Chapter 186: The Apprentice Miko of the Inari God
"Wait!"
Seeing Isayama Yomi so conflicted, Hikigaya Hachiman sensed that something was off.
"I just want to ask about some common information."
Yomi's expression looked like she had just made a solemn decision, which made Hikigaya Hachiman twitch in annoyance. Could it be that she was about to reveal some classified intelligence to him?
"Just some common information?"
Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's clarification, Yomi's expression visibly relaxed, showing that she had indeed been seriously debating whether to reveal classified information she knew.
Over ten minutes later, in a certain café, Hikigaya Hachiman listened to Yomi's words, nodded with a look of understanding on his face.
He now more or less fully understood the state of this world.
In short, this is a world where humans, spirits, and gods coexist.
Hundreds of years ago, humans were weak, and the responsibility of fighting evil spirits fell mainly on the godly factions centered around temples and shrines.
However, as time passed, psychics grew stronger, until the first exorcist capable of countering both gods and demons appeared, creating a three-way balance of power.
Then came the modern era.
The godly factions gradually lost their dominance, more exorcists appeared, and human power eventually surpassed the evil spirits, becoming the strongest force in this world.
As a result, evil spirits could no longer harm humans freely, gods disappeared from view, and exorcists and psychics concealed themselves among ordinary people…
"You mean, gods haven't appeared for a long time?"
Hikigaya Hachiman thought of the rather dilapidated shrine from last night.
"That's right. It's quite possible they've already disappeared."
Yomi answered Hikigaya Hachiman's question with absolute certainty.
According to investigations, so-called gods are mostly "incense gods" in concept rather than true deities.
Nowadays, across all of Japan, except for a few major shrines, most shrines have fallen into disrepair.
In other words, aside from a handful of legendary gods who might still exist, the rest have disappeared due to lack of worship.
Even those few possibly remaining gods haven't shown any miracles in recent decades.
The likelihood of their existence is very low.
"They've never appeared?"
Thinking of the fox miko who appeared to protect Miura Yumiko, and the three-tailed fox, Hikigaya Hachiman's expression became meaningful.
Perhaps, in ways unknown to psychics like Yomi, miracles had quietly occurred long ago.
However, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't intend to reveal this to Yomi.
After all, fundamentally, the godly and human factions are on the same side against evil spirits.
If the gods regained strength, it would ease the burden on humans fighting evil spirits.
This was probably the same thought of the five exorcists.
Otherwise, that man would never have allowed that shrine to continue existing.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Looking at Hikigaya Hachiman's expression, Yomi's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that Hikigaya Hachiman knew some hidden truth about the gods?
"No, it's nothing. Thank you very much for telling me so much…"
Shaking his head, he paid the bill at the front desk and said goodbye to Yomi.
.
.
.
Back at home, Komachi still hadn't returned.
But of course—actually, even if the chat with Yomi had taken some time, it had only been an hour since school ended.
If they went out to play, that wasn't nearly enough time.
Sitting on the sofa, Hikigaya Hachiman rolled up his sleeves and examined the fox mark on his arm carefully.
According to Yomi, the only remaining major deity associated with foxes was Inari.
Injecting a bit of spiritual power into the fox mark, it immediately glowed with golden light.
A miniature version of a fox miko appeared in Hikigaya Hachiman's palm.
The tiny figure first bowed respectfully to him, then spoke a string of incomprehensible words.
Hikigaya Hachiman silently watched the chibi miko.
Apparently understanding his confusion, the little figure leapt from his palm to his shoulder, then climbed onto his forehead.
Finally, she drew a strange symbol in the center of his forehead, and a clear female voice entered Hikigaya Hachiman's ears.
"Master, can you understand my words now?"
Turning to the small figure on his shoulder, Hikigaya Hachiman nodded.
"Did you summon me, Master? Is there something you wish to command?"
The chibi miko tilted her tiny head as she asked.
"Summon?"
Hikigaya Hachiman was slightly taken aback by her words.
"That's right!"
The little figure nodded and explained,
"You just summoned me through the mark of the great Inari God."
"What can you do?"
Hikigaya Hachiman was curious about the function of the chibi figure.
"I can help you deliver messages to the great Inari God. I can also help with small chores or even cooking. After all, as an apprentice miko serving the Inari God, I still have a lot to learn…"
"Apprentice miko?"
"I'm a small fox like this, with only one tail!"
As she spoke, seemingly afraid Hikigaya Hachiman wouldn't believe her, the little figure transformed into her true form.
As she had said, she was a snow-white fox with a single tail tipped in crimson.
"So the miko with the fox mask I saw last night was also a fox?"
"That's right. If I grow another tail, I could even become normal human size!"
Her voice was full of anticipation.
However, after a brief moment of excitement, her tone fell again.
"But without significant achievements, we aren't allowed to grow a new tail…"
"Why?"
If the number of tails represents strength, wouldn't more tails naturally be better? Why limit their number?
"Because the great Inari God's power is insufficient. If everyone grew a new tail, with the current number of worshippers, the Inari God would disappear…"
"I thought there were Inari shrines all across Japan?"
Hearing this, Hikigaya Hachiman twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Inari shrines were among the few remaining major shrines in Japan.
If even that level of worship couldn't sustain the deity…
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