Two Hundred And Seventy-Eight *contains map – Kyoto*
“… yes, the fastest helicopter we have. Fully fuelled. Yes, I know I don’t know how to fly it, arrange an instructor. I hear it takes a few hundred hours to learn how to fly a helicopter. I should be able to do it in a day.” I was discussing with the Major. Let’s see, it’s two hundred and thirty miles from Central Tokyo to Kyoto, I’m on the outskirts so call it two hundred and twenty… the absolute best speed a Japanese military helicopter can do is around two hundred and forty miles an hour so… Damn, it would still be around an hour to Kyoto.
“It would be faster if I could just run there…” I muttered, before quickly giving up on that idea. Sure, it was possible I could make it faster than an hour, as with burst speed using Body Enhancent I could exceed the speed of the helicopter, but sustaining it over more than two hundred miles would likely still elude . There are other problems too… the Boundary was less restrictive about matters like this, and I still was struggling to fully understand the rules, such as why we still seed to breathe there, but issues like air resistance seed far less problematic. If I tried to run to Kyoto, I’d end up arriving exhausted and in no fit state to battle dangerous foes. And I’d be seen. I can’t afford to be the one who leaks the existence of Candidates to the world…
“You see, there is no way to turn aside the definite fate that is my imdiate future.” The Diviner said sadly, seeing the look on my face as I was on the phone. “Sothing will always conspire to prevent your aid.”
“Well, if you are so certain then, what does it matter if I try? You don’t lose anything.” I retorted, rather annoyed at her fatalism. It isn’t like she doesn’t want to live, so why not struggle harder…
“He has you there.” Kudou-san agreed with a wry chuckle.
“I… I understand.” Matsumuro-san agreed, her head dipping under her veil, probably looking down.
“Okay, Major Sasaki, we have credible intelligence that soone or sothing is likely to attack Kyoto in the very near future. Do you think we can get so JSDF presence here?”
“Well, that’ll be sothing the top brass need to agree. We are stretched pretty thinly at the mont. What with the complicated situation with China, as well as training and other logistical issues.”
“I see. Yeah, can you let Tsumura-san know I’ll be needing a eting with him on my return then? Oh, and…” I rattled off a few last instructions. Once I hung up, I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts.
“Right. So we know that an attack is coming in the next three months, if you are to be believed, Matsumuro-san, and I have no reason not to believe you.” I clarified. “It will strike Kyoto, and will envelop your shrine at Tsukuyomi-jinja. Am I clear so far?”
She nodded. “That is correct. And I shall perish there.”
“So you say.” I said, unwilling to concede. “Now, there can only be two attack vectors, right? Here in the Material, and the Boundary. So if we protect the Material, by stationing soldiers here…”
“But can the army stand up to whatever threat these ants are?” Kudou-san asked.
“If they are as strong as Akio or , then surely not-not.” Shaeula shook her head. “However, I do not-not believe that there are many as strong as us. Could you-you survive engaging your mortal army, Gin, Yamato?” She asked pointedly.
“No, I doubt it. I could likely kill a fair few with Avalokitesvara’s Gaze, but I am hardly immune to bullets.” Saionji-san admitted.
“My Golden Warriors would reap a bloody toll.” Yamato-san said proudly. “I don’t fear them, as the chosen of Kannon, I will be victorious.”
“Okay…” I said, surprised at his vehence. “It’s true your warriors would be excellent at surviving small-arms fire and tanking, but… well, my point stands. I think we can take precautions to secure the Material Kyoto. See, this is another reason the Ministry is needed. Coordinating various branches of governnt such as the Military is necessary.”
“So if the attack happens in the spiritual realm, then… that would be harder to defend against.” Kudou-san mused. “I haven’t been there, but Taishakama-san and the others talk. Kyoto is a very dangerous place.”
“It definitely is.” I didn’t disagree. “But we have advantages there. Don’t forget, the attack will end up striking Tsukuyomi-jinja, right? If we know that, we can prepare. But first, we need to take stock of our assets. Well, we have Prince Shōtoku there, right?” I said, surprising everyone, especially the Diviner.
“How do you know of the Prince?” she asked.
“Well, I t him when I was helping Kudou-san’s people secure their Territory. How else do you think I got your na, Matsumuro-san?”
She looked startled by my answer, so I carried on. “Saionji-san, you have Akai, right? She’s a Phoenix, so even as a chick, she must be pretty strong, right?”
Akai hissed at , before realising who she was cursing at, shrinking down, eyes spinning wildly. I don’t get why she dislikes Shaeula and so much. It can’t just be that we are strong, right? It isn’t like we threatened her or anything…
“I do, but, what’s your point?” he asked.
“Simple. Bodyguard work.” I grinned. “Also, the neutral shrines have their own spiritual being who walks the Material as well. Kofuku Jizo. I would have him also guard the Diviner.”
“Should you be spilling their secrets, Akio-kun?” Kudo-san asked.
“I think this is the ti for it. Besides, I’m hoping the neutral shrines will decide like you did, Kudou-san, and support my aims. And right now, my aim is to not let the Diviner die. I hate all that fatalistic bullshit.” Ironically, my own Foresight was still ringing, which I would have to deal with as well, but one problem at a ti. “We have an advantage, we know a target. Which ans we can prepare.”
Pulling out the map of Kyoto I had, I started making so annotations to the map. “These are the Territories I know of, and their rough extent. As you can see, the Matsunoo-Taisha Grand Shrine Territory surrounds Tsukuyomi-jinja now, since our efforts. That allows us the opportunity to fortify, although there isn’t much ti.” I also drew in the other nearby Territories. “I know that the neutral shrines have one around Kegon-ji, yet not the extent of it. So… am I missing any of your factions, Kudou-san, Uchida-san, Saionji-san?”
“Well, that information is rather… sensitive.” Saionji-san mused. “However… in light of your proposal that known Territories shouldn’t be infringed upon…” he gave a smile then, sly and knowing. “There are so others. Like mine, here.” He drew in an area around Kinkaku-ji. “I’m right on your borders, old man.” He smiled at Kudou-san.
“You think I don’t know that? I have Chosen too.” Kudou-san scoffed.
Uchida-san, who was still weak from the Chirurgery, exchanged a look with his son and Hikawa-san. Hikawa-san nodded confidently, while Yamato-san looked troubled, but in the end conceded.
“We also have one here.” He pointed at a pair of temples towards northern Kyoto, near the sister temple to Kinkaku-ji. “Shisendo and Konpuki-ji are under our control.”
“Such a sha.” Saionji-san laughed. “It seems Amaterasu is far more favoured by the Gods. We have multiple other areas we control. Here at Kozan-ji, a minor shrine here…” he pointed to a small area in the south-west near the river. “… as well as Shimogamo-jinja by the botanical gardens, and…”! his face fell. “Well, we did have more, here and here…” he made two black marks, one near Tofuku-ji just south of Kiyomizu-dera, and another in a modest area of Kyoto. “… but unfortunately, they died. Fools.”
“We lost one as well.” Kudou-san fiddled with his voluminous white beard, an expression of grief on his features. “Not too far from Ryōan-ji.” He made another black mark. “Three who should be with us now lost. A tragedy.”
“I see. Well, large parts of Kyoto are undefended, but that’s to be expected.” I said, looking at the newly upgraded map. “Luckily, there is a concentration near Tsukuyomi-jinja.”
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