Soon after, the two arrived at the edge of the cliff on Mt. Yougou.
Below the cliff was an extremely massive cave entrance.
The bottom of the cave entrance was unfathomably deep, and one could vaguely see various thick branches intertwined—those branches were likely from the sacred sakura tree.
At this moment, Hanachirusato stopped:
"The bottom is where the tumor is located, and the outer barrier has already been undone."
Yuuko also stopped and looked down for a moment: "What should I do then?"
"You only need to go down and destroy the tumor. However, along the way, the tumor may condense many memory fragments to stop you. But, these should not be able to impede your valor."
After speaking, Hanachirusato bowed deeply to Yuuko: "This is the last time. I wish you success in battle. Please."
Yuuko nodded, then took a few steps forward and leaped down directly.
After that, Yuuko slid down, passing through the massive cave entrance, and continued his rapid descent for a while.
Bang!
He finally landed on the ground.
Due to the force of the impact from the fall, he even stomped a large depression into the ground.
At this moment, before Yuuko, there was a massive, deep purple heart, and above this heart, an evil aura was continuously emanating.
Presumably, that was the so-called tumor.
As long as he destroyed it, the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual would be considered completely finished.
However, before Yuuko could act, waves of foul purple energy immediately burst forth from the massive tumor.
Subsequently, this foul purple energy condensed before Yuuko, forming more than a dozen human figures clad in samurai armor.
Each of these forms, condensed from corrupted memories, possessed considerable strength.
Presumably, the massive tumor might have begun to develop self-awareness.
Seeing Yuuko enter, it probably wanted to eliminate him.
Or perhaps, the tumor detected the immense danger Yuuko posed!
However, these things were completely incapable of threatening Yuuko.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
A blur shot through these foul humanoid figures, and after a short moment, all the foul humanoid figures exploded and dispersed!
In just an instant, Yuuko had dealt with all these things.
At this point, the massive tumor above him began to squirm incessantly.
It was unclear whether it was due to rage or fear.
But since the tumor was entangled by the sacred sakura tree's roots, it had no way to escape.
Yuuko glanced at it, ignored it, and began to unseal the barrier here.
Once the seal was broken, allowing the tumor to fully release its foul energy, and that energy was dealt with, the cleansing ritual would be complete.
After quite some time, Yuuko finally finished this extremely tedious puzzle and unlocked the seal here.
As soon as the seal was undone, the massive tumor above began to squirm again.
And this time, its wriggling amplitude was even greater.
Subsequently, the tumor directly burst open, emitting a massive amount of foul aura, which then condensed into a gigantic humanoid figure on the ground.
It was a samurai figure over two meters tall!
The imposing presence emanating from it was terrifying!
Yuuko could even sense that the samurai currently before him was unlike the ones he had encountered before; it genuinely possessed wisdom.
And a samurai who truly possessed swordsmanship!
What surprised Yuuko even more was that this samurai actually spoke:
"I shall restore the glory of the Iwakura School."
After speaking, the samurai drew the long blade from his waist, looked quietly at Yuuko, and whispered:
"You are very strong, stronger than any being I have ever seen. If I can defeat you, perhaps I can elevate the Iwakura School to a higher level."
It seemed that this samurai, condensed from countless foul memories, could even be considered an independent life form to some extent.
Because he possessed something as precious as a wish!
The next moment, the samurai abruptly pushed off with his feet and rushed toward Yuuko at high speed!
...On the other side, above the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Yae Miko was sitting beneath the sacred sakura tree, gazing at the clear sky, lightly exhaling, and murmuring:
"At this point in time, Yellow Fox should already be dealing with the tumor, right?"
"This time's tumor is considerably larger than before, making it quite tricky. But, Yellow Fox should be fine, right?"
Suddenly, a figure approached from the distance.
It was the shrine maiden Inashiro Hotarumi.
After arriving, Inashiro Hotarumi looked at Yae Miko with confusion and said:
"Guuji-sama, is it really acceptable to entrust such an important ritual as the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual to an outsider?"
Yae Miko waved her hand: "It's fine. If anything, entrusting it to Yellow Fox was the most suitable choice."
"But..." Inashiro Hotarumi still had some doubts.
Yae Miko smiled again: "What's wrong? Are you worried that the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual will fail?"
