I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 327 The One Who Grants Miracles
"Excuse me,"

When Qiongmei pushed open the door
A girl who looked seven parts like Nagisa Ichiyo peeked out from behind him and waved.

"Principal~~"

"Xiao Ying, be careful or I'll deduct your credits."

After subtly intimidating the girl who was sticking out her tongue and acting cute by using his 'authority', You raised his hand to gesture for the two of them to sit down.

"How's your new college life going?"

"boring,"

Qiong Mei gave this assessment: the reason she went to the 'Advanced Sorcery School' was essentially just to spend more time with You.

As for the course content? Sorry, how could those teachers possibly compare to my brother's level?
"I find it quite interesting~~"

Xiao Ying, ever the social butterfly, sat on the sofa and looked around.

"The great island nation, no, the world's number one Onmyoji; if people knew that your residence was so 'impoverished,' they would be very surprised, wouldn't they?"

"It's as if you live in a luxurious 'grand shrine' in front of the sacred tree."

You rolled her eyes at Xiaoying.
Then he raised his hand to introduce Yuluo, who came out of the kitchen carrying tea.

"This is Tiannv Ying—her controlled clone."

"This is my disciple, Yura Hanakain,"

"Hello,"

"Hello,"

After the two beautiful girls shook hands and got to know each other, they started talking about girls.

"Oh, who is this—"

Not long after, Nao, dressed as a powerful career woman, pushed open the door and was startled by the unexpected appearance of a young girl in the living room.

"Guess it?"

Nao pushed up her glasses as she looked at the smiling girl tilting her head.

"Xiao Ying".

"Why are you all able to see through it at a glance?"

Who gave you the face of a 'Zhu Yiye' and the undisguised tone?

"Yu-kun, our company has completed its restructuring; orders for ground effect vehicles are booked up for ten years ahead—given the current situation, I suggest outsourcing the manufacturing of most of the spare parts."

As soon as Nao arrived, she sat down on the other side of Yu and reported on the progress of her work.

"Okay, I'll leave it all to you."

Yu has hardly ever inquired about the family's 'business'.

His foundation lies in his extraordinary abilities, not in any company acquisitions; those are merely embellishments.

Knock knock knock,

There was a knock on the door.

“I received a message that someone witnessed ‘me’ with short hair here.”

Nagisa Ichiyo, exuding the air of a noblewoman, stepped through the door and sighed as she looked at the smiling Xiaoying.

"It really is you, Xiao Ying."

"It's all your fault for being so busy with work and not spending time with me~~"

Upon hearing Xiaoying's words, which were spoken with her head tilted to one side, Zhu Yiye, who had come to the door, paused slightly.

"Feel sorry,"

Nagisa Ichiyo is currently the vice president of the island nation's 'Agricultural Cooperative Union,' a semi-official, semi-private organization whose purpose is to unite farmers in a cooperative group based on the spirit of mutual assistance.

But as everyone knows, absolute power is absolute corruption.

In order to maintain the 'small-scale farming economy', agricultural cooperatives control the pricing power of various food products and can even influence the tariffs on imported food products.

Therefore, exorbitantly priced fruits are frequently seen in the markets of island nations. For example, a single Gifu strawberry can cost 300 yen, a Yubari melon can sell for 1200 yen, and a Kumamoto Ueki watermelon can cost 600 yen. It's not that island nations can't grow cheap fruits and vegetables; it's just that they're unwilling to sell them cheaply for the sake of profit.

They're aggressively imposing tariffs on everything that could impact the island nation's local agricultural industry!
Highly monopolistic, operating independently, and lacking oversight, the agricultural cooperatives' luxurious headquarters building in Tokyo; every year they centrally purchase agricultural tools, pesticides, agricultural machinery and other production materials, selling them to farmers at prices far higher than market prices, and even misleading farmers into buying things they don't need.
During this period, Nagisa Ichiyo was making great efforts to reorganize the agricultural cooperatives.

In the past, her inability to "read the room" would most likely have resulted in her being crushed into a pulp by a drowsy dump truck.

But now, the Nagisa family's group of 'fierce and ruthless' superhuman bodyguards can tear a dump truck apart!
Moreover, Nagisa Ichiyo herself is also an extraordinary being.

Although it was just a 'mere' strong wolf,
Compared to the 'ghosts' and 'tigers' in this room, they seemed somewhat inferior.

"Yiye, don't get too caught up in union matters."

You spoke up to remind the other party,
"In the extraordinary era, extraordinary power is always the key to victory."

