I have an unlimited number of shikigami

Fujiwara Izaya spread his fingers and held her tightly with his fingers interlocked.

“…You!” Kasahara Fukari’s whole body trembled.

"Haha, let's go home!" Fujiwara Rinya didn't care what they were thinking, and took their hands, one in each hand, and led them into the mountains.

The narrow mountain path was flanked by continuous thickets of mixed trees, and the chirping of birds echoed from the surrounding woods. The sounds were exceptionally clear, as if amplified.

"Sigh, it's still more comfortable when there are no people around." Kawashima Miki and Fujiwara Izaya walked hand in hand on the path covered with fallen leaves. Thinking back to those people from earlier, she sighed helplessly: "For a woman, being born beautiful is a misfortune. No matter what kind of man it is, as long as he looks at me, he instantly turns into a beast and will definitely have evil thoughts."

"Don't include me in your insults," Fujiwara Izaya complained.

"You're a beast too!" Kawashima Miki waved her hand dismissively.

He held her little hand tightly, and she couldn't shake it off.

“I think so too.” Kasahara Fukaeri felt the cool breeze blowing through the forest and the burning heat on her cheeks. “I just walk around the streets normally, and every man I pass always has a sneaky look in his eyes and follows me around. Just walking around like this makes me annoyed.”

Fujiwara Izaya felt that the two of them were in Versailles.

But it doesn't matter, they're all his people anyway. Stepping on the sunlight filtering through the leaves, he thought smugly: Only I am worthy of them.

"Have we arrived yet?" Kawashima Miki asked, gazing into the distance.

Surrounded by mountains and forests on all sides, stretching as far as the eye can see, walking for a while makes one feel uneasy.

“Look,” Fujiwara Izaya pointed with his chin into the distance, “we’ll get there once we pass through there.”

The two women looked in the direction he pointed.

A dark tunnel is nestled at the foot of the mountain, and from a distance, it looks like an entrance to another world.

In the world of yokai, tunnels have the same meaning as torii gates in the human world; both are passageways that separate two worlds.

"Go in."

Fujiwara Izaya led the two into the tunnel.

"Om~"

The air vibrated slightly, and a cool breeze swept over us.

With her vision shifting between light and shadow, Kawashima Miki was surprised to find herself on a sunny slope. A summer breeze blew, the crisp leaves rustling merrily, and the winding river, verdant fields, and undulating hills stretched endlessly before her.

In the shimmering light further away, amidst the tangled trees, a few ancient buildings unexpectedly emerge. Flags flutter in the breeze from the old houses, wooden bridges connect the winding alleys, clear river flows beneath, and a misty dock lies below. Small fish swim in the shadows cast by the leaves, and tiny, translucent shrimp perch on the tips of blades of grass.

"This is the Hidden Soul Town." Fujiwara Izaya looked up, feeling the long-lost atmosphere of his hometown. "The Hida Mountains, stretching from north to south across Toyama, Niigata, Nagano, and Gifu prefectures, encompass tens of thousands of square kilometers of a yokai world, and the mountain god's palace..."

The two women followed his example, tilting their heads back to feel the breath.

The air here is surprisingly fresh, and the surrounding silence is so profound that you have to readjust your hearing to adjust. The sky seems to pierce through the plateau, without a single cloud, and your skin can feel the soft warmth of the sunlight without any obstruction.

"Why is there no sound at all?" Kawashima Miki asked.

“Want to make a scene? That’s easy.” Fujiwara Izaya laughed.

He suddenly released their hands, then put his arms around their waists, and before the two women could react, he shouted, "Hold on tight!"

Swah——

Its pure white wings spread open.

With a whooshing sound, it soared into the air.

It was at this moment that the world changed.

At first, birds flew out, and more and more gathered in the air, chirping as if playing a melody. Then came the fish in the lakes and rivers, one, two, three... more and more fish of various colors leaped out of the water, as if dancing.

"Hugh, lulu, lulu..."

Deep in the forest halfway up the mountain, a beautiful melody drifted by – the sound of a flute.

Wearing a lotus leaf hat, the chubby Totoro butler waving his short, chubby little hands in an endearing manner.

More and more translucent spirits appeared on the treetops; the monsters that usually hid themselves also emerged from their dens, and from above, the place became a sea of ​​monsters.

“People of the Hida Mountains,” Fujiwara Izaya stood in mid-air, his gaze slowly sweeping over each mountain peak, “your god has returned!”

In an instant, a roar like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami surged in from all directions.

"Welcome, Nagano Mountain God!"

"Welcome, Nagano Mountain God!"

"Welcome, Nagano Mountain God!"

With the help of the yokai, the shouts echoed through the valley for a long time without ever fading. Not only on the ground, but also in the water and in the air, all kinds of yokai crowded together. Mountain children played flutes, mountain spirits beat drums, and tengu brought a red carpet, laying it out from the air to create a corridor leading to the mountain god's temple. Even more astonishingly, several serpent-bodied demon kings with human faces rose into the air, circling around the red carpet like a railing.

Kawashima Miki and Kasahara Fukaeri were both dumbfounded.

This unprecedented and shocking scene left them speechless for a long time. Even Mrs. Kasahara, who was hiding in Kasahara Fukarei's handbag, stared wide-eyed at Fujiwara Izaya, who had grown wings.

He really is a great tengu—

He is also the mountain god of Nagano Mountain—

At this moment, the powerful and influential Chairman Kasa suddenly felt a little worried.

She was afraid she wouldn't be able to handle it.

But this little rascal really has the guts, and he's shameless enough... Mrs. Kasahara believes that one day she'll definitely get burned, and he'll be in her grasp. Even though she's quite large, one hand definitely can't hold her...

