Chapter 114: The Gods Return, The Great Reckoning Approaches

Everyone: "..."

Hearing Abe Ontake Maro's matter-of-fact words, the corners of their mouths twitched.

Holy crap!

On purpose, he definitely did it on purpose.

They were no fools; they could hear the meaning behind Abe Ontake Maro's words and read the smile on his face. It was clearly him picking a fight on purpose because he had made a move himself. As long as America dared to strike, he would dare to hit back—and super-double at that.

I spat at you because you oppressed my Japan. My spitting was perfectly reasonable, just a small punishment. But then you struck at us again—what's that supposed to mean? Now you're in the wrong, aren't you? Are you saying only the magistrate is allowed to set fire but the common folk aren't allowed to light a lamp? Then I'll have to make a move too.

Suddenly, they imagined Abe Ontake Maro's current state of mind.

That's right!!

Master Abe must be thinking exactly this.

While nodding continuously in their hearts to affirm the thought, Director Takahashi and the others could not help but laugh and cry at the same time, feeling a deep sense of shame.

Our transcendent fought for Japan, directly spat water into America's face and started brawling. And what about us? We've been busy licking America's stinky feet—completely throwing away the faces of our ancestors.

"It's getting late, I should get down to business too." Abe Ontake Maro glanced at the sky. "Where is the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi? I'll go fetch it and head back."

"Is Master Abe leaving already? Won't you stay for dinner?"

Tsuchimikado Kenji came back to his senses and spoke up to urge him to stay, very much hoping Abe Ontake Maro could remain longer.

But he still ordered Tsuchimikado Xia Mei to go fetch the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, afraid of delaying Abe Ontake Maro's time.

"No need. I have a mission and can't stay long—let's eat another time."

"Another time?"

Everyone was stunned.

From their earlier conversation, they had learned that Abe Ontake Maro had not returned to Japan since the Heian period, either going to the Original Battlefield or holding down the fort in the world where the Abe clan resided.

If an ordinary person said "let's eat another time," they might think it was just polite talk.

But Abe Ontake Maro was no ordinary person—he was a transcendent. He had said he hadn't returned to Earth in over a thousand years, proving he rarely came back to Earth. How could he possibly use the polite phrase "I'll come again another time," which was obviously too fake coming from him?

Added to their conversations and interactions with Abe Ontake Maro, they could tell his nature was easygoing—he was the type who did what he said, straightforward and candid.

Abe Ontake Maro nodded.

"For some reasons, I'm quite free now and have time to return to Japan."

"Then we'll have delicacies ready at any time, awaiting Master Abe's next visit." They knew Abe Ontake Maro really enjoyed the cuisine of this era.

"That's what you said. When the time comes, don't say I showed up uninvited. If you don't give me food, I won't leave."

"How could we? We'll definitely prepare the finest delicacies, hahaha."

During the farewell conversation, Tsuchimikado Xia Mei arrived carrying a wooden box.

The box was made of the finest, corrosion-resistant ebony, with a simple, archaic design—not modern craftsmanship—carrying a sense of aged antiquity.

Talismanic patterns and symbols were drawn on it.

Like a seal, the box was bound with a red silk ribbon tied into a knot.

Taking the black wooden box containing the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, Abe Ontake Maro ran his hand over the box's body.

Hiss!

Where his hand passed, the patterns on the black wooden box glowed a blood-red light, the box's body trembled faintly, and from within came bursts of world-shaking beastly roars from the abyss of heaven, as if some peerless great evil wished to break through the seal and burst out from within the box.

Everyone was frightened and stepped back.

Fortunately, a soft glow emanated from Abe Ontake Maro's palm, as if soothing, and in the end nothing happened.

They saw Abe Ontake Maro all the way to the gate of the great courtyard.

"Everyone, I'm off. See you next time."

Abe Ontake Maro smiled and waved goodbye to the crowd.

He hadn't walked more than a few steps.

As if remembering something, Abe Ontake Maro turned back and said.

"Oh right, if you have nothing to do lately, don't wander around outside Japan."

The sudden words caught everyone off guard for a moment.

What does that mean?

Wandering outside Japan? Does he mean going abroad?

"Why can't we go abroad?" Tsuchimikado Kenji asked subconsciously, without time to think.

"Because the war on the Original Battlefield is about to ease. The gods will return, and the great reckoning is at hand."

Leaving behind these words, Abe Ontake Maro took a single step and vanished.

Everyone: "!!!!"

They turned pale with terror, so startled their souls nearly flew out of them.

The gods will return?!

"The gods are coming back?" Tsuchimikado Kenji's eyes gleamed, a mix of joy and shock.

For others, the return of the gods might not mean much, not directly affecting themselves. But Tsuchimikado Kenji was different—the return of the gods held great significance for him. He was a Shinto High Priest, one who specifically made contact with the gods and served them.

In the past, he called himself a Shinto High Priest, yet had never truly served a god—like a blank check. With the gods' return, it would be different.

"Wait, isn't the return of the gods a good thing? Why tell us to be careful?"

Amid his excitement, Tsuchimikado Kenji kept his rationality and noticed the meaning behind Abe Ontake Maro's words.

Gods represent the sacred and the holy—why be careful? Could it be that the gods are evil?!

The moment the thought arose, Tsuchimikado Kenji nearly wet himself in fright, his legs going weak. Had his son beside him not promptly supported him, he would have collapsed to the ground in terror, unable to be helped back up.

The others clearly had the same thought as Tsuchimikado Kenji, each one's face turning pale with terror that shook their very liver and gall.

If the gods were evil, then upon their return, wouldn't it be like wolves among a flock of sheep...

"It shouldn't mean that the gods are evil."

Everyone calmed down and thought it over.

If the gods were evil, then Master Konghai wouldn't still believe in any Buddha.

When Abeno Ontakemaro told them to be careful, it probably didn't mean to be careful of the gods — he meant something else.

Tsuchimikado Xia Mei's thoughts, combined with Abeno Ontakemaro's words before and after, made her couldn't help but speak:

"The return of the gods probably doesn't only mean Japan's gods — it might also mean the gods of other countries. Didn't Master Abeno just say to go abroad less?"

Swish!

Everyone's eyes turned toward her.

Whether their own country's gods were good or bad, they could see clearly from history — but other countries were different.

And wasn't there that saying — those who are not of our kind must have different hearts. As Japanese, going to other countries was like entering someone else's territory.

Thinking of this, everyone suddenly thought of one possibility.

"The gods of various countries wouldn't have grudges against each other, would they?" Professor Zhongtian's eyelid twitched wildly.

This wasn't baseless speculation. Abeno Ontakemaro had said to go to other countries less, which meant going abroad might be life-threatening. But in the end, weren't gods — no matter which country — mostly symbols of beauty and justice? Even if they weren't from this country, the gods shouldn't just kill outsiders the moment they arrive, right?

There was only one possibility: the gods of various countries had grudges against each other. Because they were enemies, when they came to one's own territory, naturally one would kill.

Everyone shivered, as if falling into an ice cave.

This conjecture was the most likely, and the most probable guess.

"Right, they must have grudges." Director Takahashi brought up: "Otherwise why would Master Abeno say the gods will return and the reckoning is at hand? Isn't this 'reckoning' just the meaning of settling scores?"

……

(PS: Readers, you can guess along too, haha)