Chapter 16: Only Forced Tangents Can Be Called the Evil Way
The previously clear sky was now covered by dark clouds.
A snow-white figure circled above the Hakurei Shrine, apparently on alert for something.
At the main hall of the shrine.
It had started to rain heavily outside, and other visitors who came to worship had begun to leave one after another.
At this moment, the Hakurei Shrine seemed to be cut off from the outside world by the endless rain curtain.
Nagi followed behind the shrine maiden dressed in a white ceremonial robe, walking through the inner hall, accompanied by Miki, who was dressed in a red and white miko outfit.
The shrine maiden of Hakurei Shrine was an older, dignified man with a tall stature and a calm demeanor.
He wore a traditional hunting robe, and his loose white garment billowed gently in the breeze, making him look particularly solemn.
On his head was a black hat, tall and erect, symbolizing his distinguished identity as a priest.
Walking ahead of Nagi made her feel like a massive mountain was standing in front of her.
For those tormented by malevolent spirits, perhaps his imposing and steady presence would indeed bring them a sense of reassurance.
But since DD-chan could still enter the main hall in front of the priest while hiding in her backpack, it indicated that, as Miki said, the shrine had lost its spiritual power in her father’s generation.
“Actually, people in your situation are not uncommon. Our shrine has received many victims cursed by malevolent spirits; you don’t need to worry,” Miki’s father smiled and turned his head to say.
Perhaps he saw a reflection of his own daughter in this sweet, lovely girl who looked to be about the same age as Miki, and wanted to comfort her unease.
Although he was the shrine maiden of Hakurei Shrine, he personally didn’t believe much in these supernatural stories.
He regarded the deities he served not as a definite existence but as symbols of a kind of spirit, culture, or natural phenomenon.
Just like the blessings of love that Hakurei Shrine claimed to offer, it was more about the prayers and unconscious efforts of the supplicants themselves leading to positive outcomes, rather than a deity actually bestowing blessings.
Therefore, he believed that the so-called malevolent spirits and curses were merely delusions formed by the psychological factors of those involved.
When people with such requests came to him, he would often lead them to the inner hall of the main shrine, allowing them to stay inside for a while and pray.
That was the most sacred and dignified area in the shrine, and being there would generate a sincere sense of reverence for the deities from the depths of one’s heart, providing excellent emotional feedback.
There, the idol of the deity “Hakurei” was enshrined, and according to his father, the previous shrine maiden, it was one of the embodiments of the Hakurei deity in the mortal realm, a wooden statue that radiated divine power with the ability to disperse impurities.
Although he personally did not believe in it, taking a dual approach would still yield some results.
As Miki’s father respectfully extended his hand to pull aside the decorative main doors carved with beautiful fox patterns, Nagi suddenly spoke up from behind.
“Um, can I buy an amulet?” Nagi asked, her face showing unease, with her small hands rubbing together in front of her.
“Of course,” Miki’s father smiled kindly.
He thought to himself that modern young people really do have a superstitious belief in these things, but as long as it alleviated her anxiety, these “products” could be said to have served their purpose.
Nagi was then led to the office of the shrine. From an angle where no one noticed, a dark shadow lightly fell from Nagi’s backpack onto the ground, immediately slipping through the doorway into the inner hall using the shadows.
There were many types of amulets.
There were white ones for health and longevity.
Blue ones for safe travel.
Golden ones for success in studies and careers.
Red ones for love and marriage.
And the multi-purpose talisman colored in jade that provided blessings for all aspects of the holder’s fortune, embroidered with a golden fox design.
Visitors like Nagi, who came to the shrine for help, generally chose either the white amulet symbolizing health or the jade one representing versatility.
Nagi held one of the jade amulets in her hands and gently shook it, not hearing any sound.
But as a “replica,” it would suffice.
“Have you made your choice?” Miki leaned over to inquire.
“Mm-hm, how much is this one?” Nagi asked, pretending to be careful.
“Oh, no need to worry about that. Just consider it a gift for you, Nagi-chan. As long as you’re safe, that’s what matters~”
“Um, thank you…..”
……
……
After receiving the amulet, Nagi was again guided to the inner hall.
But Miki and her father did not follow Nagi inside.
After all, it was necessary to allow the individual to experience the atmosphere alone in this sacred space, face to face with the deity, in order to dispel fears and achieve “purification.”
Once Nagi stepped into the inner hall, the wooden door behind her closed.
The first thing that caught her eye was the spacious wooden floor, smooth as a mirror and emitting a faint woody scent.
In the center of the inner hall was a divine seat decorated in red and gold, and a offering table was laid out in front, complete with flowers, sake, and fruits.
Behind the divine seat hung a massive curtain with an embroidery of a fox, and the outline of the deity could be vaguely seen behind it.
Nagi raised her index finger and gently circled it; the rain outside was pouring even heavier now.
The loud sound of rain seemed to isolate this space, making it impossible to perceive the movements inside.
“DD-chan, are you ready?”
Nagi placed her bag on the floor, walking toward the statue while whispering.
DD-chan’s figure emerged from the shadows, but his twisted wooden facial features displayed a look of deep anxiety.
