The Custodians of the New Age

The fall of Kisaragi province exposed the northern flank of the Coalition's frontlines to the Alliance. Although everyone who has knowledge about conducting a war would call a winter offensive as a fool's errand, that is no longer the case when it comes to the alliance who is inarguably the most scientifically advanced military force in the world.

"701st Rifle Brigade! Board your train cabs now!"

"Don't waste a single second and don't leave any of your belongings behind! We are in a tight schedule!"

Just like how it was during the past Autumn push to liberate the then-isolated Shogunate Capital of Yamato province, the Winter offensive was done through the use of blitzkrieg tactics that none of the Coalition forces managed to blunt with their underprepared and undersupplied forces. Although it was true that no man-made defenses was able to stop them, the Alliance wasn't able to utilize it as much as they desire to as well, because Kisaragi province is a lowland surrounded by steep cliffs, and the only plains that was the accessway to the other Coalition-held provinces are also densely-populated areas.

Thus, the saying "it wasn't their walls that stopped us, but the innocent people they mingled with" became prevalent across the forces sent to the area to man it and set up an interim government to maintain it.

However, that didn't mean that Kisaragi would just be another frontline province that would be stuck in a long and drawn-out stalemate.

"Crap! Crap!! Crap!!!"

"Sergeant Major! We can't keep them at bay anymore!"

"Screw this! This is the 81st Mechanized battalion! Until when are you going to hang up on us in here!?"

{"Just hold on, Sergeant Major! The planes are on their way to your area soon!"}

"Screw it! Let us retreat already!"

["Negative! We need you to hold that point! We cannot give them an inch, sir!"]

"Damn it all!!!"

At the same morning that the news about the success of Operation Susanoo, wherein the air force fighter and bomber fleets of the alliance bombed all of the ports and bridges leading to Niijima province, a disturbing message from a lone fighter pilot who protected Yamato province from a Coalition airship fleet reached the ears of both Marshall leader Kusanagi Kyoko and Chancellor Iwasawa Hiroshi.

{"This is Major Kusakabe of 2nd Escort Airwing and was given the codename Asatori 1-4 during the ongoing Operation Susanoō! I am requesting all, and I mean all Airforce assets to immediately take flight and head north north-east of Yamato province! We have a concern requiring immediate intervention of all available forces! That is all!"}

For the past two months, a disturbing phenomenon has happened wherein beings that can only be described through folklore and local horror stories began to appear in a specific area of Kisaragi province. Beings that, through the knowledge of a few individuals, has been studied and thus, handled quite well by the alliance.

"Yokai, Curses and Malevolent spirits… this brings back painful memories, doesn't it?"

"It does, Kurumi… To think that the time when I would see Yokai folk again would be in another war sure makes me sad-mujina."

"Right… and because of that, we four are here."

"Correction. We're five, actually."

"Oh, right. We are five again in here."

In a separate train cab from the alliance soldiers, five women were all sitting at a large Kotatsu table with warm green tea and imported kumquat fruits on the table. Normally, none of them would need to meet like this as except for their skills and expertise, they really have no reason to stick together… but these times are not normal times.

"It's only because I am worried after you two were sent here, but will Inari-sama and the people of Furuya be alright this winter without you two?"

"Hm? Hehe… No need to worry about asking things like that, rookie. Inari-sama might've been spent, but she's still a Great Spirit that has lived for hundreds of years. She is more than enough to protect and sustain the place without us."

"Right. She's being diligently helped by the other Kitsune spirits and my fellow Mujina and Tanuki guardians anyway-mujina."

"I see… I never got to visit because I've been busy with finally closing up the holes to Yomi in Kiko, but I guess I should've trusted her a bit more."

"Oh, this is news to me. You've already closed the tunnels to Yomi in Kiko, Hisako-chan?"

"Yep. I was glad that even after all that happened, we still managed to finally solve that problem. The ones who were sent to Kiko to help me and my shrine maidens turned out to be bad people after all…"

"Ah… Sorry for making you remember that."

"No, no… Ehehe. You don't have to apologize, Azusagawa-san. It's alright to me."

