Tadanori noticed the sound of thunder from afar right after he had walked out of the temple.
He reflexively looked up at the sky. Though the sky was filled with clouds, they weren't at the level where they could make that kind of thunder. Or were thunderclouds floating towards them from somewhere? How inauspicious...... But maybe that was a weather befitting the current Seishuku Temple.
Though he didn't look the role, Tadanori had been an exorcist during his youth. Due to his young arrogance, he had clashed with his boss over conflicting opinions and had retired from his Onmyou Agency job. Though he was confident that his ability wasn't poor, he had underestimated how tough it was to be a practitioner trying to stick to the path of magic in this world. His vagrant life had continued ad infinitum, and before he noticed it he had joined the Seishuku Temple. It had already been ten years since then. He continuously lived through every dull day, and only realized that time had slipped by when he looked back.
He couldn't assert that he had never regretted the life choices he had made in the past. He could calmly accept his current circumstances. Tadanori honestly admitted this, which probably meant that he had settled down.
He quite enjoyed his calm life at the monastery. He had long since stopped pursuing thoughts of change by now, not to mention thoughts of returning to the Onmyou Agency. Hence, Tadanori, who was basically maintaining a moderate position, approved of Jougen's thoughts this time. Though he had definite suspicions about Jougen's assertions, Tadanori held reverence for the monumental Jougen as a lower-leveled practitioner.
But on the other hand, he could vaguely feel it. The Onmyou Agency's influence was constantly spreading alongside the reform of Onmyou law. That was an unstoppable passage of time that Jougen couldn't resist with his way of life and policy towards the monastery.
After the Divine Generals had visited from their workplace yesterday, news that the Onmyouji rumored to be Tsuchimikado Yakou's reincarnation was visiting had arrived today. He had the premonition that it was some kind of fateful revelation. Maybe that was proof that he had converted to Buddhism - though perhaps just on the surface.
He had entrusted himself to the seasonal cycle[4] and lived unchanging days.
But it had probably reached a time when he could no longer continue maintaining that kind of life.
Tadanori indifferently looked up at the sky and sighed, dropping his gaze to his feet.
Then - the start of 'change' began at that appropriate moment.
"On saraba tatagyata hannamanna nou kyaromi!"
The voice resounded directly in his brain.
It was a woman's voice, with an almost seductive charm. But the tone she used gave him a feeling of piercing clarity, like a cold flowing brook, and penetrated the listener's thoughts.
The voice chanted an ordinary mantra. An esoteric mantra that was recited during prayer and training. Also, it was the incantation chanted here at the Shingon Seishuku Temple when the North Star King visited......
Tadanori almost unconsciously cast his gaze to a corner of the corridor - the shikyakumon[5] connected to the stairs stretching to the Mountain Gate.
The tall cedar trees stretched endlessly into the distance, creeping all the way to the foot of the mountain. The ancient gabled shikyakumon stood in the middle of this backdrop.
Also--
A small darkness appeared as if cutting through space on the dim side of the mountain forest.
It passed through the standing cedar trees, flying over the top of the shikyakumon and silently reaching the courtyard.
A small darkness.
It was a raven.
But something was wrong. Tadanori finally realized as he unconsciously followed it with his gaze. This raven had three legs. Before he was able to consider this, his instincts that realized a step earlier sent a chill run through his entire body. The three-legged raven passed over Tadanori's head, silently flapping its wings. It flew towards the main hall in the interior of the courtyard, and then.
Tap.
The raven beat its wings powerfully, scattering dancing particles of light and black feathers as it landed in front of the main hall.
Tadanori inadvertently blinked. The raven beat its wings and landed - just as he thought that, the raven that ought to have landed transformed into a boy wrapped in a black coat.
Tokyo Ravens Volume 10-272.jpg
The person that the raven became seemed to be unconcerned about the shocked Tadanori and climbed the stairs of the main hall.
He first put his hands together before he entered. He bowed deeply.
"--On sojirishuta sowaka."[6]
He chanted the mantra of the Myouken Buddha, the principal deity of the main hall. He didn't look humble - rather, the way he chanted felt strangely friendly. That simple sincerity made the dumbstruck Tadanori more or less return to normal.
The person wrapped in the black coat finished chanting the mantra and bowed again.
Then, that person turned his back to the main hall.
He was a boy.
