Fantasy Library.

Chapter 538 Parting is hard, but we will never be apart again.

The night breeze subsided, and the temperature between heaven and earth gradually warmed up. Even the full moon hanging high in the night sky began to descend, as if dawn was about to arrive.

The turbulent night has passed, leaving only tranquility and peace.

After the offerings and prayers were completed, the people who had been staying at the shrine left one after another.

Everyone had already agreed to hold a celebration banquet after they woke up, inviting all those who knew about the incident and those who were involved to come and celebrate in a grand way.

Of course, everything will have to wait until I wake up.

Now, everyone who had been busy all night was exhausted and just wanted to go back to bed and sleep. Even Cong Yu, who usually didn't need to sleep, had gone to rest after revealing herself, since she had also exerted herself a lot tonight and was already very tired.

Aize was also exhausted.

In terms of physical strength and energy, he is doing well and has recovered most of his strength. However, the effects of fully activating his divine power are still present, causing Aize to feel stinging sensations in various parts of his body and dizziness in his head. It is truly remarkable that he has been able to persevere until now.

But he didn't rush back to rest. Instead, he lagged behind and slowly walked to the outside of the shrine.

When he came out of the shrine, everyone else had already left, leaving only one figure standing there, seemingly waiting for him.

"Aze..."

Asagi Yoshino watched Aize slowly walk out and called out softly.

At this moment, Yoshino Asatake had already put on her shrine maiden outfit and changed out of her previous pajamas, returning to her majestic, solemn, and sacred appearance.

In the previous offering, not only did they pray to the shrine maiden Asabu Anharu, but Asabu Yoshino also performed the offering dance, so she changed into her shrine maiden outfit before the offering began.

"Why didn't you go back to rest?"

Aize didn't seem surprised by Asagi Yoshino's appearance; he smiled as he approached her.

"Weren't you lagging behind too?" Asagi Yoshino saw Aize smiling there and a faint smile appeared on her face as well. She said, "I thought you were like me, still feeling that this is all so unreal."

That's right, it's not real.

Even now, Yoshino Asatake still feels incredibly unreal.

"Can the curse really be lifted?" Asatake Yoshino looked into the interior of the shrine, as if talking to herself, and said, "It feels so sudden."

This is also something that can't be helped.

At this time yesterday, the two were fast asleep in the same bed, waiting for Asahi Yasuharu and Mitsuyo Komagawa to conduct their research, hoping to discover something from the captured shaman.

As it turned out, in just one day, they not only discovered the source of the curse, but also collected all the evidence that represented the source of the curse. By coming here to perform the ritual, they had hope of breaking the curse.

Although they spent a day searching for fragments on the mountain and fought against countless evil spirits and even the vengeful spirits of dogs to achieve this goal, Aize was the main one searching for fragments during the day, and they just followed behind Aize and assisted him. At night, Aize was the main force, fighting against evil spirits and even dogs.

And what about her?
She had only gone back to sleep, but when she woke up, she found herself on a mountain, facing attacks from countless evil spirits. This sudden situation left her completely bewildered, and she still feels uneasy thinking about it now.

Under these circumstances, the tokens had already been collected, and the curse was about to be lifted. All of this was too sudden for Yoshino Asatake.

"Isn't this a good thing?" Aize could somewhat understand Asagi Yoshino's feelings and smiled, "The curse that has plagued your Asagi family for hundreds of years is about to be lifted. Aren't you happy?"

"I haven't even had time to feel happy yet," Asatake Yoshino said with a wry smile and a complicated expression. "All of this happened too fast, so fast that it makes me feel like all the efforts of our ancestors who died because of the curse over the past few hundred years have been a joke."

Therefore, Chao Wufang could not openly express her joy, and her feelings remained complicated until now.

Seeing Yoshino Asagi like this, Aize stepped forward and took her hand.

