[Part 2/4]
By the way, Murasaki didn't know, but the servant that possessed a baby spider was a different version of this kind of punishment. Both being a god and being punished by a god were special things, but the spider didn't have enough power for both. So they did both at the same time. It was a smart decision. The result was unexpected... But in the case of Yamanba, who had turned into almost a youkai, the lump of jade he had carried with him had absorbed all of her youkai energy, divine energy, and whatever divine punishment there was that could be returned to him.
...In the end, the lesson from history was: don't kill a god without thinking. Make them weak first, then kill them to avoid getting hurt. Or, like in Hotoya Village, tie them to the land to make it fertile.
So, according to the explanation, curse-caster of Miyakata was trusted with this because she knew a lot about forbidden art. With her skills, she could safely and quickly kill fallen gods. But she had to be careful...
"You don't think just cutting off the head will be enough, do you? If you do, that's being too simple."
Murasaki remembered that there was a manifestation of Inugami in the forbidden arts. It was a way to make an instant divine punishment and deliver it to the person to be cursed, and as she recall, it involved cutting off the head of a captured youkai dog as a final touch... But maybe the head could come back to attack. If that happened, it wouldn't be cute.
"I get it. But I still want to try something."
Still, Tamaki replied to Murasaki's warning with a strong voice.
"..."
Perhaps it could be called bravery, recklessness, or even ignorance. But Murasaki couldn't decide as she was left speechless. She shifted her gaze. First to the disciple of Madam Kochou, then to the female curse caster from the Miyataka family. She wanted to know their opinions or reactions. Maybe they would disagree...
"...It's not even worth discussing. She doesn't even understand the basics of magic, yet she's good with words," Shirowakamaru's words were harsh and unforgiving, but they made sense. It was true that Tamaki, a newcomer exorcist who was barely skilled in basic body enhancement and swordsmanship, had spoken too boldly. It seemed out of consideration altogether.
"Well, maybe it's okay?"
"Huh...!?"
That's why Shirowakamaru was taken aback by the words of the female curse caster from the Miyataka clan. She first looked surprised, then shocked, and finally, a sense of discomfort filled her expression.
"If this isn't a joke, then stop it already...!?"
"It's not a joke at all. I'm being very serious."
Shinobu's words followed, filled with anger, immediately countering Shirowakamaru's complaint. However, the quality of the argument was lacking.
From the start, the former boy's curse caster had emitted an unpleasant aura. With every conversation, her animosity towards the female from the Miyataka clan seemed to accumulate. The problem was that, at 'this moment', they had no choice but to rely on her skills that were superior to their own.
"...If this isn't a kind of joke, was it planned from the beginning?"
The youngest daughter of Ako asked a serious and inquiring question. Shirowakamaru and Tamaki looked a little doubtful, not grasping the meaning of her words.
"...As long as I 'see', at least it won't be a bad thing, will it?"
A somewhat unbelievable response came back with an incredulous, lighthearted smile. The room fell silent for a moment.
"I see... You won't be satisfied no matter how much I caution you in this situation, will you?"
After a brief hesitation, Murasaki sighed and spoke with a sense of exasperation. Tamaki, understanding the implication of the words, displayed a mixture of a smile and confusion.
"...Is it okay?"
"You said it yourself... You must be prepared for this, right? Isn't that the case?"
"Hey, don't just decide things on your own...!!"
Feeling left behind in the situation, the former boy interjected, showing clear discontent and hostility.
"Let her handle it? Are you kidding me!? This isn't a game!!"
"Oh, my, is someone sulking because they're being treated as an outsider?"
"Don't touch me!!"
Voicing her dissatisfaction with Murasaki's decision, Shirowakamaru pushed away the hands of the female curse caster, who was trying to hug her gently. She grimaced and looked down upon the woman. She then returned her expression of loathing as if it was a spectacle.
"Shirowakamaru-kun..."
"As an expert, I understand your frustration about amateurs getting involved. But... this is different. There seems to be a guarantee, right?"
