〇6面ボス 大蛇の末裔
徒雲 八尾呂智(あだぐものやおろち)
Adagumo no Yaorochi
種族:大蛇
能力:雲を薙ぎ払う的な能力
八尾呂智の先祖は幾多の国を治める豪族であり、
元を辿れば皇族でもあった。
その一族が栄える際に大きな役割を果たしたのが、
天から賜った家宝である一振りの『剣』だった。
その剣は一振りで千の草を薙ぎ、燃え盛る火焔でさえ切り捨てたという。
当然他の権力者達や豪族達はその一族の力を脅威に思い、
一族の首長の抹殺を狙っていた。
だが、剣がある限りその長と真っ向から戦える者は、
その時代に多くなかった。
そこで他の豪族達は、とある祝いの席を偽りその長に非常に強い酒を盛り、
長が泥酔し衰弱した所を襲撃した。
心の臓が止まっても尚、剣を離さなかった長は、その腕を切り落とされ、
身体をバラバラに切り裂かれた。
結果、家宝であるその剣は、握っていたその腕ごと強奪された。
八尾呂智はその時に切り落とされた腕が化けた妖怪であった。
八尾呂智は滅びた一族の無念を呑み擁き、
数人の同士と共に卑劣な権力者達への復讐と一族の再興を誓った。
剣さえ手に入れれば、自らの切望が叶うと信じて・・・・・
そんな八尾呂智に初めて剣を手に入れる機会が到来したのは、
剣が海に沈む時だった。
八尾呂智はすぐに沈み逝く剣を追ったが、見失ってしまい。
結局それが見つかったのは水に飛び込んでから数年後となった。
当然剣は錆び果て、当時の威厳も霊験も既に無くなっていた。
あれほど希っていたものを手した八尾呂智は、
何の感情も芽生えはしなかった。
もはや見る影も無くなった家宝を眺めている内に、
八尾呂智はどこか吹っ切れたのか、
剣を住み家の物置深くに仕舞い込み、一族の為ではなく、
自らの道を生きていこうと決心した。
使命を果たす事が出来なくなったが故に、
八尾呂智の心は呪縛から開放されたのかもしれない。
―――そういえば、最後まで生き残った同士はどうしているのだろうか?
ふと、そんなことを思いながらも八尾呂智は歴史の影に消えた。
永く遠い年月が過ぎ去った。
八尾呂智はのんびりと穏やかに日々を過ごしていた。
もはや復讐という使命は心の片隅にも残っていなかった。
ただ、何かが足りない・・・心の中にポッカリと孔が空いている。
そんな空虚感とも言える蟠りをずっと抱いていた。
過去の自分の行動も、疑問が残る点ばかりであったが、
もはや気にしないことにしていた。
そんな時、散歩の途中で全体が素焼きの土製作りの珍しい建物を見つけ、
興味本位でその中を覗いてみた。
数々の土製芸術品(?)が陳列されている室内は、
とても整理された空間とは言えなかった。
その土だらけの光景に半ば呆れていた八尾呂智は、
そこで信じられない物を目にした。
あの剣がある。
いや、正確に言うと剣と瓜二つの形をした土製の剣だった。
瞳から入るその姿は衝撃を発し、
沈殿していた記憶が舞い上がる。
空いていた孔の正体が露になる。
今まで目を背けていた思いが呼び起こされる。
生まれ落ちた時からある、剣の記憶・・・
先祖から受け継いだ様々な記憶、剣への想い・・・
常に肌身離さず共に過ごした剣との日々・・・
共に数多の戦場を斬り捨ててきた剣との戦い・・・
死んでも尚、離すことのなかった剣への気持ち・・・
そう、愛しかったのだ。
自分の生みの親がどれほどその剣に愛着を持っていたのか、
八尾呂智はその全てを知っていた。
持った事も無いのに、錆びれ果てる前のその剣の感触を覚えていた・・・
故に愛しかった。
只々愛おしかった。
だが失った。
錆びた剣を見つけた時の喪失感、
突如消え去った全ての柵、
剣を物置深くに仕舞い込んだ理由、
その全てに合点がついた。
八尾呂智は復讐や再興の為に剣を欲していたのではなかった。
只々、剣を愛していただけだった。
先祖から受け継いだ愛、それ故に剣を取り戻したかったのだ。
だが、八尾呂智にはあの錆び果てた剣と愛しの剣とを重ねることは、
どうしても出来なかったのだ。
そしてその失ったはずの愛しの剣、それが目の前にある。
