"So this is... Juzumaru Tsunetsugu..."
Kazusa Touma, wearing a black kimono, stepped forward and closely examined the famous sword lying quietly in the glass display case. Her expression remained as calm as ever, though deep in her eyes, there was a hint of barely noticeable excitement and delight.
Ye Xing looked at the old monk and spoke with a smile.
"Abbot, this Juzumaru Tsunetsugu..."
"No need to say more."
The old monk waved his hand and suddenly said something that surprised all three of them.
"If you can use it, take it with you."
Upon hearing this, the room immediately fell silent.
Eventually, Ye Xing was the first to react. Looking at the old monk standing there with a smiling face, he returned the smile and said.
"Master, you're being a bit too straightforward - so straightforward that... it makes me somewhat suspicious."
"Benefactor..."
The old monk slowly walked up to Ye Xing, maintaining a kind, benevolent smile and speaking in a gentle tone.
"Since you came here today specifically asking to see our temple's treasure, Juzumaru Tsunetsugu, you must need this famous sword, just like you needed Onimaru Kunitsuna and Mikazuki Munechika, isn't that right?"
"Oh?"
Hearing the old monk's words, Ye Xing showed no panic, only chuckling lightly as he countered.
"Master saying this... means you've already guessed my identity?"
"Isn't it simple?"
The old monk spoke with a smile.
"You three said you came specifically from Kyoto, then directly asked to see Juzumaru Tsunetsugu. Although this old monk cannot sense any extraordinary power from you, that female benefactor isn't as skilled as you at concealing her spiritual power. Combined with those two well-known incidents at the Tokyo National Museum and Kyoto City Museum, guessing your identity wasn't difficult."
"Being able to detect spiritual fluctuations... it seems you're also a psychic, Master."
"What psychics, this old monk doesn't quite understand your terminology. I merely see things ordinary people cannot, and sense things ordinary people cannot perceive."
Hearing the old monk's response, Ye Xing gave a noncommittal nod before countering.
"However, I still don't quite understand. The Juzumaru Tsunetsugu is your temple's treasure. Although you've guessed my true identity, handing it over so readily seems rather straightforward."
"Why is that difficult to understand?"
The old monk retracted his smile and walked over to the glass display case, looking down at the Juzumaru Tsunetsugu placed within.
"Juzumaru Tsunetsugu has never belonged to this old monk personally, nor has it ever belonged to Honkouji Temple. We have merely been safeguarding it on behalf of others. And now..."
At this point, the old monk looked towards Kazusa Touma, Setsuna Ogiso, and Ye Xing, speaking slowly.
"Entrusting Juzumaru Tsunetsugu into your hands, even if only to make some contribution towards protecting innocent lives, would bring immeasurable merit to this old monk and all the monks of Honkouji Temple."
Hearing these words, Ye Xing remained silent for a few seconds before speaking softly.
"Master, the head priest of Shitennoji Temple truly isn't your equal. I, Kyoto's number one eroge player, would call you an enlightened monk."
Just as there are differences among deities.
Compared to this head priest of Honkouji Temple, what kind of creature was that old monk from Shitennoji Temple?
Driven solely by his obsession with personal enlightenment, he became a puppet controlled by Rikka Sakuragawa, even installing bombs within Shitennoji Temple that reduced this historic temple to nothing. In the end, he didn't achieve enlightenment either, merely becoming a distorted monster with three heads and six arms that resembled a Buddhist statue.
Now look at this head priest - this is what a true master looks like!
Just the statement that Juzumaru Tsunetsugu never belonged to him personally, nor to Honkouji Temple, is enough to qualify him as a truly enlightened monk.
Hearing Ye Xing's praise, the old monk pressed his palms together in salute, showing a somewhat pleased expression.
"Ah, what the benefactor says is absolutely correct, speaking nothing but the truth."
"I'm not a benefactor, I'm a player."
"Oh, apologies, apologies, benefactor player, your words are quite reasonable."
Watching Ye Xing conversing with the old monk, Setsuna Ogiso and Kazusa Touma exchanged glances, both women having the same thought arise in their hearts.
These two...
Why do they seem like kindred spirits meeting over flowing waters?
Have their abstract channels aligned?
"Since we've reached this point, this old monk will first unlock the display case..."
"No need."
Kazusa Touma waved her hand, interrupting the old monk's words. Looking at the Juzumaru Tsunetsugu lying in the glass display case, she spoke softly.
"Does this display case have any connection to an alarm system or similar devices?"
"No."
The old monk shook his head without concealment.
"Such things would damage Juzumaru Tsunetsugu's spiritual power. At least, that's what the monks believe. So it's just an ordinary bulletproof glass display case."
"Good."
Kazusa Touma nodded, gazing intently at the Juzumaru Tsunetsugu lying within the glass display case. She took a deep breath first, then closed her eyes. When she opened them again, she had already activated her Soul Materialisation, forming the sleek black long coat she wore during action, the mask covering only the upper half of her face, and the black hat identical to the one she wore during the school festival performance—fully unleashing her spiritual power.
Then, she stretched out her slender, pale right hand toward the direction of Juzumaru Tsunetsugu and said softly,
"Come."
