Fantasy Library.

Chapter 526 Bringing the Evil God Home
"This is……?"

When everyone saw what Aize took out of his shoulder bag, they were all stunned.

Especially Yoshino Asagi, who exclaimed in surprise.

"Shimenawa?"

The item that Aize took out of his shoulder bag was a shimenawa (a type of woven straw rope) with a white zigzag-shaped gohei (a type of coin) hanging from it.

Asatake Yoshino was very familiar with this, as it was a common decoration used in front of shrines, symbolizing the protection and blessing of the gods.

There are also a lot of shimenawa (sacred ropes) hanging inside Kenji Shrine, especially in the inner sanctuary where Yoshino Asatake performs and practices her dance every day. Originally used for people to challenge the sword-drawing ceremony, it is now surrounded by these things around the giant rock from which Aizawa drew Murasame.

In Shintoism, shimenawa is a ritual implement used for purification. It represents the boundary of sacred objects and symbolizes the separation between the divine realm and the outside world. It may appear on torii gates or near sacred trees or stones.

Unexpectedly, Aize brought a large section of shimenawa (sacred rope) into the mountains this time.

This surprised not only Yoshino Asatake, but also Mako Hitachi.

Only Cong Yu, perhaps sensing something, exclaimed in Aize's mind.

"This sacred rope actually harbors divine power?"

Yes.

Divine power resides within the shimenawa in Aize's hand.

These divine powers were naturally infused by Aize.

"I finally discovered this after a lot of trouble, and it just so happens to come in handy at this time."

Aize slung his shoulder bag aside, picked up the shimenawa rope, and made this statement.

After having the idea of ​​capturing the evil god alive, Aize kept thinking about how to do it.

The filth is a condensation of filth and has no physical form. Azer doesn't know why it appears in a vague, beast-like form, but its form is completely unpredictable. It can grow tentacles, dissolve like mud, or even turn into gas without any problem.

Unfortunately, apart from the Muramasa and the sacred objects enshrined in the shrine, no method is effective against the evil spirit. Even knocking it unconscious won't work, and subduing it is almost impossible. The only option is to exorcise it.

Such a dangerous situation exists because it cannot be tied up, locked up, knocked unconscious, or subdued. Capturing it alive is simply a pipe dream.

Even Aize couldn't think of a good method, so he could only resort to divine power.

Since divine power can be used to activate the power of Murasame, affect evil spirits, and purify impurities, it should be able to be used to suppress evil spirits, right?
However, if Murasame, which possesses divine power, were used to attack the opponent, he could only kill them. Even if he activated his own divine power and rushed in for hand-to-hand combat, it would be unlikely that he could capture and take the opponent away. Therefore, Aize wanted to infuse divine power into items such as ropes to create a divine artifact similar to a horn, which could be used to trap the evil spirit.

But as Congyu had said before, mortal objects cannot be used to house divine power. Even a divine sword like Congyu Maru cannot house divine power for a long time. Furthermore, the human body would be under immense strain once divine power is injected into it, even causing turmoil to the soul. Only a spirit that sacrifices itself as a human sacrifice to Congyu Maru, like she did, can be used to house divine power.

As for Aize... he was an absolute exception, impossible to replicate. It was his unique characteristics combined with the guidance of Congyu Maru that ultimately led to the miracle of divine power entering his body.

Under such circumstances, creating a replica of a divine artifact capable of trapping evil spirits would be extremely difficult.

Aize discovered through numerous experiments that items like the Hoko bell, which are frequently used in Shinto activities, can be imbued with sacred attributes through years of Shinto activities, thus allowing divine power to reside within them.

The Hoko Bell, which Yoshino Asatake has always used, is a sacred artifact used by the priestesses of Hozuki throughout the ages. It has a certain degree of ability to purify evil spirits and has become a weapon used by the Asatake family to exorcise evil spirits and purify impurities.

While the shimenawa (sacred rope) that has always existed in shrines does not have a special function like the hoko bell, it is imbued with sacredness and can temporarily house divine power.

Therefore, Aize brought out this section of shimenawa from the shrine and infused it with divine power, temporarily turning it into a divine artifact that could affect the evil spirits.

