The barrier that had formed for nearly a hundred years was broken through by the endless light element, and every inch of land inside returned to nothingness.
The surging light element rushed out of the barrier and arrived in the real world!
Outside, before the souls of Mitsue Takeda, Rom, and Towako Oka could react, they were instantly submerged by this sea of light.
The pure and flawless light took root in the earth, rapidly growing lifelike roots, stems, and leaves that quickly climbed toward the mountain peak.
Immediately after, these light elements quickly condensed into a budding flower.
As the pure white petals unfurled, an incredibly dazzling lily bloomed at the top of the mountains!
At this moment, the world was as though recreated!
At the same time, the evil spirits hiding deep in the mountains suffered a devastating disaster, their spiritual body evaporating instantly like ice particles under the scorching sun!
After the excess power was vented out, the mountain-sized lily gradually became transparent.
A few seconds later, it disappeared like a mirage.
Above the flat area, a cluster of light fell from the sky.
Under the protection of the light element, Miko Yotsuya drifted down from the sky, finally landing smoothly on the ground.
Along with her was a black-haired girl wearing white ritual garments and a veil over her head.
After being rescued from a century of bondage, tears continuously flowed down the black-haired girl's cheeks.
She slowly bowed her body, prostrating toward Miko Yotsuya and Rom.
The former was the benefactor who had rescued her, and the latter was also her benefactor.
More than ten years ago, young Rom, after hearing her cry for help, came to the shrine alone late at night.
And to her, who had become a part of the mountain god, he made the most unexpected wish.
"I want to... save you!"
The boy innocently and straightforwardly made this kind of wish.
Even if the price was a life for a life!
"It's really great that I could help you in the end. Don't bow so deeply, hurry and get up..."
Miko Yotsuya was startled by the black-haired girl's actions. Because she couldn't touch her soul, she had no way to help the girl up.
The commotion here naturally attracted the attention of Rom and the others.
"Long time no see. I am Shindou Rom..."
Rom looked at the black-haired girl not far away with complex eyes, not knowing what to say for a moment.
He opened his mouth and finally asked softly, "Has my wish... come true now?"
"!"
The black-haired girl lifted her head. No expression could be seen on her veil-covered face. Her lips parted slightly, conveying something silently.
"Child, that wasn't your fault."
At this time, Towako Oka's soul walked over and gently helped the girl up.
Towako Oka didn't blame her own death on the innocent girl. The girl deserved this redemption that was a century late.
But she didn't blame Rom either.
Because it was she who taught Rom to lend a helping hand to those in need.
When Towako Oka first met Rom, she had said such words to him.
"Because I heard your cry for help, I came to save you."
Perhaps it was exactly because of this sentence that Rom made his choice.
Towako Oka gently hugged the crying black-haired girl in her arms and reached out to pat her shoulder.
Clang!
The long and drawn-out sound of a bell rang deep within everyone's hearts, seemingly reminding them of something.
"It looks like it's time for us to say goodbye."
Towako Oka raised her head and gave Mitsue Takeda and Rom an incredibly free and easy smile.
She felt extremely gratified in her heart. Mitsue Takeda was still the disciple she was so familiar with, and even Rom hadn't let down her expectations.
Even though he had fallen out with Mitsue Takeda, he was still using his own way to help people in need.
After reconciling this pair of master and disciple, the last trace of obsession in Towako Oka's heart was unraveled.
Following that.
Under the guidance of the holy light, Towako Oka and the black-haired girl were about to head to the world of the dead.
"Goodbye, Master..."
Old tears streamed down Mitsue Takeda's face. Even though she was extremely reluctant to part in her heart, she calmly accepted this ending.
When everything was settled, the three of them went down the mountain.
By the car, Rom glanced at the lily in Miko Yotsuya's hand, whose stem was withered and petals were completely gone. He looked back at the large mountain behind him and thanked them:
"Miss Yotsuya, Tenma-san, and that mysterious angel lady, without your help, relying solely on my current power, I probably wouldn't have been able to save her and Miss Towako Oka at all. I am truly thankful to you."
Miko Yotsuya lowered her head in embarrassment.
She actually hadn't put in much effort.
However, being able to help others still made her quite happy in her heart.
Mitsue Takeda recalled the girl Towako Oka was holding and guessed, "That child, was she a sacrifice?"
"I'm not sure. I haven't found any documents about that mountain these past few years. All I knew was that she was calling for help," Rom shook his head and said.
Seeing this, Miko Yotsuya raised her head and interjected in a low voice, "I... might know a little bit..."
After the two listened to what Miko Yotsuya had seen and heard in the shrine, while feeling sorrowful for the black-haired girl's tragic experience, an ominous premonition suddenly rose in their hearts.
To be able to artificially create a mountain god, it was obvious that the ones who held the human sacrifice ritual back then were no ordinary people!
Listening to what Miko Yotsuya said, when the ritual was completed, a torrential downpour started falling from the sky.
Was it just a coincidence, or was there some connection?
Although the mountain god's strength was very formidable, it obviously hadn't reached the level of controlling the clouds and rain.
Rom's expression gradually grew serious.
He quickly took out his phone and sent a message to Gabriel.
Tens of seconds passed.
With a ding, the message Gabriel replied with made his expression change.
"Miss Yotsuya, Miss Takeda, get in the car quickly, we need to leave here as soon as possible!"
Rom hurriedly put away his phone, opened the driver's side door, and got in, anxiously urging the two.
"Eh! What, what happened all of a sudden?"
"Miko, let's get in the car first."
"Are we not waiting for Gabriel?"
"The message Rom just received was sent by Tenma-san. Even though I didn't see the exact content, looking at Rom's expression, it must be something urgent."
Mitsue Takeda pulled Miko Yotsuya and got into the car.
The engine roared. Rom slammed his foot on the gas pedal, and the car shot out like a wild horse slipping its reins.
A few minutes later.
The Eye of Truth on Rom and Mitsue Takeda's wrists underwent a change. The eye pattern on the beads was slowly widening, about to reach its limit.
"There really is something terrifying hidden in that mountain!"
Noticing the abnormal change in the Eye of Truth, Mitsue Takeda immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
In the next second, Rom's phone mounted on the phone holder lit up.
Gabriel sent another new message.
"It's too late, I'll send you out first!"
Suddenly, golden inscriptions appeared out of thin air, surrounding the car.
At the same time, the roar of an unknown creature suddenly resounded from behind.
Roar—!!!
This bellow, like that of an ancient ferocious beast, echoed through the sky!