Don't use Type-Moon references in Oregairu!

"It's just a second-rate light novel on the verge of being canceled..." Kasumigaoka forced a smile, her expression not very pleasant.

“There’s no need to belittle your own work like that,” Yukino Yukinoshita unexpectedly chimed in. “Popularity and quality aren’t entirely correlated. Kafka was unknown during his lifetime, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a pioneer and master of contemporary literature. Whether something is mediocre or not, you, as the author, know perfectly well in your heart.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha heard the unexpected words of encouragement and blinked her long eyelashes: "I never expected that Yukinoshita would think so highly of a [normal person] like me. I am truly flattered."

Don't use your sharp tongue to cover up your shyness, Kasumigaoka! Fujimaru Ritsuka felt that this guy was really becoming dishonest.

"I haven't read your novel, so I can't make a judgment. 'Love Metronome'? After hearing what Sakura-san said, I'm a little more interested."

"Right, right? Even though it's Kasumigaoka, a place that doesn't even understand why The Pillow Book is better than The Tale of Genji."

"Sakura Hibiki, I'm going to kill you!" Sakura Hibiki suffered a brutal attack.

Yukino Yukinoshita also raised her eyebrows: "I think what Hibiki Sakura said is debatable! The beauty of mono no aware in The Tale of Genji is far better than the carefree cheerfulness of The Pillow Book!"

Yukino Yukinoshita and Utaha Kasumigaoka exchanged a glance and surprisingly felt a sense of mutual appreciation.

Hibiki Sakura touched her chubby cheeks, which were red from being rubbed, and looked pitifully at Ritsuka Fujimaru, hoping to find a comrade-in-arms.

Fujimaru Ritsuka lowered her head: "The engine noise today is really loud."

Trying to compete against two arrogant opponents is like a theater boss taking on three overpowered card-playing protagonists – it's suicide.

67. What's going on? Why is there this atmosphere where only I'm not up to par? (2/3)

Fujimaru Ritsuka was quite amazed to see the two of them actually start talking about literary content, and Sakura Hibiki would occasionally chime in, so most of the time they were debating the literary status of "The Pillow Book".

Don't you look like a gluttonous idiot? What's going on?

He shrank back, trying to minimize his presence, but was eventually moved to a window seat by Yukinoshita, and the three of them chatted happily.

Fujimaru Ritsuka looked melancholy. Who wouldn't enjoy chatting with fragrant and beautiful girls?

But he doesn't understand.

He knows 100 survival tips for the wilderness.

He knew the militia training manual by heart.

He read a lot of mythological settings and hero information from various countries.

He can even talk about the formation process of the Forty-Eight Techniques of Edo and their influence on later generations.

But when it comes to the core and style of literary works, he gets a headache—after all, he's a fan of setting details and only cares about whether a book is interesting or not.

After enduring several hours of hardship, Fujimaru Ritsuka breathed a sigh of relief; they had finally arrived at their destination.

He winked at Yukino Yukinoshita: It's time to get off the bus.

Yukino understood and, before saying goodbye, advised her new friend, "Let's go back as soon as possible today. There's nothing interesting about Tenmangu Shrine."

"...Do you need our help?" Kasumigaoka Utaha naturally understood the obvious implication. She lowered her voice and joked, "If you want to use tourists to cover your identities, you might as well come to us. After all, we have experience and are not newbies."

Kasumigaoka, Kasumigaoka, why did you suddenly start driving like that? But what you said actually makes some sense.

Fujimaru Ritsuka and Yukino exchanged a glance, both somewhat tempted.

Kasumigaoka Utaha knew when to stop: "It seems you don't plan to follow immediately, but rather blend into the later groups? If there's anything you need to cover up for your investigation, please contact me. We're planning to travel with the other worshippers, which will help us cover for you."

Hearing the whispers from the back row, Yang Nai couldn't help but turn around and advise her, "Too much contact with the mysterious will eventually lead to being consumed by it. Young lady, you shouldn't be so obsessed."

"Thank you for your advice." Shi Yu bowed slightly to indicate that she had heard it, but seeing her curious and ardent eyes, no one believed that she would heed the advice.

Fujimaru Ritsuka sighed and pointed to her phone: "If you sense anything is wrong, contact us immediately. As for other things, we'll talk about them later."

Watching Fujimaru Ritsuka and her group get out of the car, Sakura Hibiki shook her head dejectedly: "Kasumi Shiko-sensei, you got rejected again."

