While speaking, Yae Miko had already stepped into the water. Due to the buoyancy, her bathrobe floated up uncontrollably.
However, because of the dim lighting and the water's refraction, Lucas couldn't see clearly—he could only make out a vague silhouette. But even so, the visual impact was already strong enough.
Fortunately, Lucas had just finished helping Raiden Mai with her system upgrade and was once again in a post-clarity state. Even if he couldn't achieve complete serenity of mind, at least he wouldn't act too impulsively.
"But…" Lucas asked in confusion, "aren't you the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine? Do you really need to wash away impurities too?"
"Of course I have special privileges. Otherwise, if work got busy and I had to frequently enter and exit the shrine, wouldn't I be wasting most of my time just bathing?" Yae Miko smiled slightly. "I just suddenly felt like soaking for a bit, is that not allowed?"
Lucas gave a somewhat helpless smile and said, "It's your place, of course it's your call."
"By the way, where's Mai?" Yae Miko looked around and finally noticed Raiden Mai upgrading in the corner. She smiled and asked, "Why doesn't she join us?"
"She… she's too tired," Lucas quickly made an excuse. "So she wants to rest for a bit."
"What a pity… cough, I mean, that's too bad," Yae Miko narrowed her eyes. "Looks like it's just the two of us for some girl talk."
At some point, Yae Miko had already moved right in front of Lucas. He could even smell the faint fragrance emanating from her body.
"Maybe… maybe we should talk outside," Lucas said awkwardly.
"Why go outside?" Yae Miko teased. "Is there a problem here?"
"Because I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back."
To her surprise, Lucas came straight out with it this time. He said seriously, "Miko, you underestimate your own charm. If this keeps up, I might lose control and force myself on you. But you're so powerful… if you resist, I'd be a dead man."
Previously, when Lucas kept dodging and glancing around, Yae Miko could tease him endlessly. But now that he laid everything out bluntly, even Yae Miko's face turned red, and her heart began to race.
This serious face while saying shameless things—he was exactly like Harunosuke.
No, he was Harunosuke!
As for Lucas, while his post-clarity state could help suppress impulses, with his physical condition, the cooldown might not last long. Staying here any longer was far too risky.
Just as he was about to get up, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. His body instinctively leaned backward, but just before he fell into the water, the back of his head was gently supported.
"Hey, are you okay?" Yae Miko whispered into his ear. "Soaking too long made you dizzy?"
That shouldn't be possible.
With his physical resilience, soaking for even longer, or sleeping in this pool, shouldn't be an issue.
Does the blood of the Vortex Demon God mean nothing?
Then why the sudden dizziness?
Could the bathhouse be laced with a sleep-inducing incense?
No, Lucas was highly knowledgeable in pharmacology. When he entered the bath earlier, he had noticed a faint exotic scent. But that was just an incense called "Jade Amber Essence"—non-toxic—so he hadn't paid it any mind.
Lucas took a subtle sniff and realized the scent was also coming from Yae Miko. It seemed the two fragrances had mixed to create a dizzying effect. Even with his high resistance, after inhaling too much, he was struggling to hold on.
"I… I'm fine…" Though he said so, Lucas had already gone limp and collapsed onto Yae Miko.
"Look at you, saying things like you'd force yourself on me…" Yae Miko chuckled softly. "But I might not resist, you know…"
Honestly, if Lucas had been ambushed by an enemy, he would've summoned his willpower and shaken off the drowsiness.
But Yae Miko's tenderness made him instinctively drop his guard.
"I'll take you up, give you a little head massage. How's that sound?" she whispered into his ear.
Lucas, feeling like he was floating among clouds, nodded without thinking.
Yae Miko smirked quietly, glanced again at the still-upgrading Raiden Mai, and then led Lucas out of the pool, laying him on a wooden bed nearby.
These wooden beds were usually used by shrine maidens for massages. To Lucas, they felt a bit cramped, but he could still lie down with some effort.
Looking at the defenseless "old acquaintance" before her, Yae Miko couldn't help but feel a bit nervous.
"Though I really wanted to wait until you admitted who you were before making you make up for these five hundred lost years…" A trace of ambiguous violet glowed in Yae Miko's eyes as she murmured, "But checking things out in advance shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Naturally, Lucas couldn't respond to Yae Miko's question. If it had been an ordinary person exposed to this much incense, they'd have passed out long ago and wouldn't wake for at least a day or two. The fact that Lucas could stay barely conscious was already impressive.
In this state of half-dream and half-awareness, it was the perfect time for Yae Miko to act.
"Forgive me, Lady Kitsune Saiguu…" Yae Miko smiled slyly. "Since I worked so hard to lure him into the Grand Narukami Shrine, I won't be polite with this first bite of 'fried tofu'!"
With that, the pink-haired fox's lips curved slightly.
Ten minutes later.
"H-How could this be?"
Looking at the generous-sized yet completely limp fried tofu before her, Yae Miko's face was filled with confusion. She muttered, "Could it be that five hundred years of abstinence has dulled my technique? Or maybe the incense was too strong and affected his body…"
Yae Miko had thought she could sneak a bite while Lucas was knocked out. Who would've thought the guy would be so… uncooperative?
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something. She sniffed again, then puffed up in frustration.
"That scent… don't tell me he already… Damn that post-clarity again! I was one step too late?"
That's right. Even though most of it had been absorbed by Raiden Mai's body, her canine sense of smell still caught a faint trace of a very familiar scent.
No wonder, after all her effort, he didn't react at all!
This guy, pulling this trick on me again!
Who the hell enters post-clarity mode twice before noon!
If this "ambush" hadn't been a spur-of-the-moment idea by Yae Miko, she might have suspected he'd timed it deliberately to leave her hanging.
She sniffed again. Based on the scent's intensity, she calculated the last time had ended less than ten minutes ago.
Logically speaking, recovering that quickly would indeed be difficult.
At this point, Yae Miko still didn't know the full extent of Lucas's capabilities. But from what she could observe, he probably wasn't at Harunosuke's peak level—though he was likely still a top-tier fighter.
If he had possessed Harunosuke's full strength, a ten-minute recovery would've been more than enough.
The man before her, whether in appearance or scent, was identical to the Harunosuke in her memories. Remembering their passionate nights five centuries ago, the little fox couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration.
Humans were like this sometimes. Even after waiting five hundred years, there were moments when patience ran thin.
"Oh well, nothing to be done about it…" Yae Miko sighed helplessly. "Luck never seems to be on my side…"
With that, she leaned down, cradling Lucas's hand and brushing it against her cheek, as if transported back to a lazy afternoon five hundred years ago—when Harunosuke sat in the courtyard, sipping fresh tea while idly stroking her fox ears with his fingers.
Even the texture of his fingers felt exactly like Harunosuke-sama's…
Lost in nostalgia, Yae Miko absentmindedly traced the ridges of Lucas's fingertips. If Teyvat had fingerprint identification technology, she might've been able to confirm his identity right then and there.
Wait… fingers.
