After sending off the Fusion Spirit and the five giant snakes, Fuyuki headed back, cradling Isobu in his hands. The massive stone gate opened like an automatic door, sensing a living being and letting him leave Snake Nest.
The White Snake Sage was still leisurely smoking. The three gorgeous Beauty Snakes who made up Ryūchi Cave's upper ranks looked ready to seduce anyone, nothing like the vicious creatures who had dealt with Anko. Instead, they kept batting their eyes at Fuyuki, making him feel right at home.
The White Snake Sage exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Once you've chosen a giant snake, come sign the Summoning Contract! Come see me again when you've truly decided to train in Sage Mode, or found a way to become immune to the pain. Ryūchi Cave welcomes you!"
Everything in Ryūchi Cave was within the White Snake Sage's perception, and she had seen everything that happened in Raging Snake Nest.
She had especially enjoyed watching Garaga, that snake with a screw loose, get put in his place!
The White Snake Sage had wanted to beat him up for a long time, but her enormous body made it inconvenient to do so.
(The White Snake Sage and the Offering Temple were one and the same. Her massive body was hidden underground.)
From beneath the offering platform, Tagorihime took out an ancient scroll steeped in history. She spread it on the ground, found a blank page, and had Fuyuki write his name on it.
Once he signed the Summoning Contract, Fuyuki could summon ordinary snakes at will. As long as they couldn't use Senjutsu, the Beauty Snakes of Ryūchi Cave's upper ranks wouldn't object in the slightest, even if he summoned them to make a pot of snake stew.
Tagorihime put the scroll away and smiled.