The Traveler explained the situation to Heizou, who analyzed:
["It's just as I suspected. There's definitely something going on behind this test of courage."]
It turned out that Heizou had been investigating because he received a commission. The "Akitsu Yuugei" mentioned by Ei didn't seem to be organized by the Yashiro Commission. In fact, this "Akitsu Yuugei" was shrouded in an eerie atmosphere. The person who commissioned Heizou had been trapped in this game for hours. Knowing how strange "Akitsu Yuugei" was, yet still choosing to hold a test of courage nearby, was far too suspicious. There had to be something behind it.
Readers, upon reaching this point, immediately declared: Something's up, huh? It's definitely Yae Miko's doing! Isn't Yae Miko one of the three organizers? This kind of thing is totally her style! No mistake about it! If it's not her, I'll eat my words! After reading so many stories, whenever Yae Miko's name comes up, you can bet that fox is stirring the pot behind the scenes.
At first, seeing Shikanoin Heizou secretly observing, readers thought he might be plotting against the Traveler. But it turns out he's someone the Traveler knows. Is this just the Traveler's charm at work? With so many friends, the Traveler was now in a bind, as the second round of the test of courage was starting, and with so many friends, choosing a partner was tough.
A happy dilemma of picking one out of three: Yoimiya, Thoma, and Sayu.
Good thing this wasn't a Conan episode, or this cast would be enough for a full mystery, and Detective Heizou doesn't quite have that level of divine power. Readers were curious about one thing: Sayu joining the test of courage? That's way too strange! Shouldn't she be sleeping? Speaking of which, the Guardian Forest is practically made for napping. She wouldn't fall asleep during the game and end up being carried by the Traveler the whole way, would she? This… it's hard to say who to envy here…
Though Sayu's presence was intriguing, the story first focused on Yoimiya's route.
Just like last time, that rascal Arataki Itto "betrayed" the team again. Despite being a teammate, he ran off to chase after those three "little brats" from before. That's why the Traveler had to find a new partner, leading to Yoimiya.
As for Yoimiya, she had actually participated in the first round but arrived earlier and missed the Traveler. Now, in the second round, she finally "caught" the Traveler and immediately volunteered to team up. Yoimiya has always been a proactive girl. In the illustration, she's beaming with a radiant smile, confidently declaring that she'll make sure the Traveler passes and that choosing her won't lead to any regrets—here comes Yoimiya, the bold big sister!
The Traveler, of course, wouldn't refuse such an adorable girl and agreed to team up with Yoimiya.
For the second round, the item to find was no longer dango milk but a "fan." Too bad the teammate wasn't Ayaka, or she'd probably have a whole stack of fans ready to sell on the spot.
[The shrine maiden said in a chilling tone: "A fan personally selected by the head of the Yashiro Commission lies quietly somewhere in the Guardian Forest."]
["Hehehe… If you can't hold out, giving up might just save your life."]
In the illustration, the shrine maiden wears a terrifying smile. You have to admit, she's really dedicated to her role. This shrine maiden is usually very gentle, but it's clearly Yae Miko's mischievous sense of humor at play, forcing the kind maiden to act scary. Miko's probably snickering in the shadows. The shrine maiden's dedication is worlds apart from that NPC from earlier who was whining about not having a wife.
In the story, the Traveler naturally wasn't fazed by the shrine maiden's act and entered the Guardian Forest with Yoimiya to begin the second round of the test of courage.
Just a few steps in, something suddenly fell from a tree and landed right on Paimon's head. In the illustration, Paimon is flailing her little hands in a panic, too scared to touch whatever's on her head. Paimon looked at the Traveler pitifully, begging for help to remove it.
Before the Traveler could act, Yoimiya stepped in first.
[Yoimiya said: "Let me take a look… Oh! It's an Onikabuto!"]
["It looks like a real fighter. I'm taking it with me! Hehe, for the next Onikabuto tournament, I'm counting on these guys!"]
Not only was Yoimiya unafraid, she even "kidnapped" the event's official NPC bug. Arataki Itto exclaimed, what had he been missing out on?
By the way, if Yoimiya clears the round, she might even get a small gift. Now the organizers are the ones losing both their "wife" and their "soldiers." Readers weren't surprised that Yoimiya would join an Onikabuto tournament. It's well-known that Yoimiya loves playing with kids, so her participating in such a children's game feels natural. Unlike Arataki Itto, who treats the game like a competitive sport and gets serious about beating kids, Yoimiya plays earnestly but doesn't care much about winning or losing—she's just there for the kids.
In short, Yoimiya would definitely make a great wife and mom. Yoimiya fans among the readers are already dreaming of marrying her.
Back to the story, the group continued forward. Yoimiya seemed to hear some noises near a shrine and, following the spooky atmosphere, began telling a scary story.
["Speaking of which, I heard someone say that some evil spirits are sealed inside shrines. Every night, they knock from within."]
["When someone gets close, they suddenly burst out and drag the person inside to take their place!"]
Paimon hadn't even heard the shrine's noises, but Yoimiya's story scared her so much she couldn't tell friend from foe. In reality, there was nothing in the shrine—just a little black cat.
[Yoimiya said, disappointed: "What? It's just a cat? How boring. I was hoping to see a real evil spirit!"]
Her disappointed expression and tone couldn't help but remind people of Hu Tao. Are all you Pyro girls like this? Amber's just as lively. But wait, hold on—there's Arlecchino, who's not lively at all. How is she not a Cryo user? She should swap Visions with Kaeya, and Diluc should swap with Itto. That'd fit everyone's "stereotypes" perfectly.
As the two continued walking, a group of glowing "will-o'-wisps" appeared, floating in the air, flickering in and out of sight. What's even more magical is that these melons weren't even cooked despite being on fire!
[Yoimiya said curiously: "That's weird. How did Paimon turn into a lavender melon?"]
Whether it was the dim surroundings or Yoimiya being playful, she mistook the floating melons for Paimon. Earlier in the story, Itto had nicknamed Paimon "Flying Lavender Melon," and now they'd encountered actual flying lavender melons. No one knew how these melons worked, flickering like real ghosts. Yoimiya was fascinated and even seemed reluctant to let them go when they finally vanished.
In the illustration, Yoimiya is chasing the melons, reaching out to grab them like she's catching butterflies. Her youthful energy, paired with her cute movements and joyful smile, truly tugged at many readers' heartstrings.
Readers declared: That's my wife.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Yoimiya: About the Akitsu Kimodameshi · Herself
"The test of courage is all about having fun, right? Whether you're laughing or scared, you're enjoying the moment, haha!"