Kagura of the Moonlight: The Immortal Bride and the Reincarnated Programmer
Sora Kagura had everything—until a single virus erased every line of code he'd ever written and dragged him into a world where the moon hangs three times too large and nothing follows the rules he knows.
Now he's stranded in a parallel world with no stamina, no combat skills, and no way home. His only lead: a torn nameplate reading "Yuzaki." His only guide: Kougetsu Kaguya, a masked girl in a black kimono who claims he carries the "blood of the moon" and that she needs his power.
But what powe
Kagura of the Moonlight: The Immortal Bride and the Reincarnated Programmer - Program of the Moonlight: Reversing at Light Speed with Memories as the Price
The Yuzaki living room was steeped in the stillness of night.
Kagura Sora leaned back against the wall, drawing shallow breaths. The pain in his ribs hadn't faded. Yet the small chip clenched in his left palm was the only thing that carried any warmth.
(All that's left is this.)
His phone was gone. The program that could rewrite the world's rules existed only in his head now. But inside this chip—the one Kaguya had picked up—a fragment of the first analysis code was still alive.
"...Sora, can you drink this?"
He turned toward the voice. Yuzaki Nasa was holding out a steaming mug from the kitchen. Behind his glasses, his eyes were still bloodshot. His black hair remained a mess.
"Thanks."
Sora took the cup. Warm water. As it passed down his throat, his body loosened, just a little.
Nasa settled down beside Sora and wrapped both hands around his own cup.
"...That chip. Can you really make it work?"
"I don't know. But I have no choice but to try."
"How? Our phones and computers were destroyed that night. All that's left is what's in your head."
"I'll write directly onto the chip. Use Kaguya's moon blood as a catalyst. The theory isn't complete yet. But before he comes back, I have to build a prototype."
"...Is there anything I can do?"
Sora thought for a moment.
"Tell me every electronic device in this house that still works. The breaker, the wiring, the light positions. And—"
"And?"
"I need your knowledge, Nasa. I want to borrow the brain of the man who reached light speed faster than NASA—at full power."
Behind his glasses, Nasa's eyes widened slightly.
Then he gave a small laugh.
"...When you put it that way, I guess I have no choice."
"Yeah."
Sora tightened his grip on the chip.
(This time. This time, I'll protect them.)
---
The guest room.
Kougetsu Kaguya sat on the futon. The collar of her black kimono was slightly disheveled, her long black hair cascading from her shoulders down her back. Her complexion was still pale.
"...Can I come in?"
Sora's voice came from beyond the sliding door.
"Yes."
Sora opened the door and stepped inside.
Kaguya's obsidian eyes caught the moonlight, and a golden ring surfaced within them.
"Your body—"
"It moves. The moon blood is returning, little by little."
"I pushed you too hard."
"It was my own choice."
Kaguya quietly traced the moon-patterned mark on the back of her right hand.
"Your analysis wasn't wasted. That chip surviving—it wasn't a miracle or coincidence. It survived because you genuinely tried to rewrite the world's rules."
"...I haven't accomplished anything yet."
"That's why we do it now."
Kaguya's voice softened, just slightly.
"Let's finish your program. Use my moon blood as the catalyst."
Sora looked at Kaguya's face.
Expressionless. But deep in her eyes, a fierce will burned.
"...Yeah. I'm counting on you."
---
The kitchen.
Yuzaki Tsukasa stood before the sink, sharpening a knife.
Shh, shh—the sound of the whetstone echoed through the quiet house.
Her long black hair was gathered at her back, a deerskin barrette swaying faintly. Her white skin looked cold as porcelain in the moonlight.
"Tsukasa."
Sora stood at the kitchen entrance.
"...Sora. You're still not sleeping?"
"I can't sleep. More importantly, I have a favor to ask."
"What is it?"
Tsukasa set down the knife. Her large, clear black eyes looked straight at Sora.
"Show me your blade. And—I need you to share a little of your blood."
Tsukasa tilted her head slightly.
"My blood can heal others. But it might not be enough to heal your ribs."
