Earthquake Catfish

Above Lake Biwa, light and distant bell chimes echoed in all directions. All living beings, as if by prior agreement, heard the soul-soothing chimes at that moment.

Inside the Hinanawi shrine, two shinkan, one old and one young, who had been arranging matters for their subordinates, suddenly stiffened, their expressions solemn. After a moment of stunned silence, they looked at each other.

"This, this sound is..."

"How is that possible... This is the sound of the Inari Bell, it shouldn't be within the barrier, and it should have been impossible to ring for a long time now..." the old shinkan said in astonishment. He remembered very clearly that the last time he heard these chimes was when he was very young, and the soul-soothing sensation they evoked remained unforgettable to this day.

"Regardless, if that truly is the sound of the Inari Bell, then the Earthquake Catfish must be..." the young shinkan continued. Hearing his words, the older shinkan's expression darkened, and he quickly jogged forward. Seeing this, the young shinkan also hurried after him.

In a flash, the two shinkan arrived at a bluff by Lake Biwa. Gazing out at the vast lake, they both saw the giant catfish rapidly swimming from the lake towards the shore.

"As expected... the Earthquake Catfish has been summoned. Who could have rung the Inari Bell..."

With worried expressions, the two shinkan looked down, observing the sandy shore not far below, where a stone pavilion stood. There, they saw a familiar figure.

"Is that... Jizi!? How could she be there..." Amidst their astonishment, the shinkan's gaze fell upon the stone pavilion. There, they saw a white-haired girl, clad in white robes and scarlet hakama, slowly emerging from the pavilion, walking towards the rapidly approaching giant catfish. A large fox followed beside her. Seeing this, the old shinkan's eyes widened in even greater horror.

"That, that is..."

On the sandy shore, Miketsu slowly walked out of the stone pavilion and approached the lake's edge. Before her, the massive body of the Earthquake Catfish stopped before the torii gate. After the waves receded, its form became visible.

"Ahhh... I finally hear those chimes again... I thought those damned humans had forgotten me... I was just about to make them taste the consequences of daring to ignore me for so long..."

Its large mouth, filled with sharp fangs, slowly opened and closed. A rumbling sound accompanied by a tidal, fishy stench reached the shore, causing Miketsu to instinctively frown and cover her nose and mouth with her sleeve.

"Ugh... this thing is so fishy and stinky..."

"Lady Uka... this is the Earthquake Catfish. Its current state doesn't seem normal. You must be careful..." Tsuruha warned with concern beside Miketsu. Miketsu, enduring the fishy stench, nodded slightly.

At that moment, the Earthquake Catfish, still in the water, looked towards the shore. Ignoring Miketsu and Tsuruha, its eyes landed on several empty stone tables. It immediately began furiously flapping its fins, churning up large splashes.

"These damned humans! They called me out but prepared nothing... No offerings... no food... Are they tired of living?! Just wait, I'll make you all understand the consequences of daring to mock me!" As the Earthquake Catfish's rage intensified, it grew agitated, surging towards the shore in a manner almost as if it were beaching itself. Its massive body even knocked down the torii gate in the water, and the ground, too, began to tremble faintly.

"Lady Uka, the Earthquake Catfish's rage is now uncontrollable. Please use your power to soothe it, just as before!" Tsuruha urgently said to Miketsu. Miketsu, who had been covering her nose and mouth, lowered her sleeve after a flicker of disdain in her eyes, and looked at the agitated catfish that was completely ignoring her.

"Like before, you say... Very well then..."

"Hey... you big catfish, do you still recognize who I am?" Infusing a trace of divine power into her voice, Miketsu called out to the restless giant catfish before her. The Earthquake Catfish paused for a moment after hearing her voice, then lowered its head to look at the shore, and, observing Miketsu's petite figure, slowly spoke.

"Hmm? A human girl? You have a familiar aura about you... Could you be the offering this time? Have those humans finally resorted to human sacrifice?"

Hearing the Earthquake Catfish's words, a cross mark appeared on Miketsu's forehead. She then calmed herself slightly before continuing.

"I am Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami, Inari Okami... I have come specifically to quell your rage, just as I once did..."

"What? You dare say you are Lady Inari... Hmph... Don't joke around. Lady Inari is clearly a gentle and amiable, mature woman who could bring tranquility to anyone just by standing there, not a little brat like you who hasn't even grown enough yet..." The Earthquake Catfish mocked Miketsu. Hearing this, Miketsu's fists clenched imperceptibly, and another cross mark appeared on her forehead.

'Don't mind what it says, Lady Uka. Although your body did shrink a bit during your slumber, your divine power hasn't changed. You just need to use Inari's divine power to soothe it.' At this moment, Tsuruha continued to speak to Miketsu through their contract. Miketsu, after hearing Tsuruha's words, once again calmed herself.

"Alright, even if you don't recognize my appearance, you surely recognize this power, don't you..." Miketsu said, extending her hand. Inari's divine power emanated in waves, enveloping the Earthquake Catfish. After sensing this power, the Earthquake Catfish became much quieter.

On the cliff face, the two shinkan saw this scene, their faces lit up with joy, and they said happily.

"The Earthquake Catfish seems less agitated. That girl truly is Lady Inari. It seems she has indeed awakened and heard our prayers..."

On the sandy shore, Jizi still sat on the sand, blankly watching everything unfolding before her, unsure what to do.

Miketsu, seeing that the Earthquake Catfish finally seemed to have calmed down, also breathed a slight sigh of relief. Although she was still feeling a bit annoyed, at least this fish was finally soothed, and her objective was achieved.

The Earthquake Catfish quietly bathed in Inari's divine power. Just as everyone believed it had been completely soothed, it suddenly opened its mouth again and spoke.

"Is that... all?"

"Huh?" Hearing the Earthquake Catfish's words, Miketsu curiously quirked her lip.

"You merely possess similar power... What truly calms people when it comes to Lady Inari is not just that power... it's also her genuine, heartfelt compassion, her reassuring words, and her gentle demeanor..." As the Earthquake Catfish spoke, its gaze towards Miketsu grew somewhat fierce.

"You... you only have similar power... You don't have genuine compassion... You're just placating me... You... you're not Lady Inari at all..."

Hearing the Earthquake Catfish's words, Miketsu's expression darkened. She silently ceased releasing divine power towards the Earthquake Catfish, without a word, her face terrifyingly cold. Tsuruha, standing by and watching this scene, suddenly bristled with fear.

'La-Lady Uka...'

"Huh? Why aren't you releasing your power anymore... Even if you're not the real Lady Inari, this power still feels good... If you can make me happy, then I might consider sparing... Hmm?"

Just as the Earthquake Catfish was rambling on, it suddenly realized that Miketsu had, at some unknown point, flown up and was now beside it, her head lowered, her fists clenched. Then... she swung her fist fiercely.

"Boom!!"

With a tremendous boom, under everyone's watchful eyes, before countless astonished faces, Miketsu, with her small body, punched the Earthquake Catfish directly, sending it flying. The colossal Earthquake Catfish, eyes rolled back, tumbled countless times in the air before plummeting into the lake amidst a colossal splash.

Crack, crack... Miketsu hovered in the air, clenching her fist, looking at where the Earthquake Catfish had fallen into the water, and said coldly.

"You chose the hard way... Got bold, didn't you..."