Cooperation

“Byakuren?”

Miketsu looked at the woman before her, who held a vajra, wore monastic robes, and donned a bamboo hat. She couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise. The last time she had seen this bhikkuni was a long time ago; she hadn't expected her to appear here now.

“I had already heard that an evil spirit appeared in Heian-kyo and a deity descended to the world. I thought it must be your miracle, Lady Uka... Congratulations, it seems you are now able to exercise your divine power.” With a respectful expression, Byakuren spoke to Miketsu with a smile.

“Something like that...” Miketsu replied calmly. Then, she looked around at the pilgrims coming and going within the human realm and continued.

“This is not the place for a conversation. Let’s go elsewhere.”

“As you wish...”

Afterward, Miketsu led Byakuren away from the front of the shrine's Haiden and all the way to a secluded pavilion on Mount Inari. After instructing the foxes to keep watch on the perimeter, Miketsu and Byakuren sat down in the pavilion.

“I once promised Lady Uka that I would personally visit Mount Inari, but due to some matters, I was delayed for a time. I only arrived today; please forgive me, Lady Uka.” Byakuren spoke with sincere tone from the start, while Miketsu simply waved her hand dismissively.

“It’s fine. I originally wanted to find you to learn Sanskrit, but I found other channels. The sutras you left for me have been very useful; I should be the one thanking you.” Miketsu said with a slight smile. Buddhist sutras were very effective in steadying the mind, dispelling illusions, and dealing with the dead. This made up for Miketsu's deficiencies in Onmyojutsu and even her divine power.

“Namu San... It is wonderful that the sutras could provide assistance to you, Lady Uka. I believe this also proves that you have a profound affinity with the Shingon school and even Buddhism itself. My purpose in coming here today is to further deepen that affinity.” Facing Miketsu, Byakuren pressed her hands together in prayer and spoke devoutly. She had finally begun to touch upon the reason for her visit.

“Deepen the affinity... Heh, I’ve already undergone Syncretism with Dakini-ten. How much deeper can this affinity get?” With a curious tone, Miketsu asked Byakuren. She had already more or less guessed that Byakuren might have come with a specific agenda.

It was highly likely that Byakuren had reported the matter of her and Dakini-ten back to the Shingon school, and the school now needed her to act as a bridge to communicate with Miketsu. Currently, Byakuren was perhaps the representative of the Shingon school.

Faced with Miketsu's question, Byakuren’s expression became even more upright as she answered seriously.

“The Shingon school hopes to formally merge the faiths of Lady Uka and Dakini-ten, to be worshipped together. When spreading the faith, we wish to simultaneously convey the concept to the people that the Inari Okami is equal to Dakini-ten. In this way, the temples and followers of the Shingon school will also provide you with faith...” Byakuren described the Shingon school's intentions to Miketsu. After listening, Miketsu nodded slightly in understanding; she wasn't overly surprised by the proposal.

“I see. It seems your Shingon school wants to use the Inari faith to expand its own influence...” Without beating around the bush, Miketsu pointed out the other party's intention directly. Byakuren was not surprised by Miketsu's words and responded quite frankly.

“Indeed. The Inari Okami is an agricultural deity, one of the divine roles most likely to collect faith. Furthermore, you, Lady Uka, are a rare deity who can move in the mortal world in your true form. Now that you have been revived, the rapid expansion of the Inari faith in the future is already evident. The Shingon school... and even the entire Buddhist community, hopes to take this opportunity to expand its influence in this country.” Byakuren spoke of the Shingon school's goals without reservation. As an imported religion, Buddhism needed to become more localized to expand more quickly. By merging Dakini-ten and the Inari Okami through Syncretism and worshipping them together, they could increase the acceptance of the followers and continuously expand their influence alongside the growth of the Inari faith.

“Heh... As expected. To be honest, in terms of proselytizing, you are indeed much stronger than the Shinto priests and Miko of this country...” Miketsu chuckled. She knew in her heart that being able to spread all the way from Tenjiku to Japan, with influence spanning East and Southeast Asia and eventually becoming one of the world's three major religions, Buddhism's quality as a religion was far higher than that of Shinto.

“Lady Uka overpraises us. We have come this time with absolute sincerity to seek cooperation. If you can agree, then the entire Shingon school will truly enshrine you and obey your Buddhist decree.” Byakuren continued, adding a new weight to the scales: the loyalty of the Shingon school. If Miketsu could agree to their request, then the monks of the Shingon school would also become a force she could command.

“...You really are dedicated. However, I still have one question. If the faiths of myself and Dakini-ten are merged in your teachings, and I can receive the faith intended for her, can she also receive my faith because of this?” This was Miketsu's final concern regarding this cooperation.

“As long as you do not completely merge with Dakini-ten and become her avatar, that will not happen. After all, being in the mortal world, your control over faith is much stronger than that of other orthodox gods and Buddhas in the Celestial Realm. Furthermore, regarding this matter, I have previously prayed directly to Dakini-ten herself to ask for her opinion. She responded that the faith generated in this country, regardless of which divine name it is born under, belongs to you.” Byakuren continued to speak sincerely. Finally, as if to dispel Miketsu's doubts, she bowed to Miketsu and added a sentence.

“A monk does not speak falsehoods. If there was even a hint of deception or sacrilege in what I have said, I shall fall into the Avici Hell and suffer the pain of eternal kalpas. Please, Lady Uka, do not be suspicious.”

“Get up quickly, there's no need to say such harsh words.” Seeing Byakuren like this, Miketsu immediately spoke to soothe her, while also feeling somewhat stunned. She hadn't expected that fellow Dakini-ten to have such an open-minded attitude.

That woman, acting as a kishin, had rushed to make a contract with her before the other Buddhas. She didn't erode her during the Syncretism, and now she was proactively giving up faith—so what exactly was she trying to do?

By now, the details of this cooperation were clear. The Shingon school hoped to use the Inari faith to expand its influence and accelerate the spread of Buddhism in Japan, while Miketsu would receive faith from the Shingon temples and the power to command Shingon monks in the name of Dakini-ten.

In this transaction, Miketsu basically didn't have to pay any price. While gaining a new source of faith, she could also control the power of the Shingon school to a certain extent.

Although Miketsu wasn't facing any direct threat at the moment, she understood the importance of preparing for a rainy day. In the face of Yamata no Orochi, who was stirring within the Void, and the mysterious person who had once sealed the Inari Okami's power—which might involve Takamagahara—she needed to master more trump cards and more power. Therefore, she was indeed moved by the conditions Byakuren offered.