Vol 3 Chapter 8 (1/2)
VOLUME 3
Chapter 8: Fossil of Mother and Daughter
It was evening on the same day.
After my mother finished dealing with all matters concerning the sinister occult society Arahabaki and the Slothful Patron of Graves Baron Samedi (filing paperwork, healing wounded priestesses, recharging charms, etc.), she began walking through the Tsukuyomi Shrine grounds.
My mother’s job was to use the power of the Supreme G.o.d to construct a world that was convenient for humans to live in.
To achieve that end, she would close her eyes, look down at the world from a G.o.d’s-eye view, and create many alterations.
From the side, it might’ve looked like she just didn’t care about anything and was just loitering around.
However, everyone in the Tsukuyomi Shrine knew the truth.
The truth was that in this shrine… no, in the entirety of j.a.pan… my mother was trying harder than anybody else.
What she was doing was incredibly draining, but she didn’t let out a single yawn as she walked around the Shrine with her back nice and straight.
Suddenly, she stopped.
“Stop moving around so restlessly like that.”
My mother seemed to be muttering to herself, but I suddenly saw my brother appear in response to my mother’s call.
He was a small boy, standing in the dim darkness and wearing all black.
He didn’t look like someone who should be standing in a holy sanctuary like this… he looked more like a zas.h.i.+ki-waras.h.i.+ (1), or a ghost.
“A puzzling creature you are…”
My mother walked to my brother’s side and seemed to be trying to figure him out.
“I acknowledge that you mean no harm, but if you do happen to bring misfortune upon this shrine… no, upon this land, then I shall crush you immediately.”
My brother continued looking blankly at my mother.
He seemed like a simple-minded boy (I guess a crueler person might call him stupid), and my mother let out a sigh.
“I feel no pity for you, and no sympathy. However, I do hope that one day you will find salvation…”
“I…”
My brother began to answer slowly.
“I’m pretty happy with my position here… with my fate.”
“I see. Then I will say nothing more.”
My mother turned her gaze away from my brother and slowly began to walk down the hallway.
“I’ll go back to nursing Sasami-san then.”
My brother gave a quick, neat bow and then also left.
My mother suddenly looked over her shoulder, watching my brother’s back retreat through half-lidded eyes.
“He has appeared, which means Sasami has chosen… or perhaps I am approaching my own limits…”
Growl.
At that point, a dull sound came from my mother’s stomach, interrupting her serious thoughts.
“I seem to be hungry…”
My mother continued showing no emotion as she lightly looked down.
“No, a Tsukuyomi Priestess must be free from selfish desires. She must persevere through all personal wants, and must clear her mind and hea-”
Grrrrowwll.
“Hm…”
My mother wandered around the shrine, making her way to the kitchen that looked out on the building’s backyard. She poked her head in through the wide-open kitchen door.
Inside the kitchen was the same Micchan as before, who was now donning an ap.r.o.n while cooking.
She was probably making dinner for all the people living at the Tsukuyomi Shrine.
This was a huge load of work, but Micchan seemed to be having fun, and was even humming.
My mother stood by and watched for a while before quietly speaking up.
“Micchan, when will the meal be ready?”
“Uwah, hahh?!!?”
Micchan almost dropped the pot she was holding as she hurriedly turned around and began bowing profusely.
“W-W-W-Why are you here, Juju-sama? Did you need something?”
“There is no need to be alarmed. Be at ease. It was my fault for interrupting your work.”
My mother roamed around the kitchen, opening the lids on pots while picking at and taste testing some of the food that was lined up. She was acting surprisingly bad-mannered.
“Umm, okay. Excuse me then…”
Micchan returned to her cooking, seeming a bit puzzled.
“But this is quite a rare sight, Juju-sama. I’ve never seen you down here.”
My mother was a big shot so she never partic.i.p.ated in the ch.o.r.es and other small things around the shrine.
“The food will be ready soon, so just wait a bit longer.”
“Understood.”
My mother nodded at Micchan’s words and then cheerfully moved to one of the corners of the kitchen. She plopped herself down.
If my mother were a dog, right now it was like she had been told to “wait” and was sitting there wagging her tail.
Exactly how hungry was she?
“Umm… if you stare at me like that, it’s a bit hard to work…”
“However, I would be of no use to you in the kitchen. Most of the other priestesses have been wounded, and so I cannot engage in my normal duties until they have recovered. The incident earlier today has also been settled completely, and so to be honest, I am quite free. Please just think of me as a potted plant.”
“You’re my superior here, the person who raised me, and also the most important being in j.a.pan, who has the power of the Supreme G.o.d. It’s really hard to think of you as a plant…”
Micchan seemed to be at a bit of a loss before clapping her hands.
“Ah, Juju-sama. Should I make some porridge for Sasami-sama?”
“Hm?”
My mother c.o.c.ked her head to the side as if this idea had never occurred to her.
“Porridge…?”
“When Juju-sama caught a cold, I also made some for her.”
“Hm. That soppy soup, then? That was quite delicious. Certainly, it may be a good idea to provide Sasami with something easy to digest. Okay, Micchan. You can make some.”
“No no, not me. Juju-sama should make some for Sasami-sama.”
“Hm? But I cannot cook.”
“I’ll teach you! When it comes to things like this, I think Sasami-sama too would prefer it if she got porridge handmade by her mom.”
“Is that so…?”
My mother stood up, looking a bit troubled. Micchan chuckled.
“Sasami-sama really loves her mom. She’ll definitely be ecstatic. Well, it’s not like I’m that knowledgeable about mother-daughter relations.h.i.+ps… so I can’t say for sure.”
“You were spirited away, after all.”
My mother muttered as she stood in front of the gas burner in her priestess outfit.
“You come from a truly esteemed family lineage that has served the Tsukuyomi Shrine from antiquity and were born with a tremendous amount of spiritual ability. An evil G.o.d discovered this and kidnapped you. All your spiritual abilities were sucked out and taken from you, and after many months and many years you finally found your way back to this world.”