Tokyo: The evil god doesn't want to be the top star

Chapter 305 The Blessing of Poverty

"The first step is that before entering the temple, worshippers must first use a special leather stick to hit the God of Poverty's divine body three times with all their strength..."

"Step 2, kick the divine body three times..."

"Step 3, throw three handfuls of beans and hit the divine body..."

"Finally, enter the hall to pay the 'retirement salary' and drink a bowl of boiling hot miso soup. Then you will be able to condense the True Yang Fire in your body and dispel the 'God of Poverty' that lingers in your body."

Looking at the stone statue in front of her, Jinguji Aoi carefully explained the process of worshipping the "God of Poverty"...

No, it’s more of a retreat process than a worship process.

After all, unlike other shrines, this place does not collect money from incense offerings, but instead collects "retirement salary" in an open and aboveboard manner.

"Because the last heir of this plot of land chose not to inherit it and return it to the government, so we only need to pay about 10 million in taxes and land fees to easily take it over..."

"Although you can hear the noise of cars passing by on the bridge from time to time, this place is within your budget, the location is excellent, and the area is suitable for building a single-family house."

"Well, even if a family of five lives together, it's more than enough..."

At this point in the introduction, Jinguji Aoi seemed to have thought of some scene, her voice became softer, and her round earlobes gradually turned red.

"Can I get the land for 10 million?"

"You can see the Kanda River from the second floor, and it's right at the border of Akihabara and Kanda-cho. This price sounds like it's free..."

Looking around this overgrown, half-collapsed shrine, Xia Fan couldn't help but feel tempted.

Due to the aging population, population decline, high property and land taxes and other reasons, many people are unwilling to pay the high holding costs and repair fees to inherit the "dilapidated houses" left by their parents, resulting in at least nine million vacant houses in District 11 that no one has taken over.

In the past few years, in order to maintain tax revenue, the government even issued fines to legal heirs who did not come to register and pay back taxes...

After such measures proved ineffective, and seeing that most of these vacant houses were dilapidated and not only damaged the cityscape but also posed a risk of collapse, the government had no choice but to issue a decree giving heirs the right to choose not to inherit the old houses and return them to the public.

Of course, most of these old houses that no one cares about exist in rural and suburban areas...

This plot of land is adjacent to the Kanda River, facing the popular Akihabara shopping district, and backed by Kanda-cho, which is full of modern atmosphere and fireworks. It can be said to be a prime location among prime locations...

You know, the price of a newer single-family house in this area is around 200 million yen.

According to Xia Fan's estimation, if it weren't for the sensitive nature of its former "shrine", this piece of land would have long been acquired by a real estate developer who welcomes haunted houses and evil spirits, and renovated and sold.

If Aoi Jinguji had not used certain official privileges, he would not have been eligible to buy the land.

"This place is really nice, but if we want to renovate it, we have to take down this statue as well. Is that okay?"

Looking at the strange and pitiful stone statue of the "God of Poverty", Xia Fan asked with some concern.

This thing is a statue of the god of poverty, and it's blocking the entrance. No one can live here unless it's removed.

"If there is no god in a shrine, the so-called statue is just a piece of stone and can be demolished."

"If Mr. Xia Fan thinks it's okay, I will contact the Ministry of Education and can handle the land transfer procedures at any time."

Anyway, it’s not the shrine of Amaterasu that is going to be demolished, so Jinguji Aoi naturally acts indifferent.

"Without God, the statue is just stone..."

Staring at this stone statue that was not even allowed to enter the house, and had been exposed to the wind and rain for who knows how many years, and was covered with fine moss, Xia Fan's consciousness suddenly became fuzzy...

……

"Poverty, go away!"

"Poverty, get out!"

"Poverty, go away!"

In the chaotic scene, countless figures of men, women, old and young appeared in front of Xia Fan.

They yelled, whipped themselves, kicked themselves, and threw beans at themselves... The usually gentle and elegant gentlemen, virtuous ladies, and kind old people would reveal ferocious and hateful expressions while doing all this.

After the torture, people went to the temple behind them with satisfied expressions, never looking at the statue in front of them again.

"As long as I am believed in by others, it doesn't matter whether I am hated or respected, kneeled down to or whipped."

An old voice sounded quietly beside my ear.

Just like a video played multiple times, the number of people who came to "pay homage" in front of Xia Fan went from being packed with people to just a few, and then to complete silence.

This stone statue has been facing the closed gate for countless springs, summers, autumns and winters, watching the shrine decay over the years.

"Why don't those people come..."

"Is it because, after the retreat ceremony, you found yourself still poor, so you no longer believe in me?"

"But don't they know that poverty's retreat means they can get something for nothing?"

Sighing sadly, the voice of vicissitudes gradually faded away...

“When humans come into this world and when they leave, they are all alone, just like me now, but they are obsessed with wealth.”

"May those who come to this shrine in the future be blessed with poverty forever..."

……

"Mr. Xia Fan?"

"I...accidentally became psychic again?"

With the gentle call of Jinguji Aoi, the dilapidated shrine returned to Xia Fan's eyes.

"What did you just see..."

“Is there still a god in this shrine?”

His hand, at some point, had already touched the moss-covered head of the stone statue.

"The God of Poverty fell because he was forgotten and his faith was cut off..."

A young but deep female voice came from above my head.

"As a divine body, you resonated with the remains of this divine body and saw some of its 'memories before death'."

Tian Yushen was sitting on the eaves, holding his chin with one hand, staring at the stone statue.

"Mr. Xia Fan, what did you just communicate with?"

Unable to see the "evil god" on the roof, Jinguji Aoi was relieved that Xia Fan had returned to normal.

Just now, the other person suddenly stepped forward and touched the stone statue, and the whole person seemed to be frozen, which scared her.

Not daring to disturb Xia Fan who was in spiritual communication, she could only guard him silently.

"Nothing, I just sensed some fragmentary scenes from my past visits..."

Xia Fan shook his head, indicating that she didn't need to worry.

"Today, I had planned to look at several shrines that were closed and for sale, but I didn't expect the first one to be so suitable."

"Then I will contact the Ministry of Education and handle the formalities?"

Aoi Jinguji nodded and continued the previous topic.

"Well... this shrine is indeed suitable in every way, but the god of poverty enshrined here always feels unlucky..."

Thinking of the God of Poverty's last "blessing" before his consciousness faded, Xia Fan couldn't help but shudder.

(End of this chapter)