"Lord Sakumura, it seems your investigation has run into some obstacles."
Sakumura's group found Himiko, who appeared to have been waiting for them all along, at the entrance behind the shrine.
"It seems Lady Himiko knows something about that."
A faint smile rested on Takasugi Shinsaku's face.
Behind him, at the end of the mountain path, howling winds coiled around the entire mountaintop.
"I do."
Himiko nodded.
"But I do not know the details."
"Please enter the inner sanctum. Fujimaru Ritsuka alone."
"Someone is waiting for you before the deity."
A gentle smile adorned Himiko's face as she looked at Fujimaru Ritsuka.
".Master?"
White-clad Yukina looked somewhat worried.
"It's fine. I'll go meet them."
Fujimaru Ritsuka had seen worse.
Fujimaru Ritsuka took off his shoes and entered the inner sanctum.
Yet the one waiting there was—
"Miss Kanna? No, that's not right..."
"Could it be... the Mountain God?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka froze for a moment upon seeing that back. It felt faintly familiar, but when the person turned around, he realized—
Miss Kanna would not wear an expression like that.
".Do not call me a god."
"Kanna" spoke, her voice carrying a trace of cold aloofness, an icy chill that seemed to keep others at arm's length.
".Still, please sit."
"I have some questions for you."
Beneath the enormous cherry tree in the shrine, "Kanna" gently took a seat at the stone table. Her bearing and poise were beyond reproach.
For some reason, Fujimaru Ritsuka felt a little flustered. But after taking a deep breath, he still sat down across from her.
Two cups of tea rested on the stone table, with two cherry blossom petals floating on the surface of each. Their fragrance was refreshing and soothing.
"Did you know? There are actually no cherry trees on Black River Mountain."