'--strong. Not that I doubted the reports of Klimt and the others, but I didn't expect it to be this strong.


　An exclamation escapes from Sydney Sky Sheep's mouth as she watches the battle between Sora and the earth spider.

　Sora, who was in Sydney's line of sight, didn't put out his mind suit. He didn't even use a jin technique. On the contrary, he didn't even draw the sword from his waist. Nevertheless, he still overwhelmed the earth spider.

　To be more precise, Sora was only dodging the spider's attacks, so the word "overwhelming" may be a strange one. But as Sidney, that was the only way to describe it.

　After all, Sora was barely moving from the center of the tailing area. In the beginning, he had kept his distance from the tsuchigumo spiders with his jinjo gait, but as time went by, he was no longer out of the range of the tsuchigumo's attacks.

　Now, whenever the spider attacks, its claws bite into the sky - but that's about it. The stormy onslaught has not been able to injure Sora. The two sides were so far apart in their abilities.

　This was not only Sydney's idea. The people around them also had the same or similar thoughts as Sydney.


'Haha, wow, wow. That empty-nosed bastard is playing with a spider!


　Next to Sidney, the Kumon Festival was laughing and clapping happily. It seemed so frivolous, but in fact, his eyes were as sharp as needles, watching his every move.

　Another name for the Tsuchigumo in Onigashima is the 'newbie killer'. It was not uncommon for a young man who had just survived a trial, and joined the eight banners of the Blue Forest, to have his head chewed off or his body torn apart by sharp claws in a surprise attack from above in the mountains and forests.

　There are many other causes of death for a spider, including those whose bones are melted by the venom they spit out of their mouths, and those who are dragged into a web, where they are prevented from moving by threads and then used as food.

　There are even some hatsmen who say that one of the conditions for graduating from the newbie ranks is to defeat an earth spider by himself.

　Some mid-ranking players have been caught unawares by spiders. This wise demon will sometimes form groups and trap its prey. Some spiders that deal with the mind-dresser will even use the injured hatter as a shield to block the opponent's movements.

　Sora deals with such demons without any mind gear or jade techniques. Those who still can't understand the power of the sky after seeing this must be judged as unqualified to be a blue-linen bannerman.

　Thinking this, Sai clapped Klimt next to him hard on the shoulder.


I'm sorry for doubting you, Klimt. It's the real thing - whether or not you defeated the dragon species, that is.


　It's not just a matter of honestly apologizing, it's a very typical festival.

　While thinking about this, Klimt let out a breath through his nose with a huff.


It's not important. What you think of the sky is none of my business.

'Yeah, that's right. Well, I'm sure this will make more people besides me to review the reports of Shiba and your sisters and brothers, right?　Then Cryer's house arrest will be lifted soon.


　The moment the single word of house arrest came out of Sai's mouth, Klimt's face stiffened reflexively.

　Prior to Sora's homecoming, Cryer Berch had been freed from his position as a hostage and returned to Onigashima. However, only a few welcomed his return with joy and relief, and the majority of the bannermen cast a cold eye on Crya.

　The majority of the bannermen turned their gaze coldly on Cryer, and Gilmore was so furious that he even called on the head of the family to execute him.

　In the end, this was dealt with by Goz, Shukuya, and his superiors, the sixth general and vice-admiral of the flag, and this led to a suspension of the proceedings, but as you might expect, they did not let him go free, and he was placed under house arrest on the same day.

　The festival mentions this, but the house arrest is a formal punishment, while inside the Berch family it is a more serious one.

　Cryer is confined to the dungeons of the Belch house. Even Klimt is not allowed to speak or even see him. He has made several requests to his adoptive father (Gilmore), only to be denied as many times as he has asked.

　Klimt is uncomfortable. It's a good thing that you can't get away with it.

　The current Cryer is a legitimate bannerman and is widely known as one of the golden generation. It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to find out what you're going to do with it.

　Because of this state of affairs, Klimt paid no attention to the fight between the sky and the earth spider.

　At the scene of the battle, Sora finally drew his sword and sliced off one or two of the attacking spiders' legs, and finally he had just pierced the red eye socket with the tip of his sword.

