Toji no Miko: Ryukyu Sword-Wind Record

Ryukyu Sword-Wind Record's key visual, featuring Hokuto Asahina (top left), Suu Inami (top middle), and Yume Tsubakuro (bottom).

Toji no Miko: Ryukyu Sword-Wind Record (刀使ノ巫女　琉球剣風録, Toji no Miko: Ryukyu Kenpuuroku) is a novel based on the Toji no Miko concept. The story was written by Aoi Akashiro, author of Nogi Wakaba wa Yuusha de Aru, and was illustrated by Yoshinori Shizuma. First announced on April 26, 2019, the novel was released on July 19, 2019 under the publishing label Shueisha. An online version of the novels was made available for pre-order on May 26, 2019.

The novel will take place one year before the events of the anime series, and will be set on Okinawa.

Publisher's Summary

On August 2017, Hokuto Asahina, third year middle school student of Heijou Institute, and Suu Inami, first year middle school student of Renpu Girls' School, arrived at Naha Airport. The two Toji are participating in equipment tests for the practical use trials of the S-Equipment, a joint development project between the Special Sword Administration Bureau and America.

On the same day, another Toji made her arrival at Okinawa. This was Yume Tsubakuro, a sixth grade elementary school pupil of Ayanokouji Martial Arts School. These girls do not know each other, nor they have any connections with each other. That is, until that fateful day.

This story is a record of the hidden conflicts between the three girls. Amidst the entire plan involving the S-Equipment, Hokuto, Suu and Yume, as well as the Elite Guards and Mokusa, will cross swords. The story, which takes place one year before the original story of Toji no Miko, will be published as a new novel!

Synopsis

Prologue

Hokuto Asahina, a student of Heijou Institute, arrived at Naha Airport in Okinawa after being called as a test operator at the Futenma Research Facility. Here, she met with a fellow test operator, Suu Inami from Renpu Girls' School, who was uninformed about the "blond American" who would pick them up at the meeting place. Soon, they met their contact, a woman named Lydia Newfield, and as they were taken by Lydia by car to Futenma Military Base, they were interviewed about their role as test operators for the final stage of testing for the Storm Armor, which was designed to enhance the capabilities of a Toji.

Meanwhile, Yukari Origami arrived at Futenma Military Base, accompanied by Elite Guards Maki Shidou and Suzuka Konohana, as well as a young prodigy Toji named Yume Tsubakuro. Yukari was present to observe the operational tests of the Storm Armor. However, she was also aware that America could steal the Storm Armor technology and commanded her Elite Guards to respond to it immediately.

Chapter 1

The two test operators stayed at a nearby hotel as they waited for the operational tests scheduled the next day. Although Hokuto planned to spend the entire day training and studying about the Storm Armor, Suu wanted to enjoy the sights of Okinawa with her. Hokuto refused the offer, but she eventually relented to Suu's wish to go out for the day. The two later ate at a taco specialty fast food diner and visited the nearby Futenma Shrine.

At Futenma Shrine, Suu revealed that she became a Toji only due to a series of circumstances, and wished to graduate without having to fight Aradama. Meanwhile, Hokuto told Suu that her wish was to become stronger, something that both somehow amazed Suu and dampened her sentiments at the same time.

Elsewhere, as Kimitake Kohagura, leader of the Storm Armor development team, delivered an overview of the upcoming operational test, Maki and Suzuka showed their amazement at the capabilities of the Storm Armor. As Lydia Newfield, the representative of the United States in the tests, asked questions about the Storm Armor, Kimitake clarified that the Storm Armor, while capable of granting even non-Toji the ability to suppress Aradama, this power is limited and has a 3% chance to cause its wearer to go berserk.

Chapter 2

After the visit to Futenma Shrine, Hokuto's right knee injury forced her and Suu to take a break. A young Toji, who was identified by Suu as the young prodigy Yume Tsubakuro, approached them upon recognizing them as fellow Toji. Yume, however, commented that Suu was unremarkable and weak, and this enraged Hokuto. At that moment, Yume remembered about the two test operators assigned for the Storm Armor tests. Upon assuming that Hokuto was the "stronger half" of the two operators, Yume invited Hokuto for a sparring match at a nearby park. Ultimately, Hokuto was overpowered by Yume, who commented that going berserk upon using the prototype Storm Armor might be the only way for them to be worth fighting again.

