"Mikihiko-kun, you're not going to tell me this is the Western Shrine, are you?"
The corner of Sora's mouth twitched as he looked at the dilapidated stable before him and asked Comrade Mikihiko.
"Ahem, I must apologize for the sight, Lord Kusanagi. This is merely the entrance to the Western Shrine. The true Western Shrine is not in the mortal realm."
Slightly embarrassed, Comrade Mikihiko quickly replied to Sora, afraid he might misunderstand something.
"Oh, that's more like it."
Nodding, Sora was finally a bit more satisfied.
If the little girl Hikari was to become the guardian miko of the Western Shrine, Sora was not prepared to agree if it meant she had to live in such a broken-down place!
"Sora-oniichan, big sisters, we're here now. You don't have to see me off any further."
Having changed into a white and red miko uniform, although the little miko Hikari was very reluctant to part, she was a sensible girl. She was already very happy that everyone had personally escorted her here.
"You silly girl, we're not in a hurry, so why are you? Since we're already here, we're naturally going to go in and have a look."
Tapping Hikari on her little head, Sora spoke with a speechless expression.
Besides dropping off this little miko, this trip had a more important purpose. Sora was naturally not going to leave just yet.
"Oww... Sora-oniichan, you hit my head again. You're going to make me dumb."
Holding her little head with a wronged expression, the girl was actually incredibly happy inside. She, of course, hoped to be able to stay with everyone a little longer.
"Mikihiko-kun, we'd also like to go in and have a look with Hikari. Do you have any objections?"
Turning his gaze to Comrade Mikihiko, who had a slightly unnatural expression, Sora wore a half-smiling, questioning look.
"Hehehe... None at all, none at all. Since Lord Kusanagi wishes to go in and see, there is of course no problem."
Snapping back to reality, Comrade Mikihiko quickly put on a sycophantic smile.
The Western Shrine held his family's greatest secret, and outsiders were almost never allowed in. In the past, the miko who possessed the [Calamity Purification] ability would remain inside for life, so there was no need to worry. Right now, Comrade Mikihiko couldn't be in a more difficult position, but he didn't dare to refuse Sora.
If he dared to say no, setting aside the King Kusanagi and his knights for a moment, the fearsome and now-subdued Cult Leader Luo Hao would probably be the first to annihilate him!
"That's good. Mikihiko-kun, you can go about your business. We will leave on our own after we've had a look."
The corner of Sora's mouth curled up slightly. What he appreciated most about Comrade Mikihiko was this quality: although not very smart, he knew what was good for him.
Since Sora had said so, Comrade Mikihiko had no reason to stay. After a moment's hesitation, he finally bowed and retreated with his group of trembling priests.
"Let's go, girls. There's something very interesting waiting for us inside."
A wicked curve pulled at Sora's lips. He called out to the girls and was the first to step into the dilapidated stable.
As if protected by some kind of wondrous barrier, space twisted, and the figures of Sora and the two loli goddesses he was holding instantly vanished without a trace.
Exchanging glances, the girls nodded and followed him in...
…
"Heh... so this is the Western Shrine. Turns out it's in the Netherworld."
Looking at the grey, colorless world around him, Sora muttered to himself.
"This is..."
Erica and the other girls had also followed him in. Looking at the scene before them, their faces were filled with surprise.
What was now displayed before Sora and the girls was still a stable. However, unlike the dilapidated stable in the mortal realm, the one before them was exceptionally vast, so large that one couldn't see the end of it.
Moreover, in a certain sense, this stable could be described as magnificent and resplendent!
Inside the stable were many stone statues of celestial horses, each one divinely majestic, placed everywhere.
"Ah... there's a monkey over there!"
It was Little Hikari's voice. She pointed to a corner of the stable and suddenly exclaimed in surprise.
Following the direction Little Hikari was pointing, Sora and the girls looked over. Sure enough, they saw it. On a pile of dry hay in the distance, a monkey was lying there.
