After obtaining the Bloodbranch Coral, Watatsumi Island temporarily reactivated the seals of Enkanomiya by restoring the key patterns that had appeared when Enkanomiya first awakened.
Although this could neither stop Lumine nor Victor Wang, the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri was approaching. The key patterns needed to be placed back to reopen Enkanomiya's seal—which conveniently gave Lumine and Victor Wang something to do.
Once that task was completed, the long-awaited Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri was finally about to begin.
"Why is it that the dinner parties on Watatsumi Island these days are mostly made up of vegetables? Back when we were with the resistance, at least there was still meat…"
"These aren't ordinary vegetables," Sangonomiya Kokomi explained with a gentle smile. "They're grown right here on Watatsumi Island."
"But… sigh…"
Looking at the full table of dishes—two-thirds of which were vegetables prepared in different ways—Paimon sighed in disappointment.
She had thought that hearing the word "banquet" meant a proper feast was in order, but it turned out Watatsumi Island had "lost its way", taking pride in eating its own homegrown vegetables. Somehow, things had come to this.
Still, having food was better than being beaten… and at least one-third of the dishes were meat.
Wait, why did that "being beaten" thought suddenly come to mind?
Paimon, startled, patted her own head, wondering if she had somehow caught the "Enkanomiya virus."
"Tonight, I'll be presiding over the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri," said Kokomi, raising the milk tea in her hand toward Lumine and Victor Wang. "Although we're permitted to drink alcohol now, please allow me to toast with tea instead. Lumine, Victor—thank you both. Whether it was the resistance or Enkanomiya, without you two, Watatsumi Island would not be what it is today."
"Cheers!"
All three of them happily took a big sip.
"Come to think of it," Lumine said, "everyone's been so excited these past few days—it feels like New Year's."
"In a sense, it's rarer than New Year's by several hundred times," Kokomi said softly. "After all, the need to perform the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri means disaster has struck the island. I sincerely hope such times never come again."
Her eyes flicked toward Victor Wang, and at the memory of that night, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Quickly regaining her composure, she continued, "But the fact that we can successfully hold the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri at all—that's seen as the greatest blessing. I can understand why everyone feels happy. In any case, a bit of joy is a good thing."
"I heard you're going to dance at the festival, Kokomi, hehe…" Paimon grinned mischievously. "When exactly does it start? I can't wait to see it!"
"Well… every past Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri has taken place at midnight. No one really knows why, but we follow the tradition. So, there's still some time after the banquet. Since Watatsumi Island's night market is open for the festival, you two should go take a look around."
"You're not coming with us?"
"I have to practice the 'Dance of Divine Grace'… sigh. You both know I'm not good at dealing with large crowds—let alone performing in front of so many people. But there's no escaping it this time…"
"Will it consume 'energy'?"
"It will consume a lot of 'energy', so much that I'm afraid I might not last through it. But when I think about performing it for you two, it doesn't drain me nearly as much…"
"Oh?" Paimon teased. "Even dancing for us costs you 'energy'?"
"…It can't be helped. No matter how you think about it, it's embarrassing, right? But under your gaze, at least I'll have the strength to dance until the very end of the festival. So, when the time comes… please, watch me closely."
The venue for the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri was directly above Enkanomiya—on the large coral platforms in front of the Sangonomiya Shrine.
Though the platforms were enormous, that was only relative to a single person. One side of them hung over the sea, leaving less space, so once the festival officially began, the place was packed with people.
Fortunately, Victor Wang and Lumine were with Gorou, and thus had front-row seats.
The first to appear were eight shrine maidens. Among them was Tsuyuko—the very one who had once boasted about the "adorable shrine maidens" dancing at the Watatsumi Goryou Matsuri. It turned out she hadn't been exaggerating.
Besides Tsuyuko, Victor Wang recognized two other familiar faces: Mochizuki and Izumi Naki. The rest he didn't know… but they were indeed all quite cute.
Each of the eight maidens held a coral pearl aged through the years, standing in precise positions corresponding to the eight directions, with the Bloodbranch Coral at the center.
Once in position, they began to dance—ceremonial movements filled with ritual grace. They lifted the coral pearls toward the sky, then lowered them to their sides, as if using them to symbolize something sacred. After each sequence, they rotated clockwise to switch places. Judging by how long it lasted, it was quite the physical task.
When they finally completed a full circle and returned to their original spots, they all faced the Bloodbranch Coral, holding their pearls before them, and froze in stillness.
Then came Sangonomiya Kokomi's entrance.
"Lady Sangonomiya will now perform the 'Dance of Divine Grace'. It is said that this dance was inspired by the movements of 'The Great Omikami of Watatsumi'—who, as you know, was a serpent. Even that powerful, majestic form it took when leading us to the surface could, when interpreted by an expert, become something graceful and mesmerizing."
That had been Tsuyuko's enthusiastic explanation beforehand, her eyes sparkling—much like they were now. She had found the perfect viewing spot.
Yet when Kokomi performed the "Dance of Divine Grace," her movements didn't resemble a serpent at all.
Her arms swayed gently, tracing ripples through the air; her steps were light, landing as softly as a fish leaping upon the water's surface. Her figure was fluid, her waist supple, her legs long and elegant—and with the flowing fishtail of her dress, she seemed to turn the air itself into water, becoming a fish gliding freely under the moonlight's dreamlike shimmer.
She may not have looked like a serpent, but no one could deny her beauty.
"The Dance of Divine Grace… it's so beautiful…"
Paimon murmured, completely entranced—echoing the thoughts of everyone present.
Within the circle formed by the eight shrine maidens and their coral pearls, with the Bloodbranch Coral at its center, Kokomi had, without anyone noticing, already danced through every direction.
At the end of her performance, she was bathed in moonlight, donning a robe of shimmering water, and lifted the Bloodbranch Coral in her hands.
Together, she and the eight shrine maidens began to chant—in the ancient Watatsumi tongue. None could understand the words, but the melody was gentle and ethereal.
The coral pearls began to glow. The Bloodbranch Coral glowed as well.
All of Watatsumi Island could feel the life force of Orobashi stirring once more.
The great corals behind the shrine and beneath everyone's feet began to emit light—soft and mild, not blinding. Though startled at first, the crowd soon realized there was no danger; the corals merely shone.
Ghostly jellyfish drifting through the air, coral pearls upon the ground—all began to glow in unison. From the sky, the island would look like a second heavens: the massive corals as the moon, and the jellyfish and pearls as stars.
The moon above and the moon below shone together upon Kokomi, reflecting off her water-woven robe and her coral ornaments, scattering prismatic lights—hues of one origin, yet of countless colors. With the robe's own silver gleam and the radiance in her soft pink-violet eyes, the scene was dazzling beyond words.
As the shrine maidens withdrew, Kokomi stepped lightly toward the edge of the coral platform. Beneath her was the luminous whirlpool of Enkanomiya. She lowered the Bloodbranch Coral into it. The glowing coral dissolved into light as it touched the vortex, which grew brighter and brighter—so bright that it seemed a sun might rise from within. Only after reaching its peak did the brilliance slowly fade.
Watatsumi Island once again became the reflection of a starlit sea—a mirror to the sky, painted by the glow of corals and drifting jellyfish. Their light would gradually dim, but not immediately; it would last until dawn.
"With that… it's over, then."