I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 39 'First Hearing' of the Extraordinary

"Too slow,"

At the entrance of Huangying School

Autumn Dome still uses the classic arrogant starting stance.

Both Akihi Yuu and class president Iai Nao were already used to this.

"There's no other way. The subway in Arakawa Ward is still under repair because of the 'terrorist attack,' so we'll have to take detours for the time being."

As Qiu Riyou shrugged and explained, the delicate Qiu Riqiong took out her phone.

"follow me,"

? X2
"The incident that occurred in Arakawa Ward was neither an earthquake nor a terrorist attack."

The three walked home, and led by Akihi Sora, they deliberately took a detour to an empty park: Sora, whose hair was tied into two pigtails hanging down on the left and right with a black ribbon, handed the picture on her phone to Akihi Yu.

Ah this
The image shows a colossal, pitch-black creature soaring into the sky; due to its rapid movement, only a blurry afterimage remains in the picture.

But you can still tell that the catfish has a signature flat, large head and two prominent whiskers.
"This is... a catfish?"

Nao, the class representative who had leaned closer, spoke up somewhat hesitantly.
The thing in the picture looks exactly like a short, fat catfish.

But compared to the surrounding buildings, this catfish is far too big, like something out of a tokusatsu drama?
That's impossible, because the scene also shows ordinary people running away, and even figures lying in pools of blood: such a scene would never appear in a tokusatsu drama.

More than 30 years ago, a shocking case occurred in Saitama Prefecture, which is next to Adachi Ward.

The Miyazaki Tsutomu incident!
What this guy did...
Its gore and disgust completely surpass the limits of human decency.

After his arrest, police found more than 6000 adult films, anime, and tokusatsu dramas in his home.

For a while,
The entire island nation was in an uproar, with otaku being almost equated with 'potential criminals'.

The criticism of anime and tokusatsu dramas reached its peak, with the subject matter declining, the number of productions decreasing, projects being canceled, companies going bankrupt, and the industry facing discrimination and criticism from all sides.

This is also why later tokusatsu dramas were almost all 'children's shows'.

Even today, the "harmful books movement" still exists.

Therefore, class president Nao was quite certain that such bloody pictures could not possibly be from the filming location of a tokusatsu drama.

So--

"This is not a composite image, nor is it a movie scene."

They pointed to a tattered signboard flying into the air in the picture; they were all very familiar with that shop.

Qiu Riqiong whispered the earth-shattering secret.

"This is the reality that happened in Arakawa Ward,"

"The real culprit is the monster, no, it should be said, the supernatural being."

???

He pushed up his glasses.
Nao, an excellent student, fell into deep thought.

"So that's how it is,"

Turning to look at Akihi Yu, who seemed to have suddenly realized something, class president Nao couldn't help but speak up.

"Yu-kun, based on just one picture..."

"Since Qiong says so, of course I believe her."

Qiu Riyou's serious expression made the delicate girl holding the phone smile slightly.

“These are photos of the scene that my 'network department' members obtained. Now there’s not a trace of them on the entire internet.”

As a prestigious girls' school, most students at Royal Sakura Girls' Academy participate in various club activities; they only go home early unless there are special circumstances. Akihi Sora, however, joined the 'Network Club,' a club comprised of tech geeks, as the name suggests.

Therefore, Yuu Akihi took a car over after school and was able to pick up Sora just as she finished her club activities.

"According to intelligence obtained by our minister,"

Autumn Sky continued speaking.

"Recently, several supernatural events have occurred in Tokyo, resulting in more than 100 casualties."

In short, be careful.

"Your minister is really amazing; he was able to find so much information online."

To Nao's sentiments, Sora simply gave a curt denial.

"What are you thinking about?"

"This is a secret her brother told her."

Interpersonal relationships

Is it also considered a kind of 'network'?
As she thought of this, a flash of lightning struck Iai Nao's mind.

"Could it be that Tiannv is also one?"

That day, they witnessed Tiannv Ying appear at the crime scene in full dress, surrounded by a group of important figures.