But he had an inexplicable air to him - no, it was more accurately described as broad-mindedness. He could feel an extraordinary breadth of mind to him. His unornamented posture made one feel a broad tolerance unbefitting his age.
The black outer coat covering the boy was a black reflective color, seemingly woven from a large amount of raven feathers. Tadanori knew its name. 'Raven's Wing'. Then the name of this boy went without saying.
Tsuchimikado Harutora.
No, that was wrong - Tadanori understood the truth extremely naturally.
He didn't possess a powerful aura, nor was he awe-inspiring. It wasn't a sense of greatness or his ability as a practitioner. There was an even more inexplicable but extremely convincing factor, practically an instinctive sense, that directly touched the soul.
That person - that great man was Tsuchimikado Yakou.
Then, the boy noticed the gaze directed towards him and looked at Tadanori.
But only his right eye looked over.
The boy's left eye was covered with an eyepatch. An exquisite brocade slanted vertically to cover his left eye.
"Priest!"
The boy called out.
Tadanori looked left and right. Only after confirming that there was no third person here did he finally point to himself.
"Yes!"
The boy nodded.
"Is there someone named Jougen here? I'd like you to bring him a message. Tell him Tsuchimikado has already arrived."
His words were clear. Ahh. He couldn't help but think that Yakou was this kind of person.
Suddenly, without any trigger at all, he recalled his memories at the Onmyou Agency ten years ago. He had some kouhai who were feverishly inclined towards Yakou back then. Makihara and Mutobe. Also, a kouhai named Eto - if he hadn't remembered incorrectly - who was always with the two of them. He recalled the earnest descriptions of Tsuchimikado Yakou that they had weaved.
The founder of Onmyoudou, the ancestor of Japanese magic, a young great Onmyouji. A genius who had been called the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei, one of his ancestors. Even though he was a senior, they had fervently explained exactly how unmatchable his greatness was, their eyes flashing with light.
That great person was currently speaking to him. Tadanori could only stand in a stupor, feeling like he was daydreaming.
"......Hmm? Uh...... You're an ajari here, right? I thought I sent a message, did it not make it here?"
The boy scratched his head, puzzled at the speechless and stunned Tadanori. Even so, Tadanori couldn't break through the countless sad feelings rattling around intensely inside him.
The one before him was the symbol of change that he feared and avoided.
More importantly, the 'foundation' of the world that he currently lived in had been established by this man.
He was just a shameful practitioner who had nowhere to go in the society outside and who had ended up setting foot in the dark temple. To think that all of a sudden, that historical figure who had been born from an ancient bloodline of magic was speaking to him with a casual attitude.
He couldn't even imagine that such a thing was happening.
Just then, people of the monastery continuously appeared from the temples and the gathering hall behind the main hall, clustering in the courtyard. Everyone focused on the boy stopped in front of the main hall, stunned and dumbstruck. The boy clearly became more and more troubled at the gradually increasing audience - though he was completely fearless - and a bitter smile appeared on his face as if to say, 'Well, what do I do now?'
Just then,
"I've made you wait."
A deep voice sounded and entered their ears.
At that moment, even that voice had trouble hiding its excitement. Tadanori turned his head to the master of the voice - Jougen. He seemed to have come from the direction of the living quarters. His monk's clothes were in a rare state of disarray as he ran to the courtyard.
After seeing Jougen, the boy revealed a cheerful smile.
"Tsuchimikado-dono, it is nice to meet you. This monk is named Jougen."
At the same time as he introduced himself, Jougen nimbly neatened his appearance. The boy returned a "Nice to meet you".
In contrast to when he had spoken to Tadanori, the boy's expression had changed a bit. He still kept his straightforward, familiar attitude, but a leisurely, unrestrained tinge had mixed into his smile. As if he had met a good opponent in a game, the heroic young man revealed a childish and unconcealed fearlessness from his heart.
The boy asked.
"Priest Jougen, can I view that 'summons' as belonging to you?"
"Indeed. Even though it was tested by time, the ancient agreement should be enacted accurately. This monk is honored that you have come so far for a mere nobody. ......No, on this occasion, allow me to welcome your 'return'."
Saying this, Jougen straightened his back, his priest's clothing swaying elegantly as he lowered his head.
"North Star Mountain Master[7], Tsuchimikado Yakou-dono."
