DanMachi: The Epic of the Heroic Spirits of Emiya Shirou

Emiya reached out and gently stroked the candlelight, and he couldn't help but sigh.

From a young age, she was kept confined to her residence, forbidden from contact with the outside world, and only allowed to learn about etiquette and rituals...

This is not raising a daughter at all, but creating a "tool" or a "sacrifice".

The fact that Chunji's father so easily believed the words of that little human official, severed ties with Chunji, and kicked her out of the house shows that he did not regard Chunji as a "person" at all, but as an "object" that could be discarded at any time.

Anyone with a normal sense could sense that Chunji's theft of the tribute might be a conspiracy by that Lilliputian official, and Chunji's father might not have been unaware of this either.

However, in his heart, Haruhime, who mingled with the common people outside (such as Yamato no Mikoto), was already a failed creation.

Rather than keeping her around and potentially tarnishing the prestige of the Sanjo family, it's better to take this opportunity to get rid of this useless daughter.

The truth may not be so simple; Emiya is speculating about the Sanjo clan nobleman he has yet to meet with the utmost malice.

"Haruhime, are you familiar with the [Nine Families]?"

Emiya asked.

"I'm sorry, I've heard of the name 'Nine Families'."

Haruhime said, "But all I know is that the Sanjo clan is one of the nine families; I know nothing about the others..."

It sounds somewhat ironic that the young lady of the Sanjo clan knows less about the Nine Families than Emiya does. At least he knows the duties of the Gojo clan and that there are actually only eight families left in the Nine Families, and that the Rokujo clan has been wiped out.

He learned of these things from the goddess Astraea, because [Gojo Kaguya] was one of the executors of [Rokujo]'s extermination of the clan.

"To be honest, the more I learn about the Nine Families, the worse my impression of them becomes... I could even say I grow to loathe them more."

Emiya was saying something that could be considered "great disrespect" in the Far East.

Haruhime showed a look of horror at Emiya's words. Although she had been away from the Far East for a long time, the education she received since childhood was still etched in Haruhime's memory.

If she were to say such things in front of her father, the consequences would not be as simple as being banished; she would certainly be executed immediately.

"But...but...Father, he can't kill Lord Emiya..."

As Haruhime looked at Emiya's tall and strong figure, she subconsciously thought about it, without even realizing that she was having such a thought.

"It's Lord Emiya, he has the ability to kill them..."

Whether it's the guards of Sanjo, his father's shadow warriors, or himself, Lord Emiya can defeat them all with ease.

This may not be true. Haruhime does not know the actual level of Sanjo's combat strength, but regardless of the current facts, Haruhime, who witnessed Emiya's battle, blindly believes this.

Therefore, she gradually stopped being afraid.

“I know…I know the story of a person named [Gojo].

As Emiya spoke, Haruhime, hearing the word "Gojo," curiously pricked up her ears.

She knew almost nothing about the Nine Families, but vaguely understood that the Sanjo family was a mid-ranking branch among them, while the Ichijo, Gojo, and Kujo families held far higher status than the Sanjo family.

"【Gojo】is the 【Guardian】of the Far East. They are the guardians of order and 【justice】 in the Far East. All the men and women of their tribe are dignified and beautiful, adorning the 【Far East】with cherry blossoms...that's how it appears on the surface."

Emiya raised his hand, and the iaido sword Higanbana appeared in his hand. Then, he said something that surprised Haruhime, shook her, and even shattered her worldview.

"But in reality, the true 'Five Lines' is just a dirty 'dark side'."

Emiya realized that although Haruhime had been expelled from her family, she had never questioned Sanjou; instead, she had fallen into deep self-doubt and self-loathing.

Because of the incomplete education she received from childhood, Haruhime always held the Sanjo and the Kuke families in awe.

If the Sanjo and the Kuke are right and great, then Haruhime, who was abandoned by her family, is wrong and lowly... Haruhime always held this logic.

