Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

In contrast, kimonos are much looser and more suitable for combat.

Both Tsuchimikado Mashiro and Tsuchimikado Mari were wearing kimonos.

And they were all red.

Standing together, they certainly attract attention.

However, Haruhiko quickly shifted his gaze.

It's Hoshino Aoi and Hoshino Hotaru.

The two of them were dressed as shrine maidens, as always.

"Aunt Kui."

Haruhiko looked at Hoshino Aoi.

As for Hotaru Hoshino, she had been staring at him ever since she appeared.

If there hadn't been outsiders present, she would have pounced on him already.

Fortunately, she has naturally expressionless features; otherwise, she would have been exposed much earlier.

"Let's go in and talk."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro interrupted the unnecessary small talk.

Hoshino Aoi nodded.

The group entered the tent and sat down together, forming a circle.

Haruhiko's left is Tsuchimikado Mari, his right is Hoshino Hotaru, and opposite him is Tsuchimikado Mashiro.

He immediately felt extremely uncomfortable.

The main reason was that all three people's eyes were on him.

Who can stand this?

"Haruhiko."

Hoshino Aoi slowly spoke, "You know the language of the Snake God?"

After the discovery of this site, the Tsuchimikado clan and the Izumo Shrine quickly reached a stalemate.

Because they couldn't open the entrance.

Just then, Tsuchimikado Mashiro suggested that Haruhiko come over, saying that he knew the language of the snake god.

Of course, this secret was only told to Hoshino Aoi and Hoshino Hotaru.

It's both very useful and very dangerous.

The language of the serpent spirits is a language and script that only serpent spirits can use.

If one didn't believe Haruhiko's words, one would most likely suspect that he was a spy for the Serpent Spirit.

"I told her."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro interjected.

"Ah."

Haruhiko nodded, then brought up his old excuse again, saying, "I learned it by chance in some ruins."

Hoshino Aoi seemed lost in thought.

"Then take a look at what these words mean."

Tsuchimikado Mashiro ignored her and took out a folder.

She had already made rubbings of all the text at the entrance beforehand.

Haruhiko took it and opened it.

There isn't much text inside, only three pages.

He began to read.

A few seconds later, a look of surprise appeared on his face.

This site is related to the Yamata no Orochi, but not much; it is more related to Ashiya Dōman.

His body is here.

But he is clearly still alive and well.

Chapter 277 The Unconscious Charm

Haruhiko continued reading and quickly found the answer.

Ashiya Dōman, despite his great strength, was ultimately human.

Human beings have their limits.

Monsters can live for thousands or tens of thousands of years, while humans cannot; they will die of old age in a few hundred years at most.

However, there are also abnormal situations.

For example, the everlasting vine that Haruhiko encountered in the Genji ruins.

Allowing it to possess one's body grants immortality, but at a great cost.

Ashiya Dōman also wanted to find immortality without any side effects, but it was difficult.

Therefore, he opted for a different approach as a second choice.

A rather mysterious magical artifact.

It can keep Ashiya Dōman's body in an absolutely still state.

As a consequence, it cannot be moved.

But Ashiya Dōman couldn't stay there for long, so he came up with another idea.

The soul leaves the body and takes over a new body.

Actually, this wasn't the first time Haruhiko had met him.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro is an example of this.

Her double is controlled by her soul.

But the two are different.

Tsuchimikado Mashiro is controlled remotely.

If the real body dies, she must die too.

The advantage is that if the stand-in dies, it won't affect the real person at all.

Ashiya Dōman, on the other hand, was the exact opposite.

The death of the real body does not affect the stand-in.

If the stand-in dies, then it's a real death.

Haruhiko was thoughtful.

It may seem that Tsuchimikado Mashiro's methods are more sophisticated, but that's not actually the case.

Because her true form will gradually age.

Ashiya Dōman wouldn't have been able to maintain his peak performance indefinitely.

Haruhiko suddenly thought of the battle at the Serpent Spirit headquarters.

At that time, Ashiya Dōman had already demonstrated considerable strength, but that was not actually his true strength.

After he returns to his true form, he will be able to unleash even greater power, perhaps approaching the sixth level.

"His body must be destroyed."

After listening, Tsuchimikado Mashiro spoke without hesitation.

"good."

Mari Tsuchimikado agreed, saying, "He's already making things difficult for us."

Hoshino Aoi nodded as well.

All three fifth-tier psychics who had participated in the battle at the Serpent Spirit Headquarters said so, and Haruhiko realized that Ashiya Doman was more troublesome than he had imagined.

That's normal, though. After all, he's a major villain in the game's setting, so he's probably not as impressive as Orochi.

"Does it say how to open the entrance?"

Tsuchimikado Mashiro stared at Haruhiko and asked.

"Have."

Haruhiko nodded.

This site was actually used to store Ashiya Michimitsu's body.