Inashiro Hotarumi remained silent for a long time before speaking:
"It's not that I don't trust Mr. Yellow Fox, but the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual is an important ceremony with complex procedures. I worry that Mr. Yellow Fox might miss a step and cause the ritual to fail."
"Moreover, the tumor is already quite massive now. If it isn't handled using secret techniques, that tumor might give rise to a very troublesome entity..."
"It would be very problematic if such an entity were allowed to escape..."
At this, Yae Miko placed her hand against Inashiro Hotarumi's mouth and chuckled:
"Don't overthink it. Just rest assured and leave it to Yellow Fox. Mere memory fragments won't be able to stop him. Besides, it should be wrapping up soon at this point."
Yae Miko's gaze fell upon the sacred sakura tree behind her.
Inashiro Hotarumi was slightly stunned, then sighed again:
"Guuji-sama, you truly trust Mr. Yellow Fox implicitly... Even Mr. Yellow Fox couldn't possibly complete all the procedures of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual that quickly..."
Regardless, Inashiro Hotarumi still did not feel that entrusting such a crucial ritual to an outsider was the correct choice.
Nor did she believe that Yellow Fox could quickly complete the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual.
Unexpectedly, just as Inashiro Hotarumi finished speaking, the sacred sakura tree behind Yae Miko began to emit a faint glow.
It gave off a sacred and gentle feeling.
Inashiro Hotarumi froze.
Because she knew this was a phenomenon that only occurred when the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was complete.
This meant the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was finished!
But how much time had passed?!
It had only been about half a day since Yae Miko handed the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual over to Yellow Fox, right?!
...On the other side, beneath the massive subterranean cave entrance.
The gigantic foul memory fragment samurai looked in shock at his constantly dissipating body, his face filled with disbelief.
He looked at Yuuko: "I couldn't even withstand a single blow..."
Having said that, he completely dispersed.
Even the massive figure condensed from all the foul memories was utterly vulnerable before Yuuko.
Now, the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was completely finished.
The massive tumor no longer existed either.
After resolving everything, Yuuko let out a breath and turned to look behind him.
Hanachirusato had arrived here sometime without him noticing.
Upon meeting, she bowed deeply to Yuuko: "Thank you very much for everything you have done for Inazuma."
Yuuko did not respond to this gratitude; instead, his attention was entirely focused on Hanachirusato's body.
Because the feeling Hanachirusato gave him was growing increasingly faint.
It felt as if she might disappear at any moment.
"Hanachirusato, your body..."
Hanachirusato raised her head and shook it: "There is no need to worry. This is merely the law of nature; nothing can escape this law."
After speaking, Hanachirusato remained silent for a long time before speaking again:
"Now, this is the last time. May I ask you to tell me about the current situation in Inazuma? If I cannot know this, I cannot rest easy."
Hearing this, Yuuko fell into contemplation.
Because of this request, he realized many things.
He had a feeling that once he told Hanachirusato the answer, she would truly depart.
Not just a normal departure, but truly vanishing.
Perhaps sensing Yuuko's thoughts, Hanachirusato's voice became slightly choked:
"Please, tell me. This is my final wish..."
Yuuko fell silent again.
As things stood, he confirmed one thing: Hanachirusato was clearly not a person of this era.
More accurately, Hanachirusato didn't even seem like a normal life form.
The feeling Hanachirusato gave off was actually quite similar to the samurai condensed from memory fragments during the cleansing ritual... Connecting this to previous events, Yuuko tentatively spoke:
"Are you a memory fragment of Kitsune Saiguu?"
These words caused Hanachirusato to freeze slightly, and she said bitterly:
"So you had already realized..."
After a moment, she sighed softly: "I am a form condensed from a portion of Kitsune Saiguu's memories."
Hearing this, Yuuko also sighed: "So that was the case..."
Since Hanachirusato was an existence similar to those samurai.
Now that the cleansing ritual was complete, it meant that Hanachirusato could no longer remain in this world... Hanachirusato's body gradually became transparent, and she began to emit a faint glow.
In the end, she was not a normal life form.
In the end, she would return to the earth, flowing with the ley lines, becoming a small part of countless memories.
Watching the changes in her body, Hanachirusato bowed her head to Yuuko again:
"Please, I only wish to understand the situation in Inazuma in my final moments. This is my last wish..."
Yuuko was silent, but finally let out a sigh.
