Chapter 43 Another Person Going to Kyoto
Magic originated in Europe.
This is the mainstream opinion within magical society. Politically, it seems correct, but culturally, it is clearly biased.
Magical arts, spells, and rituals have existed in all civilizations. The fact that Europe hosts the most powerful magical associations does not prove it to be the "orthodox" origin.
In fact, since modern times, with the expansion of colonial territories, European magicians have also devoted themselves to researching magical techniques outside of Europe, particularly focusing on Asian countries.
For example, India's mystical studies based on yoga and mantras, Chinese alchemy grounded in concepts like Feng Shui and the Five Elements, and Japan's sorcery developed under the unique animistic belief system of "eight million gods" — all of these became popular research subjects for magicians.
The Mariya family has always maintained close ties with these foreign researchers.
Originally a court noble family from the Kyoto region, the Mariya household was neither particularly noble nor wealthy. However, it held considerable status in the fields of religion and magic because each generation produced women with excellent spiritual power. These women would be entrusted to shrines or temples to become shrine maidens or nuns. This tradition had lasted for hundreds of years.
During the Meiji and Showa eras, the head of the Mariya family was even granted the title of baron. He was quite fond of Western culture and had significant contact with people from Europe who possessed magical knowledge.
This eventually became one of the Mariya family's customs.
When European magicians came to Japan for field research, they would be received by the Mariya family. Similarly, when the Mariya family's members traveled in Europe, they would be treated hospitably in return.
However, precisely because of this background, several years ago, Mariya Yuri was hunted down in Austria, offered as a sacrifice to a demon king, and suffered greatly.
Before such overwhelming power, the family's centuries-old connections meant nothing.
And now, she found herself in the same situation again — once more imprisoned by Sasha Dejanstahl Voban.
"I invited you over three years ago… no, maybe it was four. In any case, it's quite nostalgic."
Voban narrowed his eyes as he recalled.
He sat cross-legged on a rough chair, like an ancient tyrant, exuding a wild, arrogant demeanor. However, his tone and expression were calm, almost at odds with his personality.
"Back then, I was bored and wanted to hunt — something I hadn't done in a long time. But after I gained a bit of fame, the gods stopped appearing before me. How frustrating."
At the scene, only two people could still hear him speak: Mariya Yuri, and Liliana Kranjcar.
The others had already been turned into pillars of salt.
This place belonged to the Committee for Historical Compilation, and the people who had been saltified were, of course, its sorcerers.
Though Voban had no interest in ordinary people, if offended, he would kill them just like that.
Even though he had become calmer over the past two hundred years, he still occasionally revealed his tyrannical nature.
"As a king, one naturally has privileges. The most important one is the right to choose prey… Just to be clear, I have no interest in hunting mice or insects. The only ones worthy of being hunted by me, Voban, are those equal to me in strength."
As he said this, Voban smiled. His emerald-green eyes sparkled with a sinister gleam.
His face twisted into a hideous grin — the true face of the ancient god-slayer who had killed many deities.
"If that ritual succeeds, I'll be able to enjoy the thrill of the hunt again..."
At this point, Voban paused. His smile faded slightly, as if recalling something unpleasant, but only for a moment before continuing:
"Now, I want to do the same thing as back then, so I'll need your cooperation... Hmm, that's how I'm phrasing it, but honestly, you have no right to refuse — nor can you escape. So just accept my hospitality gracefully and do your best during the ritual. What do you think of this arrangement?"
"I must refuse!"
Mariya Yuri was deeply afraid of this man, but still summoned the courage to resist. "I indeed cannot resist you, but I can still choose to end my life."
"That doesn't sound like a very clever plan, shrine maiden."
Voban's sinister eyes emitted a green light.
Yuri immediately felt that her legs, from the knees down, had lost all sensation.
She didn't need to look to know — Voban had turned her lower legs into blocks of salt.
This demon king had extremely precise control over his Authority — far superior to that of newer god-slayers, and even beyond the other two ancient ones.
But this wasn't meant to hurt her — not even to warn her — it was simply… play.