That's right—fingers!
Suddenly, Yae Miko's eyes lit up as she stared at Lucas's slender digits, a faint blush dusting her cheeks.
Though they couldn't compare in size, they were still a part of Harunosuke-sama.
"Well, consider this a substitute," Yae Miko purred, licking her lips. "Let me feel your touch… one more time."
Just as the pink-haired fox was about to "reward" herself, she glanced once more at Raiden Mai, still seated motionless in the pool, deep in system upgrade mode. Her lips curled into a mischievous smile as she murmured, "Why don't you join in too?"
With a snap of her fingers, Raiden Mai's body levitated gently from the water, landing beside her.
Since she was merely "shut down" rather than unconscious, Raiden Mai remained upright even without support.
"Now then…" Yae Miko traced a finger along Raiden Mai's cheek, grinning. "I'm going to enjoy this man you're so fond of—right in front of you."
Of course, Raiden Mai didn't react. However, her sensory link with Ei, far away in Tenshukaku, remained active.
But shared senses only worked if the corresponding organs were functional. For Ei to see through Raiden Mai's eyes, for instance, Mai would need to have them open.
Which meant Ei currently saw nothing—she could only hear Yae Miko's voice.
"Here we go~"
As Yae Miko's sultry whisper faded, the next sound transmitted to Ei through the sensory link was a strange, wet squelching noise—like a seafood vendor expertly prying open a clam and cleaning its flesh.
"Damn it!"
Ei slammed her fist onto the table in fury. The priceless ebony desk before her shattered instantly under the force of her thunderous rage, splinters scattering across the floor.
Meanwhile, Kujou Sara, who had been mid-report, flinched violently, her dark slimes bouncing in alarm.
"The Kanjou Commission's embezzlement is indeed despicable," Sara said quickly, bowing her head. She had served the Shogun long enough to remain composed. "But Your Excellency need not anger yourself so—it may harm your health."
"Hmph. The Foreign Affairs Agency, was it? Investigate them! Thoroughly!" Ei's voice was icy. "That woman, Yuriha, and every official tied to her—leave none untouched!"
In truth, Ei had long been aware of corruption among her officials. But between her pursuit of eternity and her recent focus on forging the Statue of the Omnipresent God, she had little energy to spare.
Moreover, she knew such issues could never be fully eradicated. As long as things weren't too egregious, she often turned a blind eye for the sake of stability.
But this time, the Foreign Affairs Agency's fees had crossed the line. Combined with Ei's current fury, they were doomed. Some might call it bad luck.
As the saying goes, one man's misfortune is another's gain. Though Sara, hailing from the Tenryou Commission, took no joy in the Kanjou Commission's downfall, she wasn't displeased either. She nodded firmly. "Understood. I will see to it immediately."
"Wait." Ei suddenly raised a hand. "I… have another task for you."
Another task?
Though puzzled, Sara bowed again. "Your orders, Almighty Shogun?"
Ahem. Ei hesitated briefly before speaking. "I am sending you to the Grand Narukami Shrine for several days."
"The Grand Narukami Shrine?" Sara frowned. "For what purpose?"
Ei could swap consciousness with Raiden Mai, but time was limited. Her real motive for sending Sara was to keep an eye on Lucas—to prevent Yae Miko from making a move. But she couldn't say that outright. Instead, she offered: "The Irodori Festival approaches. Your presence will ensure the shrine's preparations proceed smoothly… and that Yae Miko doesn't do anything unseemly."
Sara suppressed a sigh. Since when had the Guuji ever behaved? Not even the Shogun could rein her in completely.
But orders were orders. "Understood. I shall depart at once."
"No need to rush," Ei said coolly. "You've been busy. Rest first."
Although it was just a casual remark from Raiden Ei, it warmed Kujou Sara's heart. She almost wanted to drop to her knees in gratitude for the Shogun's recognition. Yet, her expression remained unmoved as she simply replied, "Thank you for your concern, Shogun."
After speaking, she slowly stepped back and left. As soon as she departed, Raiden Ei reconnected her consciousness with Raiden Mai.
She still couldn't see anything—only sounds could be heard.
The strange noises were growing louder. If earlier it was like scrubbing a clam by hand, now it was more like aggressively scrubbing a geoduck.
What in the world is that girl doing?
For the first time, Raiden Ei felt a sensation akin to being on edge, but no matter how she called out to Raiden Mai, there was no response. Perhaps the system had entered its scheduled sleep mode.
Indeed, although Puppets didn't need sleep, prolonged operation would inevitably lead to certain issues. So normally, after a period of activity, a Puppet would enter a self-sleep cycle—both to clear redundant memory and to give the body some rest.
During such times, even Raiden Ei couldn't force a restart command.
If not for her current position, she would have rushed to the Grand Narukami Shrine herself to find out exactly what was going on.
"Damn it, truly infuriating..."
Grumbling under her breath, Raiden Ei stuffed a few more pieces of the sweets Yae Miko had gifted her into her mouth, completely ignoring the overwhelming sweetness and the calories they contained.
Sometimes, Raiden Shogun herself would wonder whether Ei created her in pursuit of eternity—or just so she could indulge in snacking without restraint. After all, Puppets didn't gain weight.
...
Meanwhile, at the Grand Narukami Shrine, by the Purification Pool—
"Wake up…"
With a gentle shake, Lucas slowly opened his eyes, only to see Raiden Mai standing before him, lightly rocking his body.
"Ugh…" Lucas sat up and rubbed his forehead, still feeling a bit dizzy, muttering, "Why was I lying here? Right, where's Yae Miko…"
"She's not here at all," Raiden Mai narrowed her eyes slightly and said, "Why? Were you hoping to bathe with her?"
Lucas glanced around. Yae Miko was indeed nowhere to be seen. Could it be that everything that happened earlier was just a hallucination brought on by soaking too long in the hot spring?
Wait—what's this?
He instinctively raised his hand and felt a slick sensation on his fingertips. Bringing them to his nose, he caught a strange, indescribable fragrance. He gave them a quick lick—salty with a hint of sweetness.
Could this be the lingering trace from when he helped reboot Raiden Mai's system?
No, that wasn't her usual scent…
"Mai," Lucas waved her over, "Come here a sec."
Although somewhat puzzled, Raiden Mai still walked over and asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Don't move," Lucas said without another word, then reached out and inserted his finger into her USB port. After scraping around a bit, he pulled it out and sniffed again before nodding. "As I thought, the scent's different."
"You…"
Raiden Mai's face flushed red at Lucas's sudden action. She instinctively raised her palm and brought it down hard. "What are you doing!?"
With Lucas's reflexes, it was of course impossible for him to not dodge in time—but he didn't even try.
He knew Raiden Mai's strength very well. As a non-combat-type Puppet, her power should be around the level of an ordinary Vision bearer—not enough to even break through his defenses…
Right?
Wait—why does my face hurt so much?
Why is Mai suddenly upside down?
Before Lucas could even process what was happening, he was already sent flying several meters away. One side of his face had visibly swollen.
