/
Great Sage 9 – What’s This, The Showa Era?
January 12, 2022Zathael
Onsen Inari….. official name [Thousand Years Onsen Inari Shrine] is about twenty minutes by bus from the station, overall the trip is no longer than three hours.
I could have flown over instead but I was concerned about Maya-chan who is tagging along, and she said that she wanted to visit the newly opened cafe in the station so we decided to spend some time there.
It’s early October but the clear afternoon’s light is warm so many people are still in short sleeves.
Maya-chan is wearing a cap with a sports brand logo, a polo shirt, and jeans. It has a rough look but perhaps because of her sense of style, it draws the attention of those around her.
The cafe is self service so it’s full of youngsters enjoying their break.
I somehow manage to order and enjoy having carbonated water for the first time in a while.
“What are you thinking about? Are you some kid?”
It seems Maya-chan’s anger has not yet subsided, I look at my glass and narrow my eyes.
“For some reason there was no carbonated juice on the other side. More importantly, tapioca pearls are still popular?”
In the store was a [New Release!] poster for tapioca milk tea royal something something. I look at Maya-chan’s glass and tilt my head.
“Eh….. Oh you’re right, they were popular in the late 90’s too”
Maya-chan is using that buttonless calculator like thing.
“What’s that”
“Smartphones weren’t around nineteen years ago huh”
Then she gave me an explanation of modern internet and smartphones…..
“That’s amazing, truly [any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic]”
I’m somewhat moved.
“These days having a smartphone is….. well a family register and money and common sense are all also necessary”
“For money I have something in mind, and I’ve got common sense”
Inside my storage magic there’s many items that have no value in the other world that seem like they would go for a high price here.
“Common sense huh, then why did you do that to mom”
“Well I only realised halfway myself…..”
That was after I fit the ring on Kanako-chan’s finger.
“Mom’s stuck in bed isn’t she”
No matter how much I tried to explain, Kanko-chan drifted to her room saying “Let me rest for a bit”.
I had completely forgotten about wedding rings or engagement rings.
In the other world, rings were considered to be items for magic so that concept didn’t exist.
“I properly explained to her that it was to protect her and that it would keep us connected”
“I’m not sure the misunderstandings been cleared, if anything it’s scary to think it might complicate more”
Maya-chan glares at me further.
“You’re keeping the fact you’re a yokai a secret right, I figured that it would be bad to talk about magic”
“It’s so that a mistake that could cause mom’s ability to awaken doesn’t happen, so please don’t say anything strange to her”
I figured that was the situation but how am I supposed to fix this misunderstanding without mentioning those things…..
“Well whatever, you didn’t have any bad intentions so I’ll forgive you this time. If you don’t have any problems with money then should we go buy a smartphone? You won’t be able to make calls but we can get a second hand one and try use wifi and things”
There was something that stood out to me about this topic.
The latest development of the internet, wireless transmission and small mobile computer terminals. The more I learn about it the more I notice the similarities with magic items in the other world. Almost as if one of the technologies was leaked to the other.
In my time as an adventurer when I joined the hero’s party, there was a magic item known as [Status Window] that was popular.
It read the strength and characteristics of you and your opponents and displayed them as things like level and status. I wasn’t good with them though…..
It worked by receiving the mana floating around simillar to radio waves, and had a smartphone like touch screen that floated in the air as an output.
There’s also many other items that come to mind.
Were there other reincarnators in that world besides me?
No even if that was the case, the problem of technical skill and available parts would remain when trying to use magic to emulate high tech.
If anything maybe they opened gate periodically to make round trips but…..
I haven’t heard about anything like that and thinking about gate’s characteristics, the energy efficiency would terrible.
However my intuition was telling me to get to the bottom of this.
Although in my wallet only two 10,000 yen notes remain,
“Can I buy one under 10,000 yen with Fukuzawa Yukichi-sama”1
“If you’re not picky about the model or age then there should be some I think. Also the design for the 10,000 yen note has changed slightly but it’s still Fukuzawa Yukichi”
After that we wandered into a large appliance and mobile shop.
While I was suprised by how thin televisions have become and automatic cleaning machines, Maya-chan smiled while explaining them to me.
I was concerned because along the way it seemed that her large chest pushed against mine many times but by the time we purchased a second hand smartphone it seems she regained a good mood.
Looking at her smile, she seems like a young girl enjoying a date.
The mixture of the childish characteristics of her generation and her allure results in a blinding charm.
That reminds me that I spent my high school days in darkness and even after going to the other world I devoted my time to training and subjugating the demon lord so I haven’t been on a date before.
As I gaze at the clear autumn sky, I thought to myself that today would be the perfect day for a date…..
Just a little bit, I understand the feelings of old men who pay money to highschoolers.
×　×　×　×　×
Passing through the winding mountain roads, large Torii could be seen from the bus.2
The entrance, which is said to be over 100 stone steps, is lined with Torii. It almost felt like walking up a red tunnel.
Maya-chan tilts her head,
“That’s strange, usually they would immediately appear. I haven’t been able to reach them since earlier”
She stuffs her smartphone into her pocket.
