Besides this, she was very interested in the story of A Xiang and Konbumaru, as well as the story of Hyakume Oni.
How to put it? Perhaps it was because she read too many light novels, Durandal couldn't help but want to find out the subsequent development of the story.
But it was certainly impossible to find out from Neko; she could only get more clues through other channels.
"Do you want to hear anything else? I only know this much. The rest is just my boring daily routine of waiting for A Xiang to return here."
"That's enough. I didn't expect this island to have so many stories in the past. I believe that after this island returns to normal, the shrine will revert to its former appearance."
"Really? Then will A Xiang also return?"
"...She will."
"Is that so? Then until A Xiang returns, I will work hard to manage the shrine."
Although there was really no one here for it to command, Neko was full of motivation to be praised by A Xiang when she returned.
Durandal got up, silently looking at the happy Neko, and left Asase Shrine with Shenhe.
After walking a long distance, when there was no trace of the cat nearby, Shenhe suddenly asked, "Is that A Xiang... no longer alive?"
"Yes, if I'm not mistaken, she's most likely no longer in the human world."
Durandal led Shenhe to a high vantage point, looking at the distant area with dense Electro Element, then continued, "The warding stone was unsealed several hundred years ago. Ordinary humans cannot survive for hundreds of years. She disappeared after unsealing the warding stone back then. Perhaps she died from the backlash of the warding stone after unsealing it, or perhaps she left Seirai Island to search for some important memories."
For example, that Konbumaru. If A Xiang had left Seirai Island back then, she most likely went to search for Konbumaru's whereabouts, or to the place where they once lived.
Shenhe nodded, recalling what Durandal had just said to Neko, and asked, "Then why did you just tell Neko that A Xiang would return?"
"...It waited alone in that shrine for hundreds of years. Although there were other cats to accompany it, what sustained its waiting was A Xiang. Telling it that the person it had been waiting for had actually died long ago would be too cruel."
Durandal was unwilling to tell Neko this fact, even though it hadn't been confirmed, even though there was still hope, there shouldn't be any other probability.
Durandal didn't want to see Neko's long-held beliefs shattered, so... she lied.
Durandal, who was unwilling to lie, did so at that moment to protect a cat's small wish, to guard that tiny hope.
Despite what she had done, she didn't regret it. If it was for this, she was happy to lie.
Because... she was happy, especially when she saw Neko smile upon hearing that A Xiang might return. She felt the lie was worth it.
"Durandal..."
Durandal shook her head, interrupting Shenhe, who was about to say something. She took Shenhe's hand and placed it on her face.
Feeling Shenhe's caress, she looked at him and asked, "Shenhe, did I... do the right thing, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did the right thing. There's nothing wrong."
"Is that so? Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease."
Durandal showed a cute smile, gently hugged Shenhe, and buried her head in his embrace, enjoying this brief moment of warmth.
What was wrong with her? She had only heard a story, and an incomplete one at that. Why was she acting like this?
Fortunately, only Shenhe was nearby. If anyone else had been there, Durandal would have had to destroy the evidence.
With Shenhe's comfort, Durandal's condition improved significantly. Although she still wanted to talk more, it would be inappropriate to continue. It was better to save those things for next time.
"Next, I need to investigate A Xiang. If there are no surprises, she should have worked at the Grand Narukami Shrine, or at least had records there. Going there to look should yield useful clues."
As a Shrine Maiden, and even a Shrine Priestess of a shrine, A Xiang must have had records at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Yae Miko has been around for so many years. She must have been at the Grand Narukami Shrine when the warding stones were unsealed. Perhaps she knows some inside information. Investigating there certainly won't be wrong.
Besides the Grand Narukami Shrine, there's also the matter of Konbumaru and Hyakume Oni. For some reason, Hyakume Oni seems familiar. I feel like I've heard of it somewhere.
Where could it be?
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