After hearing Hanachirusato's words, Yuuko felt they shouldn't waste any more time, so he nodded.
Seeing the two about to leave, Ioroi spoke again:
"Kichiboushi, Shousei, and Xingbu Xiaoban all say thank you for saving them."
Kichiboushi, Shousei, and Xingbu Xiaoban are the three small tanuki Yuuko had just rescued from the Hilichurl.
Yuuko shook his head: "It's nothing; I just did it while I was here."
Ioroi was silent for a moment, then continued:
"In any case, thank you very much. Nyuu, if I hadn't been sealed, I would definitely have let you experience the favor of a Tanuki Spirit."
"Oh right, come and visit often in the future."
Yuuko refused without hesitation: "No, I'm not always free."
"Nyuu... Please come play more often. Kichiboushi and the others really want to play with you..."
Yuuko frowned and tentatively asked:
"Why do I feel like you have some special reason for wanting me to come here?"
"Nyuu... It's definitely not because I'm afraid of those mere Hilichurl!"
This silly Ioroi immediately revealed the reason... "So you're afraid of Hilichurl..." Yuuko sighed:
"Don't worry. If many Hilichurl appear here later, someone will surely come to clear them out."
"I told you I'm not afraid of Hilichurl! I am a world-renowned Tanuki Spirit!"
"Yes, yes, yes. We'll be going now."
With that, Yuuko waved his hand and walked away with Hanachirusato.
It wasn't until they were far away that Yuuko couldn't help but complain:
"What a silly Tanuki Spirit..."
After speaking, Yuuko couldn't help but ask Hanachirusato:
"So, who is that Fox Ioroi keeps talking about? Why would that Fox have something as important as the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual subjugation object?"
Hanachirusato's steps paused slightly, and she remained silent.
Noticing this abnormality, Yuuko sighed: "Never mind. It's fine if you don't want to say."
Hanachirusato lowered her head: "I apologize."
"It's alright. After all, it's a secret of your shrine, and it wouldn't be right to tell an outsider like me. Let's hurry up and complete the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual next."
Thus, the two started heading toward the location of the next barrier.
It didn't take long for the two of them to reach an underground area.
They found the thunder sakura tree root and solved a series of extremely boring puzzles.
They released the defiled memories from the thunder sakura tree root.
Those defiled memories naturally formed a human-shaped warrior.
And then, naturally, Yuuko instantly killed it with one punch.
Just like that, the cleansing of this area naturally concluded.
"Another one settled."
Yuuko gently let out a breath, looking at the thunder sakura tree root that no longer had black aura.
To be honest, aside from the slightly annoying and boring puzzles, the rest of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was fine.
At least the final procedure of cleansing those defiled monsters was relatively simple.
It was always just a single punch.
At this moment, Hanachirusato walked over: "Then, without further delay, let us proceed to the next location."
Yuuko nodded, then looked at Hanachirusato in confusion.
He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but he felt that Hanachirusato's presence was much fainter than before.
"I feel like something has changed about you. Is that just my imagination?"
Hanachirusato remained silent, not answering.
After a long pause, she spoke solemnly:
"Regardless, we must complete the remaining cleansing rituals as quickly as possible. This is my duty, and I implore you to assist me."
"Is that so." Yuuko didn't press the issue:
"Let's go then. We shouldn't delay, as the matter of the Abyssal Monsters might not be resolved yet. The cleansing ritual should indeed be hastened."
Just like that, the two walked toward the next cleansing location.
Their next destination was a plain called Araumi, located north of Narukami Island.
And the cleansing spot in Araumi was the most hellish one Yuuko had encountered.
If Hanachirusato hadn't helped, Yuuko probably would have had to busy himself for a while just to find the exact location... After going through a series of hellish puzzles.
Yuuko finally arrived beneath Araumi and found the thunder sakura tree root located there.
After solving the boring puzzle here and unlocking the barrier,
just like the previous times, the defiled memories on the thunder sakura tree root condensed into a human shape.
And then, Yuuko instantly killed it with one punch again.
Just like that, the cleansing ritual here ended at light speed.
What Yuuko found strange was that he hadn't seen any Abyssal Monsters for quite some time now... Shouldn't they still be coming out to attack the thunder sakura tree roots?
Why are they gone now?
Moreover, they weren't just absent underground; they couldn't be seen outside either.
Could it be that the Abyss side has retreated?
Just as Yuuko was pondering this question, Hanachirusato came up and urged:
"Next... only the last location remains."
Yuuko looked solemnly at Hanachirusato and said, "It's really not my imagination. You are much weaker than before."
Having gone through the previous two cleansing rituals,
Yuuko had noticed something: every time a cleansing ritual was successfully completed in a location,
Hanachirusato's aura would become weaker by a fraction.
Hanachirusato remained silent and did not answer the question.
"If you're not feeling well, we can take a short break. From the looks of it, the Abyssal Monsters' attacks have ceased, so the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual doesn't necessarily need to be rushed."
However, Hanachirusato shook her head resolutely:
"No! How can such an important ritual as the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual be delayed because of me! It is a vital ritual for protecting Inazuma!"
Having said that, Hanachirusato seemed to realize her lapse in composure and apologized with a lowered head:
"I apologize, I lost my composure."
Yuuko was silent for a moment, then shook his head:
"It's fine. Since you insist on continuing, then let's continue. There's only one place left anyway. Where is the last spot? Yae Miko didn't tell me."
Hanachirusato explained:
"The final cleansing location is beneath the Grand Narukami Shrine on Mt. Yougou."
Yuuko raised an eyebrow: "Beneath the shrine? Does that mean the last spot is directly purifying the main root branch of the sacred sakura tree?"
Hanachirusato nodded:
"The accumulated filth has already formed a huge nodule deep within Mt. Yougou, bound by the roots of the sacred sakura tree."
"Next, as long as we shatter that nodule, the sacred sakura tree will no longer be affected by the filth, ensuring peace for Narukami Island for generations to come."
At this point, Hanachirusato bowed deeply to Yuuko:
"I entrust everything to you. This is the final step."
Seeing Hanachirusato's sincere appearance, Yuuko gently exhaled:
"There's no need for thanks. I have carried out the cleansing ritual this far purely out of my own will. After all, I also want to protect Inazuma and protect the things I value."
After speaking, Yuuko began to walk away.
Hanachirusato stared blankly for a moment, then bowed deeply toward Yuuko's receding figure again:
"Thank you very much..."
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