When she voiced this doubt, she received a casual reply.
"Oh, those? I already took care of them."
Mochizuki Ayako: "?"
Even someone like her, a professionally trained exorcist shrine maiden since childhood, needed to act cautiously to eliminate a vengeful spirit.
What was with this "I had two boiled eggs for breakfast" kind of relaxed tone?
Kaito pulled out two irregularly shaped rectangular crystal objects, they were the remnants of the two vengeful spirits from last night, speaking the truth with evidence.
Seeing these crystals, Mochizuki Ayako no longer harbored any doubts.
She had thought he was just a once-in-a-thousand-years beautiful boy, but he was actually a powerful and deeply hidden exorcist
She shook her head, stopped her wild thoughts, and spoke seriously, "This matter indeed exceeds my ability to handle. Please follow me. All your questions will be answered by Grandma Chiyo."
After twisting and turning through the vast shrine, crossing several wooden corridors, they soon arrived in front of a secluded main hall.
This was obviously a more private place. Signs prohibiting tourists from entering were posted all around, and golden shimenawa ropes were everywhere. In front of the hall stood two solemn and majestic komainu statues, like guardian gods, one on the left and one on the right.
At the moment, the hall doors were tightly shut. Mochizuki Ayako stepped forward and knocked.
A moment later, the heavy vermillion doors slowly opened, revealing the interior.
The overall decor was very simple, even somewhat empty. The entire main hall, aside from the central dog deity statue, had one particularly eye-catching object, a massive stone enclosed by a fence.
At the center of the stone was an unassuming tachi sword, exuding a strong spiritual energy.
Grandma Chiyo, who had warned Ryou not to disrespect the gods yesterday, was there too, kneeling on a cushion in front of the dog deity statue, praying.
Mochizuki Ayako briefly explained last night's events. Grandma Chiyo's expression became solemn. She sighed deeply and slightly bowed to Kaito's group, "It was our Mochizuki family's negligence that caused you honored guests to be frightened. This old woman sincerely apologizes."
"Grandma, you're being too polite", Seeing an elderly woman acting so humble, Nijika felt a bit embarrassed and quickly helped her up.
Meanwhile, Yumiko looked with interest at the tachi stuck in the giant stone not far away and asked curiously, "This sword, does it have some kind of special origin?"
"That is the divine sword enshrined by the Mochizuki Shrine for generations, named Murakumomaru."
The one who spoke was Mochizuki Ayako. The shrine maiden made no attempt to hide anything, "In the past, when the dog deity returned and helped the head of the Mochizuki family at the time repel enemy forces, it used up all its power and completely vanished, leaving behind only this divine sword that had fought alongside it."
"After the shrine was established, this divine sword became a treasured heirloom passed down through generations of the Mochizuki family, enshrined day and night."
Thanks to the blessing of the divine power, the later generations of the Mochizuki clan gained the power to resist vengeful spirits, barely maintaining the peace of Hoori Town.
"So why is it stuck in a rock?"
Kita was a bit eager, "Is this like cosplaying the Sword in the Stone? Can I try pulling it out?"
"As for that I'm not entirely sure," Mochizuki Ayako shook her head and added, "Pulling it out is allowed, but the divine sword has a spirit. Only those it recognizes as its master can pull it out. So far, no one has succeeded. If Miss Kita is willing, she may try."
Originally, the divine sword was not to be touched by outsiders. Only members of the Mochizuki family had the right to try pulling it.
But since the group had already encountered vengeful spirits and even had the power to eliminate them, some rules could be moderately relaxed.
Kita was very interested in this sort of thing, and Nijika and Bocchi also joined in for fun.
All the girls tried it once, but without exception, even using all their strength until their faces turned red, they couldn't move Murakumomaru at all. Despite its thin appearance like a sheet of paper, it felt as heavy as a thousand tons.
Mochizuki Ayako wasn't surprised by the result. Over the centuries, at least a thousand Mochizuki clan members had tried to pull the sword, but none managed to move it even slightly, herself included.
However her eyes inadvertently fell on the beautiful boy who hadn't tried yet. Mochizuki Ayako felt a strange emotion stir and invited him, "If Kaito-kun is interested why not give it a try?"