Before the old monk could react, a clear metallic clinking sound suddenly emerged within the room.
He turned around and saw that the blade of Juzumaru Tsunetsugu, which had been lying quietly in the glass display case, was now trembling slightly on its own. As the sound grew louder, the string of black Buddhist beads on the hilt also began to creak as if under immense strain.
Bang!
Less than two seconds later, under the old monk's watchful eyes, the string of black Buddhist beads attached to the hilt of Juzumaru Tsunetsugu suddenly burst apart. The individual beads struck the interior of the glass display case, producing sharp, ringing sounds.
After the beads exploded, Juzumaru Tsunetsugu seemed to break free from its seal, trembling even more violently. The display case, made of bulletproof glass, began to crack with fine, dense fissures before finally shattering into tiny fragments that fell to the ground like snowflakes.
"So this is... Juzumaru Tsunetsugu..."
Kazusa watched as the long sword freed itself from its restraints and flew into her hand. Slowly closing her fingers around the hilt, she murmured,
"Very good."
The abbot was utterly dumbfounded. He made no attempt to feign composure—his shock was written plainly across his face.
Seriously...
Is this how you retrieve a sword?
The abbot had indeed intended for Ye Xing and the others to take Juzumaru Tsunetsugu away, but the key point was—a sword actually broke free on its own, shattered the glass display case, and flew directly into the black-haired girl's hand without anyone even touching it?
Juzumaru Tsunetsugu, were you really that unhappy staying at Honkouji Temple?
Did this old monk mistreat you in some way?
Was it really necessary to be this eager? Couldn't you have considered your previous owner's feelings?
"This... this..."
Looking at the shattered glass display case, the abbot shook his head with a helpless expression.
"This old monk understands that retrieving the sword this way is more impressive, but still... I was planning to place a replica inside and pretend nothing happened. Now it seems I'll have to buy a new bulletproof display case."
"My apologies, Master."
"No matter, no matter. I'll just request one from the municipal government."
The abbot waved his hand dismissively, then smiled and said,
"This... gentleman Mask, how about exchanging contact information with this old monk? Perhaps there may be matters in the future where I could be of assistance."
Ye Xing nodded and chuckled lightly.
"Sure, how shall we do it? Arrange which day each month for dream visits?"
The abbot: "..."
"...Exchanging email addresses will suffice..."
"Oh? Master, you have a mobile phone?"
"The way you say that... This old monk is a Buddhist priest, not a primitive."
After exchanging contact information on their phones, Ye Xing asked curiously.
"Master, what's your name? I can't just save your contact as 'Master', can I?"
The elderly abbot clasped his hands together, revealing a meaningful, profound smile as he slowly spoke.
"It matters not... Buddha... is formless."
"So you're putting on airs now, are you?"
The elderly abbot: "...Before I became a monk, my surname was Miyamoto. You can call me that."
After saying this, the elderly abbot added with a laugh.
"However, I'd prefer you call me Master. After all, being addressed as Master by a hero who protects the world really makes this old monk quite pleased."
"Master Miyamoto, you're being a bit too honest. You should tone it down."
"Tone it down my foot! I'm over seventy years old. I finally endured until all my elders passed away, and now I'm the most senior. If I don't act arrogantly now, wouldn't all that endurance have been for nothing?"
"Alright then, Master's Buddhist wisdom is indeed profound, and what you say actually makes sense."
...
When they returned to the inn, Setsuna Ogiso breathed a sigh of relief as if a weight had been lifted. She carefully examined Kazusa Touma, who was wearing a kimono and had a tall, model-like figure, her eyes darting around as if searching for something.
"What are you doing?"
"Eh? Where's that sword? How did it disappear?"
"I put it away."
Setsuna Ogiso became even more curious upon hearing this: "Where did you put it?"
Kazusa Touma thought for a moment before explaining in the simplest, most precise terms possible.
"When I have my soul's true form hold that sword, the sword transforms from its physical state into a state that ordinary people cannot observe. Then, when I dispel the Soul Materialisation, the sword disappears along with my soul's true form. When I need to use it next time, I summon my soul's true form, and it returns to my hand. Understand?"
Setsuna Ogiso nodded as if suddenly understanding, then shook her head.
"I don't get it."
Kazusa Touma showed no impatience, instead comforting her in a gentle tone.
"You'll understand when you become a psychic too."
"Can I... become a psychic as well?"
"You definitely can."
Kazusa Touma glanced at Ye Xing sitting there and lowered her voice.
"If you don't become a psychic, you might encounter terrible dangers. I heard... Natsumi Suga once faced danger and couldn't get out of bed for a whole day afterwards, with her back and waist sore and weak. According to her description, it felt like her body was falling apart."
Setsuna Ogiso's expression changed upon hearing this, her pupils contracting in shock.
"Is Miss Natsumi Suga alright? Was she injured? What exactly happened? Did she say anything about it?"
"Well, she only had one comment about the experience."
"What comment?"
"I want to do it again."
"Eh?"
Kazusa Touma didn't continue that topic; instead, she suddenly spoke softly.
