Even before the grief from burying her mother had fully set in, Yume made her decision—she would seal the Sprite's body herself. The destination she chose was the Numa Country, a swampy land separated from Ghost Country. Only by keeping the Sprite's body and soul apart could its resurrection be completely prevented.
Raizen, who had promised Zhige to protect Yume at all costs, remained by her side, carrying the Guardian Monument as they made their way toward Numa. Earlier that morning, he had left Miko Village with the new Miko on his back. Ordinary guards couldn't keep up with his pace, so only he could ensure Yume's safety.
"Let's go."
As they left the village behind, Raizen squatted for a moment, glancing back at Yume. She noticed a faint flush on his face and instinctively clung to his back, arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
"Ahem! Hold me any tighter and I'll—ugh—die!" Raizen muttered, coughing to break the tension he could feel radiating from her.
Yume's blush deepened, but the nervous knot in her chest loosened slightly. Raizen gave a small, amused smile before launching forward, bounding through the dense woods toward the swampy country.
Meanwhile, chaos erupted in Miko Village. The new Miko and the Guardian Monument were gone, vanished without a trace, escorted by the ninja who protected her.
"Miko-sama must have gone to the swamp lands… we have to follow!" Jiren barked, panic creeping into his voice. The Miko had blessed his family for generations, and now he couldn't protect her. Self-reproach burned in his chest. After a moment of thought, he decided she must have left with Raizen first to create a diversion. Quickly, he mobilized his staff, preparing to head toward Numa Country.
Far from the village, in the shadows of a black cave beneath a waterfall, a cold voice echoed.
"Brother, news from Miko Village—new Miko and the ninja have left for Numa Country to seal the Sprite's body!"
"Good. There is a way in heaven if we seize it… now, no excuses," the eldest brother, Hayato-san, hissed. His scarlet eyes glowed in the darkness as chakra coiled over his body. This time, the siblings' vendetta and the Sprite's power would be settled—once and for all.
Raizen, unaware of the plotting behind him, finally set Yume down after leaving the forest. She looked puzzled, and he explained calmly:
"Earlier, I rushed along the main road to create a decoy. Anyone following us would think we were taking the obvious path. Now that the distraction's in place, we don't have to stick to it blindly."
"So… shall we take a secret route to Numa?" Yume asked, confusion on her face.
"No," Raizen replied, shaking his head. "We keep this road—but not on the ground."
From his bag, he retrieved a lump of clay, shaping it swiftly into a giant bird. Scooping Yume into his arms, he leapt onto the clay construct. She clung tightly, her small hands leaving red marks on his arms as fear gripped her.
Seeing her panic, Raizen instinctively increased the chakra he used to support her weight, making the flight smoother. Yume's grip loosened slightly, relief washing over her. For the first time since Zhige's death, she felt a fragment of safety.
As the giant bird soared above the trees, Yume's panic faded, replaced by awe at the sweeping scenery below. The sorrow weighing on her chest—her mother's death, the responsibilities thrust upon her—seemed to lift, if only slightly.
For now, the path was set, and the road to sealing the Sprite's body in Numa had begun.