“The altar… is ready, but are you really sure you want to do this?”
DD-chan replied anxiously, directing his gaze toward the incense burner on the offering table.
The incense burner was round, gleaming softly, and had an exquisite lid carved with a fox pattern.
There were several small holes around the incense burner, and the incense had already been lit, with smoke drifting out through the holes in an ominous purple-black color, swirling upwards like a sentient being awaiting a sacrifice.
“The Pseudo-Deity Hakurei.”
One of the bosses faced by the female protagonist Chika Amamiya in the original work of “Star Draw 2.”
A fantasy monster controlling twilight, yin, and yang.
The origin of all ghost stories and urban legends in Kawano City, as well as the embodiment of the barrier protecting Kawano City.
It was precisely because of his existence that the protagonists in the original work could enjoy their peaceful daily lives.
He was a fantasy creature who gave and took, but each request made came at a steep price afterward.
In the original story, Chika Amamiya received an amulet from a former self-research department head and became regarded by him as a “priestess” to be wed.
As the day of the appointment approached, the malevolent spirit DD-chan was sent to bring back the priestess.
This is a critical juncture.
Because this part of the “Star Draw 2” original work occurs as a memory, the events that transpire at this point would depend on whether the player has entered Chika Amamiya’s storyline.
If they entered the Chika Amamiya storyline, then the curse of the malevolent spirit DD-chan would be stopped by the protagonist.
At the same time, after the curse event, Chika Amamiya would give her beloved amulet to the protagonist, causing the subsequent pursuing malevolent spirits to be unable to find Chika.
Chika would safely graduate from middle school, until she meets the protagonist again in high school, at which point the amulet would return to her hands, and the pseudo-deity would attack once more.
If they had not entered Chika Amamiya’s storyline, then in the memory, she would be taken before the pseudo-deity by the malevolent spirit DD-chan and become a sacrifice for him.
Ultimately, Chika Amamiya would become the pseudo-deity’s bride, and when she encountered the protagonist in high school, she would later appear as a boss blocking his path.
Nagi must find a way to prevent events from developing as they did in the original work.
Although she currently had DD-chan under control, if it did not return the priestess, he would eventually send out other malevolent spirits.
So Nagi planned to find a way to keep him quiet for a while.
Nagi reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out the jade amulet she had just obtained, holding it in one hand and shaking it gently.
The dreamy sound of the bell echoed in the shrine’s inner hall.
This was proof of the “priestess.”
“Now, start calling to Him,” Nagi said.
DD-chan noticed the jade amulet Nagi had produced and couldn’t help but ask:
“You’re not seriously planning to risk offering yourself as a sacrifice to your mother, are you?”
“What nonsense! You won’t find anyone more cautious than me in this world.”
“Is, is that so…”
“After all, my master’s last words before he died were, ‘Phew, that was close; thankfully nothing happened.’”
“Isn’t that just being completely reckless!?”
“Thus, being his disciple, I can be said to embody ‘caution.'”
“Are you learning from your master’s failures…?”
“Exactly. So after this task is over, I plan to go back home and get married.”
“Are you really raising a flag at this time!? Haven’t you learned anything at all!? ”
Nagi ignored DD-chan’s complaints.
Taking a quiet step forward, she raised the jade amulet to her chest.
Seeing this, DD-chan could only kneel as instructed and began to chant the revered name of his mother.
“Lord of Twilight, Master of Yin and Yang, God of Mist——
The lingering shadows traversing between the past and the future——
Emissary of Desire and Price, Lord of Illusions interwoven with reality——”
Nagi narrowed her eyes without moving an inch.
The purple-black smoke from the incense burner paused momentarily before exploding into blue flames from the small holes, igniting the purple-black smoke like candle wax.
The blue flames illuminated Nagi’s eyes, which sparkled with countless stars.
“Chosen priestess, do you remember your name?” Nagi asked calmly.
“……Chika Amamiya.”
“So the priestess He desires is?”
“Of course, it’s Chika Amamiya…”
“Then who am I standing in front of you?”
“What nonsense are you saying? You’re Chika Amamiya……. huh?”
A brilliant silver light flickered in Nagi’s eyes as she swiftly threw the amulet into the blue flames.
“Alright, we’re done.”
The flames enveloped the amulet, momentarily transforming into the shape of a fox before dissipating.
After turning the amulet into a pile of black ashes, the blue flames and purple-black smoke vanished without a trace.
The smoke drifting from the incense burner returned to a sacred white.
“Now He has received the offering. Before He discovers it’s a fake, He likely won’t dwell on the true priestess for a while.”
“…….W-what did you just do?” DD-chan stared in disbelief at Nagi, or rather, Hoshizumi Nagi.
Turning around, Nagi wore a proud smile, and the starlight in her eyes shone brighter than ever.
“How about that? I really have a knack for playing the mysterious beautiful girl with a story, don’t I?”
With that, Nagi picked up her backpack on the ground and walked out of the room without looking back.
— Now this is my personal path; the events of Chika Amamiya’s storyline will have to wait.
