Fantasy Library.

Chapter 507 The Shrine Maiden's Thoughts

Without a doubt, this exorcism of the evil spirit on the mountain was the easiest one Asatake Yoshino and Hitachi Mako had ever experienced in a long time.

Neither of them was injured, and their clothes weren't even dirty. Compared to the many dangerous battles they had fought against evil spirits in the past, this was as easy as a dream.

So much so that when everyone quietly descended the mountain and returned to Chaowu's home, Chaowu Anqing had no idea that they had returned so early.

After learning what had happened, Chao Wu Anqing was overjoyed and repeatedly thanked Aize.

Although he didn't arrange for Aize to marry his daughter so that he would risk his life to become her ally, he would naturally be even more delighted if Aize possessed such strength and ability.

This made Asahi Ansei marvel inwardly.

"As expected of someone chosen by Murasame, he is indeed very capable."

Perhaps, the curse that has tormented the Asabu family for hundreds of years could truly be lifted because of Aize?
Thinking of this, not only Asahi Ansei, but also Congyu and Hitachi Mako felt a surge of emotion.

On the contrary, Yoshino Asagi looked absent-minded and had no idea what she was thinking.

In their joy, everyone overlooked Asagi Yoshino's unusual behavior, causing no one to notice it.

Afterwards, Hitachi Mako changed out of her ninja outfit, put on her usual casual clothes, left the Asabu family, and went back to her own home.

Chao Wu Anqing was finally able to return to her room to rest without having to worry anymore.

Cong Yu seemed a little upset because of what Aize had said earlier. She left in a huff when Aize was about to go to the hot springs and wandered off somewhere.

Aize was happy to have some free time. After taking a relaxing bath, he changed into some refreshing pajamas.

Just as Aize was about to return to his room, he noticed that someone had quietly walked out of the living room and headed outside.

"That's... Miss Asagi?"

Aize saw the other person's back and noticed that Chihaya and the shrine maiden outfit that she hadn't changed out of yet. He raised an eyebrow slightly.

After thinking about it, Aize followed after them and left with Asagi Yoshino.

"It's so late, why aren't you changing your clothes and going to rest? Where are you planning to go?"

Aize was a little concerned, so he followed Asagi Yoshino.

As it turned out, he discovered that Yoshino Asagi had not gone far from home, but had entered the main hall of the shrine.

A sense of doubt arose in Aize, so he quietly followed, and soon they arrived at a familiar place.

In the deepest part of the vast palace, there is a platform with steps, and around the platform are ropes that connect the two sides. Inside the ropes, there is a huge rock.

It was the rock that was once adorned with Murasame and was offered to by the Hoori and Asabu families.

Today, the Murasame no longer sticks into the rock, but its status in Kensuke Shrine has not diminished.

This rock is also a sacred object enshrined at Kensuke Shrine.

When Aize arrived, he found that Yoshino Asabu was dancing gracefully in front of the sacred body, holding a hoko bell in one hand and a Kagura bell in the other.

Yes.

This girl is dancing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping.

"Ring—ring—ring—ring—"

As the bell rang one after another, Yoshino Asagi's figure became more and more elegant.

With a solemn and dignified expression, a firm gaze, and unwavering steps, she performed a graceful dance in the shrine, her hands ringing the sacred bells.

Watching from the side, Aize subconsciously held his breath and moved quietly.

He didn't want to disturb Yoshino Asatake at this moment, because in his mind, Yoshino Asatake was a shrine maiden offering a dance to the gods, both sacred and elegant, pure and untainted by the mortal world, and she couldn't tolerate being disturbed by others.

The moment the thought arises that it might disturb the other person or break the solemnity of the scene, feelings of guilt and resistance immediately follow.

So, Aize stood there quietly, motionless, watching Asagi Yoshino's Kagura dance.

If Yoshino Asatake was already a perfect beautiful girl in her normal life, then Yoshino Asatake, who was solemnly performing the offering dance at this moment, was a goddess unlike any other in the human world.

On the day of the Spring Festival, Aize was so engrossed in watching Yoshino Asatake's Kagura dance that she forgot the time and place, and naturally, she is doing the same now.

By the time Aize came to his senses, Asagi Yoshino's dance had stopped, and the bells in her hands were ringing crisply.

"call……"

As the dance ended, Yoshino Asagi let out a soft breath, showing no signs of sweating or fatigue.

Aize did not clap. After all, this was not a dance for entertainment, nor a dance performed at a festival, but a dance of offering to the gods.

This dance is so elegant and sacred that applause and praise seem frivolous.

Fortunately, Yoshino Asagi didn't need anyone to applaud or praise her; she simply walked slowly to Aize's side.

