I planted a sacred tree in Tokyo.

Chapter 427: Can We Reconcile?

the other side,
Just as a certain high school girl was racking her brains trying to 'recruit' a group of mercenaries known as the Seven.

Kagome, the middle school student she had once invited to team up with, was now leisurely drinking tea.

"Thank you, Granny Feng, for the tea. I'm saved!"

"It's just a cup of tea. But you, young lady—"

The elderly woman, dressed in a white top and red bottom shrine maiden outfit, repeatedly scrutinized the girl kneeling opposite her.

"Like, very similar."

?

"Why are you, a young girl, unarmed, alone in the mountains?"

The old woman seemed unwilling to say much, and instead inquired about Kagome's origins: the girl couldn't help but feel a headache coming on when this question was asked.

Because of a few irresponsible words from a certain principal, they were all thrown into this "other world"; if it weren't for good luck and the ability to communicate in the language, Kagome would probably be like the other unlucky guys now, starting to experience wilderness survival.

This left her unsure how to explain her origins.
"If, I mean if;"

Kagome put down the earthenware teacup, looking hesitant.

"I'm not from this world, what will the old woman think?"

They'd think I was crazy.

"Not from this world?"

However, the old woman dressed as a shrine maiden remained completely unfazed.
"Rumor has it that there is a fairy mountain called Penglai overseas, and the Great Western Kingdom has an entrance to the 'underworld'. But this old woman sees that although you are full of energy, you do not seem to be an immortal walking in the world, nor a visitor from the underworld."

what?
Are there any sacred mountains or underworlds in this world?
As she carefully took notes, Kagome shook her head slightly again.

"Oh?"

The old witch, known as 'Grandma Maple,' raised her eyelids slightly.

"This old woman is not very strong, but she considers herself to have some knowledge; besides that, she didn't know that there were other 'grotto-heavens' in this world?"

How should we explain this?
Kagome is quite strong in combat, but her intelligence is lacking.
Besides, even someone with exceptionally high intelligence would find it difficult, right?
The people in this world are so vivid and lifelike. Whether it's the farmers and children outside, or Granny Feng in front of me, they all seem very rational and not easily fooled. Besides, her clothes are completely out of place in this world.

Should we tell the truth?
"Very well, it seems you also have your own unspeakable difficulties."

The old woman, whom the villagers called "Grandma Feng," did not press further and simply waved her hand dismissively.

"You can stay here temporarily; this village is relatively safe."

"But if you want to eat, you have to work, and—"

"Do not go into the back mountain."

"OK,"

Kagome nodded vigorously and had no choice but to agree.

but:

"Doing farm work?"

After leaving Granny Feng's house, the girl couldn't help but feel a headache as she looked at the farmers weeding in the paddy fields outside the village.

It wasn't that she looked down on farmers, but rather that she couldn't distinguish between weeds and rice seedlings at all!

Besides, that 'principal' sent them to this other world; he couldn't have really brought them here to farm, could he? Suddenly being thrown into another world, and then talking about extraordinary gains... the concentration of 'spiritual energy' in this world is indeed clearly perceptible, but at the same time:
"Something feels off about this spiritual energy."

No, it should be said that the world as a whole made her feel uncomfortable?
You have a very keen sense of perception!
A certain being's gaze swept over the girl who was talking to herself, and he was quite impressed with her talent.

This 'world' was created by someone, who then poured in a large number of 'White Zetsu'—not White Zetsu for combat, but White Zetsu mass-produced by the roots of the Divine Tree, which are only at the level of ordinary people: in a sense, they are not much different from ordinary people.

Immediately afterwards, they seized a bunch of remnants of souls from hundreds of years ago from 'Yomihirasaka' and stuffed them into the bodies of these White Zetsu.

A wide-ranging illusion was cast, creating individual identity 'settings' for each of them; in this way, villages and towns appeared one by one.