"S-sorry!" Realizing she'd gone too far, Raiden Mai quickly helped him up, guilt flashing in her eyes. "Master, are you alright?"
If anything, he was physically fine. With Lucas's current resistance level, even if Raiden Ei herself gave him a smack, he'd probably still be standing. But the sudden spike in Raiden Mai's strength still surprised him. He murmured, "You really… did get stronger?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself," Raiden Mai looked down at her hands, her expression a bit dazed. She mumbled, "While the system upgrade has indeed completed, I don't have enough data yet to verify it."
"In simple terms, you need an actual fight to see how much stronger you've gotten, right?" Lucas stroked his chin with a smile. "If that's the case, I'll spar with you. We can treat it as a test."
"Right now?" Raiden Mai asked, puzzled.
"What else?" Lucas laughed. "You're supposed to be my bodyguard, after all. If people saw me beating you out there, they'd definitely find it strange. When does the boss beat the bodyguard?"
Having been with Lucas for a long time, he spoke freely around her. He was entirely unaware that this Puppet, created by Raiden Ei, shared her creator's stubborn unwillingness to lose.
"Very well," Raiden Mai replied coldly. "But I won't be holding back."
"A proper test requires full strength," Lucas nodded. "Come at me with everything you've got."
With that, Lucas touched the wooden bed beside him and whispered, "Alchemy."
With a brief flash of light, a hollow opened in the center of the wooden frame. In Lucas's hand appeared two simple wooden swords, one of which he tossed to Raiden Mai.
Crafting this level of item with alchemy was a trivial matter for him.
The moment Raiden Mai caught the sword, she charged forward without giving Lucas a moment to react, taking several steps in an instant.
Due to her sudden movement, her bathrobe flew off, and Lucas's eyes involuntarily tracked the sway of her figure, briefly distracted.
So fast!
Compared to before, Raiden Mai was clearly much faster. In a flash, she was in front of Lucas, her wooden sword already slashing down. Though there was no trace of lightning, it carried the force of a thunderclap—almost like a "young Raiden Shogun."
With a sharp clang, Lucas blocked the strike with his wooden sword, smiling as he said, "Not bad at all!"
How could this be?
Raiden Mai was slightly shocked. Her full-force strike had actually been blocked so effortlessly?
In truth, "effortlessly" was only Raiden Mai's own assumption. The reality was that Lucas, who had blocked the strike with one hand, could now faintly feel his palm tingling from the impact.
Fortunately, Raiden Mai didn't have a Vision. If she could wield Electro power like Raiden Shogun, the force of that blow would likely have been much stronger.
Lucas made a rough assessment in his mind. At this moment, Raiden Mai's strength was likely already comparable to Keqing of the Liyue Qixing. Just one "system upgrade" had brought such a massive improvement—if she upgraded a few more times, wouldn't she be sky-high in power?
"It's not over yet!"
Raiden Mai twisted her body, using the momentum from her rotation to slash again. Her sword techniques were mostly copied from Raiden Ei's combat data. While she hadn't yet reached full mastery through real battle experience, they were already extraordinary. Even Lucas, despite his extensive combat experience, found himself struggling a bit.
Aside from Raiden Ei's swordsmanship being quite advanced, the bigger issue was that Raiden Mai was currently "lightly dressed"—Lucas's gaze kept getting unintentionally drawn away, which caused him to fall behind.
No wonder in those games, the less fabric female characters wore, the higher their defense stats. Wearing less effectively applies a "hit rate debuff" to enemies—wasn't that basically a defense boost?
"Why aren't you fighting back?" Raiden Mai continued swinging her sword, frowning as she asked, "Does my current strength still not warrant your counterattack?"
"I'm just waiting for the right moment," Lucas narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Like… now."
A dim black light flickered in his eyes—that was the long-sealed ability he inherited: the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.
This power, inherited from the "Witch of the Spear," allowed him to directly perceive the "lines of death" on his opponent and unleash a lethal strike.
Because it was essentially a guaranteed critical blow, Lucas rarely used this ability.
However, now that his strength had greatly increased and his combat experience had grown, he could control his power perfectly. Even when attacking a death point, he could still hold back appropriately—otherwise, he wouldn't be using this skill in a casual spar.
Even though the opening only lasted a split second, Lucas seized the opportunity. His wooden sword swept out horizontally, aiming straight for Raiden Mai's ribcage.
Raiden Mai noticed the incoming strike, but at that distance, there was no room to dodge or block. She could only watch helplessly as defeat approached.
Just as she was preparing to take the hit—
Lucas suddenly let out a strange "ah!" and his whole body slipped backward uncontrollably.
Turns out, when he had stepped back, he had stepped on a bar of soap lying on the floor.
As the saying goes, slippery soap betrays even the most agile—despite Lucas's skills, he lost control for a moment and slid backward toward the exit of the Purification Pool.
"W-wait, that direction is…"
It wasn't the entrance, but the exit—which meant he was headed straight for the inner sanctum of the Grand Narukami Shrine!
With a sharp "whoosh," Lucas's body spun through the air with a graceful 720-degree flip, flying out of the Purification Pool's gate and landing in a pile of freshly swept autumn leaves.
As a single leaf floated into the air, Lucas finally stood up. Looking around, he saw a serene setting—it was unmistakably the inner sanctum of the Grand Narukami Shrine, just as he remembered.
This sudden incident clearly startled the shrine maidens residing there. Over a dozen girls in shrine maiden attire all turned to look at him in unison.
Lucas's face flushed bright red. Thankfully, at least he still had a towel covering him. Otherwise, this would've been the most embarrassing moment of his life.
Wait a minute… that white cloth on the tree branch… why does it look so familiar?
Thinking about it, this was Inazuma—not Fontaine. They didn't have a custom of hanging white flags around, did they?
"Ahhhh!!"
Finally, a sharp scream pierced the awkward silence. Some of the younger shrine maidens immediately covered their eyes in fright, while a few of the older ones, though they also covered their faces, were peeking through their fingers.
While the Grand Narukami Shrine didn't prohibit shrine maidens from marrying, it typically happened only after retirement. Shrine maidens like Asahi came from traditional families—after her mother married, the daughter inherited the role.
Current shrine maidens, however, were usually pure and unmarried. They had never seen such a vividly real man before, and the scene instantly descended into chaos.
Lucas, too, was completely flustered. Although he could easily leap up and grab his towel back, doing so would look incredibly undignified.
"What are you looking at? Are you all so free?"
At that moment, a cold voice rang out, silencing the panicked shrine maidens at once. "Go tend to your duties."
As soon as they heard the command, the shrine maidens quickly returned to order, as if nothing had happened. Yet, a few of them still snuck glances at him, shy but curious.
The speaker was a black-haired woman holding a broom and wearing a fox mask.
For some reason, although it was the first time Lucas had met this woman, he felt a strange sense of familiarity—as if they were already close. In that moment, he even forgot about his own embarrassment.
"What are you standing there for?" The fox-masked girl chuckled. "Do you enjoy showing off your 'thing' in front of young ladies?"
