Himegami no Miko v1c10

Himegami no Miko (姫神の巫女) Part I, Chapter 10
It has taken quite some time but, finally, I give you the final chapter of Part I of Himegami no Miko! When I first translated the prologue on a whim, there was little of this story written and it did not seem like it would be difficult to keep up. Thereafter, more parts and more chapters were added. The odds seemed insurmountable as I realized the length of this web novel would continue to grow. I know that, for the first few chapters, I was pretty unreliable as far as keeping up a constant speed to updating. I even left this altogether and would put it on the back burner. ‘Who really pays attention to these translations?’ I thought. ‘Only one or two people ever comment.’ However, it was precisely that knowledge that there indeed are people who want to read them that has always pulled me to come back and keep working. So, for those who have been on this journey since the early days, I sincerely thank you for your words of encouragement in this endeavor and hope you continue to support me. And to the few who are newcomers, I hope to keep you tagging along for the ride. :)

Slightly off-topic: Remember how I mentioned that I had also applied to the JET Program? Well, I received an e-mail yesterday confirming my acceptance. In all honesty, IUC is my first choice and what I ultimately decided to settle upon if accepted, but I am amazed at the realization that I am 2 for 2. All signs DO point to j.a.pan for me. :D Huzzah!

lilly_938: Yeah! Isn’t it great? I sure hope not…
himekoxchikane: Oh, I see. I didn’t intend to be accusatory, more in the sense of light teasing. ;) This chapter was short but made me want to skip to the next part. lol I know you are lethe. Are you sticking with this name from now on?
Emma: It’s about time! You are welcome! :) And thank you! Congratulations on finis.h.i.+ng your dissertation! Hope you get to relax a little more now.
GirlWhoLovesYuri: Haha, here’s more! Thank you! Hope to see you comment more around here! Enjoy! :)
MeiMeiChan: You’re welcome! Don’t worry, don’t feel as if you have to say anything else. I appreciate the sentiment and love! Please continue to send more from here on out. :)

Disclaimer: Himegami no Miko is written by Uetake Sumio-san and ill.u.s.trated by Kaishaku. The original text can be accessed here. This is work is not for profit or sale. It is being done for the sake of an English-speaking audience and for my own practice and enjoyment. The translation, however, solely belongs to me. If you would like to translate this version into other languages, you may do so as long as you credit me. Thank you!



This was a dwelling of darkness.
It was darker than night and more grave than mud. Sunlight, moonlight, even the brightness of stars, could not reach it.
All light coming from the outside would cease in this room.
Anything close to actual light was a faint, lapis lazuli glow suspended in the emptiness of the room. That was it.
The reason for that glow was…
There was an area surrounded by several layers of rope as indication that someone was enshrined at the center.
The person was a girl of about seven years of age.
At first glance, she looked like a doll.
From her kimono that gave the impression of a twelve-layered ceremonial one, to her hair coiffured in the j.a.panese style, to her skin as pure white as pottery, to her dark eyes that were like bottomless pits.
Everything about her was like a doll.
Only her lips were a raw, sinister red as if she sucked on blood.
Waiting beside her was a woman from the Department of Divinities who concealed her face behind a serpent mask.
Nine shadows stood in front of her.
One was the leader whose big frame was like that of a rock.
Another was of small stature like a cat.
Lastly, the one seated at the middle was Souma.
These were the ones chosen from amongst the senior clan who governed the island to be Honorable Arbitrators, the Koutouda.
The little girl beckoned the woman from the Department of Divinities who wore the serpent mask.
She put her lips close to the woman who kneeled reverentially and whispered something in her ear.
“Yes. Certainly.”
The woman wearing the serpent mask then turned to face the Koutouda.
“Ones of the Koutouda. I have received the oracle from Tamakus.h.i.+-sama. Listen carefully.”
She was not large in any way but her serious voice was divine and full of dignity, as if it had descended from some place far beyond the heavens.
“Yes.”
As if they had been struck by lightning, the Koutouda prostrated themselves before her.
“The spirit of Oomikami is astir. In order to rid the island of all calamity and allow descendants of all generations to gloriously prosper, the “Ceremony to Appease the Spirit of the Dead” must occur without fault.
Koutouda, make sure to keep this in mind. From each strand of hair to every drop of blood, all those who live are dedicated to Orochi-sama.
The feelings of the Mikamiko.
The duty of the Honorable Arbitrator.
The conclusion of ‘Houtenkon.’
If any of these go wrong, Totsuka Island will become the source of destruction. Understood?”
“Yes…”
The nine shadows all prostrated themselves simultaneously.

Time remaining until the day of “Appeasing the Spirit,” their sixteenth birthday: 108 days.