土製であるし、僅かに違う箇所もあるが、それでもそっくりであり、
微弱ながら霊験すらも感じた。
八尾呂智の中で長い間眠っていた思いが一気に膨れ上がり。
八尾呂智は剣を手にしようと建物に侵入することを反射的に決意した。
その時、帰ってきた建物の主人『片埜 宿禰』と
ばったり出くわしてしまった。
しかし宿禰は八尾呂智が自分の作品に見惚れていたとでも
思ったのだろうか、八尾呂智のことは特に何の疑いもせず、
建物の中に招き、自らの作品を自慢し始めた。
確かに、宿禰の作品はどれも不思議な力を感じさせるものであった。
芸術的にどうこうというわけではなく、
心の内の古い記憶に訴えかけるような何かを感じた。
・・・が、何かが足りない。自分と同じで孔がある。
同属だからこそ、八尾呂智にはそれが分かった。
あの剣も宿禰の作品の一つらしい。
なんという偶然・・・
いや、この者の天賦の才が呼び起こした奇跡なのだろうか。
そこで八尾呂智は自らを神司と偽り、
物に魂を宿らせることが出来ると偽った。
そして宿禰の作品を(これは本心から)褒め上げ、
「宿禰の作品は素晴らしい物であるが、全て未完成だ
是非一つ自分に貸してもらいたい
そうすればそれに魂を宿し、完成品にしてみせよう」
っと提案した。
宿禰は喜んで作品を差し出した。
宿禰もまた、自分の作品がどれも未完成であることを自覚していたらしい。
そこで八尾呂智が選んだ作品はもちろんあの剣であった。
魂を宿すことなど自分には出来ない・・・だが、
この土製の剣に自らが持つ錆びた剣の力を遷せば、
当時のあの威厳が蘇るだろう。
魂を遷すためには力が逃げないようにする為の『器』が必要だった。
そこで儀式場として宿禰に巨大な土製の『器』を用意させ、
さらに、儀式が終わるまで絶対に中に入って来てはならない、
・・・っと宿禰に言い聞かせた。
八尾呂智は住み家の物置に仕舞い込んでいた剣を引きずり出し。
土製の剣と並べるよう地面に突き立て、儀式を始めた。
力の転移を始めるや否や錆びた剣は見る見る崩れ落ち、
外では天に叢雲が立ち込めた。
八尾呂智と宿禰、両者の心中は期待で溢れていた。
儀式は数日に亘って続いた。
儀式中に宿禰が心配して中に入って来ないか心配だったが、
どうやら外で作品の完成を辛抱強く待っているらしい。
八尾呂智は次第に騙していることに多少の罪悪感を覚え始めた。
儀式が間もなく終わるその時、外で大きな音がした。
どうやら邪魔者が来たようだ。
だが、剣は既に九分九厘の力を転移し終わっていた。
試し斬りには調度良いか・・・
八尾呂智は土製の剣を抜き、刀身を地面に軽く叩きつけた。
すると、土製の剣は表面が砕け落ち、中から光り輝く剣が現れた。
初めて握るというのに自分の体の一部のように馴染む。
遥か昔に夢見た愛しの剣・・・
万感交到りながら、それを確と握り締め、
侵入者を迎え入れるため儀式場の屋上に向かった。
その目には復讐心は全く無かった。
一族の復讐や復興という目的など最早どうでも良かったのだ。
八尾呂智はただ、遥か昔に求めた・・・
・・・恋した剣が愛しかっただけなのだから。
剣を天に翳すと、天に蔓延っていた叢雲は割れ、
切れ目から日の光が射し込んできて八尾呂智を照らした。
まるで天が一人と一振りの悠久の時を経た再開を祝福するかの如く・・・
数ある呼び名のどれとも違う剣の名を囁きながら、蛇は舞った。
心にあった孔が満たされた八尾呂智の瞳には、
剣の姿しか映っていなかった。
|
◯ Stage 6 Boss — Descendant of Orochi
Adagumo no Yaorochi
Species: Orochi
Ability: Something like mowing down clouds
Yaorochi's ancestors were a powerful clan that ruled over several states.[e]
If you go back to their origins, they were even royalty.