Since there are monsters, there are naturally corresponding forces: priests, magic monks, and superpowered individuals.
"Um,"

Autumn Sky nodded slightly.
"Although there's no concrete evidence, a saying is already circulating secretly in our school:"

"Respect Tiannu as you would your father."

As high school girls who haven't started working yet, everything the heiresses of Royal Sakura School possess is built on their fathers' wealth. Few dare to raise their voices in the face of their imposing patriarch.

This also indirectly illustrates 'Tiannv Ying's' status in the school.

"That's it,"

Class representative Iai Nao finally understood why Amane Akira had transferred schools so quietly.

"Let's go. What does this 'extraordinary' stuff have to do with us?"

Autumn Days waved goodbye, completely oblivious to being the 'mastermind' behind the scenes.

"Now we need to think about: what to eat tonight?"

"That's your problem,"

Autumn Sky, having put away her phone, answered without hesitation.

Despite her sweet and cute appearance, she's not very good at cooking.

Their pastry-making skills are quite good.

"Yes yes yes~~"

In response, Akihi Yu gave a casual reply.

It even has the spare energy to control numerous clones to roam around.

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.

Toshima District, Sugamo Town.

At this moment, the 'old friend' Tengnü Ying, whom the three mentioned, was returning to her family's shrine under the escort of a motorcade.

"Hey?"

"Wait a moment,"

As soon as Tiannvying finished speaking, the entire convoy slowed down and came to a stop smoothly.

Tiannvying rolled down the car window and greeted an old woman by the roadside.

"Mrs. Hamasaki, what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's Xiaoying."

The old woman standing in front of her house was directing workers to move furniture, and answered Tian Nv Ying with a smile, "My unfilial son suddenly called and wants this old woman to come and keep him company."

"Ugh, he's so annoying, I just can't take it anymore~~"

Although she kept complaining, the smile on her face clearly showed that she was very happy.

"So I sold this old house and am preparing to move."

of course,

This is just a superficial reason.

The deeper reason is—

Her son received a five million 'commission fee' to persuade his mother to sell the old house at twice the market price.

Not only her, but many families on this street received generous offers!

The staff of those 'real estate companies' all seemed to have lost their minds. All their usual tricks of coaxing, giving gifts, and showing concern had disappeared; they were all rich and powerful and only knew how to 'add more money,' acting as if securing the property a second earlier was a victory.

With soaring housing prices, most residents have begun to move.

The remaining few, sensing the danger amidst the staff's growing impatience and the ever-increasing prices, also gave up their insistence.

When prices get high enough, many people will stop following the rules!
The yakuza of this island nation are not just about selling milk tea, as their advertisements suggest.

Conversely, it should be said that the milk tea business has been tainted by yakuza groups.

"That's it,"

Tengnv Ying only noticed that there were a lot of people moving on the street today, but Nagisa Ichiyo, who was sitting next to her, already understood.

"Someone is buying up the land on this street."

"Hey?"

What's so special about this old street?

"Silly Xiaoying,"

Nagisa Ichiyo raised her hand and tapped her older sister's nose, then smiled and spoke.

"You are the greatest treasure, someone that countless people look up to."

Just as Nagisa Ichiyo said, when the car they were in arrived at the foot of the mountain where the shrine was located, a group of important figures were already waiting there.

"The Goddess of Heaven,"

"Please forgive our unauthorized visit."

Director Zhu Ya, who was leading the group, greeted everyone with a smile, which was very pleasant and made people feel like they were basking in a spring breeze. No wonder he was a man whose name contained the character for "spring".

Of course, he would be a completely different person when dealing with other people; what kind of amiable person would the head of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department really be?
"It doesn't matter,"

"Shrines are places for people to worship."

As for these important figures who came together to pay their respects at the shrine, Amaterasu Eiryu naturally would not turn them away.

"Please come up the mountain."

"Please do as you please, Divine Child. Don't worry about us."

The group waited until Tennyo Ei and Nagisa Ichiyo stepped onto the mountain steps before following them.

