Chapter 375: Just Missing Each Other
When Hikigaya Hachiman contacted the Chief Priestess of the Inari Shrine, the figure emerging from the portal was not the familiar masked woman, but a face filled with deep resentment.
"Inari? I thought you were in a deep sleep?"
Hachiman looked at the Inari Deity—who was supposed to be slumbering—with a face full of confusion.
"Thanks to you, I woke up halfway through," Inari replied, her voice dripping with grievance.
Isayama Mei, not knowing the context, almost misunderstood that Hachiman had done something unforgivable to the Goddess.
"Thanks to me?" Hachiman was stunned. He was in Tokyo; how could anything he did affect the shrine?
"Count them yourself." Inari shot him a glare and revealed her tails for him to see.
"One, two... six, seven, eight?"
Looking at the fluffy tails, Hachiman suppressed the urge to reach out and pet them as he called out the count. By the end, he realized the problem. "Where is your remaining tail?"
"Exactly. Where did my tail go?" Inari looked at him with an unfriendly gaze.
"Wait..." Seeing her attitude, an ominous feeling rose in Hachiman's heart.
"No need to guess. When you promoted to a Demigod, those five old fogies tricked my tail into your body."
Inari didn't actually blame Hachiman, she just couldn't swallow her anger at the situation. After all, it took over a hundred years to recover that tail, and before she could even keep it warm for a few days, it was taken again. Anyone would find that hard to bear.
"Uh, sorry..."
Since he had been unconscious during the process, Hachiman was completely unaware. Hearing that he had absorbed her tail as "material," a wave of guilt washed over him.
"It's fine. You didn't know," Inari sighed. After venting her frustration, she had come to terms with it. Ultimately, it was those five Exorcists who had schemed against her. Besides, since Hachiman could reach Demigod status using her tail, he would likely become a true God soon and take over the Kanto position. When that happened, the benefits she'd reap would be even greater.
"So, why are you looking for my priestess?" Inari shifted the conversation to business. Although she had teased him before about flirting with her subordinates, she knew he wouldn't seek them out unless he needed serious help.
"Does your shrine still accept new priestesses?" Hachiman pointed to Isayama Mei behind him.
"Her?"
Hearing the recommendation, a strange expression crossed Inari's face as she looked Mei over. Seeing Mei's proper attire and dignified aura, the Goddess's eyes lit up. Most of the priestesses currently at the shrine were far too noisy; someone with Mei's cold, refined temperament would be a perfect balance.
"She has good potential, but you aren't sending her to my shrine with some other motive, are you?"
With just one look, Inari discovered the spiritual brand Hachiman had left on Mei. This was why she suspected he had "special" intentions. After all, when it came to "shrine maiden play," she knew exactly what humans thought.
"Don't talk nonsense! I never thought about that!"
"Just because you aren't thinking it now doesn't mean you won't later." Inari winked at the flustered Hachiman before walking up to Mei. "You heard our conversation, right? Do you want to come with me?"
"Yes." Mei nodded gently. For someone who had committed "unforgivable crimes," joining a shrine under the protection of a deity was currently her best option.
"I see. Then you shall follow me from now on." Inari nodded, then turned back to Hachiman. "Is there anything else you need help with? Once I go back this time, I really have to sleep."
"I have one more thing to ask. About entering the otherworld..."
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"Tsk, I should have expected this."
Standing before a passage connecting the otherworld to reality, the Nine-Tailed Fox let out a helpless sigh. How could those Exorcists leave such a vast spirit realm unguarded?
"Only 100 spirits can leave per day..."
Thinking of the restriction on the portal, the Fox's face twisted in annoyance. It had originally planned to bring the entire spirit army through the Tokyo passage for an all-out "Spirit Carnival." With a limit of 100, that plan was ruined.
"I can only take a small group of 'elites' out then."
Looking at the "elites" surrounding it, the Fox shook its head. Their levels were high, but because they hadn't fought for a century, their actual combat power was lower than same-level spirits outside. Still, this was more than enough to handle the spiritualist families in Tokyo.
With Tsuchimiyaka Gaku dead, Tokyo lacked any Imperial-grade (Kou-grade) masters. While there might be some King-grade (Ou-grade) elders, they were surely old fossils with barely any years left to live.
The Fox now had 3 Ghost God (Ghost Gods), 7 Ghost Emperors, and 14 Ghost Kings under its command. There was no way a single human like Hachiman could win!
"You lot follow me out. The rest of you, come find me tomorrow." Without hesitation, the Fox led the 99 strongest spirits through the passage toward Tokyo.
At the very same time, having learned the method from Inari, Hachiman tore open a spatial rift. The two parties missed each other by seconds; just as the Fox stepped out, Hachiman stepped in, appearing right in front of the remaining spirits.
"!"
Seeing a massive crowd of eyes staring directly at him, the freshly entered Hachiman was startled. However, upon realizing that there wasn't a single General-grade spirit among those left behind, his shock turned into delight.
But then, the smile vanished. There were supposed to be three Ghost God in this space. Since he couldn't find a trace of them here... where had they gone?
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