Azuma – The Village Deep in the Mountains
“Tomorrow’s Purification Ritual will be just a few adults and us,” Nanoka said.
“What do you do during the purification?” I asked.
“Um, I don’t really know.”
The Purification Ritual. Apparently, it’s something that takes place on one’s fifteenth birthday at Mount Daigami. It’s an important ceremony to have the evil spirits dispelled by Lord Daigami, and once it’s completed, a girl is recognized as an adult in this village. I don’t quite understand it, but Roel says that in such a closed-off environment, old customs tend to linger, so it’s not surprising. I certainly can’t imagine them doing anything like that in Kai City.
To me, it just seems like a hassle, but Nanoka and Konoka are looking forward to tomorrow’s ritual. They want to become independent outside the village, help their mother relax, and meet wonderful loves. Watching them fills me with energy too.
It’s definitely more fun to have something you want to do. On days when I have no requests, I feel like I’m going to die from boredom. I thought about training by myself, but I once accidentally broke a wall on the outskirts of town and got scolded pretty badly. Thankfully, Kirkton covered for me, so I didn’t have to pay for the damages.
“Hey, can’t we go to the Purification too?” I asked.
“Um, I think they’ll probably say no. Last year, when my friend went, we weren’t allowed to go either.”
“Oh, I see…”
Should I mention that we came to gather Millennium Herbs? I secretly consulted with Roel, but we decided against it. Considering everything that’s happened, it’s better to stay quiet. They are all good people, and I feel guilty about stealing, but I can’t afford to waste any more time.
But at the very least, I want to witness the Purification Ritual tomorrow. After that, I’ll say goodbye to the villagers and then sneak into Mount Daigami. That was the conclusion Roel and I reached. I feel guilty about it, but I can’t think of any other way. After that, I’ll rely on the characteristics of the Millennium Herb I was taught and a rough sketch to search tirelessly.
“Hey, I want you to introduce me to that guy Seigel!” Nanoka exclaimed.
“Uh, sure, but don’t get your hopes up too much…”
Thanks to Roel, the image these two have of Seigel is quite exaggerated. I’ve always thought Roel might be a fan of Seigel. She doesn’t show much interest in men, but when it comes to Seigel, she gets oddly enthusiastic.
As for me, I think he’s a nice guy, but I don’t have any deeper feelings. Unlike Nanoka and Konoka, I’m not interested in romance, and I don’t really understand it. If liking a guy means being in love, then I guess I’m in love with a lot of people.
“Do you two have someone you like?” I asked.
“I have lots!” Konoka replied.
“L-lots?!” I stammered.
“Rua-san, you’re surprisingly…”
See, they’re shocked. But what I feel isn’t love. Their reactions make that clear. Konoka turned her face away, embarrassed. What is she even thinking?
“Everyone, it’s lunchtime!” called a voice.
“Yes!”
The two of them dashed off to their mother. I thought it was dangerous, and sure enough, they tripped. Both of them at the same time. I wonder if being twins makes them clumsy in the same way.
“Ouch, ouch…”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks.”
“…?! Ah, Nanoka…”
“Huh?”
When I took their hands, I caught a glimpse of their feet from under their kimonos. Gray spots dotted the backs of their shins. Gray… I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.
“Rua-san?”
“Oh, um…”
Roel must have seen the gray spots too because she looked pale.
“Hey, are you feeling alright?”
“Huh? I’m perfectly fine!”
“I see…”
Konoka smiled as she answered Roel’s casual question.
That’s right, the Millennium Herb we’re about to gather. It was once used to cure an incurable disease that spread throughout this country.
“But lately, I’ve been feeling kind of dull,” Konoka said, rubbing the area where the gray spots appeared.
Ash Death Disease. Parts of the body turn gray, spreading throughout until one can no longer move and eventually dies. No, that can’t be true. The King said that Ash Death Disease was cured with the Millennium Herb. Right, even if these two have Ash Death Disease, we can solve it by gathering the Millennium Herb. Yes, there’s no problem at all. No problem, none.
“Rua-san, what’s wrong? Let’s go!”
“Millennium Herb… it exists, right? Is it true that it grows on Mount Daigami?”
“Rua-chan?!”
I couldn’t hold back my question. Because if the Millennium Herb doesn’t exist, then these two…
“What’s a Millennium Herb?”
