Drawn Swords (
Short Summary[]
Thinking that Bishamon had kidnapped Hiyori, Yato and Yukine travel to her estate in Takama-ga-hara to confront her. Kazuma and Hiyori, who are actually trapped in a sealed cave, discuss the Ma-clan's past and the events leading up to this situation.
Extended Summary[]
Thinking that Bishamon had kidnapped Hiyori, Yato and Yukine travel to her estate in Takama-ga-hara to confront her. Kazuma and Hiyori, who are actually trapped in a sealed cave, discuss the Ma-clan's past and the events leading up to this situation.
Extended Summary[]
Sayuri worries over an unconscious Hiyori, who is in a bed at Iki General Hospital. Takamasa assures her that she's unhurt, just sleeping. However, he looks visibly concerned when he quietly speaks to his colleague; he tells her that Hiyori's her breath is shallower and her pulse is lower than normal, and requests that she get an oxygen mask for her. Sayuri prays that Hiyori will wake up, and Yato, who had been listening on, exists the room with a look of determination.
Hiyori's spirit awakens with Kazuma, as the both of them are trapped inside a cave that is sealed with a curse. Hiyori tries to bust the door down by using a Jungle Savate, but it isn't effective. Hiyori wonders why Kugaha captured her in addition to Kazuma, and worries whether Yato is safe. Kazuma warns her that Yato should be of less concern at the moment– since this area is separated from the outside world by a curse, Hiyori will die if she remains here in her half-ayakashi form for too long.
Kazuma ponders the fact that he was unable to bind Kugaha using his name, and at first concludes that he must have another name in addition to Kuga. Kazuma then notes that they had seen only one name on his body when they were searching his fellow shinki for blight, so he is unsure of Kugaha's status except for the fact that he has betrayed Bishamonten.
Hiyori then asks why all of Bishamon's shinki's names end in "ha" while Kazuma's ends in "ma". Kazuma explains that gods typically assign a clan suffix to their shinki as a sign of ownership or familial intent. Bishamon currently unifies her shinki within the Ha clan. Prior to this her shinki were the Ma clan, of which Kazuma is the only survivor after many were killed by Yato. He explains that afterward, Bishamon was in bed grieving for ages before her pain turned to anger toward Yato. She then steadily named more and more shinki into the Ha clan, which Kazuma suspects she does to ease her guilt of losing the Ma clan. However, having so many shinki can take a large physical toll on a god. Kazuma admits that he loves her kindness, but worries that it could take her life one day. Kazuma then suddenly realizes that the betrayal of a shinki affecting Bishamon's health is very similar to an event of the past. He also realizes that if Hiyori has disappeared, Yato would assume that Bishamon had kidnapped her, which is exactly Kugaha's plan.
In Takama-ga-hara, Bishamon vows to herself that the next time she sees Yato she would exterminate him.
Meanwhile, Aiha asks Kugaha why they captured Kazuma as well, when they initially only planned to take Hiyori. Kugaha assures her that it's fine, since he's Bishamon's weakness and they may be able to use him in the future. Aiha then demands that Kugaha does something to fix the extensive amount of blight that appeared on her after she used the byakujō. Kugaha then threatens to reveal to everyone that she's blighted and force her through an Ablution if she doesn't obey his every command. He tells her to be patient until Bishamon is replaced, and passes her a dose of medication for the blight. Aiha is upset at the idea that he would try to replace Bishamon, but Kugaha quiets her by threatening her with the byakujō.
After Yato returns to Kofuku's house and tells Yukine what he knows of the situation, the two set out together with the intention of rescuing Hiyori from Bishamon. Daikoku tries to stop them, even telling Kofuku to use them– but Kofuku refuses, saying that doing so would cause a storm and human death. Daikoku urges her to think what would happen if Yato and Bishamon fought and killed each other– as a minor deity, Yato may not be replaced. Kofuku interrupts by slamming a 10,000 yen bill onto the table and shouting that they'd place bets: she Daikoku would bet on Yato and she would bet on Bishamon. That way, since she is the goddess of poverty, this would make Bishamon lose.
Yato and Yukine arrive at Tenjin's shrine to ask for transport to Takama-ga-hara. Tenjin refuses at first, but agrees on two conditions: 1) no one would know that Tenjin was the one who gave him passage, and 2) Yato would cut ties with Hiyori, having gotten her involved far too deeply in Far Shore matters. Yato agrees, and he and Yukine are promptly teleported to Bishamonten's estate.
The Ha clan shinki run awya immediately, afraid that he will kill them. Bishamon, standing on a rooftop, summons Gaiki and Sūki and beings to fire at Yato. He sumomons Sekki and deflects many of the bullets, but their shots are much more powerful without Kazuma there to regulate them.
Kugaha, who is watching the battle from inside, mentally cheers on for Yato, hoping that he'll succeed in killing Bishamonten.
Characters[]
Character Debuts[]
No new characters debuted in this chapter.