"N-no! That's not it!" Lucas snapped out of it, hastily covering himself and blushing. "This is all just a misunderstanding!"
"Of course it is. If you'd done something like this on purpose, you wouldn't be walking out of the Grand Narukami Shrine alive," the fox-masked girl said, tossing the towel back to him. "Put your clothes on. Don't go scaring the kids."
With that, she turned to leave. Lucas, still flustered, blurted out, "W-wait! What's your name?"
"Oh? Still trying to flirt even at a time like this?" The fox-masked girl didn't turn around but replied coolly, "I'm Hanachirusato. Just a lowly shrine maiden doing odd jobs around the Grand Narukami Shrine."
Hanachirusato…
Knowing the game's story, Lucas of course recognized that in the original plot, Hanachirusato was the manifested remnant of memories left behind after Kitsune Saiguu was consumed by a dark calamity.
But if history had changed and Kitsune Saiguu hadn't been consumed, then this Hanachirusato… might very well be Kitsune Saiguu herself!
...
She never expected that after five hundred years apart, their reunion would unfold in such a ridiculous fashion.
Lucas was now practically ready to die from embarrassment.
The problem was, he wasn't sure whether this Hanachirusato was truly the complete Kitsune Saiguu, or whether she still remembered him at all.
If she did, her reaction just now had been far too indifferent.
And if nothing had happened to her... then why was she hiding behind a mask, pretending to be someone else?
...
Lucas hadn't guessed wrong. This Hanachirusato was indeed the Kitsune Saiguu.
Originally, she had intended to pretend to be sweeping near the Purification Pool and quietly observe Lucas after his bath.
But not only had she observed him—she had observed him thoroughly, down to the last detail.
Although her back had seemed calm and composed, once she turned the next corner, she clutched her chest and inhaled several deep breaths of fresh air.
It was him. It was definitely him!
There was absolutely no mistake!
Only now did Kitsune Saiguu truly understand why, even after five hundred years, Yae Miko was still so certain that this man was Harunosuke. As if bound by the red thread of fate, even amidst a sea of people, she could recognize him with just one glance.
Beyond his appearance, temperament, and voice…
Even that part was exactly the same—still ugly, but somehow cute. And once it transformed... it would surely become just as ferociously monstrous as before...
But this reunion—this was nothing like she had imagined!
Kitsune Saiguu wasn't some naïve girl with a princess fantasy, so she hadn't dreamed that Harunosuke would arrive on a white horse to greet her. But still… it was supposed to be a romantic reunion at the very least.
Instead, he had flown naked straight into her face!
That idiot! That moron!
I've been waiting five hundred years for this!!
"How was it?"
Just then, a familiar voice spoke from behind her. Yae Miko emerged with a smile and said, "Now you believe me, right? I didn't mistake him."
"It's definitely him," Saiguu nodded. "I could see it in his eyes. He must have... at least sensed my identity as well."
"The bond between you two isn't something a mask or a change of hair color can obscure," Yae Miko said as she hooked a finger under the edge of Saiguu's mask and smiled. "You've worn this mask for five hundred years. Isn't it time to take it off?"
"You know I swore back then…" Saiguu said calmly. "The next person to see my face must be him."
Just as she said, ever since Harunosuke's "death," she had donned the mask and become Hanachirusato, handing over the role of Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine to Yae Miko, and starting a life of anonymity.
As the years passed, the name "Kitsune Saiguu" slowly faded from memory, and the shrine simply gained another shrine maiden who swept the leaves.
No one knew her true identity, nor had anyone seen her face. The shrine maidens only knew that even Lady Yae deferred to her, and so treated her with deep respect.
"All for such a reason... letting such peerless beauty go unseen for five centuries... what a waste," Yae Miko remarked with a subtle smile. "If you took off your mask, that guy would definitely recognize you immediately."
Saiguu replied calmly, "So what you're saying is—without this face, he wouldn't recognize me?"
"I didn't say that," Yae Miko chuckled softly. "Actually, I just thought of a great idea. Let's use this to test whether that guy still truly loves you."
...
After freshening up, Yae Miko gave a few brief instructions, prepared rooms for the two of them, and then left to handle her own affairs.
Lucas, meanwhile, used the excuse of "gathering material" to wander around the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Although he had made a massive fool of himself in front of the shrine maidens earlier, their demeanor remained calm and friendly when he interacted with them later, as if nothing had happened. Whether they were truly composed, or had been given a special briefing by Yae Miko, was unclear.
Still, with Lucas's hearing, he could faintly catch snippets of whispered gossip from corners of the shrine—comments like "kind of ugly, but also kind of cute," "so that's what it looks like," and "can it really fit in?"
Naturally, Lucas had no grounds to complain. After all, considering how outrageous the incident had been, the fact that he hadn't been thrown out of the shrine was already a testament to their kindness.
The vibrant, multicolored koi swimming in the pond seemed unafraid of people, swaying gracefully before him. A few of them even had color patterns that seemed familiar. This scene involuntarily brought back memories of five hundred years ago.
Back then, he had exhausted himself trying to revive Kitsune Saiguu, with barely any time to rest. The rare moments of peace were spent spacing out by the pond, feeding the fish. Staring into the water now, his mind was filled with thoughts of Hanachirusato's silhouette.
Meanwhile, in a hidden corner, a green-haired girl wearing a mask was scribbling in a notebook, eyes locked on Lucas.
It was none other than Kuki Shinobu.
Since she had interned at the Grand Narukami Shrine as a child, she was intimately familiar with the layout and knew all the best hiding spots.
"One o'clock in the afternoon. Observing koi by the pond. No abnormal behavior."
In neat handwriting, she recorded the observation in her notebook. Her task was to monitor Lucas's every move and document it.
It was undeniably a dull job—if it had been handed to Arataki Itto, he would've likely jumped out ages ago. But for Kuki Shinobu, compared to dealing with the chaos of the Arataki Gang, this was already an incredibly relaxing assignment.
"Two o'clock in the afternoon. Observing koi by the pond. No abnormal behavior."
…
"Six o'clock in the afternoon. Observing koi by the pond. No abnormal behavior."
After writing this line, even Kuki Shinobu couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly.
What was with this guy? How could he just stare at koi for so long?
He hadn't moved a muscle for hours. If not for the occasional blink, Shinobu would've suspected he was actually a statue, or maybe one of those dummies used by the Shuumatsuban ninjas.
Yawn... She let out a soft yawn, and her eyelids—without her noticing—were starting to grow heavy.
"You really went through a lot..."
Lucas's figure appeared before Kuki Shinobu like a ghost, murmuring softly, "To think you managed to keep this up for so long…"
However, at this moment, Kuki Shinobu had already fallen asleep from exhaustion, completely unaware that the one she was observing was now observing her.
There was a massive difference in strength between the two. Lucas had naturally noticed Kuki Shinobu's presence long ago, and simply decided to play along to see what this woman was up to. He hadn't expected that she would simply remain hidden in the shadows, occasionally writing something in her notebook.
