Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

Tsuchimikado Mashiro, dressed in a red kimono, walked in.

That height gives people a strange sense of oppression.

Haruhiko was slightly taken aback; he did not see Tsuchimikado Mari.

Didn't they come? Or did they simply not show up?

Normally, as a shikigami, she shouldn't be in such a situation.

"Long time no see, sister."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro said with a charming laugh, "You're still so serious. Be careful you don't get old."

Haruhiko was stunned.

He had rarely seen Tsuchimikado Mashiro look like this.

This should be the second time.

The first time was a long time ago, when he didn't know Tsuchimikado Mashiro.

After becoming a psychic, he and Hoshino Rin accompanied Hoshino Aoi to an auction.

That's when he met Tsuchimikado Mashiro.

That's the style of her communication with Hoshino Aoi.

Haruhiko became increasingly puzzled as to what kind of grudge the two of them had.

"I thought you would come in person."

Hoshino Aoi retorted calmly, "Is your true form something you can't show to others?"

Haruhiko was slightly startled.

He had forgotten that Hoshino Aoi knew that Tsuchimikado Mashiro was using a Stand.

It's speculated that the effect might be due to the user's strength or the power of the artifact.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro gritted her teeth.

That's really hard to refute.

And the fact that Haruhiko was still here today made her lose even more face.

"that……"

Haruhiko coughed, interrupting their conversation, and said, "Let's talk business."

He suspected that if things continued like this, the verbal dispute would turn into a life-or-death battle.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro gave a light snort, no longer trying to outwit Hoshino Aoi.

She glanced around casually, then sat down to Haruhiko's left, glancing at Hoshino Rin as well.

If she remembered correctly, this was the little girlfriend that Tsuchimikado Mari often referred to as his girlfriend.

It is indeed flat.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro puffed out her chest and asked, "This must be Hoshino Rin, right?"

Her movements appeared unsteady.

"Yes."

Hoshino Rin's eyes twitched, and she replied politely, "Aunt Mashiro."

Such an exaggerated body double, the real person might be even flatter than her.

For some reason, she suddenly had this thought.

But then I changed my mind and dispelled it.

She already knew about the relationship between Tsuchimikado Mashiro and Haruhiko.

In other words, this is one's elder.

How can you compare yourself to a love rival?

What brings you here today?

Hoshino Aoi spoke expressionlessly, her calm tone dispelling the strange atmosphere.

Of course, it was only Haruhiko who felt the atmosphere was strange.

“During our previous attack on the Serpent Spirit headquarters, we obtained a site related to the Genji clan.”

Tsuchimikado Mashiro withdrew her gaze and looked at Hoshino Aoi; the two exuded an aura of subtle rivalry.

"Genji?"

Hoshino Aoi pondered for a moment, then asked, "Do you know the reason for our destruction?"

"good."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro was not surprised by her intelligence; she was already used to it. "They were destroyed by a fifth-tier demon."

"That's not unexpected."

Hoshino Aoi nodded, then asked, "What about that otherworldly being?"

"not dead."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro slowly said, "It possesses the talent of shapeshifting, and can perfectly transform into a human or a yokai. Its current whereabouts are unknown."

"..."

Hoshino Aoi remained silent.

She finally understood why Tsuchimikado Mashiro had come to her door.

None of the seven fifth-tier alien demons in the seven forbidden zones possess the talent for shapeshifting.

This suggests that it has stolen the identities of humans or monsters and is secretly plotting something.

"Do you have any idea?"

Hoshino Aoi continued to ask.

"The Otherworldly Demons' goal is simple: to conquer this world."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro paused for a moment and then said, "They need a traitor, just like the one from a thousand years ago."

"Yamata no Orochi."

Hoshino Aoi gave the answer.

She actually knows more than Tsuchimikado Mashiro.

This involves the deity they worship, Ōkuninushi.

Before leaving, I left them with a lot of things.

The ruins of Ōkuninushi that Haruhiko visited were one of them.

Hoshino Aoi's younger sister, Hoshino Ri, still guards the entrance to the underworld there.

"I plan to lure the snake out of its hole."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro revealed his plan: "Set up a fake tomb on the fifth level of the Takamagahara Ruins, and let it expose itself."

"The fifth level hasn't been explored yet; it's very dangerous."

Hoshino Aoi frowned slightly and said, "Moreover, to make it indistinguishable from the real thing, we need to find an ancient ruin first."

"That's why we're looking to collaborate with you."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro smiled confidently, "With the strength of Izumo Shrine and the Tsuchimikado clan, the fifth floor shouldn't be a problem."

Hoshino Aoi did not refute.

There's nothing wrong with that statement.

Currently, the Imperial Palace comprises fifteen major powers.

However, there are not many that belong to the millennia-old forces.

More than half of the forces rose to power later.

However, Izumo Shrine and the Tsuchimikado clan are different; their lineage has never been broken.

This means they possess divine artifacts that can unleash power exceeding that of the fifth tier.

And it's not just a magical artifact.

For example, Tsuchimikado Mashiro's stand.

"You can try it."

Hoshino Aoi nodded and said, "But we need more allies."

"That's true, but there are very few people we can trust. If it's a demon in disguise, then all our efforts will be in vain."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro looked at Hoshino Aoi and asked, "Do you have a solution?"

"..."

Hoshino Aoi fell into deep thought and did not answer.