The Legend of the Tower to Nekogami

--THE LEGEND OF THE TOWER OF NEKOGAMI--

It is told that there was once a ruler who was very devoted to Nekogami. It so happened that this ruler aspired to build a tower which would reach up through the blue heavens to meet Nekogami herself. For this purpose he recruited many nekojin and had them work with him.

Upon seeing such fervor for their goddess, the Inkaaneto of Nekogami visited this King to see what blessings they could bestow upon him and his people. However, when they came to him, he sent them away. Dutifully they returned the next day, but the next day, too, he sent them away. Each day they would visit him, but each day he would send them away.

When Nekogami heard of these events from her Inkaaneto, she came personally to visit the King. She asked him, "What is it that you want, nekojin King?" And he replied to her, "I wanted to see you."

The goddess replied to this, "Ah, and now you have seen me. Nekogami King, I tell you--too long you focused on the skies. I gave you a land and a people to rule over and to watch over. I gave you my angels so that you, too, might be cared for. Have you so long forgotten these gifts that you desire more?"

The goddess then gathered the king in the palm of her hand, and carried him with her. She gathered the workers outside the tower, and carried them too. All these nekojin were placed gently on the ground by Nekogami, a distance away from the tower which was beginning to fall apart. All these nekojin were protected from the falling tower by Nekogami's body itself, which she used as a shield for them.

Nekogami spoke again to the king. "Your devotion has been foolish, but devotion it has been. Thus you have been saved from your tower, poorly built, as it crumbles upon itself. You will not be so foolish in the future, but use your wisdom to save your people."