For someone like Lucas, standing motionless for several hours—let alone several days and nights—was no problem at all. But Kuki Shinobu was still a girl, and due to the "Vision Hunt Decree," her Vision had been taken away. Now she was just a regular person with above-average combat skills. After working continuously for so long, it was only natural for her to fall asleep from fatigue.
Lucas gently took the notebook from Kuki Shinobu's hands. After reading the contents, he couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
He had only just arrived in Inazuma, so not many people should be targeting him. And as the deputy of the Arataki Gang, Kuki Shinobu was unlikely to be involved with organizations like the Fatui.
Lucas figured that the only person who could have recruited her for a side job like this would be someone well-connected in Inazuma—probably someone like Thoma.
Since she liked observing people, he might as well let her continue.
Just as Lucas was about to leave, he noticed Kuki Shinobu's long, narrow lashes gently fluttering. He couldn't help but grow curious—what kind of face lay hidden beneath that rather intimidating face armor?
Yanking it off directly would surely wake the cautious Kuki Shinobu. But Lucas had other tricks. He reached out and lightly tapped the edge of the face armor, and with a swish, it appeared in his hand.
This was the Power of Space he had acquired earlier in the simulator—an ability that existed outside of the seven elements.
Unlike elemental powers, spatial manipulation was much harder to control and consumed a vast amount of energy. Even Lucas could only use it to move small objects, though he had already become quite proficient.
If he wanted, he could teleport not just the face armor, but even Kuki Shinobu's chest plate in an instant.
At present, this ability wasn't particularly useful for much... except making it easier to undress people.
As Lucas looked upon Kuki Shinobu's true face, the corners of his lips couldn't help but curve upward.
No wonder she wore that mask—such a cute face couldn't intimidate anyone.
Compared to her sister Akari, her features were even more delicate and cool.
Surprisingly, her lips, thin as cicada wings, were lightly tinted with lip gloss, glistening with a soft shine, making them look quite enticing.
Even though she wore her mask all day, she still did things like this. In the end, beneath the face armor, she was still an ordinary girl.
Lucas couldn't help but think—if this were the Villain Simulator, and he had caught a female ninja secretly investigating him, he'd probably take her back to the room for some well-deserved punishment.
Unfortunately, this was reality.
But that didn't mean... he couldn't do anything.
"Looks like life here at the Grand Narukami Shrine won't be so boring after all," Lucas murmured as he wiped his now no-longer-dry lips, gently replaced the face armor on Kuki Shinobu's face, and smiled. "Consider this your bonus payment."
...
"Urgh…"
Who knew how much time had passed before Kuki Shinobu finally opened her eyes from hunger. The sky had already darkened, and the summer insects chirped even more noisily than before.
Did I… fall asleep without realizing it?
She quickly lifted her head—and as expected, Lucas, who had been by the pond, was already gone. He must have left while she was asleep.
Oh well. I'll continue the surveillance tomorrow. For now, I should go to the kitchen and see if there are any leftovers.
Just as Kuki Shinobu was about to stand, she suddenly noticed a few rice balls and snacks placed before her on a lotus leaf, along with a still-warm pot of barley tea.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she quickly calmed herself.
Clearly, someone had discovered her but hadn't exposed her, and even left food for her. Besides her sister Akari, who else would do such a thing?
With that thought, she smiled slightly, took off her face armor without hesitation, and began eating heartily. Still, a hint of doubt lingered in her mind:
Normally, wearing the face armor for extended periods made her lips dry, which was why she always applied lip balm—but today, not only were her lips not dry, they were actually quite moist.
And more importantly… since when did her sister's cooking become this good?
...
Night fell.
Lucas lay in the guest room that Yae Miko had prepared for him, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter how hard he tried.
He was still torn—should he reveal his identity to Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu?
If he did, it would surely cause more trouble later, especially the potential risk of exposing the system's existence.
But if he didn't, considering they had waited five hundred years, the thought of that wait being for nothing made him feel uneasy.
Bang!
Just then, a loud noise rang out from outside the window. Lucas quickly walked over and stuck his head out, only to see a brilliant firework bloom in the night sky, illuminating the darkness with a dazzling light.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Outside the window, a graceful figure appeared, smiling as she said, "That little Yoimiya really gets better at this every year."
It was Yae Miko, though this time she wore a loose nightgown. Her long pink hair flowed freely, and she exuded a casual, homely charm.
Though the nightgown was more conservative than her usual shrine maiden outfit, it was loose-fitting enough that even a slight bow revealed quite a bit of the scenery from the neckline.
Lucas's gaze drifted for a moment, his face turning slightly red. "What are you doing here?"
"What, am I not welcome?" Yae Miko pouted, as if wronged. "I was worried you wouldn't be able to sleep alone, so I thought I'd keep you company... and fulfill a bit of my hostess duty."
What kind of hostess thinks sharing a bed is part of their hospitality? That's... incredibly generous.
"Don't joke around…" Lucas smiled awkwardly, changing the subject. "By the way, is today some kind of special occasion? Why the fireworks?"
"It's probably prep work for the upcoming Mikawa Flower Festival," Yae Miko shrugged and laughed. "After all, I did submit an order early on to the Naganohara Fireworks shop, asking them to make fireworks that would amaze both humans and youkai alike."
"Humans and youkai both take part…?" Lucas asked curiously. "So there's a festival like that?"
"Originally, the Mikawa Flower Festival was an event solely for the youkai, and humans were strictly forbidden from participating," Yae Miko shook her head and said. "However, a few hundred years ago, a human boy accidentally wandered into the festival and unexpectedly formed a bond with a great youkai of the kitsune clan. To commemorate this friendship between human and youkai, the festival was opened to all. On this day, humans and youkai celebrate together, without boundaries of race."
"So…" Lucas asked, seemingly offhandedly, "what happened to the human boy and the kitsune woman?"
"Oh~" Yae Miko narrowed her eyes and said playfully, "Why are you so sure the fox youkai was a woman? Don't tell me the only thing you've got in that head of yours is the image of a little boy and a foxy big sister?"
Lucas didn't know about the big sister part, but "little boy"? Did Inazuma seriously have no taboos about things like that?
In truth, Lucas already knew—the boy in that story was himself, and the fox youkai was none other than Kitsune Saiguu, who had spoken with him when he'd gotten lost.
At the time, Saiguu had surely never imagined that one whimsical encounter with a human would not only change her own destiny but also alter the course of Inazuma's history.
Yae Miko definitely had some hidden meaning in bringing up this story. This time, Lucas didn't choose to avoid it. Instead, he said calmly, "Because I once had a dream. I dreamt that I got separated from my family during a festival… and met a fox youkai elder sister…"
Chu~
Just then, Lucas felt a soft sensation on his cheek. Yae Miko had reached out her hand, with her index and pinky fingers raised while the other three were together, and gently pecked his cheek with her fingertips. "That's a kitsune's kiss. Tonight, you might dream of that kitsune sister again."