"Thank you for reminding me, Yu-kun."

The other person lowered her head and announced her decision.

"After I finish my work in a couple of days, I will also go to study at the 'Sorcery Academy'."

Nagisa Ichiyo is the younger sister of Tennyo Ei, and with her status, there is no problem with her enrolling in school at any time: even among the extraordinary class, there are different levels.

"Alright, if you have any questions later—"

Qiong Mei looked up and her gaze fell on You.

"You can ask Yuluo."

After saying that, Yu closed his eyes. To others, he seemed to be leisurely and carefree every day, but in reality, the information transmitted back by his numerous clones was constantly impacting his soul. Only the essence of the 'Otsutsuki' could withstand it.

For example, his 'miracle' clone is wandering around Tokyo.

---

Tokyo,

Some time ago, the great Onmyoji Abe no Seimei was resurrected and crushed the three powerful figures of the island nation with his invincible power: Kafka, Shio, and Kakaiin Yura; even Hakuzosu was in a tough battle, and the "divine tree" that protects the whole of Tokyo was in imminent danger.

At the critical moment, Yuuki-kun, the master of Kakeruin Yura and the strongest Onmyoji in modern times, finally made a move and fought a great battle with Abe no Seimei, ultimately defeating him.

During this period, Tokyo's population not only did not decline, but actually increased!

Countless people flocked to Tokyo, trying to make a living in the city.

What if Abe no Seimei were to make a comeback?

joke!

With Yuuki in Tokyo, they can still defeat him.

What if it were another city? They'd really just have to close their eyes and wait to die!
In this situation, the influx of people into Tokyo has been relentless, putting immense population pressure on the city and causing concern for everyone—

It's getting curlier and curlier.

It's just like that saying: If you don't do it, plenty of others will!

Even a man in his sixties has to carry a briefcase, squeeze onto the subway, and travel around everywhere.

That's right. According to the island nation's "Law on Stabilizing Employment of the Elderly," the government is gradually raising the retirement age from 60 to 65 in order to address the issues of an aging population and labor shortages.

In addition, the island nation's government is also discussing:
The statutory retirement age will be further extended to 70 to support more flexible retirement policies and address a shrinking workforce.

Live and work until you die!
Does life, in some sense, continue without end, and so does the struggle?
In short, it won't be easy for you to receive your 'pension'.

Night began to fall, and everyone hurried along. After a busy day, they could finally catch their breath, either heading straight home, or drowning their sorrows in alcohol at an izakaya, or:
"Minako"

In a corner of the park, a gray-haired man stood hunched over.
Stroking the photo in his hand, his wrinkled eyes were filled with longing and memories.

Judging from his cheap suit and the worn-out briefcase on the bench next to him, he was a typical office worker.

Every young person enters the school gates full of ambition, hoping to become a department head in one year, a section chief in three years, a department head in ten years, and own their own company in thirty years.
However, reality will soon give them a harsh lesson. Most people spend decades trying to become a section chief—the leader of the smallest business unit—and eventually have to accept that they are just one of the masses.

This is only natural, as there are only a few management positions in trading companies, and they are structured like a pyramid, making it increasingly difficult to climb higher.

Just like this elderly man with gray hair, who barely managed to get the position of section chief at the age of sixty.

Moreover, it's only because of his many years of dedicated and conscientious work for the company.

Older men have little to complain about when it comes to work.

Ultimately, it's because of my own lack of ability.
But the photos in my hand.
"Minako, if only you were still here?"

For so many years, only in dreams could he vaguely recall the face of his beloved, and only then did he feel as if he were still alive.
Excuse me,

Just as the old section chief was feeling down after get off work, a voice suddenly rang out.

"what?!"

The startled old man instinctively leaned back.
With a tremor of the hand, the photo fluttered to the ground—

call,

A gust of wind blew, lifting the photograph upwards and placing it into the hands of the person who came.

Before me stood a gentleman dressed in a black trench coat, black suit, black trousers, and a black bowler hat, as if he had traveled from the last century.

"Is that your lover in the photo?" The gentleman in the black trench coat asked softly as he glanced at the photo. The older man, who was sitting on the bench, tried to get up but felt weak all over.

?

"Ah, ah? Yes, yes."

Could the person in front of me be an extraordinary being?

The older man answered the other person's questions while his gaze wandered around rapidly.

How to do?
How can I get out of this?
"Is she gone?"

Yes, she's gone.

Just as the old man was desperately trying to come up with a solution, a single sentence from the man in the trench coat made his brain freeze instantly.

