Yae Shrine.
After dealing with the mechs that had come to play extra roles, Li Mu finally had time to address Sakura's situation.
He noticed she still looked worried, even after accepting his offer.
"Sakura, what's on your mind?"
She hesitated before answering, "Boss… I'm worried about Poison Cocoon. They won't let traitors go. They might come after you."
Li Mu laughed, utterly unconcerned.
"MOTH is worth worrying about. Poison Cocoon? Just roadside trash. Not even qualified to sit at the table."
Hearing how relaxed he sounded, Sakura finally eased up.
Still, out of professional caution, she added, "Boss, they have a lot of people."
"Doesn't matter. Just kill them all."
She choked.
After a moment, she said carefully, "Boss… isn't that a bit extreme?"
Li Mu nodded. "Fair point. That is a little extreme…"
She sighed in relief.
Then he added, "In that case, we won't touch their families. Misfortune shouldn't involve relatives."
Sakura's face twitched. She was at a loss for words.
"As long as you're happy…"
"All right. The one we're waiting for is here," Li Mu said, looking toward the shrine entrance.
Sakura followed his gaze and froze.
A girl who looked almost identical to her, dressed in shrine maiden robes, was standing there, curiously looking around.
"Rin?!" Sakura rushed over and hugged her tightly. "Why are you out of the hospital?!"
Rin tilted her head. "Didn't you tell me to come, Sis?"
Then she smiled and hugged Sakura back.
"And… Sis, I'm better now!"
Only then did Sakura notice that the ugly purple markings below Rin's neck were gone.
"This… how is this possible?"
Li Mu spoke from the side. "I told you. I can cure her."
Watching the two pink-haired sisters cling to each other, Li Mu smiled.
Honkai infection was nothing.
System-grade anti-Honkai serum. Ten crystals per shot. As long as you were not a zombie yet, one injection and you were good as new.
The cost?
One of Mei's meals.
Once Sakura confirmed there were no traces of Honkai energy left in Rin, she broke down crying.
"Sis… don't cry…"
Li Mu quietly stepped away, waiting in front of the shrine statue.
After a while, Sakura composed herself and led Rin over.
Countless emotions surged through her heart, but in the end, they condensed into a single word.
"Thank you."
Li Mu turned around. Her eyes were filled with resolve.
Even though his system was not about affection points, he could almost see the words "Favorability Up" popping above her head.
"All right. Since I've paid you, it's time you worked for me."
"Sakura will not refuse."
Her eyes gleamed with fierce loyalty.
"Boss, please tell me the target's name!"
Li Mu nodded, satisfied.
"Very good. Starting today, you're the head priestess here."
"…What?"
This was not what Sakura had imagined at all.
Li Mu leaned closer, resting his hand on Rin's head and gently rubbing it. Rin squinted happily, letting out a faint purr like a big dog.
"Your sister will be the shrine's deity."
"This shrine is called Yae Shrine. The god enshrined here is Higokumaru. From today on, you are shrine maidens of Yae Shrine."
"…You want me to be a shrine maiden?"
Her mind nearly crashed.
A bloodstained assassin, praying for blessings and warding off misfortune?
If Higokumaru really existed, Sakura felt the god would probably smite her first.
"You don't want to?"
She shook her head quickly. "Sakura has no objections, if this is your will."
"Good. Then from today, you are Yae Sakura, head priestess."
He smiled oddly.
"And your sister will be Yae Rin."
At that moment, Li Mu glanced at his system panel. A previously grayed-out task flickered to life.
A sealed story sleeps in a shrine of the Far East, buried for five hundred years.
Chronicle Task: Clock in to Sakura Samsara
Reward: Divine Key – Jizo Mitama
Status: Divine Key not activated. Key character not detected: Kallen Kaslana
Chronicle task, huh. This system really loved copying game mechanics.
Still, Li Mu was delighted.
Sakura, on the other hand, was confused.
So… that was it?
A shrine job? With that salary?
It felt too easy. Almost suspiciously so.
After hesitating, she asked carefully, "Boss… am I really just a shrine maiden here?"
"Head priestess," Li Mu corrected. "And no, you're not just slacking off."
She sighed in relief.
"That's better…"
"You'll also serve as Head of Security at ME Corp. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Shrine duties on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weekends are free."
"…What?" Sakura stared. "I get weekends off?"
Li Mu frowned. "Don't push your luck."
"I'm giving you weekends, eight-hour workdays, basic social insurance, housing fund, meal allowance, and travel subsidies."
"Three months of leave per year. One more day and we're renegotiating."
…
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