The Incitement

In the bustling streets of Heian-kyo...

It was a bright afternoon in Heian-kyo, the sun shining warmly and a cool spring breeze blowing through the air. Because of the Inari Festival, the streets were packed with lively crowds. People walked happily with their families, soaking in the festive atmosphere brought by the celebration.

Among the throng, Kanako and her two companions wandered curiously through Heian-kyo, watching the various folk activities held spontaneously by the people. This was practically the first time they had ever seen such sights.

"Ha! This is truly an eye-opener. Kaki, make sure to take good notes. When we hold our next festival, we can use this as a reference," Kanako said with a delighted laugh, standing on a bridge and watching acrobats perform on a boat in the river. Kaki stood by her side, nodding respectfully.

"Mmm... the food here tastes quite good. It seems this trip wasn't a waste after all..." Suwako added, standing beside Kanako while munching on snacks she had bought from a street stall.

"Indeed, it was worth the journey. Now, I truly hope that Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto has genuinely awakened. Otherwise, it would be quite difficult for me to have to destroy such a faith with my own hands."

"Munch... don't speak too soon. You might not even be able to beat that Inari Okami," Suwako said slowly, glancing at Kanako after swallowing a bite of her snack.

"Huh? Not beat her? Impossible. If that Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto is a fake and not an orthodox god, then there's no pressure at all. Even if she is the real deal, her divine office isn't suited for combat. Even if her faith and spiritual power exceed mine, I can still suppress her through the nature of my own divine office." Kanako crossed her arms, speaking with great confidence. Then, as if remembering something, she turned back to Suwako.

"But speaking of which, it's rare for you to take the initiative to follow us to Heian-kyo. Usually, in situations like this, you choose to stay at the shrine."

"Well... I've stayed at the shrine for so long that I got a bit bored, so I wanted to come out this time," Suwako replied. As she spoke, her eyes dimmed slightly.

Just then, as if sensing something, Suwako's expression suddenly froze. Her fists tightened slightly. After a two-second pause, she gulped down the remaining snacks in her hand and stood up straight.

"Kanako, Kaki, I accidentally dropped something when I was buying snacks earlier. I'm going back to look for it now," Suwako told them. Kanako tilted her head in slight surprise.

"What did you drop? Is it important? If not, just forget about it."

"Well... it's not very important, but I'd rather not lose it. You two go on and explore other places. Once I find it, I'll meet up with you right here at this bridge!" As Suwako spoke, she waved and turned, running off into the distance. Before long, she vanished into the dense crowd, leaving Kanako and Kaki standing there in bewilderment.

After parting from Kanako and the other, the expression on Suwako's face became extremely solemn. Without a word, she began to weave rapidly through the crowd.

"That feeling... there's no mistake..."

Suwako muttered under her breath as she darted through the throngs of people. She turned through several market districts, moving from the lively streets toward the desolate alleys. As the people around her grew fewer and fewer, Suwako finally reached the outskirts of Heian-kyo.

Eventually, she arrived at what appeared to be an abandoned residence. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and not a soul was in sight. The air around her carried a trace of chilling cold that made one shiver.

Standing in the center of the derelict yard, Suwako looked around with a serious gaze. Finally, she spoke in a cold, low voice.

"Come out..."

Following Suwako's words, a rustling sound echoed through the space. A snake with purple scales slowly crawled out from the weeds. It reared its body up, staring at Suwako with its purplish-red vertical pupils.

"Long time no see. How long has it been since we last met? A thousand years? Three thousand? Or five thousand?" the purple snake hissed, its voice carrying a wicked charm. It was the voice of the Great Snake.

"I don't know how long it's been, but I certainly didn't expect to encounter you again," Suwako said in a deep voice, adjusting the hat on her head.

"Indeed. I suppose in the past, none of us ever imagined we would meet again in such forms... Hehe, your current state—the mortals call you a wild god. A tyrant who once ruled all living beings through fear is now given such a shameful title. How pathetic..." the Great Snake continued, his tone laced with incitement and temptation.

"Pathetic, you say? Well... I actually feel my current state is quite alright. Compared to those of you who are dead, sealed, or asleep, my ability to move about freely like this is much better." Suwako shrugged, speaking with an air of nonchalance, seemingly entirely unmoved by the Great Snake's provocation. Seeing Suwako show no signs of agitation, the Great Snake paused for a moment before speaking again.

"Heh, I didn't expect you to have such a balanced mindset. Do you truly not miss your former body and power at all? Do you really wish to remain in this body of a wild god, bowing and scraping under Takeminakata?" the Great Snake continued, the weight of incitement in his words growing heavier.

"Restoring my old body and power... it's not like I haven't thought about it. But when I think carefully, I've already died once. To be able to persist in this form is already something to be grateful for. I think perhaps what I need to do now is not to force the glories of the past..." Suwako continued calmly. Perhaps not expecting Suwako to be so enlightened, the Great Snake was momentarily stunned. He stood still for several seconds before speaking again.

"Do you... have no desire for revenge against Takeminakata?"

"Revenge? No. By the time Kanako came to Suwa to conquer it, I had already been lingering on the brink of death in this form for a long time. Destruction was inevitable. As for Kanako, I didn't expect her to refrain from completely destroying me in the end; she even shared her faith with me, allowing me to persist. Had it been any other orthodox god, I would have vanished into ash long ago."

As Suwako spoke, she looked directly at the purple-scaled snake before her.

"I know what you're trying to do by saying these things to me. But I can tell you officially now: I have no interest in resurrections or returning to power. Remnants of the Old Age of Gods like us should simply remain buried in time forever."