the Tenseigan."
"Tenseigan...?"
The Saigū repeated the word thoughtfully, searching her memory. She could not recall any record of such an ability—eyes of golden hue with six-petaled patterns—but the name itself carried a distinctly divine resonance.
Still, as it was Satsuki's personal matter, the Saigū refrained from prying further. Instead, she met Satsuki's gaze directly and asked without pretense:
"Miss Satsuki, though I've heard from Miko that you have agreed to become a shrine maiden, I still wish to ask you personally—do you truly understand what it means to take on that role?"
"I did not at first," Satsuki answered softly, "but during my journey with Miss Miko, I have come to understand a little. In my eyes, it is a responsibility bestowed upon a chosen few by this era. For exorcist shrine maidens in particular, that responsibility is to fight against the yokai."
"Even for a strong adult man, battling yokai with mere physical strength is nearly impossible. Yet these girls, whether by natural gift or circumstance, choose—or are forced—to become shrine maidens. From that perspective, the burden they bear is far too heavy. But sometimes, the course of the world cannot be altered by human will. Thus, there will always be those destined to shoulder such extraordinary burdens—to be given extraordinary meaning by the times. Some will succeed, but many will fall. Yet even in failure, their worth will never be diminished."
These words were not spoken merely about shrine maidens—they reflected the wisdom Satsuki had gained through countless worlds.
Hearing them, the Saigū's calm expression wavered with visible emotion. "How unexpected. Though this is our first meeting, Miss Satsuki, I feel as though I am speaking with an old friend. Such deep understanding of the shrine maiden's path... even among those who have trained for years, few truly grasp it so clearly."
"Perhaps it's because... I, too, am one of those destined to bear a special responsibility," Satsuki said, her words carrying a double meaning.
"Then, Miss Satsuki," the Saigū asked with deep interest, "since you have thought so deeply about the path of the shrine maiden, have you considered how that path should continue?"
"For me," Satsuki replied calmly, "it's not particularly difficult."
"Not difficult?" A flicker of surprise crossed Kagura Gen Senmu's elegant features. "Do you mean you have found a way?"
"The existence of shrine maidens, at its core, stems from two reasons," Satsuki began. "The first is their spiritual purpose—the bridge between ordinary humans and the divine. Shrine maidens of that kind, even if numerous, are beneficial to the stability of a nation."
"The second kind, however, are exorcist shrine maidens. Their purpose is to protect humanity from yokai and malevolent spirits—to use their power to defend the weakest species of this world from being devoured by the era itself. And for such shrine maidens, the greatest threat they face... are the yokai."
The Saigū's faint smile did not fade. Instead, she asked meaningfully, "So, Miss Satsuki, do you claim to have a way to resolve the problem of yokai?"
"I don't know if Miss Miko has mentioned my view of yokai to you," Satsuki replied seriously. "But in my eyes, yokai and humans are the same. Humans possess the seven emotions and six desires—they are influenced by countless factors, and thus there are both good and evil among them."
"By the same logic, yokai too have their own needs for survival. Therefore, even the most ferocious yokai, as long as it retains reason, is not necessarily beyond communication."
As Satsuki spoke, the Saigū suddenly furrowed her brows.
Through her Tenseigan, Satsuki saw a ray of golden light descend from the distant heavens, merging directly into the Saigū's body.
—A divine oracle?
Satsuki immediately fell silent. The timing was too perfect; the message likely concerned her.
Sure enough, the Saigū, after receiving the oracle, looked at Satsuki with astonishment. "Miss Satsuki, just now, Futsunushi no Ōkami personally delivered an oracle to me. The great deity has granted His divine permission for you to join Katori Jingū—but under one condition. You must undergo a trial."
"Oh? What kind of trial?" Satsuki asked.
"Your abilities are beyond question," the Saigū said with a faint, mischievous smile. "The shikigami who accompanies you is truly formidable. However, the great deity found your statement about 'communicating with yokai'... intriguing. Therefore, your trial shall be this: if you can succeed in persuading a yokai that is openly hostile toward humans to change its attitude toward mankind—then you will have passed the test."
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