"It's not for the wounds. I want to use it as a catalyst for the program. Your blood carries a power connected to the moon people. Kaguya's moon blood and your immortal blood—if I combine the two, the rewrite program's precision goes up."
"...Understood."
Tsukasa gave a quiet nod.
"But promise me. Don't push yourself too hard."
"...I'll do my best."
"'Do my best' isn't reassuring enough."
Tsukasa smiled faintly.
Behind that smile, a deep sorrow trembled, barely visible.
"I don't want you or Nasa to be hurt anymore. But the moon people won't allow that. So—"
Tsukasa stopped.
"So I will protect you. Both of you. Absolutely."
"...I'll protect you too. I swear it."
Sora's voice was shaking.
---
That was when it happened.
A shatter—
The living room window burst into pieces from the inside.
"—!"
Sora bolted from the kitchen into the living room.
Moonlight illuminated the scattered shards of glass.
And within that light—
Silver long hair swaying, golden eyes narrowed, stood Tsukikage no Shisha.
"Good evening. A fine night, isn't it?"
The messenger was smiling.
His mouth smiled. But his golden eyes held no mirth at all.
"—You."
"Oh my, little bug. Still alive, are you? I'm impressed. For a human, you're remarkably persistent."
The messenger's voice was polite, but ice-cold beneath.
"You know why I'm here. I've come to retrieve the daughter of Hourai."
"I won't let you."
"Whether I'm allowed or not is my decision. You have no say in the matter."
The messenger stepped forward.
In that instant, the air in the living room grew heavy, as if frozen.
"—Stand back."
A voice.
Tsukasa stood in front of Sora.
In her hand, a drawn blade.
The edge caught the moonlight, gleaming cold.
"Tsukasa!"
"This is my fight. I won't drag you into it."
"I'm already dragged in. Have been for a while."
"...Yes, I suppose so. But even so."
Tsukasa raised her sword.
"Stand back, Sora."
"—No."
Sora clenched the chip.
"I'm going to protect you. That's what I've decided."
"...Sora."
"How touching."
The messenger clapped.
Clap, clap—the deliberate sound echoed through the quiet house.
"Human friendship playacting. Truly heartwarming. But—"
The messenger's golden eyes narrowed to slits.
"It's a waste of time."
The next instant.
The messenger's body vanished.
"—!"
By the time Sora realized, the messenger was already in front of Tsukasa.
Long fingers seized her throat.
"Gh...!"
"I've waited 1,400 years, daughter of Hourai."
The messenger's voice whispered at her ear.
"This time, I'm taking you back. Let's go home to the moon, eternal princess."
"Let go of me!"
Tsukasa swung her blade.
But the messenger caught the edge with one hand.
A metallic screech.
The blade stopped dead against the messenger's pale palm.
"Futile. Your sword cannot cut me."
"...!"
"Tsukasa-chan!"
Nasa came charging out of the kitchen with a knife.
"Let her gooooo!!"
Nasa thrust the knife at the messenger.
But.
"You're in the way."
With his free hand, the messenger casually swept Nasa aside.
Thud.
Nasa's body slammed against the wall.
"Nasa!"
Tsukasa's voice turned into a scream.
"Nasa!"
Sora tried to run to him.
But his legs wouldn't move.
(I'm scared. So scared, my legs—)
"Move."
A voice.
He turned. Kougetsu Kaguya had emerged from the guest room.
The hem of her black kimono swayed though there was no wind.
"I'll slow his movements. In that opening, you—the program."
"But your body—"
"There's no problem."
Kaguya raised her right hand toward the moon.
"Moon blood."
The mark on the back of her right hand began to glow pale blue.
Moonlight was being drawn into Kaguya's body.
"—Release."
In that instant.
The air in the living room trembled.
Kaguya's black eyes shone gold.
"Gh...!"
The messenger's body tilted, just slightly.
"Moon blood... How vexing. The depletion from last time should still linger, shouldn't it?"
"Even so, I can slow your movements, at least a little."
"...Interesting. But you think that's enough to stop me?"
Still gripping Tsukasa's throat, the messenger laughed.
"Impossible. Your power can't even hold me in place."
"—Then."
Sora clenched the chip.
His fingertips trembled.
