"Alright—let's complete the ritual together!"
Paimon flapped her small fists, her body twisting in mid-air.
"Oh? I quite admire the little one's courage."
Yae Miko's gaze, filled with amusement, fell upon them.
Her hands were lightly caressing Qin Yu's shoulders, tidying his collar.
After saying goodbye to Kazari, the fox lady's gaze towards Qin Yu had become increasingly… peculiar.
"Ahem…!"
Qin Yu, catching the alluring faint scent of the fox lady, instinctively turned his face away.
As if by chance, he saw Kolumbina, who was smiling benignly not far away.
She had already taken out her notebook and was quietly beginning to record Qin Yu's little stories.
Such as being whisked away by two wild foxes…
Qin Yu felt a chill and heat radiating from his back.
A slightly wicked young woman was collecting "evidence."
If the subsequent "replenishment" session didn't satisfy her…
"Don't get distracted."
Yae Miko narrowed her enchanting purple eyes and pinched Qin Yu's chest with her fingertips.
She then cast a provocative glance at Kolumbina.
With two "wicked women" gathered around Qin Yu, a competition was inevitable.
Just as the three were engaged in a harmonious and affectionate exchange.
"I, I and Lumine are going to go on a rampage…!"
Little Paimon, feeling a prickle of fear, obediently shrunk back.
"What do I need to do?"
Lumine, cradling the trembling Paimon in her arms, became serious.
Whether it was for Inazuma, or for Hanachirusato and Kazari.
She was determined to thoroughly eradicate the evil lingering in this place!
And to get some Primogems as a happy bonus.
"It's very simple. Wait for the barrier at the foot of the mountain to dissipate, then jump right in."
Yae Miko's lips curved into a smile, as if discussing a trivial matter.
She gracefully approached the edge of the lightning pool and extended her hand.
With a rumble from the earth, the water level of the lightning pool began to recede, quickly revealing a deep, dark opening at the bottom.
From within, vengeful spirits of fallen gods and malevolent entities continuously emanated, stirring up a chilling wind.
"A pit this deep, and we're supposed to jump in?!"
Paimon instinctively looked at the center of the lightning pool, her voice trembling slightly.
"Paimon can fly."
Lumine considered for a moment, then seriously eyed Paimon.
The emergency food, its functions were always so versatile.
If only Paimon were a little bigger, she could carry others to fly.
She heard that Qin Yu also possessed the wondrous ability to grow larger. Perhaps they should try it?
"Qin Yu, look at her—!"
Paimon protested loudly, flying behind Qin Yu and peeking her little head out.
"I can go down by myself."
Qin Yu smiled slightly and couldn't resist pinching Paimon's cheek.
Yes, it felt quite good.
Small and very cute.
"Can you handle it?"
Lumine put her hands on her hips. "If you're just trying to be brave, no one will protect you."
After speaking, she turned her head away, her fluffy cat ears swaying in the wind, looking exceptionally adorable.
"Whether I can handle it or not, we'll only know if we try."
Qin Yu looked at the maid-cat girl who had turned away, shaking his head with amusement.
High EQ: No one will protect you.
Low EQ: There's such a big maid-cat right here, aren't you considering using her?
It seemed his maid lady was indeed very dedicated.
"If you want to go down, there's another way."
Yae Miko pondered for a moment, revealing a calm and mysterious smile.
As she spoke, she extended her hand and summoned a pink fox spirit.
"Is this the Grand Shrine Maiden's magic?"
Qin Yu looked over with curiosity and reached out a finger, intending to poke it.
But before he could succeed, Yae Miko dodged.
You want it? No, you can't have it.
Qin Yu looked at Yae Miko, who was smiling expectantly for him to say something nice, and showed a helpless expression.
She truly was a bothersome fox.
He leaned in. "Fox lady of both wisdom and beauty, is there a way to enter the Divine Tree's interior?"
Clearly, this statement was very pleasing to the fox lady.
"Of course. By using magic to summon a bird-type spirit, we can be safely transported."
Yae Miko let Qin Yu stroke the fox spirit and winked meaningfully.
"You want me to try?"
Qin Yu understood her hint and realized.
If he wanted to learn, he had to exchange it for that special power.
It seemed the fox lady was still lingering on the matter of the Blood Blossom Sakura from before.
After all, Qin Yu's "size" had exceeded her expectations.
Referring to the attack radius of the Blood Blossom Sakura.
"Mhm, want to learn? This Guuji will personally tutor you."
Yae Miko's tone was seductive, as if appraising a delicious pre-meal dessert.
Let's consider it a small perk before fulfilling that bet…
"I don't have any other intentions, I mainly just want to learn magic."
Qin Yu nodded honestly.
…
Time slowly flowed by.
Before the lightning pool's barrier completely dissipated, Qin Yu finally managed to conjure…
A tiny, fluffy sparrow.
"Pfft, I didn't expect…!"
The fox lady, seeing Qin Yu looking at himself in disbelief, burst out laughing.
You truly have given your elder sister a big surprise.
Such a cute little thing~
"!"
Qin Yu took a deep breath and glared at her.
But the fact was right there, and he couldn't explain it at all.
This was innate; it couldn't be changed.
Referring to his magical talent.
"Is this the bird Qin Yu summoned?"
Kolumbina leaned closer, extending her delicate white hand to touch it.
"It hops around, full of spirit."
Sensing Qin Yu's increasingly stiff expression, she thought for a moment and then gently comforted him.
Don't feel discouraged; you'll do better next time.
"…"
Qin Yu's face darkened even further.
"It's a bit small."
Lumine blinked her clear large eyes and also reached out a small hand to pinch it.
With this size, it wouldn't be enough to satisfy everyone's need for flight, would it?
"I want to touch too!"
Little Paimon excitedly rubbed her hands together.
"Can you all please stop sharing your opinions?"
Qin Yu looked at the women who had gathered around and gave up struggling.
If they kept touching him like this, he'd be utterly mortified!
"Alright, don't break the little guy."
Yae Miko waved her hand, looking at the bird Qin Yu had summoned with regret.
Everything was left unsaid.
"You do it then, Yae."
Just as the Divine Sakura's barrier completely lifted, Qin Yu didn't try anymore.
He'd probably be laughed at by Yae Miko for eternity.
…
Soon, Yae Miko summoned a giant Thunder Bird spirit, large enough to carry everyone deep into the base of Mt. Yougou.
"Slowly."
Qin Yu took Yae Miko's and Kolumbina's hands on either side and boarded the Thunder Bird.
During the process, he couldn't avoid being squeezed between the two women.
"Lumine?"
Qin Yu finally managed to handle the two women and turned to look at Lumine, who was spacing out.
Hurry up and come with us.
But soon, he sensed something was amiss.
"It feels like… a familiar gaze…"
Lumine looked up towards the mountain shrouded in darkness, saying uncertainly.
"Lumine, is it your brother?"
Paimon asked worriedly.
"!"
Qin Yu's gaze flickered. Aether, Lumine's brother, had appeared?
That meant there was a high probability of the Abyss Order being present.
What were they doing here?
They couldn't have come to seek revenge just because Lumine was wearing cat ears, could they?
"Buzzing—"
Suddenly, a jarring vibration broke the silence.
Qin Yu instinctively looked at the women, then realized.
It was on him.
"It's Arlecchino."
Qin Yu took out the communication device Kolumbina had given him, his expression slightly changing.
"Tap tap."
On the screen, words appeared one after another.
The tapping sound of the keyboard was unhurried, elegant and composed.
"As a welcome gift, here's a little hint."
"Beware of the Abyss."