At the very moment Lin Mo removed his golden mask, Hanachirusato's body trembled visibly.
"It's… you."
Her voice was filled with disbelief. "Why… you are clearly not a god, yet you were still able to return…"
"That's not the important question right now."
Lin Mo spoke calmly. "What I want to know is—Hanachirusato, who exactly are you?"
Through her mask, Hanachirusato gazed quietly at Lin Mo.
She appeared calm, but her hands were trembling ever so slightly.
The next moment, she slowly raised her right hand and removed the mask from her face.
Beneath it was the face of a young woman—elegant and refined, carrying a gentle, ethereal charm.
But unfortunately…
It was not the face Lin Mo remembered.
With a trace of apology in her eyes, Hanachirusato bowed slightly toward him and said softly,
"I'm sorry. I am not Lady Saiguu, the greatest shrine maiden."
"I am merely an ordinary shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Because, like Lady Saiguu, I could not let go of Inazuma, lingering between life and death… I was chosen by the corrupted will she left behind."
"I inherited her memories… and a portion of her tainted power."
"And because of that, I was given a chance… to fulfill her final wish."
The underground cavern fell into absolute silence.
The only sound that could be heard was the steady dripping of water from the damp rock walls into the pool below.
Sayu seemed to sense the sorrow in Lin Mo's heart.
She gently placed her small hand into his, her voice filled with concern.
"Sensei…"
"I'm fine."
Lin Mo suppressed the pain within him.
Yes…
Hanachirusato was Hanachirusato—a soul with her own will.
After the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was completed, her wish had been fulfilled.
That was why she had faded from the world…
He had always known that she was not Saiguu.
And yet…
A small part of him had still clung to hope.
Hoping that he might once again see the fox-eared girl he had grown up with… the one who carried such a unique charm.
"Lord Sasayuri…"
At that moment, Hanachirusato spoke again softly.
When she saw Lin Mo turn his gaze toward her, she smiled gently and said,
"After your sudden sacrifice back then… Lady Saiguu had many words she never got the chance to say."
"Now that you have returned…"
"Would you like to hear them?"
"…Yes. Tell me."
Lin Mo nodded.
Hanachirusato turned around, facing the starlit sky beyond the cave entrance.
Her thoughts drifted back to the memories left behind by Saiguu.
"Today… is the seventh day since you left."
"And also the first year since we were separated."
"These past seven days, I've come to stand beneath the torii gate of the shrine every single day, looking down at the stone path leading up the mountain."
"I kept wondering… would you come back the way you always did when I was angry…"
"Climbing up the mountain with that carefree smile, coming to the shrine to coax me, and making up with me like before…"
"As for Chiyo… you know what happened. Back then, I was just angry."
"After all… she's my best friend."
"But… I've let it go now…"
"Because it was just an accident after a night of drinking… wasn't it?"
"Sasayuri, if you climb Mount Yougou again…"
"I promise you… this time, I'll be the one to ask to make peace first. Alright?"
After a brief pause, Hanachirusato continued,
"A year has passed… time really flies."
"So many things have happened this year…"
"Makoto has completely thrown herself into her work."
"But the threat from Watatsumi Island is already over… she didn't actually need to be that busy."
"She… probably just misses you too much…"
"I think… she can only numb herself through work…"
"Ei doesn't seem to be doing well either."
"She shuts herself away in her inner world all day…"
"Since the war with Watatsumi Island ended, she's rarely come out."
"Oh, right—Chiyo had a child."
"They look just like you… easy to bully."
"If you were here…"
"We would all be gathered beneath the Sacred Sakura tree, teasing your child, laughing together over a meal… wouldn't we?"
"Sasayuri… I miss you so much."
"Ten years… time passes so quickly…"
"For once, everyone gathered together again…"
"We all went to Yashiori Island. Chiyo even brought your favorite plum wine."
"And Makoto and Ei… it's rare to see them together."
"Oh, and the little fox you raised… it can take human form now."
"It's a good thing you're not here… otherwise you'd probably be completely captivated by her beauty."
"…It turns out… you've already been gone for a hundred years."
"Sasayuri… it's been over a thousand years now, hasn't it?"
"In all these years, I've met many new friends."
"Shrine maidens who came to Narukami Island for their homeland…"
"Officials working hard for Inazuma City…"
"Skilled blacksmiths… and the Naganohara family, who craft such beautiful fireworks…"
"Oh, and there was even a little boy who said he liked me."
"But… my heart belongs to you, so don't worry—I didn't accept him."
"So he left Inazuma in disappointment… I heard he went to Liyue to seek the adepti."
"And also, do you remember that big tanuki you mentioned?"
"You said it was quite powerful, that it might be useful if it joined us."
"Hehe, I beat it into submission."
"It kept its promise and joined the Shogunate."
"But… if only you were still here…"
At this point, Hanachirusato stopped speaking.
She turned to look at Lin Mo, her expression gentle.
"Until her final moment, Lady Saiguu was always thinking of you."
"It's a pity… in order to protect this land, she could not pass on."
As she said this, a trace of sorrow flickered in her eyes.
A soul that returned to the earth, still guarding Inazuma even after death—Saiguu was undoubtedly the greatest shrine maiden.
Seeing Lin Mo's distant gaze… and the tears slipping from the corners of his eyes, Hanachirusato understood.
This was not a moment he wished to be disturbed.
So she bowed slightly to him and said softly,
"Lord Sasayuri, I still have my duty to fulfill. I will not disturb you any longer."
With that, she turned and left the cave alone, heading toward Chinju Forest.
Sayu looked up at Lin Mo.
Her eyes were filled with concern and worry.
But she did not dare to speak.
She knew that the only thing she could do now… was stay by his side.
"System."
Lin Mo called out in his mind.
"Hm? I just fell asleep for a day, and you're already waking me up again?"
The system's lazy voice echoed in his head.
"You promised me a wish. It's time to fulfill it."
Lin Mo spoke calmly within his thoughts.
"Alright, go ahead. What kind of wish do you want?"
"I want… to bring back the friends who died throughout history, those who left this world with regrets."
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T/N:
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