Although it can't compare to South Korea, Japan also has many strange religions.
But the number of fools is limited, and with the existence of major denominations like Shinto, Christianity, and Buddhism that already have many believers, the vast majority of cults are quite marginal. Those able to do well are, without exception, those that have accumulated human networks and interest transfers over many years-only then can they operate a solid relationship network for them to slowly climb upward.
Regarding such things, as a child of a political family, Fujiwara Chika had naturally been warned by her family not to truly believe in any religion.
However, even without paying much attention to these matters, she had still recently overheard information about a certain religion multiple times at several high-society banquets.
It was clearly just a newly emerging religion that hadn't been established for long, yet it was able to rise at an unimaginable speed. It had even achieved things that many old-style religions could not, directly dipping its fingers into the high society of the Island Country. It seemed that even among the people Fujiwara Chika knew, some had become believers of that religion.
This was very strange. One must know that although many of the Island Country's high-ranking officials have murky relationships with certain cults, those who would openly join and become believers remain a minority.
Putting aside the classmates at Shuchiin, the people Fujiwara Chika knows are more or less second-generation elites with family backgrounds. Even if they weren't explicitly coached at home, they wouldn't easily believe in a religion under the influence of their environment.
It was precisely because of this that after the Fujiwara family received a dinner invitation from that religion, Fujiwara Chika, who usually had no interest in such matters, still had an impression of it.
"But people from my family probably won't attend." After explaining the general situation to Asakura in detail, the young girl took a sip of black tea to refresh herself.
Following that, she looked as if she had been bit by the tea water, instinctively sticking out her tender little pink tongue. It seemed the black tea brewed by Kitagawa Marin did not suit her taste.
Asakura pushed the plate containing rabbit dango toward her, signaling for her to eat something sweet, while simultaneously asking: "So what is the name of that religion?"
"Happiness and Peace Religion."
"Sounds like the name of a public welfare organization."
"Most cults have names like that. Being too unique will only arouse people's vigilance during proselytizing." The girl picked up a rabbit dango, "Aum..." and bit off the rabbit's head in one mouthful. Chewing while speaking indistinctly: "Sometimes they even want to trick people into the church without using the religion's name directly, instead calling themselves the Happiness and Peace Committee or something. Mmm mmm, this steamed bun is really delicious!"
No, that's a dango.
"When is the banquet on that invitation you mentioned?" Asakura asked, feeling it had investigative value.
"Next weekend, the location is over by Ginza..."
Fujiwara Chika mentioned a place name. Compared to Ginza, Asakura, who prefers visiting Akihabara, had not heard of this name, but looking at the long store name, the possibility of it being a five-star luxury hotel was quite high.
In order to increase credibility, it seems the more crooked and devious a group is, the more they like to hold banquets in those kinds of magnificent and palatial places.
After taking another bite of the rabbit dango, the girl finally realized something and looked up at Asakura: "Does the Exorcist-san want to attend a gathering?"
"Yeah, I plan to investigate some cult situations lately."
Asakura nodded in admission.
After all, that's what the mission required, and he was also a bit curious about the so-called Evil God Church.
"Then can I go with you? I know where that invitation is. Taking the invitation with us on that day should make getting in much simpler." The girl asked excitedly: "Exorcist-san doesn't want to waste too much time at the door, right?"
"It wouldn't really waste much time... well, if you want to come, then come."
Sneaking into a place was just a matter of a single spell for Asakura; even the strongest fortress in the world was no different from a soda cracker in front of him.
However, since there was a more normal method that wouldn't alert the enemy, he didn't mind using it. At most, it was just bringing along a dead weight.
"Hmm, let me think where that invitation was thrown..." Having received permission, Fujiwara Chika happily rubbed her temples with her fingers.
"It's still early anyway, you can go home and look for it slowly." Asakura stood up: "Now, follow me."
"Eh? Okay... Aum!" The girl stuffed the remaining rabbit dango into her mouth, and immediately her cheeks puffed up adorably, looking just like a chipmunk with its mouth full of pine nuts. She hurriedly stood up and followed Asakura while saying, "Wait, wait for me..."
"I'll leave the rest of today's work to you, Kitagawa." Asakura waved to Kitagawa Marin behind the bar, and the latter nodded coolly.
It was only when Asakura and Fujiwara Chika left through the back door that Kitagawa Marin seemed to remember something and ran over.
"Wait a moment, Kitagawa's part-time shift schedule is——"
She opened the door, only to find the small alley behind the Rabbit House empty. There was absolutely no sign of Asakura and the others who had just stepped out.
"...Eh?"
Confusion filled Kitagawa Marin's eyes. In the end, she could only attribute it to her boss being a professional athlete capable of moving at speeds far exceeding a normal person's running pace...
On the other side, Fujiwara Chika was also looking at the scenery in the circular hall with a face full of surprise and excitement.
Clearly different from the modern minimalist style of the Rabbit House, no matter how she looked at it, this room looked like a medieval dungeon, giving the girl a strange sense of anticipation.
"It feels like I've traveled to another world!"
"Don't get so excited, this is just a transit station."
As Asakura spoke, he opened the door on the other side, revealing the interior of Yui's hut.
That being said, the scene inside Yui's hut wasn't exactly normal either. Just the stack of modern society products that couldn't possibly be used under normal circumstances already lent it a mysterious hue.
However, as time passed, many members of the Magic Club had gradually brought their personal belongings into the hut, causing the interior—which originally had a Ghibli-esque fairytale feel, to fade significantly, looking even somewhat cluttered at first glance.
It was only because Asagumo, Chihiro, and the others cleaned frequently that it wasn't actually messy; it was just an illusion caused by having too many things.
"How should I put it..." Fujiwara Chika followed Asakura into Yui's hut, looked at the wondrous scene inside, thought for a moment, and then summarized: "It's a place that feels very much like a 'secret base'!"
Asakura gave her an appreciative look that said, 'You have good taste.'