Nine Summers of Divine Punishment

Year 1181 of the Divine Calendar—a decade ago. It was in that year, at the age of thirteen, that Wakako arrived at the Kitagawa estate.

Back then, she wasn’t called Wakako. She was just a nameless orphan who had lived in an orphanage for as long as she could remember.

Then, a fire engulfed the orphanage. She was one of the lucky few who escaped, but she was left to wander the streets, scavenging for scraps and begging for food to survive.

There were so many vagrants, even leftover food was a prize to be fought over. Gradually, she discovered her strength was unusually great, always giving her an advantage.

One day, a kind stranger, pitying her, tossed a few silver coins at her feet.  But they were instantly snatched away by other vagrants. Those coins could have fed her for quite some time. In desperation, she grabbed the thief and delivered a solid punch.

The target was a tall, adult vagrant, yet he crumpled to the ground from her single blow, unable to get up for a long while.

She picked up the coins and turned to leave, but the kind stranger’s carriage returned. The servants lifted the curtain, and she saw a young lady inside, looking at her with interest.

“Would you like to come home with me?” the lady asked.

And just like that, she found herself following the lady home. Later, she learned that the lady was the second head of the Kitagawa clan.

The Kitagawa clan were a prominent merchant family in Mios, with deep ties to politics.

The lady had recognized her talent and chose her to be trained as a member of the Death Guard.

The Death Guard, as the name implied, were those who would die for the family without hesitation, prioritizing the family’s interests above all else.

“You’re thirteen this year, so we’ll call you Thirteen,” the Second Daughter declared, giving her a name as easily as that.

Her life changed dramatically from that point. She had food, clothes, and shelter. But with it came endless training and brutal combat—day and night, the only sounds were the clash of weapons, and every so often, a comrade would succumb to their wounds.

But Thirteen survived.

Perhaps because of her harsh life on the streets, she had an unusually high pain tolerance and remarkable strength.  Furthermore, she was predicted to become an Alpha, promising even greater physical prowess.

These talents were enough to make her stand out and earn special attention. It was only natural that the other trainees resented her.

On a rare day off, they tricked her into staying behind in a forest under the pretense of playing hide-and-seek.

As they left, they gloated maliciously:

“No matter how strong she is, it won’t help her now.”

“Just beyond is another family’s estate. I hear some high-ranking officials come there to relax. Even if she manages to escape, she’ll offend them. That’ll be a sight to see…”

“Even if she’s lucky, we have a backup plan.”

“Tch, she’ll probably be executed.”

Towering trees blocked the sunlight, making it impossible to discern direction or find a way out. Alone, Thirteen could only rely on instinct, walking persistently in one direction.

She walked for an unknown amount of time, her body covered in scratches from thorns and branches, until finally, she saw a glimmer of hope.

Beyond the forest lay a vast lake. Thirteen wanted to rest by the water’s edge. As she looked up, she saw a figure nearby.

The girl sat on a large rock, quietly watching Thirteen.

The weather wasn’t particularly cold, yet she wore a thick shawl. Her skin was an unhealthy pale, but it couldn’t hide the breathtaking beauty of her face.

Thirteen had thought the Second Daughter was the most beautiful person she had ever seen, but this girl surpassed her by far.

From her eyebrows to her lips, every feature was exquisitely sculpted, captivating Thirteen’s gaze.

She couldn’t help but ask, “Who are you?”

The girl’s clear eyes held a hint of confusion. After a moment, she said, “My name is Miki.”

What a strange name, Thirteen thought to herself. How could anyone be called “God”? Wasn’t that disrespectful to the divine?

Yet, she felt the name suited the girl perfectly. Her pure and serene face was like the shimmering wine in a ceremonial cup.

The Second Daughter had once granted her a sip – sour, yet with a sweet aftertaste.

The girl asked, “What about you?”

Thirteen opened her mouth, suddenly feeling a twinge of inferiority. The girl’s name was so beautiful, while she was just a number casually assigned by the Second Daughter…

Dejectedly, she said, “My name is Thirteen.”

“Thirteen,” Miki nodded, showing no sign of contempt. She simply said, “My legs are a bit numb from sitting so long. Would you mind helping me up?”

Thirteen thought absently that even her way of speaking was lovely, so refined and elegant.

She walked over to help, but just as she was about to touch Miki, she quickly pulled her hand back.

Thirteen quickly lowered her head, scrubbing the dirt and grime from her hands against her clothes over and over again. She wiped them dry on nearby leaves before reaching out again to touch the snow-white cloak.

For the first time, she was afraid of sullying someone else.

Miki smiled. “Thank you.”

Thirteen then noticed that Miki wasn’t wearing any shoes or socks, despite seeming so sensitive to the cold.

“I’m not allowed to wear them. It’s a rule,” Miki explained softly.

Thirteen didn’t understand this strange rule. She only saw that the grass on the ground was long and coarse, potentially hurting Miki’s feet. “Then let me carry you on my back,” she offered.

