Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 77

Revision:

Kizuki => Onitsuki

Kehiko => Katahiko

Hotaruya => Hotoya

Kuuban => Kubou

***

As she closed the book with fingers as white and slender as a white fish, she let out a sigh of disappointment.

　"Phew, no harvest, huh? That's enough. Next, bring me the books that are piled up there."

　"Y-Yes...!!"

　The voice of a bewitching, delicate, sweet, and above all, arrogant woman echoes in the room. This is followed by the response of a lovely young girl. Unlike the aforementioned voice, her voice is pure, timid, and that of a meek child...

　"U-Um, is it okay this way...?"

　The ancient book, which was offered by the white fox half-youkai with both hands, had still decayed with time despite being under a protective curse. And seeing this, the princess in front of her accepts it with a small sneer. Still, she spreads it out on the desk and sighs, leaning against the armrest.

　"Seriously, it's just so annoying. Having to read such a boring and dirty book."

　Onitsuki Aoi, the descendant of the Onitsuki family and second princess of Onitsuki, expressed her disdain for the family records which detailed their prosperity, glory, honor, and achievements in her room surrounded by piles of books, which was carried from residence's library. She found them boring and dirty, with no interest in their content.

　She showed no enthusiasm while reading the rows of old-fashioned characters. Nevertheless, her intelligent mind was able to fully memorize and comprehend the books' content, and she discarded the valueless ones she had read and understood.

　"Really boring thing..."

　As a matter of fact, Aoi doesn't care about the history of Onitsuki's family. She is not interested in it at all. To hell with the traditions and legends that are colored with falsehoods. Aoi hates her own family to the utmost.

　However, the authority of the name Onitsuki is useful and worth giving to her as an "asset". And above all, it is true that the pile of books in front of her may be a clue to the solution of the problem that now stands before her.

　If one looks historically, in the ancient times, the barrier between human and god youkai was lower than in this world, and the distance between them was closer.

　This is not by choice. It is also a strict fact that in those days when human was weaker and civilization was lower, it was more difficult to reject the interference of the divine youkai, and there was no choice but to use their power against them. Many of the rituals and curses that are forbidden by the court today were developed in those times, not only because they were immoral but also because they went against the national policy of Fusō-kuni, which is not only against humanity but also out of the bounds of humanity.

　....Of course, although forbidden by the Imperial Court, the exorcists' families in various places, especially the old and famous families with long histories, still informally transmit such a technique and sometimes use it.

　For example, the curse of substitution of sacrifice, which is still practiced by the Miyataka of the same three northern region families, is a typical example. The Onitsuki once practiced a forbidden ritual called "Curse of the demon child confined in a sacrificial prison room (座敷厄負贄牢童子之呪)" until only two hundred years ago. The only reason why the ritual is no longer practiced is that the specifics of the ritual were lost in an accident. Only the Ako family is a famous family that foolishly and honestly abandoned the traditional secret and forbidden rituals in accordance with the imperial order.