Then as we proceed through the red tunnel,
“Now that we’re finally alone”
I listen with slightly upturned eyes.
Aah, could this be a confession of love.
“Can you finally spit out everything that happened last night?”
Yeah that’s what I expected.
“According to your aunt’s story, the Kashizu sect is aiming for Kanako-chan’s eyes right”
“Yeah”
“Have you had contact with the Kashizu sect before?”
“Many times, Around the store in the dead of night like yesterday as you would expect….. but it’s the first time they’ve launched a surprise attack like that”
“Not to mention last night…..”
“That’s right, why did the butterfly of the Shimogami school appear?”
“Butterfly?”
“There’s no mistaking that technique, no one else can use a hand fan to control so many shikigami. Within the Shimogami school there’s only one or two onmyouji specialised in sealing. Not to mention their face and true name are still a mystery, a lone wolf who specialises in espionage and assasination”
“Sounds impressive”
“I couldn’t get a good look because of the distance and angle but what were they like?”
“If I remember correctly she was a girl around your age”
Something about this topic bothers me but…..
Well if I can’t remember then it can’t be anything important.
“Basically last night’s suprise attack and the appearance of an onmyouji is a first”
“That’s right, what about it?”
“The practitioner that my piece was chasing fled to this area”3
“Hey what are you trying to say?”
Because she pulled strongly on my arm, Maya-chan’s chest once again pressed against me.
Isn’t she doing this on purpose at this point?
“Maybe your aunt went through with the contract with the Shimogami school. Then the Kashizu sect caught wind of it and took emergency actions”
Maya-chan tilts her head.
“Why”
“If you think about it that way it makes sense”
For example someone might have covered for the remaining cost, or the condition for one of Kanako-chan’s [eyes] was altered, or some other change occurred.
When Ryuuki saw me he asked if I was ‘Hired by the kitsune’ so the Mafia must have some kind of agreement with with them.
Plus the shrine maiden clothes girl only observed and didn’t attack me together with the Mafia. Her actions were a tactic to profit while others fight.
So the Mafia who noticed my dispute with Maya-chan suddenly attacked, and in their panic they all rushed in and that happened.
“Or something like that”
“It may make sense but I can’t accept it. If that’s the case, why didn’t auntie talk to me”
Maya-chan pouts her lips.
“Maybe because the condition was difficult to tell you”
“In what way?”
“That’s what I intend to ask but…..”
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps causes me to lift my head.
“Pretty good reasoning you have there, that’s correct”
There was a single man wearing komusou clothing…..4
He hits his hands together happily while approaching us.
×　×　×　×　×
With the loud roar of the engines, two motorbikes stop at the bottom of the steps and two men with leather jackets and good physique look up to us.
He’s probably not here to ask for alms and I can feel some faint mana from the men on bikes below.
“Strange, I didn’t notice at all”
To not notice their presence until they were in point blank range, something is definitely wrong.
Just in case I activate search magic but,
[I have no interest in men]
I could only get that strange response.
The komusou approaching from the front threw his tall hat with great strength.
“My name is Yuikuu, an anti demon warrior bestowed with the power of vajra as a guardian of Buddhism. Inhuman being who inflicts harm upon humans, I declare that I will neither advance nor back down from this position”
He swings around the staff in his hands.
It looks like Kabuki, it’s kinda cool.
His face seems around the early thirties, a wild type handsome man with stubble.
Concerned about the gap in my magic, I pull the [Status Window] out of my storage magic.
“Window open”
I look at the komusou as I yell and the low level and status values rapidly rise. It seems he’s not just hiding his presence, he’s also controlling his mana quantity.
Moreover in that brief moment, the komusou kept his promise and didn’t attack. Simply watched us and smiled.
Relieved that my intuition hasn’t slipped, I close the status window.
As expected I’m not good with them so I’ll go without it.
“Hey Maya-chan, have you done something wrong?”
Just in case I confirm with the person beside me.
“Probably, not a lot…..”
Her eyes are darting about, I should press her about it later.
“That girl is innocent!”
The person before us replied so,
“Hmph, you may try to conceal it but that unearthly atmosphere and wicked face you hide, don’t think that you can fool my eyes!”
The tip of his staff points towards me.
It was just like the tokusatsu heroes or period drama protagonists I admired as a child.5
“W- What!!”
I also do my best and take a surprised pose.
To which Maya-chan looks between me and the komusou,
“What’s this, the Showa era?”
――And makes an extremely displeased face.
Translator’s Notes:
1: Fukuzawa Yukichi is a japanese writer amongst other things and an early advocate for reform in the Meiji period. He is featured on the 10,000 yen note.
2: Torii are traditional japanese gates found at Shinto shrines.
3: I’ve changed mage to practitioner because in retrospect its probably better to make a distinction between western type magic and eastern type magic. This change has been applied retroactively to previous chapters.
4: Komusou are monks of the Fuke school of Buddhism that wear kimono alongside a straw basket on their head and are known for playing a shakuhachi flute.
5: Tokusatsu is a type of live action show that makes heavy use of special effects like ultraman or kamen rider.