"Chief Priest Kubota, welcome, welcome! Thank you for cooperating with our Metropolitan Police Department and coming all the way from Fujinomiya City. Thank you for your trouble. Please, have a seat."
A tent at the foot of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture received a special guest.
"I'm Okita from the Fourth Investigation Division, and this is Officer Uchiha."
The old man dressed in Shinto priestly robes frowned as he looked at the two men in the tent. The one speaking was a slightly plump man with an amiable smile, while the other was a refined, handsome middle-aged man with clear eyes.
As the legal representative of Mount Fuji Hongu Sengen Taisha, the old priest had met countless people, yet he could not help inwardly admiring the latter's outstanding looks. He almost rivaled the priest in his youth.
"Ahem, officers, what did you want to see me about?"
The old priest coughed lightly and collected himself, his expression puzzled.
"Chief Priest Kubota, there are actually some complicated matters that our Metropolitan Police Department would like to verify with you," Inspector Okita said, beginning to probe indirectly.
He asked what the old priest had achieved through decades of running Sengen Taisha-no, practicing there; whether he had experienced anything incredible while serving Konohanasakuya-hime no Mikoto, Mount Fuji's mountain deity, at the shrine; and whether Sengen Shrine's ancient texts and sacred artifacts possessed any supernatural properties.
The more the old priest listened, the more confused he became, vaguely sensing that something was wrong.
Sengen Shrine was the name given to shrines dedicated to Konohanasakuya-hime no Mikoto. Worship of Mount Fuji was widespread throughout the Mount Fuji region, and there were thirteen hundred Sengen Shrines nationwide. Sengen Taisha was their head shrine and the center of Mount Fuji worship.
The old priest was a figure