Satsuki had once used Susanoo's Ama-no-Murakumo as a conduit to reach the Netherworld, so she was not unfamiliar with its aura or its spatial signature.
This sealing method was far from simple. It was a composite ritual art that combined sacrifice and sealing into one, and it was also linked with the entirety of Tōshō-gū to form a formation similar to a demon-gate guardian array.
From the detection perspective of the Tenseigan, the curse power that formed the foundation of this seal was drawn from sacred domains all across Japan. It was gathered together and transformed through the divine power veins of Tōshō Daigongen into an unimaginable mass of sorcery, which then formed this binding technique. Moreover, the function of this technique was not merely that of a seal. It was more like a faucet-like switch.
"No wonder the Kuhōzuka family cares so much about light. So that's how it is..."
Not only Satsuki, even Erica had discerned the trick hidden within the technique.
She walked calmly to the front of the shrine hall, golden light of a Godslayer flashing in her eyes. "If the seal itself is weakened, the Netherworld and this world can be directly connected. That would allow the power of the Netherworld to flow into this world, strengthening the spiritual veins of the Kuhōzuka family. And through this technique, they can directly communicate with the sealed Monkey Divine Lord. It's practically the same as raising a god in captivity as their personal enforcer... What audacity."
"This Monkey Divine Lord probably isn't a native Japanese deity," Satsuki suddenly said. "Otherwise, if he were treated with a technique like this, it would be hard to guarantee there wouldn't be retaliation."
The gods of this world were not benevolent saviors, especially not the Heretic Gods.
Being sealed and having one's power siphoned off was, no matter how one looked at it, a grave act of disrespect toward a god.
"Satsuki-sama, you are correct. According to records from a hundred years ago, the last time the Monkey Divine Lord was released, he immediately blasted the West Heavenly Shrine and everyone involved flying into the air. This shrine was only rebuilt afterward."
The one who spoke was Touma Amakasu, who had arrived late. After finally finding a place to park, he had come in through the grove outside.
"Is that so? Then how did Japan, without a Godslayer at the time, deal with the rampaging Heretic God?" Erica asked curiously.
"According to the records, even if the Monkey Divine Lord temporarily broke through this seal known as Bimawen, he would ultimately return here to accept sealing again. As for how such a thing was possible, Miss Kaoru and I can only speculate that this arrangement must have been created through the wisdom of ancient sages."
The so-called ancient sages mentioned by Touma Amakasu were, plainly speaking, the recluses of the Netherworld.
In other words, the sealing of the Monkey Divine Lord here had the involvement of native Japanese deities behind the scenes.
Satsuki agreed with this speculation. That made sense. Gods were the pinnacle of combat power in this world. Aside from Godslayers, only other gods could confront them head-on.
Just as everyone was marveling at this seal, tap tap tap—the sound of footsteps came from outside the West Heavenly Shrine.
"Eh—could it be Young Master Kuhōzuka has arrived?"
Yuri Mariya turned around curiously, about to go forward to greet him—but a flash of spiritual foresight glimmered across her body. In an instant, her entire body began trembling violently.
"Onee-san, what's wrong?!"
"Yuri Mariya... what happened to you?"
Yuri's state was one of intense terror, and the source of that terror was the existence she had just glimpsed.
"Erica-sama... the one over there... that one is..."
It was obvious Yuri had seen something in that fleeting moment of spiritual vision. To calm her down, Satsuki placed a hand on her shoulder. A flash of blue authority light flickered and vanished—dispersing the Fear status affecting Yuri.
Only then did Yuri barely recover.
And at that moment, a young man walked in from outside the hall toward the group.
Compared to the last time Satsuki had seen him, the young man's face was unnaturally stiff and pale, as if he were constantly in a state of extreme vigilance and alertness, yet unable to free himself from it.
And the source of that fear—Satsuki shifted her gaze to the lizard crouched on his shoulder.
It was that creature.
"Lu Yinghua... so you really have come to Japan. But as a greeting to my subordinate, isn't that a bit too grand?"
As she spoke, divine authority light flashed in Erica's eyes. As a Campione, at moments like this, she had to display her dignity.
"Ah, what a surprise. I didn't expect to run into Sister Erica here. Oh, I suppose I should call you Campione now."
Hearing Erica's words, he was briefly stunned before replying in an exceedingly polite tone.