"No, I think there's a chance." Kasumigaoka Utaha crossed her plump legs encased in black stockings and smiled smugly, after all, the other party's attitude had softened.

Nice, taking the roundabout route is definitely the best way.

-------------------------------------

Around noon, a large number of tourists had already begun to arrive near Tenmangu Shrine in Dazaifu City.

Not far from the station where they got off, there was a bustling street called the "Dazaifu Tenmangu Omotesando" (Great Shrine Appearance Path). Walking along this street to its end, you would reach Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine.

The first half of Omotesando is a bustling shopping street, filled with various snack stalls and shops selling all sorts of unique souvenirs. Hachiman Hikigaya and his group arranged to meet Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others there.

"Let me see, Ichiran Ramen?" Following the information in Hachiman Hikigaya's email, they avoided the crowds and entered the store.

"Komachi, over here!" A certain foolish older brother is waving.

"Onii-chan!" Komachi rushed over and hugged Hachiman Hikigaya affectionately, "A long-awaited hug... Komachi's score will be surprisingly high, hehehe."

The silly older brother, who hadn't seen his sister for several days, was deeply moved and might even shed tears at any moment. Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others ignored the silly siblings, subtly distanced themselves from them, and took their seats one by one.

"Excuse me, nice to meet you..." They greeted the unfamiliar middle-aged men and students in their seats, introducing themselves to each other.

"Ah, it's only been a few days, but I feel that Fujimaru and the others are much less cold towards me. Why is that?"

"It's okay, Onii-chan! With Komachi here, even if you don't have any friends, someone will love you."

"I'm hurt but also touched, Komachi~" Hachiman rubbed Komachi's hair.

"Shut up, you idiots! Can't you see everyone in the store is watching the commotion? Get back here right now!" Ishigami Yu, wearing headphones, finally couldn't hold back anymore and angrily complained about the idiotic siblings' sticky game.

Hachiman finally noticed the mocking glances around him, and sheepishly led Komachi back to their seats, but he showed no sign of defeat. As expected of the daring and self-punishing Hachiman, he was truly awe-inspiring.

With his hair slicked back, Kaiki Deishuu leaned back in his chair and sighed, "I once said something like, 'Youth is full of shame,' but now it seems that you, Hachiman, have no youth at all."

"Who would want to be young... Do you think I can't tell that you're indirectly insulting me for having no shame?"

"Who knows?" Kaiki Deishuu shrugged, picked up the Calpis drink on the table, took a sip, and scanned Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others with a scrutinizing gaze.

"Can I use my Noble Phantasm now?"

"I can barely manage, but I can't do Yukinoshita or Yuihama."

"How is their combat strength?"

"The two are comparable to or even stronger than their usual selves."

"Why did you get involved? Do you have the resolve to fight to the death?"

Kaiki Deishu and Fujimaru Ritsuka suddenly started a question-and-answer session, which made Hikigaya Hachiman frown and try to stop them. No matter what, Kaiki Deishu's behavior was extremely rude—this man always seemed to be easily provoked whenever he realized he couldn't get anything out of the other person.

Fujimaru Ritsuka stopped him, spread her hands, and said confidently, "We are Hachiman's companions—if I say that, you'll definitely look down on me."

Kaiki Nishu remained noncommittal: "I can't deny that the games of friendship between the kids are quite interesting, but that doesn't allow me to place my faith in vague and ethereal emotions."

“First, even now, there aren’t many inheritors, are there? Befriending a powerful person would be helpful to us.” Fujimaru Ritsuka counted on her fingers as she calculated with him. “Second, we plan to form our own organization in the future, and we need allies we can rely on. The Shinsengumi is a good choice, and Hachiman is the best link for us to maintain good relations. Third, you two are probably reinforcements invited by Hachiman. It would be a good thing to contact you and leave a reliable impression, wouldn’t it? Will these things convince you to entrust your back to us?”

Fujimaru Ritsuka said it frankly.

"...Very good. Adults cooperating based on shared interests is the most reliable approach." Bei Mu Nishu's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

"But Mr. Kaiki, didn't you choose to get involved in this mess because of a favor with Hachiman?"

Kaiki Deishu glared at Hikigaya Hachiman, who immediately picked up the menu and pretended to discuss with his sister what to order.

68. Fujimaru Ritsuka: I have a good idea (3/3)

"Money can replace everything; it can buy life, it can buy people, it can buy happiness. It's the all-purpose card. That's why I like money the most."

"So this time, I only came here because Hachiman can provide valuable materials as payment. Don't misunderstand."

