That night in Inazuma, the weather was unusually pleasant. Gentle moonlight poured down, draping Kagami Ren and Yae Miko—locked in an embrace—in a soft, luminous glow.
"How wonderful… Miko has finally found someone to walk with her," Saiguu murmured from a nearby window, her gaze filled with warmth. These past five hundred years had truly been hard on her.
"…But why do I feel a little envious?"
After a long moment, Kagami Ren and Yae Miko parted, their eyes filled only with each other.
"There aren't many beautiful things in this world… tonight's moonlight, and you smiling before me," Kagami Ren said softly.
Miko's amethyst-like eyes shimmered with tenderness as she smiled faintly and buried her face in his chest.
"The road ahead may not be easy. Miko, are you willing to walk it with me?" Kagami Ren asked.
"Of course. Gladly!" she replied without hesitation.
The moment she gave her answer, all of Yae Miko's power surged into Kagami Ren, completely copied into his body.
He didn't even check it. He hadn't expected that the most cunning fox would turn out to be the easiest to win over.
"Ding—Detected that the host and Yae Miko have entered a relationship. Reward: ×10 Blazing Stones. Blazing Stone: Automatically generates a shield when facing danger. The shield can withstand three full-force attacks from top-tier Archon-level beings and completely nullify any attacks below that level. Duration: 1 hour. Cooldown: 1 day. Additionally, it grants full immunity to soul and mental attacks."
"!"
Kagami Ren's eyes widened. This item was absurdly overpowered—especially the immunity to soul attacks. It was practically a perfect life-saving artifact.
"Ding—Blazing Stones will be granted in the form of necklaces."
In the next instant, ten exquisite necklaces appeared within his imaginary space.
"I see… System, you're basically telling me to gift these to my wives, aren't you?" Kagami Ren realized.
"No, no. It's simply the host's good fortune," the system replied.
"Ah Ren~"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Kagami Ren met Miko's affectionate gaze. With five hundred years of suppressed emotions finally unleashed, there wasn't a trace of her usual teasing demeanor—only softness.
"Miko, I have a gift for you." A necklace appeared in his hand.
"So beautiful!" Miko's eyes lit up. Like any woman, she loved dazzling things.
The necklace was made of silver-white metal, with a glowing blue gem at its center.
"Let me put it on for you."
As he fastened it around her neck, the radiant gem only enhanced her already breathtaking beauty.
"How does it look?" she asked.
"Perfect," Kagami Ren replied, then scooped her into his arms and carried her toward the room.
"Miko, will you let me hold your tails again tonight?" he teased.
"Just my tails?" Miko covered her lips with a laugh. "Ah Ren, you're such a coward. You don't even dare to imagine more~"
"I don't dare imagine? I dare to act," Kagami Ren shot back, instantly provoked.
"Come then, my dear~"
"Let's go!"
With a burst of heat rising in his chest, Kagami Ren kicked the door shut behind them.
Soon, faint, ambiguous sounds echoed through the night.
…
"Tch… those two are too much…" In the next room, Saiguu's face flushed crimson.
As someone who had never experienced such things, the sounds stirred something unfamiliar within her.
"Kagami Ren…"
Her gaze grew hazy, her hands beginning to move restlessly.
…
At the same time, outside Chinju Forest, within the Kamisato Estate.
Kamisato Ayato stared at a report, his expression unusually serious.
"Brother, what's wrong?" A silver-haired girl sitting beside him asked curiously. It had been a long time since she had seen him look this grave.
"Ayaka, the Grand Narukami Shrine has reinstated the position of Grand Chief Priest," Ayato said, frowning. "What is Lady Guuji planning?"
"The Grand Chief Priest?" Ayaka gasped. "Hasn't that position been vacant for centuries?"
"Exactly. That's why I can't understand Miko's intentions," Ayato replied, taking a deep breath.
"All we know is that the new Grand Chief Priest is named Kagami Ren. I had people investigate, but there's no record of him in Inazuma before this."
"In other words, he's not from Inazuma."
"How could Lady Guuji entrust such a position to an outsider?" Ayaka asked in disbelief.
"I don't know," Ayato shook his head. "The Shuumatsuban doesn't dare extend its reach into the shrine, so we know almost nothing about him."
"What should we do?" Ayaka frowned.
"That's enough. Ayaka, you should rest," Ayato said, waving his hand. "I'll handle this. I'll find out who Kagami Ren really is."
"Brother!" Ayaka protested softly. He always kept her out of things.
"I'm tired as well. Go rest," Ayato said calmly.
"…Understood. Good night, brother." Ayaka sighed and left.
Watching her leave, Ayato murmured, "To become Grand Chief Priest so suddenly… this Kagami Ren must be extraordinary. Ayaka, I won't allow you to be put in danger."
Back in her room, Ayaka sat cross-legged on her bed, muttering to herself.
"Brother always treats me like a child… but I've grown up. The burden of the Kamisato Clan shouldn't rest on him alone."
"If Lady Guuji personally appointed him… then Kagami Ren must be a good person, right?" she pondered.
"I should find a chance to meet him."
"The Grand Chief Priest oversees all rituals and ceremonies… he's effectively one of the Kamisato Clan's superiors now."
She thought carefully.
In the past, without a Grand Chief Priest, the Yashiro Commission handled everything directly. But now that the position had been reinstated, all their decisions would have to go through Kagami Ren.
In one move, a significant portion of the Yashiro Commission's authority had been taken away.