Chapter 155. The Mountain God's Sacrifice

A vast blue sky, with wisps of white clouds.

Under the watchful eyes of the myriad demons, Fujiwara Izaya led Kawashima Miki and Kasahara Fukaeri into the heart of the Hida Mountains and landed in front of the mountain gate of Miyama.

"The mountain god's palace was originally a grand shrine, built on Mount Miyama in the Hida Mountains. The mountain is covered with lush cedar, cypress, red pine, and oak trees. As Mount Miyama, no living tree here is allowed to be cut down, and nothing unclean is allowed to enter the mountain. In addition, the forms of faith taught here are the most ancient."

After entering the gate, Fujiwara Izaya introduced his home to the two women.

The Yushan mentioned here refers to the mountain where the mountain god resides.

After passing through a country lane, the path turned into stone steps, and a shrine gate resembling a memorial arch came into view.

"Lord Mountain God——"

The two guards standing at the door stepped back a few paces and respectfully clasped their hands together in a deep salute.

"These two are ladies, remember that," Fujiwara Izaya instructed, then immediately laughed and ran away. Behind him, Kasahara Fukari kicked nothing but air, glaring at his retreating figure with a look of resentment.

The guards behind them watched them leave.

The young mountain god was confident and dignified, yet gentle and easy-going, and was a master recognized by everyone; while the two ladies had fair skin and bright eyes, and were exceptionally beautiful, walking in the sunlight as if carved from jade. Would anyone find this inappropriate?

The only problem is...

"Sigh, it seems the Mountain God will also become henpecked, just like the old Mountain God..."

※※※※※

After passing through the gate, there is a pebbly path for worship.

The mountain path was winding and steep, with thin ropes tied to the branches of trees on both sides. At intervals, a strip of white paper and a lantern were attached to the ropes. Whenever the wind blew, the paper strips and lanterns would sway slightly. On the exposed roots of the pines and cypresses, fresh green moss grew, as green as seaweed after being rained on.

Kawashima Miki walked lightly, observing this unfamiliar world as she went.

Under almost every tree, translucent jellyfish-like sprites float in the air.

These are the initial forms of original monsters. They take the form of elves, absorbing sunlight and moisture from heaven and earth. After twenty or thirty years, they can gain intelligence and become true monsters.

“These are all Madam’s future subjects,” Fujiwara Izaya said with a smile.

"My people..." Kawashima Miki was somewhat tempted and couldn't help but stretch out her finger.

In a short while, with the cool breeze blowing from the mountains and forests, countless sprites floated over, undulating and dancing around her. One butterfly sprite, almost solid in form, boldly landed on her fingertip, fluttering its transparent wings.

Crystal-clear wings, and the fair and flawless fingertips of a beautiful woman.

Fujiwara Izaya's hands were itching.

It wasn't that I wanted to hold her hand, but rather that I wanted to capture this moment in a painting.

“Eri Fuka,” Fujiwara Izaya turned around with a smile, “these are your people too, why don’t you put aside your airs and communicate with them?”

Kasahara Fukae, who had been casually observing, turned her head and saw his bright smile.

She thought this person was really strange.

She seems exceptionally sincere and refreshing, possessing both the warmth of the sun and the resilience of the earth, but why does she always seem to presume to label her? Like just now, she didn't even ask for her opinion before having her subordinates call her "Madam," how annoying...

Kasahara Fukari also reached out her hand, letting the fairy stay on her fingertips.

Summer breezes, sunshine, dancing sprites, and verdant mulberry leaves... make this place seem like a fairyland.

Her long, orange hair, falling to one side of her cheek, was the color of a ruby, as if it were about to burst into flames.

"May I kiss you, Eri-nee-nee?" Fujiwara Izaya was somewhat captivated.

Kasahara Fukaeri withdrew her hand and walked forward without looking back.

Kawashima Miki's fingernails pierced the dog's waist without hesitation.

"Ah—" Fujiwara Izaya clutched his waist and begged for mercy.

Continuing up the path, shaded by greenery, small stone Buddhas and celestial dog statues are scattered about. Because of the summer festival, the statues are covered with moss, giving them a sense of the weight of time.

"Is no one maintaining it?" Kawashima Miki asked.

“We send someone in to do some renovations every few years,” Fujiwara Izaya replied.

"Ordinary people?"

“Yes, every year a number of ordinary people are allowed to come in.” Looking at the summer sun shining on the lawn, Fujiwara Izaya smiled and explained in a clear tone, “Of course, ordinary people are not allowed to enter the mountain. Usually, only those who are very devout believers are allowed to enter. The selection process is very strict. If someone with ill intentions enters the mountain, they will feel a mysterious sensation, as if they have been struck by lightning.”

"Why let ordinary people in?" Kasahara Fukaeri asked.

"In the Hida Mountains, there is a legend. Deep in the vast mountains, there lives a round Mr. Totoro. On clear nights, he will play the flute in the tree with his little Totoro; when it rains, he will wear a lotus leaf hat and wait for the big cat bus at the bus stop in the countryside."

Hearing him say that, Kasahara Fukaeri pictured Mr. Totoro in her mind.

It must have a chubby, round face and small eyes, with a wide belly as soft as cotton. Playful children can jump around on it, and when they're tired, they can lie down and sleep on it.

"Mr. Totoro is gentle, steady, and reliable. He will lend a helping hand when ordinary people are in trouble. In addition, there are lovely spirits in the forest, and only kind people can meet them. Those who can see the spirits will be protected by the mountain god and will not get lost in the mountains."

"Is that really true?" Kawashima Miki asked softly.