After the Great Sacred Sakura Exorcism, Inazuma's environment had improved a great deal, and the lives of Inazuma's citizens had gradually stabilized.
"Have you heard? There's a new shrine maiden at the Grand Narukami Shrine who often wears a fox mask!"
"Oh, there's one more shrine maiden? What's the big deal? Isn't the Grand Narukami Shrine a place that trains shrine maidens?"
"It's not that simple! You might not know, but I recently came across something strange. Do you know of the fox immortal, Lady Kitsune Saiguu?"
"Fox immortal? You mean Lady Yae Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, right?"
"Of course not. The one I'm talking about is the previous Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine before Lady Yae Guuji — Lady Kitsune Saiguu."
"Hmm… and then? What happened?"
"Hah, I knew you wouldn't grasp the seriousness of the problem. That shrine maiden who appeared at the Grand Narukami Shrine is the daughter of Lady Kitsune Saiguu and Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou!"
"My heavens…? Are you serious?"
The friend's hand, which had been sorting documents, visibly trembled.
"Inazuma people don't lie to Inazuma people. This news came from the tanuki youkai at the Shura Shrine! It's absolutely authentic!
To make sure I wasn't being tricked by the tanuki youkai, I even went home and checked the family records. I really did find information about Lady Kitsune Saiguu, it's just…"
"Just what? Spit it out!"
"Lady Kitsune Saiguu passed away five hundred years ago. My guess is…
Wasn't there a rumor before that Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou actually knew the Raiden Shogun five hundred years ago, but later left Inazuma for some unknown reason?
I'm guessing it was because his beloved wife, Lady Kitsune Saiguu, passed away, so he left this sorrowful homeland of Inazuma…
He only returned to Inazuma recently after raising the child."
"Hiss… What kind of child takes five hundred years to grow up?"
"Shallow. Do you know how long youkai can live? Isn't it normal for them to only reach adulthood at five hundred years old?"
"That makes sense. I was wondering why the Shura Shrine keeps so many foxes. So it turns out Lord Shura Anyakonsen-shou is commemorating his deceased wife… What a deeply devoted husband…"
At this moment, Kamisato Ayato, who had been listening to his subordinates' gossip, fell into deep thought.
This… To be honest, if it weren't for the fact that he had participated in the Shura Anyakonsen-shou's God Creation Plan, even Kamisato Ayato himself would have doubted whether the Shura Anyakonsen-shou had truly existed five hundred years ago.
Mainly because that old uncle who liked to play with children at home was really hard to imagine having such a professional way of operating.
Hmm… Still, it would be best to ask the old uncle what the situation actually is first…
Kamisato Ayato opened the Akasha Terminal.
"Anyway, Hanachirusato, don't forget — Ioroi is too lonely. If you have time, go play with him. You don't need to keep your distance from him.
Ah, wait a moment, I have a call coming in… Kamisato Ayato, what do you need from me?"
It was quite a coincidence. Right now the old uncle was at the Grand Narukami Shrine checking on how Yae Miko was taking care of Hanachirusato.
When Kamisato Ayato heard the old uncle's fatherly tone, he fell silent for a moment.
That Hanachirusato… was the daughter of Lady Kitsune Saiguu and the old uncle in the rumors, right?
"Old uncle, another rumor about you has appeared. I heard it was spread by the tanuki youkai from your Shura Shrine. They're saying that five hundred years ago you had a deceased wife named Kitsune Saiguu…"
"Ah…?"
At this moment, Kamisato Ayato heard the emotion called "completely dumbfounded" in the old uncle's voice. He then explained the rumor to him.
"…That's how it is. Old uncle, what do you think we should do about this…?"
Cid rubbed the space between his brows. For a moment, he only felt a headache coming on.
One listen and he knew this news was the handiwork of that tanuki youkai Ioroi…