As a playful Tanuki, Ioroi naturally wouldn't run out alone and leave his other Tanuki sealed in stone statues.
Moreover, he was also the patriarch of the Tanuki clan, so he naturally wouldn't enjoy himself alone.
"You mean that~" Shiki deliberately drew out the end of her sentence, continuing to stroke Ioroi's belly as she said, "The seals on your Tanuki clan are all dependent on that talisman. You, as the main body, account for ninety percent of it. After the main body is destroyed, it won't be long before those small Tanuki also return to normal."
Ioroi: "Oh, is that so?"
Ioroi indicated that although he didn't understand, he was greatly shocked, so according to the girl's meaning, his dependents would be unsealed in a few days!
"So, can you shrink now? I still need to find a place to stay tonight."
The unspoken meaning was that he would scare others like this. Although Ioroi was a bit goofy, he wasn't so dense as to not understand that.
Besides, he had just promised the girl that he would shrink as long as his dependents were unsealed.
"Hehe! Then you better watch closely!"
Ioroi put his hands together, then jumped and did a backflip, and just as he was about to land, with a "boom" and a burst of smoke, he transformed into a normal-sized Tanuki.
As for the large bowl he originally held for drinking, it was now worn on his head like a hat, and of course, his iconic dark blue scarf was also present.
"Success! How's my transformation technique?" Ioroi put his hands on his hips in a very human-like manner, a look of smugness on his face.
However, Shiki felt that no matter what expression was on Ioroi's face, he always looked goofy, a complete and utter goofball.
"Wow, your size really did shrink!" Shiki let out a cute gasp. Coach, I want to learn this.
"That's natural! My transformation technique is second to none in Inazuma, no one dares to claim first, not even that stinky fox in front of this Youkai Tanuki... Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing!"
Shiki suddenly reached out and hugged Ioroi, then lifted him up like Simba in The Lion King.
"Even his weight became lighter, how truly wondrous."
"I said this Youkai Tanuki's transformation technique... No, no, quickly put me down!"
Saying that, Ioroi began to struggle, but as a woman who had tamed countless cats and dogs on Earth, did a mere Ioroi think he could break free?
Tanuki are also cats!
Shiki's thumb moved slightly, and Ioroi, the entire Tanuki, went limp.
"Up high!"
"Ah ah ah! How can this be!"
Ioroi gave up thinking.
As night fell, Hongda stood yawning at the gate of Kamisato Estate. Although as an acting Yashiro Commission, he shouldn't be like this, he couldn't help but be sleepy.
Summer was already prone to mosquitoes, and the Kamisato Clan was also located halfway up the mountain. Hongda felt like he was a person growing on a mosquito bite.
"Ugh... these damn mosquitoes, why are there such terrifying creatures in the world?"
Both sleepy and itchy, Hongda wanted to go back in time and slap himself. Why did he have to choose the night shift instead of the day shift? Was it really worth it for that bit of Mora?
Hongda grumbled, but then his eyes narrowed, and his hand gripped the hilt of his sword.
The weather was good today. Under the moonlight, Hongda vaguely saw a figure emerge from Chinju Forest. From the slender figure, it should be a female. Beside her was a...
Uh... Is that a Tanuki?
It was the first time Hongda had seen such a strange combination. Tanuki were not uncommon in Inazuma; in fact, they were everywhere.
Tanuki were not shy, and sometimes even played with humans, but being mischievous by nature, they would certainly not follow humans.
Of course, the real reason he was on alert was the katana at the woman's waist.
Wandering around someone's doorstep with a sword late at night would always raise suspicion, no matter what.
Under the moonlight, Hongda clearly saw the girl's face. Yes, she was very beautiful, no less so than the Young Miss, but this did not prevent him from remaining vigilant.
As a guard of the Kamisato Clan, he had the privilege of witnessing his Young Miss in action, so he knew full well that one's strength could never be judged by appearance or gender.
So, when they were about twenty meters apart, Hongda said in a serious tone, "Your Excellency, this is the Kamisato Estate. Please state your purpose."
"My destination is Grand Narukami Shrine, but I misjudged the travel time, so I hope to stay overnight at the Kamisato Clan's residence tonight."
"I will leave first thing tomorrow morning. I hope you can inform the internal staff."
Shiki kept her hands tucked into her wide sleeves, not on her sword, obviously to show that she had no ill intentions.
Indeed, Hongda visibly relaxed after seeing this, but to ensure safety, he still chose to inform his companions inside the estate while he continued to watch the girl.
"I've already notified them. As for whether you can stay overnight, that's not something a mere guard like me can decide," Hongda said, waving his hand.
The Yashiro Commission in Inazuma is in charge of civil affairs, and they generally do not directly refuse requests from ordinary citizens.
However, the matter of a person carrying a sword staying overnight at the Kamisato Clan's residence still required careful consideration.
"That's enough. Thank you."
Shiki said, taking out five hundred Mora from her purse and handing it to Hongda. It was only right, considering he had kindly informed the others on her behalf.
If one wanted to travel on the strange yet familiar roads of Teyvat, understanding social etiquette was very necessary.
One couldn't just follow the game's settings; people change, and conversations between people aren't limited to just a few options.
Hongda quietly accepted the Mora. Why was he on night duty? Wasn't it for money? If someone gave him money for free and he didn't take it, wouldn't he be a complete fool?
At the same time, inside the estate, Madarame Hyakubei was deep in thought. After a moment of consideration, he decided to inform the Young Miss.
He was merely a retainer of the Kamisato Clan, not the owner of this house. It was better for the Young Miss, as the owner, to decide on matters like temporary lodging.
He could suggest whether to keep or dismiss the person, but he absolutely could not make a decision on his own.
Thinking this, Madarame Hyakubei arrived outside Ayaka's room, knocked on the door, and said in a deep voice, "Young Miss Ayaka, there is something that requires your decision."
Ayaka, who was preparing for the festival inside the room, put down her brush, then gently rose and opened the door.
"What is it, Mr. Hyakubee?"
A soft voice rang out. This was the Shiratsuyu Princess; even just listening to her speak was a pleasure.
"It's like this..." Madarame Hyakubei briefly explained the situation of someone requesting to stay overnight.