In the golden age of the clan, they had a very important responsibility,
a "sword" that was given to them as an heirloom by the heavens.[f]
It's said that the sword could mow down a thousand blades of grass engulfed in a blazing flame with a single stroke.
Of course, other powerful clans and influential people thought of them as a threat, and aimed to eliminate its leader.
However, there weren't many people back then who could go head-to-head against the leader of the clan, as long as they had the sword.
So the other clans threw a fake celebration for the leader, giving them unusually strong saké.
When the leader was dead drunk, the opponents attacked them.
Even after their heart had stopped, the leader wouldn't let go of their sword,
so they severed the arm holding the sword, and cut the body into pieces.
As a result, the heirloom sword was stolen along with the severed arm.
Yaorochi is a youkai transformed from the severed arm.
They took in all the regret of the destroyed clan,
and vowed to exact revenge on the crooked people and their allies, as well as to revive the clan.
If they could just get a hold of the sword, they believed their hopes would be fulfilled...
The first opportunity for them to retrieve the sword, was when it had fallen into the ocean.[g]
Yaorochi chased after the sinking sword, but ultimately lost sight of it.
It was many years after the sword had fallen into the ocean before they were able to find it again.
Of course, the sword had rusted away, and it had already lost it's dignity and miraculous nature.
Yaorochi, who had aquired what they were hoping for,
but only in such a state, didn't feel anything at all.
While looking at the heirloom which was a mere shadow of it's former self,
Yaorochi put the sword far back in a storage room in their home,
but not for the sake of the clan;
They had resolved to live following their own path.
They were unable to complete their mission,
and so perhaps their heart was released from a curse.
———By the way, what happened to their allies who survived?
Occasionally wondering so, Yaorochi disappeared into the shadow of history.
Many long months and years passed.
Yaorochi passed their days idly.
There was no longer even a trace of their mission of revenge left in their heart.
However, something was missing... A void was in their heart.
They always held that feeling of emptiness.
Concerning their past actions as well, they were full of doubts,
but they had decided to give up on caring about those things.
One day, while out walking, they found a strange building completely made out of pottery clay.
Out of curiosity, they decided to look inside.
They found themself in a room displaying numerous pieces of clay artwork(?),
which couldn't be described as tidy at all.
Yaorochi was half astounded at the scene made entirely of dirt,
which is when they laid their eyes on something unbelievable.
It was the sword.
No, correctly speaking, it was a clay sword with exactly the same shape as the sword they knew.
The figure of the sword that entered their sight ignited something in their mind,
and their buried memories came whirling back to them.
The true form of the void in their heart became apparent.
The thoughts that they had until now turned away from were calling to them.
The memories of the sword, from the time they was born...
The many memories inherited from their ancestors, thoughts about the sword...
The days they spent always carrying the sword...
The many battles where they mowed through their opponents with the sword...
Their feelings towards the sword which they wouldn't let go of even as they died...
Yes, they loved it.
Yaorochi finally understood,
how much their parent had loved the sword.
Although they had never actually held it, they remembered the feeling of the sword before it had rusted...
And so they loved it.
They loved it dearly.
Yet they had lost it.
The sense of loss they felt when they found the rusted sword,
all their feelings of obligation that had suddenly disappeared,
and the reason they put the sword away into storage;
they understood it all.