On the train are the shrine maidens of Furuya, Momiji Kurumi and Tanukichi Reiha, as well as the respective Chief Shrine Priestesses of Kiko's Kaiho Sanctum and Hitachi's Kyoga sanctum, Akizuki Hisako and Azusagawa Maya. The last one who has a towering height even when seated amongst the four, was a Hachishaku-onna who served in Kyoga Sanctum and was brought here to assist Maya.

"In any case, shall we start this now, Akizuki-chan?"

"Let's do just that, then… These are the information that we have so far about what is happening in Kisaragi province. These are scientific data and images on the ground that doesn't really correlate with the nature of our skills, but I was able to glean vital information down there from these."

"Lady Maya, aren't these things…"

"Good eye, Hachishaku. I knew you'd notice it quickly."

"Ah… thank you, Lady Momiji."

"Hey, Kurumi. Haven't I told you to address Hanami with her name?"

"Hehe… I will do just that next time then. Old habits die hard after all."

Although still clearly intimidated of her, the Hachishaku-onna named Hanami bowed down and thanked Kurumi for complimenting her after she quickly recognized what was in one of the pictures.

"Ahem… What Hanami-san saw on the blue-labeled picture taken by the Airship reconnaissance wing is a bird's eye view of what we are suspecting to be a massive grouping of Yomi passages that they have dubbed as the "Anthill"."

"Anthill, huh? It seems like the men in the air force has begun to inflate their egos enough to address us as if we are insignificant insects."

"I don't think it's intentional, Kurumi… read this-mujina."

"Hm? Ara…? Well, this is concerning…"

"Indeed… there has been reports about the Yokai and Malevolent spirits attacking guarded villages and even army camps on the frontlines, not to break out of the province, but instead, devour people whole and immediately come back to where they came from. Ergo, this so-called "Anthill"."

"It's easy to deduce its total area from the top, but what about its view from the ground?"

"Oh. Look at the orange-labeled photo, Maya-chan. You'll see it from the ground through that."

"Wait, what on-?"

"Hey, hey… This isn't a joke, isn't it?"

"Calling it an "Anthill" no longer sounds like an understatement. It's accurate now."

To put it simply, the picture showed a steep mountain covered with forests on its feet and midway altitude. But from there and towards its summit, there is nothing but a landscape akin to the moon's meteor-riddled surface with holes and caves that all seemed as just dark blotches to normal people, but even through a photo, exuded an intense aura of malice to these spiritually-adept individuals.

"So, this is the reason why Hiro-kun brought all of us together, huh?"

"Right… Hiroshi-dono asked for our help as we are the only ones at present that can tackle this problem. He talked to me personally inside Kaiho Sanctum, telling me that since the people of Kingo Sanctum who was the most knowledgeable about handling this are now gone, and he doesn't want to further strain the already weakened Inari-no-kami-sama, he's depending on us five to solve this."

"Hehe… Hiro-san sure knows who to send for each problem that we face-mujina."

"Indeed. Let's do this."

As the five women all agreed to work together to solve this problem, the snow-laden winds outside of the train cab's window whirred as if acting as the foreboding sign of hardships to come.

Perhaps, the malice they saw in the pictures have seen them as well… and now, warns them of the consequences of coming there.

"We're finally here."

"Hu-ah… I almost slept a week's worth after this long trip-mujina."

"Thankfully, you woke up. I was thinking of leaving you behind if you didn't sober up."

"Mueh! Shuddup!"

As the five stepped out of their train cab and saw off the Alliance soldiers who was hurriedly called out of their cabs and immediately made to board the army trucks leading to the nearby military camp, they all had the same idea about the current affairs in here.

"It seems like this place really is being battered by the monsters."

"Yeah. If our soldiers are being corralled out immediately like this, it only means that however many men they funnel here, they still need more to fill their losses."

"Ladies, enough of this hubbub for now. We have an incoming guide to welcome us."

Just as Kurumi said that, a well-dressed woman approached them with a few other young women behind her. After giving a respectful low bow, she introduced herself and her entourage.

"We are deeply grateful for your arrival, honorable Priestesses and Shrine maidens. I am Nodoka Tamaki of the Nodoka clan, the Alliance's assigned interim governor of Kisaragi province and your guide in this land."