“Using this should be enough to restrain that disgusting thing.” Aize tucked the still-unsheathed Murasame into his lower back, untied the shimenawa rope, and threw one end to Hitachi Mako, saying, “Hitachi, you cooperate with me.”

"Yes!"

Hitachi Mako quickly responded, took the shimenawa rope, and together with Aizawa, pulled it apart, creating a situation where the evil spirit would be surrounded.

"Then, what about me?"

Asahi Yoshino also quickly spoke up.

"You stay on the side and keep watch. If that guy shows any signs of escaping, use your gong to force him into our encirclement."

Aize said something without turning his head, and then moved.

Because the evil spirit that was eyeing this side with predatory intent could no longer restrain itself and pounced again.

Hitachi!

"understood!"

Aize called out to Hitachi Mako, and then his figure shot out.

As expected of a battle-hardened female ninja, Hitachi Mako kept up with Aize's pace and speed very smoothly, and ran out with skills that were not much inferior to his.

The two rushed toward the oncoming evil spirit at the same time, but were the first to be met with the evil spirit's tentacles, which had been swung out at some unknown time.

"Snapped!"

The tentacles lashed heavily against a tree, sending bark and wood chips flying everywhere and scattering all over the ground.

Aize and Hitachi Mako dodged to the side a second before the tentacles attacked, one rushing to the left and the other to the right, with the taut rope in the middle.

The evil spirit that swooped down from mid-air crashed into the taut connecting rope without losing momentum, and was pulled back, stopping its forward momentum.

"------!"

The evil spirit reacted immediately, its body slightly dissolving, as if trying to pass through the open connecting rope in this way.

"Don't think about it!"

Aize and Hitachi Mako, however, seemed to have anticipated this scene. As the evil spirit dissolved its body, they pulled on the connecting rope and circled around it.

As the two raced and intersected, the rope began to entangle the evil spirit, binding it layer upon layer.

The body of the evil spirit, which had been dissolving, was actually bound by the rope, preventing it from turning into a lump of mud.

A refreshing spiritual energy emanated from the binding rope, and the part that bound the evil spirit even clashed violently with the filth and turbid energy on its body, causing a sizzling sound like oil being poured on it.

Seeing that it could not break free from the binding ropes and could not change its form, the evil spirit immediately began to struggle.

"Wow, that's some incredible strength...!"

Hitachi Mako was almost dragged away by the evil spirit's violent struggle. Her expression changed slightly, and her feet left marks on the ground.

"withstand!"

Aize, however, held firmly to the other corner of the connecting rope, struggling against the evil god's horn.

"careful!"

Cong Yu had somehow broken free from the possession and was flying in mid-air, watching the situation with a tense expression. Suddenly, she let out a cry of surprise.

Suddenly, the struggling demon leaped up, dragging Aize and Hitachi Mako along, and tried to burrow into the bushes nearby.

"ah!"

At that moment, Asahi Yoshino rushed over, letting out a delicate shout as she swung her bell, striking the evil spirit heavily.

"Bang!" The evil spirit struck by the bell was thrown from mid-air to the ground, its body outline showing further signs of disintegration, and its struggling strength also weakened.

"Now! Hitachi!"

Aize's eyes lit up, and he quickly called to Hitachi Mako, who swiftly swung the rope to bind the two forelimbs of the evil spirit.

Hitachi Mako also acted quickly; while Aize was binding the forelimbs of the demon, she bound the hindlimbs of the demon.

The evil spirit tried to struggle, extending tentacles from its body and wildly waving them, forcing back Aize and Hitachi Mako who had come to its side.

"Slap!" "Slap!" "Slap!" "Slap!"...

The pitch-black tentacles suddenly began to dance wildly in the dark forest, lashing the ground, surrounding trees, and grass, kicking up clouds of dust, wood chips, and grass scraps.

"Give me--"

Aize was forced back a distance, then suddenly charged forward, crashing into the dust, sawdust, and grass.

With a "whoosh," Aize finally drew his sword.

The divine power was poured into Muramasa, causing it to awaken as if it were emitting an excited vibration, while a clear spiritual energy emanated from its blade.

"Be honest!"

Aize charged into the swirling dust and swung his sword, the blade flashing like moonlight.

"Pfft!"

The wildly thrashing tentacles were instantly severed by Aize's blade and vanished on the spot.