Jougen's words impacted the people gathered in the courtyard. Tada
Tadanori noticed the sound of thunder from afar right after he had walked out of the temple.
He reflexively looked up at the sky. Though the sky was filled with clouds, they weren't at the level where they could make that kind of thunder. Or were thunderclouds floating towards them from somewhere? How inauspicious...... But maybe that was a weather befitting the current Seishuku Temple.
Though he didn't look the role, Tadanori had been an exorcist during his youth. Due to his young arrogance, he had clashed with his boss over conflicting opinions and had retired from his Onmyou Agency job. Though he was confident that his ability wasn't poor, he had underestimated how tough it was to be a practitioner trying to stick to the path of magic in this world. His vagrant life had continued ad infinitum, and before he noticed it he had joined the Seishuku Temple. It had already been ten years since then. He continuously lived through every dull day, and only realized that time had slipped by when he looked back.
He couldn't assert that he had never regretted the life choices he had made in the past. He could calmly accept his current circumstances. Tadanori honestly admitted this, which probably meant that he had settled down.
He quite enjoyed his calm life at the monastery. He had long since stopped pursuing thoughts of change by now, not to mention thoughts of returning to the Onmyou Agency. Hence, Tadanori, who was basically maintaining a moderate position, approved of Jougen's thoughts this time. Though he had definite suspicions about Jougen's assertions, Tadanori held reverence for the monumental Jougen as a lower-leveled practitioner.
But on the other hand, he could vaguely feel it. The Onmyou Agency's influence was constantly spreading alongside the reform of Onmyou law. That was an unstoppable passage of time that Jougen couldn't resist with his way of life and policy towards the monastery.
After the Divine Generals had visited from their workplace yesterday, news that the Onmyouji rumored to be Tsuchimikado Yakou's reincarnation was visiting had arrived today. He had the premonition that it was some kind of fateful revelation. Maybe that was proof that he had converted to Buddhism - though perhaps just on the surface.
He had entrusted himself to the seasonal cycle[4] and lived unchanging days.
But it had probably reached a time when he could no longer continue maintaining that kind of life.
Tadanori indifferently looked up at the sky and sighed, dropping his gaze to his feet.
Then - the start of 'change' began at that appropriate moment.
"On saraba tatagyata hannamanna nou kyaromi!"
The voice resounded directly in his brain.
It was a woman's voice, with an almost seductive charm. But the tone she used gave him a feeling of piercing clarity, like a cold flowing brook, and penetrated the listener's thoughts.
The voice chanted an ordinary mantra. An esoteric mantra that was recited during prayer and training. Also, it was the incantation chanted here at the Shingon Seishuku Temple when the North Star King visited......
Tadanori almost unconsciously cast his gaze to a corner of the corridor - the shikyakumon[5] connected to the stairs stretching to the Mountain Gate.
The tall cedar trees stretched endlessly into the distance, creeping all the way to the foot of the mountain. The ancient gabled shikyakumon stood in the middle of this backdrop.
Also--
A small darkness appeared as if cutting through space on the dim side of the mountain forest.
It passed through the standing cedar trees, flying over the top of the shikyakumon and silently reaching the courtyard.
A small darkness.
It was a raven.
But something was wrong. Tadanori finally realized as he unconsciously followed it with his gaze. This raven had three legs. Before he was able to consider this, his instincts that realized a step earlier sent a chill run through his entire body. The three-legged raven passed over Tadanori's head, silently flapping its wings. It flew towards the main hall in the interior of the courtyard, and then.
Tap.
The raven beat its wings powerfully, scattering dancing particles of light and black feathers as it landed in front of the main hall.
Tadanori inadvertently blinked. The raven beat its wings and landed - just as he thought that, the raven that ought to have landed transformed into a boy wrapped in a black coat.
Tokyo Ravens Volume 10-272.jpg
The person that the raven became seemed to be unconcerned about the shocked Tadanori and climbed the stairs of the main hall.
He first put his hands together before he entered. He bowed deeply.
"--On sojirishuta sowaka."[6]
He chanted the mantra of the Myouken Buddha, the principal deity of the main hall. He didn't look humble - rather, the way he chanted felt strangely friendly. That simple sincerity made the dumbstruck Tadanori more or less return to normal.
The person wrapped in the black coat finished chanting the mantra and bowed again.
Then, that person turned his back to the main hall.
He was a boy.
