Chapter 147: Standing Alone (8)

The shrine Ryosuke had left was filled with silence.

The whispering of rustling leaves, the breathing sounds created by swaying branches.

Even the sounds of insects singing between the trees and the fluttering of flying insects' wings had completely disappeared. The forest seemed as if the present world had suddenly changed into another world, and the darkness that repeatedly appeared and disappeared in the moonlight sank even more heavily, creating an incredibly eerie atmosphere.

As if to cut through that silence, a man's voice flowed from the smartphone along with static noise.

[ Tsk tsk. It's truly regrettable to see him reject the opportunity given and run away with his tail between his legs. ]

Rise swallowed hard at the words flowing from the smartphone, then put the strap attached to it in her mouth. With the smartphone in her mouth, Rise adjusted the collar of her thin yukata, then held up the smartphone to face herself.

Rise looked directly into Jinseong's eyes reflected on the smartphone and asked:

"Kannushi-sama. I have a question."

[ What is it? ]

"Why did you just let him go?"

Rise's face looked slightly angry.

"From what I saw, that congressman clearly seemed to have betrayed you, Kannushi-sama. Moreover, even though you lowered yourself to make a request, he didn't comply, and instead made excuses and escaped as if dealing with a bothersome person. It was an incredibly ungrateful behavior that I can't believe is an attitude towards a benefactor."

Rise paused as if to catch her breath, then asked:

"Is it clear that Congressman Ryosuke has betrayed you, Kannushi-sama?"

[ That is correct. ]

Jinseong clearly affirmed Rise's words.

[ It is as you say. There was fear but no reverence, and he was full of hesitation. Trust was nowhere to be found, and faith was not felt either. It was just like a person facing a predator trying to avoid that place, and like a human facing adversity trying to run away with all their might rather than confronting it. Just by seeing this, one can tell that loyalty and trust have been shattered. ]

"Then why..."

Rise was about to ask why he just let him go, but swallowed her words.

Because she saw Jinseong about to move his lips.

[ Yes. You must be curious. I called him to use him to organize the cursed objects, but the one I called didn't even think of entering in front of the torii, and I didn't bring up anything about his relationship with the onmyoji or his betrayal that I should have questioned, so it's understandable to have doubts.]

Jinseong lightly brushed the front of the smartphone with his hand.

As if the blurry and dirty camera lens had been wiped, Jinseong's figure appeared clearly, and his face, as if freshly washed, was revealed.

[ You must know the meaning of the torii. It is the boundary and gate that separates the land of the gods from the land of humans. Crossing it means entrusting oneself to the gods, giving up one's right of life and death to someone other than oneself. And naturally, such an action requires deep trust, a faith that can entrust even one's life. ]

"Yes..."

[ Those without faith cannot see it and cannot cross it. Isn't this the very indicator of trust? Especially since that Ryosuke instinctively hesitated, not having learned this fact through reason or knowledge. This means his instinct rejected us. ]

Jinseong said this and then closed his mouth for a moment before opening it again.

[ However... Yes. I didn't think he would have enough intuition not to cross the torii, so this could be called a miscalculation. But even if it's a miscalculation, there's no loss, so it's not a bad thing. ]

Rise nodded at Jinseong's words.

[ If not entering the torii was a miscalculation, what followed was only a test. It was an invaluably precious opportunity to save his life by accepting the chance I gave, a precious test to gather at least some of the water about to spill. ]

Jinseong said this and then smiled fiercely.

[ Infinitely strong to the weak and infinitely weak to the strong, truly a useless appearance. If only he had proven his usefulness, he could have saved his life and maintained his wealth and power... Huh, truly useless. Not the usefulness of uselessness, but having usefulness yet not utilizing it. What else can we call this but junk! ]

He looked at Rise.

[ In ancient times, there was a man named Zhili Su. He was such a severe hunchback that his lower jaw was buried below his navel, his shoulders were higher than the crown of his head, his internal organs were above his head, and his thighs touched his sides, so he could be said to be truly far from what people call beauty. ]

Jinseong began to tell the story.

