The jungle remained deep and dark, but the bustling shadows coming and going turned the silhouettes of the trees into a Peach Blossom Spring of lingering joy.
The blue fluorescence remained, but small animals of all kinds played and frolicked around it, making the faint light no longer look like flickering ghost fires, but rather blending into the chirping insects of summer.
Clementine walked among them, subconsciously glancing left and right.
Aside from the exclamation of how lively it was, she couldn’t think of any other adjectives to describe the scene for the moment.
Makoto took a few quick steps to catch up with her, naturally taking the Thunder Dragon’s hand as she did.
“Walk a little slower.
If you get lost, where am I supposed to find you?” Clementine slowed her pace as requested and then replied.
“It wouldn’t matter; I would definitely find you.” Makoto seemed to have expected her to say that, only smiling and waving her hand.
“Then you must hold onto me tight now, lest I get lost here.
Saiguu said she’d be waiting for us up ahead; we can just walk over slowly.” Using some unknown method of concealment, Makoto looked no different from usual to Clementine, but at this moment, not a single youkai around noticed that a noble guest was hidden within the flow of people.
Because of this, the two of them had to dodge and weave through the passing youkai, looking a bit disheveled as they moved through.
Under Makoto’s guidance, the two ducked into a small path in the forest.
Once away from the range of the stone slabs and lanterns, few people passed by, finally allowing them to catch their breath.
“If you don’t like crowded places, we can go a bit deeper.
Don’t worry, I know the way; we can circle around to our meeting spot from inside as well.” Makoto considerately pointed toward a spot deep in the woods where a small path seemed to be.
Behind the leaves that were cut off from the light source, it was somewhat dark; the golden glow in Clementine’s eyes brightened several times before she could clearly see the path’s location.
“I’m fine with anything, I just didn’t expect it to be so lively.
Are there really this many youkai in Inazuma?
I think this is the first time I’ve seen most of them.” Along the way, besides the foxes, Tengu, and Oni that Clementine had become familiar with over the past few days, she also saw many Bake-danuki and Nekomata that she had only heard of before.
What she found noteworthy was that, aside from the youkai who were exceptionally cheerful because of the event, there were others with stronger energy signatures who seemed somewhat preoccupied with worries.
“They’ve always been around.
It’s just that you’ve been active near Inazuma City lately, while most youkai live far away from humans.
It’s normal that you wouldn’t see them if they wanted to hide.” Makoto answered her question while leading Clementine down one of the small paths.
“After all, it’s been a long time since we’ve had an opportunity for such festivities.
It’s only natural that everyone feels excited and even those who usually dislike going out have emerged.” Clementine thought for a moment and then asked: “Then why choose this place?
Inazuma has many small islands suitable for events, and youkai wouldn’t be troubled by a location slightly far from the mainland.
Not far from Chinju Forest is the Grand Narukami Shrine and the headquarters of the Kanko Commission; this doesn’t seem to fit the youkai’s desire to stay away from crowds.” Makoto replied in a flat tone: “Not all youkai want to stay away from crowds.
If some of them wish to be close, then of course I should satisfy them, shouldn’t I?” Clementine pondered briefly and asked with partial certainty: “Are they here to pledge their loyalty?
There are also divisions within the youkai; perhaps they know that once the Shogun settles the external unrest, she will turn her attention to the dangerous elements among them, so they’ve drawn their own boundaries internally first.
Coming here today means they are willing to obey the Shogun’s orders.” Thinking of her white-haired friend from the Grand Narukami Shrine who had been so busy running around lately that she was hard to find, Clementine was almost certain that everything—from spreading the news to organizing the gathering and extending the olive branch—was within that person’s plan.
Makoto praised Clementine with a slightly exaggerated tone.
“A very correct guess, how impressive.
Since Inazuma is a nation where humans and youkai coexist, both sides should be properly organized and planned to avoid wasting manpower.
Saiguu did indeed go to handle that.
However, I’ve already heard the report on the results; we don’t have that much to consider today, so just treat it as a chance to relax.” Clementine nodded in agreement.
Makoto pointed ahead and said in a relaxed tone: “Just keep walking in this direction and we’ll arrive.
Speaking of which, it’s so dark here, can you see the path?” The golden light in Clementine’s eyes flashed twice more.
“I can’t see the fine details clearly, but seeing the path is no problem.” Makoto observed with great interest and found that the golden light in the other’s eyes was flowing slowly, like the surface of the sea plated with the glow of the setting sun.
Perhaps because there was no light around at the moment, the other’s usually slit pupils were rounded now.
Looking into the Thunder Dragon’s eyes in this state gave a feeling that her gaze had become a bit clearer.
So a dragon’s eyes can change based on the same principle as a cat’s?
She’s actually quite cute when her slit pupils turn round.
Makoto thought so.
As she thought, she linked her arm with Clementine’s, pulling the distance between them a bit closer.
“I can’t see very well over here, could you please help me watch the path?
The direction is definitely right.” Clementine looked back with a bit of confusion, hesitating for a few breaths as if wanting to say something, but after her gaze lingered for a moment, she compromised: “Alright, watch your step, we’ll walk slowly.” Makoto noticed that after she spoke, the Thunder Dragon’s tail quietly extended to the side, loosely encircling her from a slight distance in a protective stance.
Very reliable, and she didn’t reply with a solution that was too devoid of sentiment.
Makoto happily checked off this little trick in her heart.
It might not seem tempting right now but who knows what the future holds?
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”