Claiming that the defeat from Yume did not affect her, Hokuto spent the rest of the day training (with some time assisted by Suu). Then, the next day, the two started their first operational test of the Storm Armor. Meanwhile, Yukari, Maki, Suzuka, Lydia, Kimitake and her wife Jacqueline were among those observing the operational test, which added the restriction of no usage of Utsushi. Soon, the rounds of testing began with three Aradama the size of a large dog, then followed by a massive Aradama resembling a centipede. Maki and Suzuka were astounded by how Storm Armor compensated for the limitations of both Kongoushin and Hachimanriki. However, as the Storm Armor can only provide up to Level 2 Kongoushin and Hachimanriki to those who do not know either of these abilities, both Hokuto and Suu struggled in defeating the centipede Aradama. Hokuto eventually achieved Level 3 Kongoushin and Hachimanriki as she dealt the finishing blow to the Aradama.

Kimitake began having second thoughts on allowing Suu to continue, while Lydia pressed for the operational tests to resume. Meanwhile, Hokuto began enjoying the benefits of the Storm Armor and readied herself for further testing. As Jacqueline opened the opportunity to stop participating from the tests, Suu immediately accepted the offer. On the other hand, Hokuto decided to push through despite Suu's worries. At a waiting room, Suu watched as Hokuto defeated stronger Aradama, achieving higher levels of Kongoushin and Hachimanriki over time. Then, after defeating a tough Aradama and attaining Level 5 Kongoushin and Hachimanriki, all of the monitors lost their feed from inside the test chamber.

Lydia assumed that Hokuto had gone berserk after they found out that she destroyed all of the cameras inside the test chamber, although the noro retrieval team inside was left unharmed as Hokuto broke out of the facility. With the GPS system in Hokuto's Storm Armor malfunctioned, Lydia led a search team to look for the rampaging Hokuto. Meanwhile, Maki and Suzuka were left baffled yet still faithful at Yukari's decision to leave the search for Hokuto to Lydia.

It is revealed that Hokuto going berserk and the malfunctioned GPS system in her Storm Armor was part of the plan of the American military to have Lydia capture a functional Storm Armor unit. This would allow America to accuse the Special Sword Administration Bureau of negligence, enabling the DARPA to take over Storm Armor development. However, Lydia did not support the plans of the American military, and simply wanted the mission done so that she can return to America to continue her research. With this in mind, Lydia initiated anti-Toji tactics, harassing Hokuto with rifle fire until she loses grip of her okatana and leading her into a net trap where they prepared a TOW2 anti-tank launcher to fire at Hokuto. To Lydia's shock, the anti-tank warhead failed to even injure Hokuto, and the blast allowed her to escape once again.

Soon, as Hokuto was pursued by Lydia's platoon, a young girl suddenly appeared in the mountainside. This girl, Yume Tsubakuro, immediately attacked the platoon using non-lethal strikes, and after a few minutes, the entire platoon was wiped out despite the soldiers' attempts to defend themselves. Yume soon snatched a PDA from one of the soldiers, which eventually ended up in Yukari's hands later on. Yukari then used the information from the PDA to pick up the search of Hokuto. On Yukari's command, Maki and Suzuka headed out for their next mission.

Suu waited for any news of Hokuto at their hotel room, as four hours had elapsed since Hokuto's escape. Meanwhile, as Suu had a surprise visit from Yume, two students of Osafune Girls' Academy, Ellen Kohagura and Kaoru Mashiko arrived at Naha Airport. As a previous test operator of the Storm Armor, Ellen was puzzled about how someone lost control after using the prototypes. The two are suspicious that there was some meddling involved in the whole issue, but since they were present as agents of Mokusa, they decided to intervene while trying to prevent any contact with Yukari or her Elite Guards.

Chapter 3

Suu was shocked by the presence of Yume in her hotel room. Yume revealed that she was there simply to monitor her under Yukari's orders in case she would try to do something. Meanwhile, Hokuto, who had retrieved her okatana from the platoon that was attacked by Yume earlier, sought refuge at the famous Nakagusuku Hotel Ruins. As she slowly tried to regain control of her body, she vaguely remembered her escape from the facility as well as the battering she endured from the soldiers. Then, she immediately braced herself as the Elite Guards Maki Shidou and Suzuka Konohana were alerted to her position.

Although relieved that Yume has no interest in engaging her in combat, the young girl warned Suu about trying to escape. Yume then decided to tell Suu what she knew about the current situation, especially Lydia Newfield's involvement in hunting down Hokuto. She then took the opportunity to try out Hokuto's strength now that she is on the run. Knowing that Suu was still worried about Hokuto's wellbeing, Yume coaxed Suu into joining her as she looked for Hokuto.

Lydia was frustrated about the failure of the mission, particularly because of the possible repercussions she would face as the platoon commander for the mission. Not knowing the identity of the Toji that wiped out her soldiers, the first person that she blamed was none other than Yukari Origami herself.