"That's right, that's right!", Kita also chimed in enthusiastically, "Since you're already here, give it a go. It's free! Kaito-kun, you should try!"
"Alright, I'll give it a try then," Kaito thought for a moment and didn't refuse.
Murakumomaru contained a good amount of spiritual energy. It wasn't a big deal to him, but compared to the spiritual reserves of Mochizuki Ayako and Mochizuki Chiyo, it was like the Nile River compared to a shallow stream.
In this end-of-law era where spiritual energy was scarce, such a genuinely extraordinary weapon naturally piqued his interest.
Walking up to the giant stone, feeling the others' tense and expectant gazes, Kaito extended a slender, jade-like hand and slowly gripped the sword hilt.
The next moment
CLANG!
A clear, ringing sword cry echoed, like a dragon's roar.
Looking at the Murakumomaru in his hand, slightly trembling, Kaito slowly raised a question mark.
"?"
'I haven't even started pulling yet. Why did you come out on your own?'
Mochizuki Ayako also looked a bit dazed.
'This it was pulled out?'
'Nono, wait!'
'This can't even be considered pulling the sword, can it?'
The divine sword Murakumomaru, enshrined for generations by the Mochizuki family, its behavior just now was more like that of a puppy long separated from its master. The master didn't even wave, it already ran over, tail wagging.
Grandma Chiyo, who witnessed all this, had a complex expression on her aged face.
In her youth, she too had grand ambitions, wanting to pull out the divine sword and drive out all vengeful spirits, leaving none behind.
But alas, the shrine maiden was willing, while the divine sword was indifferent, Murakumomaru didn't even acknowledge her.
Yet now, the divine sword was pulled out in front of her. And in such an eager, fawning manner
The old woman clutched her chest, suddenly feeling short of breath.
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Chapter 75: Lord Kaito's Fondness for the Cow
"Amazing!"
Compared to Mochizuki Ayako and Mochizuki Chiyo, Kita's thoughts were much simpler.
Others couldn't pull out the divine blade, but it was easily drawn out by Kaito-san. The girl's eyes sparkled as she lavishly poured out her admiration, "As expected of Kaito-san! You easily did what we couldn't!"
'Although Kaito-san is indeed amazing... but Kita-chan, isn't your proud expression a bit too exaggerated?'
'You're just like a little fangirl with zero shame!'
'Although, it doesn't seem like I have the right to mock Kita either...', Thinking back to some scenes from last night, Nijika's pretty face turned red.
Kaito casually swung the Murakumomaru in his hand a few times and quickly made a judgment, "It's a decent blade."
'At least in this world.'
Though it felt a bit light to him, the spiritual power contained in the blade made up for that. Even an ordinary person without supernatural powers, if holding the Murakumomaru, could still harm existences like evil spirits and yokai.
Of course, for ordinary people, the biggest issue was how to gain the Murakumomaru's recognition.
Even though Kaito had already pulled it out of the stone, the divine blade still had its own little temper. When Yumiko and Kita tried to touch it, it dodged on purpose, it was truly full of spirit.
If it could be enshrined by the Mochizuki family for another few decades, or if a great practitioner refined the blade with spiritual power, it wouldn't be surprising if a sword spirit was born.
After toying with it a while longer, Kaito prepared to insert the Murakumomaru back into the stone without any reluctance. After all, this was the Mochizuki Shrine's heirloom treasure, he couldn't possibly keep it just because he drew it.
He wasn't King Arthur, and the Murakumomaru wasn't the Sword in the Stone, it had to be returned to its rightful place.
Only, at this moment, the divine blade threw a tantrum.
The miko of the Mochizuki family had changed generation after generation, and several hundred years had passed, yet none had satisfied it.
The Murakumomaru's requirements were actually quite simple, 'If you wanted to be my master, you needed to be exceptionally talented in spiritual training, right?'
'Looks also have to be outstanding, one in ten thousand will do. Otherwise, how can you be worthy of the identity of the divine blade?' [T/N: Tf?]
But the shrine maidens who came to draw the sword were either mediocre in talent, or average in appearance.
Or both.
Now, it had finally met its destined master, not only meeting all of its expectations but even surpassing them.
