Divine Protection

In the dark of night, on the outskirts of a town nestled within the mountains of Northern Ise, Watatsuki no Yorihime and Enmusubi were locked in battle. From the very beginning, the confrontation had been entirely one-sided, and it took very little time for the victor to be decided. Having completely suppressed Enmusubi, Yorihime unleashed a finishing move: "Summoning... Wakahirume-no-Mikoto... Heavenly Weaving Net!"

With a single swing of her blade, countless red threads manifested around Yorihime. These myriad lines intertwined, sweeping across the sky like an overwhelming shroud to envelop Enmusubi. Enmusubi stared at the sight before her in sheer shock.

"Eh!! This—this is mine... Ugh... No way!"

Paralyzed by panic, Enmusubi was terrified by the scene unfolding before her. For a moment, she had no idea how to react. Ultimately, in a state of total despair, she was completely wrapped in the countless red threads.

...

On the outskirts of the town, by a wooden bridge and beneath a tall tree, Miketsu looked up slightly. She gazed at Enmusubi, who was bound from head to toe in red threads and hung upside down from a branch, looking for all the world like the cocoon of some insect.

"Pardon my rudeness, Lady Wakahirume-no-Mikoto..." Yorihime said in a respectful tone as she slowly returned her long blade to its scabbard.

"Ugh... That's cheating! How—how is it possible for you to use my divine power? Aren't you a priestess of Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto?" Enmusubi grumbled, her brow furrowed and her lips pouted. She struggled desperately to break free from her restraints, but it was to no avail. Her wriggling only caused her to swing back and forth beneath the tree, muttering all the while.

"Ugh... It's so tight... Why are you so skilled at using my divine power? I never even thought of using it in such a way..."

Wakahirume-no-Mikoto... the Goddess of Marriage and Weaving. Compared to the domain of marriage, the divine office of weaving is far more practical in combat, Miketsu thought silently as she watched the scene.

It was clear that Enmusubi's combat ability had fallen short of Miketsu's expectations. Although she was in a weakened state due to a lack of divine power, as an orthodox god, she hadn't even lasted ten rounds against Yorihime. In the end, she was captured by a technique Yorihime had released using Enmusubi's own divine power. From start to finish, she had been pathetic to an almost impressive degree.

Judging from the duel, Enmusubi's divine office was not only ill-suited for combat, but she also suffered from an extreme lack of experience. Faced with the battle-hardened Yorihime, she spent most of the time looking lost. In that final exchange, it felt as though Yorihime had wielded Enmusubi's divine power even better than Enmusubi herself.

In short, Enmusubi was a deity entirely unsuited for fighting. Meanwhile, Yorihime, as a high-end combatant of the Lunar Capital, was someone who could hold her own in a close-quarters melee against Miketsu for dozens of rounds. Naturally, Enmusubi stood no chance of winning.

"Alright, now that you've lost, it's time for us to attend to some serious business," Miketsu said solemnly, looking at the swaying Enmusubi. Upon hearing this, Enmusubi's expression shifted to one of pure terror.

"S-so it's true! You're going to start purging my faith, aren't you? E-even so, I will not yield! My believers are all people who have run toward happiness! They are no longer under your control!" the suspended Enmusubi shouted, striking a pose of defiant martyrdom. Miketsu couldn't help but sigh at her attitude before continuing.

"Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions; I haven't said anything yet. Besides... are you truly certain that all those couples you've brought together have actually found happiness?" Miketsu asked in a slightly stern tone. Enmusubi was stunned for a moment before answering decisively.

"Of course! I create opportunities and fate for people who already cherish one another. I help those who find it difficult to love for various reasons to hold hands, breaking through all mundane prejudices and the rigidity of social standing so that those with true love can be together. If two people cherish and love each other, how could they not find happiness?" Enmusubi spoke with absolute confidence. This was clearly a principle she had believed in for a long time—or rather, it was her divine virtue.

"Haa... In that case, come with me for a moment. Yorihime, bring her along..." After speaking, Miketsu took to the air, flying toward the forest away from the town. Yorihime grabbed the red threads binding Enmusubi and followed behind Miketsu, towing the deity along. Though Enmusubi was confused by this, she was unable to resist and simply let herself be carried away in silence.

...

Deep within the dark forest, the moonlight provided only the faintest glimmer. Within the dense thicket, the roars of wild beasts echoed, and fear permeated the gloom. Surrounded by this terror was a young man and woman.

Listening to the cries of the beasts drawing closer in the darkness, the faces of the young couple—who had just decided to elope and start a new life together—were filled with horror. They never expected that their first night running toward a new life would involve encountering vicious beasts. Both had become prey.

Having lost the protection of the town, they could only flee forward in a frantic panic, hoping to lose their pursuers. However, it seemed their luck had run out. As they burst through a patch of trees, a precipice appeared before them, cutting off their escape.

Standing at the edge of the cliff and looking down into the bottomless abyss, despair washed over their faces. At that moment, the beasts chasing them emerged from the shadows. They were several fierce wolves, led by one of massive size that emitted a faint demonic aura—it was on the verge of becoming a Yokai.

With a cliff in front and wolves behind, the young couple's eyes were filled with hopelessness. Faced with this impossible situation, the only thing they could do was pray to the gods—specifically, to the Enmusubi they believed in.

"Let me go! Let me go! Let me save them! Hurry and let me save them!"

In the sky above, Enmusubi struggled violently as she watched the scene below, but she still couldn't break her bonds. Miketsu, however, watched everything with a calm expression. She activated her causality vision, and countless Threads of Causality appeared before her eyes.

Below, the wolves began their final pounce. Although the young man shielded the woman behind him, he closed his eyes in despair.

At that exact moment, Miketsu reached out and gently plucked one of the Threads of Causality. The resulting vibration transmitted instantly into reality. The rock beneath the couple's feet, weakened by long-term weathering, suddenly shattered under the strain. Losing their balance, the two fell backward into the abyss. Amidst their screams, they were caught by several trees growing out of the cliffside. After several layers of cushioning, they landed safely at the bottom, suffering only a few scrapes. The pursuing wolves could only stare blankly from the top of the cliff.

At the base of the cliff, the terrified couple stabilized their emotions. Marveling at everything that had just happened, they once again offered their thanks to the gods before setting off toward an unknown future.

"Phew... Thank goodness... Thank you, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Mikoto..." Enmusubi sighed in relief. Miketsu turned her head and spoke slowly with a flat expression.

"Yes, it is good. They have received divine favor once again and resolved their crisis. But... what about next time? This forest is full of dangers, and no one knows when the next crisis will arrive. Does a deity need to help them walk every step of the way?

"In pursuit of true love, they chose to elope and abandon everything... While they are freed from the constraints of their families and clans, they have also lost their protection. In such a situation, the road to happiness is destined to be full of peril and hardship. Facing all this... can they only pray for Divine Protection, Wakahirume-no-Mikoto?"