The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 270

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully – 269

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully Episode 269

Nox (12)

Yuseongwoo was talking with Shuten-doji inside the Abyss.

Since Shuten-doji had completely withdrawn his hostility, Yuseongwoo had no choice but to sheathe his sword as well.

Besides, Shuten-doji was going to cooperate in achieving his goal, so there was no reason to fight and waste strength.

‘I don’t know if he has another real purpose, though…’

Shuten-doji was surprisingly cooperative.

He agreed to hide the Abyss for a while to deceive Inari, and later agreed to cooperate when Yuseongwoo went to deal with the person responsible for the disturbance.

As they were heading back, Koyuki asked.

“Come to think of it, what happened to Inari-sama’s shikigami [a spirit servant] that was on your arm?”

“It couldn’t withstand the fight with Shuten-doji and disappeared.”

It wasn’t a lie.

The energy that clashed between Yuseongwoo and Shuten-doji was close to divinity.

No matter how much it was a god’s shikigami, it couldn’t withstand it, and the fox pattern on his wrist had disappeared long ago.

“…Inari-sama’s shikigami.”

The conversation ended there.

After a while, they arrived at Fushimi Inari Shrine, the main hall.

This time, it was the main hall where people were kept away, not the inner chamber, and Schueranel and Hong Seohwa also attended.

As Koyuki offered a prayer in the main hall, the wind blew and the sound of bells rang.

Light filled the wide-open back door, and the sound of footsteps echoed.

The footsteps passed by the three of them, and soon the owner of the footsteps appeared.

The Inari god with fox ears and tail, whom they had seen before, appeared before them.

However, despite seeing the appearance of such a noble god, the three’s reactions were lukewarm.

Yuseongwoo was like that because it was his second time seeing it.

Hong Seohwa didn’t understand what was so great about it.

In the first place, Schueranel was a high elf who was closer to the divine ‘World Tree’ than anyone else.

“…You guys have no respect for the gods at all.”

“If we have that, will we get food or something? Will you show us the miracle of the loaves and fishes?” Yuseongwoo asked bluntly.

“As you said, I dealt with Gyuki, Satori, and Shuten-doji. I also caught some others along the way, but I’ll be generous and let it slide.”

At his words, Inari felt a headache coming on.

She pressed her fingers against her forehead and took a long breath before speaking.

It was better to deal with the matter quickly, as continuing to manifest would only drain her divine power.

“Okay, since you kept your promise, I’ll tell you. The one who tempted your cute little dragon is Takehayasusanoonomikoto (建速須佐之男命), one of the Three Noble Children (三貴子) of Takamagahara [the heavenly realm in Japanese mythology]. He is also called Susanoo, the god of war (軍神).”

“I knew it.”

“Did you know?”

“I was expecting it. Susanoo is the only one in Japanese mythology with a dragon slaying (龍殺) myth.”

“You’re from across the sea, but you seem to know a lot about Japanese mythology. Yes, Susanoo chose that young dragon as his incarnation (化神).”

“Good, then… tell me where Susanoo is, Inari.”

“Susanoo does not come out of Takamagahara. He only gives oracles through his shrines from time to time.”

“…Then I’d like you to open the way to Takamagahara.”

At his words, Inari shook her head, saying she couldn’t do that.

Takamagahara is the sacred realm of Japan.

It is a place where only those who have been recognized as Japanese deities through legitimate procedures can enter.

Even if she had told Yuseongwoo that she would provide information, opening the way to Takamagahara was beyond her authority.

“If that’s the case, the quality of the information seems to be too poor compared to what I’ve done. Don’t you know that a deal should always be an equal exchange?”

No, how would they know?

They’ve only been reigning while receiving offerings until now.

They know the importance of the believers, but what would those who have always been engaged in unfair transactions know?

And as expected, Inari stubbornly refused.

Just mentioning Susanoo’s name was a big burden, so she couldn’t open the way to Takamagahara.

Yuseongwoo said slyly.

“Then there’s no choice but for Kudan’s prophecy to come true.”

And he got up from his seat and continued.

“I’m going to go out and destroy all the historical sites in Kyoto from now on. I’m also going to destroy this Inari Shrine main hall, and I’m going to destroy every shrine I see.”

“……!”

“If I destroy the shrines, you’ll also weaken. While you’re raising your true form to catch and kill me, I’ll escape in the meantime. Ah, if a deity directly intervenes in the human realm, they have to pay the price, so they’ll become incredibly weak. At that point, I might be able to kill you myself…….”

Yuseongwoo began to weigh his options.

Would she keep the promise halfway and lose everything, or would she open the way to Takamagahara?

It was a trick that Inari had been tricked by once before, but it was a trick that she had no room to back down from.

“…You bastard.”

Inari’s face changed fiercely.

As Inari, whose face was closer to a fox than a human, even started growling, Yuseongwoo smirked and said.

“Just kidding.”

“There’s a limit to jokes…….”

“I won’t touch the Inari Shrine. But I’m going to destroy all the other shrines. Kyoto, Osaka, Nara… if there’s nothing more to destroy, I’ll go up to Tokyo and destroy them. There’s a famous Grand Shrine there, isn’t there? It would be spectacular to destroy and burn it.”

The choices had changed.