"Nodoka clan… one of the prominent samurai families of Haguro province, I presume?"

"You are correct, Lady Akizuki. I was the younger sister of General Himeji's fellow samurai officer and was assigned this job under her recommendation."

"I see. We appreciate you coming here to be our guide."

"Please, the honor is all ours. Alright, everyone… Help our guests with their baggage as I guide them towards the castle. Bring their belongings to their rooms."

"""As you command, Nodoka-sama."""

After handing them the collection of their bags and other belongings, the five followed the woman who led them towards a large carriage at the exit of the train station.

"Hachishaku, watch your head."

"Huh? Ita-!"

"Ufufufu~!"

In order to play tricks on the tall yokai woman again, Kurumi made her tails visible to block the vision of the Hachishaku-onna and only after she boarded the vehicle did the one behind her saw the low top edge of door and hit her head on it.

"You damn vixen! I told you to stop screwing with her already!"

"My, my~! Why so mad, young Otherworlder Priestess?"

"Grrr-!!!"

As Maya bared her teeth and growled against Kurumi who have caused her servant to hurt herself and laugh at her expense, it was Hisako and Reiha who ended up sighing out their troubles with their fellows.

"Do you have any new information about that so-called "Anthill", Lady Nodoka?"

"I do. I just received this recently from the remnants of the 81st Mechanized battalion who was pulled back from the frontlines after suffering massive casualties."

"Are these their reports?"

"Yes… and some photographic evidence too."

Hisako skimmed through the report, looking for the highlighted words and statements that can summarize the contents of the report.

"Oh no…"

"Hm? What's wrong, Reiha-san?"

"…"

"Is… something concerning about that picture?"

"Kurumi… I think I already know who made this problem in this place."

Reiha's statement as she handed the picture to Kurumi earned the shock of the others around her.

"W-What?"

"What are you two talking about? How did you manage to know who it is already?"

"T-Tanukichi-dono, who is the one responsible for this?"

Instead of saying it herself, Reiha decided to let the one who had a true connection with this person to say the villain's name.

"Takahashi Kyousuke."

"T-Takahashi-!?"

"Huh? What's wrong, Hanami?"

"Are you telling me that someone from old man Kensuke's family escaped from the Sanctuary and did this?!"

The Hachishaku-onna's shocked expression and voice caused Maya to wonder what all of this is about.

"We thought that Inari-sama has already cursed and killed him after he tried to escape from the Sanctuary and even left Tohka and his son to be eaten by the rabid Ayakashis…"

"Then how… how did this happen…?"

"Hey! Mind letting me and Hisako into this, you three?"

"…Listen well then, Maya. Because I don't want to repeat this story anymore afterwards."

"…Go on."

"There was an Otherworlder named Takahashi Kensuke who was brought to the Sanctuary years ago. There, he became the Sanctuary's head craftsman and a loyal retainer of Inari-sama…"

"Kurumi…"

"WHAT-!?"

"Mind your aura. Us five are one thing, but Lady Nodoka sure won't survive staying around you if you keep that up."

"…Alright. Thank you for reminding me."

After noticing that she was indeed exuding a dense karmic aura that might harm normal humans, Kurumi calmed herself down before continuing on.

"Kensuke-jii married a local woman named Tome and had a daughter named Tohka. She was a dear friend of mine, and we treated each other like sisters… in due time, she ended up marrying a young man named Kyousuke who took on her surname and became Takahashi Kyousuke. Everything would have gone well if not for her husband having the "bright" idea of escaping from the Sanctuary and stepping out blindly into the outside world."

"What's wrong with that? If they want to, why not just let them do it?"

"I expected you to ask that, so I'll ask this to answer your question… What happens to an earthworm that escapes from its hole in the ground and crawls towards the seashore?"

"Well, it would die, of course. An earthworm doesn't have skin to protect it from the saltwater."

"There… that's the reason why no one is allowed outside of the Sanctuary."

"What do you mean?"

"The residents of the Sanctuary are orphans and refugees that Inari-sama handpicked to become the residents of her land. In order to unite them, she would erase every memory they have prior to their integration to the Sanctuary."

