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In the suburbs of Ashikaga City, within the spacious estate of the Migiwa family, two men sat at a tea table, engaged in casual conversation.
Migiwa Ichirou, Akira's father, skillfully brewed tea as he addressed the middle-aged man across from him.
"Daisuke, you've rarely come for tea since you were promoted to Meikai Priest. Are you preparing for the highest-ranking Joukai Priest examination?"
The middle-aged man seated opposite Migiwa Ichirou was Harada Daisuke, the Meikai Priest who had led the members of the Mondai Inari Shrine to inspect the situation in Okukozome half a month ago.
"I was preparing for the highest priest examination, but because of the major incident half a month ago, I was specially promoted for handling it well!" Harada Daisuke pointed to his priestly robes, boasting slightly.
"Hmm? Is that Joui?" Migiwa Ichirou said, surprised. There were strict rules about what clothes each rank of priest could wear. Joui was a garment worn only by the highest-ranking priests, representing the top-tier Joukai Priests. Priests of this rank were usually the highest authority figures in a shrine or their successors.
"Yes, I thought I was going to die, but the situation turned around. I was so lucky!" Harada Daisuke sighed deeply. Even now, he still couldn't calm down, remembering the moment the highest position, vacant for a thousand years, was claimed by a young Devil King.
He had defied the Devil King and yet managed to survive, even getting promoted. It was exhilarating! And he had heard that recently, that Devil King almost sank the Balkan Peninsula in Europe over a woman.
"A near-death situation? It's not good to remind me of things related to the magical side of things, is it?" Migiwa Ichirou surveyed his surroundings, confirming that no one else was present before relaxing and looking at his childhood friend.
Migiwa Ichirou, who had risen to become a member of the House of Representatives in the Japanese Diet and was even a strong contender for the position of Speaker, naturally knew something about Harada Daisuke's work.
Although information control had been imposed on the general public for a thousand years, those who carried out the control tasks were usually influential Diet members like him. Therefore, Diet members were considered insiders when it came to the world of magic.
"It's alright. I came here to inform you about some things because you've been involved in this major incident!" Harada Daisuke said helplessly.
If he could, he wouldn't want his good friend, who had taken care of him during their youth, to be involved.
But recently, while organizing information about the people around the Godslayer, he discovered that his friend's illegitimate daughter, whom he had been secretly protecting, could be considered a potential concubine candidate for the Godslayer!
As the Godslayer's potential father-in-law, it was impossible to say he wasn't involved.
"I'm already involved? Are there any negative consequences?" Migiwa Ichirou's pupils constricted. Knowing something about the magical world, he understood its ruthlessness. Clan extermination was commonplace in the magical world.
Recently, there were even rumors that some centuries-old families had been wiped out for challenging the status of the legendary Kyoto Four Families – the Sayanomiya family.
"There probably won't be any negative consequences. In fact, your chances of being elected Speaker of the House of Representatives are practically guaranteed! It's just that it's directly related to Akira," Harada Daisuke said thoughtfully.
"Akira? What happened to her? Is she alright?" Upon hearing the name he cared deeply about, Migiwa Ichirou ignored the information about his guaranteed election as Speaker.
He felt immense guilt towards the child his beloved had risked her life to bear for him, enduring gossip and defying danger years ago.
Suddenly hearing that his daughter seemed to be involved in the ruthless world of magic, his concern overwhelmed him, and he couldn't help but ask repeatedly.
"That child has been noticed by a very important person at the heart of this incident!" Harada Daisuke carefully chose his words, preparing his friend for what was to come.
"Important person? Who?" Hearing that his daughter had only been noticed by an important person and wasn't in any immediate danger, Migiwa Ichirou's tense heart relaxed. Sipping the slightly bitter tea, he inquired further.
"That important person's status, in today's Japan, is equivalent to the Emperor's significance in ancient Japan!" Harada Daisuke's face was etched with a wry smile and a hint of mockery.
He and his friend had supported each other to reach their current positions. One was about to become Speaker, and the other was about to succeed as the highest priest of the shrine.
They were both on the verge of reaching the peak of their lives, and it was all because of the Godslayer. Success was so simple, yet opportunity often came with extreme danger.
He knew countless people envied their positions and would have acted against them if not for the King's influence. But they both knew their own situations well. They could say they were connected to the Godslayer, but the King probably didn't even know who they were! To solidify their current positions, it seemed they had to start with that poor child. He just didn't know if his friend could be ruthless enough.
Migiwa Ichirou gasped, understanding the significance of the "important person's" status. His years of political experience helped him grasp their current predicament.
"Use Akira to get closer to that important person? After abandoning her in her youth, leaving her to live alone at the shrine for sixteen years, I have to sacrifice her future happiness as well?" Migiwa Ichirou's hands trembled uncontrollably.
The image of his deceased lover flashed through his mind. He couldn't overcome the barrier in his heart.
"If we don't sacrifice her, both of our families will be facing death. Besides, marrying her childhood sweetheart isn't necessarily a bad thing! We're just giving them a little push," Harada Daisuke said, understanding his friend's feelings. He had been present during the incident years ago and had even advised Migiwa Ichirou's former lover's parents to maintain their marriage for Akira's sake.
"Hmm? Childhood sweetheart?" Hearing Harada Daisuke's words, Migiwa Ichirou's eyes widened. Based on his understanding of someone with "Emperor-like" status, he naturally thought of the current Emperor Yamato, an old man in his nineties, taking an interest in his illegitimate daughter. What father would be happy about that?
"Oh! Look at my memory! Let me explain in detail about the Devil King on Earth." Seeing Migiwa Ichirou's expression, Harada Daisuke knew he had misunderstood. He slapped his forehead and began explaining the Devil King's story.
The Heretic Gods, who defied mythology and descended upon the earth to wreak havoc, and the mortals who rose up to resist their tyranny.
Each of their stories was like a series of miracles, with weak mortals defying the odds to defeat the omnipotent gods who wielded divine authority, usurping their powers to rule over all things on Earth, becoming Devil Kings revered by all.
"You're saying that Dr. Kasugano's grandson killed a god and became the Godslayer, thus ruling over Japan?" Migiwa Ichirou stared at Harada Daisuke, dumbfounded.
If they hadn't been friends for decades, he would have suspected Harada was some kind of Kigong master sent to prank him.
"Don't be so skeptical. That's exactly what happened. Remember the meteorite impact incident at the shrine where Akira was staying half a month ago? That was actually the King's God-slaying battle. Kasugano, the King, faced the boundless divine power of Tsukuyomi at the shrine and slew him as a mortal," Harada Daisuke said, sensing Migiwa Ichirou's doubt. He quickly provided an example as proof.
"Think about it. With technology and magic so advanced, if a meteorite were to hit here, the government would have issued an evacuation notice hours in advance. They wouldn't have just notified you to make an announcement after the fact!" Harada Daisuke argued passionately, his voice filled with conviction. He was a legitimate priest!
"I was in Tokyo preparing for the Speaker election at the time. I didn't handle the cover-up, so I really didn't know!" Migiwa Ichirou responded, still in a daze.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door, and the old butler's voice came through.
"Sir, Mr. Harada, Miss Migiwa, and Miss Akira have brought Dr. Kasugano's grandson to visit."
"NANII?!"
...
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