After getting the reply, Hikari quickly walked toward the side hall.
Perhaps because of the incident with Yoshizawa Eigen, there were still quite a few shrine maidens guarding the area along the way, under tightened security.
But for Hikari, who was extremely familiar to them and had only left not long ago, they naturally did not stop him much.
Hikari returned smoothly to the front of the side hall, but he discovered that the side hall, which had previously been wide open, now had its door only half closed.
His steps paused slightly. If it were other shrine maidens, they probably would not go in and would first ask for instructions.
But thinking that their relationship could be considered that of "husband and wife," even if it was fake, Hikari still pushed the door open and walked in.
"Aunt Sumire…"
Holding the Clear Mind amulet tightly in his hand, Hikari had already thought about how to make an excuse to give the amulet to Jinno Sumire, the shrine's chief priestess. As soon as he entered, he opened his mouth, but before he could finish speaking, he realized that the entire side hall was cold and quiet, completely empty.
"Hm?", Hikari frowned slightly.
'Could it be that there is no one left in the side hall and Aunt Sumire has already left?'
That didn't seem right. On the way here, he had specifically confirmed with the shrine maiden who had just left that Jinno Sumire should still be here.
And although the door was only half closed, the lights inside had not been turned off.
Thinking as he walked, Hikari moved further inside.
After only a few steps, he noticed that the door on the side of the hall leading to the courtyard was half open, and faint sounds were coming from there. He immediately, almost instinctively, walked in that direction.
"Hikari… Hikari…"
With his excellent hearing, Hikari vaguely heard someone calling his name, and he quickened his pace.
As soon as he stepped out of the side hall into the courtyard, a cool breeze rushed toward his face, and the beautiful scenery of the courtyard came into view.
The evening breeze stirred the bamboo grove, shadows of trees swaying in mottled patterns.
Under the cleansing glow of the bright white moonlight, the courtyard revealed an otherworldly stillness.
Moonlight flowed like water, pure and mysterious, silently gliding over every bamboo leaf, draping the deep night in a soft silver veil.
The endlessly surging waterfall poured down from the mountain wall nearby, adding a subtle trace of noise to the otherwise silent courtyard.
In this poetic, picturesque courtyard, a gorgeous, mature woman stood quietly in the middle of the waterfall.
Her stunning face, slightly flushed, appeared even more dazzling and captivating under the moonlight. Yet those clear, beautiful eyes were filled with deep distress, and her elegant brows were tightly furrowed.
This breathtaking woman was none other than Jinno Sumire, the most noble priestess of Ino Shrine. Bathed in moonlight, her graceful and dignified figure looked like a celestial maiden from the Moon Palace, so beautiful that even Hikari felt momentarily stunned.
But compared to Jinno Sumire's moon goddess like beauty, what surprised Hikari even more was her current behavior, which seemed anything but elegant.
Although Jinno Sumire looked devastatingly beautiful at this moment, two rosy clouds floated on her pretty face, and her body swayed continuously, like a fragile willow in the wind.
There was no doubt that everyone in the shrine at this time, including Hikari, would never have imagined that Jinno Sumire would be doing something like this inside the shrine.
Bathing while loosening her clothes inside the sacred shrine was one thing, but under the moonlight she actually showed no reverence at all and was dancing lightly.
As the head of the Jinno family and the noble priestess of Ino Shrine, Jinno Sumire was actually facing the moon and unleashing a big move, Moon Fang Heaven Piercer.
What shocked Hikari even more was that while unleashing this unique technique, Jinno Sumire was also calling out his name.
'This is just too wild.'
Seeing this unimaginable scene, even the usually calm Hikari felt a little dazed, not knowing what to do.
Jinno Sumire, who had originally been releasing her unique technique with her eyes closed in concentration, seemed to sense movement in the courtyard.
Her closed eyelids slowly opened, and her beautiful eyes, now filled with a pinkish glow, looked in Hikari's direction.
The moment she saw Hikari, it was as if she had been struck by lightning. Her entire body froze, and a trace of shock and clarity appeared in her eyes.
But very quickly, her eyes were once again filled with a crimson glow, staring at Hikari's handsome face and tall figure with surprise mixed with a hint of joy.
It seemed she had not expected that an illusion born of fantasy could feel so real, 'Is it because of the drug's effect?'
