Chapter 468: A Nervous Shikigami and a Peculiar Shrine Maiden
Ren and the others watched with mild amusement as the master and shikigami bickered at the entrance, making no move to interrupt. To step in now would only spoil the fun.
Yuuka Kazami, however, had developed a formidable patience under Ren's influence. She cast a single, cool glance at Yakumo Yukari before turning away and walking silently to her exclusive seat by the window.
A playful, knowing smile graced Yakumo Yukari's lips. "My, my, Yuuka, you truly have changed. To think you can endure even this. Very impressive."
Yuuka shot her a frigid look from her seat. 'That woman,'she thought, her irritation simmering just beneath the surface.'She actually brought someone. And the most aggravating part is not knowing who else she's told.'
Unfazed, Yakumo Yukari announced her presence with a cheerful wave. "Mr. Owner, I've come to visit again! And I brought my shikigami along this time!"
Ren tilted his head, his gaze falling upon the nine-tailed fox standing deferentially behind her master. He gave a slight nod. "Welcome."
In stark contrast to Yukari's breezy confidence, Yakumo Ran was the very picture of reservation. Her posture was stiff, her expression guarded. A human who could command such a casual and amiable attitude from Lady Yukari was surely no simple being. The thought reminded her of a few other, truly terrifying individuals she had encountered in her long life.
Ran bowed her head slightly. "Mr... Mr. Owner, a pleasure to meet you."
A faint smile touched Ren's lips. "You seem surprisingly nervous. Don't worry, there's no danger here. Did Lady Yukari not tell you anything about this place?"
His words made Ran pause. She turned a blank, questioning gaze toward her master. Yukari simply twitched the corner of her mouth, deftly changing the subject. "Ran! What would you like to eat?"
Just as Ran was about to answer, a crucial detail dawned on her. She looked back at Ren, her confusion evident. "Lady Yukari, I... I don't know what's available. Mr. Owner, what kind of food do you serve here?"
Ren's expression shifted from surprise to a quiet sigh. "So, she really didn't tell you anything at all." He met the shikigami's gaze. "As long as I have the ingredients, I can make anything you desire."
Yakumo Ran's eyes widened, a flicker of genuine astonishment breaking through her composure. "That's... that's incredible!"
"So," Ren prompted gently, "what would you like to eat?"
Ran fell into deep thought, her brow furrowed in concentration, before her gaze drifted helplessly back to her master. Yukari offered a theatrical shrug. "Don't look at me, Ran. I'm just as conflicted about what to order as you are."
At that, the poor kitsune was trapped in a spiral of indecision. She wanted to eat everything, yet she couldn't decide on a single thing. No matter what dish her mind conjured, it was immediately replaced by the image of golden, deep-fried tofu.
As her absolute favorite food, she desperately wanted to order it. At the same time, she felt it would be a waste of such a magnificent opportunity. She should try something else, something new.
After a moment of deliberation, Yukari tilted her head, her fan snapping shut. "I'm in the mood for fish! As for how it's prepared, I'll leave that entirely up to you, Mr. Owner. And I'll be having alcohol again this time!"
Ren nodded. Seeing her master make a choice seemed to break Ran's paralysis. She found her voice and addressed Ren, "Mr. Owner, I would like to eat meat. Any preparation you see fit is fine!"
Ren let out a soft sigh. "You two certainly have a similar way of ordering. And for you both? Drinks and desserts?"
"Drinks..." Ran began.
"Ran, you're not going to say tea, are you...?" Yukari interjected, a warning tone in her voice.
"Alcohol!" Ran declared firmly.
Seeing Yukari nod in satisfaction, Ran let out a small, internal sigh of relief. She did drink, of course. In fact, almost everyone in Gensokyo drank. It was merely a question of frequency and preference.
Just as Ren was about to turn and leave, Yukari called out again. "Mr. Owner!"
"Hm? Is there something else?"
"I suddenly find myself craving some dessert."
"An extra dessert?"
"Yes! Ran, aren't you going to add one?"
Ran hesitated for a moment. "Hmm... Is fried tofu acceptable?"
A genuine smile spread across Ren's face. "Of course. It's an excellent snack. Would you like the sauce poured over it, or would you prefer to dip it yourself?"
"I'll dip it myself!" she replied, her voice filled with a hint of excitement.
Ren nodded. "Please wait a moment," he said softly, before disappearing back into the kitchen.
With their orders placed, Yakumo Yukari glided over to the table and naturally took the seat directly across from Yuuka Kazami. Yakumo Ran, the timid shikigami, was left standing awkwardly to the side. The atmosphere between the two ancient youkai was so heavy, so charged, it felt as if a battle could erupt at any second.
Yukari paused, then waved a hand dismissively. "Ran, what are you just standing there for? Come, sit down. You're not planning to eat on your feet, are you?"
Ran shook her head vigorously and quickly took a seat. The moment she settled into the chair, she felt a wave of discomfort wash over her. Opposite her sat the Tyrant of the Flower Fields, and beside her sat her own master—a master she knew all too well. She was quite possibly the first being in all of Gensokyo to witness such a scene firsthand. Her nerves were frayed beyond belief.
Yukari spoke, her tone languid and lazy. "Yuuka, don't be so silent. Did you give your sunflowers to the Owner?"
"I did," Yuuka replied, her voice as crisp as autumn leaves. "Yakumo Yukari, I am more concerned with who else you've told about this place."
Yukari feigned a moment of thought. "Oh, don't you worry. How many people am I truly close to? There's no need to be so tense."
"So, you told that shrine maiden?"
Yukari's eye twitched. A direct hit. Seeing no point in denying it, she gave a nonchalant nod. "Don't be so serious. Do you really think she's the type to go around telling others? When she's not dealing with an incident, she does little more than laze about at her shrine."
Though clearly displeased, Yuuka Kazami said nothing more. That particular shrine maiden was, in her own way, a deep mystery.
You could call her powerful, yet she was never diligent in her training. Still, her strength was obvious.
You could say she had a strange personality, yet she was remarkably easy to understand. She was simple-minded, laughing when she was happy, getting angry when she was upset—a creature true to her desires, utterly devoid of malice. A truly innocent existence.
You could call her diligent, but she was usually idle. Her "cleaning" was mostly for show, and her days were spent drinking tea, daydreaming, or trying to attract worshippers.
If you thought she was friendly... well, she was certainly noisy. She would approach humans and youkai alike without discrimination, but she never truly considered those around her as companions, nor did she ever seek help from others.
You could say she was greedy for money, but she didn't even seem to grasp what money truly meant; she just had a vague sense that she needed it.
You could say she was human, and she was, but she never monitored youkai simply because she was human. She was just as likely to supervise humans who showed the potential to become youkai.
And if you tried to call her competent... well, she probably didn't even know what god was enshrined at her own shrine.
Yet, for such a peculiar, simple-minded, and utterly contradictory being, Lady Yukari held an exceptionally high opinion of her. Yuuka knew this well, which was why she let the matter drop.
Yukari sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "Still... I can't shake the feeling that if she ever did come here, she'd say something absolutely unbelievable..."
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