I Enslaved The Goddess Who Summoned Me - Chapter 647: Susanoo’s shadow

Chapter 647: Susanoo’s shadow

“My elder brother is supported by Lord Susanoo,” Haruka finally said, the words coming out barely above a whisper but landing like a thunderclap in the suddenly silent dining hall.

Every single Hero who understood the implications—which was virtually all of them after three years immersed in this world’s mythology and power structures—felt their blood run cold. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as the weight of that revelation settled over them like a suffocating blanket.

Faces went visibly pale, color draining from cheeks as fear took hold. Expressions shifted dramatically from merely concerned to genuinely, deeply frightened. Several Heroes actually took involuntary steps backward, as though physical distance could somehow protect them from the terrible weight of what they’d just learned.

They all knew exactly who Susanoo was, even from their lives back on Earth. Japanese mythology had been part of their cultural education, stories passed down through generations and woven into their collective consciousness. The tales of the storm god—violent, chaotic, powerful beyond mortal comprehension—were as familiar as breathing.

It had been genuinely shocking when they’d first arrived in Kastoria three years ago and gradually realized they were living in a world where those myths were literal reality. Meeting the legendary Princess Kaguya—a figure from folklore brought to tangible life—had taken weeks to fully process. And the few brief glimpses they’d caught of the Goddess Amaterasu herself had been overwhelming experiences that left them awestruck and humbled.

But there had also been a profound sense of relief accompanying those revelations. Knowing that Amaterasu herself—the supreme Sun Goddess, benevolent and protective—was watching over them and this kingdom had felt reassuring, like having the ultimate guardian ensuring their safety.

But now Susanoo was getting involved? The storm god whose rage could shake the heavens, whose power rivaled even his sister’s? That changed everything in the most terrifying way possible.

“Susanoo?” Kazuto repeated slowly, his analytical mind racing through every piece of information they’d gathered about the divine hierarchy. “As in… Amaterasu’s brother? The storm god who was banished from the heavenly realm? One of the three most powerful deities in the entire pantheon?”

His voice remained steady through sheer force of will, but his hands trembled slightly as he pushed his glasses up his nose.

“Yes,” Haruka confirmed miserably, her gaze dropping to the floor as though she was ashamed to even speak such dangerous truths aloud. “That Lord Susanoo. The same deity from all the ancient stories.”

A heavy, oppressive silence fell over the dining hall like a physical weight pressing down on everyone present.

“Wait, hold on—you’re saying that Lord Susanoo himself is directly allied with Crown Prince Takehiko?” Ryuuki asked, needing absolute confirmation despite having heard clearly the first time. “Not just vaguely supportive, but actively backing him?”

“Yes, Lord Susanoo is actively and deliberately supporting my brother’s claim to the throne,” Haruka confirmed once more, her voice carrying the weight of terrible certainty. “This isn’t speculation or rumor—it’s confirmed fact.”

Everyone fell into stunned silence again, Heroes exchanging worried glances with one another as they tried to process the full implications.

They had been operating under the assumption that securing the throne for Haruka’s and Ryuuki’s son would be challenging but ultimately achievable. Political maneuvering, maybe some military conflict with samurai loyalists—difficult but manageable with their growing powers and Amaterasu’s blessing.

But a divine conflict between two of the most powerful Gods in existence? That was so far beyond anything they’d prepared for that it felt almost absurd.

“Wait a moment,” Yumiko interjected, her mind grasping for some logical solution to this impossible situation. “Amaterasu is the supreme Goddess of this entire kingdom, right? She literally founded Kastoria. Surely she should have the final say in matters of succession, regardless of what Susanoo wants?”

Several other Heroes nodded in eager agreement, wanting desperately to believe that simple logic could resolve this nightmare scenario.

“It’s unfortunately far more complicated than that,” Haruka said with a pained expression, crushing their hopes. “The historical truth is that the Kingdom of Kastoria wasn’t founded by Amaterasu alone—it was established jointly by both Amaterasu and Susanoo working together during the early ages.”

She paused, gathering her thoughts to explain properly.

“But then Lord Susanoo was gradually cast away from participating in Kastoria’s politics and governance,” Haruka continued. “Amaterasu effectively took complete control, establishing herself as the sole supreme deity while Susanoo was pushed to the margins. But regardless of official doctrine, a significant portion of the population still believes in Lord Susanoo and honors him as a founder. And especially among the warrior class—the samurai clans worship Susanoo far more fervently than they worship Amaterasu.”

Understanding dawned on multiple faces as the pieces clicked into place.

“So that’s the real reason why virtually all the samurai clans are aligned with Takehiko’s faction?” Kazuto asked, his analytical mind immediately grasping the religious and cultural dimensions. “Because the God they actually worship and pledge loyalty to supports Takehiko’s claim?”

“Exactly,” Haruka confirmed with a nod. “It’s not merely political calculation or personal loyalty to my brother. It’s religious devotion. They see supporting Takehiko as fulfilling their divine obligations to the God they serve.”

“And recently there have been more and more rebellious movements explicitly supporting Susanoo’s return to prominence sprouting up throughout the kingdom,” Haruka added grimly. “Open challenges to Amaterasu’s authority that would have been unthinkable even five years ago. That’s probably another major reason why Kaguya-sama wants to move so quickly with this ceremony—to assert Amaterasu’s supremacy before the situation deteriorates further.”