"When did you come?"

Asagi Yoshino had already noticed Aize's arrival. Looking at him, she spoke softly.

“Right after you arrived here,” Aize said, meeting Asahi Yoshino’s gaze. “Why are you dancing here all alone so late?”

“…I have something on my mind.” Asagi Yoshino subconsciously avoided Aize’s gaze, her voice becoming softer, and said, “I couldn’t calm down, so I thought of coming here.”

For Yoshino Asatake, performing the offering dance was a very important event.

The offering dance is not only a dance dedicated to the gods, but also a means of purifying the impurities in the woven fabric.

Although it cannot completely eradicate or even completely purify the filth, it is precisely because of this offering dance that the accumulation of filth in the tassel is slowed down considerably, and the time for the curse to take effect and for the evil spirit to appear is effectively extended as a result.

Therefore, what the priestesses of the Asabu family have passed down from generation to generation is not only their mission, responsibility, curse, and divine artifacts, but also this important offering dance.

As long as she is a priestess of the Asabu family, she must choose this dance carefully and must not treat it with disrespect.

Asatake Yoshino practiced the dance of offering from a young age. After understanding her own mission and the fate of the Asatake family, she became extremely focused on it, regarding it as an extremely important matter in her life that she could not neglect.

Thanks to this, Yoshino Asatake had long been accustomed to the daily offering dance. Whether it was a formal offering, daily practice, or a festival ritual, Yoshino Asatake had to do it wholeheartedly.

Over time, whenever she felt troubled, Yoshino Asagi would inevitably come here to dance, which would help her focus and forget her worries.

Why can't I calm down?

Perhaps because of the overly beautiful offering dance she had just witnessed, Aize unconsciously softened his tone and became much gentler than usual, causing Asatake Yoshino's heart to race slightly.

Before this, even when he was about to be engaged to her, the shrine maiden of Suiori, this man always acted as if it were none of his business. When it came to Suiori's secrets, he was even more willful and independent. Even when she tried to stop him, she was only met with indifference and sarcasm.

In addition, having been saved by the other party, she felt guilty and remorseful towards him, and considering Aize's powerful strength in easily killing the evil god twice, Asagi Yoshino already placed Aize in a very high position in her mind, feeling inferior to him.

In other words, when facing Aize, Yoshino Asatake had already unknowingly placed herself in a subordinate position, acknowledging that she was inferior to him.

The contrast between this person's current gentle attitude and hers truly stirred the heart of Asagi Yoshino, who had a deep impression of Aize.

And so, as if by some strange twist of fate, Chao Wufang revealed her true feelings.

"I... I just feel a bit useless." Asagi Yoshino said in a low voice, "Mr. Aize can easily exorcise evil spirits with Murasame. Mako is also very powerful. If she had the means to exorcise evil spirits, she would definitely be able to deal with them by herself."

"Only I have been able to exorcise evil spirits under Moko's protection all along. Last time I went up the mountain alone, I even caused trouble for you and almost cost you your life."

This is why Yoshino Asatake felt complicated and depressed.

Aize teased Cong Yu for being a mere bystander throughout the entire process, not playing any role at all, but wasn't she the same?
The attacks from the evil spirits were mostly blocked by Hitachi Mako, who acted as a protector. It was only under Hitachi Mako's cover that she was able to land a blow on the evil spirits, but she was unable to defeat them.

In contrast, Aize, no longer held back by his own safety as he had last time, killed the evil god in the blink of an eye.

This made Yoshino Asatake feel a sense of loss.

Clearly, exorcising evil spirits has always been the mission of the Asabu family.

She had always considered this matter her own and was unwilling to involve Aize. However, once Aize got involved, he displayed extraordinary skills and exorcised the evil spirit more easily than she could. This made Asatake Yoshino feel like everything she had insisted on before was a joke, and that she herself was like a clown.

And yet, he still had the nerve to say he wanted to protect Mr. Aize, to resolve this matter, and to prevent him from encountering danger...

What gives me the confidence to say such a thing?

Thinking this way, Yoshino Asagi couldn't calm down all night. She was so annoyed that she finally couldn't help but come here to dance.

Now, having told this story, Yoshino Asatake couldn't help but think about it again.

If I dragged Aize down last time, then have I been dragging Moko down all along?

Am I... superfluous?
Yoshino Asatake suddenly felt a little unwell.

Seeing Yoshino Asagi like this, Aize remained silent for a while.

Immediately, Aize suddenly said this.

"In that case, would you like to exercise with me?"

Exercising with Mr. Aize...?
Asahi Yoshino was stunned.

(End of this chapter)