Tamaki apologized, feeling guilty about Shirowakamaru's resistance. Meanwhile, Murasaki did her best to soothe her family member. At the same time, she connected the suspicion she had about Tamaki and the current situation. She needed to investigate the mechanics more, but if her hunch was right, it made sense. And if Hotoya Tamaki was going to realize her own abilities through this opportunity, given her behavior earlier, it was for the best. Strike the iron while it's hot.
Yes, while the sensation of that power was still fresh...
"You're joking...!!?"
Shirowakamaru, still not convinced, was about to push back with a fierce rebellion. But then, she was interrupted. The fallen god dog, bound by the rope that Shirowakamaru had set up as part of her technique, began to thrash around as if trying to break free. Shirowakamaru commanded her technique to tighten even more while clicking her tongue. She released the talisman she had kept in her pocket.
Dozens of talismans stuck to the giant dog, but they started to burn from the edges. After all, it was difficult to confine both youkai energy and divine energy with disposable talismans for quantity, resulting in an insufficient seal.
"Even after all this, it still has that much power...!!? Hey, Tamaki!?"
As the struggling divine dog resisted in vain, Shirowakamaru cursed under her breath. Then, she called out to Tamaki, who was passing by her side. However, the girl didn't react at all.
Her gaze was solely fixed on the presence in front of her...
'Growl...!!'
Despite its jaws being sealed shut and its body immobilized, the divine dog continued to emit a fierce growl from the depths of its throat. Its eyes were wide open, almost popping out, fixated on Tamaki. It remained vigilant, menacing, and hostile, directed a clear intent to kill. Tamaki involuntarily held her breath in response to the clearly focused aura of hostility.
"It's okay... You're okay..."
The words she unconsciously muttered were directed at the divine dog, or perhaps at herself? A trace of unease lingered... If she failed, the dog she had unbound from close proximity could crush her skull with its jaws. It was an incredibly reckless and dangerous act. Yet, even so...
(Even so... it's worth a try)
She wanted to minimize anyone's suffering, even just a little. That was why she became an exorcist. That's why she had this power... or at least, that's what she wanted to believe.
"If divine energy is a problem... then I'll just take it away."
Touching the nose of the captive divine dog, Tamaki muttered. And then, she activated it. The power dormant within her.
Finally, she was starting to vaguely sense her own ability, her power of deprivation.
In her pursuit of even a glimmer of hope...
Once upon a time, maybe Hotoya Tamaki realized her hidden power without even knowing it in her young heart. Perhaps she held herself back from using it. This isn't a strange thing. Having too much power but not knowing how to control it can lead to big problems. They say having a strong mind, skills, and a healthy body is important. But even those can hurt themselves if they don't handle them well. And when it's their own special power, it's even trickier. They can't just give it away like a sword or a spear. After all, it's stuck with them forever. They have to live with it, whether they like it or not.
That's why sometimes it's better not to think about it too much. But deep down, Tamaki know it's there. And when something happens... like learning how to use that power or when her feelings change a lot, those limits will be released.
Miyamizu Shizu is a good example of the second case, and maybe Onitsuki Hina fits a little bit too. Shizu's power went out of control when her family pushed her to the edge. Hina had a bit of her 'annihilation' power before, but it really woke up when some youkais attacked.
And then, Tamaki. She grew up in a place where she didn't need to be powerful. Her home was safe, and she was a village leader's daughter, like a princess. She didn't have to worry about enemies or anything bad. So she never needed to be strong... until that one day.
Seeing her friend get hurt and taken away made Tamaki's heart change. She couldn't hold back her power anymore.
And she used it. It took away her existence. She felt like it was her right to do that.
Of course, she didn't really know what she was doing back then. She was just acting on her feelings without thinking. She snapped back to her senses because of Onitsuki's servant and a miracle caused by a special spider. But once the limits come off, they're off for good.
Hotoya Tamaki's mind may be one thing, but her skills and body have grown in the past few months to an unrecognizable degree. And slowly, she started realizing it. She could feel the power inside her.
"Ah...!!"
Without realizing it, Tamaki let her power out. She controlled it as best she could and let it loose. She saw dark shadows spreading from her body. But she didn't like it. She knew this would happen, but it was still scary.
(Taking power from others is like being a thief, but sometimes things can be used in a good way, right?)
She tried really hard to control her power and aimed it at the white dog that was now all black.
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