After she finished speaking, a long, uncomfortable silence settled over the gathering as everyone absorbed the full scope of what they were facing.

The quiet stretched on for nearly a minute before Teiji finally broke it with characteristic bluntness.

“But damn… I really, really don’t want to fight Lord Susanoo,” he said quietly, voicing what many were thinking but hadn’t dared say aloud. “Like, at all. That seems like an absolutely terrible idea that will end with us all dead.”

“No one wants to fight Lord Susanoo,” Yumiko replied firmly, though her own voice carried an edge of fear. “Fighting a God—especially one as powerful and violent as the storm deity—would be suicide. But we’re all committed to supporting Goddess Amaterasu and Princess Haruka, right? That hasn’t changed just because the opposition got more dangerous.”

She looked around at the assembled Heroes, her gaze challenging them to disagree or show cowardice.

Everyone gave small, hesitant nods of agreement, but there was unmistakable lingering fear evident in every expression. Courage was one thing, but they weren’t fools—they understood exactly how outmatched they would be against divine opposition.

It was Susanoo they were discussing after all. The god whose tantrums could summon typhoons, whose rage could split mountains, whose power was legendary even among deities.

“Well, at least we can say that no one from our class supports Takehiko,” Yumiko added, trying to find some small positive element. “We’re all united on Haruka’s side—”

“Except for Yusuke,” Ayaka interrupted flatly, her voice cold as she reminded everyone of an uncomfortable truth they’d been collectively trying to forget. “He joined the samurai clans two years ago and therefore clearly supports Takehiko’s faction now.”

The mood, which had been tentatively improving, immediately soured again at that reminder.

“He was a complete scum from the very beginning,” Rena replied with a dismissive scoff, her aristocratic features twisting with contempt. “No one should be even remotely surprised that he betrayed us. It’s perfectly in character.”

Since Yusuke had been utterly and humiliatingly defeated by that mysterious Hero of Darkness during the battle against Tenebria, he’d been consumed by shame and rage. Unable to accept his inadequacy, he’d accepted an offer from samurai clan leaders to train him in their ways and make him stronger through methods the palace wouldn’t condone.

It had been two full years now since Yusuke had departed to join them, and most of the Heroes hadn’t even seen or heard from him since then. For all practical purposes, he’d become an enemy—or at minimum, definitely wasn’t an ally anymore.

Regardless of Rena’s harsh characterization, nobody stepped forward to defend their former classmate. The silence spoke volumes about their collective opinion.

Yusuke had been a hot-tempered bully even back in Japan, using his natural strength to intimidate weaker students and inflate his own ego. He’d acted almighty and untouchable when he was the strongest in their peer group.

But once he’d been comprehensively beaten and overwhelmed by the Hero of Darkness—revealed as utterly ordinary when facing someone genuinely superior—his carefully constructed mask had shattered. His true cowardly, spiteful nature had been exposed for everyone to see.

“It’s fine, everyone,” Ryuuki spoke up quickly and firmly, his voice cutting through the mounting anxiety he could see building on his classmates’ faces. “Listen to me—currently Goddess Amaterasu is far more popular and widely worshipped throughout Kastoria than Susanoo. We have Kaguya-sama on our side, which means we have direct divine backing. Nothing catastrophic is going to happen just because the situation is complicated.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the gathered Heroes with calm confidence.

“You’re all already imagining worst-case scenarios—I can see it in your expressions,” Ryuuki continued with gentle understanding. “Civil war, divine conflict, impossible battles. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Right now, today, everything is actually stable and normal. We’re preparing for a celebration, a ceremony to honor new life and secure succession. Let’s not borrow trouble from hypothetical futures that may never arrive.”

Hearing their leader and strongest member speak with such unwavering confidence had a profound effect on the group’s collective mood. Shoulders that had been hunched with tension gradually relaxed. Expressions that had been tight with fear softened somewhat.

That was absolutely right, several Heroes realized. They had been catastrophizing, jumping immediately to imagining massive conflicts and disasters when the current reality was actually manageable. The ceremony was just a ceremony. Takehiko was still in exile. Things were under control.

“Ryuuki is completely right,” Yumiko added with a bright, encouraging smile, reinforcing their leader’s message. “For now, our focus should simply be on supporting Haruka and celebrating little Ryuuji being officially recognized as heir during the ceremony. That’s all we need to worry about. Let’s all support them properly, everyone.”

At her rallying words, the assembled Heroes nodded with returning smiles, the atmosphere lightening considerably as the immediate doom-and-gloom mindset dissipated. Somehow the confusion and deep concern that had been oppressing them just moments before cleared like morning fog burned away by sunlight.

They were Heroes, after all. They’d faced dangers before and overcome them. They had divine protection, powerful allies, and each other. Everything would work out somehow.

At precisely that moment, the dining hall’s doors burst open with sudden force, startling everyone.

A Kastorian soldier stood in the doorway, his expression mixing alarm with barely controlled excitement. He was breathing hard, clearly having run at full speed to deliver urgent news.

“Heroes! Princess Haruka!” the soldier called out, his voice cracking slightly with the intensity of his announcement. “The Hero of Darkness has arrived! He’s here, at the capital!”