Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

Tachibana Yui gave a light snort and said with considerable confidence.

"If you're worried, you can bring your girlfriend."

Tsuchimikado Mari crossed her arms and said with a faint smile.

"Girlfriend?"

Tachibana Yui suddenly looked at Haruhiko.

"..."

Haruhiko twitched the corner of his mouth and explained, "She's talking about Hoshino Rin."

"No, I meant Hoshino Hotaru."

Mari Tsuchimikado smiled slightly and said.

"Are they both your girlfriends?"

Tachibana Yui revealed two small tiger teeth, which gleamed coldly under the light.

"No."

Haruhiko quickly waved his hand, while glaring at Tsuchimikado Mari.

This wicked woman really loves to stir up trouble.

But he didn't lie either.

He and Hoshino Rin weren't officially boyfriend and girlfriend; they were still in a ambiguous stage.

As for Hotaru Hoshino, you could call her your girlfriend, but that's taking things a step further.

"With the Tsuchimikado clan and Izumo Shrine as your guarantors, Kasuga Shrine will not have any objections, unless Aoyama Nao wants to fight to the death."

Mari Tsuchimikado, seeing Haruhiko's gaze, smiled even more broadly.

Only Tachibana Yui looked sullen, like a squirrel whose nuts had been stolen.

Haruhiko nodded.

Mari Tsuchimikado is right.

Even if Izumo Shrine is not Haruhiko's backer.

But the appearance of Hotaru Hoshino was enough to make Kasuga Shrine understand what it meant.

"Serpent Spirit Headquarters, how was the harvest?"

With the matter of the hunting party temporarily resolved, Haruhiko began to wonder about the secrets he had discovered at the Serpent Spirit headquarters.

In particular, Tsuchimikado Mari said that there were some things among them that interested her.

To be honest, he's not very interested in much right now.

He wasn't in a hurry for any spells or magical artifacts.

Unless it's the Nine Swords of Godslaying.

However, Ashiya Dōman also stated that the members of the Serpent Spirit Organization were unaware of the existence of these nine swords.

"The harvest was naturally quite good."

Tsuchimikado Mari snapped her fingers and produced a document.

Haruhiko picked it up casually and found that it contained information about members of the Serpent Spirit Organization.

There were a few familiar faces among them.

He had seen it at the Edo Archaeological Bureau.

There is no doubt that there is intelligence from an undercover agent involved.

The members that the Serpent Spirit painstakingly planted are likely to be eradicated.

This wave of losses was truly devastating.

But Haruhiko wasn't particularly interested.

Even if the list is known, it is the Imperial Palace that will handle it.

He was completely unable to get involved.

As he read on, Haruhiko finally understood why Tsuchimikado Mari had said he would be interested.

The above records the locations of the ruins that the Serpent Spirit has discovered over the years.

Some have already been mined, but some haven't.

Most of them are in the Takamagahara ruins, and a few are in Japan.

Haruhiko was certain that the Utsunomiya clan would achieve significant growth through this wave.

For a force to grow stronger, besides people, it needs resources.

For example, spiritual tools, spells, and talismans.

They can be found in the ruins.

With sufficient resources, the Utsunomiya clan was able to recruit people from outside.

How were these relics allocated?

Haruhiko quickly thought of another problem.

Fifteen factions attacked the Serpent Spirit headquarters, and it was absolutely impossible for the Tsuchimikado clan to reap the rewards alone.

"Distributed according to contribution."

Mari Tsuchimikado explained, "Because you provided the location of the Serpent Spirit headquarters, you made the biggest contribution. Of course, they don't know it was you who provided it; they just think that the Tsuchimikado clan found it."

You can choose three ruins.

Tachibana Yui casually handed him a pen and said, "Any of the ones above are fine, it depends on your preference, but I recommend these three."

After she finished speaking, she tapped the document three times.

"Based on our analysis, these three sites should be the most valuable."

Tsuchimikado Mari echoed this sentiment.

"Well."

Haruhiko naturally wouldn't refuse, and then asked, "And you guys?"

He was worried that Tachibana Yui and Tsuchimikado Mari would also give him the relics of the Tsuchimikado clan.

In that case, there's no need.

Although he made great contributions, it was actually Tsuchimikado who did the real work.

"There are three too."

A smile appeared on Tachibana Yui's face.

She was happy not because of the ruins, but because Haruhiko was thinking of her.

Really good.

It's no wonder that his aunt treated him so well.

"Besides the ruins, there is also this document."

Tsuchimikado Mari then produced another document and said, "It was written in the language of the Serpent God."

"And it's the information that Ashiya Doman wanted to steal."

Tachibana Yui raised her chin slightly and said, "If I hadn't acted in time, he would have taken me away."

"As expected of Aunt Mashiro."

Haruhiko took the opportunity to praise him.

Tachibana Yui's smile deepened, clearly indicating her great satisfaction.

"This is……?"

Haruhiko opened the documents and suddenly froze.

He had no idea it would be like this.

Even the Nine Swords of Godslaying could be understood by him.

But this thing truly shocked him.

"What is it?"

Tsuchimikado Mari and Tachibana Yui exchanged a glance, both somewhat curious.

"The Ashiya Road is full of Onmyoji (yin-yang masters)."

Haruhiko took a deep breath and said, "He wants to turn Orochi into his shikigami."

"This is impossible."

Without even thinking, Tachibana Yui said, "How could a god willingly become a human's shikigami? It's just too fantastical."

"But it's possible for the Yamata no Orochi to be half-dead."