Volume 4, Chapter 34 – The Sacrificial Miko

After recovering Shizuku-san’s Kirinagi, we escaped the Itten Style dojo and reached the Dragon God Cave under Souji-san’s guidance.

The Dragon God Cave is a cavern located in the mountains north of the Imperial Palace, where the Eight-Headed Dragon God is said to be sealed.

The sacrificial ritual was said to take place on an altar floating upon an underground lake inside the cave.

By the time we arrived at the mouth of the Dragon God Cave, the sun had already set, and only the light of torches—likely lit by the guarding soldiers—illuminated the darkness.

It seemed Tessai-san and the others had already made their way inside.

Most of the soldiers guarding the perimeter had been taken down, and there was no one left to stop us.

We proceeded straight into the cave.

The interior was a single path, so there was little chance of getting lost.

Then, a long flight of stairs appeared before us.

We descended carefully, watching our step.

As we did, I caught the faint sound of a voice from below.

“…Black…”

Following that, I heard the sound of metal clashing.

The metallic ringing echoed a few more times, and after a final sound like a death rattle, everything went silent.

“Was that Tessai-san?! Hurry!”

“Yes!”

We hurriedly rushed down the stairs.

At the bottom of the stairs, we saw a massive altar floating on the underground lake.

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Before it lay Tessai-san, bleeding profusely, and Shizuku-san, dressed in Miko attire and holding a sword stained crimson.

“Shizuku-san! Tessai-san!”

A stone bridge connected the stairs to the altar, and we sprinted across it toward the altar. However, halfway across, we were blocked by an invisible wall and could go no further.

“Shizuku-san!”

“Shizuku-dono!”

We called out to Shizuku-san, but she didn’t react at all. What on earth is happening?

“Ho ho ho. Saint Fiene Argentata. You’ve come a long way; you’ve worked hard indeed.”

A black-haired woman appeared beside Shizuku-san.

She looked to be around twenty years old. She was a stunning beauty with a very alluring air about her.

However, I did not know this woman.

“…Who are you?”

“How cold, after you’ve gone through the trouble of requesting an audience.”

“Could it be… Suikyou?”

“Exactly. I am the Queen of this country, Suikyou.”

“Eh?”

Wait, wasn’t she supposed to have been on the throne for thirty-five years? Then why does she look so young?

“It seems you’ve teamed up with that fool rolling around over there to save this girl, but you’re a bit too late. She is already exactly how I want her to be.”

“What?”

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“As a small mercy, I shall allow you to watch from there as she is offered as a sacrifice. Ho ho ho ho ho.”

Suikyou looked down at us with a nasty expression, laughing triumphantly.

“Now, Shizuku. My command. Ascend the altar and perform the Spirit Descent Technique.”

Obeying the command, Shizuku-san began to walk slowly toward the altar.

Her expression was frozen, and I couldn’t feel any sign of life from her.

“Shizuku-san! Stop! Shizuku-san!”

“Ho ho ho ho ho, it is useless. Just stay there and watch in silence.”

Leaving us with those words, Suikyou also began walking toward the altar.

CLANG!

Chris-san thrust Sesrumnir against the barrier, but the invisible wall didn’t budge an inch.

“Ugh, in that case…”

Using the same method I used to break the seal on the Kirinagi, I tried to force my Holy Attribute Mana into the invisible wall, but this barrier refused to break easily.

While I was struggling, Shizuku-san ascended the altar and took a posture as if offering a prayer.

Gradually, a grey, mist-like substance began to gather around her.

The mist slowly enveloped Shizuku-san’s body, and eventually, her body was wrapped in a faint light.

That light then transformed into a blinding radiance, illuminating the entire cave.

When the light subsided, Shizuku-san stood there with black ears and a tail.

“Hmm, a Black Fox, was it? Well, not bad.”

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Saying so, Suikyou stroked Shizuku-san’s hair, then her cheek, and then the new black ears on top of her head.

Suikyou’s hand was shrouded in a black mist, and with every stroke, it looked as if that black mist was being rubbed into Shizuku-san.

Shizuku-san’s eyebrow twitched for a split second at first, but after that, she showed no sign of resistance and simply let it happen.

Dammit, I won’t let her do whatever she wants any longer!

I slammed my Holy Attribute Mana into the invisible wall with everything I had.

CRACK

Just as I thought the wall had cracked, the invisible barrier shattered into pieces the next instant.

Chris-san dashed forward immediately, taking a position to shield Tessai-san. I ducked behind her and immediately cast Healing Magic.

“Tessai-san, I’ll heal you right now!”

The wounds began to close under the Healing Magic.

I had been worried because he hadn’t moved a muscle, but it seemed he was still alive. I can still save him!

“…Kikyou… sorry…”

“Kikyou?”

Muttering those words, Tessai-san lost consciousness. I wonder who Kikyou is?

However, I pushed that thought aside and immediately gave orders.

“Souji-san! Get Tessai-san to a safe place! We’ll save Shizuku-san!”

“U-understood!”

I entrusted the barely-alive Tessai-san to Souji-san.

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“Ho ho ho, to think you broke my barrier. You are quite something, Saint Fiene Argentata. Do you truly wish to save this girl that much?”

“Shizuku-san is a precious comrade to us. We’re taking her back.”

“Ho ho ho, but this girl came of her own will to journey to the presence of the Eight-Headed Dragon God, did she not? I believe you have no right to stop her.”

“I don’t accept that.”

“Then, shall you become the sacrifice in this girl’s stead? With the life of one person, the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens are protected.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Ho ho ho, yes. I’ve just thought of something wonderful. From now on, in my country, a woman who offers her body to the Eight-Headed Dragon God shall be called a ‘Saint.’ Ho ho ho ho.”

“A peace protected by a sacrifice is a sham. I will never acknowledge such a thing!”

I shouted, glaring at Suikyou.

“Ho ho ho. Then it cannot be helped. You shall all be sacrifices along with this girl. With that much mana, you’ll make excellent nourishment. Shizuku, my command. Defeat those people and restrain them.”

With a completely expressionless face, Shizuku-san began walking toward us, holding the sword covered in Tessai-san’s blood.

“Fiene-sama, I will stop Shizuku-dono. I will definitely stop her! Therefore, Fiene-sama and Lumia, please hold back Suikyou. Please! I beg of you!”

Saying this, Chris-san stepped forward in front of Shizuku-san.

I watched her go in silence.

“My name is Christina, Holy Knight of the White Moon Kingdom and shield to Saint Fiene Argentata. Shizuku-dono, I have come to fulfill my promise. Now, face me!”

Translator Note

Once again~