The answer was so far from what I had imagined. These girls don’t even know they have Ash Death Disease, nor do they know what the Millennium Herb is. If the Millennium Herb truly doesn’t exist, then they wouldn’t know about it at all. I have no idea what’s going on anymore.
“Hey, Rua-chan… look over there.”
Roel poked my arm and pointed toward the fields. A few villagers had gathered, pausing their work to glance our way. They seemed to be discussing something, just like last night. When I looked over, they hurriedly scattered, just like before.
“Let’s eat.”
Despite our worries, the two of them walked over to their mother as if nothing was wrong. This is too much; it’s utterly unreasonable. They had so many dreams for the future and held onto hope. Yet, they’re fated to die from some incomprehensible disease.
“This is unacceptable…”
Clenching my fists won’t solve anything. I know that, but I can’t help it.
Azuma – The Village Deep in the Mountains, Nanoka and Konoka’s Home, Night
“Tomorrow is finally the Purification, Mom.”
“Ah, yes, that’s right.”
“Is something wrong, Mom?”
“It’s nothing… ah!”
My mother dropped a bowl from her hand. As it clattered to the floor, I felt my heart sink again at the sight of her arm. There were gray spots on her right arm too. She must have dropped the bowl because her arm wasn’t working properly.
Watching her pick up the bowl while rubbing her arm, I became convinced. Perhaps the people in this village are suffering from Ash Death Disease. The Millennium Herb might cure them, but Konoka and Nanoka didn’t even know it existed. What about their mother?
“…So, you really weren’t just an ordinary traveler.”
Once the two of them fell asleep, I decided to tell everything. Roel, thinking I had let something slip, was too surprised to stop me. It’s fine this way. I don’t know if Roel realizes it, but something is definitely off about this village, including the gray spots.
If their mother or those two have Ash Death Disease, I can’t just leave them behind. I don’t have the power to cure diseases, but the Millennium Herb should. More than that—
“We’re not the only ones. This is a village of Ash Death Disease patients.”
“W-what do you mean?”
“It means exactly what it says. We’ve been abandoned by the kingdom. Sure, some Ash Death Disease patients were saved with the Millennium Herb, but not all of them.
What do you think those high-ranking officials did once they learned of the herb’s effects? They started hoarding it for their own selfish reasons, like seeking immortality. Because of that, we haven’t received a single stalk.
“What’s that about?! This is ridiculous!”
After raising my voice, I checked on the sleeping girls. I worried I might have woken them, but they were still peacefully breathing.
“On the surface, we were sent here as a farming community. But in reality, it’s like we’ve been imprisoned. If they were to kill us to prevent the spread of the disease, it would definitely become public knowledge. So, they just decided to toss us into the mountains. It’s laughable, isn’t it?
Even if we wanted to leave, we’re surrounded by steep mountains, making escape impossible. Even if we did manage to get out, we wouldn’t have anywhere to go.”
My mother laughed dryly, as if she had given up on everything.
Roel gently held my trembling fist. She was calming me down, knowing I might just storm off to confront the King of Azuma—or rather, the lord. If Roel hadn’t been there, I might have done just that.
“We’re still in the early stages, but our neighbor’s husband has already been afflicted to the point where he can’t move. Five people have died since the beginning of this year. Sooner or later, this village will be wiped out… You two should leave before you get infected.”
“Hey! Kiyone-san!”
The sound of heavy knocking on the door and the villagers’ angry shouts. I didn’t even need to think about what was happening at this hour.
“R-Rua-chan, don’t just open it…”
Ignoring Roel’s warning, I flung the door open. There stood dozens of villagers, armed with various farming tools.
The man at the front, clearly not expecting me to come out, recoiled slightly, leaning back. There were over fifty people at a glance. This must be all the villagers.
“The traveler’s daughter, huh? I had my suspicions, but you know far too much,” one of the villagers muttered, his voice laced with distrust.
“What are you? You look like you have some experience in battle,” another added, eyeing me warily.
“Did the higher-ups order you to come and wipe us all out?” a third voice chimed in, skepticism dripping from every word.
“For now, we’re just keeping an eye on you, but you’re definitely suspicious.”
The villagers were voicing their doubts, which meant they didn’t trust us. But there was no need for them to brandish such dangerous weapons.
“The purification ritual tomorrow must go on, no matter what. We can’t let outsiders see it,” one of them insisted, determination in his tone.