At the hotel ruins, Maki and Suzuka mocked Hokuto's loss of control after using the Storm Armor and allowed her to come with them peacefully. However, Hokuto refused to give up the power given to her by the Storm Armor, and chose to fight them directly instead. Maki obliged the offer, but Suzuka intervened, wanting to test Hokuto's strength as someone who had been defeated twice by Maki. Hokuto agreed to fight Suzuka, but Hokuto's power was a poor match to the level of Suzuka's technique. Still, Hokuto kept on readying herself to fight.

Yume suggested hearing to the nearby mountains to look for Hokuto. On their way there, Suu noticed something in flight and recognized it as a Storm Armor unit. Upon following the flying Storm Armor into the nearby seashore, Suu discovered that the motionless Hokuto was alive, but unconscious.

Chapter 4

After failing to remove the Storm Armor from Hokuto, Suu decided to carry her back to their hotel room. Although Yume protested about having to carry Hokuto, she considered that she was interested in fighting Hokuto while in her Storm Armor, and was willing to wait until she would fully recover. Suu later realized that she had just brought a fugitive into her hotel room.

Hokuto soon regained consciousness. After Hokuto, Suu and Yume voiced out their side of the story. Hokuto was grateful to Yume for neutralizing Lydia's soldiers, but she remained adamant in refusing to surrender her Storm Armor. Moments later, Maki and Suzuka appeared at her room's doorstep, asking about the whereabouts of Hokuto. The two Elite Guards came up empty-handed after the short inquiry with Suu, but Suzuka decided that the Third Seat Elite Guard, Yomi Satsuki, might be helpful for this situation.

Suu returned to try to reason Hokuto into surrendering her Storm Armor. However, Hokuto was certain that the tamahagane-loaded Storm Armor would cease production in favor of the electric-operated Storm Armor that had no drawbacks, and was afraid about losing the Storm Armor for good. Suu was made aware of Hokuto's desperation for power, but Yume refused to deal with it, especially as her only task was to monitor Suu.

Near Futenma Military Base, Ellen and Kaoru surveyed the Origami Family private plane, where Yomi Satsuki was expected to disembark from. The presence of all three members of the Elite Guard meant that the issue would be over soon, and Kaoru saw this as an opportunity to exert some effort before everything is resolved.

During early morning, Suu and Yume took a rest after a failed attempt to persuade Hokuto. Her introspection as she slept, however, was interrupted as she saw Hokuto in anguish. Hokuto discovered that sleeping could cause her to lose control of her Storm Armor, and assured Suu that she can handle herself. Unable to stop Hokuto from taking action on her own, Suu decided to assist her as they leave the hotel room.

At Futenma Military Base, Lydia tried operating the Storm Armor initially reserved for Suu, and used the okatana of a Toji her platoon captured after discovering their sabotage earlier. Revealing herself as a former Toji from Minoseki Academy, Lydia was aware of Yukari Origami's influence, and despite knowing this, was prepared to make up for the failure of her mission by taking back the Storm Armor and killing Hokuto and the Toji that sabotaged her mission. Then, Kaoru and Ellen emerged to apprehend Lydia, demanding her to take back the Storm Armor in her possession.

Lydia immediately engaged the two Toji from Osafune, only to realize the level of Ellen's defense and Kaoru's power. Lydia attempted to use the highest-level Hachimanriki to overturn Ellen's defense, but Ellen revealed that she can use the highest level of Kongoushin. Likewise, Lydia struggled to defend against Kaoru's highest-level Hachimanriki. Eventually, the fight became a stalemate, with Kaoru and Ellen noticing the erratic "style" of swordsmanship Lydia was using. Soon, Lydia pushed back the two Toji and used Jin'i to escape. Although unhurt from the encounter, Kaoru and Ellen prioritized pursuing Lydia. With Kaoru in her arms, Ellen gave chase, teasing Kaoru about her rather embarrassing position.

Chapter 5

Hokuto decided to talk to Suu about the experience that shaped her obsession for becoming stronger. After that mission that forced her senior to retire, Hokuto chose to dedicate her life to training herself, at the cost of friendships, the things she like, and a healthy body. Suu was convinced that Hokuto was shackled by her past, but Hokuto assured her that getting stronger is the only way.

Soon, Maki, Suzuka and Yomi discovered Suu and Hokuto together. As Suzuka commended the lie committed by Suu earlier, Maki asked Hokuto to once more surrender the Storm Armor. Hokuto again refused, and as the possibility of a fight between Hokuto and three Elite Guards was presented to her, Suu suddenly proposed a deal: if she can defeat Hokuto while she is still wearing the Storm Armor, then Hokuto must give up the armor. Although everyone present saw the absurdity of her proposal, Yomi and Suzuka saw the advantage it could give to the Elite Guard. Maki ultimately relented to the decision of her fellow Elite Guards and left Suu and Hokuto to make their move.

