Chapter 90: Scattered Cherry Blossoms

Following the path from Konda Village toward Ritou, you can see a small shrine. Though it's called a shrine, it's really just a statue of a fox.

This was the place Li Mo was heading to. A few days ago, when he returned with Saemon Ichiro, Li Mo had paid special attention to that fox statue. If his memory served him right, that should be the place where the Traveler first met Hasegawa.

—He remembered it so clearly because Hasegawa was associated with foxes. Li Mo had a high interest in foxes. Come on, who wouldn't like a big sister with fox tails?

Even if the nine-tailed fox has been demonized and is often seen as a symbol of calamity, from a male perspective...

Wait, his thoughts seemed to have taken a strange turn.

Li Mo walked slowly toward the shrine, his hands behind his back. Soon, he saw a short-haired girl standing in front of the fox statue from a distance. She was dressed in red and white robes, clearly a shrine maiden.

"Excuse me, were you the one watching us earlier?" Li Mo asked as he approached.

During the battle, when Li Mo used 「Swallow Return,」 he had sensed multiple gazes observing him. One of them seemed to come from the direction of the village.

Whose gaze was it? Li Mo didn't know. It could have been the Kairagi lurking outside the village, or perhaps another Abyss Mage.

—But it might also have been this very Hasegawa.

He had heard the story of the "girl who appears during thunderstorms" from Auntie Saemon, also known as Saemon Eri. He figured the story was about Hasegawa. And during the battle earlier, though it wasn't a thunderstorm, it was still raining. The dark clouds had covered the sky, and Li Mo thought it would rain all day.

Who would have thought it would clear up so quickly?

"Hmm? Foreigner, how did you know?"

"I just asked casually, but it turns out it really was you," Li Mo said with a smile, seemingly pleased to have tricked her into revealing herself.

Hasegawa replied, "That's right. I was observing your battle earlier."

Li Mo saw her face—or rather, the mask she wore. With this appearance, he could confirm it.

—This was Hasegawa.

"Do you need my help?" Li Mo asked immediately. He could sense the shrine maiden's hesitation. She probably didn't expect the conversation to jump so quickly.

"Yes. Foreigner, I hope you can assist me. Within this Tengu statue lies a sacred object. It is said that only those recognized by 「Thunder」, who are brave and value bonds, can retrieve it."

Hasegawa was well-versed in the art of asking for help. If you didn't praise someone first, why would they help you? Especially when she currently had no reward to offer.

Li Mo's smile froze, and he said in a low voice, "Well, I can't manipulate Electro right now... Maybe I should study talisman techniques first?"

Damn, this feeling was awful. He had boasted about being able to help, but when she presented the request—oops, he couldn't do it. Awkward.

He could use 「Sun Breathing」 to manipulate Pyro, or use Iwakura techniques to invoke Pyro. But he couldn't summon Electro...

Li Mo did have a trophy from the Kairagi, Raiden—a talisman imbued with Electro using Iwakura techniques. With that, he could invoke Electro.

"Is that so? Then I can wait for the next traveler. Thank you for your kindness."

"No, I said I'd help you. I'll definitely do it... Do you think I'm weak, Shrine Maiden?"

The shrine maiden hesitated for a moment, then said, "The help I seek is to combat corruption. The journey will be troublesome."

Li Mo began to recall the process of the quest from his memories, then said, "If it's just at the level of Kairagi, I can handle it easily."

In his memory, this quest was just about fighting Kairagi-level monsters.

"Then, I'll trouble you."

The shrine maiden had witnessed the young man's strength. Those three simultaneous slashes were a peak that most swordsmen could never reach. At such a young age, he already possessed such power.

It should be possible...

Li Mo nodded.

Then—accompanied by the familiar sound of electricity, the system's prompt appeared unexpectedly. With a "ding," a screen popped up before his eyes.

"Scenario: Genshin Impact... buzz..."

"Activated Mission: Assist... Miss Hasegawa... buzz... 「Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual」"

The young foreigner smiled in front of the shrine maiden. The system was finally being useful... At least it wasn't like last time, where it only told him how to return after completing the task.

After all, in the world of Genshin Impact, there are so many quests. How would he know which one would allow him to return? If he had to try them one by one, he'd have to start from Inazuma, and if it wasn't there, he'd have to go to Liyue, then Mondstadt?

That would take too much time. System, you're finally being helpful.

Li Mo was happy. At least he didn't have to worry anymore. He didn't have to spend so much effort figuring out what to do. Could there be anything more satisfying than this?

"Why are you so happy?" Hasegawa asked, looking at the young man.

She could sense that the young samurai's spirit had suddenly changed. It was like a stagnant pool of water rippling. He was instantly filled with vigor.

Li Mo pondered, then said, "Because I finally met a beautiful lady. Recently, I've only been dealing with men. My sexual orientation isn't questionable."

—That's right, why did I only run into Kairagi? Why couldn't I meet charming ladies or cute mage girls?

Switching sides to the Fatui wouldn't be so bad.

He chuckled.

"Is that so?" The shrine maiden was skeptical.

"Then, may I ask your name, Shrine Maiden?"

"Hasegawa."

Li Mo already knew her name, but to avoid being questioned about how he knew, he decided to play dumb.

He said, "Miss Hasegawa, could we wait until the afternoon? I'll be able to use Electro by then."

When Li Mo obtained the talisman from the Kairagi, Raiden, he had briefly glanced at it. Its general concept was similar to the one he got from Saemon Ichiro. He could master this technique in a short time.

"Alright," Hasegawa said, watching Li Mo leave with his energetic demeanor, deep in thought...

For her, meeting such a lively young man at the end might be a stroke of luck.

Soon, Hasegawa didn't have to wait long. Li Mo reappeared before her around 2 PM, bringing a gift.

"Would you like some onigiri, Miss Hasegawa?"

Hasegawa listened to his question.