A Spectacular Service! All Pray For A Good Harvest/Story/Chapter Two

Well then, I'd like to get started on preparing for the service, but...

Umu. I'll leave it to you, Twelve Divine Generals.

Ahaha... To be specifically requested by Lord Dainichi Nyorai, this is such a huge honor for us!

To think I'd get a gig from Lord Dainichi Nyorai himself, I'm so very happy right now☆!

Um, is it alright if I leave? I came along because I was called by Lord Dainichi Nyorai, but I still don't know why I'm here, so...

Don't know why you're... because you're a member of the Twelve Divine Generals, of course! I thought Mekira hadn't told you guys yet, so I summoned you all myself.

That's no good, Mekira. Leaving someone out of the loop is so not cool.

I beg your pardon.

No need to apologize. I'm... not a member of the Twelve Divine Generals in the first place, so.

Eh? That so? You've got 'Taishou' in your name, so I thought you were totally one of them... Well, no need to sweat the details!

What do you mean, exactly? If that's all you think about it, there's no point in me sticking around.
I can leave now, right?

Hey, I totally get why you'd want to leave. But think of this as doing a good deed and help out here, alright?

What he said! And also, I wouldn't forgive anyone leaving now!

...Understood.

Alright then! Let's focus on preparations, guys! So... what exactly do we need to do?

Ugh... after you so boldly declared that you'd leave it to them, how do you think they feel when you ask that? What are you going to do about this?

Generally, it looks like we have to perform a ritual called the bekka ceremony before the second-month service.

It involves isolating oneself from the rest of the world, not indulging excessively in food, and the like...

Generally, right! But look! You guys will do it extra-specially well this time, won't you? Cuz the main point is that this is my servi-

I mean, forget I said anything! We're deities after all. We probably don't need to make such a big deal out of this.

Right, I did expect you'd say something like that. If you need the bare minimum requirements, then those are making mochi and crafting flowers.

Sounds great to me!

But if that's all we need to do, then the service will be over way too quick. Isn't there something we can do to get everyone all fired up?

Then how about a ritual to slay oni as a finisher for the service? There have been second-month services that have done so previously.

Usually, oni-slaying rituals use a bow and arrow for the purpose; the bow is made from peach wood and the arrow from common reeds. I also propose we use torches to drive away a masked oni.

That sounds crazy fun!

Will doing the oni ritual make you satisfied, Dainichi?

Umu, it will!

Understood. Then I shall look into the details of the ritual and explain them within today.

Right then, I'll assign tasks. Haira's in charge of making mochi, Antera can make the torches, and Bikara'll be crafting the flowers. Oh, and making the oni's mask... I'll leave it to Sanshi.

Why me...

I'll be busy checking up on everyone and everything else. I'll owe you one if you help me out here. And is everyone else alright with this?

Uh? Oh, right, no problem at all.

Of course! This humble Antera Taishou will do his utmost to serve!

Yep, yep! Leave it all to me! If I'm doing it, I'm gonna make it the bestest service ever☆

Right, I'll be looking forward to what you all come up with. And Makora, do you think you'll be alright?

Y-Y-Y-Yeah! I'll do my b-b-b-best!

Well, this doesn't need a whole lot of effort, so don't work yourself up over it. Let's get started then!

Ah, that was nerve-wracking... To think I'd be in the company of Lord Jizou for so long... my heart was jumping all over the place, thinking I'd get scolded any moment now!

Eh?! You too, Bikara? Same here! When I looked at Lord Jizou's face, I... it felt like I was being glared at, and... ouch, my stomach...

Remember when he was telling Lord Dainichi off a while ago? His face when he was doing that! Wild! Just thinking about it has me trembling...

I don’t wanna remember scary things like that! Mekira, do something…!

Not to worry. This is all within expectations.

Mekira, that’s all you ever say. There’s nothing remotely not not-to-worry about here!

Hey hey, what should I do? I’ll help with anything we need!

Well, there’s nothing at the moment… Come to think of it, you completely slipped my mind when I was dividing up the work earlier.

What! How could my radiant self simply slip your mind? I was going to show off my benevolence by doing a magnificent job on preparations...

The most magnificent job you could do is sit quietly. Go sit over there and wait for everyone to finish their jobs. I’ll call you when preparations are all done.

You want me to go sit in a corner?! Damn it, Jizou! This is my service, just so you know!

You know what, alright. If this is how it’s gonna be, I’ve got some ideas of my own.