"I'll stop you."
Sora held the chip up before his chest.
"Kaguya—sync your moon blood with my program."
"...Yes. But do you understand?"
"Yeah. The price is part of my memory. The painful ones. Being laughed at for my name. The setback of having all my data wiped by a virus. The joy of winning the programming contest—"
"Those will disappear."
"I know."
Sora's voice was shaking.
"Even so, if it's to protect Tsukasa—my past can go to hell."
"...Sora."
Tsukasa's eyes wavered.
"Stop. Your memories are your life. You don't need to lose them for my sake—"
"I do need to."
Sora looked at Tsukasa.
"When I came to this world, I found something I wanted to protect for the first time. You, Nasa, Kaguya. In this house, I found a place to belong for the first time. So—"
Sora gripped the chip.
"I'll protect it."
"—Don't get carried away."
The messenger tightened his grip on Tsukasa's throat.
"Gh... ah...!"
"Tsukasa!"
"Hurry. Use my moon blood."
Kaguya shouted.
"There are things your logic alone can't protect. But your logic can protect someone. Now is that time!"
Sora closed his eyes.
(Program, activate.)
(Target: physical laws of this space.)
(Price: caster's memories.)
(Catalyst: moon blood, immortal blood.)
(Execute.)
The chip grew hot.
Code flooded into Sora's mind.
The world became visible as code.
Airflow. Gravity. Refraction of light.
Everything was being replaced by symbols and numbers.
(Rewrite.)
(Solidify the air in this space.)
(Target: surroundings of Tsukikage no Shisha.)
(Range: two-meter radius.)
(Execute.)
"—!"
A sharp pain shot through Sora's head.
The back of his nose burned.
Warm liquid dripped from his nostrils.
(Blood.)
(But I can't stop.)
"Move...!"
Still holding the chip aloft, Sora shouted.
"I'm rewriting the world's rules...!"
In that instant.
The air around the messenger solidified like an invisible wall.
"—What?"
The messenger's movement stopped.
Not a fingertip would budge.
"...Spatial fixation. I see. For a mere bug, you do interesting things."
The messenger's golden eyes glared at Sora.
"But can you afford the price? Your memories are vanishing, one after another. I can see it."
"...Shut up."
Inside Sora's head, something snapped with a crack and vanished.
(Huh... why did I...)
(A virus... wiped my data...?)
(No, was there ever such a thing...?)
(I can't remember...)
"—Sora!"
Tsukasa's voice came from far away.
"Now!"
Tsukasa broke free of the messenger's grip and raised her blade.
"Kaguya!"
"Yes!"
Kaguya focused the power of the moon blood onto the messenger.
"Moon blood—disrupt the lunar power within his body!"
Pale blue light pierced the messenger's body.
"Gh...!"
The messenger's body convulsed.
"Now, Nasa!"
"I know!"
Nasa, who had been collapsed by the wall, crawled toward the breaker.
"Don't underestimate the man who reached light speed faster than NASA...!"
Nasa threw the breaker switch all at once.
Click.
Every light in the house went out.
Pitch darkness.
"—What are you—"
"Darkness is my garden."
Tsukasa's voice echoed through the dark.
"I've lived with the darkness of night for 1,400 years. Far longer than you."
"—!"
Zan.
The sound of a blade cutting air.
"Gaaaaaah!!"
The messenger's scream echoed through the darkness.
A heavy thud—something fell to the floor.
"...My right arm."
The messenger's voice was low, trembling.
"You cut it...?"
"Yes. While the moon blood disrupted your power. If physical attacks don't work, I just need to create a moment when they do."
"...Interesting."
In the darkness, the messenger laughed.
"Interesting. Truly interesting. A mere human, cutting off my arm."
"—But."
The messenger's voice turned cold.
"When the main force moves, it's over. Defeating me alone changes nothing. The moon people's main force is nothing like me. You will, eventually, without fail—"
"—Disappear."
Tsukasa's voice rang sharp.
"If you come again, I'll simply cut you down again."
"...Heh. I look forward to it. To see what despair will paint your face the next time we meet."
The messenger's presence vanished.
---
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