Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu
Hoping that humans would always be reasonable was something far too foolish to hope for.
This was a maxim of the world, as well as something that was useless to say. Or, perhaps it was something useless to say that was close to a maxim of the world.
What exactly did this mean?
A maxim would be a general truth that just about everyone agreed upon. For example, physical differences between male and female, or that people would die if they were killed, or that the sun rose in the east and set in the west… These were all maxims, but were also basically useless to say, because this was all common sense that everyone understood without needing to say it.
Would hoping that humans would always be reasonable be foolish? Of course it would be.
Anyone that had any type of emotions or feelings at all would never be able to say that they would forever be able to remain logical and reasonable.
But, if you were pedantic about it, things would become rather subtle.
What exactly was being “reasonable”?
Basically, reason was the combination of logic and intelligence, the ability to discern right from wrong and accurately make decisions. Still, everyone would have different interpretations of what “reason” was.
And, the most definitive way to determine if a person was reasonable or not didn’t depend on the opinion of a single person. Nor would a group or even every person in the world be able to determine that. Being reasonable depended on the objective facts. More accurately, it depended on the reality which included the future.
That was the problem.
In most situations, it would be impossible to predict the future with one hundred percent certainty. That was why it would be impossible to predict if a person was being reasonable or not at the time, or if a person’s decision at the time regarding what to do about the future was reasonable or not.
Every definitive assessment of someone being reasonable or not had to be made in the future when looking back at the past!
People in the present could sigh about how foolish or unreasonable that people were in the past. But, no matter what lessons people learned, it would still be impossible to determine if the people in the present were being reasonable. That was because it was impossible for anyone to one hundred percent predict the future with total accuracy.
It was impossible for humans to always be reasonable. This was indeed a maxim of the world. But depending on the time, place, and situation, this phrase might be either completely useless or even worse than garbage.
In summary, reason was precious, but it was often difficult to determine if a decision was reasonable or not—such as with Soul Society’s decision.
Sacrificing several thousand people in order to forcibly lock and choose the location that the Realm of Cherry Blossoms would descend upon… Was that a reasonable decision?
Just by looking at the number of people to be sacrificed, one could say that it was unreasonable. But, when considering how this could help avoid an even greater disaster, it would indeed be “reasonable” in context.
Yui Haruta hated this type of “reason”, yet she was unable to resist against it.
That was because she was forced to admit that Soul Society’s decision was “correct”.
Sacrificing a small portion of the whole in order to protect the whole. Human society had always maintained its order in a such a way before. There was nothing wrong with Soul Society making such a decision.
She didn’t feel good about it, but that was her personal issue. She could only shut away her own emotions and carry out her role properly.
Yet…
“Is this news real?”
She was currently talking to Seiji. He had just asked her this question in such a serious tone after telling her the information he’d received from Kamitani.
Yui found it impossible to answer him.
She could only respond with silence.
Her silence was a tacit admittance.
Seiji evidently understood as he had also turned silent for a while.
“Is there truly no other way?” After a long silence, Seiji finally spoke up again. “A method where nobody will die.”
There was.
If Soul Society went all out without caring about the price, it was possible not to sacrifice anyone. However, that would be no good.
Some prices would be heavier than even sacrificing several thousand innocent civilians. That was because that might end up costing them several tens of thousands or even more lives in the end!
Yui didn’t want to answer. But when faced with her younger brother’s expression, she still ended up telling him in the end.
“There is, but it won’t be used.”
While saying this, she did her very best not to express any emotions.
“Because it will cause an even greater loss, is that right?” Something flashed in Seiji’s eyes.
“Yes.” While answering, Yui suddenly felt a subtle sensation.
She didn’t understand what this subtle sensation was. It felt akin to déjà vu, but maybe it was something else instead?
“Let me guess what this ‘greater loss’ could be.” Seiji looked directly at her. “It must be something that Soul Society has judged to be too important to lose at this current point in time. For example, a powerful artifact. Am I right?”
Yui instantly widened her eyes in surprise.
“Did Kamitani tell you that?”
“No, he didn’t,” Seiji answered calmly. “I guessed it with my instincts and also through another information channel.”
