Night fell once again on Inari Mountain. Seeing the evening arrive, Miketsu returned to the Secret Realm early. After finishing her dinner with extreme restraint, she summoned Tsuruha to ask about some thoughts she'd had during the day.
"What? A way to use divine power?"
Inside the small building in the Secret Realm, Tsuruha asked quizzically after hearing what Miketsu had said.
"Yes. I was thinking that just waiting to recover my memories isn't a solution. What if I encounter a situation like last time and I'm still like this? I can't just risk my life every time..." Sitting on the edge of the long corridor, Miketsu looked at her divine messenger beside her and spoke seriously.
During the day, Miketsu had resolved to first improve her own strength, but she was completely clueless about the specific methods. Thus, she decided to ask Tsuruha for guidance.
In her confrontation with the One-Bite Yokai, Miketsu had become aware of the existence of her own divine power. She believed that her body must hold a divine power befitting a high-ranking god like Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami; she just didn't know how to use it.
"Hmm... What Lady Uka says makes sense. For some reason, Heian-kyo has become much more chaotic lately. Your current state is indeed very dangerous..." Pondering Miketsu's words, Tsuruha nodded and said.
"So, Tsuruha, do you have a way?" Seeing a glimmer of hope, Miketsu immediately pressed on.
"I'm very sorry, Lady Uka. I am but a divine messenger, not a god. I do not know how a god's power is used." Tsuruha answered Miketsu with her head lowered, and her words made Miketsu's expression sink.
"You don't know..."
Seeing that Tsuruha, her greatest source of information, didn't know either, Miketsu was suddenly at a loss. She ruffled her silver-white hair, thought for a moment, and continued to ask.
"Then, Tsuruha, do you know anyone who has knowledge in this area?"
"Hmm... As for who knows how to use divine power, I think it would only be other gods." After hearing Miketsu's question, Tsuruha paused for a moment, then thought for a bit before continuing.
"Gods? Other gods?"
"Correct. The only ones who can understand a god are other gods. My suggestion, Lady Uka, is that you might find something if you seek out another god for advice."
Upon hearing Tsuruha's answer, Miketsu was startled. She had never considered contacting other gods. What if the other party was immensely powerful and saw through her act immediately?
"Then where can I find other gods?" Although she was worried, Miketsu still asked. At the very least, she should grasp the lead first; whether or not to follow it was another matter.
"If you mean ordinary wild gods, they are very numerous and easy to find. However, their existence is almost like that of yokai, and they use their power by instinct, much like yokai do. I do not believe those beings could be of any help to you, Lady Uka."
"I believe that the ones who can help you, Lady Uka, are Proper Gods who, like you, possess abundant divine virtue. It's just a pity that because you always distanced yourself from other Proper Gods in the past, Lady Uka, I am not very familiar with them either." Tsuruha spoke slowly. In fact, besides Miketsu, there was one other god she knew—Kou. But since he was unwilling to appear before the current Miketsu, she didn't mention him.
So the former Inari god always distanced herself from other gods? That's quite interesting. Perhaps I can use this in the future. After all, distance means unfamiliarity, which lowers the chance of my cover being blown. Miketsu thought to herself, then continued listening to Tsuruha.
"Although I do not know how to contact other Proper Gods, there is a place where you might be able to try your luck, Lady Uka."
"Try my luck? Where?" Hearing this, Miketsu's interest was piqued.
Tsuruha turned her head to look north, then said.
"Heian-kyo."
"Heian-kyo? Are there gods in Heian-kyo?" Hearing Tsuruha's answer, Miketsu was somewhat surprised. Wasn't that the human capital? Would there be gods there?
"I don't know. However, there are many shrines in Heian-kyo, and they are all shrines to Proper Gods. If you visit the shrines in Heian-kyo, Lady Uka, you might be able to meet other gods."
Go to the shrines in Heian-kyo to find gods? At this thought, Miketsu's eyes lit up. She had long wanted to see the human capital that was so close, but she never had the chance. Tsuruha had been firmly against her going out alone, but now she was the one proposing it.
"Go to Heian-kyo? Yes, of course! Tsuruha, let's prepare. We can set off tomorrow!" Without much thought, Miketsu made the decision on the spot, which made Tsuruha break into a cold sweat.
It seems my lady has really been cooped up.
Sighing softly, Tsuruha continued.
"It is fine for you to go to Heian-kyo, Lady Uka. However, there is one precaution that you absolutely must remember."
"What precaution?" Hearing Tsuruha say this, Miketsu was a little curious.
"That is, please condescend to disguise yourself as a human and travel to Heian-kyo through the human realm."
...
The sun and moon revolved, the stars flew like arrows. The night passed quickly. Accompanied by the crowing of distant roosters, the sunlight spilling from the east soon illuminated Inari Mountain.
Miketsu woke up exceptionally early today. Dressed in a thin, unlined garment, she was inside her room, looking at the items the foxes had prepared for her overnight on the tatami mat.
A conical hat... a kosode... wooden clogs... all were attire worn by ordinary mortal women. Unlike the luxurious miko robes Miketsu usually wore, these clothes, though new, each carried a thick scent of the mortal world. They seemed out of place with everything else in the Secret Realm; it was obvious they all came from the secular human realm.
I wonder where those foxes got these clothes from so late at night. They didn't steal them from a mortal's shop, did they? Looking at the garments, Miketsu wondered. If that were the case, she would feel quite embarrassed.
But then she thought that given Tsuruha's strict discipline over the foxes, something like that probably wouldn't happen.
Just as she thought of Tsuruha, the sliding door to her room opened. Tsuruha was standing outside, a magatama dangling from her mouth.
Placing the dangling magatama in front of Miketsu, Tsuruha said.
"This is a Miasma Jade. As long as you don't deliberately suppress it, it will imbue the wearer with miasma, causing them to fall to the next level of existence. With this, Lady Uka, you can disguise yourself as a human."
Rate on N.U.
