I cultivate a deity in Tokyo

Suddenly it transformed into boundless fervor and excitement.

It lowered its head and frantically licked the dust off its scarf.

Hanekawa Yaya just stared blankly at this scene.

This is not magic at all.

It's magic!!!

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Work at the Shrine Gate

One palm strike connects to the spirit.

Although Shiraki Shun wasn't quite sure what level this was considered among his peers.

However, judging from Hanekawa Yaya's expression, it shouldn't be too bad.

It's at least in the upper-middle range.

However, Shiramu Jun had just worried that what he had summoned with his palm strike might be some strange creature like a toad, a giant snake, or a slug.

But as the light gathered and the figure gradually solidified, he felt at ease.

In a few moments, an old woman dressed in a gray kimono, thin but with a kind face, stood in front of them.

At this moment, she slowly opened her not-so-clear eyes, seemingly unfamiliar with the world before her.

He muttered to himself, puzzled.

"What's going on? I should be in the hospital."

She looked at Shiraki Shun beside her with a puzzled expression, until she saw Hanekawa Yaya dressed as a shrine maiden, and then she seemed to understand something.

He then raised his hand and touched his chest, a hint of relief appearing on his lips.

No wonder

"My lady, I should be dead by now, right?" she asked gently as she turned around.

Yuukawa hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not hide it and nodded.

"Grandma Buye, you have been gone for twenty years."

"Twenty years is such a long time," the old woman said, sounding somewhat sad.

"However, in these twenty years, everyone has not forgotten you and comes to pay their respects every year." As if sensing the old woman's sadness, and to prevent her from being disturbed by her inner resentment and falling into a supernatural state, Yuukawa Yaya quickly added.

"Please don't mind, Lady Shrine Maiden," the old woman smiled kindly. "My life had long since come to an end, but I never expected to be able to see this world one last time after death. It feels a little strange—"

"Awoo, awoo!" The dog god leaped up and excitedly circled around the old woman, running around like a frolicker.

"Kotaro?" The old woman was quite surprised to see the familiar figure. "Is it really you?"

She opened her arms in surprise, and Kotaro leaped up and threw himself into her embrace.

Stroking the fur on its back, the old woman suddenly felt a pang of pity and murmured something to herself.

"Little one, is your life over too?"

However, he immediately felt relieved, patted its back reassuringly, and spoke in a gentle tone unique to elders.

"I'm really sorry about that back then; that illness didn't give me much time left."

"But now it's all good. I finally have time to make it up to you and play with you. Sometimes, unexpected death isn't such a bad thing."

Listening to the old woman's words, Kotaro rubbed his face against hers in a silly manner, panting heavily.

The old woman suddenly paused, her hand on Kotaro's arm stopping.

She stared blankly into Kotaro's gray eyes, and suddenly a strange smile bloomed on her face.

"So it's not over yet, that's great, Kotaro."

"Oh, right."

As if remembering something, she took out a bone-shaped chew stick from between the first and second layers of her kimono obi, where a fan should have been placed.

Looking at the bone stick, the old woman couldn't help but complain.

"That's really something, Ota, letting me take something so important."

"Without this, you must have been very lonely all these years, right?"

A hint of indulgent smile flashed in her eyes as she waved her hand.

"Come on, Kotaro, catch!"

He then threw it forcefully into the distance.

"Awoo!" As if they had rehearsed it countless times, Kotaro turned around with perfect timing and ran straight in the direction the bone had flown away.

While Kotaro was picking up the bones, the old woman turned around and bowed deeply to Shiraki Shun, who had summoned her spirit.

His expression was extremely solemn, yet he seemed much more relaxed.

"Then I'll leave Kotaro in your care."

Before the words were even finished, both the old woman in front of him and the chewing stick in Kotaro's mouth turned into specks of light and vanished.

It swept past the crowd, not returning to the house, but drifting away into the boundless sky.

Shiraki Shunya gazed at the sky with a sense of nostalgia.

After fulfilling their long-cherished wish, the spirit will ascend to heaven.

Whether one goes to the Kingdom of Gods or the Kingdom of Buddha depends on one's own faith.

Kotaro stared at the countless points of light, his mouth agape, almost letting out a heartbroken wail.

But as if sensing the warmth of the light beside her, she finally sobbed a few times and then squatted down in place.

Just like before, he saw Funo off at the door.

Hanekawa stayed by its side every night, stroking its fur and gazing at it together.

When the last speck of light disappeared, Shiraki Shun turned around, looked at Kotaro, and said gently.

"Lord Kotaro, is there anything else weighing on your mind?"

Kotaro raised his paw to wipe away the tears that were covering his eyes: "I'm gone."

Shiraki Shun nodded and continued.

"Now that Granny Buye has left, there is no need for you to stay here."

"Now, you have two paths in front of you, and you can choose one."

"First, continue fighting us, and then be exorcised."

His words were gentle, but the truth behind them was terrifying.

Can't this human read the room?

Kotaro was so frightened that he retreated backward with all four paws and burrowed into Hanekawa Yaya's arms.

He said in a trembling voice.

"Little puppy, little puppy, choose the second one."

"Alright, we happen to be short two komainu statues at the entrance of our shrine. Judging from your appearance before, you seem quite suitable," Shiraki Shun said with a smile. "I was wondering if you would be interested in working at the entrance of our shrine?"

In Shintoism, the so-called Komainu are messengers who protect the gods. They are usually placed at the entrance of a shrine or in front of the main hall, and their appearance is similar to that of a stone lion from the previous life.

Of course, some shrines do not display komainu (guardian dogs), but instead choose foxes or rabbits, but the meaning is the same.

Working at the entrance of a shrine?

Kotaro's face fell.

All this talk is so high-class, but isn't it just asking me to dress up as a statue and work as a security guard?

This demon is a dignified dog god!

Humans, you're really showing me far too little respect!

But seeing Shiraki Shun already moving his wrists and smiling broadly, he put those thoughts aside.

His voice was completely genuine, with an expression that said, "I was born for this," and he cried out, "Master, this humble dog is willing!"

Without realizing it, Kotaro had changed his form of address, now calling Shiraki Shun "Master".

Regarding this instinctive sycophantic behavior—

Oh no.

Shiraki Shun was very pleased that Kotaro had such a high level of awareness.

Although usually, the komainu (guardian dog) in front of a shrine are placed in pairs.

Displaying one alone looks a bit out of place.

The only solution is to see where the dog god is causing trouble again and then go out and catch another dog of similar size.

"Well, is there anything else you want to take with you, Mr. Kotaro? We can leave once you've finished packing." Shiraki Shun gestured for Kotaro to go ahead and pack his things.

"No, Master, the puppy cannot leave this place." Kotaro's expression was bitter.

Shiraki Shun was quite surprised: "Why is that?"

Kotaro slowly raised his right paw.

Shiraki Shun and Hanekawa Yaya curiously leaned closer to look.

A dark, black ring, like a golden hoop, tightly bound its forearm, with countless filamentous strands spreading out from it like plants, piercing into its skin and still wriggling.

Even with the naked eye, one can sense an aura of filth, darkness, and malevolence.

Not to mention observing it directly with magic power.

Shiraki Shun looked up in surprise: "What is this?"

"These are marks specifically designed to bind us and prevent us from escaping Meguro Ward." Kotaro's voice held a hint of anger.

"There is far more than one yokai in Meguro Ward."

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Finding a Way to Earn Merit

I thought that seeing a dog god was already quite a rare thing.