After scanning the group with his gaze, it paused for a moment on Satsuki before finally settling on Erica.
"By the way, how did Sister Erica, formerly the Great Knight of the Copper-Black Cross, end up becoming Japan's Campione? Could it be because of the King of Swords?"
"It seems you've gathered quite a bit of intelligence, even knowing that the King of Swords once came to Japan..." Erica shrugged nonchalantly. "However, your information is outdated. Sir Salvatore and I have already formed an alliance."
"Indeed~ Who could have imagined that Miss Erica had a trump card hidden among her subordinates? Even the King of Swords himself probably never expected to be defeated in swordsmanship by someone else."
"Spare the pleasantries. And since the Cult Leader Luo Hao has personally arrived, why not show yourself?"
As she spoke, Erica's gaze shifted toward the lizard perched on Lu Yinghua's shoulder.
"Cult Leader Luo Hao—?!"
Liliana Kranjčar's eyes sharpened in an instant. As someone who had once followed Marquis Voban, she was naturally no stranger to the existence he regarded as a mortal enemy.
At that moment, a clear and beautiful voice, as though infused with music, emerged from the lizard's mouth.
"I was wondering who it was that Guinevere mentioned—who defeated the Divine Ancestor Angela and brought her to Japan. So it was you. In that case, matters are simple."
As she spoke, the lizard leapt aside and began emitting white smoke.
The tiny reptile then transformed into a beautiful young girl.
She possessed long black hair as smooth as silk. She wore garments resembling a qipao, along with an outer robe whose sleeves and hem were long and flowing, and a lower garment that billowed like a long skirt.
With a sweep of her long sleeve, an unconscious young man suddenly appeared out of space, tumbling and rolling to a stop at everyone's feet.
—Judging from his clothing and appearance, this person was Mikihiko Kuhōzuka.
The breathtakingly beautiful girl known as Cult Leader Luo Hao declared in an almost inorganic voice, "Now, undo this seal."
Whether it was her facial features, her presence, or the tone in which she spoke, Erica found it all strangely familiar. So much so that she could not help glancing at Satsuki beside her, half-suspecting that this Luo Hao might somehow be related to her.
"I have long heard of Cult Leader Luo Hao's great name. Today should be our first meeting. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Erica Blandelli. At present, I am serving part-time as Japan's Campione."
"...To think that even this small land has produced a Campione. But judging from your appearance, you seem more like someone from Europe. Has this country found yet another new master to attach itself to?"
Although Luo Hao's expression remained calm, her tone carried undisguised disdain—not toward Erica personally, but contempt for the conduct of this nation.
"Hmph. It has been this way for centuries. I hear that after losing its most recent war, it switched overlords once again... Even cowardice should have its limits. Truly, there is not the slightest sense of shame."
Faced with the beautiful Cult Leader's severe rebuke, Touma Amakasu could only reveal an unmistakably awkward expression.
"Cult Leader Luo Hao mentioned the Divine Ancestor Angela. Indeed, she is currently in my hands. But what does she have to do with this Bimawen seal?"
Satsuki suddenly spoke—in fluent Mandarin.
Luo Hao did not answer immediately. Instead, she sized Satsuki up from head to toe. A rare note of seriousness appeared on her beautiful face.
"You must be the one Guinevere spoke of—the one who defeated the Divine Ancestor Angela. I see. In that case, it is only natural that my disciple was defeated by you."
As one who stood at the pinnacle of martial arts, Luo Hao's intuition was stronger than anyone present—aside from Satsuki. With a mere glance, she could see through the thoughts of those gathered, Erica included.
But when she faced Satsuki, she found the other to be like a bottomless abyss.
Such feedback was, to Luo Hao, an important warning.
Then she turned her gaze toward Hikari.
"To undo the Bimawen seal, three conditions must be met. First, the manifestation of its enemy—that is, a being bearing the divine authority of dragon and serpent. Second, a treasured blade capable of weakening the ritual formula. Third, a Hime-Miko with calamity-purging power must wield that blade and use her spiritual power to cut open a passage to the Netherworld."
"A being bearing dragon and serpent divinity... I see."
Satsuki recalled the nearly shattered seal she had once seen within the abdomen of the Divine Ancestor Angela. That had originally been the place where the essence of the earth was absorbed to nurture dragon-serpent divinity.