“Wait! Is there really no Millennium Herb? There might still be some left if we keep searching!” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice.
“Of course there isn’t! If there were, my daughter wouldn’t have died, and we wouldn’t need a purification ritual in the first place!”
The man abruptly clamped his mouth shut, realizing he had said too much. The surrounding villagers turned their gazes toward him, their expressions sharp with concern.
“Don’t say unnecessary things.”
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, and a heavy silence fell over the group. It was as if they had given up hope, their faces etched with despair. I could even hear someone sniffle. I understood their plight. If they truly intended to kill me, they would have acted long ago.
I wanted to resolve this peacefully. These villagers, trapped in the depths of the mountains, had not given up on life. Their unity was impressive, and their strength undeniable. They were fighting against the Ash Death Disease, and yet, without any guidance, Nanoka and Konoka were chasing their dreams and future.
People like them must not be defeated by anyone—not by the Ash Death Disease, nor by the so-called powerful figures hoarding the Millennium Herb.
That’s why I made my decision. No matter what it took, I wouldn’t let these people be left to die.
“Lua-chan, these people must be suffering too…” Roel said softly.
“I know. Hey, everyone! Please let us help with the Ash Death Disease and everything else. I’m begging you…”
“Y-You don’t need to cry. Alright, alright…”
I hadn’t even realized tears were streaming down my cheeks until someone pointed it out. I wiped my face with my fingers, confirming the evidence of my emotions.
These people were kind. Their warm welcome when we first arrived was genuine. The villagers, who had been holding their tools tightly, began to loosen their grips, dropping their hoes and sickles to the ground.
“But what can we do now? My left arm is starting to go numb, and the old man next to me is practically a pile of ash…” one of them lamented.
“F-For now, we need the Millennium Herb—”
“Get out of the way!”
A voice rang out from behind the villagers, causing them to part like the sea. Three figures emerged, their faces resembling monsters yet human at the same time. No, they weren’t faces; they were wearing masks. The villagers gasped in fear, realizing these three were not allies.
“N-No way… the Demon God Clan?!”
“The Yellow Demon! The Red Demon and the Blue Demon too! W-What are they doing here? Have they come to kill us?!”
The Red Demon and Blue Demon were likely the ones wearing red and blue masks, while the one with the yellow mask was the Yellow Demon. All three were clad in dark, flowing garments that resembled traditional Japanese attire. Their masks obscured their faces, but their piercing gazes were unmistakably fixed on us.
They must be here instead of the Samurai. It was the only explanation that made sense. Their determination to track us down was terrifying.
“What are these people…?” I asked, my voice trembling.
“The Demon God Clan… the strongest special forces in Azuma, tasked with eliminating all the outcasts and criminals that are a thorn in the side of the higher-ups. They are another reason why foreign invasions are kept at bay, aside from Lord Daigami. They’ve annihilated enemy forces three times in the past… with just four of them.”
“If we’re not their target, then the Demon God Clan is after you! What have you done?!”
I understood their fear. The three of them likely possessed strength at least on par with A-Rank adventurers, if not higher. Their mere presence was enough to convey their power. I wondered how they compared to the Five Elites.
But I had to push those thoughts aside. The strongest human I had fought, aside from Tiferia, was Zangiri. Even he had never posed a threat to me. Whether they intended to capture or kill us, it didn’t matter. I had already made up my mind.
“Everyone, it’s okay. We’re super strong! We won’t lose!” Roel declared, waving her arms dramatically at the villagers.
Yet, the villagers’ faces remained clouded with anxiety. It was understandable; the reputation of the Demon God Clan was well-known, and I was just a traveler. I could fight, but I was no match for them. It was only natural to think that way.
But that was just fine. I felt bad for the Demon God Clan, but they would serve as a distraction to reassure the villagers. I felt bad for Roel too, but I could handle this on my own.
“Arrogance will be your downfall.”
Before I knew it, one of the Demon God Clan members, the Blue Demon, had straightened up, gripping his right index finger with his left hand. His left index finger shot up, and he uttered words that didn’t sound like a spell, causing an icy wall to rise from the ground at my feet.
“Ice Prison Formation!”
That was the last thing I heard before being trapped in a wall of ice. A circular prison with no windows closed in on me in less than a second. Impressive. I hadn’t let my guard down, but I certainly hadn’t anticipated this. The blue mask indicated he wielded ice magic. Could this be Custom Magic?
