Hagakure Sakura Does Not Lament

Chapter 160

Moonlight's Devotion

Watching the car carrying Tsugumi drive away, Shiro–Tsukiyomi muttered.

“Hm, I think my explanation was unreasonable, but it seems he believed me. –Really, my little brother, you’re honest and cute.”

Nanase Tsugumi didn’t have suspicions about those who were once invited inside. While this was normally a virtue, it was also a fatal flaw.

Tsukiyomi wondered how he was able to grow up with such a good-natured personality without being distorted.

“It was a coincidence that the connection to Bell-dono was severed at the time, but the activation of [Gluttony] was artificial. …Hmm, apparently the erosion has advanced more than I thought.”

The God that nestled in Nanase Tsugumi–Lucifer’s spirit–was interfering with [Gluttony] and snatching up the resources of the thing that had been eaten. The Demonic Beast that imitated Satan, which was likened to Lucifer, must have been a good source of sustenance.

“I’ve been fooling around based on the contract, but I’m sure he’ll question it soon enough if things continue like this. But for now, luck is with Lucifer. In that case, the day is near when I will have to make a move.”

Saying this, Tsukiyomi lowered his eyes.

–The Gods who manifested in this world before Amaterasu came down from the heavens, and weren’t meant to be worshipped.

Most of them were eliminated by Amaterasu’s followers, but some of them remained in this world, evading the followers. Tsukiyomi was one of them.

To be precise, he showed his reverence to Amaterasu before the battle with her followers, so it could be said that he was in a state of tacit approval. The reason why he wasn’t bound by her authority at that time was simply because Tsukiyomi was strong.

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Considering the compensation of the land, Tsukiyomi was the second most powerful God in Japan after Amaterasu. Even if Amaterasu herself appeared, if Tsukiyomi were to get serious, her followers would be no match for him. Because of these circumstances, Amaterasu’s side decided to tolerate Tsukiyomi’s presence to avoid unnecessary conflict.

–They did not care what Tsukuyomi was thinking.

Remembering this, Tsukuyomi smiled sadly.

“–Now that I think about it, my sister was always like that. If I show up, she’s frightened, and if I don’t move, she treats me as if I’m not there. …I just wanted to be close with my sister as a family.”

Tsukiyomi, born as the second God after Amaterasu, had always lived in secrecy, hiding in his sister’s shadow. He believed that this would lead to his sister’s peace of mind.

Even so, he could not help feeling vague loneliness. It was then that a rift in the sky with enormous power appeared.

Tsukiyomi descended to the lower world on a whim and saw a country being destroyed by evil monsters. He didn’t particularly enjoy it, nor was he saddened by it, but simply continued to watch the scene. For Tsukiyomi, the country of his birth was of no importance.

But the moment he saw Amaterasu reign over this country again for the sake of the people, for the first time in his life, Tsukiyomi felt desire.

–I want you to look at me. I want you to smile at me. I want you to talk to me. If I am not even allowed to do that, at least I want to carry your burden for you. Such a thought stuck in his head and wouldn’t go away.

“…Yeah, I know. I know that the current state of affairs is not your intention. The excessive faith of the people, the unavoidable sacrifices, and even the control of numerous Gods were not what you wanted.”

Saying this, Tsukiyomi quietly closed his eyes.

-Even though she was about to be crushed under the weight of the responsibility of being entrusted with the country by her father, she was a proud older sister without showing any pretense of such a thing. The older sister, whose pride was as high as a mountain, but who was so sensitive that she would shut herself away over trivial matters. The poor sister who was afraid that she would be replaced by her equal, Tsukiyomi, at any moment. He wanted to lighten that burden, even if only a little.

“I swore that day that I would do anything for that. –Even if it meant joining forces with an evil God.”

The first person Tsukiyomi approached after descending to the lower realms was Lucifer, the August Star of Heaven.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Tsukiyomi and Lucifer’s interests were aligned.

Lucifer wished to usurp the right and sovereignty that included the rift in the sky, while Tsukiyomi wished to free Amaterasu from her heavy responsibilities. Whatever the outcome of this would be for the country, it was none of Tsukiyomi’s business.

From then on, the two Gods–sometimes disguised as people, sometimes getting help from other escapees, sometimes interfering in the rifts in the heavens to extract information, and sometimes under Amaterasu’s watchful eye–worked on their plan over a long period of time.

…But in the end, the plan failed.