[ But even useless things have their uses. Trees that seem useless can grow and survive because of their uselessness, and land that has nothing can maintain its purity without being dug up because of its uselessness. This Zhili Su, despite his appearance, had enough talent to make a living, and he had a talent for sorting rice, feeding ten family members. Moreover, he escaped conscription due to his extremely ugly appearance, and escaped labor due to chronic illness. Furthermore, he could live out his natural lifespan receiving food and firewood from the country because his body was inconvenient even though he had the talent to make a living, this is the usefulness of seemingly useless things! ]

Jinseong stopped speaking incessantly and smiled.

A smile filled with killing intent, unfitting for his rabbit-like face.

[ However, Ryosuke is a being that deviates from this principle of uselessness. He proved his usefulness by leading people through politics, showed ambition in trying to climb up by grasping the branches lowered by great trees, and by rejecting pleasure and gaining specialness, he became someone far removed from uselessness. However, he is the type to submit to the strong but always hide a knife and change masters, so without loyalty to go together with affection, only his usefulness was keeping him alive.... ]

"...He failed to prove his usefulness."

[ That's right. If one doesn't demonstrate their ability where it should be used, how is that different from having no ability? So that fellow's fate has been decided here and now. However, yes, he spoke of an auspicious day and promised a later date, so that will be the end of his allotted lifespan, the day he will depart on his journey to the afterlife. ]

Rise slightly raised her head to look at the sky and thought.

Ryosuke, who had to die for betraying and failing to prove his usefulness.

There were sufficient reasons for him to die.

He didn't even gauge the magnitude of the favor bestowed upon him and tried to stab in the back.

It was right for him to die.

But if conditions determine a person's life.

If Ryosuke's life was decided to continue or end based on the condition of 'usefulness'.

What condition am I living by?

And if that condition disappears, will I also be discarded like this?

Rise immediately erased the delusion that had just arisen.

He said he would make me happy....

Why did such a negative thought suddenly arise?

Why did such an absurd doubt come up?

Was it because he left Japan and contact became infrequent?

Did delusions arise in her heart because of the physical distance?

...I said I believed him.

Rise desperately erased the slight, very slight doubt that had arisen in her heart.

And pushing it aside to the back of her mind, she lowered her head again, repeating the resolution she had made in the past over and over.

When she looked at the smartphone again, she could see Jinseong looking at her as before.

But Jinseong's lips were tightly closed, and his eyes were focused as if trying to look at her closely.

How long had he been looking like that?

[ You're falling into delusion over such strange things. ]

"W-what?"

Rise was flustered by the sudden words that hit the mark.

[ Tsk tsk. Yes, troubles follow practice. Honing body and mind and seeking the Way is like walking with closed eyes in a place without a speck of light, so it's dark, truly dark, and other thoughts come up from time to time. ]

Gently, Jinseong taught Rise who looked flustered.

[ Is the path I'm taking right, is the direction I'm going correct? Such doubts are natural, wondering if there's a cliff or a venomous snake in front of me, if I'll bump into a huge tree if I keep walking, if there's a thief beyond looking at me and planning to steal my money, if a ruffian will grab me and drag me away. It's natural for such doubts and worries to overwhelm you like a mountain. These things are natural, and a path everyone must go through. Only true faith will become a compass to lead you to the right place. ]

Jinseong spoke strongly and clearly.

[ Believe in me. ]

Jinseong's face looked serious as he said this.

[ Believe in me who said I would make you happy. And see the truth by escaping delusion. ]

Rise wore a blank expression for a moment at that firmness.

[ How could I abandon someone who doesn't even know the definition of happiness? It would be like releasing a baby animal that can't even take care of itself into the wild, or throwing a bird that can't even move its wings properly off a cliff. So forget your worries and just follow and believe in me. Find the path to happiness, and move forward with a firm heart through new gods and new faith. ]

Rise's expression changed.

Every time she heard Jinseong say he wouldn't abandon her and would make her happy, her expression gradually softened, and the corners of her mouth slowly rose. Eventually, the delusion in her eyes turned into faith, and the incredibly sweet words in her ears melted her face.

"Yes, I'll believe you."

Rise smiled broadly.

That expression looked, more or less, happy.