The words of the Tokoyo-no-Kami were blunt. He directly pointed out the Great Snake's motive for assisting in his awakening, and the Great Snake did not refute it.
"You are correct. The power of Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto in Heian-kyo is formidable. Under her watchful eyes, it has become difficult to make any further moves. Because of her presence, I have had no choice but to temporarily shift the focus of my plans to places outside the capital." The snake, controlled by the Great Snake's will, flicked its tongue as it spoke slowly to the Tokoyo-no-Kami, who was still reconstructing his body.
"So... you intend for me to rescue you from the Land of the Four Gods once I have recovered?"
"You could put it that way. After all, in a sense, we are 'kindred,' are we not?" The Great Snake's voice echoed through the cave, met only by a scoff from the Tokoyo-no-Kami.
"'Kindred'? Hmph. Hearing such words from your mouth is truly ironic. Are you so certain that I will help you once I recover? What makes you think I won't just kick you while you're down?" There was a trace of mockery in the Tokoyo-no-Kami's voice.
"Regardless of what grievances we once held, we currently find ourselves in the same predicament. You would do well to consider this. Of course, I am not placing all my hopes on you alone. Think about it—we still have other 'kindred' out there." The Great Snake's words lingered in the cave. The Tokoyo-no-Kami seemed to fall into deep thought, and after a long silence, he spoke slowly.
"Other 'kindred,' you say..."
Shinano Province. This was an inland region located north of Shimosa Province. Its terrain was mostly mountainous and extremely rugged, surrounded by several other provinces.
In the central region of Shinano Province lay a large lake, over ten kilometers in diameter, known as Lake Suwa. On the shores of Lake Suwa stood a sizable shrine named Moriya.
At the edge of this shrine, several thick wooden pillars wrapped with white cloth were driven into the shimmering surface of the lake. These were the Onbashira. At the top of one of these pillars stood a young girl.
By human standards, the girl looked to be about eleven or twelve years old. She had short yellow hair and golden eyes, dressed in simple attire consisting of a white inner layer and a pale purple outer coat. On her head, she wore a very peculiar ichime-gasa. On either side of the top of the hat were two eyeball-like decorations; combined with the overall shape of the hat, it easily brought a frog to mind.
The cool breeze over Lake Suwa ruffled the girl's sleeves. She was currently gazing southward with a heavy expression, her brow furrowed with an indescribable sternness.
"Those guys..."
"What is it, Suwako? You've been staring over there with that expression since last night. Has something happened?"
Just then, a mature female voice rang out from behind the girl named Suwako. Suwako turned around to see another woman.
She was a mature woman with the appearance of someone in her twenties. She had fluffy, blue, shoulder-length hair and tea-colored eyes. She wore a red outer garment over a long black skirt with red trim. A bright mirror decoration hung at her chest, and a massive circle of straw rope was fixed to her back. This woman was currently sitting cross-legged, suspended in mid-air, looking at Suwako standing atop the Onbashira.
"Oh, Kanako. It's nothing. I was just spacing out for a bit." Looking at the woman named Kanako, Suwako pressed down on her strange hat and spoke slowly.
"Spacing out? You might space out often, but you never do it for this long, and you've been staring in the same direction the whole time. What is it? Did something happen to the south?" As Kanako spoke, she looked in the direction Suwako had been gazing, but all she saw was the lake meeting the sky.
"It's nothing. I just spaced out a bit longer than usual. After all, unlike you, an orthodox god with many affairs to handle, I'm so idle every day that I'm bored. Isn't that right, the busy Lady Takeminakata-no-Kami?" Looking at Kanako, Suwako let a small smile play on her lips. Kanako sighed softly at the sight.
"Haa... if you don't want to say, then forget it. I doubt it's anything major anyway. Honestly, if you're really that bored every day, you'd be better off gathering faith instead of spacing out here. Even though we share the same divine name, there is a fundamental difference between us. Compared to me, you are the one who needs a vast amount of faith..." Kanako sighed again, speaking to Suwako with a hint of helplessness. Suwako continued to smile as she replied.
"Peace, peace~ It's not yet time to worry excessively about faith. Kanako, just mind your own business. You don't need to worry about me..."
Looking at the smiling girl before her, Kanako let out a helpless breath. Just as she was about to say more, a sharp cry suddenly echoed from the distant sky.
Hearing the cry, both Kanako and Suwako frowned. Suwako immediately leaned backward, falling from the top of the Onbashira into Lake Suwa. Without splashing a single drop of water or making a sound, Suwako vanished beneath the surface, sinking into the deep water.
Unlike Suwako, who seemed in a hurry to jump into the lake, Kanako remained floating in mid-air. She gazed solemnly at the distant sky in the direction of the cry, as if waiting for something.
Finally, a black dot rapidly approached Kanako from the sky. Upon closer inspection, it was a pitch-black crow. Unlike other crows, this one had three legs. Clutched in the talons of its third leg was a yellowed, ancient paper scroll.
The three-legged crow flew in front of Kanako and dropped the scroll toward her. After Kanako caught it, black flames spontaneously erupted on the three-legged crow's body, incinerating it completely until nothing remained.
Kanako silently unfurled the scroll. After glancing at it, a look of confusion appeared on her face.
"How is it, Kanako?"
At that moment, Suwako, sensing that the three-legged crow had vanished, poked her head out from the water and looked up at Kanako. Her hat, with its two bulging eyes, looked even more like a frog among the lotus leaves on the surface.
"It is an order from Takamagahara," Kanako said slowly, her voice grave.
"An order from Takamagahara?! Don't tell me they've finally dispa—" Hearing Kanako's words, Suwako's face darkened. However, Kanako immediately added:
"No, it's not what you think... What Takamagahara has assigned me to do this time is something else."
"Something else?" Suwako's expression turned to one of obvious confusion. Kanako composed herself and spoke immediately.
"I need to go to Heian-kyo to investigate the matter regarding Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto..."
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