kscans

Chapter 122 - The Sky is Beautiful

(...This is Japan's underworld)

The moment I crossed the boundary between the living world and this realm, I felt the familiar air against my skin. Different countries, different mythologies, but it seems the afterlife carries the same atmosphere everywhere. ...Now that I think about it again, what on earth did father do?

(Since it wasn't explicitly forbidden, he could have made excuses)

Even so, that only works if he succeeded. If he hadn't defeated Hero-san first, even returning alive would only create problems... no, that was part of it too. In case he was stripped of his position for the crime of attacking the afterlife, I was meant to be the insurance... I really wish he'd spare me this.

"By the way, cat-san. Where will we be observing from?"

"The Hall of Enma... the place where the Great King holds trials, and Lord Enma will be watching alongside us."

My faint hopes were instantly crushed. Why? That's the heart of hell, isn't it? That's the target area for the exercise. Why would they make that the viewing area? Sensing my confusion, the hellcat explained the reason. Apparently, this exercise assumes that Enma has been incapacitated by some scoundrel's hand. So that's why we'll be watching together with Enma...

"Um, is it really safe for living humans like us to go there?"

Ayase-san said something good!

"Ha ha ha, how alike you are to your blood relative, Ayase-sama, saying the same thing."

"You mean Hero Uncle too?"

"Yes. He said that even though we're observing, being in the same place as Enma seemed questionable."

Then why the Hall of Enma...

"That gentleman seems to have oddly serious aspects despite his frivolous attitude."

Since we'll both receive judgment after death, he thinks unnecessary contact should be avoided for both parties' sake. Hero-san apparently thinks this way. I agree completely.

"However, well, frankly speaking, that's overthinking it. The Great King won't let personal relationships cloud his judgment, and... there's precedent."

"""""Precedent?"""""

"Do you know of a historical figure named Ono no Takamura?"

Ayase-san let out an "ah" sound.

"Sa-chan, you know him?"

"He was a famous literary figure from the Heian period. He has many interesting anecdotes, including some related to hell."

According to the story, Takamura was once peering into a well when he accidentally fell in, but that well was apparently a path to hell. After various twists and turns, Takamura's abilities were recognized by King Enma, and he ended up assisting King Enma during nighttime visits to the underworld.

"It's lenient enough that he had people assist with duties, never mind personal interaction."

"Isn't that too lenient?"

"It's because the Great King judged with his own eyes that there was no problem."

If that's the case, then watching together briefly would be no problem at all, the hellcat laughed.

"Now then, we'll be arriving shortly, so please prepare yourselves."

Soon after, we arrived at the Hall of Enma. Akatsuki-kun and Ayase-san were overwhelmed by its solemn majesty, while Rika-san was excitedly saying "amazing, amazing."

"Great King. I have brought the guests."

"Mm, well done."

"Well then, everyone, please introduce yourselves."

Prompted by the hellcat, Rika-san was the first to speak up.

"I'm Saionji Rika! Please take care of me today!"

"Mm. Good to have such energy."

"I'm Akatsuki Hikaru. Please take care of me."

"I'm called Ayase Sakuya."

"...Sarna Diadokos."

"Mm... hm?"

Yes, caught immediately!!

"Um, Lord Enma! Sarna-chan does have Greek death god blood, but..."

"It's fine, I understand."

Please stop giving me that meaningful look.

"Indeed, Lord Hades committed unforgivable acts. However, it would be wrong to blame his wife, children, and subordinates who weren't involved in the scheme. Sarna Diadokos, was it? I hold no grudge against her whatsoever."

...Really?

"Didn't I tell you? The Great King is a wise and generous person."

"Yeah... I'm glad. That Lord Enma is so magnanimous."

"Ha ha ha."

Suddenly, I felt something strange. This is... a barrier?

"I had heard that Hades' authority hadn't passed to Lady Persephone."

...Recognition interference. Looking at Rika-san and the others chatting happily, this conversation seems to be between me and King Enma alone.

"I never imagined he had created an existence like you."

"...Well..."

"It's fine. As I said before, I have no intention of reproaching you."

"...Is that really all right?"

"What sin could I possibly find in a young child still learning about so much? Besides, a parent's sin is not the child's sin."

"But..."

Recently I honestly don't care much about it, but officially I'm supposed to be inheriting Hades' will...

"You're fond of your current life, aren't you?"

"That's... well, yes... it's fun."

"Then your current self is just a child who loves her friends and enjoys peaceful days."

"...Is it really okay to just be a child?"

"Mm. That's not just my view, Hero would feel the same."

Even if he realized my true identity, he would see my essence and continue treating me the same way as before. That's what Enma told me. If that's true... I would be happy too.

"Ah, but..."

"It's fine, fine. I understand that too. I'll keep your true identity secret, so don't worry."

"...Thank you."

"Well then, I'll release the barrier."

"Yes."

What a generous god, I think. My heart feels much lighter. Now I can enjoy this exercise without reservation.

"Great King. When will the exercise begin?"

"Mm. Once you all arrived and were ready to observe... meaning, it has already begun."

So saying, Enma pointed to a large screen with his staff.

"Do you know of beings called gushojin?"

"Gushojin?"

"They're like fairies that attach to humans we judge. They have the role of recording that person's life."

...Ah, right, Enma and the other Ten Kings hold trials based on those records.

"This time, we're arranged to observe his movements through the gushojin of Satou Hideo, who is currently relieved of duty."

When Hero-san begins his actions, the footage being filmed by his gushojin will appear on screen. The other two are apparently different.

"Eh, is that because Takahashi-san and Suzuki-san are women?"

"No, it's not out of consideration for women's privacy or anything like that."

"Rika-san, it's probably because this is an exercise."

An exercise is a place of learning. While it helps to see their movements to some extent, if everything were revealed, the opportunity for analysis would be lost. So I think they're only showing the leader Hero-san's movements.

"Exactly... mm, it seems to be starting."

The screen flickered briefly, then showed an unfamiliar man. ...No, not unfamiliar. I've seen him. That's... the morning weather man? Rika-san and the others tilted their heads with question marks. However, having somewhat understood, both Enma and I grimaced severely.

≪Today's weather in hell is sunny with occasional "paradise"≫

The moment he said that, part of paradise began peeling away and raining down on hell.