"You can revive the dead?!"
Shock flashed through Kitsune Saiguu's eyes. Even the Seven Gods did not possess such authority.
She had heard of Qiqi in Liyue—the child who had been reforged into a corpse-adept. She had even traveled there to inquire about it herself, only to learn there was no way to replicate that miracle.
The adepti of Liyue had explained it clearly: Qiqi's obsession was so powerful that, even in death, her unwilling soul clung to her body. That was why she could accept adeptal power and return as a corpse-adept.
But Hanachirusato was different.
Her body had long since vanished in the catastrophe five hundred years ago.
More importantly, her obsession was not a desperate will to live, but a selfless resolve—to give everything for the sake of Inazuma.
Even if her body still existed, there would be nothing to bind that wish to flesh and bone.
"Uh… to be honest, I'm not even sure myself whether I can really revive her," Lin Mo said with a bitter smile. "It's just a theory. Something I want to try."
"Hanachirusato will agree," Kitsune Saiguu said firmly.
"Because her obsession has always been to protect Inazuma."
"A living shrine maiden can do far more for this land than a soul that has gone to the 'Place of Beginnings and Rest.'"
"…All right," Lin Mo nodded, though his voice carried a trace of unease. "When we meet her, we'll try."
In truth, even he was nervous. What he had was nothing more than a rough idea.
If this method truly worked…
Then the authority he wielded would surpass even that of the Seven.
Under the pale moonlight, Lin Mo, Kitsune Saiguu, and Sayu arrived beneath Araumi, at the corrupted barrier below.
With Lin Mo's nightmare god power and Kitsune Saiguu's sorcery as the first chief shrine maiden, purifying the barrier was effortless. The vengeful warriors born of filth didn't even have time to fully form before they were annihilated by divine might and fox-spirit arts.
When they returned to the surface, Lin Mo even took the time to clear out the nearby Ruin Sentinels, salvaging a few crucial components from their broken bodies.
After that, all three of them turned their gaze toward Mt. Yougou.
At its base lay the roots of the Sacred Sakura.
The final step of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was to descend into the earth and destroy the filth that had eroded the roots for five hundred years—the Tumor of Withering.
But just as they approached the massive pit at the mountain's base—
Rumble—!
Boom!
The faint tremors from deep underground made Lin Mo and Kitsune Saiguu pause.
Sayu tilted her head in confusion. "They're so fast~? They're already fighting?"
"…Faster than I expected," Lin Mo murmured, nodding.
But he understood why Lumine and Paimon had arrived so quickly.
In Hanachirusato's own account, Lumine had already been speaking with Ioroi in Chinju Forest. During the time Hanachirusato was away, they might have already purified another barrier near the forest's coast.
The reunion with Kitsune Saiguu had taken time. In that span, Lumine and Paimon could have reached the second site. And on the way to Araumi, Hanachirusato may have sensed that the barrier there had already been cleansed—so she immediately led them to the final location.
"The battle sounds intense. Let's go help," Kitsune Saiguu said, preparing to descend.
"Wait," Lin Mo said quickly, catching her hand.
"Hm? What is it?"
"The fight will end soon," Lin Mo shook his head. "Let's leave this time to them."
Though puzzled, Kitsune Saiguu said nothing. She followed Lin Mo and Sayu into the shadows, hiding near a massive root of the Sacred Sakura that stretched deep underground.
From there, they watched.
Below, Lumine fought desperately against the corrupted monstrosity—sometimes landing heavy blows on the Tumor of Withering, sometimes cutting down the vengeful warriors born from the filth.
The battle was grueling, but she clearly held the upper hand.
Ten minutes later, Lumine seized her chance and struck the Tumor's core with a single, decisive slash.
That sword strike seemed imbued with something sacred.
The Tumor convulsed violently, then began to crumble and disperse into the earth.
"So… it's time to say goodbye," Lin Mo murmured, watching Hanachirusato appear before Lumine.
The reason he hadn't let Kitsune Saiguu or Sayu join the battle was simple—to let Lumine witness this story herself. To understand what Hanachirusato had given for Inazuma.
After all… reviving Hanachirusato was only a hypothesis. Lin Mo had no absolute certainty he could turn a wandering soul into a living human again.
If he failed, then at least Lumine and Paimon wouldn't miss this heartfelt farewell.