With that, Yae Miko turned to leave. Lucas instinctively clutched his cheek and said, "You're leaving already?"
"What? You'll miss me?" Yae Miko glanced back and smiled. "I am, after all, the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine—not the kind of woman who casually spends the night in a male guest's room…"
As she said this, the pink-haired kitsune flashed a sly grin. "At least… not tonight."
Watching the bouncing pink-haired kitsune vanish into the distance, Lucas couldn't help but feel restless inside. After a while, he muttered to himself, "She made it sound like… just not tonight."
...
Still, after chatting a bit with Yae Miko, Lucas felt a sudden wave of sleepiness. He had just laid down on the bed when his eyelids began to fight each other, and before long, he fell into a deep slumber.
"He's asleep?"
High above, in a large tree outside the house, Kuki Shinobu hung upside-down by her legs from a branch, writing in her notebook while inverted. "Eleven o'clock at night—brief chat with Guuji Yae, then fell asleep."
With that, today's work was done.
Kuki Shinobu shifted her waist and flipped herself back up with ease. For someone with a second-level gymnastics certificate, such movements were a piece of cake.
Looking over the notebook entry summarizing Lucas's entire day, she saw it barely filled a page—utterly unremarkable.
Though she was simply fulfilling her duties as per the commission agreement, Kuki Shinobu's professional work ethic made her want to collect some genuinely valuable intel. Otherwise, accepting such a large payment felt somewhat undeserved.
Maybe… while that guy was asleep, she could sneak into his room. Who knows—she might uncover some clues.
At the very least, she could take a few photos to prove that she had indeed put in the effort.
With that thought, Kuki Shinobu nodded to herself and decided to wait just a bit longer—until Lucas was sound asleep.
Suddenly, she heard a light set of footsteps.
Something's up?
Kuki Shinobu immediately held her breath and pulled a small monocular from her chest to observe.
She saw a woman wearing a shrine maiden outfit and a fox mask standing at Lucas's window. She was clearly looking around with a purpose.
Then, the woman took out a small incense burner, lifted a corner of her mask to reveal the lower half of her face, and gently blew on it. The fragrant smoke wafted into the room before she shut the window again, adjusted her mask, and quickly left.
The whole process had taken less than a minute. If not for Kuki Shinobu's alertness, she might have missed it entirely.
What was that?
Was it enchanted incense?
Although she was young, Kuki Shinobu had been out working in the world early. Compared to her overly muscular but childishly naïve Arataki Gang boss, she had far more life experience.
Could someone be trying to poison the target?
Technically, her job was only to observe the subject, but if anything happened to him, her work would also be compromised.
Besides, if she happened to save the target's life, considering the Kamisato Clan's generosity, she'd likely receive a hefty bonus reward.
With that in mind, Kuki Shinobu didn't hesitate. She swiftly leapt from the tree, moved agilely to the window, and flipped inside.
Her Oni Mask Armor not only concealed her face but also had a gas filtration function. Even if it was toxic gas, she had no fear.
Being a pragmatist, Kuki Shinobu believed that if a person could develop in multiple areas, so should her gear—the more functions, the better.
Sure enough, she found the man lying peacefully on the bed. She tiptoed closer and carefully checked his breathing.
Hmm, steady breathing—no issues. It wasn't poison gas. It must have been a sleep-inducing incense.
She had once studied for a physician's certification. While her medical skills couldn't compare to Lucas's [Medical Sage] talent, identifying drugs wasn't difficult. She removed her mask, intending to inhale a bit of the scent to analyze it.
But unexpectedly, the strange fragrance seemed almost alive. The moment her mask came off, the scent rushed up her nostrils, and she was overwhelmed by the exotic aroma. She quickly tried to put the mask back on, but it was already too late. Her mind grew hazy, her steps faltered, and she fell straight onto Lucas's bed.
Damn it… what is this…?
Kuki Shinobu only felt her body grow weak, collapsing beside Lucas. But when she glanced over, she saw that his face, too, was slightly flushed—clearly, he had also been affected by the gas.
...
Where… is this place?
Lucas opened his eyes, and what appeared before him was a scene both familiar and unfamiliar.
Humans, youkai, various game stalls, fireworks in the distance, and…
"What are you spacing out for?" A gentle finger poked lightly at his cheek, followed by a soft laugh. "The festival only comes once a year—don't waste it."
Lucas turned his head and saw a silver-haired, golden-eyed fox-eared woman in shrine maiden robes smiling at him.
"… Kitsune Saiguu…" he murmured. "Why are you here?"
That's right—the woman before him was none other than Kitsune Saiguu, whose presence had left a deep imprint in his memory.
"Pfft…" Kitsune Saiguu couldn't help but laugh. "Aren't we together every day?"
For an ordinary person, it might be difficult to distinguish between dreams and reality.
But due to his long-term use of the simulation system and his far superior mental strength, Lucas could quickly discern illusion from truth.
Could it be that because his mind was full of thoughts of Kitsune Saiguu before falling asleep, that's why he dreamed of her?
That seemed to be the only plausible explanation.
Still, for a dream… wasn't this a little too realistic?
Instinctively, Lucas reached out and gently stroked Kitsune Saiguu's cheek. The warmth of her skin really didn't feel like something a dream could replicate.
"Wh-What's gotten into you?" Kitsune Saiguu's face uncharacteristically flushed red. "Suddenly doing that… you're making me feel shy…"
If it's just a dream, then there's no need to hold back, right?
With that thought, Lucas didn't say another word. He cupped Kitsune Saiguu's face and kissed her deeply.
Fortunately, a burst of beautiful fireworks rose into the sky at that very moment, drawing everyone's attention upward. No one seemed to notice the pair sharing such an intimate moment in public.
"Mmm…"
Kitsune Saiguu lightly pounded on Lucas's chest with her fists, but soon, her resistance softened.
After all, she had waited five hundred years.
Even if it was only a kiss in a dream, at least it could bring some comfort to her heart.
...
In another room, the masked Kitsune Saiguu sat before an incense burner that emitted a faint, wafting smoke.
This was the kitsune clan's secret incense, "Dreamlink Enlightenment Incense." When paired with the proper kitsune magic, it allowed her to enter the dreams of those who inhaled it.
Indeed, Lucas was dreaming—but the Kitsune Saiguu in his dream was not a figment of his subconscious. She was her real self within the shared dream.
You could think of it like this: their dreams were now connected on the same game server, and the dream versions of themselves were characters they each controlled with their consciousness.
Since they couldn't meet in reality, why not reunite in a dream?
Though Kitsune Saiguu was often called the heart-stealing fox of Inazuma, her "leaving affections everywhere" was mostly unintentional. She herself remained rather innocent. She had thought that, after finally seeing Lucas again in a dream, he would pour out his feelings to her in a touching way—but to her surprise, he immediately "used his ultimate move."
How was she supposed to handle that?
One of the four great joys of life is "rain after a long drought." And this drought of Kitsune Saiguu's had lasted five hundred years. At this point, even a light drizzle could make buds sprout from the cracks of her parched earth.
