A certain crossover anime's nuclear-powered sword immortal

With that, the middle-aged man, who had acted as the driver for a while, walked ahead and led the way for everyone.

The entrance to Toshogu Shrine, which is surrounded by cedar trees on both sides, leads to the Ichi no Torii gate.

If you walk in like this, you'll reach Toshogu Shrine. To the right is Nikkozan Rinnoji Temple, and deep to the left is Futarazan Shrine.

"So, Liliana, how's the accommodation for tonight?"

"Well... I've already booked a room nearby. To avoid disturbing them with so many people, I found a mid-range hotel in the area."

Liliana answered Shirou's question very skillfully.

A personality that naturally appreciates attention to detail is particularly suited to this kind of task.

On this point, she is the complete opposite of Erica.

"Well, that's it."

Nodding, Shirou then turned his gaze to the road ahead.

“Hey, Lily, I want to go to an open-air bath where I can wear a yukata and enter, so that it will be convenient to serve the ‘King’ at night, and we can enjoy a pleasant bath together under the stars.”

With a cheerful smile on her face, Erica said.

This blonde girl is exceptionally skilled in politics, strategy, and negotiation, and also has a broad perspective on economics.

However, without the skill in handling mundane tasks, chores, and the delicate work of cooking, as well as that kind of economic sense, one could probably do it, but it's highly unlikely that one would.

"The place I'm staying tonight can have the open-air bath reserved by reservation only. If 'King' needs it, I'll make arrangements..."

Although Liliana was somewhat displeased with Erica's idea, she was also clear about her own position, so she asked Shirou.

Chapter 84 The Journey to the Western Heavenly Palace

Under the watchful eyes of the witches who followed him and the members of the "Official History Compilation Committee," Shirou felt a little embarrassed to say in front of everyone that he was going to the bathhouse for some fun that night.

"Let's stick to the original plan."

Upon hearing Shirou's words, Erica secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but on the surface, she showed a somewhat regretful expression.

"Eh...I see...I was originally thinking of bringing Liliana along too."

"What!? Erica, you...!!"

Liliana's face flushed red with anger. She was astonished by this woman's shamelessness, but the feeling of helplessness she couldn't overcome made her extremely uncomfortable.

.

Yuri Mariya, who has a rather serious personality, is already used to this special relationship between them and is too lazy to say anything more to them at this moment.

While they were bickering, the group had already arrived at the entrance of the shrine.

"Everyone, this is the shrine of Xitian Palace."

Amakasu Touma introduced himself to the crowd.

"So, Mayuri, didn't you say you'd already been to this palace before?"

Yuri nodded in response to Erica's suggestion.

"Yes, I came here once when I became a priestess. I only entered the main hall, not the shrine."

Yuri pointed to the torii gate of Toshogu Shrine without hesitation.

Following behind her were Princess Alice and Shirou, who were looking at the building with some curiosity.

"What do you think of this place?" Shirou asked the girl standing next to him.

"Hmm...it's not bad, it gives off a strong ancient Chinese vibe."

Alice smiled and said.

"Is this so..."

Shirou raised an eyebrow.

Nikko Toshogu Shrine is a mausoleum built to enshrine the deified Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Tosho Daigongen.

It's a very luxurious and magnificent shrine that is frequently visited by students on school trips.

Looking at the five-story pagoda, climbing the stone steps, passing the torii gate, and then entering the main hall through the famous Yomeimon Gate, is the proper route to the inner sanctuary.

However, Yuri walked toward an inconspicuous building on her way.

Speaking of Toshogu Shrine, it must be a luxurious space built with modern funds equivalent to hundreds of billions of yen.

It gives the impression of exquisite gold carving and meticulously crafted items.

But it was a very small, undecorated little house.

It is quite different from the five-story pagodas and gates I have seen before, but it is surprisingly a popular tourist attraction with tourists around.

"I always felt that only this place was different from other places; all other places had spent all their money."

This is the only assessment Shirou could give of this little house.

“This is the shrine’s stables…the building most connected to the God of Toshogu Shrine,” Yuri replied.

Upon hearing this, Shirou looked towards the fence outside the stable, where two horses were tethered.

On the front side wall of the building, there are images of monkeys carved from one end to the other.

