"Mm… alright…"
Sayu nodded reluctantly.
From the look on her face, it was obvious—she really didn't like working.
Even when it was an assignment from her teacher, she still didn't like it. At all.
Still, she obediently headed toward the abandoned shrine.
But she hadn't gone very far when she suddenly came sprinting back to Lin Mo in a panic.
Her small face was practically screaming terror.
"What's wrong, Sayu?" Lin Mo asked curiously.
"Just now… just now, when Sayu ran toward that masked shrine maiden…"
"H-her body slowly faded… and then disappeared…"
"Wuu… Sayu remembered the scary rumors about the abandoned shrine…"
Sayu cried miserably, clutching Lin Mo's hand as she begged,
"Teacher, can Sayu give up on this mission?"
"Disappeared…"
Only then did Lin Mo recall something.
In the Hanachirusato quest, ordinary people couldn't see her at all.
After all, she wasn't truly alive—more like a remnant formed from lingering thoughts.
Only when she wished to be seen would she deliberately reveal her form.
That explained it.
Why Yae Miko saw Hanachirusato vanish right before her eyes.
Because the one Hanachirusato was waiting for
was the destined person who would carry out the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual.
Yae Miko clearly wasn't that person.
Even though she had the power, as the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine,
she deliberately ignored the corruption of the Sacred Sakura.
Her goal was simple—
to plunge Inazuma into chaos.
Once Inazuma fell into disorder, Ei would be forced to abandon her "Eternity" within the Plane of Euthymia,
step out of her sealed heart,
and personally resolve the nation's crisis.
From Hanachirusato's perspective,
someone who had both the ability and responsibility to cleanse the Sacred Sakura
yet chose to turn a blind eye
was not the destined one she awaited.
As for Sayu… that was even easier to understand.
This little shorty clearly lacked the strength to carry out the ritual.
During the cleansing, one had to face multiple samurai corrupted by filth,
and in the end, confront the powerful source of defilement beneath Mt. Yougou.
Without overwhelming strength, it was impossible.
So of course Sayu wouldn't be chosen.
"Looks like I'll have to step in myself," Lin Mo thought.
Originally, he'd wanted Sayu to bring Hanachirusato to him,
so he could take the opportunity to change clothes.
Why change clothes?
To avoid being recognized by Lumine and Paimon.
Only by approaching Hanachirusato as a complete stranger—
by catching her off guard—
could Lin Mo confirm whether she truly was Kitsune Saiguu.
Because Lin Mo was certain of one thing:
if Hanachirusato really was Kitsune Saiguu,
she would hide her identity from him.
She was just like him—someone who avoided pain.
If separation was inevitable,
she would never admit who she was,
choosing instead to bear the pain alone
rather than let him suffer from another farewell.
"Sayu, wait here for a moment," Lin Mo said.
As he spoke, he began removing the pristine white diplomatic knight's uniform he was wearing.
"T-Teacher… what are you doing…?"
Sayu hurriedly covered her eyes.
"What are you thinking?" Lin Mo rolled his eyes.
Without explaining, he turned the uniform inside out.
Just like when he'd first met Eula—
wear it in reverse, and it's a brand-new outfit.
Soon, Lin Mo had transformed into a gentleman dressed in black.
But that wasn't enough.
He produced a golden mask and put it on.
Now there was no way Paimon or Lumine could recognize him.
And even if that masked shrine maiden really was Kitsune Saiguu,
she would never imagine that her first love
was disguised as a foreign gentleman wearing a golden mask.
"Come on, Sayu. Let's go."
Lin Mo took her hand and led her toward the abandoned shrine.
"Mm…"
Sayu was clearly scared.
Lin Mo could feel how sweaty her palm was.
He squatted down in front of her and comforted her gently,
"Don't be nervous. I'm here. Nothing will happen."
"S-Sayu isn't scared at all… wuu…"
Her miserable expression made it impossible to pretend otherwise.
She muttered tearfully,
"This is way harder than work at the Shuumatsuban…
I'd rather be sleeping…"
"Once this is done, I'll let you sleep as much as you want,"
Lin Mo said with a wry smile, tapping her head.
"Later, I'll say I'm a traveling merchant from a foreign land.
You're a guide assigned to me by Lady Kamisato. Got it?"
"Got it…"
Sayu nodded pitifully.
At last, Lin Mo led Sayu back to the abandoned shrine where Hanachirusato had appeared before.
Facing the empty shrine, he smiled and spoke to the air,
"Miss Shrine Maiden of the Mask, regarding the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual—
is there anything I can help you with?"
Watching Lin Mo smile at thin air,
Sayu gripped his hand tightly, fear written all over her face.
Then, in the very next instant—
A white silhouette suddenly appeared before Sayu.
"So it was you who sent this cute little tanuki toward me."
"G-Ghost lady! Wuuuu—!"
Sayu immediately shrank behind Lin Mo.
Now Lin Mo could clearly see Hanachirusato's figure.
Though her face was hidden,
he could tell her body was at least ninety percent identical to Kitsune Saiguu's.
Hanachirusato turned toward him and asked calmly,
"May I ask—are you able to see me?"
"Yes," Lin Mo replied with a smile.
"Miss Shrine Maiden, I was passing by earlier and overheard that the blonde traveler was helping to purify the corruption."
"Helping one person in need every day
is a habit I've kept for ten years."
"Unfortunately, I haven't found anyone to help today."
"So may I offer my assistance to you, Miss Masked Shrine Maiden?"
"…Helping one person in need every day…"
Hanachirusato softly repeated the words, then said gently,
"I didn't expect you to be such a warm-hearted and kind person."
"But what we're about to do may be dangerous."
"Even so, are you still willing to help me?" she asked.
"With the greatest pleasure,"
Lin Mo replied at once, smiling.
"Then what can I do now?"
Hanachirusato nodded.
"The traveler named Lumine is already purifying the corrupted barrier."
"Please, follow me."
She turned and led Lin Mo and Sayu toward a nearby pond beside the abandoned shrine—
the site of the second 'Barrier' in the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual.
Along the way, Lin Mo kept watching Hanachirusato's graceful steps.
Staring at her back, his doubts deepened.
Was this woman really Kitsune Saiguu?
Her figure matched.
But her voice and temperament didn't.
Kitsune Saiguu was gentle, yes—
but also lively and outgoing.
Even her way of walking was different.
Though she had once served as the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine,
she had never walked with such measured, reserved grace.
As Lin Mo continued observing her,
Sayu kept sneaking glances at him.
A strange look even surfaced in her eyes.
Finally—
she tugged on his hand.
"Hm? What is it?" Lin Mo asked.
Sayu cautiously beckoned him closer, signaling she had something to whisper.
Lin Mo crouched down and leaned his ear toward her.
"Teacher… why have you been staring at the masked shrine maiden's butt the whole way…?"
"I-I mean, she does walk very elegantly…"
"But teacher, that behavior…
seems even worse than Arataki Itto, that good-for-nothing delinquent…"
--------
T/N:
You'll also get 5 extra chapters just for being a free member!
Access 40 chapters in advance on my Patreon : [email protected]/furinaimpact