"This is a high-grade talisman, crafted by senior shrine maidens to ward off malevolent spirits," Kamai Kengenji said. "Didn't the Shogunate give you one, Miss Alice? They were supposed to be distributed before the mission."
An Okuzumeshu yoriki rummaged in his pouch, pulling out two talismans. "I had them, but hadn't given them yet. The adventurer moves too fast."
Alice flashed an awkward grin.
Her fault, huh?
She quickly snatched the talismans. Every bit of help counted, and these high-grade ones fetched tens of thousands of Mora on the market.
"Now the trail's gone cold. Any bright ideas, Miss Alice?" Yanagibashi Takuto asked. "This village suggests they've been operating in Inazuma for a while."
"This village doesn't prove much," Kamai said, casting a spell. The village shimmered, turning ethereal.
"Twilight Hour?" Alice asked.
"It's a spirited-away village, created by magic," Kamai explained. "Great youkai use such spells for festival grounds."
"This is clearly one of their works, but just a remnant," Kamai said, picking up a youkai mask from the ground. "This style? It's the High Priest of Preservation's creation."
"Let's visit Lord High Priest."
…
"Hmm, this aura, this youkai energy—it's definitely mine," the great tanuki Gorouzo nodded, confirming the mask's energy.
"Do you recall when you used this energy?" Kamai asked excitedly.
"Hmm, the Sanzu Flower Festival thirty years ago, and the one twenty years ago. Before that, we're talking centuries," Gorouzo said. "Odd, though. I thought my energy had long dissipated, but some lingered."
Then the tanuki bristled. "What?! Someone's using my leftover energy to cause trouble?"
"We'd like you to sense your energy, Lord High Priest, to stop further misuse," Kamai said.
"No problem! I'll show those pests what the great tanuki Gorouzo can do! By the way, who's this elf girl you brought?" Gorouzo asked. "Why does she feel familiar, like that fox vibe?"
"You mean Saiguu? Heehee, nice tail! Lemme ruffle it!" Alice and Gorouzo hit it off, chattering away.
But their chat brought bad news: Gorouzo could sense his energy, but not precisely.
He recommended Yae Saiguu or Yureisai, as Saiguu usually ran youkai festivals, with Yureisai helping sometimes. Yureisai handled the barrier for the festival twenty years ago.
After focusing, Gorouzo confirmed the mask's energy was from that event.
He sensed his energy in three locations, likely enemy outposts with spatial magic, deliberately hidden.
…
So they sought Yureisai.
"I've heard the story from Gorouzo," Yureisai said, already sensing his old barrier. "I was a bit lazy back then, didn't go all out on it."
"And you two," he chuckled, nodding at Kamai and Yanagibashi, "you met at that Sanzu Flower Festival, didn't you?"
"That one?" they said, realization dawning.
"Enough chit-chat. Here are the three locations I sensed. Deal with those hidden creeps fast. Honestly, knowing they're out there's kept me up at night," Yureisai said.
"Oh, take these," he added generously, offering his collection. "Pick what you need."
As a refined youkai, Yureisai had plenty of treasures—useful for samurai, youkai, and even a witch-adventurer like Alice.
…
With Raiden Makoto resting in the Thunder-Rich Field, Reisen Riou was free.
Officially, Alice's team was just one Okuzumeshu yoriki, a high-ranking youkai, and a Yashiro deputy.
But behind the scenes, Kagei Tengu, Gorouzo, Yureisai, human Vision-holders, and even Reisen and Raiden Ei were on standby.
Yae Miko, newly a great youkai, plus the healed Tiger-Devouring Chiyo and Yae Saiguu, waited in Ei's secret chamber for a summons.
"Samurai and shrine maidens have spread out under the guise of drills," Reisen said.
"Youkai are on high alert. You're that sure Alice can find them?" Banjiao Yanya frowned. "Those three locations are decoys, not their main base."
"I know. Their real hideout's likely at the foot of Mt. Yougou," Reisen said, hands clasped, eyes closed in focus.
He'd enveloped Narukami Island in a sensory barrier.
"I trust that witch's freakish luck," Reisen said with a sly grin. "My years of honed astrology swear she'll win."
"I've got their trail," he said, face shifting, then relaxing. "No need to worry. The witch is already there. Her luck's no joke."
"No joke, huh?" Yanya's mouth twitched.