He began to slowly explain the recent situation in Inazuma to Hanachirusato.
He also described some major events that had occurred in Inazuma from five hundred years ago until now.
But Yuuko didn't know much about Inazuma's history, so he only gave a brief overview.
He only mentioned some major events, including the Vision Hunt Decree from a while ago.
After listening, Hanachirusato's tone gained a hint of relief:
"Is that so... Is Inazuma peaceful now..."
"And... did the Shogun actually do such foolish things for so long in pursuit of eternity..."
After speaking, Hanachirusato bowed her head to Yuuko again:
"It was you who made the Shogun realize her mistake, wasn't it? I thank you on her behalf."
Yuuko remained silent.
Hanachirusato paid no mind and continued sincerely:
"Afterward, could you please stay by the Shogun's side permanently, so that she doesn't go astray again?"
Yuuko sighed: "If you don't want the Shogun to act foolishly, why don't you try hard to stay and assist her?"
Hanachirusato's body trembled slightly. Even though her face was covered by a White Fox Mask, concealing her features.
Yuuko could still sense that Hanachirusato's expression was quite bitter.
Suddenly, the transparency of Hanachirusato's body accelerated.
This indicated that this was Hanachirusato's final moment.
But she showed no panic because of it.
Instead, she uttered a nostalgic sound in the end:
"Is it time for me to leave..."
"Although I just said my wishes were fulfilled, there are still many things I worry about..."
"That fool Ioroi, I wonder if he will continue to make trouble afterward. I don't know how much longer I can keep hiding the fact that I am no longer in this world from him..."
"And Miko's personality, I wonder if she can truly serve well as chief priestess..."
"The Shogun is headstrong and impulsive; I wonder if she will do something foolish again in the future..."
"I truly wish I could stay here and witness all of this with my own eyes..."
"I truly wish I could continue to stand by their side and witness the future of Inazuma..."
By the end, Hanachirusato's voice was choked with sobs.
At this moment, Hanachirusato took off the White Fox Mask on her face, revealing an absolutely beautiful countenance.
Her face covered in tears, she bowed deeply toward Yuuko:
"Although I know this is shameful, and I have nothing to repay you with, still... I implore you..."
"It is truly wonderful that Inazuma has you now..."
In the very end, Hanachirusato spoke these words to Yuuko in a gentle tone.
Her body finally completely dispersed, returning once more to the earth.
Since she was not a normal life form, she could not remain in this world forever.
At the same time, after Hanachirusato departed, the White Fox Mask in her hand, lacking a host, began to fall toward the ground.
This was probably Hanachirusato's, or rather Kitsune Saiguu's, final relic.
Just as the mask was about to hit the ground, Yuuko reached out and caught it.
Gazing at the mask in his hand, Yuuko sighed softly.
He hadn't spent much time with Hanachirusato, but this separation still left a bitter taste in his heart.
Picking up the White Fox Mask, Yuuko sensed a faint aura emanating from it.
That seemed to be a remnant of Hanachirusato's aura.
That was... a part of Hanachirusato's memory.
More accurately, it was a portion of Kitsune Saiguu's memory.
Yuuko made the yellow fox mask on his face disappear and put on the White Fox Mask.
Subsequently, a rush of memories flooded into his mind.
Those were memories shrouded in darkness.
Those seemed to be memories from five hundred years ago. At that time, Inazuma was facing an invasion by a great army of Abyssal Monsters.
It was the most desperate time Inazuma had faced since ancient times.
Those who went to resist the great army of Abyssal Monsters had almost no chance of survival.
It was also around that time that Kitsune Saiguu went to Chinju Forest and found Ioroi.
And she made a promise with Ioroi.
"Ioroi, let's play a game of hide-and-seek. No matter how much commotion there is afterward, you must not be fooled, as those are just my tricks to mislead you."
"You wouldn't lose to me even at hide-and-seek, would you?"
"Remember, no matter what happens, don't come out, or you lose~"
After making the promise, Kitsune Saiguu left Chinju Forest.
And she settled Yae Miko, who was still in her infancy.
After making all preparations... she went alone to resist the great army of monsters.
Ultimately, she was swallowed by the darkness of the Abyss.
Up to this day.
Yae Miko has grown up and has become a reliable chief priestess of the shrine.
And Ioroi is still waiting for Kitsune Saiguu's return in Chinju Forest.
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