"Setsuna, what kind of existence are Ye Xing and I in your heart?"
"This..."
Setsuna Ogiso was momentarily stunned by the sudden question, replying instinctively.
"Kazusa, you're my most important friend, someone I absolutely don't want to lose, and Ye Xing is... he is..."
Just as Setsuna Ogiso's eyes flickered, looking at Ye Xing, who was watching her, unsure how to continue, she felt a hand - slightly cool yet bringing warmth to her heart - gently rest on the back of her hand.
She turned her head and found Kazusa Touma looking at her, a gentle smile on her lips as she nodded slightly, her eyes also filled with laughter. Though she said nothing, Setsuna Ogiso's extremely tense mood relaxed considerably in an instant.
Summoning her courage, Setsuna Ogiso grasped Kazusa Touma's hand, raised her head to look directly at Ye Xing sitting there, pressed her lips together, and forced out a sentence with all her might.
"Ye Xing is to me... also... the most important person who saved that... lonely me, let me join the band, created memories together with you all... someone I absolutely don't want to lose..."
Kazusa Touma smiled and nodded, then asked softly.
"So that means, you like both me and Ye Xing?"
"Like... yes, I do like you, but..."
Setsuna Ogiso took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"My liking for Kazusa, and my liking for Ye Xing... aren't the same kind of liking..."
Kazusa Touma looked quite interested, tilting her head as if puzzled.
"Oh? There are different kinds of liking? What's the difference? Please elaborate."
Setsuna Ogiso's pretty face flushed red as she muttered quietly.
"I... I'm the only one talking... it's too embarrassing..."
Without Kazusa Touma needing to say anything, Ye Xing once again demonstrated his signature move - a direct attack with zero frames of startup and no windup.
"Miss Ogiso... no, Setsuna."
Ye Xing stood up, walked over to Setsuna Ogiso, crouched down in front of her, took her other hand, and spoke with a smile.
"I said we should form a band together for a lifetime, but it seems now that while this promise is considered heavy in another setting, here it still feels too understated. So I want to amend it."
"You, me, Kazusa... and everyone else, we should all be together forever."
"Not because of anyone else's reasons, not because of Kazusa's thoughts, but simply out of our own will."
Hearing these words and feeling both her hands being held by Kazusa Touma and Ye Xing, Setsuna Ogiso finally accepted her true feelings that had persisted all along. She nodded gently and said softly:
"Yes... the three of us... will be together forever."
"That's wonderful."
Seeing Setsuna Ogiso finally agree, Kazusa Touma beamed with joy and pulled her onto the futon spread across the floor.
"Eh, Kazusa, what are you doing..."
Setsuna Ogiso was already wearing a kimono, and now, being dragged onto the futon by Kazusa Touma, her kimono became somewhat dishevelled, almost to the point of exposing herself.
"Didn't we agree that the three of us would be together forever? Of course this kind of thing should be done together too."
"This... this is too... alright then..."
Setsuna Ogiso found herself entirely unable to refuse Kazusa Touma's request.
That night, the Harem God experienced the convenience of kimonos and unlocked two sets of kimono CG.
...
One week later, at Rio Futaba's home.
"Found it."
Holding a coffee cup, though Yuigahama had taken her shopping for many outfits, Rio Futaba was still wearing her most comfortable white lab coat. She looked at the assembled members and spoke slowly.
"According to the information Ryuzaki sent back, combined with the investigations from Mr Oda and Godmother Granny, we can now confirm that Rikka Sakuragawa has arrived at this location."
Rio Futaba placed a tablet on the table, and everyone turned their attention to it. Mai Sakurajima murmured:
"Hitogashima... Island? I've never heard of it."
"That's perfectly normal."
Rio Futaba explained.
"This remote island called Hitogashima Island has very few permanent residents, only about one to two hundred people. There's even very little information available online. However, according to information from Mr Oda, this Hitogashima Island has traditions of worshipping a god, the so-called Hiruko."
"Hiruko..."
Miko Yotsuya, who was well-versed in Japan's various ghost stories and urban legends, became thoughtful upon hearing this name.
"Is this a folk image derived from the legendary Hiruko, that is, the god of fortune Ebisu, after being passed down through generations... That makes sense. According to those legends, Hiruko was the first child of Izanami and Izanagi. Combined with Rikka Sakuragawa's soul's true name, there might be some connection there."
"Exactly."
Rio Futaba nodded slightly, her tone calm.
"From every perspective, combined with the clues discovered by the Metropolitan Police Department, all evidence indicates that Rikka Sakuragawa has left mainland Japan and gone to this Hitogashima Island, most likely planning something."
"We can't have the Metropolitan Police Department evacuate the island's residents, since we don't know whether the people living there have already been brainwashed and controlled by Rikka Sakuragawa. If we prepare for the worst-case scenario, perhaps everyone there has already been converted into psychics. Add to that the uncertain existence of Hiruko... the situation is complex, but..."
Hearing this, Ye Xing stood up and said calmly:
"But, since the warning letter has been sent, the life of the criminal Rikka Sakuragawa shall be claimed by our Supernatural Society."