Unlike a Japanese monkey, its face wasn't red. Its fur was bright, an orange-gold color, and it was about 80 centimeters tall.
Seeing the monkey's form, a strange light flashed in Sora's eyes, and a slight curve formed on his lips. Athena, Metis, and the Cult Leader Luo Hao, who stood beside Sora, all tensed up, their bodies instinctively entering a battle-ready state.
Although its aura was exceptionally weak at the moment, there was no doubt that this monkey was a Heretic God!
"So you've really come to my shrine. It's been a long time since I've had guests, and there's even a God-Slayer and my own kind mixed in."
The monkey's voice was bright, speaking in a human language, and even its movements were very human-like. With a flip, it leaped nimbly from the ground.
"Um, are you the Monkey God-King?"
Before Sora and the girls could speak, the little miko Hikari asked weakly.
"The guys who locked me in here call me that, but I should have a better name. It's just sealed away right now."
Seeming rather easygoing, the monkey shrugged its shoulders and answered Hikari in a human-like manner, though its gaze still lingered more on Sora, Athena, Metis, and the Cult Leader.
"Ah, speaking of which, I haven't had a miko come play with me recently."
Its gaze finally fell upon Hikari, a hint of complaint in its tone.
"Play?"
Feeling a little dizzy in her head, Hikari asked in confusion.
"That's right. With your [Calamity Purification] power, aren't you the miko they sent in to play with me? Sometimes we chat, sometimes we play hide-and-seek or Sugoroku. I love a lively atmosphere, you know. If you can sing and dance, your rating will go up!"
After hearing the monkey's words, Sora and the girls understood. So, the Western Shrine's Hime-Miko was like a shepherd. But instead of sheep, she was raising a monkey.
However, rather than saying she was raising a monkey to play with it, it was probably more accurate to say she was being played with by the monkey... sweatdrop...
"Um, so does that mean I just have to play with Lord God-King? I thought it was a very important mission that only I could do, so I was very confused..."
After all this, it turned out she was just here to play with a monkey. Hikari was instantly disappointed; the gap between this and what she had imagined was just too big.
Although a talking monkey seemed fun, it wouldn't be very interesting to just play with a monkey all day.
"Just playing is too rude! There's also grooming my fur... well, that's all I ask for. On the contrary, you guys are the ones always asking me for help."
Looking as if he was the one getting the short end of the stick, the monkey saw Hikari's disappointed expression and became a little unhappy.
Although it was a Heretic God, this monkey didn't have the majestic and domineering air of other gods. It was unclear whether this was its true nature or because its divinity was sealed, but it was likely the latter. After all, there had never been a god known to be humble and easygoing.
"We... Hime-Miko?"
Her curiosity piqued by the monkey's words, Hikari pointed to her own little nose and asked with a confused look.
"Yeah, yeah, like asking me to chase that snake, or to subjugate some dragon. Sometimes they even cry and beg me. So every time, I'll go out from here, temporarily regain my original power, and wreak havoc outside."
With its hands on its hips, as if to say, "Don't you dare look down on me, this Monkey Bro is actually pretty badass," the little monkey had a smug and proud look on its face.
"Dragon subjugation? Isn't the legendary Monkey God-King supposed to be a protector of dragons?" Ena's voice interjected, her face full of confusion.
Looking at this golden-furred monkey that was less than half her height, Ena and the other girls felt it was quite comical.
Could this little guy really do it?
"Humans, you are not to look down on me! This God-King's divinity and true body were sealed by a few detestable fellows. This is just an avatar!"
"And besides, I do protect those guys, but only after I've beaten them up and they've become my little brothers. Don't look at me like this, I'm also a member of the 'Steel', dealing with dragons and snakes is a piece of cake for me!"
Seeing the doubtful and disbelieving looks on the girls' faces, the monkey immediately got angry, explaining itself with an agitated expression.
Protecting them after beating them up and making them his underlings? Alright, black lines formed on the foreheads of Sora and all the girls. They were speechless.
This monkey was truly one of a kind!