Unconvinced, Kaito reached out again, his hand passing through the fox spirit ssenger's form. In the end, he was completely unable to touch the spiritual body.
His actions caused the expressions of both the old, white-haired priest at the top of the path and the fox spirit to change. They could sense that Kaito held absolutely no reverence for the sacred shrine, nor for Lord Inari himself.
The Professor watched this, his breath catching in his throat. His body instinctively flinched backward. He felt that if the situation went south, his only option was to run.
The Professor was one of [The Chosen]. Every mber of [The Chosen] possessed a unique ability related to the authority of the Nexus, which was often the very first ability they acquired after entering. The first ability the Professor had obtained was called [Crystal Divination]. It had originally been a low-level skill, almost on the level of a parlor trick, with low accuracy and the restriction of requiring a crystal ball. But after he learned it, the ability had mutated. The D-rank [Crystal Divination] had transford into the B-rank [Crystal Revelation]. Now, by consuming a crystal of any quality, he could receive a certain "revelation." Sotis this revelation was a premonition of danger, sotis a special inspiration, and other tis, it was a piece of highly secret information.
The Professor suspected that his sensitivity to plot points and his talent for uncovering hidden events were manifestations of this ability. After he beca a Reincarnator, the true nature of being one of [The Chosen] had begun to materialize through his powers.
The reason he was standing in front of Kyoto's largest shrine at this very mont was because he had consud a high-quality blue crystal, and the revelation he had received was related to the Shinto shrines that had fallen into decline due to the rise of Muzan Kibutsuji. He believed he had understood where the greatest potential aid for the [Demon Slayer Corps] faction lay, and so he had co to trigger the quest.
He just hadn't expected that "rcenary Tao," who had seed intent on charging straight to the Imperial Prince's palace, had sohow arrived at the [Fushimi Inari-taisha] before him, and had apparently triggered so incredible side quest.
"Old man, if you have sothing to say, just say it. When I do business," Kaito said, a grin in his voice, "I'm always fair to young and old."
He walked straight through the fox spirit's incorporeal form, causing its body to flicker and destabilize for a mont, and addressed the old man at the top of the shrine steps.
The old man kept his head bowed, but his voice carried effortlessly down the hundred-ter path—a feat no ordinary person could achieve. "I am rely the head priest who serves the great Lord Inari. Since the divine ssenger has returned, all matters are naturally at her discretion."
The little fox ignored the Professor and instantly reappeared in front of Kaito.
"Arrogant mortal! The great Lord Inari will bring disaster upon you!" The little fox's red eyes now glowed with a crimson light. Its previously cute and cuddly appearance had taken on a sinister, otherworldly quality.
[The Hidden Faction: Shintoism's impression of you has decreased. Current Standing: Neutral (70/100)]
Kaito and the Professor both saw the notification at the sa ti. The Professor's eyes widened, feeling he had been unfairly implicated, but Kaito's smile only grew wider. Despite his blatant disrespect, the Shinto faction's opinion of him was still neutral, leaning toward friendly. This told him just how suppressed this faction must be, and just how far this shrine of Inari must have fallen.
Kaito now also realized that his own previous thinking had been too narrow. The current power balance between the [Demon Slayer Corps] and the [Muzan Faction] was nearly 1-to-9, a terrifyingly large gap. If he relied solely on hunting pro-demon ministers, princes, and lone mbers of the Twelve Kizuki, completing the main quest would be far too difficult. After all, all the Reincarnators in this cooperative mission were [Paper]-tier. He, who could single-handedly kill a Lower Rank, was already an exception. The stronger Lower Ranks were likely at the [Mortal-Low] tier, and the Upper Ranks would be on a completely different level. Ordinary [Paper]-tier Reincarnators stood no chance of hunting down enough Lower Ranks to complete the mission.
The Nexus never gives an impossible mission. Therefore, reversing the power balance wasn't just about weakening Muzan's faction; it was also about finding reinforcents for the Demon Slayer Corps. The various third-party factions that had suffered losses due to Muzan and his allies were all potential reinforcents.
With that thought, his strategic options instantly broadened. He glanced back at the Professor, who was disguised as a woman. The man really did have so skills.
Having co to this conclusion, Kaito looked down at the little fox, then raised his head to address the old man again. "You want to kill Hirohito and Muzan Kibutsuji too, right?"
The old man's body trembled. He looked at Kaito, his face a stony mask, but his voice was as steady as before. "You jest, sir. Prince Hirohito is the son of the Emperor; we naturally have no such thoughts. However… Muzan Kibutsuji has brought chaos and suffering to the world. Our god naturally wishes to see justice done."
So the old man said, but Kaito just smiled mockingly.
Shintoism, which had evolved from Japan's native shamanistic beliefs, had been established as the state religion during the iji Restoration. It should have remained so until the end of World War II, but the history of this world had diverged. Muzan Kibutsuji, the evil demon who could grant "eternal life," had quickly caused these priests, whose miracles had been fading since the Heian period, to lose favor. And gods like Inari, the god of agriculture, were further marginalized by the industrial revolution.
The Professor coughed twice. He was worried that if he didn't intervene, this madman "rcenary Tao," who was just as rude to plot characters as he was to anyone else, would completely alienate their potential new ally. He quickly knelt down and began to speak to the fox spirit ssenger. "We can help the great god Inari uphold justice. But in return, you must also provide us with certain conveniences and assistance."
Seeing the Professor beginning negotiations with the little fox, Kaito turned and walked toward the summit. His steps were quick, and in a few breaths, he had arrived at the entrance to the shrine proper. He could sll the thick scent of incense from within, but the shrine itself was no longer as pristine as it once was.
The head priest was no longer bowing his head in a show of humility. He was not a tall man, perhaps a little under 170cm, and had to tilt his head up to look at Kaito's face.
"What do you think? The Fushimi Inari-taisha is the greatest shrine in all of Kyoto. In the past, the pilgrims who ca to worship were an endless stream, the incense never went out. Under the watchful eye of Lord Inari, we…"
"Heh. You've fallen," Kaito interrupted his nostalgic reminiscence without a shred of courtesy. This finally made the old man's face darken.
The old priest held his right sleeve with his left hand and ford a seal with his right. A gust of wind appeared from nowhere, sending his hair and beard flying. A strange, inexplicable power began to emanate from the shrine. In Kaito's perception, the priest seed to instantly grow taller, and a heavy, oppressive aura began to radiate from him. The old priest began to chant, then pointed his fingers at Kaito like a sword.
BAM!
The old priest's pupils contracted. Kaito's figure had instantly appeared in front of him. One of his hands was now clamped around the priest's wrist, and his other fist was held an inch from his neck.
"Is this supposed to be onmyōdō or so kind of divine art?" Kaito asked, his voice flat. "It's too slow."
[You have triggered the Hidden Quest: The Fading Miracle.]
[Quest Description: As the era changes, the supernatural fades. Many factions are in decline, but the Shinto faith is unwilling to fall into obscurity. They are determined to return to the center of the political stage.]
[Quest Objective: Help the Shintoism Faction eliminate the forces hindering its developnt.]
[Quest Reward: Hidden Faction: Shintoism unlocked. Faction Reputation Store unlocked.]
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Guys We cross the 500 power stone goal and as promise here the bonus chapter
Next goal 600 power stone,co on guys you'll can do it, good luck.
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Every 5 new reviews = 2 extra chapters
Every 100 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter
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