Whether the position mattered or not was irrelevant. The key point was that he could send the bill to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Wait… why did the thought of charging everything to the shrine make him so excited? Could it be that he was becoming like that freeloading, good-for-nothing Zhongli? Kagami Ren pondered.
Far away in Liyue, Zhongli—who was leisurely enjoying music at a teahouse—suddenly shivered, feeling as if some inexplicable malice was targeting him.
"But… you trust me that much? The High Priest position should count as a high-ranking official in Inazuma, right?" Kagami Ren looked at Yae Miko. "And you're just giving it to me like that?"
"Perhaps." Yae Miko nodded. "I've always trusted my instincts. You are someone worth trusting." Of course, aside from that bit of trust, the most important reason was that the High Priest position held no real power—it neither commanded troops nor governed political affairs.
"Hahaha, the soup's here!" At that moment, a server walked over carrying two clay pots of soup.
"Guuji-sama, esteemed guest, this is a newly developed dish from our restaurant. Please give it a try and share your thoughts."
"Oh?" Yae Miko's interest was piqued. She scooped up a spoonful and tasted it, clearly intrigued by new dishes.
"Well, Guuji-sama? How is it?" the server asked expectantly.
"Mmm~ The broth is light yet rich, the minced meat is fresh, and the aroma of the vegetables is simply delightful. The taste lingers pleasantly," Yae Miko praised, clearly satisfied.
"Really? That's wonderful!" The server beamed. Yae Miko was known for having very refined tastes—if even she approved, then the dish was undoubtedly a success.
"It really is excellent," Kagami Ren added after taking a sip, his eyes lighting up in surprise. In his previous life, he had tasted many top-tier dishes, even banquet-level cuisine. This soup easily ranked among the best.
Encouraged by their praise, the server happily brought out the rest of their dishes.
"So this is fried tofu?" Kagami Ren looked at the dish before him. It looked incredibly appetizing. Curious, he picked up a piece and took a bite.
"Erika's cooking is as good as ever," Yae Miko said, closing her eyes as she savored her favorite dish.
"Well? Isn't fried tofu the most delicious food?" she asked.
"Tender, juicy, perfectly cooked. A rare delicacy indeed," Kagami Ren nodded in satisfaction. Though he preferred meat as a foodie, he had to admit—this was delicious.
Then a strange thought crossed his mind. Wait… wasn't Yae Miko a fox? Why was her favorite food fried tofu? Shouldn't she prefer meat?
Look at Kirara—even after transforming into human form, she still craved small birds.
"Detected that the host has tasted Yae Miko's favorite food. Unlocking template: Body of Steel."
"Current Body of Steel is equivalent to a divine body. It allows you to ignore all attacks below the level of a god and grants immense physical strength."
A warm current surged through Kagami Ren's body. In the next instant, he felt his physical strength rise dramatically.
"System… you're really… something else," Kagami Ren muttered. He hadn't expected that simply eating fried tofu would grant him such an incredible reward. This system truly worked in the most unpredictable ways.
Although he already had the Herrscher of the Void template and power comparable to a god, the physical durability of a Herrscher likely still fell short of a true god.
Now, with the Body of Steel, that weakness had been completely eliminated.
"Hm?" Yae Miko glanced at him, noticing the sudden surge of power within his body.
"You recovered some of your strength again?" she asked in surprise.
"Yes." Kagami Ren nodded. With both the Body of Steel and the Herrscher of the Void's abilities, even facing the Raiden Shogun directly no longer intimidated him.
"I truly envy you gods. Gaining power seems so effortless for you," Yae Miko said with a hint of envy. Gods were born with strength far beyond all living beings—even the weakest among them were beyond mortal reach.
Others, however, had to cultivate tirelessly, and even then, they might never reach such heights.
Kagami Ren shrugged. It was true—his power had come far too easily. The same was true for gods. From the moment they were born, they stood at the pinnacle, and even without training, they grew stronger over time.
"Aren't you a celestial fox yourself?" Kagami Ren asked.
"I'm different." Yae Miko shook her head. "When I was young, I was just like the wild foxes—mindless, struggling in the wilderness, enduring wind and rain, bullied by other creatures."
"If it weren't for my Hakushin bloodline and Lady Saiguu"Hanachirusato—the corrupted remnant of Fox Saiguu" taking me in and teaching me… I probably would have starved to death on some rainy day centuries ago."
At that, a trace of sadness appeared in her expression. "Lady Saiguu…"
Watching her, Kagami Ren suddenly recalled the story behind Kagura's Verity.
Behind Yae Miko's cunning and playful nature lay five hundred years of loneliness. The great calamity of Inazuma had left her as the last of the Hakushin bloodline. One by one, her seniors and friends had disappeared from her life.
Perhaps her love of stories and her mischievous nature were nothing more than a shield—hiding the loneliness and sorrow within.
"Ding~ I am the black that walks toward hell! I am the white that descends from heaven! Born before creation, existing beyond annihilation. Congratulations, host, for unlocking weapon—Abyss Flower: Black and White. Congratulations on unlocking S-rank template: Herrscher of Life and Death!"
"Clang!"
Kagami Ren shot to his feet.
The Herrscher of Life and Death—wielding absolute authority over creation and destruction. If the Herrscher of the Void represented ultimate offense, then this power embodied life and death itself.
With this, Kagami Ren now possessed absolute control over life.
"What's wrong?" Yae Miko asked, puzzled by his sudden reaction.
"Miko, head back to the Grand Narukami Shrine first. I need to test something," Kagami Ren said quickly. "I'll come find you shortly."
"Wait." Yae Miko reached out and grabbed him, handing him a map. "Even though I know you're a god, still… be careful. I'll be waiting at the shrine."
She understood when to advance and when to retreat. Seeing how urgent he was, she knew something important had come up and didn't insist on following.
"Alright."
Kagami Ren nodded. The next moment, he vanished, warping through space and appearing directly at the coastline.