On the way back to the hot spring inn.
Sato and Kato Megumi walked slowly through the forest, following the same path they had taken earlier.
Natsume Takashi and Madara had already left.
Apparently, the place they came from was quite far away. Even with Natsume riding Madara, it would still take some time to get back.
Tsk, despite being such an arrogant great yokai.
Sato had a rather favorable impression of Natsume Takashi. Before parting, they had exchanged LINE IDs, and Sato told him to contact him if he ever ran into trouble.
After returning, he could have Hiratsuka-sensei, his reliable errand runner, handle Natsume's situation. Natsume Takashi was born with powerful yokai energy and had excellent potential as an onmyoji. In an organization as large as the Hero Association, there should be inheritances related to that field.
"Still, I didn't expect this kind of bonus reward..."
Sato looked at the necklace in his hand. Hanging from the red cord was a crystal shaped like a magatama, exceptionally beautiful in appearance. The Okuri-Inu was currently residing inside it.
After thinking for a moment, Sato suddenly held the necklace out in front of Kato Megumi. The crystal hanging from the cord swayed gently before her eyes.
Hm?
Kato Megumi looked at the suddenly appearing necklace in surprise, then turned toward Sato with a puzzled expression.
"This is for you."
Looking at the confusion on the girl's face, Sato calmly explained,
"Your ability manifested naturally, but you can't control it, leaving you in a half-hidden, half-perceptible state. The purpose of SAO is to stimulate the awakening of your abilities, but... your temperament is simply too good. I don't think that game will have much effect on you."
He looked at her with a mixture of admiration and amusement.
Kato Megumi's temperament was truly rare. She remained unmoved by gain or loss, almost like a sage.
"So if mental stimulation won't work, then we can only rely on external means. Wear this necklace, and you'll constantly experience stimulation from the Okuri-Inu's yokai energy. It's not particularly powerful, but over time it should help you break through."
"When that happens, you'll be able to control your own ability and live like a normal person."
Kato Megumi listened quietly. Looking at the crystal magatama hanging before her, she softly said,
"Thank you, but... this is too valuable."
"Valuable?"
Sato laughed.
"It's just an insignificant little trinket."
The Okuri-Inu had agreed without much persuasion, and he still had plenty of Pure Lands in his collection. Who knew where the system got its inventory from?
Suddenly, he took the girl's hand and placed the [Pure Land] into her warm palm.
"That's settled, then."
Sato turned and continued walking forward, stretching lazily.
His clear voice echoed through the forest.
"This trip was definitely worth it. We actually got to see a yokai."
Kato Megumi looked at the Pure Land resting in her palm, then raised her head to look at the boy's retreating figure.
A faint smile suddenly bloomed on her face.
"Thank you."
Holding the item tightly, she whispered softly.
...
By the time they returned to the Hot spring Onsen, it was already noon.
"Onii-chan! Where did you two go?"
In the lounge, Hikigaya Komachi waved at them and asked curiously in her clear voice.
"We went to take a look at the abandoned shrine over there."
Sato replied with a smile.
"A shrine, huh!"
The innkeeper happened to be behind the front desk at that moment. Hearing this, he sighed nostalgically.
"Come to think of it, that shrine's been abandoned for a long time. If I count correctly, it's probably been thirty years already, hasn't it?"
"Mm."
The proprietress sitting beside him nodded.
"I remember the last few years when the old priest was still around. Every festival was lively back then."
"Oh?"
Sato sat down as well and asked curiously,
"Wasn't the shrine abandoned because it lacked worshippers?"
The innkeeper burst into laughter.
"Of course not. Back then, the shrine had plenty of worshippers. After all, it was the Okuri-Inu that had protected everyone in the hot spring town for over a hundred years!"
"I vaguely remember going into the mountains to play when I was little. When I headed home at dusk, Lord Okuri-Inu was always behind me, protecting me."
The proprietress laughed.
"That was definitely just your imagination!"
The innkeeper did not argue. Instead, he said somewhat wistfully,
"It's a shame the old priest had no descendants. The shrine's tradition couldn't be passed on."
"Oh right, dear! How about we go clear the weeds around the shrine when we have time?"
"Huh? No thanks. Cleaning all the way from the foot of the mountain would be exhausting. The grass up there is probably taller than people by now, isn't it?"
The proprietress's face was full of reluctance and frustration. As she spoke her last sentence, she looked toward Sato.
Sato nodded.
"The grass is indeed very overgrown."
"Then let's gather everyone from the hot spring town and do it together once things quiet down!"
The innkeeper seemed quite determined.
Seeing this, the proprietress said nothing further.
Behind Sato, Kato Megumi seemed to sense something. She lowered her head and touched the Pure Land hanging around her neck.
The normally calm Pure Land seemed to emit a faint warmth. A quiet voice echoed beside her and Sato.
"So I won't be able to protect them anymore..."
Kato Megumi hesitated for a moment before looking up at Sato.
Their gazes met.
Sato seemed to understand immediately and nodded.
Kato Megumi's lips moved slightly as she whispered,
"You can stay here, together with the Pure Land..."
There was silence from within the Pure Land for a moment before the Okuri-Inu's voice emerged.
"No need. The people I protected have already grown up. As for those who come after them, they should naturally be protected by those who come after me..."
At the same time, on a mountain not far from the hot spring town.
A family stood silently around a freshly dug grave where the loyal dog that had accompanied them throughout their lives now rested.
The child of the family was crying uncontrollably. No matter how immature he was, seeing the Shiba Inu that would never again stand faithfully by his side filled him with genuine sorrow.
As the pit was finally covered with earth, the family left sadly.
Within the silent grave, a faint spirit slowly rose into the air, gazing at their departing backs.
...
"An abandoned shrine, huh?"
Ritsu, who had been sitting in the lounge, suddenly rubbed her chin as if thinking about something.
"Yoshi!"
Ritsu abruptly jumped to her feet, her eyes shining brightly.
Everyone was startled and turned to look at her.
Brimming with excitement, Ritsu declared,
"Everyone, how about we hold a test of courage event together?!"
"Huh?"