Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

"I'll go upstairs."

With a flap of her wings, Minami Utsunomiya soared into the air.

The dome is an uneven stone wall.

It's quite high, about 100 meters.

Haruhiko remembered that the highest peak of Sanpei Mountain was over 1,000 meters high.

They are inside at this time, so it's normal for them to be more than 100 meters away.

Mina Utsunomiya and the others jumped down and floated on the lava. Then, they split into two groups and headed in opposite directions.

At the entrance, only Haruhiko, Hoshino Hotaru, and Jinguji Fuyumi remained.

Compared to Mina Utsunomiya and others, Haruhiko naturally trusted fifth-tier psychics more.

He subconsciously looked at the white fox at his feet, but found that she had already closed her eyes.

It was clearly not sleeping, but rather casting a perception-based spell.

Seeing this, Haruhiko stopped bothering him.

He looked up and met Hoshino Hotaru's gaze.

There's something under the magma.

Her lips moved silently.

Haruhiko looked surprised.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Hoshino Hotaru, but since they were all at the fourth level, Utsunomiya Mina and the others were completely unaware.

As expected of the heir to the Izumo Shrine.

"what?"

Haruhiko looked down at the lava, but still couldn't make out anything.

"It is a spiritual artifact."

Hotaru Hoshino tilted her head and answered, "The Kagura bell from Izumo Shrine."

"...?"

Haruhiko was surprised and puzzled at the same time.

Kagura Bell is not the name of a specific spirit tool, but rather the name of a category of spirit tools.

It is used by all priestesses.

In other words, every shrine has a Kagura bell.

But Hotaru Hoshino was referring to the Kagura bell at Izumo Shrine.

This means that it is a unique Kagura bell that outsiders cannot easily imitate.

This indicates that a shrine maiden from Izumo Shrine once visited this place and left behind a Kagura bell.

What's down there?

Haruhiko pondered for a moment, then asked, "Do you know what's going on?"

Hotaru Hoshino is the heir to the Izumo Shrine.

Logically speaking, they should have some understanding of this.

"I do not know."

Hotaru Hoshino shook her head and said, "The only thing I don't know about at Izumo Shrine is the successive chief priests."

Haruhiko immediately understood.

It could be the work of a certain palace chief.

She might even have been involved in the construction of this site.

"But I know how to operate this Kagura bell."

Hotaru Hoshino paused for a moment, then said, "Come with me."

She jumped onto the lava and floated in mid-air.

Haruhiko and Jinguji Fuyumi exchanged a glance, then jumped down and stood next to her.

Although Hotaru Hoshino was using lip reading, Fuyumi Jinguji roughly understood the situation based on their conversation.

And she did indeed sense the existence of that magical artifact.

The priest of Izumo Shrine was very clever; he used magma and the dense spiritual energy in the air to mask the fluctuations of the spiritual artifact.

So much so that Mina Utsunomiya and the others didn't even notice.

Hotaru Hoshino noticed it because she was the heir to the Izumo Shrine and was familiar with her family's spirit tools.

Jinguji Fuyumi, on the other hand, was simply too strong.

Hoshino Hotaru raised her hand.

Psychic energy surged forth.

The lava beneath their feet churned and rolled outwards, soon revealing a crystal-like barrier.

This is clearly the effect of that magical artifact.

Haruhiko raised an eyebrow.

It looks like something is being covered up, or something is being blocked.

For a moment, he hesitated.

He was worried about the worst-case scenario.

What is the purpose of this barrier?

Haruhiko remembered that there was a professional next to him, so he asked.

Hotaru Hoshino did not answer immediately.

She descended slowly and stood on the barrier.

The barrier did not exhibit any abnormalities as a result, as if it were indeed made of solid crystal.

Hotaru Hoshino crouched down, stretched out her hand, and placed it on top.

She closed her eyes, and psychic energy surged forth.

A faint red mist enveloped her.

Jinguji Fuyu's eyes suddenly narrowed.

She felt a sense of familiarity.

Even though she and Hoshino Hotaru had never crossed paths.

But where does this sense of familiarity come from?

"I can't break this barrier."

Hotaru Hoshino stood up, looked at Haruhiko, and silently said, "We need a fifth-tier psychic."

"Fifth tier?"

Haruhiko glanced at Jinguji Fuyumi subconsciously and asked, "Any fifth-tier psychic will do?"

"No."

Hotaru Hoshino shook her head and said, "It must be a fifth-tier psychic from Izumo Shrine."

Haruhiko understood what she meant.

More accurately, it requires a fifth-tier psychic capable of performing special spells at the Cloud Shrine.

In Japan today, only Hoshino Aoi meets the requirements on the surface.

Do you know what's underneath the barrier?

Haruhiko can ask Hoshino Aoi for help, but it's best to find out more about her beforehand.

According to Hotaru Hoshino, it was the work of a certain priest of Izumo Shrine.

It's highly likely that Hoshino Aoi knew about it.

It might be some kind of taboo or something.

If he goes to inquire, he will offend Hoshino Aoi.

There is a passage.

Hotaru Hoshino paused for a moment and said, "But it's bottomless, and I don't know where it leads."

Haruhiko thought to himself, "He's really not simple."

He could understand if there were some treasures down there.

However, such unusual circumstances often indicate significant problems.

Even if he could break the barrier, Haruhiko would hesitate and waver.