Well to the Underworld

The sound of Rentarou’s steps echoed as he stepped on the stone path. He only stopped running after reaching the closed torii-like gate in front of him. It was weathered, darkened wood, and hanging from the crossbeam above it was a faded wooden plaque reading: Rokudo Chinnoji.

“Damn it! They just went in there!” Rentarou snapped his head around to see if the two were behind him, but only Yukimura was. “Shin, we missed them because you’re taking too long!”

“Sorry… it was just… a lot of running.”

“You might have seen them go in, but the gate is closed now. Should we just wait until the morning to ask what they were doing?”

“No, Yukimura! I need to know what’s happening now, or else something could happen to Hinako. I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

“But—”

“I don’t care if Takeda is with her! I need to be with her too!” Those were Rentarou’s last words before he expanded his legs. He used his enlarged muscles to jump over the temple’s gate, leaving Shin and Yukimura at the closed entrance.

“Tsk. Shin, get closer to me. We must ensure he doesn’t break the law more than he already has. We can’t have him get arrested the second Takeda leaves.”

“Okay, Yuki—” Before Shin could finish, Yukimura shook her head, and he instantly knew what she meant. “I meant, Suki.”

After hearing that, Yukimura smiled slightly as Shin stood next to her. However, that smile quickly faded as she said, “Pillar.” A pillar of ice emerged from underneath their feet, launching them just above the temple’s gate.

As they landed on the temple grounds, the pair was met with two statues. One appeared to be of a king. It sat upon a stone throne, and in its hands it held a tablet. The statue’s posture was upright, and beneath it were various offerings, including incense and coins. Whispering into that statue’s ear was another statue. It appeared to be the king’s advisor since it was leaning into the other statue’s ear. It was made of a lighter stone compared to the other statue, and in its hand was a long, unrolled scroll.

When Shin looked at these statues, he could begin to feel his right arm straining. However, he couldn’t bring himself to look away. As he continued to stare, the pain grew, and so did the arm’s scarlet hue. It was beginning to deepen into a crimson color, but before it could, Yukimura grabbed his arm.

“Shin, now isn’t the time to be spacing out. We need to find Rentarou.”

“R-Right.” Despite his agreement, Shin continued to look down at his right arm as Yukimura began to lead him. She didn’t get to take a third step before seeing a flash of yellow light from her peripheral vision.

“That was Hinako’s mana. That must mean Rentarou is heading over there. Let’s hurry before he does something stupid.”

“Yeah.” Shin looked up from his arm as Yukimura guided him to where the flash came from. However, Yukimura stopped as a wooden fence blocked her way. “What’s wrong, Suki?”

“Maybe we shouldn’t go in.” Yukimura started to tremble as she stood in front of the fence. “I just realized—” Before she could finish, Rentarou ran past Yukimura and vaulted over the fence.

After Rentarou landed on a grassy ground, he faced the pair standing on the other side. “What are you guys dawdling for? Didn’t you see Hinako’s mana? That means she’s over here, and she had to use her magic on something. So, we have to hurry!”

“Rentarou, stop being so hasty. I can sense something.”

“What is it?”

“Yeah, what is it, Yukimura? Hurry up and spit it out!”

“There’s a tremendous amount of mana coming from there.” Past the small patch of vegetation surrounding Rentarou, Yukimura pointed toward a well. Its lid was open, and radiating out of it were blood-red spheres. “And if I’m not wrong, that well is—”

“I’m going in!” Rentarou didn’t let Yukimura finish before he leapt into the well. When he did, Yukimura sighed as she made her way over the fence.

Shin followed her as he asked, “Suki, you know what that well is?”

“Yes, I do. It’s called the Well of Rokudo Chinnoji or the Well to the Underworld.” A shiver ran up Shin’s spine when she revealed that.

“I-It doesn’t actually take you to the underworld, right?”

“It shouldn’t, but the mana leaking out from it is dangerously condensed, and I can’t hear Rentarou’s obnoxious voice anymore. So, it might lead to the underworld or somewhere else. But either way, we can’t let that sister-obsessed idiot go by himself, or he’d get himself killed.” And if it does lead to the underworld, then for what reason did Takeda and Hinako have to go there?

Yukimura made her way to the well before jumping in herself, leaving Shin alone, surrounded by foliage. He waited a few seconds to hear a thud, but there was none. She didn’t seem to reach the bottom of the well, at least not from what he could hear.

Shin took another step closer, peering into the well’s opening. He took a moment to stare at the red mana particles floating around it before he followed Yukimura’s lead. I can’t let Suki go to Hell by herself.