Because of the extensive use of 'Yin attribute' chakra, this world is permeated with negative emotions, which also fits the world setting of 'demons running rampant'.

But this world is still too rudimentary, so You relaxed the 'rules' of the entire space: the cognition of these NPCs he created will constantly influence, change, and fill in the various subtle aspects of this world.

The same principle applies to the students he threw into the space.

Their understanding will also continuously refine the underlying logic of this world: of course, all of this is under You's control.

As the first 'demiplane' used for experiments, this is also why Yu doesn't allow strong individuals to enter: in this current rudimentary little world, if a full-force demon were to attack, they would likely be reduced to a pulp, since it's currently only the size of a county.

As these 'NPCs' and students continue to move around, the 'world' will continue to expand!

As for whether or not one can gain any benefits during this period?
That means it all comes down to skill!

as well as:

And luck.

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.

"No work, no food."

"I didn't expect this to be the first problem I encountered in this other world?"

Wherever she went, she attracted strange looks from the villagers. She subconsciously avoided the crowds and walked in the mountains behind the village. As she walked, Kagome thought about how she could 'get food'. However, as a middle school student, her specialty was fighting. She was skilled in various weapons, including spears, swords, and bows and arrows.

"Should I become a thief? Or a mercenary?"

As she walked and pondered, the girl paused.

"Oops!"

unconsciously,

She had already reached the back mountain of the village when Granny Feng gave her her instructions.

"You shouldn't have wandered off like that, go back now—?"

The girl, who was turning to leave, glanced to the other side and subconsciously stopped in her tracks.

There was a clearing in the woods not far away: not because it had been cut down, but because there was a large tree there.

The tree's broad canopy absorbs sunlight but also suppresses the growth of surrounding trees; only low-lying grasses can grow at its base.

What attracted Kagome's attention was not the tree itself—after all, could it be bigger than the 'Divine Tree' in Tokyo's Sacred Tree Ward?—but rather a boy on its trunk.

The other person was wearing a red hunting robe, bright red belted lantern pants, and was barefoot; he had beautiful long silver hair, with two strands of hair hanging down to his chest at his temples, and his appearance was fresh and delicate, as if he were sleeping against a tree trunk.

However, judging from the roots that had wrapped around his body and the half-eaten arrow embedded in his chest, he had clearly been dead for a long time!
"people?"

Or is it a monster?
Curious, Kagome tiptoed closer and then discovered that the other person had a pair of ears on top of their head.

Wow, so cute, I want to cuddle it!
open eyes--!
Just as Kagome stepped forward and instinctively reached out to rub the other person's ear, the boy suddenly opened his eyes.

"Wow~~~"

"Heh, you're surprised to see I'm still alive?"

"Of course I'd be surprised. Are you doing some kind of performance art?"

Startled, Kagome clutched her chest, her mind flashing back to those prank shows where people pretended to be 'statues' in the park.

"What are you talking about? No, you're not her!"

The silver-haired, red-clad boy pinned to the tree by an arrow sniffed.

"You smell weird, you're not as pretty as her, and your face looks silly."

???

Fist, hard!
Although she didn't know what the boy was talking about, the words "weird smell," "ugly appearance," and "stupid" were enough to make Kagome's rationality explode on the spot! If it weren't for the miserable state of the boy being nailed to the tree, she would have shown this boy the power of the "Bunkyo man-eating beast."

"Whatever, woman!"

The boy nailed to the tree spoke boldly.
"Come here and pull out this arrow!"

What a handsome young man, it's a pity he has a mouth.

The moment the other person opened his mouth, Kagome's girlish heart shattered into pieces: as for his request—

"You seem to be in such good spirits, why don't you pull it out yourself?"

"Foolish woman, it's because this arrow is sealed with magic, I can't even move my fingers!"

The silver-haired pretty boy continued to speak arrogantly, without a trace of pleading in his voice.

