"Hah... haah..."
Returning from the dream of drowning, an abnormal liquid had already poured from his mouth. Ayato didn't know how it had gotten into his stomach. The only possibility was that it had smuggled itself in from the dream. If so, then the question became, where was the place he had seen in his dream?
The strange taste in his mouth had not yet faded. Ayato picked up the bowl of warm soup and drank it, washing away the strange taste.
"Hm?" After finishing the soup, he subconsciously looked out the window towards the sea. In the unknown distance, a long, drawn-out cry echoed.
…
"I feel like Muramasa's been in a bad mood these past few days." Sayu woke from her sleep, rubbing her eyes, and asked Hailing, who was reading beside her.
"Hm?" Hailing looked at the little tanuki who had unexpectedly spoken to her.
"Mmm... I feel like he's been muttering something to himself recently. And he put up a sign in front of the hut." Sayu pointed to the sign, which read, "Foxes and Priests Not Allowed."
"Ah... it's probably because of what happened with Lady Guuji a few days ago," Hailing said. It had been many days since that large group of people had visited, and nothing noteworthy had happened since. Except for the sign, of course—the day after the Guuji had left, Muramasa had carved it out of wood.
Hailing recalled the scene from that day. Muramasa, unable to ignore the client who had already helped him, had been ambushed from behind by the Guuji. The fox spirit had suddenly pressed up against his back, one hand holding a cup of sake, the other touching his side. Taking advantage of the moment he opened his mouth from the tickling, she had poured a cup of sake down his throat.
"But, although Muramasa said he wasn't good with alcohol, he didn't seem to change much after drinking. He still listened to all of Lady Guuji's stories." In Hailing's memory, he hadn't passed out or gone crazy.
"Well, uh... maybe he just doesn't like to be forced? But what does the 'priest' part mean?"
As Sayu was wondering, Muramasa, having finished his work, came back into the room.
"Ah, Muramasa. We were just talking about you~" Hailing expertly poured him a cup of tea, a smile on her face.
"What's wrong?" He took a sip from the cup.
"It's just, about what happened with Lady Guuji the other day..." Hailing pointed to the sign again.
"Ah, that…" Thinking of that day, he just sighed. "It's not that there's a problem with drinking, though I'm really not good at it. It's just... how do I put it? I happened to recall some strange memories that day." The strange memories didn't come from his brain, but from his body, like being pounced on by a lion and a cat. "And, that woman's appearance gives me the creeps, especially that smile... it's just like a fake priest I used to work with."
So that's why it says 'Foxes and Priests Not Allowed'? Hailing and Sayu thought at the same time. After learning his identity, they were no longer surprised by such things from his past.
"Come to think of it, this seems to be the first time you've talked about your past, Muramasa," Hailing said in surprise.
"Well, there's not much to say... and it's not the kind of story that 'people would believe if I told them'."
It's not just 'talking about your past' that's changed about you, Muramasa… Hailing thought to herself, closing her book and taking a sip of tea, a slight smile on her lips.
"By the way, how's your reading coming along, Hailing?" Noticing the closed book, Muramasa asked.
"Well, I can recognize a lot of medicinal herbs now, and I've read a lot of medical books." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I asked Yoimiya to help me ask around before. She said she could take me to a pharmacy in Inazuma City for an internship after a while."
"Is that so? That's good." A gratified smile appeared on his face.
"What about you, Muramasa?" Feeling he didn't want to continue the topic, Hailing pressed on.
"Me?" He was a little confused by her question, his eyes full of doubt.
"It's just... you're quite famous in Inazuma City now, aren't you?" Hailing's voice grew smaller and smaller, her own confidence wavering. "Why don't you... come over too..."
"I don't know..." Muramasa still had many concerns, not just about his magical energy, but also about the current situation. He glanced at her face. The unspoken loneliness and worry were overflowing. "Wait until you've established yourself there. Then I'll go and pick a place." Though he didn't know what the future held, if he was going to settle down here, he couldn't stay in a small village forever.
"Okay—" Hailing's eyes lit up again after hearing him, and she gave a firm reply.
"I wonder how Yoimiya is doing," she then wondered aloud. After that day, Yoimiya had returned to Inazuma with many fake Visions, intending to secretly distribute them to the Vision holders who were still in hiding. But with limited communication, they didn't know how she was progressing.
"I heard from some merchants that they've seen very few Vision hunting teams recently," Hailing recalled. "They said that negotiations with Watatsumi Island have broken down, and the Tenryou Commission is gathering its forces to prepare for a military attack."
