Silver Snake Singing to the Sea ~38~ I'll Do Anything

Yare reached the small hill of 'Ryugu,' the meeting place with Izasawake.
Chalk-white gazebos are set here and there on the terraced slopes of the hill. The top of the hill is wide and table-like, but it was crowded with a surprisingly large number of gods.

—This is a problem. At this rate, I have no idea where that guy Izasa is...

Yare thrust his hands into his sleeves, furrowed his brows, and glared at the swarming gods as if they were his parents' killers.

'...Alright, I'm going home.'

As he tried to turn back the way he came, a hand reached out from somewhere and pulled him into the circle of gods.

'What kind of god are you? I've never seen your face before, but oh well. Have you heard? It seems Watatsumi hasn't come out of his detached palace for a long time now.'

'What? Did something happen to Kaiwaka—no, to Lord Watatsumi?'

Although it was his first time meeting the god who had pulled him in, the elderly, overly familiar, and seemingly meddlesome god spoke rapidly about everything from what had happened on the main street to Watatsumi's seclusion.

Along the way, Yare asked for clarification many times, and each time, the gods on his left and right joined in the explanation, speaking over each other about everything, including things that might or might not have been true.

It is easy to see that Yare was deeply shocked. Something that should never have happened had occurred.
It was just as in his 'dream.' It was none other than himself who had sent the twins away. Thinking of Utu, who had changed beyond recognition, and Sana, who had been left behind, he felt a regret that could never be fully expressed.

What would happen next—himself surrounded by whale bones, or the shattering hair-crown of Kaiwaka...? Even without understanding the meaning, the prophecy weighed heavily upon him, filled only with ominous intent.

'This can't be... Why did it come to this? What should I do... what should I do...'

To the eyes of the gods around him, Yare, whose face had turned pale, looked as if he were simply lamenting Watatsumi's reckless behavior. The old god said, as if to comfort him:

'Everyone is gathered here to pool our wisdom.'

'Wisdom? Please... I want you to lend me your strength. Watatsumi is not the violent god you say he is, nor is he the type to be obsessed only with his own affairs. He... he ate the forbidden food in 'Yomi' and returned for the sake of none other than 'Ryugu' itself!'

'What?!'

'Black god, that is the first time we have heard that story.'

"How did you manage to return after consuming the food of 'Yomi'?"

"Tell us in detail," the many gods demanded, surrounding Yarei. Yarei was desperate to save Umiwaka. First, he wanted to convey that he was not the tyrannical god everyone claimed him to be. That gouging out the eyes of Amatsuhikone, injuring Izusawake, and the deaths of so many others were not his true intention.... That is what he tried to communicate.

The words spilling from Yarei's mouth were controlled by regret and impatience. The warning Tsukuyomi had given him was blown away, and he spilled everything about the events in 'Yomi' and how the shadows were tormenting his mind and body.

Yarei had lost his composure between what had already happened and what was yet to come. He did not even realize this, and he continued to speak, one story after another, leaning forward.

How dangerous that was.... He did not know that this gathering was a council of gods convened to deliberate on the series of actions taken by Watatsumi.

Among the gathered gods were Amatsuhikone, the three Tsutsuno-o gods, Awanagi-no-kami, and Isora; though they were not visible, Izusawake was also present. And so, without knowing it, Yarei had become a "witness," speaking of Watatsumi's conduct in 'Yomi' and what the shadows brought with them.

The gods stirred like the leaves of a great tree turning over in the wind.

What they were hearing were stories of dragon-folk being tortured to death night after night. Stories of unidentified, wicked fish shadows. What they saw were merciless blades of waves brought down upon a proud dragon god. What they smelled was the scent of blood overflowing into the main streets. What they saw was the king gouging out the eyes of his former confidant. What they saw was a scene where a young god who had thrown himself in the way was wounded.

Having been rehashed many times, and with everyone already beginning to think that Watatsumi was no longer the Watatsumi of old amidst speculation and suspicion, Yarei's story was the final blow.

"You say you consumed the food of 'Yomi'...."

"To take in defilement of one's own accord—even if it was an unavoidable choice, it is a filthy thing to do."