"I can let you see her again."

? !
These seemingly casual words struck him like thunder; the old man, who had just been contemplating how to escape, suddenly looked up.

"Sir, you mean I can see Minako in the photo again?"

The fear and apprehension on his face were gone.
All that's left is hope!
"Can,"

The mysterious man in the trench coat gently waved the photo in his hand.
The next second, the person in the photo actually 'stood up', and as it continued to twist and expand, it transformed into a quiet girl with shoulder-length short hair from the last century and wearing a church school dress.

"Ahhh?!?!"

The middle-aged office worker stared wide-eyed at the figure he had been longing for, but couldn't utter a word.

The girl opened her eyes, her pupils becoming lively.

"Are you Mr. Takeo?"

"Minako?"

"It really is you, waaaaaah~~"

The elderly male office worker, who was trying to stand up from the bench, suddenly collapsed to his knees.

"Mr. Wu Xiong? What's wrong with you?"

The girl squatted down and reached out to help the old, overworked man up, but her hand grasped at empty air.

"I?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing, I was just too excited."

Noticing the girl's confusion, the older, overworked man quickly wiped away his tears and revealed a wrinkled smile.

"That's good, that's good."

Gods and Buddhas, no matter what kind of extraordinary ability this is; even if it takes his life in the next second, just let him take one more look, just one more look!
"Minako, do you still recognize me?"

"certainly,"

The quiet girl tilted her head.
"How could I forget Mr. Takeo?"

I remember the first time we met.

As the girl spoke, the old office worker seemed to be transported back to his youthful days.

Back then, he was still so full of youthful vigor, and the young girl was gentle and quiet; he believed that their future would be perfect.
"Haha, then you got angry."

"Seriously~~~ Just forget about that already!"

Night falls,

On the park bench,

An elderly male office worker with gray hair is having a pleasant conversation with a young girl wearing a church school uniform.

However, this has always been the ability of a certain extraordinary being.

and so:
"It's almost time."

A calm voice rang out, causing the old man and the young girl to freeze in place.

"Ah, sir, Your Excellency, I—"

That's all for today.

The mysterious man in the trench coat tugged at his top hat and spoke.

"Come here tomorrow; with this photo, you can still meet her."

As he spoke, the mysterious man in the trench coat handed the photo of the girl to the old man.

???

"Don't you want to kill me?"

The words that came out of the old man's surprise.

The mysterious man chuckled, or perhaps it was just the old man hallucinating.

"Your life is worthless to me."

Oh, is that so?

Should I be happy or sad?

The old man, reluctant to part, looked at the girl in front of him, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"Minako, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow,"

The girl raised her hand and waved it slightly, as if she had thought of a question.

"By the way, Mr. Takeo, do you live alone now?"

"Ah I."

The old man visibly panicked.
Are you married?

Faced with the girl's further questions, the old man stammered and finally lowered his head in shame.

"Yes,"

"That's right."

The girl in the church school uniform also lowered her head.
"After all these years, you should have your own family by now."

"No no no!!"

The old man waved his hands frantically, offering a hurried explanation.

“We have no feelings for each other anymore; she only sees me as a retirement fund.”

"I swear to you, I will only ever love you in this lifetime!"

The old man trembled as he pinched one corner of the photo with two fingers, afraid of soiling it; he picked up the peeling briefcase from the bench and carefully put the photo inside.

"I'm leaving,"

With his body hunched over, the old office worker turned away reluctantly.

The girl vanished in the wind, as if she had never existed, along with the mysterious man in the trench coat.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

creak

"Ah, maybe it was just a dream of mine."

Pushing open the gate to his courtyard, a gentle evening breeze blew, and the slightly calmed-down, overworked man sighed.

The experience just now was too miraculous. According to the advice in the island nation's "Handbook on Countermeasures Against Extraordinary Disasters," we should immediately call the police and seek help from the Extraordinary Disaster Countermeasures Department.

But
He raised his hand and pressed it against his chest.

That heart, whose edges had been almost completely worn down by life, began to beat violently again.

Whether it was a dream or a deal with the devil, he had no regrets.

"I'm back,"

Push open the front door and step into the living room.

What I saw was an old woman lying on the ground watching television.

Where's my dinner?

Hearing the old man's question, the old woman didn't turn her head, but simply pointed to the kitchen.

A bag of rice crackers.

"So hard."

As he ate the cracked rice cracker, the old man couldn't help but think.

If it's Minako
(End of this chapter)