You’ve Worked Hard, Big Sis~
By the time Igarashi Rie returned home, it was already the early hours of the morning, well after nightfall.
This was not the Autumn Maple Hot Spring Inn, but Igarashi Rie’s own residence.
As a prominent local family, the Igarashi household was undoubtedly perceived by others as a magnificent estate.
However, the part of the house Igarashi Rie personally inhabited, while undeniably spacious, featured surprisingly simple, rustic decor.
Indeed, it bore a resemblance to Iori Shigure’s home, if one were to draw a comparison.
Yet, befitting the status of a distinguished family, the vases and calligraphic scrolls adorning the walls clearly bespoke their considerable value.
She peeled off the black gloves from her hands, tossing them casually onto the large sofa.
Only the elderly butler was present in the room.
He bowed respectfully to Igarashi Rie.
“You’ve worked hard, Young Mistress.
Had the day’s events gone unaddressed, the town’s suffering would have been inevitable.”
Igarashi Rie waved her hand dismissively.
“It’s nothing, not my accomplishment alone.
After all, ‘exorcism’ isn’t among my abilities.
Such a large-scale escape of malevolent spirits is beyond my power to resolve.”
“I understand,” the butler replied, his head bowed low, “The Guardian (TL Note: Refers to Hoshimori Shion, the town’s protector against supernatural threats.) played an indispensable role, but without your involvement, this incident would undoubtedly have escalated into a major catastrophe.”
“Enough,” Igarashi Rie stated, her gaze sharpening with an edge of severity.
“What, then, was the actual cause of this malevolent spirit outbreak?”
The butler’s expression turned troubled as he spoke.
“The seal’s capacity has reached its absolute limit.
Four centuries of accumulation can no longer be suppressed by our family’s power alone.
Unless the malevolent spirits are exorcised from their very root, such escape incidents will only proliferate in the future.”
Igarashi Rie sighed.
“But who knows how to exorcise these malevolent spirits from their root?
Even those few that escaped the seal today proved challenging enough for the Guardian.
If the seal were to break…”
Upon hearing the words “seal were to break,” the butler immediately adopted a grave tone.
“Young Mistress, speaking of the seal in such a manner invites great misfortune.
This seal has endured for four hundred years; if it were to shatter…”
Igarashi Rie, a flash of annoyance crossing her face, slammed her hand on the table.
“This isn’t about good or ill omens; this is the problem at hand!
Stop turning a blind eye!
If we can’t clear out some of this ‘stockpile,’ and the seal reaches its breaking point, the entire town will perish!”
Understanding the gravity of Igarashi Rie’s words, the butler wisely refrained from further discussion on the matter.
However, the butler soon spoke again.
“Then, Young Mistress, why not confide in the Guardian about this and seek her assistance?
She is likely the only person in this town capable of handling such a task.”
Igarashi Rie shook her head.
“Just this small escape today proved so difficult for her.
To truly ‘digest’ four centuries’ worth of accumulation, to create space for the future, that would be a task spanning decades…”
“You speak truly,” the butler conceded with a nod.
“And, truthfully, I simply don’t want… her to be disappointed in me…”
Igarashi Rie gazed out through the gilded black wooden window frame, her eyes fixed on the profound darkness blanketing the night sky.
****
Hoshimori Shion, clad in a miko (TL Note: A shrine maiden, typically serving at a Shinto shrine.) outfit stained with blood, sat by the roadside.
She held the Spirit Cutter (TL Note: A spiritual blade used for exorcism.) in her hand, pressing it against the wound on her leg, allowing its cold touch to dull the intensity of her pain.
How utterly vexing it was that she couldn’t simply pass out.
Had she lost consciousness here, by the game’s mechanics, she might already be resting in her own bed.
Alas, despite being covered in wounds, she was acutely aware, not even feeling a hint of drowsiness.
This was likely a side effect of her enhanced healing abilities.
The wounds on her body were already slowly scabbing over, and the bleeding had gradually ceased.
Yet, simultaneously, she could now maintain clarity and focus even amidst excruciating pain.
“Could I just knock myself out with the Spirit Cutter and teleport back?!”
Hoshimori Shion railed inwardly, desperately wishing she could actually do it.
However, Hoshimori Shion’s primary source of confusion at present was the identity of the one who had ultimately vanquished the colossal malevolent spirit warrior.
One possibility was that someone else in this town knew about spirits, possessed the power to destroy them, and was far, far stronger than she was.
If that were the case, forging an alliance with this person might allow her to easily overcome the final boss!
Another possibility was that a deity had manifested!
As a miko, she did, after all, pray to the divine beings daily, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable for a deity to save her in a critical moment, would it?
This implied that perhaps, in every future exorcism, a benevolent deity would come to her rescue…
Hoshimori Shion propped her head up, grinning like an idiot.
It was as if she were lost in a beautiful dream, a trail of drool escaping the corner of her mouth.
Unaware, she didn’t even lift a hand to wipe it away.
Ah, if only that were true, if only that were true, she might live a truly happy life, never again needing to worry about exorcism…
As she pondered the origin of that white Sword of Damocles, she felt her eyelids slowly growing heavy.
The night sky before her gradually deepened into an impenetrable gloom, becoming increasingly indistinct…
So weary, so utterly weary…
Hoshimori Shion closed her eyes, her hand unconsciously relaxing its grip, allowing the Spirit Cutter to fall to the ground with a crisp clatter.
****
When she next awoke, the morning light streamed through the wooden window frame, falling gently upon Hoshimori Shion’s face.
A summer breeze rustled through the trees on the back mountain, creating a soft, refreshing whisper.
The late summer sunlight, far from being harsh, was remarkably pleasant.
Hoshimori Shion pulled back her covers slightly and stretched with a languid yawn.
Checking her phone, she noted that it was still early, her alarm set to ring just a few minutes later.
Consequently, she preemptively switched it off.
Her physical wounds had largely healed; the scabs from yesterday were now almost imperceptible.
However, a deep soreness still lingered throughout her body, a discomfort the system apparently couldn’t fully remedy for the time being.
Then, she heard a rapid series of thumps.
Hoshimori Shion had a good idea of what was about to happen.
She tidied her miko outfit and straightened her futon slightly.
Moments later, a white blur seemed to kick open the door, and an adorable figure burst into the room, instantly enveloping her in a hug.
Hoshimori Shion was nearly choked breathless by the sudden, fierce embrace!
“Ayane, you idiot! You’re strangling me!”
Hoshimori Shion quickly patted her sister’s head, gasping out the words.
Ayane loosened her grip slightly but still held Hoshimori Shion tightly, as if afraid of losing her.
“Alright, alright!”
Hoshimori Shion gently ruffled her sister’s hair, which was still rather disheveled from sleep.
“Ayane, I need to make breakfast now.
Let go for a bit.
We can hug again after we’ve eaten.”
This time, however, Ayane was slow to release her.
She pressed her cheek against Hoshimori Shion’s, whispering softly into her ear, “You’ve worked hard, you silly big sister.”