“Kami-sama, I have returned.” After being absent for a full week, Yuuki Asuna stood once again in the Main Hall of Yuen Shrine.
Yuen emerged from the dimensional space, his voice warm and welcoming.
“…Asuna, it has been quite a while.” “I am so sorry, Kami-sama.
Mother recently added an extra lesson to my existing schedule, so I simply couldn’t find the time to come.” Yuuki Asuna lowered her head slightly, her face etched with guilt.
As a shrine maiden dedicated to serving a god, not visiting her Kami-sama for such a long period felt inexcusable.
The only reason she could visit today was that her mother had abruptly canceled the extra lesson.
Yuuki Asuna suspected that her mother had imposed the additional workload out of petty resentment over Yuen not staying for dinner last time.
After all, her mother hadn’t increased her lessons in years.
Yet, the very day after Kami-sama escorted her home, a new class was added.
It was hard not to be suspicious.
“…It is fine.
I understand.” Yuen smiled faintly, showing no sign of displeasure.
He knew Asuna hadn’t stayed away by choice.
Yuuki Asuna pursed her lips, her guilt undiminished.
“I truly am sorry, Kami-sama.
I…” Before she could continue, Yuen lightly flicked her forehead, keeping a straight face as if feigning anger.
“Asuna, stop dwelling on it.
I haven’t blamed you, have I?
If you apologize again, I really will get angry.” “Ouch, Kami-sama.” Yuuki Asuna covered her forehead with both hands, looking up at him with watery, aggrieved eyes.
“Are you going to keep apologizing?” “No.” Yuen’s heart softened.
Although he knew the “pain” was no worse than a mosquito bite, seeing her on the verge of tears made him wave his hand, magically dissolving even that tiny bit of discomfort.
“Does it hurt now?” “Un-un, Kami-sama is the best!” Yuuki Asuna smiled brightly, then pulled a new game case out of her bag.
“Ta-da~ Kami-sama, I brought a gift today!” “A new game?” Yuen was pleasantly surprised.
“That’s right!” “On the way here, when Rei-san was driving, I noticed many game stores had put up new posters.
So I asked her to stop so I could buy it for you.” Yuuki Asuna nodded as she handed the disc to him.
Yuen took the game and reached out to gently ruffle Asuna’s hair.
“That was very thoughtful of you, Asuna.” As it happened, he had grown somewhat tired of the previous game after playing it for days.
Her bringing a new one now was truly a timely blessing.
Feeling Kami-sama’s hand on her head, Yuuki Asuna blushed slightly, looking bashful.
“Kami-sama, th-this is the least I should do!” “I have a gift for you as well, Asuna.” Yuen materialized the white light orb—the gift from the One-Punch Man world—in his hand.
Yuuki Asuna looked at it curiously.
“Kami-sama, what is this?” “A wondrous little thing.” Yuen didn’t explain further.
When he placed the orb in Asuna’s hand, it instantly sank into her palm and vanished.
Although Asuna found it strange, she firmly believed Kami-sama would never harm her, so she didn’t question it and followed Yuen into the dimensional space.
[Absorption initiated.
Body modification countdown: 3 days.] ….
Yuen Shrine.
Because Shirai Rei was waiting at the foot of the mountain, Yuuki Asuna only stayed for a short hour and a half before reluctantly bidding Yuen farewell.
Not long after Asuna left, the Torii gate transformed into the dimensional door.
As it opened, Yotsuya Miko rushed out in a panic.
“Help me, Kami-sama!” Seeing the girl with tears swirling in her eyes and terror written all over her face, Yuen was surprised.
“Miko, what happened…?” “Kami-sama, even though I didn’t go near the shrine, I was still found!” Recalling the two fox-masked servants of the false god and their hideous, demonic expressions, Yotsuya Miko hugged herself, shivering uncontrollably.
She had followed Yuen’s instructions and avoided getting close to that place.
Two months had passed peacefully, and she thought she was safe.
But today, those two suddenly appeared in her room.
They were about to attack her.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly, opened the door, and ran through, narrowly escaping a fatal danger.
“That shouldn’t be…” Yuen was certain he had completely removed every trace of the disgusting false god’s aura from Yotsuya Miko.
“Did a friend go with you?” Yotsuya Miko paused, and the image of her best friend, Yurikawa Hana, immediately popped into her mind.
“My friend went with me once, but she can’t see spirits.
It’s just that…
whenever evil spirits are nearby, she gets incredibly hungry and eats a lot.” Hearing this, Yuen instantly understood the root of the problem.
“That is because of your friend.
Her excessive eating signifies that her body needs to replenish energy to protect itself.
Humans like that usually possess a powerful life force, which acts as a beacon for spirits.” “I suspect you were found again because your friend attracted them, leading them to rediscover you.” Yotsuya Miko felt despair.
So, she had been inadvertently sabotaged by her own best friend.
“Kami-sama, what should I do?
I feel like they’re waiting right outside the door to eat me the moment I step out.” The more she thought about it, the more terrified she became.
Now, she could only pin all her hopes on Yuen.
Looking at Yotsuya Miko’s “Sight.” Yuen suddenly thought of an interesting possibility.
“I do have a solution, but it depends on whether you want it, Miko.” “If you are willing, I can introduce you to…” “Don’t bother introducing it, Kami-sama, I want it!” Yotsuya Miko responded without a second of hesitation.
In her eyes, nothing was more important than her life.
She was only seventeen; there were so many things she hadn’t experienced yet.
She didn’t want to die young.
Yuen took out the remaining black-purple light orb.
He had never intended to give this reward—the power to become a necromancer—to Yuuki Asuna.
After all, having his shrine maiden become a necromancer would be far too strange.
Originally, Yuen had planned to let the useless black orb gather dust in his storage.
But Yotsuya Miko’s plea changed his mind.
With her “Sight.” Yotsuya Miko was actually perfectly suited to the path of a necromancer.
And if she became one and changed her circumstances, it would significantly alter the plot of her world.
He could make use of a “useless” item to earn a plot-alteration reward, clear out his inventory, and gain Yotsuya Miko’s gratitude.
It was killing three birds with one stone.
“Kami-sama, what is this black ball of light?” “You will find out soon enough.”