(Note: I was confused about Inari's gender, so I looked it up on the wiki. Inari Okami, the deity of agriculture and prosperity, can appear as male, female, or androgynous in Japanese mythology.
When associated with agriculture, rice, and fertility, Inari is often depicted as a goddess.
In the role of patron deity of blacksmiths, industry, and commerce, Inari can appear as a male god.
Sometimes Inari is regarded as an androgynous deity, possessing both male and female qualities, or even as a collective of multiple kami.
I suppose it's because many anime often depict Inari as a goddess that I always had the impression of them being female.)
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Chapter 248: How Could There Be a Crown Prince Who Lasts for Forty Years?
Inari Shrine, a famous landmark of Kyoto.
Now it had been sealed off by the Shinomiya family, used to help Jinguuji Tamaki seize the power of the God Inari. The God Inari was the son of Susanoo—one of the three children of Izanagi, the creator god in Japanese mythology. The other two were Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.
It could be seen that the power of the God Inari was by no means weak. He governed the harvest, and moreover, in the current Shinto religion, the faith devoted to him ranked among the top three, with shrines to him existing everywhere.
Outside the main hall of the Inari Shrine, aside from the important figures of the Shinomiya family, there was also someone Sakurai Saki had once met the previous summer.
Murakami Ryu, who had fought him in the Gyokuryu-ki event.
Murakami Ryu stared at the shrine with sharp eyes.
"Looks like Father is almost done with his task." His father, as a subordinate of Jinguuji Tamaki, was in charge of suppressing the power of all the Inari Gods scattered everywhere, weakening them to the lowest possible level.
The God Inari governed the harvest, and aside from insects, what he feared most were droughts and floods.
Continuous heavy rain for more than ten days straight was meant to create floods. Although this caused flooding everywhere and no small amount of property damage, the youkai did not care in the slightest, and the Shinomiya family—as a financial conglomerate—cared even less.
Through the doors of the main hall, Murakami Ryu could feel the increasingly powerful aura coming from within. He knew very well who was inside.
'White faced, golden furred nine-tailed fox—Tamamo-no-mae.'
That this woman could snatch away the power of the God Inari was in fact related to her origin.
The divine messengers of Inari were foxes; he was even called the "fox god." Thus, Tamamo-no-mae could rely on that connection to seize his power.
Murakami Ryu suddenly recalled the words his father once said.
Their family seemed to carry the bloodline of Yamata-no-Orochi. In mythology, Yamata-no-Orochi once devoured the sisters of Susanoo's wife—who were also the aunts of the God Inari—and was then slain by Susanoo.
No matter how one looked at it, this was a grudge that spanned generations, yet his father now served Tamamo-no-mae—the one about to become the God Inari. Truly incomprehensible.
The relationship between Murakami Ryu and his father was not good at all. That man was always violent, driven mad by the pain of losing his wife. In a single day, only half the time was he sane, and the other half he would not listen to anyone.
"Unable to form bonds with humans… Only after Mother died did Father become that way." Thinking of this, Murakami Ryu slightly shook his head.
Now, he had a human girlfriend. When he was young, because of his mischievousness, he was once caught and pulled ashore by fishermen, and it was that very girl who saved him. Such a life-saving debt, of course, had to be repaid with his own body.
It was now eight in the evening.
There were still a few more hours before the ritual would end.
Murakami Ryu still stood in the same place, until half an hour later he heard footsteps behind him. He turned his head.
A young man with such a striking appearance that even the moonlight could not overshadow him, as if his whole body glowed, was slowly walking toward him.
The corners of his lips carried a faint smile, looking very approachable.
"Sakurai…"
"Long time no see." The one who came was, of course, Sakurai Saki.
After waiting for Hayasaka Ai and Shinomiya Kaguya to finish their conversation, he had immediately come here.
Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai had already ended their master-servant relationship. As for what would happen afterward, Sakurai Saki did not know, but the fact that Kaguya was willing to 'break up' with his girlfriend put him in a very good mood.
The house Hayasaka Ai rented was also quite close to his own, so from now on they could return home together after school, and during winter or spring breaks he would no longer have to put up with Shinomiya Kaguya's sour looks.
"As expected, my guess back then was right."
"As for me, you had my head spinning with all your cryptic words." Sakurai Saki said with a smile.
Right now his mood was extremely refreshed.
Even when facing someone he had only met once, he could still smile warmly.
Now Sakurai no longer wore a mask; that smile came truly from the bottom of his heart.
"Tamaki-sama and you, what is your relationship?" Murakami Ryu lowered his voice to ask.
"My mother."
"You are… a fox?"
Sakurai Saki raised an eyebrow, a fox?
"Tamaki-sama is Tamamo-no-mae… wait, you don't know?"
"I am her adopted son." Sakurai Saki explained.
He did not understand why his mother had to hide this matter.
Having a mother who was a youkai was quite interesting.
As long as the affection she gave him was not false, Sakurai Saki did not care about her origin.
"You are very strong, when there's a chance let's test ourselves against each other." Murakami Ryu stared into Sakurai Saki's rainbow-glowing eyes. "Your eyes…"
Sakurai Saki adjusted his glasses. "What? You find the design beautiful?"
"Sorry, it's my first time seeing it, so I was a bit surprised."
"Where's your girlfriend?" Sakurai Saki still remembered very clearly, last time when Hayasaka Ai was not there, this guy even dared to brag hard!
This time, Sakurai Saki swore he would return it a thousandfold! Vengeance will be mine!
"She stayed in Fukuoka, this place is too dangerous."
"I see."
The two were just about to continue their conversation when from the main hall of the shrine came a sharp roar, resembling the howl of a dog.
"Abandon the youkai body, carry the power of Tamamo-no-mae to inherit the throne of the God, Tamaki-sama's plan is simply that." Murakami Ryu explained.
Sakurai Saki said nothing, he only turned his head to the side.
Murakami Ryu also looked over, not knowing since when on the other side a youkai had appeared. On his head grew two sharp dragon horns, the face of a middle-aged man, wearing a black haori kimono.
Father?
Standing next to him was the eldest son of the Shinomiya house — Shinomiya Oko.
…
"Red Dragon-dono, have you truly stepped into that realm already?" The bald head of Shinomiya Oko reflected the cold moonlight. His outward appearance looked gentle, but anyone observant would know that was only a facade.
This man was currently the one holding the greatest power in the Shinomiya house, even the current family head, Shinomiya Gan'an, had already been stripped of much authority.
The matter of Hayasaka Ai approaching Shinomiya Kaguya to investigate information was also under the orders of Shinomiya Oko.
"I know your thoughts." Murakami Aka stared intently at the main hall.
Shinomiya Oko wanted him and Jinguuji Tamaki, that fox, to fight to the death.
The purpose? Simply to prevent the current family head, Shinomiya Gan'an, from successfully extending his lifespan.
In this world, where would there be a 'crown prince' of forty years? Sorry, in truth, there was, and Shinomiya Oko was the example.
Even if Jinguuji Tamaki could not grant Shinomiya Gan'an immortality, helping him live a few more decades was far too easy.
By then, Shinomiya Gan'an would still be alive, while Shinomiya Oko would already have one foot in the grave.
"I and Lady Duckweed already have an agreement."
He wanted to revive his wife!
An old wish, but also the only goal that Murakami Aka had pursued for more than ten years — also his only hope.
"Are you certain that she can resurrect your wife? You must know that fox has toyed with countless people, please think very carefully." After Shinomiya Oko finished speaking, he turned to leave.
Murakami Aka closed his eyes, pondering for a while.
If…
A few seconds later.
Hmph. He mocked himself inwardly.
A simple sowing of discord, but very effective.