Yaorochi had never wanted the sword in order to exact revenge or to revive the old clan.
It was simply because they loved it.
It was because of the love they had inherited from their ancestors that they wanted to retrieve the sword.
However, although they had loved the sword,
the rusted sword it had become wasn't able to even compare to it.
And the sword that they were sure they had lost, was there in front of their eyes.
Because it was made of clay, there were some flawed parts, but those too were just like the real thing.
While it was weak, they were even able to feel some of it's miraculous nature.
The thoughts within Yaorochi that had slept for so long suddenly welled up.
Yaorochi reflexively decided that they had trespassed into the building in order to take the sword.
Just then, the owner of the building, "Sukune Katano",
unexpectedly came home.
Sukune had seen Yaorochi looking in fascination at their creations,
and without questioning Yaorochi's presence at all,
started boasting about their works.
Sukune's creations certainly made Yaorochi feel a mysterious power.
They weren't exactly what you would call pieces of art, but they brought up old memories in their heart.
...Except, something was missing. There was a void inside them, just like what they felt inside themself.
Because they were something like kindred spirits, Yaorochi could understand. That sword was also one of Sukune's creations, it seems.
Then, by some chance...
No, perhaps it was a miracle brought about by their natural talent.
It was then that Yaorochi feigned to be a holy servant.
They lied and said that they were able to make objects house spirits within.
Yaorochi (going back to being honest) then began praising Sukune's creations:
"Your creations are so wonderful, Sukune, but they're all incomplete.
Please let me borrow one,
I'll make it house a spirit, and complete it for you."
...was the plan they proposed.
Sukune was overjoyed and lent it to them.
It seems that Sukune themself had come to realize that their creations were somehow incomplete.
And so, Yaorochi of course chose the sword to borrow.
They couldn't actually make anything house a spirit...
but, if they could transfer their rusted sword's power into the clay sword,
they could revive its dignity from back then.
In order to transfer the soul, a "vessel" was needed to prevent power from escaping.
And so Yaorochi had Sukune prepare a huge clay "vessel" as the ritual site.
In addition, until the ritual was complete, Sukune couldn't enter inside...
...is what Yaorochi told them.
Yaorochi pulled the sword out from storage.
They thrust the sword along with the clay sword into the ground, the ritual had begun.
They began the power transference, and the rusted sword crumbled into dust in an instant.
Outside, the sky was enveloped by gathering clouds.
Both Yaorochi and Sukune were overflowing with anticipation.
The ritual went on for several days.
As the ritual continued, Sukune became worried, and was conflicted about whether or not to go inside,
but they somehow managed to patiently wait outside for the completion of their creation.
Yaorochi began to feel guilty about tricking Sukune.
As the ritual was about to end, there was a loud noise outside.
It would seem that an intruder had somehow gotten in.
However, almost all of the sword's power had already been transferred.
The intruder had come at the perfect time for Yaorochi to test the new sword out on them...
Yaorochi drew out the clay sword, lightly tapping the ground with the blade.
As they did so, the clay sword's surface crumbled into pieces, revealing the brilliantly shining sword within.
It was the first time they had held it, but to Yaorochi, the sword was like a part of their own body.
It was the beloved sword they had seen in a dream so long ago...
While a flood of emotions raced through their mind, they grasped the sword tightly,
and headed towards the rooftop to welcome the intruder.
There was no trace of revenge in their eyes.
They no longer cared at all about the revenge or revival of the old clan.
Yaorochi only cared about the sword they had loved...
...Which they had sought after for so long.
They held the sword up to they sky, splitting the gathering clouds above,
and sunlight poured down from the gap onto Yaorochi.
It was as if heaven itself was celebrating the reunion of the person and sword after an eternity apart.
While Yaorochi whispered to themself the names of numerous other swords, the snake danced about.
Now that the void inside their heart had been fulfilled,
nothing but the figure of the sword reflected in Yaorochi's eyes.
|