Mitsue Takeda, also known as Granny Mitsue, was a spiritualist.
Just a few days ago, Granny Mitsue happened to run into a mysterious girl—Yotsuya Miko, a girl who could see and even control evil spirits!
Granny Mitsue was shocked.
Ever since she was a child, she'd only been able to see vague outlines of spirits. Through years of cultivation, she had refined her spiritual energy to the point where she could finally craft a few items that repelled spirits.
But this girl, Yotsuya Miko, could actually control them?
Relying on her reputation as the neighborhood shrine matron, Granny Mitsue quickly befriended Yotsuya Miko.
"Granny Mitsue, thank you for telling me all this, but I need to head to school now," Miko said, bowing apologetically.
Granny Mitsue's enthusiasm was a little overwhelming, though Miko had already investigated her—she was a well-known local spiritualist.
And Miko could tell: Granny Mitsue was simply fascinated by spirits and meant no harm.
It was only from her that Miko learned that there had once been many people in the world who could see spirits.
But most of them suffered their entire lives because of it.
Thinking of that, Miko felt fortunate to have met Kuzeha.
"If it weren't for Master, I'd probably still be forcing myself to stay calm in front of evil spirits…"
Kuzeha's figure appeared in her mind, and she felt a wave of gratitude.
"Miko, take these snacks to school!" Granny Mitsue handed her a box of homemade treats.
Looking at the girl, Mitsue was reminded of her own master from more than a decade ago. After hesitating for a moment, she spoke earnestly:
"Miko, even though you can control spirits, don't try to be a hero. If you run into something strange, stay far away!"
"I understand," Miko nodded seriously.
If nothing else, she had a talent for running when her life was on the line.
Granny Mitsue subconsciously glanced up at the nearby mountain.
Atop that mountain was a shrine so eerie that even now she dared not approach it.
"Hm?"
She suddenly saw a familiar car parked at the base of the mountain.
Several figures stepped out.
"Those are… the Yukinoshita sisters?"
Squinting, Granny Mitsue recognized them.
"They're heading to the shrine?!"
She was startled.
She'd warned them countless times—how could these rich girls be so reckless?
She had taken a hefty sum from them after all—her professional ethics wouldn't let her watch a client walk into certain death.
"Miko, go on ahead to school, I still need to—"
But before she could finish, Miko also saw Yukinoshita Yukino and the others.
However, her eyes went straight to the only boy among them.
"Master?!"
Miko exclaimed in surprise.
Granny Mitsue froze. "Master?"
"Your master is there too?"
Miko hesitated, then nodded.
Granny Mitsue's face grew more serious.
She immediately grasped the situation.
The Yukinoshita family must've refused to give up, found Miko's master, and planned to eliminate the shrine's threat.
But… that shrine was home to a god who had existed for who knew how long!
Seeing the group already climbing the mountain, Granny Mitsue rushed back into her shop.
"Wait for me!"
She grabbed a pile of talismans and spiritual tools, stuffed them into a bag, and pulled Miko along toward the mountain.
"Granny Mitsue, what's going on?" Miko was confused.
As they ran, Mitsue explained Yukino's situation and the background of Sankokudani Shrine.
"A god…?"
Miko's lips parted slightly in surprise.
She had just finished dealing with the evil spirits at home, and now her master was taking on a god?
To her, gods were exalted beings—mysterious, powerful, eternal!
No matter how powerful Kuzeha was, he was still human!
And from Granny Mitsue's grim expression, this particular god seemed especially malevolent.
"Miko, can you contact your master?"
She quickly took out her phone.
"No signal!"
Seeing the blank screen icon, Miko grew anxious.
She looked at the out-of-breath Granny Mitsue and suggested, "Granny, I'll carry you!"
"Huh?"
Before she could react, Miko hoisted her onto her back.
To her shock, the girl carried her up the mountain with agile ease.
"Are all girls this strong these days?" Mitsue was dumbfounded.
Even Miko was surprised at her own speed.
"Looks like after swallowing those spirits at home, my body's gotten much stronger!"
She took a deep breath.
Once again, she realized how profound the debt she owed Kuzeha for teaching her the art of spirit binding truly was.
Thanks to Miko's full effort, the two of them soon reached a flat area halfway up the mountain.
Up ahead stood an ancient, even dilapidated, shrine.
From a distance, they could see Kuzeha and the others.
And in front of them—an enormous, golden aura-emitting fox "god."
"That giant fox… is the god of this shrine?" Miko murmured.
Granny Mitsue glanced at her, solemn. "You can see it?"
Unlike Miko, Mitsue could only make out a huge, dreadful shadow and two fox-eared attendants.
Miko nodded vigorously. She could even see that the god appeared to be enraged.
Not stopping, she rushed toward Kuzeha while carrying Granny Mitsue.
"Miss Yukinoshita!"
"Master!"
Their shouts drew the attention of the Yukinoshita sisters, Hiratsuka, and the others.
"Granny Mitsue?"
"Miko?"
Seeing them, they all called out in surprise.
"That's the shrine's god, it's very dang—"
But before they could finish, the enormous fox suddenly let out a terrifying, despair-filled shriek.
The divine golden aura around it shattered and twisted, revealing a black, eerie, and horrifying evil spirit.
Even Granny Mitsue, who had once revered it as a god, now saw its true form for the first time.
Kuzeha raised his right hand.
"Bind the spirit."
His voice was calm and offhand.
The evil spirit howled in agony, its black aura quickly dispersing.
Finally, it condensed into a sphere of spiritual energy, which Kuzeha absorbed into his body.
Only then did he turn to the stunned Granny Mitsue and Yotsuya Miko.
"What god? Just a slightly stronger evil spirit, that's all."
At the same time, a mechanical voice echoed in Kuzeha's mind:
[Authority keyword triggered!]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining a golden keyword: Live or Die!]
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