Tokyo: Starting with the Shrine Maiden

Talented and gifted individuals are ultimately few and far between.

"I have a question."

Since the banquet hadn't started yet, Haruhiko began chatting casually, "With so many seats, why did Miss Fujiwara choose this place?"

He wanted to know if it was an accident or if there was some other reason behind it.

After all, he was a famous historical figure.

Haruhiko, being cautious, could not act rashly.

"It's because of that wisteria flower."

Fujiwara no Riko didn't hide anything, and a smile appeared on her lips.

Haruhiko followed her gaze and indeed saw a wisteria tree not far away.

He then thought of the heroine named Murasaki in Fujiwara no Yoshiko's novel "The Tale of Genji".

It seems she really likes wisteria.

The two chatted for a few more sentences.

As time went by, all the desks in the courtyard were filled with people.

Soon, a group of people came out from the backyard.

The leader was a middle-aged man, dressed in luxurious clothes, and exuded an unspoken sense of authority.

"Master Daoist!"

Everyone stood up and bowed to him.

Haruhiko is no exception.

But his gaze was fixed on the young man behind Fujiwara no Michinaga.

He was dressed in the hunting robes of an Onmyoji, and had a handsome appearance with a subtle fox-like beauty.

More importantly, it's his strength—the fifth tier.

Abe no Haruaki.

These four words came to Haruhiko's mind.

According to legend, Abe no Seimei was half-human and half-fox, and his mother was a white fox.

Based on the timeline, Haruhiko suspects that her mother might have been a shrine maiden at the Inari Shrine.

Logically speaking, Abe no Seimei, being half-human and half-fox, should have lived longer than humans, but he died very young.

Haruhiko didn't know what had happened, but he intuitively felt that it was related to the Otherworldly Demons.

However, it would be difficult for an ordinary fifth-tier demon to kill him; perhaps it was a legendary sixth-tier demon.

The banquet officially started.

The first step is to compose a poem.

Fujiwara no Michinaga stood up, looked around, and had a faint smile on his face.

Everyone's eyes were filled with anticipation and respect.

"Let me introduce someone to you."

Fujiwara no Michinaga patted Abe no Seimei on the shoulder and said, "This is the famous Abe no Seimei. He will be the one to set the questions today."

Abe no Seimei responded with a smile.

He stepped forward and said, "The theme of this banquet is Thor, or rather, lightning."

Haruhiko was stunned; this was indeed familiar.

The Tenko tradition of Inari Shrine is closely related to Rai.

He felt that Abe no Seimei was influenced by his mother.

Once the theme was decided, the courtyard quieted down, with only the soft rustling of paper and brushes.

Haruhiko looked at Fujiwara no Kyouko.

She was holding a calligraphy brush, staring at the paper in front of her, deep in thought.

This is opportunity.

Haruhiko reached his hand out from under the table.

A faint flow of psionic energy.

He was glad he had chosen an extremely remote location.

Furthermore, the Ashiya Doman he possessed possessed had the strength of a fifth-tier psychic, which is why he went unnoticed.

After using Mind Control, Haruhiko felt a vague connection between himself and Fujiwara no Rinko.

However, this spell can only control the body, so it requires the cooperation of a second spell.

[Heart-Stealing & Soul-Treating: Fourth-tier spell, 10,000 points of spiritual energy. Casts a spell on the soul of a specific target, leaving them in a dazed and confused state.]

Haruhiko sang softly again.

Eight seconds later, the spell took effect.

Fujiwara no Riko's originally lively eyes became somewhat dull.

Haruhiko directed her to begin composing a poem.

He had previously studied the Manyoshu in a history class at the University of Tokyo.

As a representative of Japanese poetry, the poems in it are all quite accomplished.

There is also a widely circulated song about Thor called "Thor's Short Song".

A faint rumble of thunder, a gloomy sky—I long for a storm to come, so you can stay here.

There is faint thunder and a gloomy sky. Even if there is no rain, I will stay here.

Japanese waka poetry is divided into long poems, short poems, tataka, and linked poems.

This is a classic among short songs.

Fujiwara no Michinaga stipulated that the time allotted for composing poetry was one hour.

Haruhiko could only wait.

When the time was up, someone immediately began collecting the poems and placing them in front of Fujiwara no Michinaga.

Everyone waited with tense expressions.

Haruhiko glanced at Enou and Myoyo.

The next step after composing the poem is to discuss and interpret it.

Their original plan was to take advantage of this opportunity to sneak away and infiltrate Fujiwara Michinaga's room to find his personal belongings.

Haruhiko now has a better solution.

He had to inform the two men in case they were discovered while infiltrating, lest they alert the Fujiwara clan's guards.

In that case, he will also be affected, and may even be questioned and investigated, which will expose him.

However, it would be rather abrupt to go looking for the two of them now, so Haruhiko had to suppress his thoughts for the time being.

There were nearly thirty people attending the gathering.

Those without real ability simply cannot get in, nor will they receive an invitation.

However, because there was only one presiding judge, Fujiwara no Michinaga, the process was quite slow.

It took him almost an hour to finish reading it.

"I declare today's best player to be Fujiwara no Riko."

Fujiwara no Michinaga held up "Thor's Short Song" with considerable satisfaction and said...

Fujiwara no Yoshiko was already extremely famous.

She won first place, and no one doubted it; they could only look at her with envy.

"Miss Fujiwara."

Fujiwara no Michinaga asked with a smile, "What are your requirements?"

Haruhiko quickly scanned him and soon identified his target.

"Master Daoist."

After bowing slightly, Fujiwara no Riko said, "I want the jade pendant you're wearing."

"this one?"

Fujiwara no Michinaga was somewhat surprised, but he was not stingy and instructed, "Send it to Miss Fujiwara."

The maidservant immediately stepped forward, holding the jade pendant in both hands, and walked up to Fujiwara no Kōji.

"Then we will have a poetry exchange next."

Fujiwara no Michinaga turned to look at everyone and said, "According to the rules, we'll start with the desks in the front row, but before that, let's serve some good wine and food."