Hokuto easily defeated Suu in a single blow. However, as Suu kept on standing and reapplying Utsushi after each strike, the Elite Guard noticed something unusual in Suu. Yomi revealed that Suu underwent a special curriculum as an experiment about the usage of Utsushi, and may have been hiding this "talent" from everyone. Meanwhile, as the fight between Suu and Hokuto continued, Hokuto noticed how the fatigue from the incessant fighting was not compensated by the Storm Armor, and she slowly felt frustrated towards Suu's conviction to defeat her. Suu then revealed that Hokuto became the reason she decided to fight as a Toji, and she remained determined to free Hokuto from her Storm Armor.

After two hours of constant fighting and an abnormal amount of Utsushi uses from Suu, Hokuto's Utsushi was broken by Suu for the first time, sealing the outcome of the match in favor of Suu. Hokuto decided to finally let go of her Storm Armor, and Maki agreed to report that Hokuto surrendered before she could be apprehended. However, Lydia suddenly appeared and impaled Suu and Hokuto using her okatana. Suu was unhurt but was rendered unconscious after her sixteenth Utsushi, while Hokuto suffered from a wound on her shoulder.

Suzuka tended to Suu and Hokuto, while Maki confronted the attacker. Lydia, however, was so focused on killing the Toji that defeated her soldiers that Maki assumed that she had already lost control of her Storm Armor. Maki immediately recognized her "unorthodox" swordsmanship as Miaodao, a Chinese martial art, and she quickly used her experience in fighting Toji with Storm Armor to swiftly defeat Lydia.

Before Suzuka and Yomi could respond, Lydia used a stun grenade to escape back to Futenma Military Base. There, Yume showed her presence, and Lydia immediately recognized her from the reports she received earlier. Lydia used her okatana and a submachine gun in a desperate attempt to kill the Toji responsible for the failure of her mission, but Yume used her skill in swordfighting to overpower Lydia, ending with a three-stage attack that managed to pierce through Lydia's Kongoushin.

Epilogue

The operational tests for the Storm Armor came to an end. According to official reports, the mental breakdown experienced by one of the test operators was temporary and caused no injuries, and the injuries of Lydia Newfield were regarded as unrelated to the operational tests. Because of the results of the operational tests, development for the tamahagane-loaded Storm Armor was suspended in favor of the electric-operated Storm Armor.

Yukari Origami and the Elite Guard returned to the headquarters of the Special Sword Administration Bureau. Maki was relieved that Hokuto was relieved of all offenses, somehow understanding Hokuto's motivation for becoming stronger. Suzuka also pointed out how Hokuto remained sane enough to avoid injuring civilians or other people, which can be used as further consideration for her actions. Meanwhile, the two learned from Yomi that they were unable to learn anything from the gravely injured Lydia or her soldiers who refused to talk about the incident. Yomi then explained that Yukari only needed a formal record for what happened. Understanding this, the three Elite Guards concluded that they are unable to grasp their superior's actions.

At a hospital in Okinawa, Kaoru and Ellen visited Suu and Hokuto as part of their mission. Wanting a piece of summer vacation themselves, the two girls from Osafune were contented with seeing the two present in their hospital room and immediately left afterwards. Meanwhile, Hokuto had to stay at Okinawa as she would undergo medical checkups related to her exposure to Storm Armor. Suu visited her, and Hokuto revealed her decision to let her injured knee heal for the meantime. Although Hokuto was sad about facing the reality that she would become weaker, she realized that there are other ways to live one's life as a Toji. Meanwhile, Hokuto suggested that Suu should consider training more as a Toji, an idea that Suu quickly rejected.

Characters

In order of appearance

• Yukari Origami
• Maki Shidou
• Suzuka Konohana
• Yume Tsubakuro
• Kimitake Kohagura
• Jacqueline Kohagura
• Ellen Kohagura
• Kaoru Mashiko
• Nene
• Yomi Satsuki

New Characters

• Hokuto Asahina
• Suu Inami
• Lydia Newfield

Trivia

• The events in this LN were revealed as Yume's motivation to join the Origami Family Elite Guard.
• Lydia Newfield is the first case of a Toji with origins outside of Japan and without a Japanese lineage.
• The interaction between Hachimanriki and Kongoushin was also elaborated in the Kotei Rakuen Drama CD.