Sarutobi Toru came up empty-handed and had no further options. Fortunately, the Heavenly Crystal Sword at least appeared to be lawful good. It had merely given Miko Miroku a few benefits, which somewhat put Sarutobi Toru at ease.
When Miko Miroku learned that the two of them would be staying here for the night, she blushed slightly. However, Sarutobi Toru had long since divided the Reincarnation Warehouse into several rooms, so she did not object.
The next morning, Sarutobi Toru opened the doors of the Reincarnation Warehouse and found himself standing atop a heap of muddy ruins.
"Whew, that was really accurate." Sarutobi Toru glanced around and shook his head.
"Luckily, we drove everyone out yesterday. Otherwise, there would have been far more deaths today." Miko Miroku looked around, still somewhat shaken.
"Hm? Why is someone crying?" Sarutobi Toru froze for a moment and looked toward the sound.
Following the cries, Sarutobi Toru found a buried patch of rubble. "Earth Release: Earth Rising Excavation Technique!"
In an instant, the earth split apart and rose into a small mound, exposing the figures hidden beneath the soil.
"Waaah, Mom..."
The ones revealed beneath the earth were the mother and daughter from yesterday. But the mother had already breathed her last. Before dying, however, she had braced part of the broken boards, and since they had been pressed against a corner, a triangular structure had formed. The little girl had thus escaped harm.
Sarutobi Toru pressed a hand to the mother's neck and shook his head. In truth, he could tell without checking that she had been dead for quite some time.
A sorrowful expression appeared on Miko Miroku's face. She gently held the girl, who looked around eleven or twelve, comforting her as she asked what had happened.
The matter was not