#785 Mitama-gami

“Whawuhwhawhahaaaaaaaat?!”

“What’s with this god?!”

The gods of earth and sea are astonished by the foreign deity summoned through Sensei’s secret technique.

I mean, the overwhelming presence it exuded was beyond belief.

Even I had to catch my breath.

This deity from another realm looked bizarre to our world. Its attire resembled that of ancient Japanese nobility. 

It wore a crown and held a wooden board, reminiscent of the one used in Zen meditation to strike one’s shoulders.

“This crown, named suieikan, doth signify chiefly the stature of a civil servant. And this tablet, named shaku, a ceremonial artifact, is wholly distinct from the Zen rods used by Zen priests.”

Huh. Is that so?

“Youth is but ephemeral, and learning arduous.”

The deity, with an imposing aura, speaks in a dignified voice.

“Hailing from the Heian period and descending from Kyoto whilst recognized as a deity, I bear the title ‘Nihon Daigo Itoku Ten’ from the 33 heavens. ‘Kitano Tenjin’ am I named in the imperial court, and in mortal form, ‘Sugawara no Michizane.’”

Through Sensei’s secret technique, Sugawara no Michizane has been summoned.

Wow.

I just wanted to celebrate Junior’s Shichi-Go-San, but I had no idea how, so I hoped for a deity who could guide us in such celebrations.

I casually made such a request to Sensei, and the summoned deity turned out to be this legendary figure.

Speaking of Sugawara no Michizane, isn’t he a famous deity in my world?

He’s the god of learning.

In his human life, he was known to be wise, diligent, and well-read. 

Hence, after his death, he became a popular deity overseeing academic pursuits, attracting countless worshipers during the annual exam season.

So... A guardian deity for exam-takers?!

Such a deity is attending our ceremony?!

“Please, deity! Ensure Junior and Norito get into good schools! And private junior high schools, too!”

“THE SAINT PROSTRATED HIMSELF?!”

Seeing me prostrate, Hades and Poseidon are dumbfounded.

“Such devoted worship! Ne’er before have we been treated that way!”

“How dare this presumptuous deity from a foreign realm command such attention? Need we remind him of our dominion herein?!”

Said the gods of the earth and the sea. 

Their demeanor resembled local thugs confronting the honor student, A.K.A., the god of scholarship.

“Hey, hey, I don’t find thine face pleasing. Whom do thou represent, eh?”

“All know well the names of Hades, Poseidon, and Zeus – the chief deities of this realm. Would it not be courteous to offer salutations? Huh?”

What rude behavior.

The chief deities of this realm sure have a terrible attitude.

But amidst this aggressive atmosphere reminiscent of arcade centers in the countryside, Michizane, like a diligent student returning from a cram school, calmly replies...

“Forgive mine inattention. When journeying to another realm, showing deference to its sovereigns is befitting. Permit me to present a gift, a delicacy of mine own shrine: umegae mochi.” 

“We art grateful for thine courtesy.....!”

He offered a souvenir on the spot!

“Q-Quite a sensible deity! Surely, thou hail from a lineage of refinement?”

“Verily, thou must be kin to some esteemed deities, art thou not?”

The situation has flipped, with Michizane unsettling the gods who tried to confront him.

Michizane humbly smiles and says, “Nay, I am but a modest member amidst the myriad gods. Indeed, my divine recognition came long after the age of gods, in the waning days of the Heian era...”

“Is that so?”

“In my mortal days, I lived humbly, striving ever for virtue. By true devotion, I was exalted and transformed divine...” 

“Ah! A most fascinating tale! Do go on!”

Suddenly, the local gods were enthralled.

Not that any of this matters, really. Can we start our Shichi-Go-San now? 

“Thou ascended from mortal coil to divinity? We possess such individuals in our realm as well.”

“In our dominion, they oft reside at the hierarchy’s base. They were welcomed into our pantheon owing to their touch of divine lineage.”

Please, chief gods.

Taking shots at someone might bring unwanted problems in the future.

You’ll invite trouble with such remarks.

Seriously, inhabitants of mythological realms sure have a knack for stirring things up.

“Some might not find it so, but as a recent addition amongst gods, my origins are rather humble.”

“Aye, aye? Do tell us more.”

“In my time, I was falsely slandered and banished...”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, with the introduction of this somber note, the previously high-spirited atmosphere cooled down.

“At that time, it was quite a shock to me... The betrayal was a bitter pill, for I was ascending in stature. Thus, in demotion did I languish till mine own demise. It was from sheer vexation, you understand.”

“Ahh... Thou mean to say...?!”

“It deeply wounded my spirit. Upon death, filled with bitterness, I became a wrathful soul. I exacted curses upon mine adversaries, smiting the capital with ceaseless lightning and conflagration. Oh, those were turbulent times for me!”

“...”

“Scared by mine own wrath, the people of Kyoto began worshipping me as the celestial deity... I felt a pang of guilt, having done naught to merit such adoration!”

Amidst Michizane’s roaring laughter, the local deities grew increasingly silent.

“What thinkest thou, Hades?”

“This is ill tidings, truly. They oft say the silent ones are most foreboding, and the gent exemplifies this.”

“I concur. Thunder gods oft bode ill.”

They whisper among themselves, finally reaching a consensus.

“It is a great honor to receive such a deity in our realm. Hades, lord of the land, bids thee welcome!”

“And Poseidon, lord of the seas, echoes the sentiment. Might I offer fresh seafood as a gesture of esteem?”

And now, they’re blatantly trying to suck up.

Avoiding any clash, as if wary of provoking an angry god.

They’re doing everything they can to not upset him.

“With thy power, thou can heed the mortal’s pleas. I can entrust this charge unto thee without reservation. There’s no need for oversight.”

“I shall return to mine daily observance of sea anemones!!!”

And with that, the gods of the land and sea made a swift exit.

Well, one could also say they fled in fear.

What’s with those two anyway?

“...So, what brings me here?”

Oh, of course.

The theme of Shichi-Go-San had been completely forgotten due to the unanticipated interference of those clueless deities.

Could you please grace our shrine, Sugawara no Michizane, and celebrate the growth of our children here?

“Very well.”

Hooray!

“Shrines in my honor span the lands. It shall be no impediment, even in a distant world. This place exudes tranquility. Let us christen it the Otherworldly Tenmangu and enshrine me herein.”

Yippee!

“I also honor the Shichi-Go-San celebration. Many pilgrims visit mine shrines for the same purpose each year. Is that the young one? Wisdom graces his visage. Here, young one. Partake of this umigae mochi.”

“Thank you vewy muuuuch.”

Oh, Michizane!

Please bestow your blessings upon our child!

And grant them academic success! Success in their exams! And, please, their first choice of school!

“Young one, pursue knowledge diligently. With an unwavering commitment to learning, prosperity shall follow. Though I, having achieved scholarly mastery, met a tragic fate.”

That’s quite an unsettling encouragement.

“Falsely slandered, demoted, then transformed into a vengeful spirit seeking retribution.”

Please don’t phrase it like the title of a light novel.

Nevertheless, with the god of learning’s direct blessings, our little Junior completed the Shichi-Go-San ceremony without a hitch.

Look at how much our child has grown!

“But doesn’t this child already have a gift from another deity?”

Huh?

“I shan’t interfere if another deity hath already acted. Though thou might not perceive, it’s rare for one so young to commune with a deity without parental supervision.”

Huh? What does that mean?

I have no idea what he’s talking about!

Yet, at the same time, things started to make sense.

The unusual incidents Junior caused, which seemed too strange for a toddler... 

Could it be... 

That was the reason?!