This was the demon king who treated humans like toys — Sasha Dejanstahl Voban.
"Marquis, if this is a joke, don't you think it's going too far? If this girl dies, there's no one who can replace her."
Liliana spoke anxiously.
Mariya Yuri possessed excellent qualities as a shrine maiden, exceptionally rare even globally — which is why she had once survived a terrible event.
This was Liliana's only way to persuade the Marquis.
"I wouldn't do something so foolish. But your point is valid — such talent should not be wasted on games."
The green light in Voban's eyes dimmed. Yuri immediately felt sensation return to her legs.
She moved her feet uneasily, trying to confirm they worked.
Instead of feeling relieved, her heart felt even heavier.
And then, Voban's mocking voice continued beside her ear.
"Oh shrine maiden, you possess precious talent. And I don't have much confidence that I could preserve it after killing you — so don't force me into such a boring experiment."
He smiled again.
"My servants are all residents of the underworld. You wouldn't want to become one of them, would you?"
He snapped his fingers.
Immediately, two black shadows appeared beside him.
They were two figures dressed as medieval knights.
Their bodies bore marks of battle. Scratches left by blades could be seen on their helmets; their outer garments were tattered but still showed embroidered crests — symbols of past honor.
From their attire, they likely hailed from the 13th to 14th century.
But these two were not living men — their skin was pale like corpses, their eyes empty. Yet they lacked the stench typical of the dead.
"Death Servants..."
Mariya stared in horror. This was one of Voban's Authorities — turning those he killed into utterly loyal servants.
It was a fate more terrible than being turned into salt. The souls bound to Voban could never find peace unless he himself was destroyed.
But when she saw those Death Servants, her spiritual inspiration was stirred.
"A god resurrected from death… a torn body restored… life regained… descending upon the kingdom of the underworld…"
She spoke the words that surfaced in her mind.
And in her vision, behind Voban, appeared the figure of a god.
A god with green skin, wrapped in bandages, wearing a crown.
"Oh? You can see it? Good. Tell me then — from which god did I obtain this Authority?"
Voban looked intrigued. In rituals, shrine maidens were not required to show such special abilities. Although he had encountered people able to see the god behind his power before, they were very rare.
"No… those words just popped into my mind, please don't mind them."
Yuri trembled as she lowered her head. At that moment, Voban was more terrifying than ever.
"Hmph. I'm the one who decides what matters. Now speak!"
Faced with the demon king's command, Yuri's body trembled violently.
"Y-Yes… the god you killed is Osiris, the resurrection god of Egypt — ruler of the underworld."
"Hmph, very good. You truly are gifted. Be proud, shrine maiden. A talent like yours only appears once in a century."
Voban laughed joyfully, but Yuri felt no warmth — only boundless despair.
Calling forth the holy name by aligning spiritual vision and intuition — this was her power.
Osiris, a mighty god, who could resurrect even after being torn apart, and became the lord and judge of the underworld — the ruler of all the dead.
For a monster who could slay such a god — what power in this world could possibly oppose him?
Despair weighed on Yuri like a mountain, crushing her.
She suddenly remembered something her friend Seishuin Ena had told her before Liliana brought her here.
In Chiba City, there was a boy equal in power to this old man. Ena would go to him for help.
But Yuri didn't want Ena to do that.
No matter the outcome, a conflict between two demon kings would bring disaster to too many.
Besides, she didn't believe that boy could defeat Voban. This old man had mastered his powers completely, but that boy hadn't yet.
Authority was the strongest manifestation of a god-slayer's power. And in both number and quality, the native Demon King fell short. Even if he was willing to help, he probably wouldn't succeed.
If they fought, the victor would surely be this veteran demon king.
In that case, wouldn't it be better if only she perished...?
"All right. There's nothing left in this city that I want. Liliana, make arrangements."
Voban's voice rang out again.
"Yes, I'll start preparing for our departure."
"It seems you've misunderstood. I never said I was going back."
The old demon king chuckled.
"I heard the former capital of this country was a city called Kyoto, right? Let's go there. Maybe we'll find something good."