Therefore, the first thing Emiya needs to do is to break the sacredness of the "Ku Family" and "Sanjo" in Haruhime's heart. To do this, he needs to rely on the story of a senior, Gojo no Kaguya.

"I hope you don't mind."

90

Chapter Ninety: Flowers of the Wilderness

When Emiya mentioned the name "Gojo," the projected image of Kaguya Gojo's past weapon, "Higanbana," vibrated gently.

However, it doesn't seem to be blaming Emiya for "insulting" the name of [Gojo].

Instead, it's saying, "[Five Articles] This stupid, idiotic family deserves a good scolding!"

"The true nature of 'Five Articles' is actually a clandestine operation by a country in the Far East."

Emiya explained:

Assassination, alteration, erasure. All means aim to resolve the problem in a way that minimizes losses, and to mediate with extreme speed before the smoke turns into flames.

They shouldered the most shameful work in the Far East, a job that even ninjas could not match, becoming the embodiment of the noble yet filthy, flying in the night and darkness as the Death Cherry Blossom.

[Five] Girls in the family are given a certain "medicine" every day from birth.

It is a poison called "Wood Flower Poison," which resembles the character "妍" (yan) on a face. Those who cannot withstand this poison will be eliminated, and only those with the minimum required aptitude will survive.

This is a familiar method, because the criminal clan from which Chloe Lolo comes also trains [Assassins] in the same way.

However, compared to the criminal clan that Chloe calls "hell," Gojo's methods and purposes are even more disgusting.

Kroe and the others were given poison from a young age to cultivate their "abnormal resistance." The special poison they drank did not stay in their bodies, and after enduring a short period of pain, their bodies could return to normal.

The daughters of the Gojo family, however, ingest poison that seeps deep into their bones, and the accumulating "flower poison" transforms their bodies into "poison vessels."

The meaning behind this is, of course, to lure foolish males, driven by their bestial instincts, into the boudoir, causing them to devour themselves and die mysteriously—a heretical method that utilizes sexual techniques.

In stark contrast to the girls, the boys of the Gojo family must continuously take an antidote called "Konohana no Sake" (Wooden Flower Wine). This is so that they can have children with the girls, who are "Poison Vessels" and can even kill high-level ability users.

This abhorrent custom stems from the characteristics inherent in the bloodline of the Five Lines.

It determines the transmission of specific magic and skills from generation to generation.

Just as the nature of skills, which are similar to those of elves, is due to the inherent bloodline of their race.

Based on the same principle, Kaguya's ancestors noticed that a strong "Five Lines" bloodline could mass-produce "soldiers" with the same abilities and skills.

The progenitor of the Five Elements possesses a inherited ability specializing in killing.

After that, the clan members were considered superior if they displayed more of the ancestral [magic] and [skills], and they spared no effort in fulfilling the [fire extinguishing] responsibility that they had borne for generations.

This is the family tradition of the "Five Rules".

It created this fighting group that repeatedly reproduces and refines its members within the clan, aiming for the ultimate standardization.

Therefore, the custom of always wearing masks is not without reason. After all, those who have always maintained the same lineage almost invariably have the same face.

The term "brothers and sisters" simply cannot describe them; everyone is of one mind.

It's fair to say that even the goddess of sin, whom Chloe called a "demon," had to comment on the "Five Rules": "You're going a bit too far."

Chunji was clearly frightened, or rather, somewhat disgusted.

Even a fox-girl who had received an incomplete education from childhood could sense the absolute abnormality of [Gojo].

However, the Five Elements One was someone even his own father and the Three Elements One family respected and worshipped...

Haruhime, having realized this, though she was not yet aware of it, finally began to question Sanjo.

National affairs are of paramount importance, particularly sacrifice and warfare. The latter is especially crucial. Compared to the three rules governing sacrifices and rituals, the five rules governing the violent institutions hold a higher status in the Far East.

