A blade?
Hearing Mei mention a blade, Miko subconsciously looked toward the long blade in her hand.
But the Tatarigami is an intangible entity; can this blade really completely eradicate it?
After watching for a while, Miko couldn't help but think this.
However, since Mei had said so, there shouldn't be any problem. She trusted Mei.
But even so, she remained very curious about how Mei would actually make her move when the time came.
That blade looks like an incredibly formidable object at a glance...
It must have been passed down for many generations...
Yasumoto, who was following behind and dared not make a sound, couldn't help but think the same thing as he gazed at the blade in the hands of the young woman referred to as Mei.
To be honest, this was his first time seeing such a blade; it gave him a very extraordinary feeling.
But that made sense. After all, she was someone sent by Her Excellency, the Shogun, so she was bound to be different.
And this shrine maiden—one look and you could tell she was a Great Shrine Maiden with immense spiritual power. The village really was saved this time!
Continuing to follow behind, Yasumoto grew increasingly excited. It could be said that he was now filled with confidence.
*
Serpent's Head.
Soon, the group arrived at the place known as Serpent's Head.
The Great Serpent of that year was taken away by a single slash from the Raiden Shogun right here.
"You two, stop here."
After turning back to say this sentence, Acheron continued walking forward.
Is it coming...
Stopping her steps, Miko, looking at Mei ahead, could hardly wait.
Should I...
Go a bit further away?
Suddenly hearing the young woman ahead tell them to stop, Yasumoto also wondered if he should distance himself further.
Regardless of anything else, he didn't want to get caught up in anything.
Although the shrine maiden standing a bit further ahead didn't seem worried about being caught in the crossfire, that was a shrine maiden, after all. He, a mere ordinary person, dared not compare himself to her.
Forget it...
Better to stand further away...
After thinking for a long while, Yasumoto decided to stand further back.
This seems to be my first time drawing the blade, isn't it...
One hand placed on the scabbard, the other grasping the hilt, Acheron silently thought this. Then, she slowly began the motion of drawing the blade.
Eh?
What is happening to Mei's hair?!
Just as Miko was watching Mei begin to draw her blade with a look of anticipation, she suddenly discovered that Mei's hair was gradually turning white in sync with the drawing motion. Even the surrounding heaven and earth began to gradually lose their color.
What is the situation?!
Watching all of this, Miko stared blankly at her surroundings, completely stunned. She had never imagined such a situation would occur.
"Th-th-this... this... what happened? La... Lady Shrine Maiden..."
While Miko was full of astonishment, Yasumoto behind her was already frightened out of his wits, hurriedly running back to ask Miko what was going on.
But there was no helping it; Miko herself didn't know what was going on, so she obviously couldn't answer his question.
Wait!
What are these crimson things?!
Amidst her surprise, Miko discovered that cluster after cluster of red, seemingly viscous substances were constantly gathering around them, and their target was Mei ahead.
"Mei! You have to be caref..." before she could finish her sentence, a gleam of sword light flashed through Miko's eyes. Afterward, the surrounding scene, which seemed to have completely faded of color, began to shatter with a crash, then rapidly returned to its normal state, as if nothing had ever happened.
But Miko knew, it was impossible that 'nothing' had happened.
"Alright, it's over."
Before Miko could react to what had just occurred, Acheron had already walked over and indicated that the matter was concluded.
"It's over?"
Looking somewhat blankly at Mei who walked past her, Miko subconsciously asked this sentence.
"Mn, it's over."
Turning her head back, an expressionless Acheron nodded.
That's right!
That black and white just now...
And the red...
Isn't this exactly what Mei said—that she could only see these few colors?
Looking at Mei right in front of her, Miko suddenly remembered this matter.
And besides this, she also recalled a part of Mei's name—Warden of the Forgotten River.
To be honest, just now she felt as if she had sensed a void where nothing existed, just like the world after death.
Could it be...
Is Mei really the kind of existence that governs life and death?!
Thinking about this question, Miko was even already brainstorming a scenario in her mind where Makoto became an existence governing life and death after she died back then, and then returned to Inazuma for some reason.
"The Tatarigami... is it gone? My two Ladies."
At this moment, Yasumoto finally recovered his senses.
He didn't know what happened just now; he only felt as if he had fallen into a void.
"Gone, gone. Why don't you hurry and thank Lady Warden of the Forgotten River."
Before Mei could speak, Miko had already spoken jokingly.
Although she really wanted to ask Mei if she was truly the 'Makoto' from after death, she knew she wouldn't get anything by asking directly, so it was better not to ask.
Of course, this didn't mean she wouldn't ask anything at all.
She planned to head straight for Kaito after returning; she felt Kaito would definitely know something.
Lady Warden of the Forgotten River?
Silently looking at Miko, Acheron also didn't quite know what to say.
"Thank you, Lady Warden of the Forgotten River! Thank you, Lady Warden of the Forgotten River!"
Originally distressed about not knowing how to address this Lady who resolved the Tatarigami, after hearing the Shrine Maiden's words, Yasumoto finally knew how to address her. He hurriedly expressed his gratitude, then continued, "My two Ladies, please return to the village with me. I'll have everyone entertain you properly."
Although there really wasn't anything to eat in the village right now, since they helped solve such a huge problem, he had to rack his brains to find something to entertain them with.
"No need, we still have things to do." Acheron shook her head.
"Alright, hurry back and tell this good news to the villagers. We still have matters to handle."
"Thank you, my two Ladies. Then I will take my leave first."
Seeing that the two Ladies still had matters to handle, Yasumoto did not continue his invitation. After expressing his thanks, he ran wildly toward the village.
He had to tell everyone in the village such good news as soon as possible.
"So, where do we go next? The Resistance's side or the Shogunate Army's side?"
After Yasumoto had walked far away, Acheron asked Miko this question, then she continued, "Moreover, if I order them to stop the war in the name of the Raiden Shogun, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to hide it from the real Raiden Shogun. You should understand this point, right?"
___
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