Mori Tsukisa led Anck-Su-Namun and Nagini to the inn she had found. For some reason, Imhotep seemed a little upset?
The man had a stern expression, and behind him was a handwritten price card—compared to a decent hotel in Tokyo, the price here was only a tenth.
"Just this much?"
"Yes, it's always been this way. Would you like to open one room for you and your family?"
The inn's owner was a university student who had lived in this town with her grandmother for many years, making a living by selling handmade dango and hosting backpackers. She looked at the three women and one man in front of her, assuming they were parents traveling with two children.
But why was the youngest Child negotiating? Was it to train her social Ability? The owner watched the 'lively' girl leaning on the counter, shaking her head, and a strange fondness grew in her heart.
"Your Child is truly beautiful," she smiled.
Imhotep didn't explain much. Even if they took two rooms, he could always attribute it to 'training the children's independence' or some such reason—
But it had to be said, this place was terrifyingly cheap. The two old relics, who had been active in Tokyo since arriving in Lady Witch's World, discovered for the first time that money could go so far.
"Do you need anything else?"
"Dango! We're hungry!"
No... only you are hungry, Lady Witch.
Arrietty, who had been silent, suddenly tugged on Mori Tsukisa's hair. The girl turned her head in the direction of the pull, and a hunched Shadow had appeared behind them at some point.
An old woman standing in the Shadow.
The old woman had a band inscribed with scriptures tied around her head, and held a tattered gohei in her hand. On her deeply wrinkled and yellowed face, a pair of triangular eyes squinted, carefully scrutinizing Mori Tsukisa.
She waved the gohei a few times, jumping and mumbling, "Evil spirits disperse! Evil spirits disperse! Evil spirits disperse!"
Anck-Su-Namun and Imhotep had swiftly stepped back when Mori Tsukisa turned, standing like a door, shielding Mori Tsukisa's... body with their own.
Her head was sticking out.
The mischievous girl reached out and pushed them aside, her head wedged between Imhotep and Anck-Su-Namun's arms, staring back with wide, curious eyes—
"Evil spirits disperse! Evil spirits disperse! Evil spirits disperse!"
The old woman continued her rambling incantations. As the female shopkeeper behind Mori Tsukisa showed a troubled expression, the young girl did something she hadn't expected.
She clutched her chest, feigning pain, and lifted her chin.
"Ah! This—what is this power! I..."
"I'm going to be dispelled!!"
The young university student and shopkeeper:... The old woman:... Imhotep & Anck-Su-Namun: Normal operation.
Nagini: Quack quack!
The old woman looked at Mori Tsukisa strangely, then down at her own hands. That useless gohei and the scribbled scriptures on her head... Had I finally awakened?
Ha! Ha!
That old hag Miyamizu Hitoha, this time she can't compare to me!
I am Itomori Town's First Shrine Maiden!
I am the strongest exorcist old woman!
—The shopkeeper girl had quickly run out from behind the counter, soothing her grandmother while giving Imhotep an apologetic look. After mouthing for them to wait, she pressed on her grandmother's shoulders and guided her into the room.
As for why she suddenly spoke to Imhotep, it's because the actress's performance wasn't over yet... 'Alright, Grandma, the evil spirit has been dispelled by you.'
'I am Itomori Town's First Shrine Maiden!'
'I've awakened!'
'Yes, yes, you've awakened. Please go rest, we have guests here.'
'She is not human! I am doing what every generation's Shrine Maiden should do!'
The voices of the girl and the old woman faded. Mori Tsukisa frowned in 'pain,''spitting blood' while collapsing onto the sofa by the door, casually picking up a candy from the hospitality plate, unwrapping it, and popping it into her mouth.
"Mmm (chew)... so painful (chew)..."
"Lady Witch, she's gone," Imhotep said, wearily rubbing the back of his head, his eyebrows drooping.
"She didn't get her fill," Arrietty rolled her eyes. "Three rooms, far apart, High Priest. The Queen and I don't want to be woken up by you and your lover at night."
"Two rooms," Nagini interjected, then looked at Imhotep and added, "but agree to be far apart."
This tall High Priest showed a shy expression for the first time, while Anck-Su-Namun didn't care at all, even raising an eyebrow to retort, "Oh? We're afraid of being woken up by you two."
Arrietty crossed her arms and pouted, "You know what I'm talking about."
Anck-Su-Namun nodded, "You also know what I'm talking about."
"I'm not even as big as the Queen's palm."
"Yes, but you don't need charging, nor do you need batteries," the former enchantress sneered at Arrietty. "And you can swim, so you're probably waterproof."
Nagini: Are you just ignoring me?
Imhotep:... Mori Tsukisa:... Tell me, Anck-Su-Namun, after I told you to learn about the internet, what exactly did you learn on it?
Now it was clear what Anck-Su-Namun had learned. Probably some papers on 'The Impact of Power Surges on Human Life and Global Ocean Tidal Energy Flux and Dissipation'... Judging by Arrietty's flushed face, the fairy hadn't read any fewer papers. In a conversation between two highly knowledgeable people, they understood each other's meaning without needing to say much.
This was the unspoken understanding unique to top students.
As the two women, one large and one small, bickered, the young shopkeeper finally soothed her grandmother and came out holding a dark brown pot. A silver rhombus pendant hung around her neck, and she apologized profusely as she took cups from the counter for them.
Clear tea poured into the cups, its fragrance wafting through the air.
"I'm truly sorry, honored guests... my grandmother," the woman forced a smile, "She's a bit—"
Mori Tsukisa shook her head, holding her cup. "It's alright, shopkeeper... Miss?"
"Just call me Yuu, I'm only two or three years older than you, right?" Yuu, a freshman in college, had her hair tied in a messy ponytail. Despite the impolite incident, she still maintained her smile—as if it were an instinct.
Mori Tsukisa even felt she was a bit stiff.
She asked the same question.
Yuu didn't speak, she pursed her lips and put down the teacup, then bowed to the three of them before going behind the counter and silently processing their check-in. The girl didn't want to talk about this topic.
"You can take your wife and daughter here, and here—" Yuu took out a map and pointed to Imhotep: After what just happened, she felt this handsome gentleman seemed much more reliable: "There's a small stream, and a specialty restaurant here."
"I apologize that our Itomori Town isn't very prosperous, but if you and your family are just here for leisure and relaxation, the places I recommend will be fine."
Then, as if remembering something, she pointed to the center of the map: "This is the Miyamizu Shrine—you must have heard of it, right?"
"The most important place in Itomori Town. One could say, we are all people who grew up around the gods."
Mori Tsukisa, slumped on the sofa, lazily raised her hand to ask, "Your grandmother seems to really dislike someone?"
Yuu gave a bitter smile.
"That's just a joke. It was just a small disagreement between two ladies who were young many years ago, all because of a certain man..."
"Shrine Maiden stuff is all nonsense. The Miyamizu Family's Shrine Maidens have been passed down through generations..."
Mori Tsukisa drained her teacup, wiped her mouth, "Then... if there's nothing else, can I go play with Grandma?"
Yuu had never met a girl like Mori Tsukisa before.
Not only was she not afraid, but she was also very willing to approach an old woman who was merely sick but was called a madwoman by the townspeople.
What a kind girl.
Imhotep took in the changing expression on the female shopkeeper's face.
Kind?
She just found it interesting.
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