However, the even more sublime Five Articles are like this, as are the Three Articles and the Nine Families...

Chunji's worldview began to waver.

"My friend's name is 'Gojou Kaguya'."

Emiya continued speaking.

"Gojono..."

Chunji's tone was somewhat blank: "She is too..."

Before being expelled from the family and having ties severed, Haruhime's surname was Sanjou; after being removed from the family, her surname became Sanjouno.

"A wandering ghost, no longer worthy of the noble name of Sanjo," that is the meaning of the new surname, and the same applies to Gojou Kaguya.

"The divine grace engraved upon you, the covenant between us has been dissolved for you."

"This is my sin. And you no longer belong to me or Gojo. So, consider this a farewell gift."

"Don't worry, I didn't use your precious virginity."

The goddess whom the Gojo family served, the cherry blossom goddess Konohanasakuya-hime, severed her bond with Kaguya, and from that moment on, Gojo Kaguya became Gojono Kaguya.

She went from being a princess of noble birth to a homeless, wandering ghost.

“Kaguya…”

Chunji softly murmured the name, feeling a sense of shared sorrow for this "princess" she had never met, because of their similar experiences.

However, Emiya had a completely different idea from hers.

"I believe that Kaguya, who left the Gojo and the Kuke, is not a wandering ghost."

Emiya said, "Instead, it transformed from the decaying 'Cherry Blossoms of the Far East' into 'Wildflowers' growing freely on an endless plain."

"what?"

Haruhime was surprised: "Lord Emiya, do you really think it's a good thing that Lady Kaguya left the Gojo family...?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

Emiya answered immediately.

Chunji lowered her head, subconsciously thinking, "What about me...?"

"Haruhime, you are the same."

Emiya said, "You have suffered many calamities since you left the Far East, but those tragedies were not your fault, and you have no need to feel ashamed of them."

"In particular, regarding leaving the Sanjo family, I actually feel that not being in that kind of family might not be a bad thing."

Hearing Emiya's words, Haruhime lowered her head even further: "Master, is that really what you think...?"

"Yes... to put it another way, it was precisely because you left the [Sanjo] family that we met in this city."

Emiya said.

This line was taught to him by the goddess Astraea.

He gripped the iaido sword, "Higanbana," in a reverse grip.

Magic [Five Lights]

A chilling sword intent erupted, spreading like wisps of cold air. The wicks of the incense candles in the pavilion were all severed, and the room immediately became dark.

"Haruhime, from today onwards, be my sister."

Emiya gently embraced the girl's shoulders.

However, Haruhime heard nothing, because—

"Master, the air you're exhaling is blowing on my ear...whoosh..."

There was a loud "thump."

The fox-girl collapsed onto the tatami mat, completely unconscious.

91

Chapter Ninety-One: Ryu's Special Training

[The Abundant Mistress] Tavern, courtyard.

Liu swung her wooden sword, and the holy blade of the [Wooden Sword Spirit Flowing Light] slashed a full arc in the air.

The spear adorned with delicate gold patterns was struck. This spear was a first-tier weapon of the same rank as [Elven Radiance], and it had been relegated to the background along with its user sometime during the war, having not participated in combat for a long time.

The last time was when Lunova and Chloe invaded the tavern, and the Golden Spear was used to suppress Chloe's power and lower durability. However, this time, the Golden Spear suffered a crushing defeat.

Under the powerful pressure of Ryu's sword, the Golden Spear and its master, Anya Fromo, were sent flying backward.

Anya crashed into the floor, rolling around several times with a "meow meow meow" sound before finally stopping.

Before anyone could even mourn Anya, the one who rushed to the battlefield was—[Black Fist] Lunova Fast!

Runova rushed forward, but she was caught in the magic trap [Lightning of the Muse] and was frozen in place.

"Wait, what is this thing... Stop, you idiot Ryu, stop right now..."