Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

He put on sunglasses and earplugs, and immediately the surroundings became quiet.

However, it's not completely invisible; there's a faint light in the dead of night, and you can barely make out the outline.

Takahashi Kisaragi threw out a talisman.

A moment later, melodious music suddenly began to play.

It sounded like the whistling of a conch shell.

Haruhiko looked around; nothing had changed.

A minute later, he felt someone tap him on the shoulder, so he took off his sunglasses and earplugs, as did the others.

The four people who had been there before stepped forward again and pried open the white stone slab, revealing a deep pit that resembled a well.

Takahashi Kisaragi glanced at it, then jumped down, and a short while later came out with a conch shell.

"A third-tier spiritual tool, an illusion-type one, not bad."

She made a comment, then put the item away and said, "Continue."

It took about half an hour to clear the trap.

Haruhiko's eyes were opened to new possibilities.

For example, the third-tier spellcaster in the ninth team.

Just like defusing mines, it can dig out underground talismans without triggering them.

Unlike Haruhiko, who rose to the third tier of spellcasters purely through cheating, his skill level was quite impressive.

In fact, this is the normal thing.

Because leveling up is too slow for ordinary spellcasters, they have to study other things.

"The entrance is here."

The young woman pointed to a spot not far from her and said.

Takahashi Kisaragi waved his hand, and soon a tunnel was cleared.

Before she could give any instructions, a middle-aged man began chanting a spell.

Four seconds later, a white spirit appeared.

It is not human-shaped, but dog-shaped.

Driven by the middle-aged man, the dog spirit entered the tunnel.

Haruhiko looked at him curiously.

But I couldn't figure out why.

"This is a special demon-taming creature."

Seeing this, Takahashi Kisaragi explained, "Its senses are quite keen, especially towards spirits. If there are any spirits below, we can know through it. Moreover, its vision is shared with its master."

Haruhiko thought to himself, "He really is a professional."

Have everything.

Such demon-controlling abilities are merely decorative in the hands of ordinary psychics.

However, it would be quite useful at the Edo Archaeological Bureau.

“A group of evil spirits are lurking there.”

The middle-aged man opened his eyes and said, "But there is no fourth-order existence."

"It appears to be just a small ruin."

Takahashi Kisaragi smiled and said, "Go down, finish quickly so we can call it a day."

"Captain Kisaragi, you knew all along, didn't you?"

Haruhiko glanced at her, and after the others entered the tunnel, he asked.

"Ah."

As Takahashi Kisaragi walked, she said softly, "Since it's an ambush, they certainly wouldn't choose a dangerous ruin."

"Too."

Haruhiko looked around curiously and asked, "Do you know what's inside?"

"That's not clear."

Takahashi Kisaragi shook her head and said, "I only checked beforehand to make sure there were no high-level spirits; I didn't come down."

Haruhiko didn't say anything more.

His attention was now focused on the words on the wall.

The tunnel was initially built of mud and rocks, but as it went deeper, it turned into white jade.

There are no pictures on it, only text.

It is winding and twisting, like a snake.

What kind of script is this?

Takahashi Kisaragi also noticed the writing on the wall and couldn't help but ask.

"It's a text from the age of the gods."

Someone immediately replied, "It has appeared in several other ruins before, but it hasn't been deciphered yet."

At the end of the tunnel was a black bronze door.

The bronze door was locked, yet there was no lock; only a crack in the door and a line of text.

"The text should be the key information, but we have no way of knowing it."

Takahashi Kisaragi raised her hand and said, "The only way is to break through by brute force."

After she finished speaking, she began chanting a spell.

Golden light appeared on the fist, and the chanting of scriptures could be faintly heard.

It is the only attack branch for the monk class, Vajra.

The next moment, she slammed her fist down.

The entire space trembled, but the door did not open; instead, she was shaken back several steps.

"nice one."

Looking at the bronze door, Takahashi Kisaragi said, "It can withstand a fourth-order spell attack without any damage, so it's made of good material."

Just then, a dull sound rang out.

It used a very strange language that was captivating to listen to.

Haruhiko's eyes widened suddenly.

He understood what it meant.

"No outsiders are allowed to enter without the order of Ibuki Daimyojin."

Just then, a game notification sound rang out.

[Achievement: My first encounter with God.]

[Reward: Permanent title.]

[The Snake God's Lucky One: One who has mastered the Snake God's language and writing.]

Haruhiko was thoughtful.

Ibuki Daimyojin is the honorific title for Yamata no Orochi.

Because he was a master of ventriloquism, he could understand the language of all animals.

I never expected the game to define the language of the snake god, Yamata no Orochi, as the language of animals.

Therefore, he was fortunate enough to trigger a new achievement and his first contact with God.

Consequently, it received a new permanent title.

This serpent god is of little use outside, but here, it's practically a passport.

After all, the Takamagahara ruins are the tomb of the Yamata no Orochi.

There are just too many things related to him.

While he was pondering, Takahashi Kisaragi launched another attack, but all of them were unsuccessful.

This made her frown, and she ordered, "Try whatever methods you have."

Haruhiko didn't move, but just looked at the words on the door.

Seven words: Long live Ibuki Daimyojin.

He wondered to himself if this was a password.

Haruhiko hesitated.

If I were to say it out loud, wouldn't that expose the fact that I can speak the language of the serpent god?