There were more than a dozen monkeys in total: some with their eyes closed, some with their mouths closed, some with their ears covered, some sitting, some looking up at the sky, and some lying down.

"There has been a legend since ancient times that monkeys can cure horses' diseases, so this stable is full of monkeys."

Yuri said.

"The Western Heaven Palace is only a part of the Eastern Sun Palace. It is an independent sacred area for worshipping different kinds of gods. The god worshipped in the Western Heaven Palace is called the 'Monkey God,' who is the incarnation of a monkey and also the protector of dragons. That's all I know..."

Why do monkeys protect dragons?

Although he knew that the prototype of "Monkey God" was Sun Wukong, the Monkey King from Journey to the West, Shirou couldn't tell whether this one was the real deal.

"I just hope their abilities won't disappoint me..."

With that murmur, Shirou followed Yuri to the vast woods behind the shrine.

This area is inconspicuous, located between Futarasan Shrine and Toshogu Shrine, so it went unnoticed by dozens of tourists.

The group followed Yuri into the woods, and after about ten minutes, their direction began to become somewhat unclear.

Fortunately, we eventually found the entrance to the ancient shrine.

"Welcome, we've been waiting for you for a long time."

The person who came out to greet them was Mikihiko Kuhozuka, who was dressed in the robes of a priest.

"We at the Kuhozuka Shrine are very honored by the arrival of the 'King'. The shrine gates will open soon to allow the deity to meet you. Please wait a little longer."

"Kuhozuka Mikihiko spoke respectfully."

Upon hearing this, Shirou frowned.

"Didn't you just say you were going to meet the God?"

"Yes, we know why you came here. Although we wanted to dissuade you, after careful consideration, for the safety of the Nine Laws Tomb family, it is better to do so."

"They really know what's good for them," Shirou couldn't help but remark.

Has this family become so panicked just because I said I was coming here?

However, Shirou had already noticed the slight abnormality in the young man named Kyuhozuka Mikihiko's every move.

However, he did not deliberately expose them, but planned to wait for the mastermind to come out on his own before taking them all down at once.

"Then, please invite that priestess to come over."

Following Kufuzuka Mikihiko's words, a short while later, a petite girl dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit arrived.

She had shoulder-length brown hair with a red hair clip, a slender and petite figure, and fair and delicate cheeks, as if she were still a minor.

"Light?"

Yuri saw the person who came and immediately went forward.

The shrine maiden who appeared was Yuri Mariya's younger sister, who was only 1 year old this year.

1 is old.

As Yuri's younger sister, an apprentice shrine maiden, she possesses the ability to eliminate magic and curses and ward off disasters, which is why she was brought here.

In preparation for her meeting with the god, Hikaru Mariya dressed up as a shrine maiden.

“…‘Wang’, nice to meet you. You can call me Xiao Guang.”

The young shrine maiden approached Shirou somewhat nervously, her small hands shyly clasped together at her lower abdomen as she bowed.

"Well, let's go."

Shirou nodded.

"Ok."

The girl immediately stood up and then led Shirou into the shrine.

"Speaking of which, a hundred years ago, after the last liberation of the gods, all those associated with the Western Heaven Palace were blown away, and this shrine was rebuilt afterward."

Amakasu Touma, holding a document in his hand, reported to Shirou.

"Letting the 'disobedient god' that was finally sealed away escape, and the released god actually comes back on its own?"

Shirou found it quite amusing.

"That's right. As for the reason for returning, it's because the cursed power gathered from the sacred sites all over Japan has become the divine power of Tosho Daigongen, binding the 'Monkey God Lord'. Even if he goes out and causes a ruckus, he will eventually return here to be sealed."

"Even if you gather a large number of magicians, you can't defeat the 'disobedient god.' This must be the rule of this world, right?"

Hearing this question, Touma Amakasu also seemed somewhat incredulous.

"Indeed, it shouldn't have been possible, but for some reason, perhaps because it combined the wisdom of ancient magicians, this mechanism unexpectedly succeeded."

As they were talking, Yuri Mariya also came over.

“My king, could you please take me to the Monkey God as well?”

Yuri pleaded with a resolute expression.

Chapter 85 The Great Sage Equal to Heaven