But he had an inexplicable air to him - no, it was more accurately described as broad-mindedness. He could feel an extraordinary breadth of mind to him. His unornamented posture made one feel a broad tolerance unbefitting his age.
The black outer coat covering the boy was a black reflective color, seemingly woven from a large amount of raven feathers. Tadanori knew its name. 'Raven's Wing'. Then the name of this boy went without saying.
Tsuchimikado Harutora.
No, that was wrong - Tadanori understood the truth extremely naturally.
He didn't possess a powerful aura, nor was he awe-inspiring. It wasn't a sense of greatness or his ability as a practitioner. There was an even more inexplicable but extremely convincing factor, practically an instinctive sense, that directly touched the soul.
That person - that great man was Tsuchimikado Yakou.
Then, the boy noticed the gaze directed towards him and looked at Tadanori.
But only his right eye looked over.
The boy's left eye was covered with an eyepatch. An exquisite brocade slanted vertically to cover his left eye.
"Priest!"
The boy called out.
Tadanori looked left and right. Only after confirming that there was no third person here did he finally point to himself.
"Yes!"
The boy nodded.
"Is there someone named Jougen here? I'd like you to bring him a message. Tell him Tsuchimikado has already arrived."
His words were clear. Ahh. He couldn't help but think that Yakou was this kind of person.
Suddenly, without any trigger at all, he recalled his memories at the Onmyou Agency ten years ago. He had some kouhai who were feverishly inclined towards Yakou back then. Makihara and Mutobe. Also, a kouhai named Eto - if he hadn't remembered incorrectly - who was always with the two of them. He recalled the earnest descriptions of Tsuchimikado Yakou that they had weaved.
The founder of Onmyoudou, the ancestor of Japanese magic, a young great Onmyouji. A genius who had been called the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei, one of his ancestors. Even though he was a senior, they had fervently explained exactly how unmatchable his greatness was, their eyes flashing with light.
That great person was currently speaking to him. Tadanori could only stand in a stupor, feeling like he was daydreaming.
"......Hmm? Uh...... You're an ajari here, right? I thought I sent a message, did it not make it here?"
The boy scratched his head, puzzled at the speechless and stunned Tadanori. Even so, Tadanori couldn't break through the countless sad feelings rattling around intensely inside him.
The one before him was the symbol of change that he feared and avoided.
More importantly, the 'foundation' of the world that he currently lived in had been established by this man.
He was just a shameful practitioner who had nowhere to go in the society outside and who had ended up setting foot in the dark temple. To think that all of a sudden, that historical figure who had been born from an ancient bloodline of magic was speaking to him with a casual attitude.
He couldn't even imagine that such a thing was happening.
Just then, people of the monastery continuously appeared from the temples and the gathering hall behind the main hall, clustering in the courtyard. Everyone focused on the boy stopped in front of the main hall, stunned and dumbstruck. The boy clearly became more and more troubled at the gradually increasing audience - though he was completely fearless - and a bitter smile appeared on his face as if to say, 'Well, what do I do now?'
Just then,
"I've made you wait."
A deep voice sounded and entered their ears.
At that moment, even that voice had trouble hiding its excitement. Tadanori turned his head to the master of the voice - Jougen. He seemed to have come from the direction of the living quarters. His monk's clothes were in a rare state of disarray as he ran to the courtyard.
After seeing Jougen, the boy revealed a cheerful smile.
"Tsuchimikado-dono, it is nice to meet you. This monk is named Jougen."
At the same time as he introduced himself, Jougen nimbly neatened his appearance. The boy returned a "Nice to meet you".
In contrast to when he had spoken to Tadanori, the boy's expression had changed a bit. He still kept his straightforward, familiar attitude, but a leisurely, unrestrained tinge had mixed into his smile. As if he had met a good opponent in a game, the heroic young man revealed a childish and unconcealed fearlessness from his heart.
The boy asked.
"Priest Jougen, can I view that 'summons' as belonging to you?"
"Indeed. Even though it was tested by time, the ancient agreement should be enacted accurately. This monk is honored that you have come so far for a mere nobody. ......No, on this occasion, allow me to welcome your 'return'."
Saying this, Jougen straightened his back, his priest's clothing swaying elegantly as he lowered his head.
"North Star Mountain Master[7], Tsuchimikado Yakou-dono."
Jougen's words impacted the people gathered in the courtyard. Tada
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