In other words, a war was about to begin.
War… Images of his past life, of that era of starvation, flashed before his eyes. "It seems that no matter the era, these things are unavoidable."
…
"What? You're going to challenge the enforcers of the Vision Hunt Decree to a duel before the throne…" The white-haired boy stared at his friend in disbelief. He hadn't seen him for a long time, and he hadn't expected his first words to be so shocking.
Chestnut hair covered his eyes but couldn't hide the determination on his lips. "I can't wait any longer, Kazuha." He crossed his arms, gently stroking the white cat in his arms. "The Vision Hunt Decree hadn't taken any lives before. Even if one's ambition was taken, there was still room for maneuver. But now it's different. A war is about to begin. I can only bet on this one chance."
The boy called Kazuha was at a loss for words. How could he not know what his friend was thinking? "You think that if you win, there will be a turning point, and if you lose, you can face that Musou no Hitotachi?"
His friend didn't speak, just nodded lightly.
Knowing his decision was final, Kazuha rationally decided not to persuade him further, but emotionally, he couldn't stop himself. "Don't go to your death…"
"How could I be going to my death?" His tone was full of spirit. "Receiving that strike is just a reward for my courage. But that is not my goal. If it can bring about a turning point in the current situation, then I will gladly abandon this ambition. Do you have confidence…" After hearing his words, Kazuha calmed down a little, but his furrowed brow still urged him to ask.
"Not now, but... after I visit that blacksmith, I will."
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA
I, Herta's Fiancé, the Universe's Number One Male Fist (114 Chapter (Simulpub-Full) )
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Succubus in Sixth Street (330 Chapter)
Reborn in Type-Moon, My Sister is Aoko Aozaki (254 Chapter)
MyGO!! A Story Voiced by Me (130 Chapter)
BLEACH: Blade of Purification (140 Chapter)
Konoha: Starting the Game as Yoriichi (330 Chapter)
My Real Job is Spying on Konoha, but I'm Also its Hokage (140 Chapter)
The Pinnacle of the Navy! Starting from Being Captured by Garp (160 Chapter)
Watching Yu-Gi-Oh! short videos is making the veteran players lose...(80 Chapter)
Uma Musume : The Trainer Who Just Wants to Live (200 Chapter)
Zenless Zone Zero The Random Kamen Rider (170 Chapter)
Genshin Impact: It All Began With Me Being Stepped On by Arlecchino (120 Chapter)
Naruto: I Can Synthesize Summoning Beasts (90 Chapter)
Demon Slayer: The Great Swordsman's System, Disciple of Yoriichi (130 Chapter)
My Wife is a General, but I'm an Emanator of Abundance! (140 Chapter)
Type-Moon: My Nine-Fold Path (140 Chapter)
Uma Musume: They're Peeking at My Diary, and All of Tracen is Panickin (Ending)
The Wild History of Type-Moon world (70 Chapter)
Reborn in Conan, But I Refuse to Be the Bad Guy (80 Chapter)
Ruan Mei is begging me to go back? But there's no going back anymore (140 Chapter)
Just a Slacker at Tracen Academy (140 Chapter)
Survival in Blue Archive (70 Chapter)
Kimetsu no Yaiba: Doma Wasn't Hated Today, Either (100 Chapter)
The Vibe of This Chat Group is a Little Off (100 Chapter)
Heartbreak Simulator: I Broke Them and Made Them Cry (80 Chapter)
The Talentless Trainer Doesn't Want to Restart (80 Chapter)
A Journey Starting as a Quincy (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: The Master of Romance Obstruction (80 Chapter)
Uma Musume: You Can't Be a Hero Without a Little Chemical Enhancement (40 Chapter)
Honkai Impact 3rd Your Boyfriend is Really Amazing (40 Chapter)
Warhammer 40K: My Fiancée, Fulgrim (150 Chapter)
Classroom of the Elite: Trying to Capture Me! (120 Chapter)
Genshin Impact My Named Senji Muramas (150 Chapter)
A Chef, the Vice-Captain of the Rocks Pirates? (120 Chapter)
Naruto : My Uchiha Girlfriend is Too Tsundere (100 Chapter)
Type-Moon: Reincarnated in a Lostbelt, I Became the Alien God (50 Chapter)
The Way These Horse Girls Look at Me Is Terrifying! (60 Chapter)
If there's a particular novel you're enjoying on Patron, please give it a 'like' so I know to focus on it.