I cultivate a deity in Tokyo

"You know about Priest Shiraki?"

"Yes, a few months ago I encountered something unbelievable, and at that time the priest Shiraki was invited to perform a purification ritual." At this point, Mitsui Yuta deliberately paused, keeping everyone in suspense.

"Oh." Inspector Yamato nodded, showing no concern for Yuta Mitsui's predicament.

This time, it was Mitsui Yuta who couldn't hold back any longer.

"I say, aren't you curious about what I'm going to say?"

"I'm not really interested. Anyway, with Priest Shiraki taking action, the problem is already completely solved, right?" Inspector Yamato said matter-of-factly.

He had finally managed to get off work and escape the supernatural world, but listening to Yuta Mitsui's ghost stories was tantamount to asking him to work overtime.

You were absolutely right.

Yuta Mitsui remained silent for a moment before speaking casually.

"Dude, do you think gods really exist in this world?"

"I don't know if there are gods or not. You should ask a priest about this. Your taiyaki is ready." Inspector Yamato picked up a paper bag and filled it with steaming hot taiyaki.

At the stall, a cool and elegant woman dressed in a white fox fur kimono nodded slightly and reached out to take it.

He kept one portion and handed the other to the boy with the horned horns standing nearby.

The two then left and headed to the next stall.

Yuta Mitsui then continued.

"If gods are merely figments of imagination, fabricated by people, wouldn't their followers be utterly disappointed—"

His words were suddenly interrupted by several loud shouts.

"High Priest, where are you?"

"Please slow down, wait for us!"

A group of people dressed in hunting attire jogged past the stall.

An elderly man with gray hair and beard, pulling up his trouser legs, ran at the front, looking around with an energy beyond his years.

Was this sent by a rival shrine to cause trouble at Tenji Shrine?

Yuta Mitsui found this perplexing human behavior hard to comprehend.

He heard someone softly complaining in his ear.

“Sister, I have said long ago that we should not have sent down a divine decree to let the priests know that you were coming here.”

"These people are just causing trouble and wasting the precious time I spend with my older sister."

"Don't complain all the time, Tsukuyomi." Another authoritative voice rang out.

"The trust to inform the priest of one's whereabouts is a duty that a god should fulfill."

"Furthermore, I advise you to save your energy and think about how to explain this to Priest Shiraki."

Upon hearing this, the first voice was speechless and quickly changed the subject.

"Big sister, let's go see how well the apple candies from Father God and Mother Goddess are selling."

"Tsk, this candy is so sweet it'll make your teeth fall out."

"Dude, is this really that important?"

Inspector Yamato carried a bag of flour.

"In the end, shrines are just a product of people's wishes. People want them to appear, so they appear."

"Therefore, wherever there are believers, there will be shrines. As for whether the gods exist or whether they can feel our prayers, that is beyond our reach."

"Just like how the Tenji Shrine has declined worshippers' visits, we still gather here."

"Even if we can't visit the shrine, we can still let it know that we are accompanying it in our own way."

"This is the unbreakable bond between us and the shrine, and it is proof that we believe in the existence of the gods."

Inspector Yamato smiled.

"Thank you for your patronage. 1200 yen."

Is the bond between you two just the Japanese yen?

Yuta Mitsui barely managed to suppress his urge to complain.

“However, to be honest,” Inspector Yamato suddenly lowered his voice.

"Actually, I have no idea which deity is enshrined in the Tenji Shrine."

Just as the two were talking, a figure hurriedly ran down the mountain steps behind Inspector Yamato.

She was dressed in a red and white shrine maiden outfit, with a crane-patterned kimono draped over her shoulders.

Her face was delicate, but her chest was flat and unremarkable.

She ran all the way to the taiyaki shop, bent over, and held her knees, panting heavily.

"Inspector Yamato, please inform everyone that the first and second shrine visits at the shrine can proceed as normal."

"If you want to participate in Hatsumode (first shrine visit), you can come to the shrine."

"What!?" Inspector Yamato was both surprised and delighted.

He quickly pulled a walkie-talkie from his apron and gave the order.

"Group 1, Group 3, pack up immediately and notify nearby worshippers that the first shrine visit of Tenji Shrine has returned to normal. Repeat, the first shrine visit of Tenji Shrine has returned to normal."

"At the same time, we will organize the people on site to ensure that they visit the shrine in an orderly manner."

"Listen up, the first batch of spots to visit the shrine will definitely go to our Paranormal Section Six!"

"Quickly, let's get moving!"

Before the words were finished, a commotion erupted in the distance.

Some people gave up queuing, some abandoned their stalls, and some drew their katana.

They converged on the mountain steps from all directions with great momentum.

Upon seeing this, Yuta Mitsui's eye twitched.

Is this the first shrine visit of the shrine?

It's really lively.

(The End)

I'm raising a god in Tokyo

Side Story: Princess Kaguya's Diary

April 22nd, sunny.

"I just heard the Ninefold Priestess say that writing a diary is a traditional virtue of mankind. It can preserve beautiful memories on paper and remind us of them when we see them."

"So, I specially asked the shrine maiden Hanekawa to buy me a diary, and I'm going to start writing in it every day from today! Serious face."

"May 18th, sunny."

"I was just threatened by Tsukuyomi, who wants me to take care of her child god."

"Damn Tsukuyomi, why did you have to entrust your own child god to someone else to take care of!"

"Do you really think I'm easy to bully, ordering me around like this?"

"When I become powerful in the future, I will definitely take your place and make you pay for all these humiliations!"

May 19th, sunny.

"Take Xiaoyue to the amusement park."

"Although she is the daughter of Tsukuyomi, it's okay because Tsukuyomi is so cute."

"With such a child god, Tsukuyomi probably can't be a bad god, right?"

There must be some misunderstanding between us.

Take a deep breath.

"Mmm, Xiaoyue-chan smells so good."

June 20th, sunny.

"Tonight, the Ninefold Shrine Maiden taught me a form of human entertainment, something called Mahjong."

"Although it looks simple, it's surprisingly fun to play."

"I'm starting to get interested."

June 21st, sunny.

"Playing mahjong, four rounds in the South Wind mode, I won 30,000 yen."

"So this is what it feels like to be better than Tsukuyomi? How wonderful, how captivating!"

"make persistent efforts!"

June 22nd, sunny.

"When I entered the main hall this morning, I was severely reprimanded by Amaterasu Omikami because I didn't step in with my right foot first."

Why does it feel like Amaterasu Omikami is picking on me? Is it just my imagination?

"Don't be angry, I'll win it back in tonight's mahjong game."

June 23rd, sunny.

"Playing mahjong, four rounds in the South Wind mode, I won 300,000 yen from the shrine maiden Hanekawa."

June 24th, sunny.

"While I was sleeping, I was warned by the gods in my dream, telling me not to be too arrogant and to tone it down."

"???"

"Am I not the god who governs dreams?"

"June 26th, light rain."