Another information channel? Could he be referring to…
Yui’s first thought was the national idol, Miyuki Sakuraku.
“Soul Society temporarily sealed the Realm of Cherry Blossoms’ Dimensional Eye with this artifact, am I right? Rather than using this artifact too much, which might break it or cause it to be unusable for a long period of time, it would be ‘cheaper’ to sacrifice a few thousand people’s lives. Am I right?” Seiji continued asking questions.
Although he was asking as if he didn’t know, everything he said had been exactly on the mark.
Yui nodded in confirmation. “That’s exactly what it is.”
“What exactly is this powerful artifact?” Seiji inquired.
“The Yasakani no Magatama.” Yui decided to directly tell him.
The three major mystical artifacts of Sakura Island were household names that everybody knew. These three artifacts were the Kusanagi sword, the Yata no Kagami mirror, and the Yasakani no Magatama jewel. Naturally, these three artifacts often appeared in anime and manga. [TL note: these three artifacts are known as the Imperial Regalia of Japan, or the Three Sacred Treasures of Japan. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Regalia_of_Japan if you want to know more.]
In the spiritual society, these three artifacts were the most powerful spiritual artifacts around. Currently, these three artifacts were in the possession of the seven major Yin Yang Master families. This was also one of the reasons why the seven major families were at the very top in the current spiritual society. It would be no exaggeration to say that these three artifacts were the pinnacle of Sakura Island’s spiritual world! What they represented, along with their actual power, would be incredibly important.
Anyone who possessed all three spiritual artifacts simultaneously would be able to conquer the entire world… Okay, that was an exaggeration.
But, if anyone managed to obtain all three spiritual artifacts which were currently in the seven major families’ possession, then that person’s power level would definitely reach the rank of number one in all of Sakura Island.
One of the three major spiritual artifacts versus the lives of a few thousand ordinary civilians. It was likely that most spiritual ability users wouldn’t even need to think about which would be more important to them.
Soul Society’s decision was “correct”.
At least, on the surface.
“If sacrificing a few thousand lives can protect the Yasakani no Magatama and the city, then maybe that will be worth it,” Seiji continued speaking in a calm tone. “But will things really happen that way?”
Yui blinked in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
“Will Soul Society’s plan be obstructed by any outside parties? For instance, won’t the Messengers do anything?”
“We’re already prepared to deal with the Messengers.”
“Your preparations are absolutely infallible?’
“There’s no such thing as anything that’s absolutely infallible.”
“I know that. I just wanted to know whether Soul Society was confident or not in being able to stop them if the Messengers tried anything at this time. I want to know if there’s any guarantee of the situation not becoming far worse.” Seiji looked directly at Yui’s face.
Yui felt that subtle sensation returning again. She couldn’t help but avert her gaze.
“You don’t need to worry about such things.”
“I don’t want to pry into stuff that isn’t my business. However, I have an ominous premonition.” Seiji’s tone became heavier. “Kamitani went to the trouble of telling me the information that Soul Society intends to sacrifice a few thousand people. Why exactly did he do that? Was he hinting at something? Or did he want to lure me into doing something?
“I feel like he’s plotting something, and I might be one factor in his plan. Or, maybe I’m just an insignificant disturbance to him.
“But no matter what, I really do have an ominous premonition.
“Yui Nee-san, are you certain that Soul Society’s preparations haven’t missed anything? For instance, something that might have been missed, or a certain person that might have been missed…”
After hearing Seiji’s words, Yui swiftly went over Soul Society’s full plan in her mind. She went through all the relevant information, events, and people…
Soul Society’s plan couldn’t be said to be perfect. Still, she felt that Soul Society’s plan was relatively complete.
Unless…
She suddenly thought of a youth with orange short hair, a pale face, red eyes with a distant look, and heavy dark circles under his eyes.
If that person… if he was released…
Yui suddenly felt uneasy when she thought of this possibility.
It didn’t seem likely, but… Kamitani… just might…
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she became.
A deep light flashed in Seiji’s eyes as he quietly watched Yui’s expression flicker.
