Whether Such a Life Exists (4)

In the blink of an eye, five years passed. Fourteen-year-old Nagato Tsuruko was preparing to take over Waseda Shrine from Waseda Miko. But before that, Nagato Tsuruko still needed to complete a shrine maiden's trial. The trial required her to exorcise, without relying on the Dog God's power, a Toad Yokai that had recently wandered into the mountains near Waseda Village. Fourteen-year-old Nagato Tsuruko already possessed extremely powerful spiritual energy, and Waseda Miko had great confidence in her. However, Nagato Tsuruko had never exorcised a yokai on her own before, so she was inevitably somewhat nervous before setting out. The Dog God, which had watched Nagato Tsuruko grow from the age of six, was extremely familiar with some of her little habits that few people knew about. For example, whenever she was nervous, she would clean the shrine courtyard in the evening.

"Didn't I hear that you're going down the mountain tomorrow?" Inuyasha sat down behind Nagato Tsuruko with his hands behind his head. Before they knew it, the brat had already grown to the height of his neck. Eight years was only a small part of a Dog God's long life, passing in a fleeting instant. But everything that had happened over those eight years felt like an illusion that had appeared yesterday; whenever he thought of it, he could recall it clearly.

"Mm."

"You might die. That Toad Spirit isn't easy to deal with. Even I would have to put in some effort." Inuyasha then emphasized, "Of course, it would only take some effort. I, the great Inuyasha, won't get hurt."

Nagato Tsuruko stopped working and tilted her head to study him. Perhaps eight years really was a short time for a Dog God. As a human, Nagato Tsuruko would soon grow older, then age like Waseda Miko.