Returned from Another World, Earth Turned Out to Be Quite the Fantasy Too. Also, Losing Heroines, Stop Looking This Way. - Chapter 65

Chapter 65: “A God Slayer, huh?” ①

Mio Minazuki, dressed in her shrine maiden’s attire, was on her way to the local god.

By her side, her sister Miyako clung to her, looking frightened.

“Those without permission are not allowed to meet with the local god.”

“…I’ve come to be a sacrifice.” 

“Without the head of the family’s permission, such actions are not allowed.”

Mio intended to kill the local god.

It seemed impossible for a human to win, but she knew the blood flowing within her belonged to the local god. Until now, she deliberately hadn’t shown her power, but she believed if she gave her all, she could at least exhaust the weakened deity to the point where its divine presence would be diluted.

Yesterday, Mio learned from her mother that her father was the local god Mizuchi and that she was born out of true love between her parents.

She felt relieved knowing she was born from genuine love.

She was convinced because, when she greeted the local god as a child, she was surprised by its gentle gaze.

However, what she heard next was even more shocking. 

The local god Mizuchi wished for death, and Natsuki Yura, a classmate of Miyako, was to perform the act of killing the god. 

For some reason, the clan’s elders accepted this. They seemed to think that regardless of Natsuki Yura’s power, they should fulfill the god’s wish. On the other hand, people from the generation closer to her mother opposed this idea. They believed that gods should be worshipped as gods. If a sacrifice was needed, one should be offered. Killing a god was out of the question and attempting such an impossible feat would only bring displeasure.

However, once their mother and the elders declared it a decision from above, no further objections could be made. Surely by now, they would be reluctantly welcoming Natsuki.

“But, it’s my destiny…”

“…Onee-chan.”

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of everything.”

Mio was relieved to know that the local god did not desire a sacrifice.

She was comforted knowing her father was not such a deity. However, the fact that a sacrifice was deemed necessary was true. Thus, before her father would accept a sacrifice in an undesired manner, she decided she would kill him. If she couldn’t, she was prepared to be devoured instead.

Mio concealed dozens of talismans within her bosom.

These were the cherished talismans of the Minazuki family.

Even a god wouldn’t stand a chance if all of these were activated from the inside. 

(I’m aware of the folly in my actions. But if he failed and Miyako was to be offered as a sacrifice, it would be better for me to be devoured instead.)

Perhaps Mio herself didn’t truly believe she could kill a god. 

Yet, she couldn’t bear the thought of her dear sister being sacrificed.

Just as she was determined to forcefully proceed, even if it meant taking down the guards, 

“Huh? Someone’s already here?” 

Natsuki Yura, dressed in a school uniform, appeared, escorted by Kaya and others in hakama. 

“―Mama.” 

“M-Mother.”

Before Kaya could speak, Unkai noticed something and hurried over, thrusting her hand into Mio’s bosom.

Without allowing any objections, she seized and took away the talismans she was hiding. 

Unkai must have realized what Mio was planning. With a look of anger, she raised her hand. However, instead of striking Mio, Unkai embraced her tightly with all her might.

“Mio, don’t do something foolish. Sacrificing yourself alone will accomplish nothing.”

“But” 

“Worry not, you will not die alone. If you are to be sacrificed, I will follow you.”

“Grandma”

“I’m sorry for the hardships until now. But had I not done so, I would surely have run away with you. However, I regret not doing just that.”

“Grandma!”

Before she knew it, tears were flowing from Mio’s eyes. 

Unkai had always cherished and cared for her since she was young.

Mio thought their relationship had changed after she was chosen as a sacrifice, but in truth, she always knew Unkai had continued to care for her just the same. 

She had watched her from the shadows at sports festivals and cultural festivals. When she was a middle school student studying late into the night for exams, she left rice balls and miso soup outside her room.

She had always been thinking of freeing her from being a sacrifice. 

“Mio. Unkai-sama may be misunderstood, but she has always…”

“Yeah. I know. I’ve always known.”

“…I see.”

Unkai and Mio are not related as grandmother and granddaughter. 

However, Unkai loved Mio as a granddaughter, and Mio loved Unkai as she would a grandmother. 

The rift between them was also due to the sacrifice to the local deity. No, it was because the Minazuki family, because humans, had clung too much to the gods.

“From the magical power displayed earlier, it’s clear that Yura-dono possesses considerable strength, rivaling that of the demons and gods. We couldn’t muster such power even if we tried standing on our heads. May we entrust this to you?”

“Leave it to me. I do feel a sense of guilt, you know. Because of something I said carelessly, Miyako-san ended up being chosen as a sacrifice. Well, I’m not too worried about that part. But this situation feels like a bad dream, or something that even I would worry about.”

Natsuki gave a wry smile to the Counselor Seiun and nodded at Mio and Unkai, who were embracing each other.

“It might sound strange coming from me, but please leave it to me.”

Mio was somewhat perplexed about entrusting Natsuki, but Unkai, with tears still in her eyes, nodded back as if pleading. 

“There’s no turning back, okay?” 

“Of course, that’s the plan.”

After getting final confirmation from Kaya, Natsuki slowly stepped towards the sacred area where the local god was likely to be. 

The guards did not stop Natsuki.

“Ah, right.”

Before entering the sacred area, Natsuki turned back.

“Just to be safe, please evacuate from the Minazuki household for a while. Oh, and please try to move those guys I knocked out earlier. See ya!”

Upon entering the sacred area, Natsuki could hardly consider this place a “sacred area.”

It was too defiled.

While ordinary psychics might not see it, Natsuki, with a focused gaze, could see the divine power, muddied like dirt, flowing around the area.

“If only purification was possible, the outcome might have been different. Well, it can’t be helped.”

With a snap of his fingers, Natsuki cast a solid barrier, enveloping the sacred area with a double layer.