Sato walked forward a few more steps before sensing something and turning to look at Kato Megumi, who was several paces behind him.
"What's wrong?"
Kato Megumi shook her head and silently quickened her pace to catch up.
They had come directly from the mountainside, and there was still about one-third of the distance left to the shrine.
A few minutes later, they arrived.
Before the towering shrine hall lay a bluestone plaza covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves. Stepping on them felt soft and springy, like walking on a plush carpet.
Sato lightly kicked at the leaves with his foot, immediately sending up a thick layer. Yet he still couldn't see the ground beneath. The lower layers had already decayed into something resembling rich soil.
On either side stood komainu statues covered in thick moss. These guardian beasts, also known as divine messengers, were meant to protect shrines and drive away evil influences. Now, tufts of reeds had even sprouted from their heads, their long leaves drooping naturally downward.
Directly ahead stood the shrine's worship hall.
Its doors were tightly shut. Weeds grew between the blue roof tiles, and the upturned eaves still carried traces of ancient architectural styles.
In front of the shrine stood the offering box and the bell rope.
Seeing them, Sato pointed toward the offering box and turned to Kato Megumi.
"How about we pay our respects?"
Kato Megumi, who had been looking around curiously, immediately turned back and looked at him blankly.
"Huh?"
Sato's expression became somewhat strange.
Slowly lowering the hand he had been pointing with, he looked at the girl whose face had already returned to its usual calmness.
"Were you looking for youkai?"
Kato Megumi fell silent for a moment but did not deny it.
After a pause, she glanced around and lightly pressed her lips together.
The surrounding trees stood tall and silent. Occasionally, birds could be heard calling. Even beneath the bright midday sun, the place felt strangely gloomy.
The louder the cicadas, the quieter the forest. The clearer the birdsong, the deeper the mountain solitude.
The girl's lips moved slightly.
"Do they really exist?"
A smile suddenly appeared on Sato's face.
Looking at the girl who always seemed so composed, he teased,
"Are you afraid of youkai?"
Kato Megumi shook her head.
"I'm just curious. And a little... nervous."
That answer surprised Sato somewhat.
Still, the girl's temperament truly was something he had rarely encountered in his life.
He slowly walked toward the worship hall.
Kato Megumi looked at his back and followed.
The two stopped in front of the offering box.
Sato peered inside and said with some surprise,
"There are actually still some coins in here."
Hearing that, Kato Megumi curiously looked inside as well.
Sato stepped forward and shook the thick rope hanging before him.
The bell above rang out with a series of loud clangs.
Then he clapped his hands, pressed his palms together, and closed his eyes.
The girl quietly watched the scene.
Only after Sato opened his eyes did she speak.
"Is the youkai here very powerful?"
Sato shook his head and casually swept his gaze around the surroundings.
"Then why did you pray?"
"Oh, that... I couldn't help myself when I saw it. I guess that's what you'd call a sense of ritual."
Sato smiled.
"Then... where's the youkai?"
"This..."
Sato flipped his hand over.
Two willow leaves suddenly appeared in his palm, each carrying a glistening droplet of water.
A look of surprise appeared in Kato Megumi's eyes.
Where had those willow leaves come from?
"What is that?"
"Ox tears. If you apply them to your eyes, you'll be able to see things that normally can't be seen."
This was one of the "collectibles" captured by the system.
At least, that was how the system described it. He had no idea whether ordinary ox tears possessed such an effect.
He had accumulated quite a collection over time. The system occasionally captured strange items and tossed them to him. Many of them had unclear uses, and some even came with bizarre descriptions.
Kato Megumi hesitated briefly before accepting the leaves.
Following Sato's example, she applied the ox tears to her eyelids.
Cool.
That was her first sensation.
Then came a faint sting, which appeared quickly and vanished just as fast.
When Kato Megumi opened her eyes again, the world looked exactly the same.
Just as confusion arose within her, she noticed Sato staring at the offering box with great interest.
She turned her head.
Her clear eyes gradually widened.
Sitting atop the dust-covered, cobweb-filled offering box was a white dog marked with crimson demonic patterns.
Its fur was immaculate, pure white without a single blemish.
Its eyes shone brightly like stars.
It sat there quietly, eyes lowered slightly, exuding a mysterious air detached from the mortal world.
Sato observed the youkai with interest.
This was also his first time seeing a youkai from this world.
Drawing upon folklore and supernatural tales he had once read, he recognized what it was.
An Okuri-inu.
Also known as Escorting Dog.
This was a youkai said to follow travelers at night. After safely escorting people home, it would accept offerings such as straw sandals or salt before departing. However, legend claimed that if the protected traveler stumbled along the way, the Okuri-inu would devour them. In that case, pretending to rest would prevent an attack.
The shrine fell silent.
Mountain winds swept through the tall reeds before the shrine and through the surrounding trees.
Leaves rustled softly.
"Humans..."
Kato Megumi noticed that although the Okuri-inu never opened its mouth, its voice rang clearly in their ears.
"It has been a long time since I've met humans capable of seeing me."
The faint voice drifted into their ears, wavering like a candle flame stirred by the wind.
"You don't seem to be in very good condition."
After observing the youkai for a while, Sato spoke.
Kato Megumi silently watched everything unfold.
"Mm."
The Okuri-inu admitted it openly.
Opening its eyes, it turned its amber gaze toward Sato without blinking.
"Without faith and offerings of incense, I am indeed gradually disappearing. That is only natural."
"However, I was born from this world. If I die, I will simply return to it."
"You're surprisingly open-minded."
A faint smile appeared on Sato's face.
The Okuri-inu seemed to smile as well.
Although a dog smiling looked somewhat strange, it truly did seem to be smiling.
"I'm happy that before disappearing, I was able to meet humans I can speak with."
"This is my first time meeting..."
Sato suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
His gaze instantly sharpened as he looked toward a section of the forest.
The Okuri-inu slowly turned its head as well.
Murmuring softly, it said:
"What powerful demonic energy... and this presence is..."