It was a good plan to seize control of the God who governed the boundary and seize real power over the Demonic Beasts and the divinity leaking from the rift, but it failed at the very end.

The cause of the failure was, needless to say, Lucifer’s love for her human. For a demon who made fun of humans and played with them as toys, the cause of her defeat was very ironic.

Tsukiyomi, who had been cooperating behind the scenes for so long, felt that the plan was ruined for such a selfish reason, but more than that, he was shocked by Lucifer’s action.

Although they were related by blood, it was only a temporary body, a child with no connection to Lucifer, and yet Lucifer still tried to save the sacrifice.

Even such an evil God without blood and tears cared about her brother. Words couldn’t express how much of a shock this was to Tsukiyomi.

The love of an elder sister for her younger brother had kicked the Gods’ plan to the curb. That fact alone weighed heavily on Tsukiyomi’s heart.

A mysterious feeling of envy, loathing, and salvation. A sense of relief, as if he had finally reached the stars reflected on the surface of the water. Tsukuyomi was convinced that no matter what form it took, the older sister was still thinking of her younger brother.

But in the end, a failure was still a failure. Since Amaterasu’s time was running out, he couldn’t take much time like he had done with Lucifer. At worst, even if it was unreasonable, he should usurp Amaterasu’s throne.

Tsukiyomi’s mind changed when he saw the Nanase Tsugumi who had escaped.

The devil that lurked on the dark side of the moon, retaining her original personality but taking in the God of boundary, was the remnant of Lucifer, the demon that nestled in the soul of Nanase Tsugumi.

Although her power was weakened, it was enough for Tsukiyomi to decide to continue with the plan.

–The power of the God of the boundary was already in their hands. Then all that remained was to prepare a new vessel to exercise that power.

However, in order to move to a new vessel, Lucifer’s power must be restored first. Tsukiyomi decided so and quietly waited for the right time.

Ten years had passed since the great fire.

The frail child had grown up and become a fine boy. But even if he was raised as a vessel, Tsugumi was still just a human being. There was a limit on keeping the God of Boundary and Lucifer in his soul.

At this rate, the vessel would be ruined before Lucifer could fully recover. Tsukiyomi decided to turn to the demon who had been obsessed with Nanase Tsugumi–Belial.

He lent him a little help and showed him Nanase Tsugumi’s current state, and the rest would be as good as a rolling stone. The demon, who preferred a meaningful end to a soulless prolongation of life, was willing to lay his hands on Tsugumi. Without knowing Tsukiyomi’s true goal.

A vessel grew the most when they wandered between life and death. The spirit of trying to crawl up the abyss of death was the source of growth.

–And Belial couldn’t kill Nanase Tsugumi anyway. Love was the most uncontrollable emotion in the world. It didn’t matter if it was God or the devil.

While he was still wondering whether or not to kill Tsugumi, Belial wouldn’t seriously do it. He couldn’t directly touch him, that much was obvious when he chose such a roundabout way.

But even so, Tsukiyomi could never let his guard down. There was always the possibility that Belial might accidentally kill Tsugumi.

Although he was going to take advantage of him, for Tsukiyomi, Tsugumi was a cute child he had been watching over since before he was even born. He was so attached to him that he didn’t want him to die.

Tsukiyomi thought that if Tsugumi was going to die, he would secretly lend a helping hand, but so far his plan was progressing smoothly. …Well, it was a bit of a miscalculation that Tsugumi became a Magical Girl.

Since it was difficult to monitor him because of Bell, Tsugumi’s contract God, he took advantage of the opportunity and offered a contract to Chidori, Tsugumi’s adopted sister, but now he could say that the choice was a brave decision. Playing family with them wasn’t so bad for Tsukiyomi.

Tsugumi and Chidori. A brother and sister who were not related by blood. But their bond was real. …The surveillance was just a pretext, and in reality, he just wanted to be a part of a close-knit family.

But even such affection was nothing in front of his real sister Amaterasu. Even if it hurt his heart to use them, Tsukiyomi would do anything for Amaterasu.

Tsukiyomi believed, without a doubt, that this was the proof of love from brother to sister.

“All I have to do now is wait for Lucifer’s power to fill up. At least she will know how I’m going to move. I have to finish my preparations before then. –Yes, all because of my love for you, my sister.”

Saying this, Tsukiyomi–Lucifer’s true collaborator– smiled quietly.