"...It seems our luck is good?"
As soon as they landed, Inagi Hotomi saw the coachman feeding his horse from a distance.
"Yes, by universal reason, indeed." Shiki nodded, then walked towards the coachman.
"Going to Araumi?"
"Araumi? What are you doing in that godforsaken place?"
"Fifty thousand Mora. One word, are you going or not?"
Shiki took out a pouch of Mora and threw it on the table. The clinking of metal made the coachman's eyes widen instantly.
But thinking of the rampant monsters in Araumi and the Treasure Hoarders who could ambush them at any time, he hesitated again.
"I have a Vision. I'll be responsible for safety along the way."
Shiki said, and a golden current appeared in her hand. Seeing this, the coachman gritted his teeth and said, "Add twenty thousand more, and I'll take you!"
"Alright, I'll pay you seventy thousand Mora and guarantee your safety on the journey, and you need to take us to Araumi."
"However, the remaining twenty thousand will be paid when we arrive. Consider it a guarantee, so you don't abandon us halfway."
Although fifty thousand as a deposit seemed a bit odd, it didn't matter. As for a Vision? Where would she get one of those? Saying so was merely to display her power to the coachman.
"Miss Ryougi, this carriage fare will be covered by Grand Narukami Shrine," Inagi Hotomi said.
"No need, it's just a bit of Mora."
Shiki shook her head. "Faded" was already popular in Inazuma, and as a bestselling author, she was not short on money at all.
When she said this, Inagi Hotomi didn't think much of it, but the coachman was filled with regret. If only he had known she was a rich woman not short on money, he would have asked for more Mora.
But now that the price was agreed upon, if he raised it again, he wouldn't be able to make a living anymore.
Coachmen valued their reputation. If he broke his word, would anyone ever ride with him again?
He was also someone who valued his life; there was no way he would drive an unregistered carriage to a place overrun by monsters!
Like this trip to Araumi, if it weren't for the client having a Vision, he wouldn't have gone!
"Can we leave now?"
"Wait a bit longer. The journey to Araumi isn't short; the horses need to eat their fill," the coachman shook his head. It would be embarrassing if the horses collapsed from hunger on the roadside.
"Alright, then we'll wait."
Shiki wasn't short on time. Once they reached Araumi, she would immediately activate the Waypoint, and then returning would be easy.
...
An hour later, the group arrived in Araumi by carriage.
Of course, things weren't entirely uneventful along the way, but luckily, they only encountered Hilichurls, all of whom Shiki easily dealt with.
Initially, the coachman drove cautiously, but after seeing the girl's powerful abilities, he gradually relaxed. The speed increased, and they quickly arrived in Araumi.
"Ladies, you've arrived in Araumi. By the way, when are we heading back? I always charge for round trips," the coachman asked with a grin.
It was a joke; there was no way he actually charged for round trips. He only said that purely because the other party could protect his life!
As for why he said "ladies," the little Tanuki lying in the arms of the shrine maiden was naturally ignored by him.
If he went back alone, who knew if he would be attacked by Hilichurls again, or perhaps unluckily run into Treasure Hoarders?
"Round trip?"
Shiki looked at the coachman with a half-smile. How could she not discern the coachman's clumsy lie? But if she could get a free ride, she would let him have his way.
The coachman's forehead broke out in cold sweat under her gaze, and he only relaxed when the girl spoke.
"That's fine too. See that broken Sakura Tree? You wait for us there. Whenever we come out, we can go back."
"Alright, alright, no problem!" The coachman nodded quickly. OK, his life was saved!
The coachman drove towards the broken Sakura Tree, while Shiki jumped out of the carriage, carrying Ioroi.
"Apply a buff, I'm going to activate the Waypoint."
"Done, go quickly and come back quickly." Ioroi waved his hands, and a gentle breeze enveloped the girl.
Using the electro element to greatly increase a person's speed and jumping height, in the game, it would be a buff that allowed everyone to perform the Purifying Evil Dance.
Tiny golden electric arcs wrapped around the girl's body. The electro element enhancement combined with the Wind element acceleration produced an effect far exceeding 1+1=2.
Shiki leaped ten meters high with a light jump, scaling a small hill of over a hundred meters in less than half a minute. Or perhaps, "running" would be a more fitting description.
After activating the Waypoint, Shiki did not return the way she came, but instead jumped directly from the top.
In this situation, Shiki could only exclaim: Wind Glider, my superman!
After landing softly, Shiki brushed off non-existent dust from her clothes and said casually, "Yo, let's go to the Sakura Tree too!"
"Hmm, but speaking of which, Shiki, what's that big guy over there?" Ioroi said, pointing to the Ruin Guard inside the Thunder Sphere barrier.
"That?"
Shiki looked a bit surprised. Ruin Guards were common in the game, but Ioroi didn't know what they were. Could this mean that Five hundred years ago, these things didn't exist?
The Ruin Guard's original name was Ploughing Machine. It was a war machine manufactured by Khaenri'ah. Since it didn't exist five hundred years ago, is its appearance here related to the war that the Seven Archons participated in?
"That thing is called a Ploughing Machine. It originated from an ancient, destroyed kingdom and is a type of war robot."
"A war machine? Then why is it called a Ploughing Machine? Shouldn't a Ploughing Machine be used for farming?" Ioroi asked, confused.
"You're right, but if you compare the enemy country's territory to farmland, won't you understand?"
"I certainly understand now. Then its appearance in Inazuma means..."
"Ioroi, it's enough to know some things in your heart. Speaking them aloud might bring trouble."
Shiki interrupted Ioroi. If they spoke of things that even the Seven Archons dared not mention, who knows if the Heavenly Principles might suddenly appear before them.
And then say something like, 'Foreigners, your journey ends here,' beat her up severely, and then seal her away.
"Let's go. What we need to do now is the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual, right?"
"Ah, right, right, the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual." Ioroi nodded and followed the girl's steps to the broken Sakura tree.
At this moment, Inagi Hotomi had already completed part of the puzzle, freeing the previously sealed Electro Element Monument.
"Miss Ryougi, based on my simple judgment, the ritual spot for the Cleansing is underground beneath this Sakura tree, and the way to enter seems to be by lighting up these element Monuments."
"It's fortunate that you use the Electro element, otherwise we would have to find someone else."
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