History Club Member 'Lady Tachibana' Case Files [Episode 8] Whereabouts of the Cursed Sword I

Nana, come out.

I called out toward the cat mound.

Under the gloomy, overcast sky, fortunately there was no one else around, so I didn't hesitate.

I know you can hear me! There's something I want you to tell me.

I raised my voice even further.

Then, something like white smoke began to billow out. It was the same as when Akira-kun was here.

The white smoke eventually turned into the 'seven-tailed cat' and spoke languidly.

To be summoned so casually... I am supposed to be enshrined as a Great Cat Deity, you know.

I ignored Nanao's grumbling and got straight to the point.

Last night, I was called in my dream again, told to 'come here.' It didn't feel like just a dream.

Nanao. You told me, didn't you, that you 'don't know who you are'.

What on earth does that mean? Who is the owner of that voice? Why are they calling me?

I pressed him with questions one after another, and Nanao thought for a moment before answering.

I told you, didn't I? I don't want to say anything unnecessary because it might displease them.

So that means the owner of the voice in my dream is more powerful than you, right?

I was getting frustrated because Nanao was being so indecisive. Nanao seemed to sense that too.

Well, wait. I haven't heard it, so I have no way of knowing who the voice in your dream is. I just sense a 'divine presence'.

What! Are you saying I'm a god? That's impossible!

My thoughts couldn't keep up with this unexpected turn of events.

Don't misunderstand. I said I sense a 'divine presence,' not that you are a god. Oh, if I talk about this, I might incur their wrath. Heaven forbid.

Hearing that I was 'not a god' left me feeling a bit let down, but also relieved. And then, I started to feel uneasy.

'Honestly, you're so frustrating. If that's the case, then 'who' am I? Explain it to me clearly.'

When I pressed Nanao for answers, she reluctantly began to speak.

The Legend of Tachibana no Kimi

In the age of the gods, mountains were worshipped as deities. The provincial governor who ruled over the area around Mount Oyama (some say it is the current Mount Oyama in Isehara City, Kanagawa Prefecture) was called Oyamazumi (Ruler of the Great Mountain).

Through hereditary succession, 'Sakurauchi,' 'Oyamakagutsumi,' and 'Maura' became Oyamazumi in turn. It is said that because the third generation, Maura, planted a mandarin orange tree (tachibana), they became known as 'Tachibana no Kimi' (Lord of the Mandarin Orange).

I was surprised that 'Tachibana no Kimi' appeared in the history of the age of the gods that Nanao was talking about.

'My surname is Tachibanadera Kimie, so I'm nicknamed 'Tachibana no Kimi,' but that's just a coincidence, right?'

When I expressed my doubt, Nanao continued further.

'I know nothing of your nickname, but I felt you possessed a 'divine presence' because you have a connection to Tachibana no Kimi.'

'Then, is the voice in my dream Tachibana no Kimi?'

'I do not know.'

Nanao answered awkwardly and then vanished into smoke.

In the end, it seems she doesn't know anything for certain. I suppose I should be satisfied with just the information that a 'Tachibana no Kimi' actually existed since the age of the gods.

Without knowing the truth behind the voice in my dream, I headed home feeling unsatisfied.

Even though I had transferred trains on the JR line all the way to Saga, I hadn't gained enough information, and my steps felt heavy.

When I arrived home, I took some orange juice out of the refrigerator to quench my thirst.

Looking at the clock, it was still too early for dinner. That's right, I'll ask my mother. With that thought, I called my parents' house in Kurume.

'Is that you, Kimie? What are you doing calling at this hour!'

As usual, the line from my favorite TV commercial came back.

She seems to think it's a joke, but since I've heard it so many times, I brushed it off and got to the point.

"Hey, Mom. Do you know anything about the relationship between the Tachibanadera family and 'Lady Tachibana'?"

"What's with the sudden question? Come to think of it, when your father took me to Arahito Shrine back when we were newlyweds, he was talking about that."

"You mean Arahito Shrine in Nakagawa? So, what did Dad say?"

"That was before you were born. Besides, I wasn't really interested, so I didn't listen carefully and I don't remember it well."

"Oh come on, you must remember something."

"Oh, that's right. There's a place called Tachibanagi at Arahito Shrine, and it has something to do with 'Lady Tachibana' or something like that..."

It was unreliable information, but it seemed like Arahito Shrine was involved. I hung up the phone and looked it up online.

According to the 'Kojiki', Izanagi-no-Mikoto is considered the male deity who created the world. Grieving the death of the goddess Izanami-no-Mikoto, Izanagi visits the 'Land of Yomi', but he gets scared and runs away because Izanami's body had already begun to rot.

When Izanagi-no-Mikoto performed purification to cleanse himself of the impurities of the Land of Yomi, three deities were born. These three, Sokotsutsu-no-o-no-Mikoto, Nakatsutsu-no-o-no-Mikoto, and Uwatsutsu-no-o-no-Mikoto, are called the 'Sumiyoshi Sanjin'.

There is a theory that the place where Izanagi-no-Mikoto performed his purification was Tachibanagi (formerly Tachibana) on the banks of the Nakagawa River near Arahito Shrine, and Arahito Shrine is considered the root of the Sumiyoshi Sanjin.

"Tachibanagi... I feel a connection to 'Lady Tachibana' somehow."

I groaned to myself, overlapping what Nanao had said with the anecdotes of Arahito Shrine.

Contact from a friend

Just as I was thinking about that, my smartphone vibrated. It was an incoming call.

The display showed 'Natsuki'.

Suzakuzaka Natsuki's family home is nearby, and she's like a childhood friend I've played with since I was little.

When Natsuki was a second-year high school student, she had a strange experience where she linked mentally with a black-crowned night heron named 'Goicchi.' I was also caught up in that incident.

Currently, she is attending a vocational school in Fukuoka City, aiming to become a manga artist.

I remember that she had always loved manga and anime and was constantly reading comics. After the 'Goicchi' incident settled down, she started saying she wanted to become a manga artist. When she revealed that to me, I was convinced and pushed her forward, saying, 'If it's you, Natsuki, I feel like you can do it.'

'Natsuki. It's been a while. What's up?'

When I answered the phone, she replied in an unusually serious voice.

'Kimie, I want to meet and talk. Do you have time tomorrow or something?'

'That's fine, but is it something that can't be discussed over the phone?'

'Yeah, and I want to see your face after such a long time.'

'I see. Then, is it okay after my lecture ends tomorrow? Are you okay with your classes?'

'I'll manage. Is it okay if I come to your place, Kimie?'

'Sure. But is it some kind of serious talk?'

I was concerned by the way Natsuki was speaking, so I asked.

'Hmm, actually, Lord Michizane told me...'

Lord Michizane refers to Sugawara no Michizane of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.

Because events involving 'gods' were suddenly continuing, my heart felt uneasy.

Continues to 'History Club Member "Lady Tachibana" Case Files [Episode 10] Whereabouts of the Cursed Sword II'

You can view all episodes of the 'History Club Member "Lady Tachibana" Case Files' series in this magazine.