"what……"

Asahi Yoshino seemed a little unaccustomed to this intimate interaction, and her pretty face blushed slightly.

“Sometimes, once the opportunity arises, things will develop rapidly like this.” Aize seemed oblivious to Asagi Yoshino’s blush and smiled faintly, “Just like Reina said, perhaps this is destiny.”

"It was destiny that I would pull out Murasame here."

"It's destiny that she will bring the last piece back to Suizhi."

"It was destiny that you met me."

"If any one of these elements is missing, this curse will not be lifted today."

Aize looked directly at Asagi Yoshino and spoke slowly.

"Perhaps, the curse upon your Chaowu family is destined to be lifted today?"

"Perhaps your ancestors, who have perished for this cause over the past few centuries, were secretly protecting you, which led to this outcome today?"

"If you think about it this way, it won't seem so sudden or unrealistic to you, right?"

Aize's words left Asagi Yoshino staring at him in a daze, remaining silent for a very long time.

After a long while, Chao Wufang finally smiled.

"Perhaps, that's true."

She accepted.

Although it still feels sudden and unreal, if you think about it according to Aize's point of view, it doesn't seem unacceptable.

"I never expected you, Aze, to say something like that."

Asahi Yoshino's gaze toward Aize seemed somewhat strange.

Saying things like "it's all predestined" is really not a phrase that suits someone like Aize's personality.

Aize was aware of this, but didn't think he had said anything wrong.

“Since even gods and curses exist, how can fate not exist?” Aize shrugged and said, “From the moment I pulled out Murasame, the most realistic side of this world collapsed in my mind, and was replaced by its most mysterious side.”

"But this side is still too unfamiliar to me right now."

"Therefore, I will not arbitrarily assume that things that I thought were impossible do not exist. Instead, I will assume that they exist, with the idea that anything is possible."

This is what Aize is thinking right now.

Ultimately, although Suizhi's curse was lifted, Aize still only had a superficial understanding of the mysteries of this world.

Therefore, he often fantasizes about affirming things he previously denied and looks forward to one day being able to access them.

"If there are gods in Suizhi, then are there gods in other places as well?"

"What about our Dragon Kingdom? Do they also have gods?"

"I'm somewhat looking forward to that."

Aize shared his thoughts with Asahi Yoshino.

However, upon hearing Aize's words, the smile on Asahi Yoshino's face vanished, and the hand that Aize was holding suddenly clenched back, tightening its grip little by little.

"what happened?"

Aize clearly sensed the change in Yoshino Asagi's emotions and immediately asked in confusion.

Asahi Yoshino didn't speak immediately, but hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

"So...Aze, do you want to go back?"

Where should he go back to? Naturally, to his original home and hometown.

In that instant, Aize understood why Asagi Yoshino's emotions had suddenly changed.

“The curse has been lifted, the evil spirits will no longer be generated, and even the filth on the land of Suizhi will gradually decrease until it disappears completely.”

Asahi Yoshino lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer.

"Now, Aze, you have no reason to stay here any longer, do you?"

That's how it is.

Initially, Aize was left behind because he pulled out Murasame, which created a secret connection with Suiori.

Some hoped he could help the Asagi family, while others hoped he could become an aid in exorcising evil spirits. In short, because of the curse, he was left in the Asagi family.

Now, the curse is about to be lifted, and Suizhi's hidden dangers have been resolved.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Suiori will no longer face danger or need Murasame's power.

In this way, Aize no longer needs to be left here and can go home.

Asagi Yoshino's emotional change was due to this realization.

Having understood this, Aize's gaze towards Yoshino Asagi became full of smiles.

"Do you want me to go back?"

Aize asked very directly.

On the other hand, Yoshino Asagi seemed quite hesitant.

“Your parents aren’t here, and this place isn’t as developed as a big city. It has all sorts of inconveniences, and ultimately, it’s not your home…”

Asagi Yoshino's meaning was quite clear: she felt that Aize was not as comfortable staying here as he was going back, so she did not want to oppose his return.

