The mountain road was somewhat ruined. Many of the once neat blue-gray stone bricks had cracked apart, breaking into small pieces scattered along both sides of the road; some had even been reduced to powder.
This was because of last night's battle. More precisely, because of Hoshiguma Yuna's and Mama Bear's Noble Phantasms.
"Getting down the mountain tomorrow will be a little difficult."
Takasugi Shinsaku looked rather helpless.
With the mountain road destroyed, going up and down the mountain safely would become a major problem. Slipping and taking a nasty fall himself might not be a big deal, but...
If they dropped the Mountain God on the ground, that would be a serious problem.
"I'm sorry."
Fujimaru Ritsuka lowered his head and apologized obediently.
"You need not apologize. Or rather, you absolutely do not need to apologize."
Takasugi Shinsaku smiled and glanced back at Fujimaru Ritsuka.
"After all, you used your own strength to protect the village. Everyone saw it."
"If we were to blame someone who gave their all to protect the village, then perhaps our village would not be worthy of being protected by so many people."
Turning back around, Takasugi Shinsaku led the way ahead. The shrine was already right before them, and his hand unconsciously rested on the hilt of his sword.
The spot where they had discovered Kurokawa Hideo yesterday was beneath the torii gate in front of the shrine. Takasugi Shinsaku had already gone back and forth twice today, yet he remained vigilant.
The shrine was now completely different from how it had looked when Fujimaru Ritsuka had first seen it.
It was filled with decorations now. Ornaments meant purely for appearance hung everywhere, along with tengu masks and other masks tied up with cords and suspended from the cherry trees, making the place