"The god... Moon Shadow God, has fallen..."
It seemed all hope was truly gone. The Shrine Master's faith had completely collapsed as well.
"How could this happen? Isn't Moon Shadow God a god? Why would even a god die?" The young miko found it impossible to accept.
Moon Shadow God had been worshipped by the shrine for generations, for over a hundred years. Yet now, he had suddenly died...
But before the young miko had time to grieve, she noticed that... the tanuki in her arms was beginning to grow weak and sickly.
"Lord Tami, what's wrong?"
This tanuki was named Tami, Moon Shadow God's divine messenger.
Tami possessed many miraculous abilities, and as Moon Shadow God's miko, the young miko had the ability to borrow the power of Moon Shadow God's divine messenger.
"Moon Shadow God is dead. As his divine messenger, it will suffer backlash as well. There's no time left. Quickly pack your things and leave this place immediately!"
The Shrine Master forced himself to stand, then spoke to the young miko with great severity.
"Why do we have to leave? Isn't this our home? Where can we go if we leave? I don't want to leave."
The young miko was clearly unwilling to accept or understand what the Shrine Master had said.
"Moon Shadow God is dead. The shrine's barrier will soon cease to function, and those impurities, demons, and ghosts won't spare a shrine that has just lost its god."
"Besides... since childhood, your body has been nourished by Moon Shadow God's divine power. To gods, you are the most perfect miko. Even after death, you would be the most perfect 'divine artifact' in their eyes. But likewise... to demons and ghosts, you are also the most delicious food.
"In the past, you had a