Silver Serpent Singing the Sea ~31~ King of the Sea

The willow boat, carrying Yare at the stern and Seoritsu-hime and Umiwaka in the center, glides across the waves, aiming for the Crystal Palace.

"I always end up making you worry, Princess."

"That is not true. I should be the one to trust you more. The reason I cannot is because I..."

"Seoritsu-hime."

Calling her name, Umiwaka peered into her eyes. The two opposing azure seas were clear, with blue overflowing from within.

"I am the King of the 'Deep Sea,' and I am nothing else, nor can I become anything else. Why do you think that is?"

"...That is because you are a god who possesses such power."

"Only half correct."

"...Half?"

"Because you believe in me that much. ...I might be weak."

"That is not true."

To those who live in the many seas, Watatsumi was a flawless, perfect existence. He was the pinnacle of the sea. For her, the Old Watatsumi was the world itself, so it was only natural that there was no room for doubt.

—Then what about Umiwaka?

Seoritsu-hime was shaken by the fact that this question had sprouted in her heart. The young King of the Sea sitting beside her looked like a younger version of his predecessor. However, the cloth she had used to cover his wound earlier was still wrapped around his hand, slightly unraveled.

—Perhaps I was pretending not to be afraid of anything because I had to believe in him....

As she re-wrapped his unraveling cloth,

"You must be tired..."

she asked,

"Something like this doesn't count as being tired."

he replied. The princess chuckled.

"Is something funny?"

"Yes. I was just thinking that perhaps we are two of a kind."

"The Princess and me?"

"Yes.... It is a pretense of strength."

Yarei looked at her with a puzzled expression. The Princess, feeling uncomfortable that his gaze, which usually clung to Kaijaku without hesitation, was now fixed upon her, looked away.

The willow boat, having dived into the sea, was about to pass through the main gate of the 'Ryugu'. Beyond it, a shimmering water world swayed in the light. Schools of lapis lazuli fish, the delicate formations of overlapping coral, paths of white sand, and water that grew deeper blue the further one went—all of it welcomed them.

"The 'Ryugu' feels just like Kaijaku herself..."

Looking around—for the first time, as he hadn't had the composure to do so before—Yarei said this with a slightly enchanted look.

"Like me, you say? Tell me, Yarei, in what way?"

"In what way... well..., it's sparkling, dazzling, and glamorous... and a little bit terrifying, too..., but overall, it's god-like."

"...God-like... you say?"

Yarei couldn't explain it any further and laughed it off.

But in truth, he knew. The most beautiful thing in this sea—that was Kaijaku, and that was the 'Ryugu'.

Gods do not fall ill, nor do they get injured. Even if they were to become sick or hurt, they would heal immediately. Furthermore, most gods do not age, nor do they die. Therefore, Yarei, too, had lived a long time without knowing pain or suffering. What one does not know, one does not need to know.

Since each god exists as a complete, singular entity, everything is resolved if they do not seek interaction. This was especially true for a god like Yarei.

—I have learned that I did not know.

The gods are accustomed to saying that the heart of Watatsumi is like the sea. The heart of the sea is nothing other than a heart that loves all living things within it. If the culmination of that was the creation of the fairyland that heals all sorrow, the 'Ryugu' where there is no sadness.

The King of the Sea must be one who knows sorrow. Watatsumi is a god with immense power, but beautiful things cannot be created by strength alone.

Who knows that the underworld and the sea are two sides of the same coin? They shine so brightly as one meets their end... or so they say.

Kaijaku looked surprised at Yarei, who had hummed the song as it came to mind, and said,

What, so you can compose poetry after all?

He said. Come to think of it, Yarei had once flatly refused to compose poetry at a banquet.

That is a fine poem.

Praised by Seoritsuhime, Yarei felt quite surprised.

Two sides of the same coin, you say... 'Who knows,' indeed. Even if one knows, nothing changes. For them, what matters is that the paradise continues to be a paradise.

You are...

Yarei started to ask if that was really okay, but hurriedly shut his mouth.

But it is only natural that the myriad gods should serve me. After all, I am the guardian of the 'True Sea,' the King of the Sea.

Kaijaku raised the corners of his mouth with a look of utter confidence.

In the meantime, the willow boat reached the Crystal Palace, and the party headed to the detached palace while receiving a warm welcome from the dragon men and dragon women. The thing that dwells in Kaijaku's shadow has gone quiet. The cut on his arm has also healed quickly, and he appears as usual.

Pardon the intrusion while you are resting, Lord Watatsumi.

The one who came to the detached palace was Awanagi-no-kami. He had his white hair tied up on his head, wore layers of soft, unbleached robes, and had laugh lines etched around the eyes of his plump, kindly face. Despite his laid-back appearance, he is a highly intelligent god who manages all affairs of the Crystal Palace.

My, my, that was truly a magnificent display of battle, worthy of the name King of the Sea. To drive Lord Amatsuhikone, in that form, to such an extent... well, I am simply...

What is your main point, Lord Awanagi?

There is no main point, I was just very impressed with you. So, was that thing wrapped around your right leg something from the underworld?

A rebellious spirit got ahead of itself. I have disciplined it, so it will not come out again.

Ho ho ho. I wonder just how many unruly girls there are, then.

“Will you be taking care of her at your place?”

“Oh no, heaven forbid. I leave everything to you, Watatsumi-dono. By the way, I have prepared incense for your bedchamber.”

“Incense?”

Kaiwaka looked at Seoritsu-hime.

“I didn’t do anything...”

It did not seem like she had ordered any furnishings for the bleak detached palace. Following behind Awanagi, a handmaiden presented an incense burner.

“This incense was blended by my wife.”

“I see. Please give my regards to Awanami-dono. Tell her that Watatsumi is grateful.”

“My wife will be pleased to hear you say that.”

After watching the handmaiden place the incense burner inside the detached palace, Awanagi-no-kami headed toward the door of the palace.
Only Yarei, from his position, saw him make a gesture as if fanning the air in front of his nose as he turned his back to Watatsumi. Not only that, but he muttered,

“The scent of ‘Yomi’ is quite unpleasant...”

The voice also rolled into Yarei’s ears. Even though he was told it was the scent of Yomi, Yarei did not understand it, and could only watch as Awanagi departed.

To be continued

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帰宅の途につく夜礼。平穏な日々に戻ると思いきや…………運命の歯車が軋みはじめる。次回『双子』。