　The spider, whose sword blade had been pushed to the base of the Tsubamotome, flailed about as if it were in a frenzy. And he didn't just flail about. The miasma spewing from its body enveloped the spider, transforming it into a miasma that looked like a mixture of mud and curse.

　This is the shape of a spider that has decided to make its last stand after realizing that it has died. Even wild animals, which are not monsters, will continue to resist the hunter who shoots them to the brink of death. The intelligent earth spider would never be able to accept submission and death.

　In this state, the time available to the spider is extremely short, but its abilities are greatly increased. This is why it is called the "newbie killer".

　--I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

　Again, Klimt paid no attention to the battle between the sky and the earth spider.

　If someone had asked him about it, he would have responded in a cumbersome manner: "I don't know.

　If someone had asked him about it, he would have said, "Why should I pay any attention to a battle that can be won or lost," as if it were a bother.

　Because he was such a Klimt, he hadn't even noticed that Laguna and Ayaka, his classmates, were a little farther away from him. Naturally, he didn't even notice what kind of faces the two of them were watching the battle in the sky.

　And even more so, they couldn't have noticed that there was someone watching the scene from far outside their own range of perception.



◆ ◆ ◆



　at the same time

　Further up the high walls surrounding the holly capital, a figure sat on the roof of the spire of the watchtower, a hand to his forehead, and scowled at the heavens.

　If Sora had been here, he would have recognized the figure as the boy who had exchanged a few words with him in Hiiragi no doubt.


I told you to get the hell out of here, why are you there of all people? Was he one of the gatekeepers?　No, but the decoration was new. I even knew what it meant for the decoration, so I don't think it would have been taken from my people--


　A boy muttering to himself, twisting his head.

　Suddenly, a large shadow of a man appears behind him. The huge shadow, which looked like a bear, let out a doubtful voice.


It is almost time for you to go. "How dare you, Mister Kagari, to be alone in this place when your time is almost up!

What? I was just checking up on the gatekeepers, Isagi.


　The giant man called Isagi turned his attention to the direction where the gatekeeper - the Miken family's mansion was located, as if he was being trapped. The mansion, located in the center of the Hiiragi Capital, is only about the size of a fist when viewed from the top of the steeple. Not to mention, the humans buzzing inside it were no better than ants or grains of rice.

　The heron let out a deep breath.


I never thought I could find out what happened to them from this place. I'm sure that with Lord Kagari around, the Nakayama army would have no need to see anything. I should have said "my army".

Haha, you can call them the Nakayama Army if you want. It's only been less than two months since the last battle. I know it will take time for Kazan's generals to settle down and get their heads straight.


　After saying that, Kagari clicked her tongue bitterly, and then continued to speak.


I can't be so thick-skinned as to ask for your loyalty after treating you as a discarded pawn.

Thank you for your concern. But don't worry about it. The men from Kazan who came to fight with you and the others volunteered to do so, that they did. I should have died in the last battle, but I have been given the opportunity to take revenge on those who betrayed us. I am grateful to Lord Kagari and King Azuma, but I have no hard feelings toward them.


　Having said that much, Isagi suddenly frowned as she noticed the presence of a third party other than herself and Kagari coming in.


'Mostly, though, I have something to say to the kōshinkyō who was tapping Kazan, Oken.

That's a surprise.


　A man in a white vestments appeared in front of them like a mirage.


"Isn't it a false accusation that the Shinto religion used to torment Kazan, Lord Isagi?


　The horned figure on his forehead is the same as that of a cagari or a heron. However, Auken's skin was white and his limbs were thin. It was obvious that he was not a warrior.

　Isagi's attitude towards this Auken was harsh.


It is well said that this is a false accusation. Then I must tell you, what is this amulet!


　With that, Isagi pointed to the golden bracelet on his arm.


It is a tool that allows you to break into the gate without being noticed by traitors who are watching you with the eyes of cormorants and eagles. Even I, one of the sixteen spears, have never heard of such a tool. Why did the Shintoists keep these tools hidden from Kazan?　If only this had been available, we could have taken the gates with our own hands...!


　When Isagi accused him of trembling his fist, Auken moved his hand up and down two or three times to soothe his opponent's excitement.


