Autumn Essence

The state of high alert that had gripped Heian-kyo for days was finally lifted. Patrols and inspections on the streets gradually dwindled, and the common folk, who had lived in constant anxiety, finally felt at ease as the city slowly returned to its former rhythm.

Although Prince Nagaya’s curse and sudden raid had caught the Fujiwara Clan off guard and left them in a state of disarray, they had ultimately suffered little actual loss. Both the Kanpaku, Fujiwara no Tadahira, and the Onmyo Taiyu, Fujiwara no Saneyori, had survived without major injury, and their prideful underground treasury remained intact.

The various abnormalities previously seen within the Fujiwara estate had sparked endless speculation among other noble houses. The prevailing opinion held that the Fujiwara had likely met with a massive catastrophe—that a vengeful spirit from ancient times had cursed them and that they would pay a heavy price in this disaster.

Contrary to expectations, however, the Fujiwara emerged from the crisis with minimal damage. This surprised many; the clan’s frantic efforts to recall all personnel had suggested they were on the brink of collapse, so how had they recovered so suddenly? Consequently, numerous rumors began to circulate among the aristocrats of Heian-kyo, with many believing that some powerful secret treasure from the Fujiwara collection had saved them—a convincing theory, given the clan’s vast array of treasures.

Later, however, well-informed sources revealed a truth that defied everyone’s expectations. It was said that the crisis was resolved by a genius girl Onmyoji recently recruited by the Fujiwara. According to the stories, she had located a secluded ancestor of the Fujiwara Clan, and it was this ancestor who had stepped in to save the family and quell the threat.

Under Miketsu’s guidance, Mokou successfully entered the Fujiwara Clan. Because she had appeared as a savior to the Fujiwara at a critical moment and demonstrated the ability to withstand powerful curses—not to mention her role in taking down Prince Nagaya and saving Fujiwara no Saneyori’s life—Mokou now enjoyed immense prestige within the clan.

Previously, Miketsu had already talked Mokou up to Fujiwara no Saneyori, painting her as a master who had attained immortality. Her performance during this rescue essentially confirmed everything Miketsu had claimed, and now the entire Fujiwara Clan treated Mokou with the utmost reverence.

Her status even surpassed that of the clan head, Fujiwara no Tadahira, which made Mokou feel quite uncomfortable; she found it difficult to adjust, even after quite some time had passed.

While Mokou secured her transcendent status within the Fujiwara Clan, Miketsu—in her guise as Asakura Hao—had also made significant contributions during the Prince Nagaya affair. Not only had she successfully repelled the curse to save many Fujiwara nobles, but she was also the one who "found" the Fujiwara ancestor and helped eliminate the vengeful spirit.

Thus, the Fujiwara were bound to offer Asakura Hao a generous reward as a token of their gratitude. However, Miketsu insisted it wasn't necessary; she simply took the Sacred Scroll of Manifest Wisdom and returned to Mount Inari, leaving Fujiwara no Saneyori and Fujiwara no Tadahira staring at each other in silence. Ultimately, Fujiwara no Tadahira declared that a single treasure was not enough to show their thanks and that other rewards would be prepared later.

In short, Mokou’s arrival and the cleanup after Prince Nagaya would keep both the Fujiwara and the Onmyoryo busy for some time. Anticipating this, Miketsu stayed comfortably on Mount Inari, avoiding Heian-kyo to stay clear of any potential trouble.

And so, Miketsu enjoyed two peaceful days on Mount Inari, until two unexpected guests arrived at her shrine one day.

...

The autumn wind painted the leaves of Mount Inari a vibrant red. As the essence of autumn deepened, the red leaves drifted gracefully from the trees, and the air carried a distinct chill, making Miketsu truly feel the weight of the season.

"Phew... It’s already late autumn, isn't it?"

Sitting atop a torii gate, dressed in her miko outfit, Miketsu caught a falling leaf and sighed. She then looked down at the long sando path, watching the stream of people stretching into the distance.

"When autumn arrives, the number of people coming to worship Inari Okami really spikes. There are more and more people lately," Miketsu noted, turning her head toward the worshippers who had entered the shrine; they were being organized for orderly prayer by the suddenly busy miko, and at times, even small lines would form.

"It's not just because of the season, Uka-sama. Your recent activities have breathed new life into the faith of Inari. In previous years, while there were many visitors in autumn, it was nothing like this," Tsuruha said with a sense of relief, watching the crowd below.

The miserable fate of the "Fox Hunters" who used to slander Inari, combined with rumors of foxes saving humans, had led many in Heian-kyo to believe in the return of Inari Okami. This caused the already influential Inari faith to recover rapidly. Seeing the scene before her, Tsuruha felt a surge of joy, yet a hint of worry also blossomed in her heart.

She remembered Kou telling her that it was best not to draw too much attention to the awakening of Inari Okami before Miketsu had mastered her divine power. But looking at the current situation, the resurgence of faith seemed irreversible, and as a Divine Messenger, she could hardly stop it.

Faced with the mountain of prayers, Miketsu didn't listen to them seriously. Unlike the diligent Oitsuki, Miketsu was fundamentally a "salted fish" who wouldn't bother with these mundane wishes unless something major occurred. Besides, with so many, she couldn't possibly manage them all; a deity wasn't exactly a tool meant for granting every little wish.

Just then, Miketsu's sharp gaze caught something slightly off. Among the crowd below, she spotted a strange presence.

On the sando below the torii gate, amidst the passing crowd, stood two small girls in kimonos. They looked quite similar, with short yellow hair, and were peering around curiously at their surroundings.

"Whoa... There are so many people! Sister, are they all here to worship? There are so many..."

"Yes, it seems so... After all, this is the main shrine of the great Inari Okami-sama. How could there be few worshippers? They must gather quite a lot of faith here..."

The two sisters spoke to each other, their voices tinged with envy. Their clothes were embroidered with patterns of fallen leaves and rice stalks, respectively.

"We've finally reached Heian-kyo. We must see Inari Okami-sama and lodge a complaint against that fellow who's neither wolf nor rabbit!"

"Yes! For a yokai to dare use Inari Okami-sama's name to steal our faith... she must be reported!"