"The way of life inside and outside of the Sanctuary is very different. As it is the land of the Fox goddess of harvest, wealth and fertility, the sanctuary is a land of bounty that no other place can compare to."

"So, you're trying to say that if they leave the Sanctuary, they will not be able to adjust quickly enough to the limited resources of the outside world?"

"There's that… there is also the more deadly implications of leaving the Sanctuary that is connected to their prior induction to the Sanctuary."

"You mean the fact that their memories were wiped? Why would something like that be deadly?"

Instead of Kurumi or Reiha, it was Hisako who connected the dots and spoke about what it really that makes leaving the Sanctuary deadly for the residents.

"…Because those memories aren't only memories on the mind, it is also the memory of the body. And by erasing that, it erases their resistance to diseases in the outside world."

"Y-You mean like nullifying someone's vaccination immunity?"

"Yes… Was I right, Kurumi-san?"

"Yes. That's exactly what makes leaving the Sanctuary a deadly thing for the residents."

"Then what about the outsiders that strays into the Sanctuary or the guests of Inari-sama who comes there?"

"Inari-sama learned about the consequences of erasing the residents' memories to their immune system and added another layer of spells into the Sanctuary's barrier, one that continuously heals them. Because of this, even the outsiders that brings in those illnesses wouldn't be able to spread it inside."

"But that doesn't heal the outsiders either, right?"

"Correct. They are not residents after all."

After that long tangent, we returned to the situation at hand and discussed what to do with Takahashi Kyousuke.

"Since his involvement is everything but assured, that makes this a personal affair to me."

"That isn't something permissible, Kurumi-san. I know that this is the man who betrayed your best friend and caused her death, but this is still something that we have to resolve without devolving to using our emotions to handle things."

"I am aware of that, Hisako… but still, I shared my body with Tohka for a long time and I cannot easily erase this feeling in my heart. I must see to it that Kyousuke is stopped and none of this happens again in the future."

Seeing that she still has a level-head even though her emotions are indeed making her force herself into this fight, Hisako just sighed in relief and turned to Reiha.

"Reiha-san, I'll leave looking after Kurumi-san to you."

"Mm. I'll make sure she won't make any trouble-mujina."

After hearing her positive response, Hisako faced Maya and Hanami regarding the fight ahead of them.

"As the Sanctum that was built on the biggest Ki line, Kyoga Sanctum surely has done the most knowledge about handling these kinds of things. Besides, except for the White Tiger spirit of Kurumi Sanctum in Niijima, the Sea Dragon spirit is also a militant warrior spirit, can I safely assume that you know enough spells to protect everyone?"

"No worries about that, Hisako-chan. Hanami and I are masters of thousands of spells and exorcism chants. Only the most dangerous of legendary beasts and malignant spirits can resist us."

"I see… that puts me at ease."

With all of that settled and our enemy ringleader identified, I decided to move the conversation towards what we would really be doing out there. After hearing the damage done by the monsters, I thought it best to settle this as quickly as possible.

"Nodoka-dono, can I ask you to arrange a meeting between me and General Himeji?"

"I can do that, Lady Akizuki. But may I ask what this meeting is for?"

"If we are to finish these incursions once and for all, Us five can deal the killing blow, but we need everyone's help before the right moment comes for us to strike… Because of that, I thought about enlisting the help of the local garrison."

"I see… I will make those arrangements then."

"Thank you… in the meantime, let's survey the place for ourselves and find a way to infiltrate the Anthill quickly."

We spent the night on the newly renovated castle in the capital of Kisaragi province. Although we were supposed to have our own rooms, Kurumi-san insisted that us five should stay the night together and because there was fried tofu and Sake (which she really likes) for dinner, we thought it is fine to take her up to her offer.

Besides, it has been a long time since I got to have a sleepover. With my other female friends busy with handling the state of affairs in Kiko, or in the case of Chiyo-san, who is still in recovering from her near-death experience, I wanted to enjoy this peace and quiet while I still can.

"Mmm! The fried tofu sure is delectable with the onions and soy sauce."

"You're right. I thought that the soy sauce would ruin it since the tofu is already pretty salty, but there's a hint of sweetness in it."

"That must be from the onions that was sautéed first. It does add a layer of flavor."