"What on earth is that food?"

"Please, stop; it makes me feel sick."

Both the male and female gods showed blatant disgust at this.

More than anything else, what the gods focused on was the influence of the shadows. Yarei pleaded that if that could be dispersed, Umiwaka's burden would be reduced. Yarei called it a burden, but for the gods of the 'True Sea,' it would be more accurate to call it a "danger."

The debate was repeated endlessly.

Yarei spotted Amatsuhikone, but an eyepatch that hadn't been there before now covered his left eye. He was in the center of the gods, but rather than speaking actively, he seemed to be watching how things would unfold.

Thinking that perhaps he would understand his true intentions, Yarei began to push his way through the gods.

However, a conclusion was reached before he could reach him.

"So, by splitting Watatsumi's body in two, the threat of the shadows will also be halved!"

"The body and the soul. We will split each of them in half."

"Giving each their own role, and when the time of divine departure comes, the remains will turn into the foundation of the 'Ryugu'."

"That is quite a brilliant plan."

Yarei turned pale.

Sometimes, a god's spirit can split into an 'Aramitama' (rough spirit) and a 'Nigimitama' (gentle spirit) depending on its personality. However, that is something that is never done by someone else.

"What are you talking about!!!"

Yarei kept shouting. There were other gods who voiced their objections, and the voices flying about from all directions once again caused Yarei to be lost among the rest.

"How could you do such a thing! I said stop, so stop!"

While being drowned out by the voices of the gods, which had become a vortex, he finally reached the center of the particularly high hill where Amatsuhikone was.

"He will likely not accept that."

The place went silent as if doused with water at Amatsuhikone's voice.

"But if we do not do that, there will be no 'Ryugu' tomorrow."

Voices were raised here and there once again.

“For this matter, there is no doubt that we should seek the assistance of Takamagahara.”

Awanagi-no-kami, who had been keeping his eyes closed with a calm demeanor, said this decisively.

“My wife, Awanami-no-kami, and I will take this matter to Takamagahara.”

Voices of agreement overflowed at these solemn words, and with a tentative resolution reached, the gods relaxed and the room began to buzz with chatter once again.

“Wait! Don't decide this on your own! This is about Watatsumi, what do you mean by splitting his body! Are you all insane!”

“I thought I had seen him somewhere before, isn't that the insolent fellow who was clinging to Seoritsu-hime?”

An unfamiliar young male god said this as he grabbed the shouting Yarei. In an instant, he was surrounded and hoisted up. He could not afford to get caught up in such things. He broke through the circle of male gods by half-force and finally met with Izasawake.

“I was looking for you, Izasa!”

“Fukafuchi-no-mizu, I am glad you made it here in time.”

“No, it's not good at all. Please, tell them to stop this foolishness, Izasa.”

However, Izasawake made a grim face and said absolutely nothing.

“Come on, I'm begging you. It's no use when I say it, no one will listen. Please, help Kaiwaka!”

He said this and grabbed Izasawake's shoulder. His wounds had healed, but he was not at full strength. Izasawake let out a groan and clutched his shoulder.

“Ah... I'm sorry.”

“You black-haired one! What are you doing? The master of Tsunuga was injured by Watatsumi, you know.”

The male gods from earlier pulled him and Izasawake apart.

“I, I'm sorry. But please, I'm begging you, this is the favor of a lifetime. Tell everyone to stop this.”

However, Izasawake kept his eyes averted as he disappeared into the crowd of male gods.

“Izasa! Wait, I'll do anything you ask. I'll even help with your work.”

The resistance of Izasawake, who was trying not to listen, seeped into his back. He had been in the midst of a massacre. Even so, Yarei continued to shout.

"Don't go! I'm begging you."

Yarei chases after him as if he were her last hope, but the male gods stand in her way like a wall.

"Don't go! I'll do anything! I'll do anything!!!"

Her outstretched hand fails to reach him as he drifts further away, and Yarei is pushed down the hill by the male gods.

To be continued

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布団から出てみたところで空回り………。それでも夜礼は。次回、明かされる『竜宮』創生の謎！