第６５１堀：巫女 (Part1)
### Chapter 651: The Shrine Maiden
**Side: Yuki**
" " "Ohhh..." " "
Such voices echoed through the Grand Cathedral of the headquarters.
The reason for this collective exclamation was...
"...Ugh. This is so embarrassing."
Kagura stood there, looking bashful. To be specific, she was dressed as a traditional Japanese shrine maiden.
The reason was simple: we needed to see the Mad King and the Goddess Hairen, who were slumbering—or perhaps lurking—within the jewel.
Unfortunately, neither we nor the followers of the Hairen Church, who worship her, could see them. However, since Sui could perceive them, we arrived at the idea that if Kagura performed the proper rituals in the correct attire, she might be able to see them as well.
In the first place, it is common for shrine maidens to invite deities into their bodies, so Sota-san and I thought it was a possibility. The high-ranking officials of the Hairen Church, such as the Archbishop and Enor-san, were skeptical, but this specific act of "divine possession" requires a unique aptitude, regardless of status or rank.
Well, it might look a bit like a sacrifice, but I figured it wouldn't be a problem this time. We weren't trying to invite some paper-thin entity into her; we just wanted her to *see*.
"Still, I haven't really looked at you like this before, but you really are a shrine maiden, aren't you?"
"...Ugh."
I rarely had the chance to see Kagura in a long-sleeved shrine maiden outfit with her black hair flowing. She probably felt like a spectacle.
"Come now, Kagura. This is no time to be shy. Can you see anything by looking at the jewel on the altar?"
"Ah, yes."
Scolded by Princess Carrie, Kagura suppressed her embarrassment and stared intently at the broken, arm-bearing jewel placed on the altar. Incidentally, transporting this thing was, of course, Steve's job. Being a handyman is a thankless task, isn't it? I'll make sure to pay him an extra bonus later.
As I was thinking that, Sui and Sota-san chimed in.
*"Do not just stare at it. Clear your mind of worldly thoughts and observe it with a blank slate."*
"You won't see anything with a blank mind. Or rather, you should chant a prayer to clear away your distractions."
Yeah. I agreed with Sota-san’s suggestion to clear away distractions. I couldn't possibly observe something while clearing my mind; I’d just end up thinking about too many things. Honestly, I don't know how anyone could function in a state of "no-mind." It makes sense now why those legendary swordsmen and masters of the blade possess such incomprehensible strength. They aren't exactly human, are they?
"I understand."
After listening to Sui and Sota-san, Kagura began to chant a prayer quietly, and we watched over her in silence. If Taiki-kun were here, he might have made some small talk, but without a comrade, I couldn't bring myself to break the atmosphere. Personally, this situation felt like listening to a long, tedious sutra at a relative's funeral. I wondered if it would be rude to just say I needed the bathroom and go relax outside. It’s important to them, and I don't mean to disrespect it, but I have no reason to sit through a long funeral prayer just because I'm a distant relative.
While I was busy with such worldly thoughts, Kagura entered what you might call a trance—or perhaps that state of "no-mind"—looking as if she were seeing something while seeing nothing at all.
"I can see it," she stated simply.
"You say you can see it, but what exactly?"
To Princess Carrie’s question, Kagura didn't respond with her usual polite demeanor; she kept her gaze fixed and moved only her lips.
"...A small crack on the upper right of the jewel. Goddess Hairen is there. The rest is the Mad King Aquenos. Am I wrong, Sui-tatsunomikoto-sama?"
*"Hmm. It seems so for now. Perhaps they separated like that because they sensed us, or perhaps something is happening inside the jewel."*
Hmm. Did Aquenos realize that things were going poorly for him while we were eating—or rather, since we cut off Ares's arm? And is that why Hairen is being cornered?
Yeah, I don't really get it just from hearing about it.
"Kagura. Is the situation urgent?"
"...It looks like she is being eroded by Aquenos."
*"Indeed. It is gradual, but it looks like her power is being drained away."*
Hearing that, Enor-san panicked.
"That’s terrible! Sota, isn't there any way to save Hairen!?"
"Even if you ask me, there’s no way to pull Hairen out of the jewel..."
Sota-san was being shaken back and forth. Well, there wouldn't be such a convenient way to save her...
*"No, I heard that spiritual contamination occurs through contact, so if we touch it, perhaps..."*
Sui said something reckless.
"I understand."
Kagura, still in a near-trance, reached out toward the jewel without a moment's hesitation. She moved with the speed of a spinal reflex, so even I was too slow to stop her. A shrine maiden who invites a god into her body usually breaks down because the sheer volume of power is too much. It’s like trying to fill a small, thin leather pouch with the water of a waterfall. The pouch would burst before the water even overflowed.
"Stop—"
I couldn't even finish the word before Kagura touched the broken dungeon core.
Light overflowed from the jewel and began to pour into Kagura.
"Kagura!?"
Princess Carrie tried to grab her, sensing the danger, but I held her back.
"It's too late! We don't know what will happen if we cut the connection now. We have to wait. Steve!!"
"Got it, boss. I'm ready whenever."
Steve and his men raised their guns.
"Are you going to shoot Kagura!?"
"Calm down! It might not just be Hairen. There’s a possibility the Mad King will enter her too. We don't know what will happen then. There might be a case where shooting is the only option."
"...Ah, aaaaaah!? Kagura!! Kaguraaaa!!"
Princess Carrie screamed, clearly understanding the gravity of what I was saying.
"Sui!!"
*"Forgive me. I didn't think this would happen."*
Sota-san was scolding Sui, and Sui looked panicked, but...
"Dammit, forget that! Can you tell how much of that 'Hairen' thing has entered her!? Once that's done, we'll cut the connection immediately!!"
*"I, I understand!"*
"Rurua!! Check Kagura’s condition!!"
"Yes!! She’s fine for now. Kagura-san, can you hear my voice!?"
The other members were frozen, not knowing what to do.
Damn it, I shouldn't have suggested trying this so carelessly. I thought it would just be a simple observation. While I left Kagura’s condition to Rurua, I searched for another way.
"Sui! What’s happening?"
*"I don't know!!"*
"What do you mean you don't know!? Are you trying to kill my descendant!?"
*"Dammit!! If there’s another jewel, we should just move her to that one!!"*
"You think jewels are just lying around everywhere!?"
Actually, I had one.
While thinking that Sota-san and Sui’s bickering wasn't entirely useless, I immediately grabbed a spare dungeon core and approached Kagura.
"Master, Kagura-san is still..."
"Kagura, hold this core. We’ll move her to this one!! It’s the same type of jewel!!"
I ignored Rurua and thrust the core toward her. There was no time for explanations.