However, even though that's exactly what she thought, she couldn't bring herself to say that she wanted Aize to go back.

The reason is simple.

"Just tell me whether you want me to go back or not." Aize didn't give Asagi Yoshino a chance to be coy and said bluntly, "As long as you say you want me to go back, I'll go back."

Asahi Yoshino unconsciously tightened her grip on Aize's hand again.

"I...of course I don't want you to go back!"

By the time Asatake Yoshino came to her senses, she had already uttered those words.

Realizing she had spoken her true feelings, Yoshino Asagi blushed so deeply that her face almost bled.

But she still whispered it in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"If you just go back like this, I'll feel lonely..."

This priestess is still the same as ever; she looks innocent, but surprisingly, she says some bold things.

Anyway, when Aize heard those words, he almost hugged her.

No, he's already lifted him up.

“That’s true.” Aize looked at the witch in his arms with a smile and said, “I can’t do the kind of heartless thing that would take away a girl’s purity and then turn around and leave for a more comfortable life elsewhere.”

Upon hearing this, Yoshino Asagi blushed because of being hugged by Aize, but she still looked up with some surprise.

"So, you're not going back?"

Even Yoshino Asagi herself didn't realize that her voice was full of anticipation.

“At least, I don’t want to transfer back to that school and hang out with a bunch of bookworms.” Aize said with a hint of amusement, “Besides, even if I were to go back, I’d have to take you with me.”

These words made Asagi Yoshino feel both embarrassed and amused.

"Then you'll have to convince my dad first," Asagi Yoshino said softly. "Dad doesn't know about us yet."

“Is that so?” Aize held the opposite opinion, saying casually, “I think they’ve already figured it out.”

After all, while Aizawa and Asagi Yoshino didn't deliberately show affection in front of others, they also didn't deliberately hide it.

The two not only openly called each other by name, but Aize also put his arm around Yoshino Asatake's shoulder in front of others to comfort her.

With Cong Yu being the first to discover the scene, Aize didn't believe that no one would be unaware of his relationship with Asagi Yoshino.

At the very least, Asahi Yasuharu and Hitachi Mako must already have some guesses in their minds, and they just need to confirm them.

Previously, the situation was urgent, and no one had time to deal with these matters.

But things changed after that.

Now that everything has come to an end, Aize can already imagine that when everyone wakes up, he and Asagi Yoshino will definitely be questioned.

If the two of them acknowledge their relationship, then their previous engagement will likely have to be fulfilled.

Then, the entire Hoori region will once again become incredibly lively because of the establishment of the shrine maiden's engagement.

Thinking about this, Aize felt a bit troubled.

Asatake Yoshino seemed to have the same thought, but instead laughed.

"You'd better take responsibility, Mr. Aize."

The tone and address that seemed to transport her back to the past made the girl appear exceptionally mischievous at this moment.

Aize raised an eyebrow and hugged the girl tightly.

"Before that, please take responsibility and pay me the reward first, Miss Chaowu."

With that, Aize picked up Asagi Yoshino in a princess carry.

Asahi Yoshino let out a small gasp, wrapped her arms around Aize's neck, and blushed as if she knew what Aize was about to do.

But in the girl's eyes as she looked at the boy, there was a hint of expectation and fervor.

This convinced Aize once again that the priestess was indeed somewhat greedy.

He certainly couldn't let the girl down.

"Let's go!"

Aize, like a bandit who had just kidnapped a wife, ran home laughing.

Soon, the girl's laughter rang out uncontrollably, melodious and pleasant to the ear.

In the sky, the darkness faded and dawn gradually appeared, bringing a ray of morning light from the east and falling upon the shrine grounds.

The figures of the boy and girl were also bathed in it, their shadows stretching long and intertwining, seemingly inseparable, as if they would never be apart again...

(Finish)

(End of this chapter)