Nothing could be more exhilarating than finally getting to play the sequel to a game he had longed for.
Koze Furukawa hastily paid for Onmyoji 2 and rushed home with it.
Though his heart raced with excitement, another worry gnawed at him:
If Onmyoji 2 doesn't live up to my expectations, will it tarnish the cherished memories I have of the original?
The thought made him hesitate.
Yet, no amount of apprehension could change the outcome. Like Schrödinger's cat in its box, he wouldn't know what lay inside until he opened it.
So, Koze Furukawa inserted the game cartridge, turned on the television, and began.
Next came the Pokeni logo and the title Onmyoji 2 in bold letters.
Playing it for the second time, seeing this title inexplicably filled me with excitement.
I opened the game menu.
Koze Furukawa clicked "Start Game."
The screen went black, and large white text appeared—
[ I don't know why it happened like this. ]
[ But when I came to my senses, I found— ]
[ A girl with fair skin and exquisite features standing before me. ]
The screen showed the simulated eyes of a person opening, transitioning from black to hazy, then gradually sharpening.
Just as the monologue had said.
A fair-skinned girl appeared on the screen.
[ Dynamic Image ]
She had heterochromia—one eye red, the other blue—and long, silver-white hair that flowed like radiant moonlight.
And so, she appeared in the eyes of the narrator, and before Koze Furukawa's eyes.
He couldn't help but swallow silently.
The background was a sea of rising flames, setting the entire sky ablaze in a spectacular display. And it was precisely because of the fiery, dancing flames that the girl appeared even more radiant and captivating.
Yet at the same time, she exuded an eerie aura that made one's heart race.
Right, right.
This was the feeling of the Onmyōji.
This was the feeling the Onmyōji gave you.
This was the right vibe!
Koze Furukawa's lips curled uncontrollably, his blood surging as if he were back in the moment he first encountered the Onmyōji.
It was the same feeling as when he saw Oniyakihime in the first scene, utterly captivated by her presence.
The girl smiled beautifully and extended her hand to Koze Furukawa, who was staring at the screen.
"Come, please use me to your heart's content."
Holy shit!
What a terrible line.
Going that hard right from the start?
Heh heh.
But I kinda like it.
Koze Furukawa inexplicably felt a surge of excitement.
But when he clicked "Next," the screen suddenly went black.
Large text appeared—
One Month Ago
What?!
I've already taken off my pants!
Damn it.
So this whole time it's been a flashback?
Time rewound to a month ago.
Heavenly Sword Mountain, blanketed in a swirling snowstorm.
Crimson pillars rose from the mountain's base, ascending the stone stairs to a vast courtyard at the summit.
The grand scale of the Shinto shrine was unmistakable.
The male protagonist stood in the snow, dressed in a white Onmyōji robe, sweeping the courtyard with a broom.
Despite the surrounding snow, scattered red plum blossoms dotted the landscape, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty.
To see such graphics on the Red and White Machine was a true blessing.
Just then, a more mature man in similar attire emerged from the main gate and called out to the protagonist:
[ Moriyama, Master is calling for us. ]
The male protagonist's name appeared in a dialogue box:
[ Moriyama Hei ]
[ Sounds rather ordinary, ] Koze Furukawa thought.
[ And compared to the previous generation's Asakura Haruka, this protagonist seems to be designed as a more down-to-earth type from the start. ]
[ But that's probably intentional on Pokeni's part, right? ]
[ Understood. I'll be right there, ] Moriyama Hei replied.
Onmyoji 2 offered minimal tutorials, and Koze Furukawa was already familiar with the game's mechanics. He skillfully controlled the protagonist, exploring the surroundings with practiced ease.
After collecting treasure chests and hidden items, he headed toward the destination indicated by the game.
As the screen gradually moved, two humanoid figures came into view beneath the ancient pine tree in the center of the courtyard.
At a single glance, Koze Furukawa's breathing quickened.
These two figures were all too familiar to him.
When Moriyama Hei reached the destination, a static image appeared on the television screen.
The image depicted a verdant pine tree against a backdrop of snow-covered ground and a brilliant blue sky.
Standing against this backdrop was a tall, slender figure.
Wearing a high hat and ornate Onmyōji robes, his expression was one of detached calm, yet with an added layer of composure.
It was Asakura Haruka, the male protagonist from the first game.
Beside him stood Kurai Tsuki, the female swordsman with delicate features and her slender hands clasped over her chest—Asakura Haruka's confidante from the first game.
Seeing these familiar characters and their current state inexplicably brought back memories of the first game's plot.
Koze Furukawa was overcome with emotion, his heart filled with a thousand memories.
After a conversation, it turned out that Asakura Haruka was both the owner of the Shinto shrine and the master of these young Onmyōji.
Calling these young people Onmyōji seemed premature, as their skills were still far from perfect.
Today, Asakura Haruka had gathered everyone to teach them lessons and test their progress. He had them spar against each other as part of their training.
From their conversation, they learned that on the next full moon, Asakura Haruka would hold a grand competition at the shrine. The most outstanding among the young disciples would be taught higher-level spells and then sent on a crucial mission to suppress demonic creatures.
Everyone was working diligently in preparation.
Next came a sparring session between fellow disciples, equivalent to a combat tutorial in the game.
The protagonist, Moriyama Hei, faced his senior disciple, Muro Tsuyoshi Hiroya.
In the game, the player would have defeated him. But in the story, he was killed off.
Muro Tsuyoshi Hiroya's Shikigami defeated Moriyama Hei's Shikigami, leaving him sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.
Asakura Haruka, the master, frowned at the sight.
It was clear he was not particularly satisfied with Moriyama Hei.
"You lack the talent to be an Onmyōji. It's better you quit now than be killed by a demonic creature later."
With those words, Asakura Haruka turned and retreated into the inner chambers.
"Huh?"
Koze Furukawa frowned, looking deeply troubled.
How did the once lively and charming Asakura Haruka become such a sharp-tongued, bitter middle-aged man?
"Don't worry about it," Kurai Tsuki, Moriyama Hei's wife, said gently as she approached to comfort him. "He's actually worried about you."
She offered to help him with his training if he needed it, suggesting he meet her in the back mountains. Compared to the somewhat aloof Asakura Haruka, Kurai Tsuki seemed much warmer toward him.
That night, under the moonlight, Moriyama Hei followed Kurai Tsuki's instructions and headed to the back mountains.
The path was lined with snowdrift.
In the distance, the sky was a deep, heavy indigo.
As he drew closer, he saw Kurai Tsuki standing atop a small mound of earth, gazing into the distance with a vacant expression. Following her gaze, he realized two figures were sitting in the moonlight.
A haunting flute melody began to play—the final chapter's theme from Onmyoji 1, "Poem of Snow."
The TV screen shifted to a medium shot of the two figures. One was Asakura Haruka, and the other was a girl in a red-and-white miko outfit, leaning against his shoulder.
Nani?!
Koze Furukawa's pupils dilated in shock.
This...
Isn't that Yuuki Rei?!
Ling...
Didn't she sacrifice herself sealing Yamata no Orochi?!
Seeing this, Koze Furukawa's skin crawled with goosebumps.
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