Deep underground—
"Whew~ that was a tough fight," Paimon said, still shaken. "Good thing I always keep an eye on the Traveler's training~!"
Lumine glanced at her flatly, her eyes full of faint disdain.
Hanachirusato bowed gently to them. "Thank you both for your efforts. As promised, I will soon leave behind the reward. Please, be patient."
"Wait!" Paimon blurted out anxiously.
"Miss Masked Shrine Maiden, didn't we agree?"
"After the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual…"
"You'd tell us about yourself!"
"…I…"
Though her face was hidden by the mask, the hesitation in Hanachirusato's voice was clear.
Lumine spoke seriously, "We've been through so much together."
Paimon crossed her arms. "Exactly! Even if it was only a short time, we went through all of that together! If you don't tell us, that's just not fair!"
After a moment of silence, Hanachirusato nodded softly.
"I understand."
"But before that… I haven't yet asked your names."
"I'm Paimon!"
"I'm Lumine."
"Paimon… Lumine…"
"What lovely names," Hanachirusato said warmly. "I will remember them always."
She continued softly, "As I said before, I inherited Lady Kitsune Saiguu's memories. She was of the Hakushin bloodline, once walking alongside the Electro Archon, protecting the people of Inazuma."
"Five hundred years ago, in that great catastrophe, Lady Kitsune Saiguu sacrificed herself to protect Narukami Island, resisting the corruption of the abyss."
"Many were saved by the barriers she left behind… Even I, who merely inherited her memories, feel pride because of them."
Paimon blinked. "Then why did you inherit Lady Kitsune Saiguu's memories? Are you… her descendant?"
"I…"
Hanachirusato hesitated, then chose to face her own strange existence.
She slowly raised her head, looking at them through her mask.
"I am Hanachirusato— a lingering wish chosen by Lady Kitsune Saiguu's will, born to resist corruption."
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu was immensely powerful. Even the calamity of darkness could not completely erase her memories. After the disaster was defeated, those memories became filth and flowed into Inazuma's land… and they chose me, who hovered on the boundary between life and death."
She bowed deeply.
"I could not fight alongside you before. For that, I truly apologize. Because I myself am filth, I cannot purify evil."
Lumine and Paimon's eyes dimmed.
Paimon suddenly realized something.
"If you yourself are filth… and the purpose of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual is to remove filth…"
"Then that means…"
"I was truly happy to walk alongside you," Hanachirusato said softly.
"Because of you, I could come here and fulfill my vow to protect Inazuma."
"Do you really have to go?" Paimon asked, her voice trembling.
Hanachirusato straightened, her tone gentle.
"To part from friends—who knows when we may meet again. Like morning dew, I fade with the sun."
"I am glad to have met you, Lady Lumine, Sir Paimon."
Then she recited the final words of the ritual:
"By a thousand roots and countless branches—
Let the filth be purged,
And with this, be cleansed."
As the ritual ended, her body grew fainter and fainter.
At last, she dispersed into the earth.
Moonlight poured into the cavern.
The once-dull underground seemed reborn—tender shoots emerged, buds blossomed, and crimson sakura flowers bloomed across the land.
Everything was beautiful.
All except for one thing.
The gentle shrine maiden was gone.
What remained was only the fox mask she left behind on the ground.
From afar, Lin Mo, Kitsune Saiguu, and Sayu watched in silence, their hearts aching.
Kitsune Saiguu and Sayu both turned to Lin Mo, their gazes filled with the same question:
Didn't you say you would revive her?
Why are you just watching her fade away?
Lin Mo said nothing.
He waited until Lumine and Paimon left the cavern, their spirits heavy.
Only then did he slowly close his eyes.
Golden light bloomed around him.
A deep, majestic voice echoed from his lips:
"Hanachirusato—by the authority of a god, I summon your soul!"
In an instant—
The soul that should have returned to the Place of Beginnings and Rest appeared before them once more.
This was exactly what Lin Mo had seen Venti do before—summoning Stanley's wandering soul from the Sea of Ash.
Venti had lost his Gnosis at the time, which meant this power did not belong to the Seven.
It was the power of a god—standing above all mortal beings.
And now, Lin Mo used that same power to reunite Hanachirusato's soul.
"I… what is this…?" Hanachirusato murmured in confusion.
Then she saw Kitsune Saiguu.
"L—Lady Kitsune Saiguu…?"
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T/N:
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