Of course it didn't want to leave. The blade trembled violently, ringing with a clear chime, unwilling to be shoved back into the cold stone crack.
This resistant behavior made one unconsciously see the illusion of a child on their first day of kindergarten, unwilling to let go of their mother's clothes.
Seeing this ridiculous scene, Mochizuki Chiyo sighed, "Honored guest, since you have drawn the divine blade, please take it with you."
Though she was reluctant to let the blade they had enshrined for centuries be taken away by an outsider, since he had drawn the Murakumomaru, it meant he was the one recognized by the divine blade.
The blade had a spirit. Before it acknowledged someone, it could be left untouched. But once acknowledged, unless its master died, it would never serve another. Even if left in the shrine, it would only be decoration.
Of course, she could choose to silence them and forcibly reset the ownership.
But firstly, Mochizuki Chiyo wasn't a bloodthirsty person who resorted to such means. Secondly even if she did choose to silence them, the divine blade wasn't blind. Killing its chosen master right in front of it, wasn't that taking the Murakumomaru for a fool?
"You're just giving it to me like that?", Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"You drew the blade, which makes you its master. Even if I object, it will find a way to sneak back to you," Mochizuki Chiyo looked at the Murakumomaru in his hand and shook her head, "I only hope, that in light of the blade's devotion to you, you'll treat it well."
'I just pulled out a sword, so why does this sound like someone entrusting me with their granddaughter?'
Still, Kaito nodded, "I will."
Granny Chiyo smiled kindly, then brought up another topic, "The Mochizuki Shrine has always had a rule, those who draw the divine blade are its master. But until now, only shrine maidens of Mochizuki bloodline were eligible to attempt it."
The reason she brought this up wasn't because she regretted it, but for another purpose, "I wonder if the honored guest would be willing to establish a marriage contract with the Mochizuki family?"
"If you agree, you may choose any suitable shrine maiden as your wife, or even several. In the future, the entire shrine would be inherited by you."
The Mochizuki family bloodline was cursed, they could never give birth to boys.
Because of this, to ensure the family line continued, taking in sons-in-law became the only option.
"Ehhhhhhhhhhh?", Kita looked terrified, 'Th-this... this can't be that legendary Chinese custom of recruiting a son-in-law under the ranking board?'
Maybe calling it "sword recruiting son-in-law" was more fitting?
Nijika and the others also looked nervously at Kaito, afraid he would accept immediately.
In Japan, it was quite common for rich families and conglomerates to recruit sons-in-law.
After all, training an excellent heir was hard, but finding a talented son-in-law was much easier.
The general public didn't have much bias against sons-in-law either. Not to mention, the Mochizuki family was practically the local overlord of Hoori Town, they lacked neither money nor reputation. If he agreed, it'd be both wealth and beauty handed over at once.
Among them, Yumiko was the most nervous.
Though she had some strange fetishes, they were just superficial.
As long as her "main wife" status was secured, she could treat it like a fun kink.
But if someone took away her "main wife" status...
That'd be like me sharing my dinner with you, and not only do you eat it all, you take the bowl too, isn't that going too far?
Mochizuki Ayako, on the other hand, was a bit shy. She secretly glanced at Kaito, silently agreeing with Grandma's proposal.
Even if she wasn't chosen, just having such a handsome divine blade master at the shrine was a visual treat.
"Let's drop the son-in-law thing," Kaito shook his head slightly, rejecting Grandma Chiyo's proposal.
Even in the traditional cultivation world, he'd never experienced arranged marriages. Though people often came to propose, they were all firmly rejected by his master, saying "Don't interfere with your disciple's freedom to love."
He couldn't have traveled to the more open 21st century, only to go backwards, wouldn't that be regression?
Grandma Chiyo wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Kaito's expression of "this is non-negotiable," she said no more.
Sensing the tension, Ryou stepped up without hesitation, breaking the silence, "Grandma Chiyo, what exactly is the Inugami? How did it appear?"
This was the question that mattered most to her. Ryou had been worried the Inugami would attack them because she disrespected the gods and was receiving divine punishment, but now, it didn't seem so simple.
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Chapter 76: Then Just Keep Beating It Up!
"This matter has to be traced back to the history of Hoori Town from hundreds of years ago."
