Chapter 104: Meeting Yae Miko

The number of visitors to the Grand Narukami Shrine wasn't particularly high. Traveling from Inazuma City to the shrine typically took an entire day, and the journey wasn't always safe. While the Nobushi could be reasoned with—often by paying them off—the occasional appearance of Hilichurls was a headache for travelers.

Hilichurls were like weeds; you never knew where they might pop up. Even the members of the Tri-Commission couldn't guarantee complete safety on the roads.

Those who made the journey to the Grand Narukami Shrine were usually people whose families were plagued by evil spirits and had no choice but to seek the help of the shrine maidens. As a result, most people wouldn't visit the shrine multiple times in a short period.

At least, Inagi Hotomi had rarely seen such visitors. Of course, there were exceptions. Her colleague, Kano Nana, had a younger sister who had gone to Liyue to study. She returned just before graduation, only to be caught by the Sakoku Decree. Back then, she had visited the shrine several times, hoping to find a way to retrieve her diploma through the shrine's connections.

But... no one knew what Guuji Yae had said to her. After that, she started avoiding the Grand Narukami Shrine altogether. Kano Nana often complained that her sister no longer visited her, which made her unhappy.

However, today, Inagi Hotomi saw the second such visitor.

"Nice to see you again, Inagi-sama," the young samurai greeted.

Even though he wasn't wearing armor or carrying a weapon, Inagi Hotomi could tell he was a samurai.

"Nice to see you too, traveler. Are you here to see Guuji Yae?"

"Yes. Is the Guuji willing to meet me?"

"She is."

Just the day before, Guuji Yae hadn't been willing to see him. But today, she was.

Inagi Hotomi found it strange. Why had Guuji Yae changed her mind?

But that wasn't something for her to speculate about.

...

Li Mo successfully met with Yae Miko.

The interior of the Grand Narukami Shrine wasn't particularly small. After all, this was the Grand Narukami Shrine, an organization in Inazuma independent of the Tri-Commission.

After walking through numerous corridors, they finally reached the inner sanctum. The first thing Li Mo saw was the Sacred Sakura Tree.

A memory surfaced in his mind. It was about the conflict between Raiden Ei and the Raiden Shogun. In the game, after the Vision Hunt Decree ended, Raiden Ei and the Raiden Shogun had engaged in a battle that lasted hundreds of years.

That battle seemed to be connected to the Sacred Sakura Tree, didn't it?

It was, but he couldn't quite recall the details.

"What are you thinking about, young man?" Yae Miko asked, noticing Li Mo's distracted expression.

Through her foxes, Yae Miko had been keeping an eye on Hanachirusato. After all, that shrine maiden was a continuation of Lady Saiguu. If it weren't for the fact that Hanachirusato was born from filth, Yae Miko would have no way to deal with her. She almost wished she could drag Hanachirusato back to take over as Guuji.

Seriously, being the Guuji was such a hassle. She'd much rather be the editor-in-chief of Yae Publishing House.

For hundreds of years, Hanachirusato had wandered the lands of Narukami Island. Most people who saw her would flee in fear, and Yae Miko knew all about that. But then, out of nowhere, this young man had started interacting with Hanachirusato. At first, Yae Miko hadn't paid much attention, but then she noticed something.

He wasn't from this world.

From his demeanor and actions, she could see traces of Alice.

Just thinking about that elf made Yae Miko's mouth twitch. Anyone who read her Teyvat Travel Guide would feel their scalp tingle—after all, how many people could claim to have been personally watched over by the Geo Archon?

Still, after observing him, Yae Miko concluded that he wasn't some reckless daredevil. At most, he was a bit of a flirt.

But he was still quite bold.

"Sorry, I was just lost in thought. I was thinking about the Sacred Sakura Tree."

"Oh? What are your thoughts on the Sacred Sakura Tree?"

"Is the Sacred Sakura Tree really something that has existed in Inazuma since ancient times?"

—From Raiden Ei's perspective, the Sacred Sakura Tree had only existed for five hundred years.

Li Mo remembered this detail. In the Archon Quest, it was revealed that after the Cataclysm in Khaenri'ah, Raiden Ei suddenly discovered that Inazuma had a Sacred Sakura Tree that had supposedly existed since ancient times. Later in the story, it was explained that the Sacred Sakura Tree was actually planted by Raiden Ei using a gift from her sister, Raiden Makoto.

Causality had been reversed.

The seed planted today had taken root and sprouted in the distant past, appearing five hundred years ago in Raiden Ei's eyes.

This world wasn't as simple as it seemed.

"What an interesting perspective. But in my memory, the Sacred Sakura Tree has indeed always existed. Young man, don't let your imagination run too wild," Yae Miko said with a gentle smile, her expression radiating an unusual warmth.

But Li Mo knew better than to trust a fox's charm. He believed in the saying, "Pink on the outside, black on the inside."

He said, "Guuji Yae, I believe you already know why I'm here."

"Ah, of course I do. But, young man, I have no intention of meeting Hanachirusato. So, if you're hoping I'll babysit you, you can forget about it," Yae Miko said with a laugh.

Li Mo wasn't in a hurry to respond. He waited for Yae Miko to continue.

"However... I do have a method. Have you heard of 'possession'?"

"Possession? You mean calling upon a spirit to inhabit your body and grant you power?"

To Li Mo, possession sounded a lot like being possessed by a ghost.

Yae Miko nodded. "Yes, possession. You can allow that shrine maiden to possess you, granting you the ability to fly."

"But what about the filth? Can an outsider like me withstand it?"

"No, it won't affect you at all. Hanachirusato's existence is special. Normally, she should be within the roots of the Sacred Sakura Tree. I'm not sure how she became an independent entity. Well... the worst that could happen is you might feel a bit drained, like after overindulging. You'd just need to rest at home for a few days."

Yae Miko added, "Besides, you can use an intermediary object to make it safer."

Li Mo fell into deep thought.

Meeting this fox had stirred up a flood of memories—things he hadn't thought about in a long time. In Yae Miko's story quest, the Traveler had been possessed by a spirit that emerged from the roots of the Sacred Sakura Tree—though to Li Mo, it had seemed more like being haunted by a ghost.

So, that's what Hanachirusato was?

Li Mo said, "Alright, but what about you, Guuji Yae?"

"Didn't you just call me Guuji Yae? Well, I don't mind. But, young man, you'll owe me a favor for this.

Also, I have another method that might preserve Hanachirusato's consciousness. Would you like to try it?"

Yae Miko smiled.

For some reason, Li Mo felt like the fox before him was as cunning as a merchant.

But...

"Then, I'll leave it to you, Yae-nee."

The term "Yae-nee" (Yae big sister) made Yae Miko's smile even brighter. She beckoned Li Mo closer. "Come, let me examine you and see if the spell needs any adjustments."

Since someone was willing, Yae Miko was happy to give it a try. After all, experimenting didn't cost anything.

If Hanachirusato's consciousness could be preserved, how would her old friend, hiding in the Plane of Euthymia, react?

Just thinking about that possibility made Yae Miko feel a little happier.