Miki was taken aback, seeing only this girl’s silly grin as she looked back. Like a blooming sunflower, swaying innocently in the wind.

Did she really not know who she was?

Before she realized it, Miki heard herself say, “Alright.”

She stood quietly, watching Thirteen jump into the river like a puppy, washing away the mud and shaking off the water droplets.

Then, like picking up a small bird, the puppy effortlessly lifted her onto her back.

Thirteen said, “I don’t know this area. Tell me which way to go.”

Miki’s hand rested on Thirteen’s shoulder, pointing the way. “Did you come out of the forest just now?”

“Yes,” Thirteen nodded. “I was playing hide-and-seek with my friends, but I got lost in the woods. I’ll go back and find them later.”

They were already in the outskirts, and the forest was full of dangers. Who would deliberately come here to play? After hearing this, Miki knew that Thirteen had been tricked, but unfortunately, the girl herself didn’t seem to realize it.

“They may have already left,” she hinted subtly.

Thirteen responded naively, “No way! If I’m missing, they should be anxiously looking for me.”

Was this innocence or just foolishness?

The journey wasn’t short. They chatted along the way, with Miki occasionally asking questions, and Thirteen answering honestly, revealing everything.

It wasn’t until Miki softly asked to be put down that Thirteen suddenly realized she knew nothing about Miki.

Hesitant for a moment, Thirteen couldn’t bring herself to ask.

She thought that Miki, dressed in such fine clothes, must be a wealthy young lady, and she looked like a fairy. They were from different worlds, and there might not be another chance to meet again.

So Thirteen just waved enthusiastically at Miki, drinking in her face one last time, trying to commit it to memory,

“Please wear shoes when you’re alone. You’ll catch a cold.”

Her smiling face, bathed in the setting sun, quickly disappeared into the forest.

***

Thirteen didn’t expect that after struggling to find her way back that night, a harsh punishment awaited her.

Her hide-and-seek companions had reported to the steward that she had used the break to escape, intending to betray the family. They had even planted stolen goods in her living quarters, claiming they were all things Thirteen had stolen.

Five of them had accused her, and Thirteen was alone. Even with a thousand mouths, she couldn’t defend herself.

Moreover, she wasn’t eloquent; no matter how she tried to explain, no one would believe her.

The dirt stains on Thirteen’s clothes, remnants from her return journey, served as further proof of her attempted escape. Enraged, the steward ordered her to be bound and imprisoned, then sent someone to inform the Second Daughter.

“After all the faith the Second Daughter placed in you, you dare to do such a thing!” He pointed at Thirteen’s nose, his voice dripping with scorn. “You treacherous ingrate! Someone, take her away to be punished!”

She said, “I didn’t do it.”

No one was listening.

Thirteen didn’t feel much pain. She wasn’t afraid of the whip or the punishment, but she could still feel her body weakening, her consciousness fading.

She thought back to the events of the day and suddenly understood Miki’s implication. Miki had guessed the malice of those people just by hearing her speak a few words. Why hadn’t she seen it herself?

Why was she so stupid?

A shadow fell over her. It was the Second Daughter, the one who had brought her in from the streets.

Thirteen quickly looked up, hoping that the Second Daughter would believe her explaination. But all she received was an indifferent, “Deal with her as you see fit.”

The Second Daughter didn’t even look at her.

In the eyes of the family heads, the lives of the Death Guard were insignificant.

Thirteen’s heart sank completely.

What will they do to me? she wondered, lost in despair. I finally found a place to belong… Did I not deserve it after all?

Thirteen wanted to pray to God.

But with her status, she wasn’t allowed to enter the temple. She could only offer prayers from afar, not even knowing if God was male or female, or what they looked like.

So, she could only repeat her plea in her heart, hoping for a miracle.

I don’t want to die bearing false accusations.

Please, let me live.

…

A long time passed, so long that Thirteen thought she would truly die like this. Then, suddenly, something touched her forehead.

She opened her eyes and saw Miki crouching in front of her, gently wiping her cheeks with a soft, white handkerchief. Through the cloth, she could feel the softness of Miki’s fingertips.

Thirteen also smelled the faint scent of cherries.

Was it a dream?

Or had her wish come true?

The Second Daughter stood in the distance, her voice cautious. “Lady Saint, this place is filthy. I fear it might offend your eyes.”

“It’s alright.”

Miki stood up, her bare feet on the cold ground. There seemed to be bloodstains on her skin, like plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

She turned and said softly, “Would the Second Daughter of the Kitagawa clan be willing to give her to me?”

The Second Daughter was taken aback, then smiled. “Thirteen, you have a new master now.”

Thirteen didn’t know who the Saint was, nor could she see the calculating look in the Second Daughter’s eyes.

At that moment, she only knew one thing.

If God had an embodiment in the human world, it would be the pure white figure before her, answering her prayers and coming to her rescue.