"Then, if I help you remove the arrow..."

Stepping forward and grasping the arrow, Kagome asked curiously:
"what will you do?"

"Hahaha~~~~Does that even need to be said?"

The boy laughed arrogantly.
"Of course, I'll kill you first, then wreak havoc! I'll use the heads of countless enemies to pave my way to becoming the Demon King—Aaaaaah!!!"

With a thrust of the hand gripping the arrow shaft, the boy's shouts turned into screams of agony.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!"

"Do you think I'm stupid? Why would I let you go like this?"

Such a handsome young man, it's a pity he's brainless.

Kagome was so angry her hair almost flew up. It was hard to say whether there would be any extraordinary gains in this other world, but there was definitely an extraordinary idiot right in front of her.

"Now I understand why Granny Feng gave those instructions."

Kagome shook her head, looking disdainfully at the silver-haired, grimacing young man in front of her.

"Spending too much time with someone like you will make you stupid."

"Stupid woman, look carefully!!" The silver-haired youth's expression changed, though he didn't know what he had done to offend the other party.

"I'm not human, I'm a demon! Can't you see the ears on the top of my head?"

"Fine, fine, you're a demon, you're a demon."

Kagome no longer wanted to get entangled with this beautiful boy who was unable to move his body and could only keep up a facade with his mouth: she would only make him stupid.

"I am leaving,"

"Hey, wait a minute—"

"Don't go! Help me remove the arrow first!"

"Do we really need to be wary of those mindless supernatural beings?"

Emerging from the back mountain, Kagome couldn't help but mutter to herself: she had realized that the back mountain of this village must be the forbidden area where the boy was sealed; however, apart from his mouth, she didn't see any threat, only that he was clumsy.

"Go back and tell Granny Feng?"

Just as she stepped out of the back mountain, a scream carried on the wind startled the girl:
The collapsed houses in the distance and the long, tumbling figure both indicated that something unexpected had happened.

A giant beast?

Or is it an extraordinary being?

"Loose the arrows! Loose the arrows—"

"Women, take your children and seek refuge quickly!!"

When Kagome arrived at the village, it was in complete chaos: women were taking their children to safety, while men, armed with sickles, hoes, torches, and bows and arrows, were besieging a large centipede.
This centipede was as thick as a water bucket, with densely packed 'human arms' as legs, and it was estimated to be at least twenty or thirty meters long.

The upper body is that of a naked woman, who also has six arms: with a swing of her long body, villagers are immediately knocked away wherever she goes, and wooden houses collapse in a mess.

He truly is an extraordinary being.
Its strength should be at least that of a strong hound? Or perhaps a wolf?
However, neither strong dogs nor wolves are something an ordinary farmer can handle!
"Ah~~"

"Daddy, Daddy!"

"Don't go there! Get out of here quickly! Hurry—"

The men were trying their best to attack the giant centipede, but unfortunately, the difference in strength between them was too great. The centipede's body, covered by its shell, was like wearing armor, and the sickles and hoes used as farm tools were not able to penetrate its defenses at all.

As for bows and arrows
Bang!
A hunter was struck by the centipede's tail, and was sent flying backward, rolling and landing not far from Kagome.

"Uncle, are you okay?"

The girl stepped forward and saw that the other person's arm was twisted and his eyes were closed as he convulsed, which did not seem like he was alright.

"doctor!"

"Call an ambulance immediately!"

There are no doctors or ambulances here; I must be out of my mind.

Kagome realized what she was saying as soon as she spoke, her gaze falling on the quiver on the unconscious hunter's back and the hunting bow in his hand.

war!
"Hehehe~~"

"Human flesh, delicious~~"

With a struggling farmer in its jaws, the 'centipede monster' let the blood flow into its mouth, ready to feast, when suddenly a cold glint appeared in its eyes!
? !
He suddenly tilted his head, and the arrow grazed his face.

"Who?"