Fujimaru Ritsuka listened to Kaiki Deishuu's explanation with a straight face, nodding perfunctorily: How come one tsundere just left, and now another tsundere uncle has arrived?

Seeing that everyone remained unmoved, Kaiki Deishuu scoffed and stopped dwelling on the topic, instead bringing up another matter: "I have a preliminary understanding of what Hachiman kid's so-called premonition is."

Hachiman Hikigaya nearly tore the paper with the pen he was using to check off items on the menu. His mouth dropped open. "You've never even been inside Tenmangu Shrine, have you? How did you see it?"

"Hmph, Tenmangu Shrine? I could get that information just by chatting with the shop owners in Omotesando Shopping Street. Why would I risk going in?"

Beki Mudshou, biting a straw, spoke in the most nonchalant tone, uttering the most cowardly words.

He tapped the table with his hand: "It's probably in line with our goal."

"Losing the power of faith that the divine body holds?!" Hachiman Hikigaya almost cried out in surprise, while Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others, who were unaware of the detailed plan, exchanged bewildered glances.

The term "Mikotai" refers to the avatar of a deity enshrined in shrines, temples, and similar places. These avatars are usually objects such as mirrors, swords, magatama (magatama beads), or even trees or rocks enclosed by white shimenawa (sacred ropes). Statues of the deity are rarely erected. For example, the Ise Grand Shrine, which enshrines Amaterasu Omikami, uses the Yata no Kagami (a mirror-shaped mirror) as its Mikotai.

"If the sacred body of Tenman-Okami Sugawara no Michizane has left the shrine, does that mean that Tenman-gu Shrine is currently in a state of being without its master?"

Kaiki Deishu nodded affirmatively at Fujimaru Ritsuka's guess: "That's right. One of my abilities as a successor is that I can use Noble Phantasms to perform high-speed calculations of spells. With this, I was able to establish a method of borrowing the power of faith to simulate divine power and transform the Holy Grail Drop in Hikigaya Hachiman's hands into a special purpose, to carry and fix Ishigami's Noble Phantasm."

"As the god of learning and knowledge, Sugawara no Michizane possesses divine power that is most suitable for him, and since his divine body is not present, it is very suitable to secretly borrow his power."

"But if we do that..."

Fujimaru Ritsuka understood his meaning. There was nothing worth coveting about Tenmangu, so the other party was most likely after that as well.

"Now that we know their purpose, is there any way to find out their identity and plans?"

Kaiki nods approvingly: "It's good to talk to smart people. That Hachiman seems to have become more muscular in his mind because he's been following Machiyo's activities a lot."

He took out some small props from the bag beside him and distributed them to everyone: "I need you to split up and go into Tenmangu Shrine to hang these ema (votive plaques) on the wishing wall behind the main hall. They will work at some point. Then take these amulets and walk around to collect any unusual auras you may find."

"And these prayer beads will automatically shatter if they encounter a high level of magic. Please keep an eye out for the locations or people that cause this."

“A place that has existed will inevitably leave traces. If the other party really wants to target the faith power of Tenmangu, then they must have made relevant preparations. As long as we can find the traces, it will be very easy to deal with them.”

This stuff is useful.

Fujimaru Ritsuka picked them up, gave them a thumbs up, and said with great admiration, "As expected of a [con artist], you always carry little gadgets for tricking people."

After distributing the items, Bei Mu Ni Zhou dismissed them, saying, "They're just small props that I stayed up all night to make. Nothing special."

"That's amazing! Can I ask whose power you awakened?"

“Von Hohenheim Paracelsus”.

Oh, it's you, troublemaker Dad!

However, Fujimaru Ritsuka remembered the Noble Phantasm setting of Bean Daddy and took the initiative to move over and discuss quietly with Kaiki Deishuu: "Is your plan to use the Mystic Code materialized by the Noble Phantasm to perform the function of a spirit computer?"

Kaiki Deishu gave Fujimaru Ritsuka a deep look—similar to what Hikigaya Hachiman had said, even though they had never met before, the other could immediately discern the deep secrets of his abilities. Could this guy have awakened some kind of prophetic or omniscient ability?

He did not answer directly: "Is there any special purpose in saying this?"

Fujimaru Ritsuka smiled brightly: "I've thought of a way that might improve the speed and accuracy of your execution of the plan."

"Hmm? That's good. The plan is expected to take all night to complete the ritual. But if we can speed things up, we might be able to escape before anything goes wrong."