Chapter 327: Is There No Other Way?
10:00 PM.
After listening to the Head Miko recount the various tragic encounters the shrine had faced over the years as the Inari God's power steadily declined, Hikigaya Hachiman left the shrine.
Shortly after his departure, a golden glow suddenly rose above the Inari Shrine. Along with the appearance of this light, Hachiman could clearly feel the spiritual energy in the air rushing toward the shrine at high speed.
"Is her strength recovering?"
Thinking back to what the Head Miko had said, Hachiman wasn't surprised by this anomaly.
However, in the abandoned shrine on the other side, the Nine-Tailed Fox—who had helped Miko Yotsuya deal with the multi-armed spirit during the day—watched this commotion with a grave expression. Clearly, the Inari God suddenly recovering a portion of her strength was not within the Nine-Tailed Fox's expectations.
"I must collect my reward as soon as possible..."
The Nine-Tailed Fox's eerie voice echoed through the shrine. As its words fell, several blue butterflies resting on the torii gate flapped their wings and flew toward Tokyo in the distance.
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"Still hasn't woken up?"
In front of the observation window, Isayama Naraku—the adoptive father of Isayama Yomi—looked at Yomi lying motionless on the hospital bed, his voice filled with exhaustion and worry.
"I'm very sorry. We have already used the most advanced equipment in the world to check Miss Isayama's physical condition, but we still haven't found any abnormalities."
The attending physician in a white coat shook his head apologetically, indicating that the hospital was powerless to help Isayama Yomi further.
"Is that so? Thank you for your hard work."
The doctor's answer didn't surprise Naraku. When Tsuchimiya Kagura brought Yomi back, he had already gathered all the physicians of the Isayama family to investigate the cause of her condition. Finally, having run out of options, he had come to this hospital holding onto the hope that modern technology might work.
Hearing the expected answer, Naraku could only let out a sigh to express his complex emotions.
"Uncle, have you still not found the cause of Yomi's illness?"
As Naraku stared blankly at his daughter through the window, Isayama Mei's voice suddenly came from beside him.
Turning around to see Mei, whose attire and etiquette were impeccable, Naraku's expression softened slightly. He opened his mouth to say something, but remembered that Mei was not like her father. Ultimately, he could only respond with a sigh.
"Perhaps there is still a way to wake Yomi up."
Walking to Naraku's side, Mei looked at Yomi, who was like a puppet in the room, and a flash of complex emotion crossed her heart. However, she continued to encourage Naraku not to give up hope.
"Thank you for the comfort, Mei. You are much better than your incompetent father."
Thinking of his brother, who was always obsessed with the position of family head, Naraku felt a headache coming on. Recent events had made the ancient spiritualist Isayama family feel like it was teetering in the wind. Fortunately, the main branch wasn't without excellent backup candidates after Yomi's accident...
"Mei, do you want to try Shishio?"
After staring at Yomi in the room for a moment longer, Naraku suddenly spoke these words.
"!"
Hearing this, Mei's heart pounded violently. Indeed, if Isayama Yomi failed to return to normal, Naraku, as the family head, would be forced to appoint a new heir to maintain the stability of the various branch families. And she, Isayama Mei, was undoubtedly the most suitable candidate!
"Try to draw it out."
As countless thoughts flashed through Mei's mind, Naraku—having made a decision—proffered Shishio, the blade that originally belonged to Yomi.
Staring at the sword right in front of her—the blade she had once craved, representing the position of the next family head—Mei instinctively reached out her right hand. However, just as her fingers were about to touch the hilt, her eyes regained their clarity.
"No! Uncle, we can't give up hope yet. Yomi will definitely get better!"
She yanked her hand back. Fearing she might regret it, Mei hurriedly ran out of the hospital after one last plea for Naraku not to give up on Yomi.
What Mei didn't know was that after hearing her refuse the position, Naraku's resolve only grew firmer.
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Running out of the hospital, Isayama Mei felt her mind in total disarray. To avoid overthinking, she decided to find some evil spirits to vent her emotions. Coincidentally, as the thought of exorcism crossed her mind, a surge of spiritual activity erupted nearby.
"Perfect timing!"
With no one around, Mei drew a small kodachi hidden within her kimono. After discerning the direction, she ducked into an alley opposite the hospital and rushed toward the source of the spiritual fluctuations.
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Because she had begun taking over family affairs, Tsuchimiya Kagura's summer days were incredibly busy. Nevertheless, she still squeezed out time after 10:00 PM to visit Yomi at the hospital.
As usual, Kagura arrived at the hospital under the escort of the family driver.
"Uncle Naraku?"
The hunched figure in front of the window was so unrecognizable that Kagura almost didn't realize it was him.
"Ah, Kagura, you're here again."
Hearing her voice, Naraku snapped out of his daze. He gave her a kind smile before turning his eyes back to the unmoving Yomi.
"Uncle, is there really no way to cure Yomi?" Kagura asked, walking to his side and refusing to accept the situation.
"We have made every effort we can..."
Like the answer he gave Mei, Naraku no longer held any hope for Yomi's recovery. After one last look at his daughter, he shook his head and turned to leave this place of sorrow.
"Wait! Uncle Naraku, what about the Exorcist Lords? We haven't asked an Exorcist for help yet, have we?"
"The Exorcist Lords?"
Turning back to the girl clutching his sleeve, Naraku wore a tragic smile.
"The Five Exorcist Lords have all left Japan. Even if they had a way, Yomi could not receive treatment... Besides, how could small spiritualists like us possibly invite such Great Figures?"
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