It spat out the farmer, raised its body like a snake, and swept its gaze over him.

It landed on a strangely dressed girl with a bow and arrow at her side.

"eat you!"

Given the monster's nature, the fact that the other party had almost hurt her meant she had to eat him.

"Come and chase me if you can!"

She drew her bow again, nocked an arrow, and shot it at the enemy's face. Kagome then turned and ran towards the back of the mountain.

By luring the monster away, the villagers can take the opportunity to escape.

As for her?
This concludes our journey to another world.

Even knowing that you can 'return to town' in a crisis, who would dare not run when actually facing a monster's pursuit?

The girl unleashed her impressive physical abilities, enough to earn her a spot in the 'time travel' race, leaping and bounding through the forest, using the terrain to her advantage in an attempt to delay the inevitable. However...
They were eventually caught up quickly.

"Ha, woman, you have pretty good stamina."

?

The mocking words behind her startled Kagome, and before she knew it, she had run to the big tree.

"Being chased so pathetically by these small fry, I'll swat them with my claws."

"Hehehe~~ Small fish?"

The enormous body slithered among the trees. The centipede demon chased after it and saw the silver-haired, red-clothed boy nailed to the tree.

"I heard that decades ago, a half-demon fell in love with a human priestess; but the priestess found an opportunity to seal him away—this kind of thing that disgraces demons should be called trash, right?"

The centipede demon leisurely swam over and surrounded the tree, leaving Kagome with nowhere to escape.

"Ah, no, you can't be called a nobody, because you are:"

"Half-demon, half-demon~~"

!!!

"Woman, let me go, I'll kill him for you!"

You can't hurt people randomly!

The situation is urgent. If we don't want to 'return to the city,' perhaps releasing this foolish young man could change the situation?

"Okay, I promise you."

Without thinking, Kagome grabbed the arrow that had pierced the other's chest.

Before she could pull it out, the arrow emitted a soft light.

The next moment, it vanished without a trace.

?

"Hahaha, I'm free!"

Amidst the maniacal laughter, the silver-haired, red-clad youth suddenly broke free from his roots, unleashing a surge of spiritual power—no, it should be called demonic power.

"How...how could this be?!"

Seeing the half-demon, who had been sealed away for decades according to rumors, suddenly have his seal broken, the centipede demon was filled with disbelief! Could a seal really be broken so easily?
"Hey, are you ready to die?"

Faced with the wildly arrogant young man who had regained his freedom, the centipede demon swallowed hard.

"Um, can I pretend I was just passing by?"

"Soul-Removing Iron Claw!"

His response was a figure rushing towards him, and sharp nails on a hand brimming with 'demon power'.

Pfft

With a single swipe of its claws, the woman's entire upper body was torn to shreds!

"A small fry is a small fry, next one."

After saying that, the boy turned around.

"now you!"

? ?
Kagome was taken aback by the other party's murderous look.

"Didn't you just swear an oath?"

"Tch, don't you humans often make oaths, but never keep them?!"

"I knew they would break the contract,"

Kagome sighed. The centipede was gone; hopefully, the villagers were all far away now. As for that big, idiotic fool who went back on his word—

"Take this arrow!"

Since she couldn't escape anyway, the girl simply drew her bow and nocked an arrow, hoping to 'die' with some dignity.

This time, however, a white light shone from her arrow!
At the same time, arrow patterns appeared on the back of his hand.

???

"That posture."

Compared to the bewildered Kagome, the arrogant silver-haired boy in the red fur coat opposite her changed his expression drastically.

"It's her sealing arrow, cough cough,"

The boy coughed lightly, his fierce expression vanishing as he forced a smile.

"Um, can I take it as a joke just now?"

"Sit down!"

Seeing the boy obediently squatting on the ground, Kagome finally understood.

It seems, perhaps, maybe... that the arrow she just pulled out granted her some extraordinary power?
(End of this chapter)