Their status and position can be easily discerned from their positions in the crowd: at the very front is the composed Director Zhu Ya, followed by the American male and female consultants who are looking around, then the high-ranking officials from other departments, and finally, at the very back are several elderly men dressed as priests.

This is the shrine of the 'Inari God'. Even the chief priests of Meiji Shrine and the head priests of Yushima Tenmangu Shrine must bow their heads when they come here.

There was nothing they could do. The Inari God bestowed divine power upon the 'divine child,' and with a flick of his hand, he suppressed the rampaging 'earthquake catfish,' while their god... sigh.

However, they were not the most embarrassed. The most embarrassed person was the chief priest of Fushimi Inari Shrine, who had just arrived from Kyoto.

As the head shrine of more than 30,000 Inari shrines across the island nation, they have neither received any divine pronouncements nor witnessed any miracles. Yet now they are going to worship at the very place blessed by the gods themselves. How can this not be embarrassing?

But then again, in modern society, how many true believers are there in shrines?
For most people, this is just a 'job': compared to any kind of faith, they are more like staff members of a 'tourist attraction'.

And so, a group of people with different thoughts and intentions walked along the forest path to the top of the mountain.

What I saw was:

"Ah, a torii gate."

Tiannv Ying scratched her head.
The shrine's torii gate has disappeared. No, it should be said that it's on 'Kuro's' back.

What kind of shrine is it if it doesn't have a torii gate?
"Little Black,"

Taking the shrunken 'earthquake catfish' out of her schoolbag, Tengnv Ying made a soft request.

"How about you grow bigger and temporarily serve as a torii gate?"

Please~~

He gave the girl a wise look, and the earthquake catfish, which she named "Little Black," flew out from his palm.

After leaving the girl, this catfish grew rapidly in the wind!
? !
Upon witnessing the sudden enlargement of the earthquake catfish, the high-ranking officials behind the girl paused in their tracks. Fortunately, they were all important figures and managed to remain composed, avoiding any embarrassing moment.

Wave,

The giant catfish landed at the entrance of the shrine, but it did not cause a loud earthquake.

Instead, it silently merges into the earth, then swims to the entrance, its entire body disappearing into the ground, leaving only a torii gate restored to its original size, standing tall at the shrine entrance.

"Then, everyone."

"Please come in."

As Tengnü Ying stepped over the torii gate, she raised her hand to indicate that everyone could enter the shrine, but the group of high-ranking officials looked at each other in bewilderment.

They didn't turn and run when faced with the earthquake catfish, which already showed they had considerable composure; now they're being asked to step over the catfish and pass through the torii gate...
Before they even took a step, many people in the crowd felt their legs go weak.

It's like standing next to a tiger in a park; even if you know it won't attack, you'll still feel an instinctive fear!

The 'earthquake catfish' is far more terrifying than a tiger, as evidenced by the Self-Defense Forces' crushing defeat.

"Then we'll take our leave."

In the end, it was Director Zhu Ya who took the first step.

As he passed through the torii gate, the people beneath him gritted their teeth and stomped their feet, but dared not stomp. They all held their breath and tiptoed under the torii gate.

Several of them lacked composure, as if they were walking on cotton, stumbling and falling with each step.

"Your company is very elegant."

Stepping over the torii gate and looking at the small shrine in front of him, Director Takeya almost couldn't find the words to praise it.

"Huh huh huh~~"

"This place may be small, but it's my home!"

Back home, Tiannv Ying became lively again, introducing herself to everyone in a very open and generous manner:

"I'll take you."

She stopped halfway through her sentence, and Tiannv Ying's expression gradually became serious.

"Ladies and gentlemen, my master invites you."

grown ups?

grown ups? !
The high-ranking officials were taken aback at first, and then their expressions changed drastically.

In this small shrine, only the 'divine child', Tenjo Eiryu, lives.

The "adult" she was referring to must have been that person:
Inari God!
God wants to see them?

(End of this chapter)