After several rounds of fireworks, Lucas finally let go of Kitsune Saiguu, and both of them gasped for breath.
Still, she put on the airs of an old married couple, teasingly saying, "What's gotten into you today? You're not even a little shy."
"I…" Lucas murmured, "I missed you."
Just those four simple words instantly broke through Kitsune Saiguu's previously unshakable composure. The corners of her eyes immediately welled up. Biting her lip, she replied, "I… I missed you too."
Dreams don't need logic.
With just a shift in thought, the bustling festival around them vanished. The next moment, the two of them were back in the room they had shared five hundred years ago.
This wasn't something Kitsune Saiguu did—it was Lucas.
She hadn't expected that the dreamscape she had created would be taken over by the other party.
Everything around them—every piece of furniture, even the claw marks left on the tatami floorboards by her fox nails—was exactly as it had been five hundred years ago.
Besides Lucas, who else could recreate it with such detail?
The two of them sat on the tatami mat where they had once fought countless passionate battles. At this moment, words seemed meaningless. Only action could express the yearning in their hearts.
Unlike Kitsune Saiguu, Lucas still believed he was only having a dream—one he didn't know when he might wake from.
And precisely because he didn't know when that moment would come, he cherished every second of it all the more.
Still, compared to reality, the sensations in a dream lacked that final layer of authenticity. Their "battle" felt a bit like scratching an itch through a boot—unsatisfying.
Even so, for Kitsune Saiguu, this was already a rare and precious experience.
She never imagined that the once-stiff, easily flustered Lucas—who used to blush at her every tease—had become so bold and passionate.
All she could do was try her best to return his intense affection in this ephemeral dream world.
"…Just what kind of dream are they having? Now I'm really curious…"
Sitting beside the real Kitsune Saiguu to provide protective support, Yae Miko watched the sleeping woman biting her lip, and couldn't help but feel a little itchy herself—as if tiny ants were crawling in her heart. She even had the urge to cast an illusion spell and sneak into their dream.
But in the end, she held back. This was a rare reunion between the two of them—she didn't want to disturb it.
Besides, there would be plenty of chances to "interrupt" in the future.
Seeing Kitsune Saiguu's increasingly flushed cheeks, Yae Miko couldn't help but picture the battle scene within their dream. She felt both envy and satisfaction. Kitsune Saiguu was her elder, mentor, and more than that—her family and sister. Seeing her show such happiness, Yae Miko was truly delighted.
However, just as they were about to reach the summit of their Mount Everest, Kitsune Saiguu suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze still carrying a trace of lingering warmth.
"What's going on?" Yae Miko wondered aloud. "It's... over just like that?"
That guy couldn't possibly be this weak, could he?
To actually let Lady Saiguu leave disappointed...
How utterly pathetic!
No, if this were a dream, shouldn't anything be possible?
"No, it's not Harunosuke's fault," Lady Saiguu shook her head. "It must be that the Incense has run out, forcibly ending the dream."
The Incense of the Dreaming Soul was like the network connecting their two "servers." Now that the connection had suddenly been severed, they had no choice but to "log off."
"How could that be?" Yae Miko stroked her chin. "The dosage shouldn't have been miscalculated."
"Never mind," Lady Saiguu was surprisingly accepting of the situation, shaking her head. "I'm already quite satisfied with how things went."
"Oh?" A mischievous smile crept onto Yae Miko's face as she pressed closer to Lady Saiguu. "What exactly were you two doing in that dream just now?"
"W-we were just... chatting and reminiscing," Lady Saiguu, for once, showed a rare moment of vulnerability in front of Yae Miko, muttering, "What else could we have been doing?"
"But your expression earlier didn't look like you were just chatting," Yae Miko narrowed her eyes. "Did the reminiscing somehow lead you to the bed?"
"You dare tease even me now?" Lady Saiguu lightly pinched Yae Miko's fox ears, her face flushing. "It seems I need to teach you a proper lesson."
The room soon filled with playful laughter.
In Yae Miko's memory, it had been a long time since Lady Saiguu had laughed so genuinely.
As for Lady Saiguu herself?
Though having the dream cut short was somewhat disappointing, now that her beloved was right before her eyes, why seek solace in an illusory dream?
...
Meanwhile, in Lucas's room, the scene was entirely different.
Let's rewind a few minutes earlier.
The Incense of the Dreaming Soul continued to waft through the room, but the ones inhaling it weren't just Lucas—Kuki Shinobu, who had accidentally stumbled inside, was also affected.
This incense had different effects depending on the state of the person inhaling it. For those already asleep, it connected their dreams. For those still awake, it made them dizzy, foggy-headed, and overwhelmingly drowsy.
"I have to... get out of here..."
Fortunately, Shinobu had only inhaled a small amount, and her oni mask acted as something of a "gas mask," so her condition wasn't too severe. She could still barely drag herself toward the exit.
If she really fell asleep here, not only would her mission undoubtedly fail, but worse, it would definitely cause trouble for her older sister, Miyuki.
Thankfully, her willpower was strong, and she soon managed to push herself up. But just as she was about to stand, a hand suddenly pressed down on her shoulder, forcing her back onto the bed.
Shinobu's heart leaped in alarm. The sleeping man had tightly wrapped his arms around her, muttering something unintelligible like "Saiguu..." under his breath.
What was going on?
Was this guy trying to take advantage of her?
But no—he was clearly still asleep. Was he... faking it?
Probably not. This strange incense had nearly knocked her out even through her mask. This man had inhaled so much of it directly—he must have been completely out cold. His actions now were likely just unconscious movements from his dream.
But... what kind of dream would make someone act like this?
Shinobu wasn't stupid. With a little thought, she could guess the answer. But given her current predicament, calling for help was out of the question. Even if she was being inexplicably taken advantage of, she had no choice but to endure it silently.
Ugh...
Lucas's hands continued to wander restlessly. Of course—right now, in his dream, he was passionately entangled with a long-lost lover from five hundred years ago. Every movement in the dream translated directly into reality, all of it inflicted upon Shinobu.
Behind her oni mask, Shinobu bit her lip hard. She had never experienced anything like this in her life.
As a child, she had been sent to the Grand Narukami Shrine as a trainee shrine maiden. After leaving, she had thrown herself into studying and obtaining certifications, even studying abroad in Liyue for a time. She had never had the energy to spare for men.
And after starting "work," the only men she interacted with were the utterly clueless members of the Arataki Gang.
This was her first time having such... intimate "contact" with a man. None of the certifications she had earned had ever taught her how to handle a situation like this.
To make matters worse, this guy's strength was terrifying—probably on par with Arataki Itto, the boss of the Arataki Gang. Shinobu's slender frame was no match for him. She couldn't resist at all, forced to endure his every touch.
Not only could she not cry out, she had to keep her mouth tightly shut to avoid making any strange noises.
But in his dream, Lucas had already escalated to an intense battle with Lady Saiguu. His movements grew faster and more frantic—every action he took against Lady Saiguu in the dream was now being inflicted upon Shinobu in reality.