Her mind in a bit of chaos, Jinno Sumire did not think much further. She simply parted her cherry lips and called out to Hikari in a slightly hoarse voice.
"Hikari… come… come over here!"
"Aunt, are you calling me?", Hearing Jinno Sumire's call and noticing that her condition was clearly not quite right, Hikari hesitated slightly, but still walked toward her.
The water from the waterfall crashed onto Jinno Sumire's shoulders, and the splashing droplets had already scattered onto Hikari's face.
"Aunt Sumire…", Looking at Jinno Sumire staring blankly at him from such close range, Hikari was about to say something.
But the moment he opened his mouth, Jinno Sumire suddenly lunged forward and hugged him tightly.
"Quick… hurry!"
Hikari, who was already feeling uncomfortable because his clothes were soaked, suddenly heard Jinno Sumire's hoarse voice by his ear.
"Hurry with what?", Hikari asked.
"Hurry… I want… hurry…", Jinno Sumire's hoarse tone even carried a trace of pleading as she urged him.
"Aunt Sumire, are you sure?", Although Jinno Sumire did not say exactly what she wanted, in this situation, Hikari could guess what she was asking for.
After getting closer and observing Jinno Sumire's abnormal mental state, Hikari realized that she was likely poisoned. It was not the kind that completely robbed one of consciousness, but rather the kind that left some awareness while making it impossible to control one's emotions and actions. Coupled with Jinno Sumire's status, Hikari hesitated a little.
"Hurry up! Hurry up!", Faced with Hikari's question, Jinno Sumire did not answer, only continuing to urge him frantically, nonstop.
As she spoke, she held onto Hikari tightly.
The icy waterfall kept washing over them, and combined with Jinno Sumire's already soaked body pressing against him, Hikari quickly became completely drenched as well.
The rushing water continued to roar down. Perhaps because the water was too cold, Hikari could feel Jinno Sumire's body trembling constantly.
In such a situation, perhaps only each other's body heat could be considered warm.
Under these circumstances, Hikari could only raise his arms and hold Jinno Sumire in his embrace, leaning against each other for warmth.
As Jinno Sumire urged him again and again, under the moonlight, the two of them held each other tightly.
———
Moonlight flowed like water, the night as dark as ink.
In the pitch black courtyard, where only a single lantern gave off a faint glow, a gentle cool breeze brushed past. Jinno Ai, sitting quietly on a stone stool in the courtyard, felt a restless heat in her heart.
Because Hikari, who had just agreed to come back soon and accompany her home, had been gone for quite a while and still had not returned.
Jinno Ai, who was already quite patient, raised her delicate wrist and glanced at the watch ticking away.
"It feels like it's already been half an hour. Why hasn't Hikari-nii come back yet? What on earth is he talking about with Mother? Why is it taking so long?"
"He didn't get lost, did he?"
Jinno Ai felt a bit speechless and a bit worried.
She waited patiently for another seven or eight minutes, but still saw no sign of anyone.
She could not wait any longer. She stood up directly and walked in the direction Hikari had left.
When Jinno Ai had free time, she would occasionally work part time as a shrine maiden at Ino Shrine, so she naturally knew which side hall Hikari had gone to.
She walked quickly all the way through Ino Shrine, arrived at the side hall where Jinno Sumire usually worked, and pushed the door open directly.
"Huh? No one?"
Looking at the empty side hall, Jinno Ai frowned slightly, feeling a bit confused.
'How could there be no one? Where did Mother go?'
'If Mother is not here, then where did Hikari-nii go?'
Just as Jinno Ai was extremely puzzled and wondering whether she should leave first and go ask around outside.
She suddenly heard some movement coming from the courtyard next door.
She immediately walked toward the courtyard.
"Is anyone there?", Looking at the half closed courtyard door, Jinno Ai reached out to push it while cautiously asking.
Clang!
The courtyard door was only pushed open halfway before it would not move any further.
Just as Jinno Ai was about to speak in confusion, a voice came from behind the door.
"Ai?"
Jinno Ai immediately recognized the familiar voice as her mother Jinno Sumire's. Although it was slightly hoarse, she just assumed Jinno Sumire had been too busy today and was tired.
