She did not walk quickly, one hand resting on her sword while her attention was elsewhere.
Kiana had touched that crystal as well. Would she suffer an even more serious effect than Mei?
She recalled the argument in the meeting room.
She recalled what had happened when she killed Takemikazuchi.
She recalled her father.
Many troubles surfaced in her mind at once. Each thing she thought of added another measure to the turmoil in her heart.
Until...
"Who's there?!"
Having sensed something strange, Mei drew her Resonating Blade and stared intently at the shadows where the slight noise had come from.
She definitely had not been mistaken.
Something was watching her.
Could there still be Kishin in Takama-ga-hara that had not gone to invade Izumo?
Mei slowly approached, cautiously observing her surroundings as she searched for whatever had been watching her.
But there was nothing.
Mei swung her sword and unleashed a blade aura, cutting several withered, leafless trees in half. Even an invisible monster could not escape that strike.
"Nothing?"
Mei frowned and returned the sword to its sheath. Had she simply been too sensitive? Or was there something here even more troublesome than the Kishin?
The latter possibility was not unlikely.
After scanning the surroundings once more, Mei carefully backed away. She felt the second possibility was more likely.
Otherwise, why would those Kishin abandon this planet and travel all the way to Izumo?
Mei retreated to her original position without finding anything unusual. Frowning, she wondered whether she should waste time here figuring out the reason.
She stood there for quite some time.
"Could Kiana have encountered something like this too?"
Mei touched her Resonating Blade, unable to put her mind at ease.
Kiana was certainly powerful, but she had far too little practical combat experience. Mei