With a click, Shinobu's oni mask, unable to withstand the violent motion, slipped off her face and fell onto the bed.
Thankfully, both of them were still fully clothed. Otherwise, with Lucas fumbling around like this, he might have accidentally driven his "car" straight into her "garage."
For ease of movement, Shinobu always preferred light attire. Though the two layers of fabric were decent quality, they couldn't hold up under this kind of treatment. They were already on the verge of tearing—if this continued, who knew what might happen?
Then, with a rip, Shinobu immediately felt a rush of cool air. Her heart sank. Without another thought, she mustered all her strength, grabbed her oni mask, and pressed it directly onto Lucas's face.
The moment the mask covered his nose and mouth, Lucas's body went limp, as if a robot had been unplugged. He immediately released Shinobu and fell back into peaceful slumber.
That's right—the reason Lady Saiguu's dream had been "forcibly disconnected" wasn't because the Incense of the Dreaming Soul had run out. It was because Shinobu had abruptly covered Lucas's face with her mask.
Though she didn't understand why he had suddenly "let her go," the shaken Shinobu didn't dare linger. Without even retrieving her mask, she scrambled out of the room through the window like a gust of wind.
The moonlight was gentle, the summer insects humming softly.
In the quiet courtyard, a disheveled Shinobu stood by the pond. Her face, now free of the mask, was still tinged with red. The shorts that should have had only three openings now inexplicably had a fourth.
A summer breeze brushed through the lush grass, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.
What now?
For a mission like this, Kuki Shinobu naturally hadn't brought a change of clothes, but in her current state, forget continuing the mission—even getting back home might be a problem.
Just who was that man, to be able to pull something like this off?
Though she felt annoyed, she couldn't really blame Lucas. After all, if she hadn't insisted on gathering more clues, she wouldn't have gotten herself into such a troublesome situation.
After pondering for a while, Kuki Shinobu decided that, at this point, she'd have to trouble her sister.
Because of the rice balls and snacks that had appeared earlier, Kuki Shinobu had assumed that Asaki already knew she was hiding here—little did she know, those were actually left by Lucas.
Relying on her memory, she soon made her way to Asaki's room. Seeing the light still on inside, she didn't bother sneaking in through the window but instead walked straight through the door.
Asaki was under the lamp, mending clothes. When she saw her younger sister appear so suddenly, she thought she was seeing things. She hurriedly rubbed her eyes, and once she confirmed it was real, she said in surprise, "Ah Shinobu? What are you doing here? I thought you had already gone down the mountain?"
Tch, acting like she doesn't know…
Kuki Shinobu thought to herself. It seemed her sister was too shy to admit she'd secretly helped her earlier, so she pretended not to know she was at the Grand Narukami Shrine. So, Shinobu decided to go along with it and said, "Sister, actually, I never left. There's something I've kept bottled up for a long time... I just didn't know how to say it."
"What could be so hard to say?" Asaki's face showed a gentle smile. "You're my little sister—just speak your mind."
"You know how busy my work with the Arataki Gang is, so I took a few days off," Kuki Shinobu said calmly, lying without a hitch. "I wanted to experience the life of a shrine maiden at the Grand Narukami Shrine for a few days, to seek inner peace."
As soon as Asaki heard that, she beamed and said, "Of course that's fine! Honestly, Lady Yae has always admired your dedication to learning. She's been hoping to bring you back as a shrine maiden."
"I don't want to become a shrine maiden," Kuki Shinobu frowned. "I just want to experience it…"
"No worries, even just experiencing it is great," Asaki said quickly, as if afraid she'd change her mind. "Whether you want to stay or leave afterward is up to you."
Asaki thought her sister didn't like the shrine maiden's role as a child because she was too young to understand. Now that she was grown, maybe she'd see the work in a new light. Letting her experience it for a few days might just change her mind.
At the very least, it had to be hundreds of times better than running with a gang, right?
But Kuki Shinobu had different thoughts. Her current mission was to "observe Lucas," and her identity didn't matter. If she became a shrine maiden trainee, she wouldn't need to hide and her work would become much easier.
Absolutely perfect!
"Actually, I was just mending the shrine maiden outfit you wore when you were little," Asaki said, handing the clothes to Kuki Shinobu. "I've been enlarging it a bit every year. It was just a sentimental habit… I didn't expect that you'd really wear it again one day."
Looking at her sister's hopeful eyes, Kuki Shinobu couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. If she ended up taking off the shrine maiden outfit again someday, her sister would surely be disappointed.
Oh well, she'd find a way to make it up to her later.
...
Several hours later.
"Mm…"
In the midst of a muffled groan, Lucas slowly opened his eyes.
He'd always been a good sleeper. He assumed it was already morning, but to his surprise, the sky outside was still gray and dim.
The scent of incense that had filled the room was long gone, yet Lucas still had on the oni mask armor that Kuki Shinobu had left behind when she made her escape.
No wonder he felt so stuffy—it was because of this thing?
Lucas removed the mask and immediately recognized it as Kuki Shinobu's. This brought a wave of confusion to his mind.
First: Why had Kuki Shinobu come into his room and left her mask behind?
Second: With his strength, there was no way he wouldn't notice someone entering.
Third… and most importantly: Why had that pleasant dream just now ended right before the best part?
The first point—Kuki Shinobu entering and leaving the mask—could it have been her way of leaving a hint?
The second—maybe he was simply sleeping too deeply, or perhaps Kuki Shinobu had a technique that could conceal her presence.
As for the third…
Lucas quickly closed his eyes, trying to fall asleep again, hoping he could pick up where the dream had left off.
Unfortunately, things never go as planned. Without the aid of incense, recreating that dream was practically impossible.
[Why insist on doing that kind of thing only in dreams? If you'd just admit your true identity, the dream could become reality right away.]
The long-silent system suddenly chimed in with a snarky remark.
"You really have a way with sarcastic comments, huh…" Lucas said helplessly. "If I exposed my identity as Harunosuke, how am I supposed to explain that? I can't exactly tell them I have a system that lets me simulate other lives, can I?"
[A clever woman wouldn't ask too many questions.]
"Don't act like you understand women, you're just a system…" Lucas muttered, a little exasperated. "And besides, this is all your fault, isn't it? You told me in the beginning that the simulator was purely virtual, then said it was happening in a parallel world—and now what? Suddenly the simulator is actual history in this world!"
[What I said back then was 'parallel timelines,' which includes both parallel spaces and parallel times. It's your own misunderstanding.]
"Don't get all technical with me!" Lucas said, clearly annoyed. "So according to your logic, the simulator could even jump to some random future next time?"
[The simulator doesn't activate at random. Every simulation is linked to your fate. In other words, your encounters with Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu weren't coincidences—they were destined. Sooner or later, you must face them.]
Lucas was silent for a while, then suddenly stretched and said, "Start a simulation."
[Oh? How rare—you're actually initiating a simulation yourself. Could it be… you're using it to escape reality?]
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