"Mother, it's me," Jinno Ai replied. As she tried to push the door open to talk face to face, she continued, "Mother, I have something I want to ask you."
But the door was only pushed open a little before being blocked again.
"Um… Ai, what do you want to do?", Jinno Sumire pressed half her body against the door, blocking it firmly.
"I have something I want to ask you. Let's go inside and talk, okay, Mother?", Jinno Ai looked at Jinno Sumire, who was only showing half her face behind the courtyard door, feeling puzzled.
"Ah… there's no need. Whatever it is, you can just say it here," Jinno Sumire said to Jinno Ai, biting her teeth lightly against her lips, her voice slightly hoarse.
The lights outside the courtyard had not been turned on. At this moment, dark clouds were gathering, and the moonlight was mostly blocked. The light outside the courtyard was not very good.
So Jinno Ai could only see most of Jinno Sumire's body pressing against the door, with just her head visible. Because of the poor lighting, she could not clearly see her mother's expression.
Although Jinno Sumire was usually very good to her, she could also be quite strict at times. So hearing Jinno Sumire speak like this, Jinno Ai did not dare say much.
She nodded and said, "Okay, Mother. I actually just wanted to ask if you know where Hikari-nii went."
"Hikari-nii told me earlier that he had something to come back and discuss with you, and then he would take me home."
"But I waited for him for a long time and didn't see him, so I came over to check. I didn't see him here either, so I wanted to ask you…", Jinno Ai explained carefully, afraid Jinno Sumire might misunderstand something.
"Ahn!", Just as Jinno Ai was about to finish explaining, Jinno Sumire suddenly let out a cry that was a bit louder, as if she had been startled by something.
"Hm?", Jinno Ai looked at her mother with a face full of confusion.
"Um… no, nothing! Um… nothing!", Jinno Sumire quickly shook her head and explained, "It's just that a bug suddenly came from behind and bit me. It startled me!"
Seeing Jinno Sumire acting a bit strange, Jinno Ai asked worriedly, "Mother, are you sick? Your voice sounds strange. Are you okay?"
Jinno Sumire blushed and lightly bit her lip as she explained, "No, no, I'm fine. I'm not sick, and nothing's wrong. It's just that I've been working day and night lately, too busy… so I'm a bit tired…"
"I see," Jinno Ai's eyes were full of concern, as if she still wanted to say something.
Jinno Sumire quickly interrupted, "Right… right! What was it you said you came to ask me just now? Was it about Hikari-kun?"
Jinno Ai nodded, "Yes. Hikari-nii said earlier that he came to find you, but I waited a long time and didn't see him. Have you seen him?"
"Didn't…", With her waist aching, Jinno Sumire subconsciously wanted to deny it, but then immediately changed her words, "Ah! I did see him. Yes, Hikari-kun did come to find me just now!"
Jinno Ai hurriedly asked, "Then where is Hikari-nii now? Where did he go?"
Jinno Sumire explained, "Um… he talked with me about something, and then said that something urgent suddenly came up today and he had to leave first. He asked me to pass the message to you. He said he had to go back first and would come find you another day to hang out… ahn… yes!"
"Is that so?", Hearing this, Jinno Ai's delicate brows knit slightly, clearly a bit dissatisfied.
"Why would I lie to you? Um… it's getting late. You… ahn! Anyway, hurry back and go to sleep. Take two bodyguards with you, understand… okay?", Jinno Sumire put on a stern expression and spoke seriously to Jinno Ai.
Although she did not know why Jinno Sumire was speaking in a somewhat broken and even stuttering way, Jinno Sumire usually lectured her like this.
So after hearing her words, Jinno Ai did not dare to argue. After responding obediently, she left in a gloomy mood.
After Jinno Ai left, Jinno Sumire finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Huff… ahn!"
Just as she had barely finished exhaling halfway, it seemed that some bug crawled onto her body again, frightening her into screaming loudly.
The courtyard gate was slammed so hard it banged loudly, and the entire courtyard was filled with the shrill screams of the usually noble and dignified chief priestess.
———
In Ino Village, several kilometers away from Ino Shrine, at the Asakawa residence.
Asakawa Aoi sat in the courtyard, gazing in the direction of Ino Shrine.
Seeing Ino Shrine still brightly lit in the night, Asakawa Aoi's brows furrowed tightly.
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