"Ah! Hachiman Great Bodhisattva, Thousand-Armed Guanyin, Merchant Shaman Emperor!... Ah! My... my finger!... Aaaah!!..."
"Praise the Main God! You have sacrificed flesh and blood, and are blessed by God! Your devotion will be seen by God and known by all!... Come, drink another cup of calming Blood Wine, and carve the Main God's emblem... A pity there's no Blade Water, or you wouldn't hurt so much. But pain is good, too. It will help you remember the sacrifice you offered to God..."
"Aaaah! Bodhisattva, gods and Buddhas, Shaman Emperor!... My hand, my forehead!..."
"The Main God protects you! Bear it a little longer, it's almost carved!..."
The northern cold stabbed into the bones, while the bonfire blazed with scorching warmth. The monk-soldier Watanabe Masumi collapsed beside the fire, feeling the drilling agony in his forehead and little finger, his whole body hurting so badly that sweat broke out all over him. With a hoarse throat, he let out a pained roar, yet his mouth was full of the bloody taste of Blood Wine. He widened his eyes, watching the little finger cut from his left hand burn and twist in the flames, gradually charring into a remnant bone. And on his forehead, the sign of the Sun Hummingbird was slowly oozing blood as well, like a dark-red setting sun and black bird. Only after quite a while did he barely recover a little, murmuring in a low voice.
"Merchant Shaman Emperor! Such a price, such a mark... This is forcing me to bury the gods and Buddhas in my heart, and open my mouth to recite the Main God!... Damn cruel Rubber People—damn Main God, protect me!..."
"Mm, the Main God protects you! Take him to the tent to rest and bandage him well. From now on, he is a