The next day, early morning.
The sky is bright and the morning fog has not dispersed.
There was a little moisture in the air, and a tense tranquility filled the shrine.
"Crunch..."
The sound of the wooden door being pushed open broke the tranquility at this moment.
Shion stood in front of the door. The solemn miko uniform she wore yesterday had been replaced by a more casual style.
She wears a white tube top, a goose-yellow jacket, and red shorts, but her feet are still slippers that are not suitable for long walks.
She raised her chin slightly and shouted to the empty room with her usual distant and matter-of-fact tone.
"Guard, it's time to set off."
The words fell and no one responded.
Shion blinked and seemed stunned for a moment, but still maintained the posture of pushing the door.
She glanced around the room. Seeing that the living room was empty, she walked in again and took a look inside.
But except for the neatly folded bedding in the room, which looked like tofu cubes, there was nothing else.
Ashitaba who was following behind saw this, a trace of helplessness flashed across his face. He took half a step forward, bowed slightly, and reminded in a low voice.
"Miko-sama, Your Excellency Fujiwara... you were keeping vigil on the roof last night, and you must still be up there at this moment."
"... Roof?" Shion heard the words and repeated it, then raised his head and looked at the beams, his expression became a little weird.
"Do you need to call your Excellency Fujiwara down?" Ashitaba seemed to have noticed something and immediately stepped forward to ask.
Shion fell into thinking after hearing this.
She thought of the prophecy that had been changed yesterday, and also of the unspoken but established deal between the two.
They should be equal. In this case, is it inappropriate to ask the guards to go up and summon them?
After a moment, she made a decision.
"No need. I'll go up myself."
Ashitaba There was a trace of worry in his eyes after hearing this, but in the end he chose to respect the witch's wishes and only reminded her softly.
"Please be careful."
Shion nodded slightly and found a place with lower eaves in the courtyard.
She looked around to make sure no guards were paying attention nearby, then carefully stepped on the bamboo ladder and climbed up slightly awkwardly.
Ashitaba below is also always paying attention to the safety of the witch. If there is an accident or mistake on the way, he will immediately step forward.
When she finally climbed up to the roof of the main house out of breath, the cool morning wind immediately blew over her face and ruffled her hair.
The first thing that catches the eye is the increasingly clear outline of the mountains in the distance and the rising sun.
Then...
"Good morning, Miss Miko. Is there something wrong?"
A calm voice suddenly sounded from his side.
Shion, who was enjoying the scenery, was frightened by the sudden sound and almost lost his balance.
After a moment of panic and steadying herself, she turned her head and looked in the direction of the sound.
I saw Ning Xue sitting cross-legged not far away, now standing up and looking sideways at her.
The breeze blew through his slightly messy white hair, giving it a golden glow in the morning light.
Wearing a gray sweater, he was slightly thin and stood quietly on the ridge of the roof, with a coldness that was incompatible with his surroundings.
"It's time to go. I... came up to inform you." When Shion said this, he subconsciously raised his hand to straighten the ends of his hair that were blown by the wind, trying to keep his voice as cold as ever.
But when I looked at Ning Xue's eyes behind the mask, I didn't know why, but I felt a little panicked inside. (It's just the suspension bridge effect.)
Ning Xue nodded upon hearing this.
"Then get ready to go." Ning Xue said, turned around and prepared to jump off the roof.
But when his eyes glanced at Shion, who had obviously climbed up, he paused and turned his head to ask.
"Do you need me to take you down?"
Shion heard this and his body stiffened involuntarily.
Carry... bring it down? How to carry it? Is it like carrying something?
That image appeared in her mind unconsciously, and then she shook her head violently to dispel the thought.
No! As a noble miko, to be carried off the roof like an object... How is this inappropriate?
However, it seems more unsightly to climb down by yourself, and... it seems to be quite troublesome. Alas, I had known I wouldn't have come up.
She looked away slightly, trying to maintain her usual alienation and indifference, but her voice was a bit lower than usual, with a hint of imperceptible embarrassment.
"No, no need. I myself..."
Before she finished speaking, she caught a glimpse of Ning Xue turning back from the corner of her eye. It seemed that she was just asking casually and had no intention of persisting.
This made her next words stuck in her throat.
She looked at the straight bamboo ladder below and Ashitaba, who was ready to catch her at any time.
"Wait." She finally called Ning Xue in a very soft voice.
Ning Xue stopped moving and turned to look at her again.
Shion avoided his gaze and stared at the roof tiles under his feet, unconsciously holding a corner of his coat with his fingers.
"... Sorry to trouble you."
After saying that, she pretended to be calm and looked up at Ning Xue, then quickly averted her eyes.
Ning Xue felt a little confused when he saw this, but he still stretched out his arm to support her side.
"I'm sorry."
As soon as she finished speaking, the other hand had firmly grasped her shoulder. With a little force from her feet, the two of them fell lightly from the roof and stood firmly beside Ashitaba.
Shion was still in a daze when her feet touched the ground. The brief falling sensation just now prevented her from screaming, and her heartbeat even beat a few beats faster.
"Thank you."
She quickly took half a step away, lowered her head and straightened her clothes, trying to cover up her slight embarrassment.
Ashitaba had quickly stepped forward. He first looked at Shion with concern, and after confirming that she was fine, he turned to Ning Xue and solemnly presented the scrolls with both hands.
"Your Excellency Fujiwara, what you ordered has been completed. The scrolls have been soaked in water and the runes have indeed lit up. Please check."
Ning Xue took the scroll, opened it and looked at it. After confirming that there was indeed enough water stored in it, he nodded and put it back into the small bag on his waist.
"Good work."
"The team is ready and ready to go to Land of Swamps."
Ashitaba continued to report and gestured behind him.
I saw an elite team of about twenty people had assembled at the entrance of the courtyard. Everyone was lightly dressed and looked solemn. Horses and necessary supplies were also ready.
Shion looked at the team that was getting ready to go, then looked at the mysterious foreigner beside him who was beyond the prophecy, and then took a deep breath.
"Then, let's go!"
But as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly paused, as if she saw something.