Sitting on the ground, Byakuren closed her eyes, clasped her hands, and chanted sutras. Accompanied by the sounds of Sanskrit, a faint light emanated from the shrine maiden's spirit. Her form floated upwards on its own, rising into the air, her face serene.
Just then, beneath the shrine maiden, a magical array inscribed with spells lit up. The rising shrine maiden suddenly stopped in mid-air, her once serene face twisting into an expression of pain and distortion. Clearly, the spells remaining within the tower had begun to obstruct her rebirth.
At this moment, Byakuren immediately changed the sutra she was chanting. Unlike the previous rebirth sutra, this passage was a prayer for the blessings of the gods and Buddhas, specifically directed at Dakini-ten, who in a sense was the current Miketsu.
In Miketsu's mind, Byakuren's chanting echoed. She could feel that it was a plea, and Miketsu could respond to this plea, just as she would respond to a deity summoning. Byakuren's prayer was answered by Miketsu in the name of Dakini-ten. Then, Byakuren's eyes opened, now shimmering with bright divine light. The power originating from Miketsu had now blessed Byakuren.
Resuming the chanting of the rebirth sutra, this time Byakuren's Sanskrit sounded much deeper and steadier than before. The shrine maiden's spirit began to ascend again, while the magical array beneath her shattered piece by piece, finally breaking apart like glass. Under Miketsu's blessing, Byakuren's rebirth sutra directly pulverized the spells that had bound the shrine maiden for a hundred years.
The shrine maiden's spirit, finally freed from the spell's binding, began to gradually fade. She was slowly being delivered to the other shore.
With a smile of relief, the shrine maiden's spirit bowed deeply to Miketsu and Byakuren in mid-air, and a ethereal voice echoed through the air.
"Thank you..."
Seeing this, Miketsu sighed.
"May you achieve your aspirations in your next life and fulfill your mission... Oh, do you still remember your name?" Miketsu asked, trying her luck, not expecting the shrine maiden, who had forgotten so much, to remember her name.
Listening to Miketsu, the fading shrine maiden thought for a moment. Just as her figure was about to completely disappear, she suddenly uttered her last words.
"My name is... Kikyo."
The shrine maiden's spirit completely vanished from space. Byakuren finished her chanting, silently stood up, bowed in the direction where the shrine maiden disappeared, and uttered "Namu-san."
"Will she be able to complete her mission in her next life?" Miketsu asked, looking at the vanished shrine maiden.
"Life is impermanent... but by then, you should be able to help her."
"Me?"
"Your hair strands were given to her for reincarnation, which invisibly linked her destiny with yours. Under the pull of karma, she will meet you again." As she spoke, Byakuren bowed to Miketsu.
"That child must have possessed powerful spiritual power in her lifetime to have been used as a sacrifice for this mysterious ritual. When she meets you then, please guide her towards the right path."
Looking at Byakuren, Miketsu let out a sigh of emotion, then said.
"If I truly meet her again, I will do so."
"Is that so... Then, as your disciple, I shall thank you in advance for your compassion..."
"Disciple?" Hearing Byakuren's self-address, Miketsu was momentarily stunned. Seeing Miketsu's reaction, Byakuren smiled.
"In a sense, you are now equivalent to Dakini-ten. You can listen to your disciple's prayers and bless me, which is already equivalent to one of the objects of faith of my Shingon school.
"In the future, if you can descend upon Mount Shigi or Mount Koya, you will surely be greeted with great ceremony."
Miketsu was taken aback by Byakuren's words. So, I, who can't even understand a single Buddhist scripture, have suddenly become an object of faith for the Shingon school?
However, they are essentially worshipping Dakini-ten; it's just that she has a deep connection with Dakini-ten.
After everything was concluded, it was time for Miketsu and Byakuren to part ways. Byakuren was to continue her pilgrimage, while Miketsu was to return to Heian-kyo.
At their final parting, Byakuren presented Miketsu with a stack of scriptures, including the rebirth sutra, and repeatedly urged Miketsu never to casually attempt to use Dakini-ten's power.
Listening to Byakuren's explanation, Miketsu formed her own understanding.
Unlike her inability to use her own Inari divine power, she could use her connection with Dakini-ten to borrow divine-level power from her. However, using this power came with a price: the degree of syncretism with Dakini-ten would increase, and she would be gradually influenced and eroded by her until she completely merged with her, losing her self and becoming her avatar.
Firstly, that secret method from Kukai was written from the perspective of a Buddha from the very beginning. Once a god assimilated with a Buddha through this secret method and used the Buddha's power, they would inevitably become an avatar of the Buddha, forcefully merging and losing autonomy. After Myoren revised it, it became much better; the choice of whether to borrow the Buddha's power or accept the erosion lay with the god, and they could borrow it to a limited extent, no longer like Kukai's bondservant contract.
Originally, Byakuren's idea was that with Miketsu's divinity, she should be able to assimilate with a benevolent Bodhisattva who was easy to talk to. After mutual agreement, they could maintain a low level of assimilation, without the Bodhisattva actively eroding Miketsu, allowing Miketsu to retain her autonomy while being able to borrow power. This idea was entirely feasible, and in fact, there was indeed such a saintly Bodhisattva, similar to Inari Okami, who willingly assimilated with Miketsu.
However, unexpectedly, Dakini-ten suddenly appeared and forcibly snatched the opportunity from that Bodhisattva to assimilate with Miketsu. Borrowing power from such a malevolent demon god would undoubtedly lead to active erosion.
So, in the end, Miketsu concluded that Dakini-ten's purpose was probably to erode her, making her eventually become her avatar, which is why she forcibly assimilated with her before the Bodhisattva, in order to enhance her own power.
Fortunately... as long as she never borrows power from her again, she won't have to worry about being eroded. If she can use Inari divine power in the future, being a deity of the same rank, she doesn't necessarily need the other's power.
Moreover, assimilating with Dakini-ten doesn't necessarily mean borrowing her power; one can also use her name, just as Byakuren did earlier. She could respond to a deity summoning in Dakini-ten's name, granting a blessing to help Byakuren deliver the shrine maiden's spirit.
This means that if there are any spells directed at Dakini-ten in the future, she can use them, right? By summoning herself! This would expand the range of spells she could use.
Furthermore, if she learns Sanskrit, she could even use some Buddhist scriptures and teachings that involve summoning Dakini-ten! Asakura Hao could also be an onmyoji who understands Buddhist teachings.
But this requires learning Sanskrit, doesn't it? Should she perhaps go to a temple in Heian-kyo to find a monk?
Thinking of this, Miketsu looked at Byakuren, who was about to depart.
Rate on N.U.
