Lifeline (
Short Summary
Hiyori grapples with worry over her body's current condition. Yato and Kazuma manage to inflict a serious wound on Father, while on Tamatsuki, Ebisu and Takemikazuchi aim to sever Father's lifeline.
Extended Summary
Chapter 102-1
The Stray looks after Hiyori, who collapsed after she forced her spirit out of her body. She uses purifying water to cleanse Hiyori's blight, remarking that it was Hiyori's fault her cord was damaged since she challenged Father in the first place. She tells Hiyori to return to her body, and notes that it's gone cold.
Hiyori later wakes up and immediately calls out to the Stray, but then realizes she's already alone. Hiyori tries to get back into her body, but finds that she can't. Clearly worried, she tries to convince herself that she'll be fine and would be able to find Yukine and Yato soon. Suddenly, she gets the feeling that she is falling, the ground opening up into darkness beneath her. The feeling ends abruptly. Frightened, she wonders what would have happened if she actually "fell".
Kazuma regains his bearings after being knocked out of Yato's hands by Father. He apologizes to Yato for his diziness, explaining that he's been seeing strange things for a while now, but says that they have a chance now that the Stray has left. However, he can't seem to get Yato to reply.
Yato, distracted, stares at Father who has a tear sliding down his cheek. Wondering why he would be crying, Yato remembers another instance where Father had cried. In the memory, Father held a young Yato, assuring him that he would make it better after Yato was attacked by ayakashi. He asked if Yato hated him, saying that no matter where he went, that's just how parent-child relationships are, and there wasn't a point to fighting about something they couldn't agree on. He offered to make Yato food at home and tell him the story of how he escaped Izanami. In the present, Father reassures Yato that he would save him even if he fell into Yomi, because he's Yato's lifeline.
On Tamatsuki, Takemikazuchi loses his temper, having been told by Satou that the Mask-Maker would never die. He continues destroying the masks that constituted the grave, saying that this should be enough to kill the Crafter. Satou laughs, only serving to anger Takemikazuchi further as he feels mocked by him. Ebisu tells him to calm down and think for a moment, claiming that he should know that destroying a grave wouldn't truly be enough to kill a god. Takemikazuchi bristles and claims that he is well aware, but then demands to know why Ebisu dragged them out there knowing destroying the grave wouldn't work. Ebisu ignores the question, inspecting the ruined grave site more closely. Takemikazuchi approaches as well, and is uncomfortably surprised to find a vent underneath the remnants of the grave. Ebisu concludes that the Grave Keeper's duty must be to perform Soul Summoning. The two gods realize that Satou is the the Crafter's lifeline– meaning that without him, he would never be able to revive again.
Chapter 102-2
Yato responds to Father by saying that he was the one who forced Yato into Yomi in the first place, and Hiyori was the one who rescued him. Rekki's sword moves toward Yato at the same time that the Stray runs to Father's aid. Father calls her into her weapon form, and Chiki and Rekki clash directly. Chiki manages to snap Rekki in two. However, Rekki's blade immediately reforms, much to Father's surprise. Yato swings the blade, slicing deeply into Father's throat.
Meanwhile, on Tamatsuki, the little girl continues explaining that you can simply call the Mask-Maker's name into the vent and it will bring him back to life. Ebisu asks directly for his name, but Satou tells him he must vow to devote his life to becoming the next grave-keeper (and continue until finding another grave-keeper to assume his position) if he were to learn it. Ebisu agrees easily, saying that he has already dedicated plenty of lives to this cause. Satou acknowledges Ebisu's firm disposition and suitability for the role of grave-keeper, but has reservations since he and Takemikazuchi had destroyed the Mask-Maker's grave.
Satou's family reassure him that even though Ebisu and Takemikazuchi seem frightening, they are pure individuals who will take care of the grave in his stead. They encourage him to come with them, to what appears to be his family home that was destroyed many years ago. The woman, Satou's wife, says that she and their daughter have been waiting for him for many years. The three of them tell Satou he has done well and welcome him home.
The illusion clears– in the shack, Takemikazuchi sheathes his sword while he and Ebisu watch Satou embrace one of three shadow-like figures.[1] Satou then bows deeply to Takemikazuchi and Ebisu, choosing to trust in his wife and daughter's judgement and asking them to take over his role as grave-keeper.
Satou's breathing becomes ragged, and Takemikazuchi helps him lie down and tells him to be at peace. Ebisu promises him that he will keep Father's memory alive and his name secret. Satou smiles, remarking that he has been blessed as he presses his hands together and reveals the Mask-Maker's name to the duo.
Takemikazuchi and Ebisu leave the island using a Divine Covering, having placed Satou's body in the boat they used to travel there. Takemikazuchi comments that it feels wrong that they lied to him. Ebisu agrees, particularly because Satou had put his faith in the wrong people– as denizens of the Far Shore, they would be unable to act as Father's lifeline and he would therefore never revive again.
As Father lies on the ground clutching at his neck wound, the Stray shouts at Yato, demanding to know how he could do this to their own father. Yato tells Father that the version of himself that is tied to him would die with him, and Father would never be able to hurt Hiyori and Yukine again. Yato says he will live on with the two of them in a world without Father, although the illustration depicts Yukine reaching for a child's hand rather than Yato's current age.
Characters
Character Debuts
No new characters have debuted in this chapter.
Characters in Order of Appearance
- Hiyori Iki
- The Stray
- Yato
- Kazuma
- Father
- Izanami (mentioned)
- Takemikazuchi
- Ebisu
- Satō
- Satou's family
References
- ↑ These figures resemble the appearance of Grandfather Iki, who Yato identified in Chapter 54 as "something like a shinigami / grim reaper" that would guide his wife to the afterlife.