When Kitsune Saiguu noticed Hanachirusato looking her way, a gentle warmth surfaced in her eyes.
"Hanachirusato, for the sake of Inazuma, for the Sacred Sakura, your soul has wandered this land for five hundred years."
As she spoke, Kitsune Saiguu bowed slightly. "You've suffered much these past five centuries."
"Ah—! Lady Kitsune Saiguu, please, you mustn't!"
Hanachirusato hurriedly tried to help her up.
But the moment her hand reached toward Kitsune Saiguu's shoulder, it passed straight through.
She froze.
Only then did she realize—without the white fox mask of Kitsune Saiguu, she was no different from any other wandering spirit.
She could barely manifest before others now, and… might never again be able to truly do anything for Inazuma.
"Hanachirusato… big sister…" Sayu's voice was low and subdued.
She could feel the quiet sorrow in Hanachirusato's heart.
Though her devotion to Inazuma remained, she could no longer truly contribute to it.
"It seems… it's finally time for me to return," Hanachirusato said softly.
Her gaze lowered.
Farewells were painful—especially when she had to part from the one she revered most.
Just then, Lin Mo stepped forward.
"Hanachirusato, do you know why I stopped you from going to the 'Place of Origin and Rest'?"
"Hm… was it because of something else?" she asked gently.
"If I told you," Lin Mo said, meeting her eyes directly, "that there's a chance I could bring you back—restore you to this land—would you be willing?"
The sorrow in Hanachirusato's eyes was swiftly overtaken by shock.
"Bring me back…?"
"Return to this land…"
As she whispered the words, the longing in her voice was unmistakable.
She immediately bowed deeply to Lin Mo.
"If there is even the slightest chance, I want to try."
"I want to return to this land, with flesh and blood, and give everything I have to Inazuma."
Lin Mo looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"Alright. Wait here for a bit."
"Whether it's possible or not—you'll have your answer soon."
As he spoke, Lin Mo took out the relic machine cores he had previously gathered from Araumi.
Chaos Oculus.
Chaos Axis.
The power sources of Khaenri'ah's ancient constructs—each one brimming with dense ley line energy.
He laid them out on the ground.
A tool knife formed in his hand, condensed from Geo energy.
Within minutes, the blade flashed rapidly, reshaping the cores again and again.
As time passed, the confusion in Sayu's eyes turned into disbelief.
She recognized what was taking shape.
Hands.
Legs.
Waist.
Hips.
One body part after another emerged beneath Lin Mo's blade, flawlessly carved.
"Kitsune Saiguu… what exactly are you doing?" Kitsune Saiguu asked in confusion.
Lin Mo didn't look back. He continued working, his tone calm.
"Didn't I say I've lived through a hundred lifetimes?"
"In one of them, I mastered Khaenri'ah's bio-alchemy."
"My skill level should be second only to Rhinedottir—the world's second-greatest alchemist, bearer of the title 'Gold.'"
"Creating an artificial human is effortless to me."
As he spoke, he casually patted the sculpted hips and grinned. "These relic cores—this is Khaenri'ah's technology given form."
"I plan to shape them into a human body to house Hanachirusato's soul."
Only then did everyone truly understand Lin Mo's audacious vision.
Using divine authority to stabilize Hanachirusato's form—
and bio-alchemy to create a body capable of containing her soul.
If he succeeded…
His authority would surpass that of the Seven.
Because he would be the only being capable of granting immortality to a mortal.
Lin Mo suddenly looked up at Hanachirusato, who was staring in stunned disbelief, and smiled.
"Oh, by the way—these two areas. Do you want them a bit bigger, or just about the same as before?"
The question made both Sayu and Kitsune Saiguu instinctively glance toward his hands.
And when Kitsune Saiguu realized what he was sculpting—
Her expression darkened instantly.
Chest. And hips.
"T-this…"
Hanachirusato's spirit flushed a deep red. "I think… m-moderation is best…"
"Oh? Really?"
Lin Mo caught the hesitation in her voice, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
"Once an artificial body is completed, changing it later is possible—but very troublesome."
"Th-then… if it's possible…"
Hanachirusato whispered, cheeks burning.
"After reviving… becoming a woman with a bit of charm… wouldn't be so bad…"
Such gentle words—so indirect.
But Lin Mo understood perfectly.
The knife in his hand moved even faster.
Every part of the artificial body took shape flawlessly beneath his blade.
Once assembled, the body appeared perfectly natural—seamless, whole, unmistakably human.
And…
It was dangerously alluring.
"Th-this… is the body I'll have after reviving?"
Hanachirusato's face remained red, but the anticipation in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Not just her—Lin Mo himself was clearly satisfied with the result.
Then a thought struck him.
"Oh right… there are no clothes."
That should have been an innocent concern.
But to Kitsune Saiguu, the look on his face was anything but.
"Wear mine."
With a sharp motion, Kitsune Saiguu tore off her shrine maiden robe and draped it over the artificial body.
Lin Mo reflexively turned to look at her.
Beneath the outer robe, she still wore a thin, close-fitting inner garment.
Catching his gaze, Kitsune Saiguu shot him an annoyed look.
"Disappointed?"
"Cough—no," Lin Mo replied instantly, turning away.
He faced Hanachirusato again and smiled.
"Miss Hanachirusato, there's a Chaos Axis inside this body—it serves as its power core."
"Try seeing if you can anchor your soul within it."
The moment of truth had arrived.
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T/N:
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