"Wait a minute."
Kael felt something was off and asked in surprise: "That fox said it was a god, and you just believed it? You believed everything it said?" Was she really that easy to fool?
Mai Sakurajima replied: "What's so strange about that? Inari is known as the fox god in folklore. Foxes being divine isn't unusual at all."
Uh… well…
Kael was momentarily speechless. In Japanese mythology, gods came in all forms, and fox deities were indeed common. Mai's lack of doubt was normal—it was part of cultural tradition.
Kael sighed. "I was mistaken. Go on, what happened next?"
Mai nodded and continued her story. When she realized divine beings truly existed, she was shocked. She had always thought gods were just myths. Who would have imagined such beings were real—and appearing before her? She couldn't understand why a god would reveal itself to her.
The fox said: "It's because your obsession drew me."
"My obsession?" Mai asked, surprised.
The fox explained: "As you see, I was once the god of this shrine, protecting the land. But as technology advanced, people lived better lives and no longer needed my protection. Gradually, fewer came to worship. The shrine fell into disuse. Without offerings, I was forgotten. As I awaited death, you entered. I sensed your presence. I knew you had a wish. You want freedom, a place where no one can see or find you, right?"
Mai nodded. She did want to retire, to find a place where no one knew her, where she could live quietly.
The fox said: "I can grant your wish."
Mai's heart leapt. "Really?"
The fox replied: "For a god, this is no difficulty."
Though excited, Mai wasn't naive. Having lived in the entertainment industry, she knew there was no free lunch. "God, I have a question. What price must I pay?"
The fox looked at her deeply, as if recognizing her wisdom. "Humans have forgotten me. If this continues, I will vanish. So I need you to spread my existence. As long as people remember me, I can grant your wish."
Mai thought for a moment and agreed. As a famous actress with millions of followers on Twitter, promoting a shrine was easy.
She took photos of the shrine and posted them online with a caption: "Today I happened upon an abandoned shrine. I wonder why it was abandoned, and what history it once had?"
It was a simple remark, but it caused a stir online. Her tweet drew attention. People began researching the shrine's history, spreading awareness. Her celebrity influence was undeniable.
The fox, noticed again, glowed more brightly. It smiled. "Since you fulfilled our agreement, I will fulfill yours. Now you can live as an ordinary person."
Mai, half-doubting, left the shrine and walked the streets. She realized her wish had come true. Suddenly, no one recognized her. Even if they saw her, they didn't connect her to the famous actress Sakurajima Mai. She was just another ordinary person.
At that moment, Mai was deeply grateful to the fox god.
But Kael knew it wouldn't end there. If it had, Mai wouldn't have rushed to him for help. Something else must have happened.
Sure enough, Mai continued. At first, she was thankful. The fox had freed her from troubles, letting her live normally. But soon, everything changed.
Three days later, she discovered her presence had grown faint in people's eyes. Walking down the street, she was bumped into. At first, people apologized. But later, when they bumped into her, they didn't apologize. Instead, they wondered why they felt like they hit something when nothing was there.
By then, Mai had become completely transparent in others' eyes.
She panicked. Not knowing what was happening, she tried to return to the shrine to ask the fox. But something stranger occurred. She couldn't find the way back.
"I clearly remember the shrine was in that direction. But when I went there, I could never find the path." Mai trembled as she spoke.
Unwilling to give up, she wandered near the shrine daily, trying to find the way. But she never succeeded.
Fortunately, fate intervened. Yesterday, while lingering near the shrine, she met someone. A senior in the entertainment industry—Natori Shuuichi.
Hearing the name, Kael raised his eyebrows. Natori Shuuichi… it sounded familiar. He had heard it somewhere before. But he couldn't recall exactly where.