“I’ve got you now.”
The demons were caught off guard when I shattered the icy prison with a single hand and emerged. The villagers were stunned, their expressions a mix of awe and fear. They had seen me trapped in ice only to break free effortlessly. They instinctively distanced themselves from me and the demons.
“Is that it?”
“You fool. ————Scorching Wind Formation!”
A wave of heat enveloped me, making me sweat instantly. It was an oppressive warmth that seemed unlikely to harm me, let alone the nearby monsters. Just as I thought that, the true intent of the three became clear.
“End it. Thunderstorm Formation!”
The Yellow Demon, who had been waiting, unleashed his attack. So that was it; they intended to melt the ice prison and drench me in water, followed by a torrential downpour of lightning.
Light blinded my eyes, and the sound shattered the villagers’ eardrums. Fifty people clutched their ears in agony. Water conducts electricity well; I remembered someone telling me that was a tactic.
“This is the end. The lightning from the Thunderstorm Formation will obliterate your body’s tissues. You won’t survive this…?!”
Did they really think they could win with just that? They were underestimating me. Now it was my turn.
I focused my energy into my ankles and slipped into the Yellow Demon’s range. As expected, he was still focused on where I had been standing. He hadn’t even registered my movement, which had taken less than a second. In battle, such a gap could be fatal.
By the time the Yellow Demon realized I had closed the distance, I delivered a punch to his gut, careful not to pierce through. That was all it took. Unable to withstand the excruciating pain, he collapsed without a chance to react.
The remaining two demons were impressive. Despite losing one of their own, the Red Demon and Blue Demon attacked me without hesitation, wielding fiery whips and clad in icy armor. They were likely using their strongest techniques.
But one of them would have to join the Yellow Demon on the ground. Otherwise, who would carry the fallen duo? I wanted them to retreat quickly.
To end the fight swiftly without killing them, I needed to overwhelm them. I had to instill fear. If they sensed a threat to their lives, they would revert to their primal instincts and lose their will to fight. The stronger the opponent, the greater the effect. That was a lesson I had learned in Ikana Village, and I still remembered every word.
“Ugh… gah…!”
The Blue Demon crumpled, and the Yellow Demon lay unconscious. The Red Demon stared down at his fallen comrades, bewildered. Would he finally give up?
“Are you still going to fight?”
“How absurd…!”
“Next time, I’ll kill you.”
It was meant to be an empty threat, but it had a profound effect on the Red Demon.
He was clearly keeping his distance from me now, and I felt confident that the difference in our abilities had been conveyed.
No matter how much I tried to whip the flames, wrap them around, burn or cool them, I felt no damage at all. There was an opponent I couldn’t possibly defeat in my current state. Just like I did in the Abyss Cave, the red ogre swiftly carried away the two who had fallen as if they had vanished into thin air.
“Tch…”
The red ogre disappeared into the depths of the forest, cutting through the night’s darkness. Now that I think about it, the villagers mentioned there were four members of the Demon God Clan, but where was the last one? Well, it didn’t matter.
“It’s over.”
“That Demon God Clan just tucked their tails and ran…”
“I can’t believe there’s someone stronger than the Demon God Clan…”
“This is beyond terrifying…”
As I looked at the villagers, their faces pale with fear, I wondered if I had gone too far. If they were backing away from me with fear, perhaps I should have handled things a bit more gently.
“Hey, Lua-chan will never lose!”
Roel, bouncing with excitement and striking a victory pose, was oddly adorable, but this wasn’t the time to get lost in such thoughts.
“About tomorrow’s Purification Ritual, can you tell me more? I’ll cooperate with anything.”
I pondered what to do if I remained feared like this, but after a moment, the youngest man among them nodded slightly. The truth he began to share was far more tragic than I had imagined.
“So that’s what it is… I thought something was off…”
A firm resolve began to take shape within me. I knew it was something I absolutely shouldn’t do. If it weren’t for these circumstances, I would never even consider it.
――――How will you wield that power?
Those were Lord Hast’s words. I would pour every ounce of strength I had into this.
Punish the high-ranking officials of the country?
No, no.
It had to be someone higher.
The one at the pinnacle of this nation.
Claiming to be a guardian deity, yet offering no help whatsoever.
On the contrary…
“Lua-chan… are you serious?”
Even Roel couldn’t hide her anxiety this time. But I had made my decision. I didn’t want anyone to interfere.