Starting from Tenshukaku and heading north past Byakko Plain and Konda Village, one can see a strange forest.
Mist floats among the mountains and woods.
Even when sunlight floods the earth, the sky here remains dim.
It seems as though the sun’s rays cannot break through the invisible barrier here to deliver the news of another passing day to this silent jungle.
Amidst the dense trees, someone had built dark red torii gates.
Beneath the torii gates lies a partially uneven stone path, decorated at its corners with candles of unknown purpose.
Strange plants also grow in the surrounding lowlands, emitting a ghostly blue light in the somewhat dark environment.
The dreamlike colors make this place feel even less like the mortal realm.
Under Makoto’s guidance, the two followed the intermittent stone path into the depths of the dense forest.
Along the way, besides various trees and flowers, it was not hard to see worshiped shrines and fox statues of all sizes.
“Chinju Forest is the residence of the Yokai; many races have lived here for generations,” Makoto explained simply.
Clementine glanced at the shrine they had just passed and asked a question.
“So are all these shrines used to worship you?
Can you really hear their wishes when they pray through these?” “I can when I want to.
Listening to people’s wishes is certainly an interesting thing, but if I did nothing but listen, I wouldn’t have time for anything else.
The current Inazuma doesn’t support me spending enough time to hear every wish.
But I believe that the day all wishes are realized will eventually come.” Clementine nodded in response.
She had just noticed that although this was said to be the home of Yokai, they hadn’t encountered a single soul along the way.
But since it seemed Makoto knew the reason, she didn’t ask further.
Continuing forward, their route gradually deviated from the stone path, entering a more remote area.
Now, it could only be described as taking the path less traveled.
Relying on her perception of the Electro Element in the air, Clementine discovered they were gradually descending, moving from the higher forest entrance toward a depression.
After more left and right turns, she felt she was losing her sense of direction.
Fortunately, they had reached their destination; passing through a cave among the rocks, a relatively flat open space suddenly appeared within the mountain, hidden from the surface.
A tall torii gate still stood in the clearing, accompanied by the usual shrine and fox statues behind it.
But at this moment, none of these three could capture anyone’s attention.
In the air in front of the torii gate, a tumor-like thing was throbbing.
It was composed of an unknown purple-black sludge-like substance, bound into a mass by purple chains connected to the surrounding stone lanterns, struggling and leaping as if it were alive.
The lingering scent of pollution remained in the surroundings; this technique had been completed not long ago, Clementine judged.
Sure enough, not far from the cave entrance, there was a figure.
To be precise, it shouldn’t be called a human figure; although the other party wore the attire of a shrine maiden, she had a large, white, fluffy tail behind her.
Combined with the small fox statues scattered everywhere, Clementine guessed the other party was a fox.
The unresolved Elemental Power in the vicinity proved that this white Fox Spirit was the one who activated the technique to bind the filth.
Makoto seemed very familiar with her and was the first to greet her.
The other person turned around, clearly a bit surprised by the arrival of visitors.
“Makoto?
How did you find this place?
Is it alright for you to appear here?” “You’ve been busy dealing with the pollution for so long; if I hadn’t noticed what you were preparing here, wouldn’t I be a bit incompetent as a deity?
It was indeed unexpected that you happened to be here today.
No need to worry on my end; Ei just returned to Tenshukaku, so it doesn’t matter if I’m away.” The Fox Spirit’s expression didn’t change after hearing the explanation; clearly, she had trusted from the start that Makoto wouldn’t cause any trouble, and didn’t need to wait for a definitive answer to feel at ease.
Her gaze quickly swept over the Thunder Dragon who was examining the technique and the pollution, and the two shared a brief look.
Clementine noticed the other’s eyes were a similar color to her own, which was quite rare.
Before the atmosphere became awkward, Makoto introduced the two.
“I almost forgot, you two don’t know each other yet.
Saiguu, this is Clementine, a very powerful Thunder Dragon and a new friend I’ve picked up.
I’ve asked her to help deal with the remaining filth.” Then, she turned to Clementine and lightly tugged at her sleeve.
“This is Kitsune Saiguu, the fox friend I mentioned before.
She is a Fox Spirit of the Hakushin Clan, the current Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, and a very reliable helper.” The two looked at each other again.
There was a hint of scrutiny in Kitsune Saiguu’s eyes, but Clementine felt it was more of a non-malicious curiosity.
Given that she was Makoto’s friend, the Thunder Dragon quickly rounded her up into her own friend category and gave a friendly greeting.
Makoto hadn’t forgotten what she thought of before leaving, and couldn’t help but tease the Thunder Dragon again, saying she was really easy to deceive.
After a bit of small talk, they had to get back to business.
There was still a giant time bomb in front of them waiting to be dealt with.