Would she only take care of her own safety and leave the other gods alone, or would she open the way to Takamagahara with the thought of taking care of everyone?

Either way, the outcome could not be guaranteed.

She glanced back at Koyuki.

She was trembling.

This must be the essence of that man.

The ominous energy flowing from his whole body is immeasurable how much slaughter he has committed.

He is a man made of murder, like a sharp blade.

Just by revealing his energy slightly, ordinary people can only be afraid.

Hyeonhyeoninshin (現顯人神) [a person who has manifested as a god].

Because he is a person who has reached divinity in a human body, not a spirit body, he can wield that power freely on the ground.

Unless the gods descend and unite, there would be no way to stop him.

Inari realized she had a headache and said.

“Okay! I lost! I lost! I will open the way to Takamagahara!”

“That’s very kind of you.”

“But I can’t open it to the area where the gods are. They’ll notice soon and fly over to slaughter you.”

“Thanks for the consideration.”

It was Inari’s last remaining conscience. She thought about dropping him right in the middle of the gods, but it wasn’t the right thing to do.

He kept his promise.

“Then when should I open the door…….”

“I don’t intend to drag it out. Let’s leave at dawn tomorrow.”

Inari, hearing Yuseongwoo’s answer, disappeared.

She had been manifesting for quite a while, so she had heard everything she needed to hear and left.

Yuseongwoo gestured to Hong Seohwa and Schueranel to go.

Hong Seohwa picked up Schueranel, who was already curled up like a cat and sleeping, and followed him.

He was such a carefree guy.

***

The next day at dawn, Yuseongwoo left Schueranel and Hong Seohwa and headed to Inari Shrine alone.

It was an unavoidable choice because the two had other things to do.

He walked up the Inari Shrine before sunrise.

As he entered the boundary of the divine realm, the torii (鳥居) [traditional Japanese gate], and walked, at some point, another footstep was heard matching his own.

“…Do you know what it means to have reached divinity even though you have not lived for a hundred years yet?”

“I don’t know.”

“It means you have poured out your life into one thing. Even if you pour your whole life into one thing, it is unclear whether it will reach divinity or not. It is a realm that only those whose talents reach the sky can reach.”

“…….”

“The karma (業) [the sum of a person’s actions] that is felt in you is mostly filled with murder (殺業). It is a karma that cannot be filled by living an ordinary life, so if you die and fall into hell, you will suffer forever.”

“I don’t care. As long as I can achieve my goal. I’ve come too far to think about what happens after death.”

Inari, who was walking next to him, stopped.

When Yuseongwoo turned around, Inari closed and opened her eyes in the blowing wind and asked.

Her well-ripened wheat-colored, sparkling eyes seemed to pierce through him.

“Don’t you think it’s an excessive wish to have accumulated so much murder and desire peace and tranquility (安寧) [a state of calmness]?”

Yuseongwoo also shone with red eyes.

What is murder, what is karma?

It’s none of his business.

He fought to survive, and he killed others to win life.

He is a sword completed by death.

He has already taken so much from others, would anything change if he took a little more greed?

No.

“I’m going to get what I want. I’ve lived like that so far. No matter what I have to do…….”

Even if he loses everything he has built up so far, if he gets what he wants.

That is a sufficient result.

As he clenched his fist tightly, Inari smirked and stretched out her hand to the side.

Then, golden energy gathered and created a dimensional door that could fit one person.

“It is a passage to the opposite side of Takamagahara, the underworld (冥界), hell (地獄). I can’t open the door to Takamagahara, so be satisfied with this.”

“How long does it take to get to Takamagahara from there?”

“It depends on luck. If you’re lucky, a day, if you’re unlucky, ten years. But the time in the mortal realm and the heavenly realm flows differently, so don’t worry too much. Even if you wander for a hundred years, only a hundred days will have passed.”

“That’s good.”

Yuseongwoo walked into the dimensional door without thinking any further.

Inari would never have dreamed.

That he would have a helper in hell.

As his figure disappeared, Inari closed the dimensional door and sat down on the stairs.

“Sigh… I must be getting old.”

With a sigh, she admired the sunrise that was just beginning to rise.

***

Shuten-doji was in hell one step ahead of Yuseongwoo.

Yamata no Orochi was a yokai [a supernatural creature] in the past, but now he is a dragon god who has officially registered his name in Takamagahara.

‘I wonder if he arrived safely.’

He recalled Yuseongwoo as he poured alcohol from the bottle into a large glass and drank it.

He was a terribly strong human.

He was a human who wielded a powerful, beautiful sword that made him feel competitive after a long time.

Yorimitsu, the human hero who killed him, was a cowardly guy who beheaded him when he was drunk.

Yuseongwoo, on the other hand, was a true warrior who would drink with him.

So he didn’t mind cooperating a little more.

He was the one who advised Inari to send him to hell if he asked her to send him to Takamagahara.

From there, he said that he would guide him to Takamagahara, and Yuseongwoo accepted.

But hell was so vast that he didn’t know where to meet him.

The Eight Hot Hells (八熱地獄) and the Eight Cold Hells (八寒地獄).

While he was briefly wondering how to find him in this vast place, one of his oni [a type of demon] subordinates hurriedly ran up and said.