Akira Shindo flew extremely fast. In just a short time, he crossed hundreds of li and arrived at Mt. Yougou.
"So that's the Grand Narukami Shrine?"
From afar, he could already see the Sacred Sakura beside the shrine.
In reality, the Grand Narukami Shrine was far larger and more exquisite than it appeared in the game. Many buildings stood within the shrine grounds, serving as residences and resting places for the shrine maidens.
Descending from the sky, Akira Shindo's sudden appearance startled the shrine maidens, who looked at the young man cautiously.
"My name is Kuki Sachi, shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Who are you?" the leading young maiden stepped forward and asked.
After all, ordinary people didn't just fly out of the sky.
"My name is Akira Shindo. I came here at the invitation of Guuji Yae Miko," he explained.
"Invited by the Guuji?" Sachi blinked in surprise. She turned to another shrine maiden.
"Nana, go inform the Guuji."
"Alright," Kano Nana nodded and walked into the shrine.
"This way, please," Sachi said, guiding Akira Shindo to a nearby rest area and pouring him a cup of tea.
Akira Shindo casually observed the young shrine maiden in front of him.
He had to admit—there wasn't a single ugly person among those chosen to serve as shrine maidens.
Sachi certainly didn't look like an NPC face from the game. In his previous world, she would easily qualify as a campus beauty.
Though one thing puzzled him.
Her hair was black.
Wasn't Kuki Shinobu's hair green?
Noticing Akira Shindo's gaze lingering on her, Sachi's cheeks gradually flushed red and her eyes became slightly evasive.
This really was a nation modeled after Japan—they certainly had their traditions.
Shrine maidens were said to be attendants who served the gods. They had to maintain absolute purity and remain unmarried their entire lives, offering themselves only to the gods.
Unfortunately, despite all these beautiful shrine maidens gathered in the shrine—
The god they served was female.
"Akira Shindo!"
Just as Akira Shindo was idly thinking, Yae Miko walked out. Seeing him sitting there, she immediately approached.
"Miko, you're here," Akira Shindo said, standing up.
"Guuji-sama!" Sachi quickly withdrew her sneaky glances at Akira Shindo and stood up respectfully.
"Sachi, from now on you don't need to stop Akira Shindo anymore," Yae Miko said calmly.
"Akira Shindo will now serve as the Chief Divine Priest of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Other than me, he's also your superior."
"Mhm… Eh?"
Sachi nodded instinctively before suddenly realizing what she had heard.
Chief Divine Priest?
As a shrine maiden, she naturally knew about that position.
But it hadn't existed for over a hundred years.
Now the Guuji had revived the position?
"What's wrong?" Yae Miko raised an eyebrow playfully. "Can't accept it?"
"N-No…" Sachi quickly shook her head, sneaking another glance at Akira Shindo.
"That's good," Yae Miko chuckled.
"Then you must listen to him in the future~"
She teasingly lifted Sachi's chin with a finger.
"I… I understand, Guuji-sama," Sachi murmured with her head lowered.
"Mhm." Yae Miko hummed in satisfaction.
"Go inform the other shrine maidens."
"Yes, Guuji-sama."
"Oh right," Yae Miko added.
"To welcome our new Chief Divine Priest, make arrangements. After the visitors who come to pray tonight leave, we'll hold a grand banquet for everyone."
"I understand, Guuji-sama," Sachi nodded again.
"Come on, Akira Shindo. Let's talk inside," Yae Miko said.
Akira Shindo nodded and followed her into her room.
His first impression upon entering was simple:
It smelled wonderful.
A faint fragrance filled the room—refreshing and pleasant, very similar to the subtle scent Yae Miko carried.
Her room was clean and simple.
There weren't many belongings, but everything was neatly arranged. Most of the items were books and documents, along with a fairly large bed.
"Ara ara, Lord Akira Shindo," Yae Miko teased as she noticed him observing the room.
"You're the first man ever to enter my private chamber."
"I once heard from a friend in Liyue that a girl's bedroom is extremely private," she continued with a playful smile.
"It's usually only opened to the man she likes."
"So… did you feel my sincerity?"
"Really? I'm afraid I didn't," Akira Shindo replied calmly.
He knew Yae Miko's personality well.
If he had said yes, her next line would probably be something like:
"In your dreams."
"What a cold and insensitive god~" Yae Miko said dramatically, pretending to wipe away tears.
"You've truly broken this poor woman's heart."
"Alright, Miko. Stop messing around," Akira Shindo said helplessly.
"Fine, fine," she sighed, rolling her eyes.
"You unromantic man."
"From now on, you'll live here at the shrine."
"The room next to mine will be yours. I'll have someone clean it up shortly."
"Your monthly stipend will be 200,000 Mora," Yae Miko continued after doing a quick calculation.
"If that's not enough, you can always send the bill to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Oh, and we also have a canteen here."
"Meals are free."
"Oh?"
Akira Shindo's eyes lit up slightly.
Earlier in Inazuma City, he had already realized that Mora in reality had far greater purchasing power than in the game.
Roughly speaking, the ratio felt like 1 Mora ≈ 10 yuan.
That meant 200,000 Mora per month was roughly equivalent to about 20,000 yuan in spending power.
And the shrine even covered food and lodging.
But the most important part—
He could send the bill to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Wasn't that perfect?
If someone asked where the richest place in Inazuma was, the answer was definitely the Grand Narukami Shrine.
And then there was Yae Publishing House, whose business extended across the entire continent of Teyvat.
Even Collei had learned to read through Yae Publishing's novels.
Just how rich Yae Miko actually was—
No one truly knew.
With the shrine backing her up, she was basically a walking golden thigh.
Akira Shindo nearly laughed out loud.
He had just arrived in Inazuma—
And he was already officially employed.
A government position at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
At the very least, it was equivalent to a ministerial-level post.
"Here," Yae Miko said, producing a token.
"This is your Divine Priest Token, proof of your identity."
The token was sakura pink in color.
Akira Shindo took it.
On the front was the Electro Mitsudomoe, symbol of the Almighty Narukami Ogosho.
On the back was the emblem of the Sacred Sakura, representing the Grand Narukami Shrine.
He casually hung the token at his waist.
Then Akira Shindo glanced out the window.
Right outside Yae Miko's room stood the Sacred Sakura Tree.
Akira Shindo knew that within the Sacred Sakura lingered a faint remnant of Raiden Makoto's consciousness.
As the Herrscher of Life and Death, he could naturally sense that fragile trace of awareness.
It was incredibly weak—
Like a candle in the wind.
Like a lantern in the rain.
Soon, it would completely fade away.
In that case…
The method he planned to use to deal with the sly fox and Raiden Ei—
Could officially begin now.
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