Chapter 374: Do You Mind Being a Shrine Maiden?
Half an hour later, in the abandoned warehouse of the otherworld.
"Why?"
The Ghost God who had previously provoked the Nine-Tailed Fox had now been transformed into the form of an ordinary human and was being firmly stepped on by the Fox. Feeling the unshakeable power pressing down, the Ghost God's eyes were filled with confusion.
Clearly, the Nine-Tailed Fox's current strength was only at the Middle-Rank God level; why did it, a High-Rank God, lose so completely without even the slightest strength to resist?
"Because you have been comfortable for far too long!"
The Nine-Tailed Fox disdainfully kicked the short-sighted Ghost God beneath its feet twice. Originally, when fighting a High-Rank as a Middle-Rank, it had expected a fierce battle. As it turned out, this waste had perhaps not fought a serious battle in over a hundred years; the moment they exchanged blows, the Fox had pinned it to the ground and pummeled it.
"You, a High-Rank, can't even compare to a half-god human. You are truly the waste of all wastes!"
The strong rule. Having defeated the High-Rank Ghost God of the otherworld, this space essentially belonged to the Nine-Tailed Fox now. As for a High-Rank Ghost God that couldn't even match Hikigaya Hachiman and had dared to be insolent earlier, the Fox naturally wouldn't show it any kindness.
"Impossible!"
The High-Rank Ghost God's first reaction was disbelief. Granted, it couldn't beat the Nine-Tailed Fox, but to say it couldn't even beat a half-god—how could that be possible?
"Believe it or not, but this otherworld belongs to me now!"
The Nine-Tailed Fox had no intention of explaining Hachiman's situation. After kicking the High-Rank Ghost God away, it turned to look at the remaining two Ghost God, who were watching with looks of awe and fear.
"We are willing to attack Tokyo!"
Seeing the Fox's gaze sweep over, the Low-Rank Ghost God—who was already tempted earlier—immediately declared its loyalty. The Middle-Rank Ghost God beside it froze for a second before hurriedly nodding as well.
"A bunch of spineless trash!"
Seeing that they were Ghost God yet so spineless, the Nine-Tailed Fox couldn't help but curse them again. Regarding the insult, the two opportunistic Ghost God remained completely unfazed. Let it curse; their cultivation levels wouldn't drop because of it. Besides, the truly
"hard-boned" spirits had already perished alongside those humans and gods over a hundred years ago. Among the Ghost God who agreed to the peace treaty, not a single one could escape being called spineless!
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"You're back."
After watching the Nine-Tailed Fox enter the otherworld with Yurikawa Hana's body, Hachiman, having returned empty-handed, decided to head back to the inn to rest and regroup before finding a way into that dimension. To his surprise, Isayama Mei was waiting for him in the room.
"Why?"
Although he was resting, Hachiman hadn't returned to Mei's room; he had checked into a new one. Yet here she was, appearing in his room ahead of him...
"Because I have bought the entire inn."
Mei's explanation was quite matter-of-fact, as if buying an entire inn were a trivial matter.
"Where did you get so much money?"
Hachiman's eye twitched. He remembered giving her only 100,000 yen. Could 100,000 yen buy an inn?!
"Have you forgotten my former identity?"
Mei expressed confusion at Hachiman's doubt. Surely he knew she was a direct descendant of the Isayama family. Although she couldn't take the position of family head in the past, she had controlled a vast amount of family assets. Furthermore, during the time Yomi was comatose until Mei's own "accident," Isayama Naraku had no heart for managing family business and had handed all those minor affairs over to her. Consequently, almost the entire Isayama family's industry was in the hands of her and her father, Isayama Yuu.
Controlling so many assets, was it not easy to come up with some money to buy an inn?
"Then what are you doing in my room?"
Hearing her explanation, Hachiman pinched the bridge of his nose with a hint of bitterness.
"Um... would you allow me to stay by your side for the time being?"
When Mei stated her reason, she appeared very shy. For someone with her stiff, traditional personality, saying such a thing was incredibly difficult.
"I don't know if you feel it too. Since I opened my eyes, I've felt a faint, flickering connection between us. Combined with the fact that I cannot return to the Isayama family now..."
"Alright, I get it!"
Hachiman hurriedly interrupted her. Of course there was a connection. He was the one who used the method of replacing spiritual brands to free her from the Fox's control. In fact, it wasn't just a faint connection; if he wanted to, he could actually...
Cough, getting a bit off-topic.
Hachiman snapped out of his runaway thoughts and regained his reason. "In short, you feel like you have nowhere to go, so you want to follow me, right?"
"Yes." Mei nodded gently.
"No!"
Hachiman flatly refused. Having a woman who was top-tier in both figure and looks following him around... even if he truly did nothing, it would be a miracle if Yukinoshita believed him.
"No?"
Hearing the refusal, the expectant light in Mei's eyes instantly dimmed.
"If I may ask, what do you plan to do after this?"
Hachiman clearly noticed that she had become deathly still after his answer. Truly worried she might seek a short end again, he felt he had to confirm her state of mind.
"I don't know."
Mei shook her head truthfully. To be honest, wanting to follow Hachiman was a decision she reached only after long deliberation while he was out. Before that, she had considered his suggestion to go to a city outside Tokyo. However, upon reflection, she sadly realized she had no desired destination. Moreover, as a member of the Isayama family, she knew exactly how powerful the spiritualists' intelligence network was. She might show her face in a distant city, and an hour later, the family's subjugation team might already be there.
"Nowhere to go, huh?"
Looking at the slender, lonely figure before him, shrouded in a tragic atmosphere, Hachiman thought for a moment and suddenly hit upon a great location. If it was that place, there would be no worry about being found...
Thinking this, Hachiman looked up. "Um, I wanted to ask... do you mind being a shrine maiden?"
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