However, after encountering the American Godslayer, Angela had been forced to self-destruct, causing irreversible damage. What Satsuki had been doing within her sea of consciousness earlier had, in fact, been repairing that dragon-serpent seal—but her purpose was not to seal.
"It seems you understand," Luo Hao said.
She flicked her hand through the air as though striking an acupuncture point from afar. A subtle palm force tapped across the body of Mikihiko Kuhōzuka, who lay on the ground.
The young master of the Kuhōzuka family, previously unconscious, slowly awakened.
Then, the moment he saw Luo Hao standing so close, he collapsed to the ground again, his face pale as death, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his forehead.
If one wished to see how an ordinary person might lose composure before the majesty of a Campione, this young master's state was an adequate example.
"The manifestation of dragon-serpent divinity refers to the Divine Ancestor Angela. The treasured blade capable of weakening the ritual formula is hidden by this young master of the Kuhōzuka family in the innermost barrier of this shrine. Only his bloodline can retrieve it. As for the Hime-Miko with calamity-purging power, that would be the girl over there."
Luo Hao's beautiful lips spoke words as cold as ice.
"Among these three conditions, preparing a dragon or serpent deity is the most troublesome. Though my martial prowess is unmatched and defeating or killing a god is not difficult, capturing one alive is another matter. I did not expect that someone else would accomplish it first."
"It seems the Cult Leader has been preparing for this plan for many years," Erica said. "Even finding a Hime-Miko with such rare talent once in a century means that within a hundred years these three conditions could not all be fulfilled. Then—what is your purpose in undoing the seal?"
"When a Godslayer faces a god, what other intent could there be? Naturally, to slay it. A hero of my homeland, yet raised for amusement... An unforgivable crime. Knowing of such a being and leaving it unattended would damage my reputation, so I have long awaited the moment of judgment."
"Raised? What a peculiar way of thinking."
Upon hearing Luo Hao's answer, Satsuki let out a rare, restrained cold laugh.
"I do not know where you derived the notion of 'rearing,' but I do not believe that Monkey Divine Lord remained bound here of his own will. If you truly regard him as a hero, then what you should do is rescue him, not kill him. Otherwise, is failing to distinguish right from wrong the extent of Cult Leader Luo Hao's fame?"
"What did you say?"
A dangerous expression surfaced on Luo Hao's face. Killing intent flickered briefly across her peerless features.
Yet Satsuki paid no heed to the intimidation and spoke calmly.
"As far as I know, the one who built this shrine was a Tendai sect sorcerer-monk, with the shadow of Japanese deities behind him. They used sorcery to gather curse power from sacred domains across Japan and transformed it through the divine authority of Tōshō Daigongen to bind the Monkey Divine Lord here. Then, according to their own interests, they manipulated him. No matter how one looks at it, this was not a voluntary arrangement between both sides..."
"Moreover, monkeys are creatures that cherish freedom by nature. And this deity is the incarnation of a monkey. Historical records state that once he broke free of the seal, he blasted the entire West Heavenly Shrine and all those connected to it into the air. That alone proves that this bondage was not of his own will..."
"And since you know that god's true identity—you called him 'a hero of my homeland,' which means you know his true name and origin—then at the very least, you must have read that book. You should know better than anyone how much he detests being suppressed in such a manner..."
Seeing the thoughtful look on Luo Hao's face, Satsuki concluded solemnly, "If you still consider him a hero, then what you should do is not kill him, but liberate him."
Those words clearly had an effect. A contemplative expression appeared on Luo Hao's face. After a moment, her tone softened slightly.
"What you say is reasonable. However, that is merely your side of the story. Regardless, I will undo the seal. As for whether I kill him or let him go, that will depend on his own will."
After saying that, Luo Hao shifted her gaze to Erica, who stood on equal footing with her.
"And what is the attitude of the newly crowned Campione toward my unsealing?"
"The Kuhōzuka family concealing the fact that a god was sealed within their shrine is already sufficient cause for me to question them..." Erica first cast a glance at Touma Amakasu, who was drenched in sweat, before turning back to meet Luo Hao's eyes without yielding. "However, this is still territory under my protection. The residents here may be considered my subjects. If you truly intend to fight, then please choose another location."
"That does not depend on me," Luo Hao replied evenly. "It depends on the monkey's behavior."