With a knife in one hand and a shoulder bag on the ground in the other, Aize rushed in front of the evil god and simply put the shoulder bag over its head.

The next second, the not-so-large evil spirit, still firmly bound by the glowing rope, was stuffed into a shoulder bag by Aize.

As the shoulder bag was zipped up, everything returned to normal.

An indescribable silence spread through the mountains and forests, making the tense atmosphere linger for a long time.

"D-Did it succeed?"

Hitachi Mako, clutching her kunai, hesitantly uttered those words.

Aize didn't respond. Instead, he stood there for a while, clutching his shoulder bag, before finally nodding.

"It should be considered a success, right?"

Upon closer inspection, a rope infused with divine power was also wrapped around the shoulder bag, rendering the filth inside unable to struggle.

Seeing this, everyone first looked at each other, and then they all showed expressions of disbelief.

"We...captured the evil spirit?"

Asatake Yoshino's voice was filled with a sense of disorientation and uncertainty.

"They actually captured a demon alive..."

Cong Yu's face was filled with disbelief.

Since becoming the manager of Murakumaru, Murakumaru has witnessed firsthand the struggles between generations of priestesses and shamans of the Asabu family, but never before has she felt so incredulous.

There was no way around it. In the past, people only knew how to exorcise evil spirits and purify filth. They held a feeling of both fear and dread towards evil spirits and regarded them as objects that had to be eliminated. How could they have ever had the idea of ​​capturing them alive, unlike now?
Aize not only moved, but he succeeded.

This scene felt incredibly unreal, not only to Congyu, but also to Asatake Yoshino and Hitachi Mako.

However, no matter what they think, the facts are undeniable, leaving them no choice but to believe them.

"Take it back quickly."

Aize walked over, carrying a shoulder bag as if he were packing up a trophy.

“I can feel that the divine power on the Lianzhu rope is constantly rubbing against the filth on the evil spirit. After a while, either the divine power on the Lianzhu rope will be exhausted, or the evil spirit inside will be purified.”

This is not okay.

Having finally obtained such a trophy, Aize wanted to study it carefully.

"I'm sorry, Miss Asatake, I'll have to trouble you for a while."

Aize glanced at the animal ears on Asahi Yoshino's head and said this.

As long as the evil spirit is not exorcised and the filth is not purified, the curse on Yoshino Asatake will continue, and the phenomenon of dog spirit possession will persist.

"Will this really not cause any problems?"

Hitachi Mako became somewhat worried.

You should know that as time goes on and the curse intensifies, the animal ears on Yoshino Asatake's head will become visible to others.

If it turns out that way, it won't be something that can be simply dismissed as "trouble."

This has been the case for the priestesses of the various dynasties. At first, the curse was not very serious, and even if they grew animal ears, they would not be seen. But as time went on, the animal ears would be visible to ordinary people, and the curse would grow to the point where it could not be eliminated.

By then, everything will be beyond repair.

"I'm fine!"

A shadow fell over Asagi Yoshino's face, but she spoke firmly.

"We've finally managed to capture the evil spirit alive and take it back for research. We absolutely can't miss this opportunity."

Perhaps they can actually learn something from the evil spirits and find a way to permanently break the curse.

Thinking about this, Asahi Yoshino became somewhat excited.

Cong Yu was both worried and excited, her eyes filled with hope as she looked at Aize, who was standing there with a shoulder bag.

My master is indeed amazing; he actually managed to break the long-standing stalemate.

If the curse of the Asabu family can be broken forever, then my centuries of protection will not have been in vain.

“This is a rare opportunity. Now that we’ve captured the evil spirit, it’s impossible not to bring it back,” Cong Yu said earnestly. “However, just to be on the safe side, it’s best if Yoshino doesn’t get too close to the master, and Mako should also keep her distance from the master.”

Ultimately, evil spirits are nothing more than filth, harmful to the human body, and even more so to Yoshino Asagi, whose bloodline is cursed, as if she were poisoned.

If Yoshino Asatake comes into contact with impurities, the curse on her body is likely to worsen, and even Mako Hitachi may suffer damage.

Only Azer possessed divine power, and even when entangled in filth, he could not be harmed.

"Let's go."

Aize smiled at everyone and said calmly.

"It's time to go down the mountain."

(End of this chapter)