Just then, Indra strode in. He was instantly stunned by the sight before him. "Could you really be Uncle Hamura's..."
Li smiled faintly. "Honestly, I didn't want you to say it earlier because I was afraid these people would find out I was here. See? Isn't this situation troublesome now?"
Hearing Li say that, Indra's face reddened slightly. "I-I'm truly sorry. What happened today was all because of me. Please forgive me..." Indra let out a breath. At first, he had thought Li had used some method to control that man, but now, seeing so many people treating Li with such respect, it seemed there was no issue with Li's identity.
Indra slowly nodded to Li and said, "Father asks that you come see him."
Li gave a soft grunt, then said to the others, "I came to Earth this time only to protect you along your journey. Now that I see you have already settled down here, I can rest easy."
Li then followed Indra toward Hagoromo's residence. Hagoromo held the highest status in this place, so naturally his home stood at the very center of the village. Yet when Li arrived, he could not help but sigh at how frugal Hagoromo truly was.
At a glance, the building before him was not much better than those of ordinary villagers, though it was considerably larger. That was understandable, however, since meetings and other such matters often had to be held there.
When he entered the courtyard, Li saw only two figures within—or rather, one man and one beast. The man was naturally Hagoromo, while the beast was a toad. Li sensed a very similar power from both of them, and he quickly realized that this toad was no ordinary creature. He was the ruler of Mount Myoboku, the Great