Brand New Life Online: Rise Of The Goddess Of Harvest

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“That’s right, our Domain is technically a series of different Domains connected into a Pseudo Realm. There’s also a bridge to the Heavenly Domain of the Divine Kami, leading toward Amaterasu-no-Mikoto-sama’s Divine Heavenly Palace,” Matsuo explained.

“Amaterasu…” Elena muttered. She remembered her mother had formed some kind of pact with her to receive a powerful Soul Trait ability or something similar. Elena wondered if her mother was still wandering somewhere in the Netherworld as she hoped—and whether she still possessed that power. “My mother…”

“Hm?” Matsuo glanced at Elena. “Yes?”

“Ah… no, nothing,” Elena shook her head. She decided it was better not to ask such things right now.

“Anyway, Lady Olivia Coyett and everyone else will first have a meeting with our current ’director’—the Clan Leader and representative of Amaterasu-sama, her living vessel,” Matsuo continued. “We call her the Great Ancestor, the Divine Heiress of the Rising Sun Heaven Empire, Kaguya-no-Mikoto-sama.”

“Woah…” Elisa murmured. “That sounds important…”

“I wonder if it’s okay for us to even meet her…” Elena said quietly.

“It’s fine! It’s all part of the formalities for the student exchange project,” Matsuo assured them. “We’ve already sent some promising students from our side, including my two other sisters… Hah, I hope they can behave.”

As they passed through the gate, everyone suddenly found themselves in a completely different world. A vast, old Japanese town bustled with life—people dressed in ancient clothing and wooden sandals wandered the streets. Tall pagodas and towers rose on the horizon alongside snow-capped mountains.

The sky was clear blue with a few drifting clouds. The sun shone brightly. A refreshing sea breeze swept through, and cherry blossom forests surrounded the town, giving everything a beautiful, divine atmosphere. Occasionally, spirits or Shikigami soared overhead alongside their masters.

“Welcome formally to the Amaterasu Clan. This is our Pseudo Realm—a vast land infused with rich spirit energy and divine power, perfect for cultivating Yin and Yang and the Five Elements,” Matsuo explained. “Here, you will have the incredible privilege of drawing from these vast sources of energy for your growth. Come with me.”

Matsuo and his sister calmly led them toward the large golden palace at the center of the town. Guards in golden samurai armor greeted Matsuo while eyeing Elena and her friends with narrowed suspicion. Many people watched them warily, though—unlike the Mages from England—they did not voice their disdain openly and simply remained silent.

Once inside the glorious palace, Elena and her friends felt a powerful surge of spiritual and divine energy flowing everywhere. They gasped at the overwhelming presence of the figure seated on the golden throne at the far end. Her gleaming golden eyes, cascading black hair, and long white-and-red kimono with a Japanese ornament crown atop her tied hair shaped like a rising sun made her look truly divine. Her aura radiated with the brilliance of the sun itself.

“Welcome, students from overseas,” she spoke in a kind voice laced with undeniable authority. “As you may have already heard, I am Kaguya-no-Mikoto, descendant of Amaterasu-sama and Heiress of her Divine Empire. I am also the ’director’ of the Onmyōji School of Tokyo, where young, talented students learn the Arts of Feng Shui, Yin-Yang Cultivation, Meditation, Onmyōdō, and more. We have a variety of schools and facilities, so I hope you look forward to learning about our country, our culture, history, myths, legacy, art, and magic.”

“I am honored. Thank you so much for allowing us to come,” Olivia said, bowing deeply. “Everyone, please bow respectfully to her.”

“Uh? Ok…”

Elena and her friends, including Anna’s mother, bowed to Kaguya. She nodded, pleased.

“Well done. I hope you can learn proper Japanese manners soon so there won’t be any need for such reminders…” Kaguya said. Her sharp eyes narrowed briefly as they settled on Elena. “Hm? You… your true appearance… I’ve heard about it, but is this real? Are you a half-oni child?”

“Uh…” Elena muttered. “I wasn’t born like this… it’s something similar to a… well, a curse. I’m still learning how to control myself. Hopefully one day I can freely return to my original appearance.”

“I see. I sense within you and your friends powerful Spirits that have indeed merged with your Souls and Bodies,” Kaguya said. “That is most interesting. I have never seen such a phenomenon before… I am quite intrigued. It… almost shares the same origin as the Gates leading to the Otherworld. I’ve heard about those who Awaken Supernatural Abilities when exposed to Alien Energies. Could you be one of those people?”

“Yes, they are,” Olivia confirmed with a nod. “They are often called Otherworld-touched, or even Hunters, but there is no official classification. Because of this exposure, their appearances have changed drastically, and they are permanently linked to that other world—though so far they cannot fully connect to it. I believe that through pursuing the magecraft and divine arts taught in your school, the girls might awaken such power and become a beacon of hope for humanity against the invasion of the otherworld and the Demon Kings.”

“Hmm… indeed,” Kaguya nodded thoughtfully. “Very well. I wish you the best. Matsuo, please show them their rooms and everything else. Starting next week, you will begin classes here. Please make sure to be respectful and mind your manners at all times.”

“Thank you,” Elena said with a respectful nod.

“Ah, right. Take these.” Kaguya snapped her fingers. Golden sigils appeared on the girls’ right hands—shaped like a rising, bright sun. “These are the Divine Sigils of Amaterasu, proof that you are part of the clan, even if only temporarily. With them, you can enjoy many benefits: purchasing from our stores using contribution points earned through tests and missions, accessing special facilities such as the Alchemy Cauldrons and the Spirit Forge, and much more. They also grant divine protection against curses and status ailments.”

“Oh, that’s amazing. Thank you so much,” Olivia said, bowing again. “Let’s go, girls.”

“Yes, I’ll guide you,” Matsuo said. He bowed once more to Kaguya before leading them out with his sister.

They walked through the bustling town until they reached a much quieter area. A beautiful large pond with koi fish and lotus flowers lay ahead, surrounded by cherry blossom and bamboo forests stretching toward distant mountains.

There stood a large ancient Japanese house made of fragrant cherry blossom wood. It resembled a luxurious traditional inn, complete with four bathrooms, an onsen, eight rooms, a spacious kitchen, and more.

“This is where you’ll be staying,” Matsuo said. “I hope it suits you. We had to choose a smaller house on short notice…”

“S-Smaller?!” Anna’s mother exclaimed. “Boy, this is a luxurious palace! Thank you! I can’t wait to try the onsen, heheh…!”

“It’s a nice place,” Olivia said. “I’ll be staying mostly in my studio, but I will visit almost every day. For now, you’re free to do whatever you want. I’ll be on my way—I have several things to handle from my job.”

As Olivia left, Matsuo and his sister gave Elena and the girls a tour of their new house before finally leaving them alone. Midway through, Anna’s mother jumped into the onsen, undressing herself out of nowhere. This made her daughter incredibly embarrassed and nearly caused Matsuo to die from a nosebleed. Still, the day ended quite well. With a new home and a fresh beginning, Elena and her friends looked forward to what awaited them in this new country.

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