As we took the bite-sized fried tofu from the plate and dipped it in our saucers, the already slightly woozy Kurumi let slip of something that made the air around us freeze.

"Hiroshi sure is a jerk, isn't he… making the woman that loves him wait like that…"

We already knew about it since all of us visited Chiyo-san in the hospital… and even though I knew that he must've a reason for not visiting her even once yet, as I girl, I can understand why she must've felt bad for the sake of Chiyo-san.

"Hiroshi… no, Hiro-kun must have a reason why he's maintaining a distance with her. From what I can guess as someone who knows him from the past world, he must be thinking that meeting her and making sure that she is safe would soften up himself and make him unable to make decisions necessary to end all of this once and for all."

"So, you're saying that he's avoiding her because everyone needs a ruthless him rather than the loving and understanding him that he shows to those that he loves?"

"Exactly… it may not look like much, but right now, we are at war, and he can't risk losing his nerve just to meet with her. To him, this is the most logical approach to things. Chiyo can forgive him later… his people and the fate of this world cannot."

"I see…"

There was an awkward silence in the room after we heard all of that from Maya-san. She said that she personally knows Hiroshi-san and surprisingly, even Chiyo-san in the past world and because of that, the things that doesn't make sense to us about them, makes sense to her.

"Hiroshi is the kind of person who cannot be the good guy and the bad guy at the same time. That's… just what he is as a person."

"Then I guess him sending us here is also a way to avoid interacting with us… especially you, Maya, who keeps on guilt-tripping him to visit Chiyo already."

"W-What!? I was just concerned for my two old friends! If this continues, they may never fulfill their promise to each other!"

After I heard Maya-san's words, I realized something that must be what Hiroshi-san truly intended to do to make us five gather like this.

"I think… this is exactly the reason why Hiroshi-san made us come together like this. Because he doesn't want to tell his intentions and make us worry for longer."

"And that is what, exactly?"

"…I think he intends to make us realize our place in the new country that he is making… before he exits the stage."

"Exits the stage… wait, are you saying that-"

Realizing this must've been a painful thing to Hiroshi-san… but one that he willingly accepted for the sake of everyone.

"Right… I think he will retire after everything is in their right place."

Morning came quickly and we set out to the frontlines of the battle along with the troops. Because of the time constraints in her own schedule, I had to meet Kotori-sama in the train's private dining cab.

"We will be depending on you and everyone today, Kotori-sama."

"It's nothing, Hisako-chan. It's our duty after all… If anything, destroying that Anthill will bring this land peace and justify the sacrifice of our fallen comrades. We'll do what we must do, so be at peace as you and the others end the terror of the monsters."

"Mm!"

It took about an hour for the army's equipment to be set in place, but as soon as it was done, I heard the shouts of the soldiers who proceeded to calibrate their cannons according to the coordinates sent to them and soon, a young soldier approached us with a code word.

"The Sakura blooms today."

"…I see."

There were five codewords prepared for the commencement of the mission, each of them corresponding to a certain condition in the battlefield that will affect the progression of our operation.

"What's the word, Hisako?"

"The blizzard on the sea is too harsh. We won't have air support."

"Then that means we have to march amongst the exploding artillery shells, huh?"

"Yeah. That's the only way we can survive through this."

Regrettably, the weather isn't with us today… but we still have to end the terror of the monsters in this place.

"Come on! Those monsters won't be waiting for us, you know!?"

"I'm gonna send those ayakashis back to Yomi-mujina!"

"Alright, alright! Let's show 'em what we're made of, Hanami!"

"Aye, Azusagawa-sama!"

Hearing the other four hyping themselves for the infiltration mission, I sighed deeply and spoke a short prayer for all of us who will be entering head-first into the monsters' nest.

"Heavens bless us with your protection and purge whichever evil we face against."

I rode the horse provided to me and raised the flare gun that will begin the battle.

"Operation Yatogami! Commence!"

At that snowy winter day in middle of Kisaragi province, history was made as the last stronghold of the Old World's evils was vanquished for one last time…

And though unknown to them back then, the five women who wielded supernatural powers would one day be immortalized through a moniker reserved for them and only them.

<The Custodians of the New Age>