"Let me try my tachi!"
A dark red, translucent Kairagi slowly emerged from the Otorii Gate. The power it displayed was completely different from the one she first encountered after crossing over.
"Mere defilement!"
Shiki drew Kujikanesada. Her rainbow-blue intertwined Mystic Eyes of Death Perception were already open, and several blackened lines of death began to appear on the defiled Kairagi' body.
Was it worthy of being defilement that had existed for five hundred years? Although there were lines of death on its body, compared to the still-human Kairagi, there were far too few.
"Fall down!"
The defiled Kairagi shrieked, leaping high into the air from the ground. The nodachi in its hand swung down heavily from above. Shiki's eyes narrowed; this Kairagi was even faster than Uncle Tejima!
Clang!
Shiki blocked with her tachi. The immense force made her tiger's mouth tingle, especially her left hand, which was pressed against the back of the blade, and had even started bleeding.
"Tch!"
electro element light emerged from around Shiki, and the violent electro element pushed the Kairagi back a short distance. At the same time, Ioroi returned to his true form and ran over with heavy thuds.
"Get out of here!"
Ioroi kicked the defiled Kairagi against the wall. Seeing this, Shiki infused Kujikanesada with electro element, making it enter light saber mode, and then threw it at the Kairagi.
"#%*!"
The defiled Kairagi let out a piercing shriek that was not human-like. Clearly, this blow did not feel good.
After throwing Kujikanesada, Shiki did not give the defiled Kairagi a chance to breathe. Violent electro element appeared in her hand, and then her right hand formed a blade, passing through the Kairagi' chest along the lines of death.
"Things that are already dead shouldn't continue to harm the world!"
The defiled Kairagi slowly dissipated. Shiki removed Kujikanesada, which was stuck in the wall, let out a long breath, and sheathed her tachi.
The strength of the Kairagi formed by defilement was somewhat beyond her expectation. Sure enough, non-human entities must be countered with non-human power.
"So, so amazing! I feel like I didn't help at all..." Inagi Hotomi said with a somewhat downcast expression.
"Don't say that. The ritual afterward still needs you to force out the defilement." Shiki comforted the little Shrine Maiden. Is there anything more convenient than being able to connect all the patterns with a single "Open"?
"Hmm... So many of the talismans I brought haven't been used. Never mind, I'll give you all the rest. Anyway, I'll have to bring another pile when I come out tomorrow."
Inagi Hotomi said, stuffing all the talismans from her bag into Shiki's hands, leaving only the Clear Wind Talismans for ascending the mountain.
"Oh, right, Miss Ryougi, can you send me to Kamisato Estate...?"
"Are you sure? Just to Kamisato Estate? I can send you directly to Grand Narukami Shrine," Shiki asked.
"Uh... Then just send me directly to Grand Narukami Shrine."
Inagi Hotomi didn't even think about it. Why climb a mountain when you can teleport? Even with the help of the clear wind, it's still very tiring, isn't it?
"Alright, then let's go up."
Shiki and the others returned the way they came. There was a slight accident when climbing the well; there was no ladder on the well wall at all. Ioroi and Shiki had to exert a lot of effort to send Inagi Hotomi up.
"Ugh! Why does the Great Cleansing Ritual have to be in a place like this!"
Using talismans in such a place was truly overkill, so to get up from below, one could only inch upwards by leaning against the well wall.
As for giving them to others, she didn't think it was a big deal, as she hadn't contributed any effort during the ritual.
"Then you'll have to ask the electro element Sakura Tree why its roots grew here."
Shiki said, patting the footprints on her kimono. Hmm, they were accidentally stepped on by Inagi Hotomi when she was being sent up.
Inagi Hotomi looked at the shoe prints on the girl's clothes, and her face couldn't help but blush. This was too embarrassing. Not only did she not help, but she also left shoe prints on someone's clothes.
"Never mind, never mind. Let's go back to Grand Narukami Shrine first. I need to report the ritual's situation to Guuji Yae."
"Mm, Ioroi, you go home and wait for me for a bit. I'll be right back," Shiki said.
"No problem!" Ioroi gave the girl a thumbs-up, then scurried back.
Shiki then took Inagi Hotomi and directly teleported to Grand Narukami Shrine, and then again to the entrance of Chinju Forest.
"Come out, it's just me here."
As soon as she finished speaking, Hana Sanri's figure slowly condensed before Shiki.
"It seems the first defilement has been purified by you." As the consciousness of defilement, Hana Sanri could naturally feel her own condition.
"It's been resolved, and very thoroughly."
Defilement killed by the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception had no possibility of regenerating, unless this land experienced another disaster.
"That's good..." Hana Sanri said.
Shiki opened her Mystic Eyes of Death Perception and looked behind Hana Sanri. That line of death had become much clearer. Perhaps after clearing one or two more defilements, she could truly sever Hana Sanri's connection with the defilement.
Sure enough, it was better to leave this fox mask for Hana Sanri to wear herself. She wasn't suited to wear such a thing.
"Tomorrow, we will go to clear the second defilement. Remember to hide well and don't come out then."
Undoubtedly, the Shrine Maiden of Grand Narukami Shrine had the ability to clear defilement. Shiki didn't want to find Hana Sanri gone after she finished clearing the defilement.
"Let's go!"
After returning to Konda Village, Shiki pulled Ioroi and began to search for the ward needed for the second ritual.
This was also a signal from Hana Sanri: I'm going to take the ward from this location, so quickly go hide somewhere else and don't come out.
With Ioroi's help, Shiki quickly arrived at the ruined shrine. She remembered this thing had stalled her progress for a long time in the game.
But now...
Shiki walked directly to the Tenko Statue and directly cut the line of death on the Kotodama seal.
The ward also fell from the Tenko Statue, only last time it was shaped like a gohei, this time it was simply a gohei.
"Done, Ioroi, let's go back!" Shiki said, picking up the ward.
Ioroi hesitated for a moment and said, "...Shiki, why don't you go back first? I feel that all our clansmen have come out of the seal. I'll stay in Chinju Forest tonight."
Oh, it's fine. If you want to stay, then stay. But remember to meet at the anchor point tomorrow afternoon.
No problem!
Shiki didn't mind Ioroi's request. If he wanted to go back, he could. Just don't forget the important stuff.
Ioroi had helped her a great deal in clearing the filth. If he hadn't kicked the filthy Kairagi onto the wall, she would have had a prolonged battle.
As for that little Miko, Shiki felt it would be a blessing if she didn't accidentally injure her.
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