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Chapter 82 The Land of the Rising Sun, Part 2
-Azuma Kaito Grand Miko Shrine-
About 30 minutes from the town of Tsukuba. Even if I carried Roel on my back and ran as fast as I could, it would still take 30 minutes. I was told that it would take a week to get there if I walked normally, but that’s about the same as long as I don’t get lost.
Above all, I was thankful that there were no strange places like the Kizel Valley. The road from the town of Tsukiba to Kai was well-marked and well signposted, though of course I could not have read it if Roel had not been there.
Normally, I would have enjoyed the trip by leisurely walking, but the boat ride took too long, so I decided to cut it down considerably. We were here at the request of the king, so it was not the time to take too much time for sightseeing.
As the innkeeper lady had said, there were really no demons. On the contrary, I saw people walking leisurely and alone. It is more fitting to say that there were no demons in this place to begin with, rather than that there are no more demons thanks to Daigami-sama. Is this a country protected by the power of God, after all?
“It’s a boring place here, too.”
“Ryua-chan always think that way, especially when things don’t interest you
”
It was not the time for sightseeing, but Roel insisted, so we decided to pay our respects.
It is a strange building with red columns, white walls, and a large tiled roof. Roel told me that it was called Torii, or a gateway.
Roel informed me that if people offered prayers here, and would get some good luck, in other words, something good. I interpreted this as a way to thank the gods and ask for something. I wondered what the people who were praying there were asking for. I wonder if they are asking to become rich.
“It seems like there are a lot of male-female combinations
”
That’s right. After all, this is the place with the greatest blessing for matchmaking.”
As Roel blurted, an old man wearing a long, black hat approached her. I wondered what kind of person he was, but I put it to myself that he probably lived in this place called the shrine.
I was more interested in the word “karma”.
“What’s an enmusubi?”
“Unmarried people ask Daigami-sama to help them find partners. As an example: two people who are on good terms will eventually get married, give birth to a healthy child, and raise a happy family. Spring will come to those whose love has so far been fruitless. It may be hard to believe for those from other countries, but this is also a blessing of Daigami-sama.”
I see, so that’s how it works. Then it’s even more out of the question for us. After all, we are both girls. But for some reason, Roel was listening intently to what I had to say. Because we are girls, you know. It has nothing to do with us. What’s wrong?
“Well then, shall we pay our respects?”
“Well, we’re girls, but
”
“Oh, come on.”
At times like this, Roel pulls at you like when you find a line at a good restaurant. I was reminded once again that when you reach level 60, you have a certain amount of power. Even when I was about to fall, he didn’t seem to want to let go of my wrist.
When I reached the front of the shrine, the person in front of me had just finished praying. I put my hands together, closed my eyes, and just sat there for a while, wondering if that was okay. I wondered if God would really understand something like that.
“
Ryua-chan, thank you.”
“Yes, what happened out of the blue?”
“Nothing! Come on!”
“Whoa! Why are you sticking to me?”
Roel was so happy that she put her arm around me and started to walk away. It was just like we were really lovers just now.
“I’m hungry. Oh yeah, you know that gyuudon we had at Pablo’s restaurant, right? That’s food that originated in this country.”
“Come to think of it, you mentioned something like that before. Are you going to eat it? I hope they don’t give us the cold shoulder again
”
“Don’t worry. Because we’re interested in Daigami-sama!”
“Oh, is that so
”
Roel squeezes my small arms. It’s a little ticklish and warm, but somehow strangely embarrassing. Come to think of it, I didn’t care about that kind of thing when I was little. I wonder why I’m thinking about it now.
“Oh, by the way? That’s what we were talking about, wasn’t it
?”
It was the old man from earlier who muttered so clearly behind me. I turned around at the sound of his voice and found him gritting his teeth and clutching the black hat he was wearing with all his strength in his hands. His wrinkled face was even more wrinkled, and his eyes were wide open as he looked at us clearly.
“Speaking of which
”
Roel was in such a good mood that she was humming a tune and was completely oblivious to the old man’s condition.
When we turned around to go back to town after passing through the shrine gate, he was still in the same position, staring at us.
It was only here that I regretted what I had done. What the king and Kirkton had was true. What was trivial to me may probably be unforgivable to those people.
The old man never came after us, but he was most likely still standing there, long after we were out of sight. I felt that way.