・・・を差して我に聞き返して、我はうむと短く答えた。妖夢殿は、いつもその2本の剣を差している・・・そんな大降りの剣を差して、軽々と持ち歩くことが出来るとう事は・・・妖夢殿はただ、遊びで差している訳ではあるまいな？と聞くと、「はい・・・、一応、剣術を嗜んでいるので・・・、まだ、剣に遊ばれていますけどね」と少し照れた様に答えた。見た目も立派な2本の剣だ。物部の家にも、こんな立派な剣はなかった。もしや、これは名うての業物であるな？そうであろう？と我は思考力を最大限に発揮し、妖夢殿に聞くと、妖夢殿は、業物ですか・・・とふふっと微笑み、「この剣は、私の家の名刀でして、大体の物を断ち切る事が出来ますよ・・・そうですね、特に、霊・・・等は特に斬りやすいですね。迷いを断ち切るのが、この剣の本質ですから」と大事そうに剣の柄を撫でた。「剣も凄いけど、妖夢ちゃんの剣の腕前も本当に凄いものですぜ、妖夢ちゃんの居合い切りなんて、天狗も見切れないと聞くし・・・、この前の異変も幽霊をその剣で切って、巫女に代わって、解決したっていうじゃないか？」と親父殿が妖夢殿に聞くと、「いえ、あれは調査しただけです。異変という程の事でもありませんでした。それに霊を斬るのは私ではなく剣の力ですよ・・・」と妖夢殿は照れ恥ずかしそうに微笑んだ。剣で霊を斬るなどと、妖夢殿はただ者ではない様である。ちなみに異変とは一体どういう事ぞ？と我が気になって聞くと、「この前、この辺の近くの寺の墓場で、格の高い霊が大量に発生した事がありまして、それは結局霊達の気まぐれでしたけど・・・結構話題になっていたのですけど・・・。知らなかったですか・・・？」と妖夢殿は不思議そうに我に聞いた。霊が大量発生とは・・・現世はなかなか物騒な世のようである。我は、今まで長く眠っていてな。最近の事はよくわからのぞと
我は妖夢殿に答えた。それを聞いた妖夢殿は、「眠っていた・・・はぁ、そうですか・・・」と呆れた様に笑い、その後、急にはっとしたかの様に表情を変えた。その様子に、どうかしたぞか？と我が聞くと、妖夢殿は「いえ、何でも・・・」と疑問を持ったかの様な表情を変えず答え、「そういえば、布都さんは、以前も永い眠りから目覚めたと言ってましたけど、あれって一体・・・。」と我に聞いた。うむ、それはな、我は、わっふるわっふる

...her blade (which was apparently a sword) at her side. I hummed in affirmation. "Lady Youmu is always carrying those two swords... for you to be able to carry that long one so openly must mean that they are not simply for show, correct?" I asked. "Yes, I have a bit of an interest in fencing, though I'm not very good at it..." she blushed. "In any case, they are two fine-looking swords. There were no blades of this quality in the Mononobe clan. Could it be that these are two famous swords? Is that it?" I inquired, my mind racing. "Famous swords?" she giggled. "These are the masterworks of my family. They can cut through most things. Ghosts are especially easy to kill, because this sword cuts through confusion," she explained, stroking the grip. "The blade's great, but so is Youmu-chan's skill with it. I hear even a tengu can't see her iai coming. She even sliced up the ghosts that were here a while back, basically doing the shrine maiden's job for her, isn't that right?" the old man turned to her. "No, that was simply research. It wasn't anything major. Besides, it was the sword's power that killed the ghosts, not I," Lady Youmu replied, blushing.

"Certainly Lady Youmu is no ordinary person, to kill a ghost with a blade. Exactly what occurred during that strange event?" I asked, to which she replied, "A while ago, in the graveyard of a nearby temple, many powerful ghosts had appeared. In the end, it turns out that they just felt like appearing, but people talked about it for a good bit. Did you not know that?" she asked with a look of amazement. "Many powerful ghosts appearing... it seems this modern world is a dangerous one. I only recently woke from a long slumber. I am still unfamiliar with recent events," I answered. "A long slumber... huh, I see..." she replied with an astonished-sounding laugh before switching to an expression as if she was suddenly taken aback. "What is it?" I inquired. "Oh, no, it's..." she trailed off, her expression still revealing the presence of a problem. "Right... Futo-san, you've told me before that you had woken from a long slumber. So, just what exactly..." she asked. "Yes. Well, I..." to be continued

*iai: the smooth drawing, striking with and sheathing of a sword