'Isagi-dono, let me first clear up a misunderstanding. It is a misunderstanding if you think that this amulet is a magic tool that can be produced in January or February. It is a divine implement, that it is. It is the product of a great miracle created by a highly virtuous priest descending upon his body. Only the heroes who united the five mountains are qualified to use it. If Kazan had defeated Kazan, we in Shin Buddhism would have gladly presented the sacred artifacts to him.

If they can't even unite, they have no use for phototheism, is that it?

Let me tell you that this is a very presumptuous interpretation. I am saying that this is a sacred artifact that should not be put out into the world so easily.


　At Auken's words, Isagi clicked her tongue irritably, but, perhaps understanding the situation, she avoided any further difficulties.

　Auken shrugged his shoulders as if he was afraid of Isagi's anger at Auken, but in fact his expression didn't change at all.

　Cagali silently observed the two of them.

　The Koushin-kyo is a human organization where humans had once betrayed the demons, and the only human organization that sided with them. They are said to have sided with the demon race in the name of God and rescued many demon men.

　This religious organization has continued to exist for three hundred years among the demon race, who believe in the demon gods. Even if the demons joined the demon gods, the blessings of the demon gods were not lost, and not a few of the demonkind belonging to the Gozan tribe were followers of the sect.

　Even among the four Nakayama brothers who united the five mountains, there were followers of the Light God Religion. Kagari's immediate elder brother, and his third brother, Hakuro, are followers of the Light God Religion. He was not just a believer, but a high-ranking believer who participated in the cardinal functions of the Order as a bishop.

　As Isagi and the others have just mentioned, it was thanks to the hollywood religion that Kagari and her friends were able to infiltrate the Hiiragi Capital this time, but this infiltration of the Hiiragi Capital itself was the idea of the hollywood religion - the third brother Hakuro.


　--I'm not good at Brother Hakuro's (Nii) strategies because they have a bad aftertaste.


　Inwardly, Kagari is thinking about such things. But it is also true that no matter how bad the aftertaste, in retrospect, there are many examples of things that were necessary.

　This strategy must be one of those things, Kagari agreed.


'Well then, let's get started. Isagi, Oken, are you ready?''

Of course.

I can assure you that the battle will be won.

Okay. All right, on my signal, we'll move in. You two, get in position!


　Both Isagi and Ouken gave their respective replies in return before disappearing from the scene in a haze.

　Cagali waited for them to disappear, and then, with a natural movement, jumped off the roof of the spire.

　Cagali was sitting on a watchtower that was still taller than the lofty city walls. The distance to the ground is not more than ten or twenty meters, and Cagali was sitting on a watchtower that was even higher than the high walls of the city.

　If anyone had witnessed this incident, they would have been in a hurry to throw themselves off the ground.

　Of course, Kagari had no such intentions. After falling several dozen meters - or rather, crashing - Kagari landed on the ground with ease. I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do, but I'm sure it's the right thing to do.

　Then Kagari pressed her right palm against the nearest wall. Then he opened his mouth as if to compose a song.


He said, "--The sky is broken for the living. All things in heaven and earth, nothing can be destroyed.


　The symbol of Hiiragi, the keystone of the city's defense, which has never been broken in 300 years since its construction.


Therefore, nothing is unbreakable in my fist. Therefore, there is nothing that cannot be crushed in my fist, O great Chi You, chief of the Nine Reigns of the Five Mountains. O great Chi You, chief of the Nine Reigns, chief of the Five Mountains.


　So thick that even a hundred hammers couldn't pierce it, and so strong that even a thousand magics couldn't shave it off, it was said to surpass even the golden walls of the Imperial City in its protection.

　It is.


"Three of the four kalpas - 'Breaking'!


　The cracks were cracked by Kagari's powerful power, with a buzzing sound.

　The cracks were slowly but surely eroding the city walls. It resembled countless snakes crawling along the walls, causing fear in the hearts of those who saw them.

　As the snakes increased in number, they gained momentum. Now the speed at which the cracks run is equal to the speed at which a person can run, and they have quickly reached the top of the city walls.

　The voices of the bannermen who seemed to have noticed the change could be heard, but Kagari did not care. Why should he care?

　It's too late to notice it now.


'Let's get started, humans. Let's have a rematch from three hundred years ago.


　Saying that, Kagari drove her left fist into the wall.

　At that moment, the great immortal technique was completed and the castle walls of Hiiragiuto began to crumble with a sound.