Yae Miko was frazzled, which was somewhat unexpected for Shiki, but it is said that animals' sixth sense is stronger than humans', so could it be because of this?
Shiki could clearly see the lines of death on Yae Miko's body, lines like graffiti covering her entire being. In other words, in front of Shiki, Yae Miko could shatter into pieces the next second, which is why she was frazzled.
Shiki's eyes returned to deep brown. Seeing this, Yae Miko finally let out a long sigh of relief. This was the first time she had experienced such a situation in over five hundred years of life.
What great storms hasn't she seen? (x)
She really hasn't seen this storm. (√)
"Still want to see?"
"No, no, no."
Yae Miko quickly shook her head. The feeling just now was too terrifying. It was as if she wasn't being stared at by a person, but by some terrifying monster.
Yae Miko glanced at the girl with lingering fear, then disappeared from her sight.
At this point, Shiki's initial goal could be said to have been achieved. This Fox was very shrewd; revealing her situation would only cause her trouble.
Given Yae Miko's intelligence-gathering abilities, she couldn't possibly not know that Kujou Masahito was looking for Shiki.
Moreover, Shiki also had a light novel published at Yae Publishing House, so as long as Yae Miko didn't act up, she wouldn't tell Kujou Masahito her address.
Perhaps after the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, Yae Miko would even go to the Kujou Clan to warn them, so as to pull Shiki, this powerful helper, into her own camp.
Of course, these were just Shiki's guesses. She no longer cared about Kujou Masahito.
On the other side, Yae Miko, who was conversing with Ioroi, suddenly changed her expression. The consciousness she had just split off seemed to have seen something incredible…
Seeing Yae Miko's expression change, Ioroi quickly stood up and said, "What's wrong? I'm telling you, there's no way this ward has a problem. After I stole it, I carefully protected it!"
"The ward isn't the problem. Where did you meet such a… uh, peculiar person?"
Yae Miko didn't dare to continue probing Shiki, so she could only try to subtly extract information from the simpleton Ioroi.
However, the usually simple-minded Ioroi was now very cunning, playing dumb to the extreme, giving off a feeling of great wisdom hidden beneath foolishness.
"How else would we have met? We met in Chinju Forest!"
"You know I was sealed and couldn't move at all, then she passed through Chinju Forest, and we met. It's that simple!"
'Heh heh!'
Yae Miko didn't believe a word of Ioroi's nonsense. The place where Ioroi was sealed was very secluded; who would deliberately choose a remote path?
She must have first studied various ancient books to find out about Ioroi's existence, then through clues in Chinju Forest, arrived at the sealed place, and finally used those terrifying eyes to forcibly break the seal.
However, in reality, Yae Miko had truly overthought it, because Shiki really did just pass through Chinju Forest and coincidentally broke Ioroi's seal.
Well, in a sense, Ioroi's nonsense was actually true.
"Alright, let's get back to the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual. It can be entrusted to you, but I need Inagi Hotomi to accompany you."
Yae Miko was still a bit uneasy. If Ioroi messed up, there would be someone to stall for time so she could rush to the scene.
As for going with them? She absolutely wouldn't. Isn't it better to lie in the shrine, eat sweet desserts, and read light novel?
Speaking of which, that book "faded" hasn't been updated for over a month. She needs to find time to have Kuroda urge for updates.
However, at this moment, Yae Miko didn't know that the author of "faded" was currently standing under the Divine Sakura.
Ioroi had no objection to Yae Miko's arrangement, so the matter of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was settled: Ioroi would be the main force, and Inagi Hotomi would provide support.
Of course, there was also his partner, Shiki. He seemed to have rashly dragged her into trouble.
"Sorry for getting you involved." Ioroi apologized, feeling very embarrassed.
"It's fine, I also have some things to do." Shiki gently shook her head and said.
She was more than familiar with the process of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual. She remembered spending an entire afternoon on it when she first started.
Especially that strange incantation; the last line was actually "Fried Tofu, come quickly," which was too casual!
At this moment, Kazuha walked out of the side hall.
"Did everything go smoothly?"
"Quite smoothly. Next, we need to clear the corruption at the bottom of Mt. Yougou. Since it's quite troublesome and requires traveling all over Narukami Island, we won't bother you."
Although Shiki really wanted to pull Kazuha into the team, they had only known each other for two days, and Shiki really couldn't bring herself to ask.
"Haha, this journey has also been quite fruitful for me. If you need help, come find me at the Konomi Teahouse. I've recently become quite fond of their home-cooked food, and it would be a good opportunity to introduce my dear friend to you."
Kazuha said with a smile, then changed the subject, asking somewhat uncertainly, "The scent of electro element?"
Kazuha initially thought it was his own illusion, because the other party did not have a Vision, and the aura of Lightning had only just appeared a short while ago.
But after carefully sensing it, he realized that it was not an illusion, but...
"This is the biggest gain today. Speaking of which, I might need to get a fake Vision."
Shiki spread out her fair right hand, and then golden lightning condensed into a yin-yang fish symbol in her palm.
"This... this is too amazing! You clearly don't have a Vision!" Kazuha's eyes widened.
"That's why I need a fake one. Being too special isn't good in this nation of eternity," Shiki said.
"Emmm, regarding this, I don't have anyone to recommend yet. How about this: while you're performing the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, I'll help you look for one in Inazuma City. Maybe I'll find it."
"That sounds great! Let's part ways here today. If you need anything, come find me in Konda Village. Let's go, Ioroi, I'm taking you out for a big meal!"
After Shiki finished speaking, she called out to Ioroi, activated the Waypoint at Grand Narukami Shrine, and then walked down the mountain path.
Kazuha, on the other hand, first drew a fortune slip. Seeing that his fortune was good, he smiled faintly, then leaped down from beside the Sacred Sakura Tree, unfurled his Wind Glider, and drifted into the distance with the breeze.
On the mountain path, Shiki asked, "Oh right, I haven't asked yet, how have you and Yae Miko arranged the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual?"
Ioroi: "We'll be the main force, and then the little fox will send a shrine maiden to assist us. The meeting time is 3 PM the day after tomorrow, right at the entrance of Kamisato Estate."
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