JW755 Protecting from Nearby

[Chikushi Reconquest Arc] Episode 10: Protecting from Nearby

The reign of the 12th Emperor, Emperor Keiko.

97 AD, 757th year of the Imperial Era (27th year of Emperor Keiko).

Prince Ousu (hereinafter, Little), who was ordered to pacify the Kumaso, and his party were advancing through Chikushi (present-day Kyushu).

Then, at Mount Fukuchi, they received an oracle from Kotoshironushi-no-Kami (hereinafter, Koto-chan).

The content of the oracle was that someone would present them with a bow and arrow.

Una: "Prince! We have descended to the foot of the mountain."

Little (16): "Indeed. If we descend the mountain, we are to meet the person who will present the bow and arrow, correct?"

Mochi: "That is so."

Otohiko: "Ah! A man is coming from over there!"

Little (16): "Hmm?"

???: "Hey! Hey!"

Nakka: "Who is that?"

???: "I am Oenohiko, a local powerful clan leader of this land. Please call me 'Oen'."

Little (16): "I see... And, where is the bow and arrow?"

Oen: "What!? How did you know about that?!"

Little (16): "Yes. I have received an |oracle| from 'Koto-chan'..."

Owen: "Huh? Koto-chan?"

Little (16): "Anyway, you will offer the |bow and arrows|, won't you?"

Owen: "Y-yes. I shall offer the |bow and arrows| to |pray| for the |princes' victory| in battle."

Chijio: "And so, we enshrined these |bow and arrows| as |sacred treasures|."

Yocchan: "Indeed. That is what led to the |founding| of |Chikatsu| |Shrine|."

Otohiko: "It is said that it came to be called |Chikatsu| because it means to |protect| the |imperial body| from nearby."

Nakka: "Why does 'protecting from nearby' become 'Chikatsu'?"

Owen: "Since 'tsu' can mean 'of' or 'at', if you think of it as 'at nearby'... it feels like 'a shrine that protects the |imperial body| from nearby.'"

Una: "By the way, what is the |imperial body|?"

Little (16): "It obviously refers to me!"

Una: "I see... (;^_^A"

Hayate: "Moo!"

Little (16): "Hmm. He says it also has the |alias| 'Chikatsu-gu' (Thousand-Victory Shrine), meaning to |win| a |thousand times|."

Tago: "And where is the |location| of the |shrine|?"

Owen: "It is in Tonno, Nogata City, Fukuoka Prefecture."

Little (16): "Alright! Then, let us move on to the next one!"

Owen: "Take care!"

And so, the party continued further south, but...

Chijio: "Shall we take a break soon?"

Little (16): "Hmm? Is it a legend?"

Chijio: "Indeed."

Tago: "It is said that they stayed in this land for a while."

Mochi: "It's a legend from the Shiratori Shrine, which is enshrined in Shiratori-machi, Tagawa City, Fukuoka Prefecture."

Otohiko: "By the way, the deity enshrined there is the Prince."

Little (16): "But why did they stay for a while?"

Una: "Perhaps they were meeting with a certain person..."

Nakka: "A certain person?"

Una: "For example, perhaps they were meeting with Lady 'Kanna', also known as Kannatsusohime, the chieftain who ruled Natsuyoshi in Tagawa City..."

Little (16): "Hmm? Kanna?"

Kanna: "Long time no see, dear readers. This is my first appearance since episode 640."

Nakka: "Eh?! What do you mean by that?"

Mochi: "Wait! There's no such development in the legends or the 'Kiki' (Records of Ancient Matters and Chronicles of Japan), is there?!"

Kanna: "It's been so long since we last met, and that's the way you talk to me?"

Una: "It is the author's conspiracy. It cannot be helped."

Little (16): "Wait a moment. Do you three know this woman?"

Nakka: "What are you talking about? You've met her too, Prince."

Little (16): "Hmm? Could it be, when I was a baby?"

Kanna: "That's right! That adorable 'Little'... has grown up so well... (´；ω；`) sob..."

The conspiracy unfolds...

What on earth is going to happen?

To be continued