Chapter 8: The Expanding Mountain God's Household and Passing Visitors
After days of relentless rain, the skies
finally cleared. The heavy clouds that had loomed since the start of the rainy
season lifted at last, and Minato was out early, hanging laundry on the
veranda.
The crisp snap of a towel cutting
through the air echoed across the garden.
“Dryers are great, but nothing beats
sun-dried laundry.”
Sheets billowed in the breeze, catching
what little sunlight filtered through. Minato preferred the natural
touch sunlight and wind over machines.
Still, despite the clear skies, his
expression remained cloudy.
“I wonder what happened to Mountain
God-sama…”
Ever since the rainy season began, the
mountain god had stopped visiting. No warning, no farewell—just vanished.
They’d shared dinner the night before as usual, and then… nothing.
Minato worried he’d done something
wrong, but no reason came to mind. Eventually, he gave up fretting.
Thankfully, the little turtle had stayed
by his side, offering quiet comfort. Minato had even brushed its
mountain-shaped shell, which earned him a delighted sparkle in its eyes.
Still, the absence of the mountain god
left a void. Minato found himself praying daily toward the mountain, hoping he
was well.
“I just hope he’s okay…”
Splash.
A ripple echoed from the pond. Minato turned and there, walking solemnly
through the back gate, was the familiar white figure.
His stride was steady, his fur gleaming.
Nothing seemed amiss.
“Mountain God-sama! You’re back! You look
well wait, what?!”
He wasn’t alone.
Minato’s jaw dropped, and the shirt in
his hands fell to the floor.
Behind the mountain god trotted three
smaller white creatures, glowing faintly. Clearly not ordinary animals clearly
kin.
“Did you… give birth? Is that why you
were gone? Wait, are you a goddess?! But your voice is totally a grumpy old
man ”
“Grumpy old man?! Rude! I’m a dignified
male god!”
“At least call me ‘sir’!”
“Don’t say ‘geezer’!”
“I didn’t say that! Wait… are those not
wolves? Ferrets?”
The three creatures stood upright and
squeaked in protest.
Slender bodies covered in white fur,
short limbs, thick tails each tipped in red, blue, or yellow. They were about
the size of a housecat, nimble and talkative. Not babies, it seemed.
The mountain god flopped onto his usual
spot on the veranda, tail swishing lazily.
“These are ten. My familiars.”
“Familiars? So… kids? Did you make
them?”
“Something like that. I can create
offspring divine fragments of myself. These three took some time.”
“Well, welcome! Want some sweets?”
The three ten tilted their heads in
unison, curious and adorable. Minato’s heart softened.
“Never had sweets? Mountain God-sama, is
it okay to give them some?”
“Of course. And don’t forget me.”
“Got it.”
With no fresh confections on hand,
Minato settled for castella sponge cake. He hurried to finish the laundry,
sliced the cake, and served it.
The mountain god accepted his portion
with silent dignity, though his eyes betrayed mild disappointment. Minato bowed
apologetically, earning a gracious nod.
The ten sniffed their slices thoroughly
before nibbling. Their eyes widened, sparkling like stars.
They were hooked.
“Eat as much as you like… Wait, will it
be enough?”
One slice vanished in seconds. Minato
broke into a sweat under their hopeful gazes. He handed out more.
“Hey, that looks tasty!”
“Mind sharing some with us?”
Two voices called down from above.
Minato jumped and looked up two tiny oni peeked down from the roof, one red,
one blue, with horns and bright skin.
Definitely not human.
He glanced at the mountain god, who was
blissfully enjoying his sweets. The turtle was sunbathing on a rock, soaking in
the rare sunlight.
No one seemed alarmed, so Minato
relaxed.
The oni flipped and floated down,
sitting cross-legged midair. They looked like toddlers, but spoke with adult
voices.
“Pleeease?”
“Sure…”
“Thanks! We’ll join you!”
They landed soundlessly on the veranda.
The ten watched them curiously as everyone gathered in a circle.
Minato served castella and tea. The oni
drank with gusto, gulping loudly and sighing with satisfaction just like the
mountain god.
“Long time no see, Wind God, Thunder
God,” the mountain god said.
“Yeah, it’s been ages. Thought you’d
kicked the bucket.”
“You looked so weak, we figured you were
done for.”
“Fools. I don’t die so easily.”
“Wait, you know them? The Wind
and Thunder Gods?”
Thunder God winked. Wind God chuckled
and pointed at the laundry fluttering in the breeze.
A gentle whirlwind swirled from his
fingertip, wrapping the laundry in warm air.
Moments later...
“All dry!”
“Thank you!”
Minato beamed. Wind God smiled and held
out his plate. Minato served more cake, realizing gods don’t do modesty.
“Heard this place got cozy, so we
dropped by.”
“Who told you?”
“Don’t glare like that. Don’t unleash
that scary divine aura. Just a whisper on the wind. You know who I am.”
The mountain god bristled, but Wind God
brushed it off with a grin.
“It’s really comfy here now.”
Thunder God gave Minato a sly look.
Minato smiled awkwardly and handed out butter cookies to the ten.
They took one bite and poof!
Their fur fluffed up, tails doubled in size. They were ecstatic. Apparently,
they preferred Western sweets.
The turtle crawled up onto the veranda,
unusually eager for sake. The festive mood must’ve stirred its appetite.
Minato fetched a bottle of fine sake.
The oni’s eyes gleamed.
“Mind if we have some?”
“Thanks!”
“Much appreciated!”
Watching toddler-like gods chug sake was
surreal but they were gods, after all.
Minato poured a dish for the turtle too.
Everyone drank and feasted freely. Laughter echoed through the Kusunoki estate.
As the Feast Wound Down…
“See you around!”
“Thanks for the treats!”
Thunder and Wind Gods soared into the
sunset. Minato and the mountain god waved them off.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Farewell.”
Wind God paused midair, snapped his
fingers and a warm breeze wrapped around Minato.
His hair and sleeves fluttered gently.
“A little gift. Use it well.”
“Make the most of it!”
With that, the tipsy gods vanished over
the mountain.
Minato turned to the mountain god.
“What kind of power?”
“Wind.”
“How do I use it?”
“Imagine it. Picture the wind flowing
from you.”
Minato focused on a fallen leaf. Nothing
happened.
He remembered Wind God’s
gesture pointing with a finger. He tried again, visualizing a whirlwind.
A soft breeze stirred. The leaf slid a
few centimeters, bumping into a pebble.
“Whoa!”
Even that tiny gust made him clench his
fist in triumph.
“I really summoned wind!”
“Indeed. You must train.”
“Maybe I can use it to gather fallen
leaves?”
“...Perhaps.”
Minato’s first thought with his new
power was leaf collection. The mountain god watched him with mild amusement.
The camphor tree swayed gently, as if
laughing along.
Meanwhile, the three ten and the turtle
lay belly-up on the veranda, blissfully napping after their feast.
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