"So late at night, where was Lady Shoko going?" Murasaki Shikibu leaving the estate at such a late hour struck the group as very strange. After all, the nights of Heian-kyō were far from safe.
"Was she going to the Imperial Palace?" Sakata Kintoki asked.
"She was heading toward Inari Shrine," Kato Danzo immediately answered. She had only woken everyone after noticing that Murasaki Shikibu was heading back toward the place they had returned from earlier. If Murasaki Shikibu had been going to the Imperial Palace, she definitely would not have woken Ritsuka and the others.
As a local Heroic Spirit, Danzo was very familiar with certain aspects of Heian-kyō. To put it bluntly, aside from Sakata Kintoki, she was the one who knew the situation here best. Though Musashi was more or less from the same era as Kato Danzo, Musashi had merely been a wandering swordswoman, unlike Danzo, who had served as a ninja for the nobility.
"Let's take a look." The group exchanged glances, then quietly slipped out of the estate to follow Murasaki Shikibu. On one hand, it was suspicious for her to head to Inari Shrine so late at night. On the other, they had eaten and stayed under her roof. If she encountered danger, it was only right that they protect her.
"Senpai." Considering that Murasaki Shikibu had already left some time ago and was traveling by ox cart, Mash immediately picked Ritsuka up after they reached the street and hurried toward Inari Shrine. Though Ritsuka was far stronger than in the original work, she was still too weak compared to the people present. Sakata Kintoki possessed the strength to contend with ordinary Heroic Spirits, while even Kato Danzo was no match for her.
"Where is Lady Shoko?" With Mash carrying Ritsuka, the group