While it cannot compare to South Korea, Japan also has many strange religions.
However, the number of fools is limited. Furthermore, with the existence of major sects like Shintoism, Christianity, and Buddhism that already possess many followers, the vast majority of cults are relatively bottom-tier. Those capable of doing well are invariably those that, through years of accumulating personal connections and the funneling of interests, have managed to build a solid network of relationships to slowly climb upward.
Regarding such things, as a child of a political family, Fujiwara Chika had naturally been warned by her family and would never truly believe in any religion.
Yet even though she hadn't paid much attention to these matters, she had still recently heard information about a certain religion multiple times at several high-society banquets.
Clearly just a newly emerging religion that was born not long ago, it was able to rise at an unexpected speed. It had even achieved things that many established religions could not - directly reaching into the upper crust of Japan's society. It seemed even among the people Fujiwara Chika knew, some had become followers of that religion.
This was very strange. One must know that while many high-ranking officials in Japan are involved in murky dealings with certain cults, those who would directly and publicly join as followers remain a minority.
Setting aside classmates from Shuchiin, the people Fujiwara Chika knew were more or less "second-generation" with family wealth. Even if their families didn't constantly lecture them, they shouldn't believe in a religion so easily under the influence of their environment.
It was precisely because of this that Fujiwara Chika, who usually had no interest in such things, had an impression of it after the Fujiwara family received a dinner invitation from that religion.
"Though, the people in my family probably won't attend." After detailing the general situation to Asakura, the young girl took a sip of black tea and added.
Immediately after, she seemed to be bit by the bitterness of the tea, instinctively sticking out her tender little tongue. It appeared the black tea brewed by Kita Ikuyo did not suit her palate.
Asakura pushed the plate containing Rabbit Dango toward her, signaling her to eat something sweet, and asked at the same time: "So, what is the name of that religion?"
"The Happy Peace Religion."
"Sounds like the name of a public welfare organization."
"Most cults have names like that. Being too idiosyncratic would only arouse people's vigilance during proselytizing." The girl picked up a Rabbit Dango and bit off the rabbit's head with a "nom," chewing while saying indistinctly: "Sometimes they don't even use the religion's name when they want to trick people into the church, instead calling themselves the Happy Peace Committee or something. Nom nom, this steamed bun is delicious!"
No, that is Mochi.
"When is the banquet on the invitation you mentioned?" Asakura asked, feeling it was worth investigating.
"Next weekend, the location is over in Ginza..."
Fujiwara Chika reported a place name. Asakura, who preferred wandering Akihabara over Ginza, had never heard the name. However, judging by the long shop name, the possibility of it being a five-star luxury hotel was quite high.
To increase credibility, it seems the more heterodox a group is, the more they like to host banquets in those kinds of magnificent and palatial places.
After taking another bite of the Rabbit Dango, the girl finally realized and looked up at Asakura: "Does the Exorcist-san want to attend that gathering?"
"Yeah, I plan to investigate some cult situations recently."
Asakura nodded in admission.
After all, that was what the mission required, and he was a bit curious about the so-called Evil God Church.
"Then can I go with you? I know where that invitation was thrown. It should be much easier to blend in on the day if we bring the invitation." The girl asked excitedly: "The Exorcist-san wouldn't want to waste too much time at the door, right?"
"I wouldn't really waste much time but... well, if you want to come, then come."
Sneaking into somewhere was just a matter of a single spell for Asakura. Even the strongest fortress in the world was no different from a soda cracker in front of him.
However, since there was a more normal method that wouldn't easily alert the enemy, he didn't mind using it. At most, he was just bringing along a tagalong.
"Mmm, let me think where that invitation was tossed..." Having received permission, Fujiwara Chika happily muttered while rubbing her temples with her fingers.
"It's still early anyway, go home and look for it slowly." Asakura stood up: "Follow me now."
"Eh? Okay... Nom!" The girl stuffed the remaining Rabbit Dango into her mouth. Suddenly, her cheeks puffed up adorably, looking just like a chipmunk with its mouth full of pine nuts. While saying "Wait, wait for me..." she hurriedly stood up and followed Asakura.
"I'll leave the rest of today's work to you and Kita." Asakura greeted Kawaragi Momoka behind the bar, and the latter gave a cool nod.
Only after Asakura and Fujiwara Chika left through the back door did Kawaragi Momoka seem to think of something and ran over.
"Wait a second, Kita's part-time shift schedule is—"
She opened the door, only to find the small alley behind the Rabbit House completely empty. There was no trace of Asakura and the others who should have just stepped out.
"...Eh?"
This left Kawaragi Momoka's eyes full of bewilderment. In the end, she could only attribute it to her boss perhaps being a professional power-walker capable of moving at high speeds that exceeded a normal person's running pace...
On the other side, Fujiwara Chika was also looking at the scene inside the Round Table Hall with a face full of surprise and excitement.
Clearly distinct from the normal modern minimalist decor of the Rabbit House, the room—which looked like a medieval dungeon no matter how one viewed it—gave the girl a strange sense of anticipation.
"It feels like I've traveled to another world!"
"Don't get so excited, this is just a transit station."
As Asakura spoke, he opened the door on the other side, revealing the interior of the clubroom.
That being said, the scene inside the clubroom wasn't exactly normal either. The cauldron alone, which would never be used in modern society under normal circumstances, already possessed a mysterious color.
However, as time passed, many members of the Magic Club had gradually brought their personal belongings into the hut. This caused the fairytale-like Ghibli art style of the interior to fade quite a bit, making it look somewhat cluttered at first glance.
It was only because Asagumo and the others tidied up frequently that it wasn't actually messy; it was just an illusion created by having too many items.
"How should I put it," After following Asakura into the clubroom and looking at the wonderful scene inside, Fujiwara Chika pondered for a moment and reached a conclusion: "It's a place that really has a 'secret base' feel to it!"
Asakura cast an appreciative glance at her that said, 'You have good taste.'