Chương 141: Hime Miko
The History Compilation Committee is Japan's largest magical organization, founded jointly by various prominent families from Japan's mystical world and the government. It oversees the order of Japan's entire mystical side, and the Tokyo branch is one of the committee's most powerful chapters.
Liliana's arrival in Japan had naturally caught the attention of the History Compilation Committee. Although Erica, the new Campione, had not personally traveled to Tokyo, Liliana's status as a close associate of Erica and her standing within the Bronze-Black Cross carried considerable weight. As a result, the committee was wary of her presence, unsure if she had other motives for visiting.
At Shrine, a young shrine maiden, wearing a white top and green skirt, was sweeping the shrine's stone path with a bamboo broom. Her long brown hair, tied at the ends with a black ribbon, reached down to her thighs. Despite her youthful appearance, around fifteen or sixteen years old, she swept the path with serious and diligent focus.
This shrine maiden was Yuri Mariya, a Hime-Miko responsible for overseeing spiritual affairs in the Kanto region and one of the two survivors, alongside Liliana, from Marquis Voban's ritual to summon a Heretic God five years ago.
At that moment, a black sedan slowly pulled up at the foot of the shrine, and a middle-aged man, dressed in a black suit and wearing rectangular glasses, stepped out of the driver's seat. The man adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming, and he walked through the torii gate, heading up towards the shrine.
"Oh, good morning, Yuri! You're as hardworking as ever, starting your shrine duties so early in the morning."
Upon hearing the familiar voice of the man ascending the steps, Yuri Mariya paused her sweeping and respectfully bowed slightly. Her expression showed no surprise, indicating that she was quite familiar with the middle-aged man before her.
"Good morning, Mr. Amakasu. May I ask what brings you here so early?"
The man, who was grinning broadly with his eyes half-closed, was none other than Touma Amakasu, an agent of the History Compilation Committee.
"I heard you have a connection with Liliana Kranjcar of the Bronze-Black Cross, right? Well, she's recently arrived in Japan," he said with an exaggerated smile.
"Liliana?" Yuri blinked, surprised by the sudden mention of an old name. She then realized the implications and asked with a tone of certainty, "Has she come to Japan?"
Yuri Mariya had a favorable impression of Liliana. Five years ago, during the terrifying ritual conducted by Voban, they had supported each other. Although their relationship never deepened into close friendship, they were far from strangers.
"That's right! You know, with a newly crowned Campione who happens to be Italian, we at the History Compilation Committee are under a lot of pressure. Now that Lady Liliana, a close associate of the new Godslayer, is here in Japan, we're a bit concerned about her intentions," Amakasu said with a theatrical flair, the grin never leaving his face.
"So, Yuri, I was hoping you could help us by finding out what this esteemed knight is up to." He clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture and gave Yuri a playful wink. "Please?"
On anyone else, such a pose might have been endearing, but coming from a scruffy, middle-aged man like Amakasu, it was more disturbing than charming. Yuri's face tensed in response, and she quickly averted her gaze, her expression one of discomfort.
"I understand. While I'm not sure if Lady Liliana even remembers me, I will do my best," Yuri replied, her tone formal. After a brief pause, she continued, "Mr. Amakasu, please wait for me here while I change into something more appropriate. Then, I'll ask you to take me to where Lady Liliana is staying."
"Excellent! Take your time," Amakasu responded cheerfully, checking his watch. "We've got about ten minutes until eight. If we hurry, you might even catch her in time for breakfast!"
Yuri, unfazed by Amakasu's overly casual tone, picked up her broom and walked toward the inner part of the shrine.
…
"Uhnn…"
With a soft, sleepy murmur, Eriri slowly opened her eyes, only to feel two soft, delicate arms draped over her body. Lifting the blanket, she found Shinobu and Athena curled up against her, their small heads resting on either side of her chest.
Since the three of them had gone to bed directly after their bath the previous night without bothering to change into their hotel-provided pajamas, they were all sleeping naked. Shinobu and Athena's little mouths were nearly pressed against Eriri's skin, their warm breaths causing Eriri to involuntarily shiver.
Sensing Eriri was awake, Shinobu and Athena opened their eyes simultaneously. Shinobu instinctively clenched her hand, immediately feeling the soft, supple sensation under her fingers. The unmistakable shape and the gentle rise of her hand made it clear what part of Eriri's body she was holding.
Shinobu lifted her head to confirm, and indeed, her right hand was firmly grasping Eriri's left breast. The size wasn't large, but the softness was unparalleled.
Athena, meanwhile, glanced at Shinobu's hand, her expression momentarily distant. Then, her gaze shifted to Eriri's exposed right breast, and a strange emotion stirred within her. It seemed to be urging her to place her left hand there.
Before Athena could decide, she noticed a gaze directed at her. Looking up, she met Shinobu's golden eyes and youthful, innocent face.
Sensing Athena's hesitation, Shinobu's lips curled into a mischievous smirk. She rotated her hand on Eriri's chest, giving it a firm squeeze, then nonchalantly withdrew her hand and sat up, a self-satisfied grin on her face.
Unaware of their little exchange, Eriri only knew that someone had groped her chest and instantly deduced who the culprit was based on the direction of the touch.
Looking at Shinobu, who was sitting smugly beside her, Eriri leaped at her with a playful growl, pouncing like a hungry tiger. She began to mercilessly tickle the small vampire, causing Shinobu to burst into a fit of silvery laughter.
It took them about half an hour to get ready and leave the bedroom. By that time, Liliana was already waiting in the suite's lounge, ready for the day.
"Morning, Liliana," Eriri greeted her casually.
"Good morning, my lord. Shall we have breakfast downstairs, or should I ask the hotel staff to bring it up?"
The five-star hotel offered a variety of dining options, so they could easily have their breakfast served in the comfort of their suite.
"Let's go out. I want to try Tokyo's local breakfast and see how it compares to other worlds," Eriri decided after a moment's thought. The hotel's meals didn't particularly interest her; the real culinary treasures, she believed, were often found in hidden corners and local shops.
"It would be nice if we had a local guide," Eriri mused to herself.
She then glanced at Shinobu and Athena. "What do you two think?"
"Ka ka, I'm not particular about where we eat. Wherever you go, I'll follow," Shinobu replied, her voice light and playful.
"Same for me," Athena added calmly.
"Great! Let's head out, then. Liliana, make sure to check us out of the room. After breakfast, we'll start heading toward Kyoto. We'll aim to get there by this afternoon and take care of Sun Wukong in a few minutes," Eriri said, treating their mission almost like a sightseeing trip with an extra task thrown in.
"Understood, my lord," Liliana replied respectfully, her pale cheeks flushed with excitement at the thought of becoming a Campione by the end of the day.
…
Meanwhile, just a little earlier, a black sedan had arrived at the hotel where Eriri and the others were staying. Touma Amakasu and Yuri Mariya stepped out of the car and made their way into the hotel lobby.
"Alright, Yuri, I'm counting on you from here," Amakasu said with a relieved smile as he led Yuri to one of the sofas in the lobby. With a lighthearted wave, he left her there.
Yuri sat quietly, watching the elevator doors. Though this was an official mission, she was genuinely happy about the chance to see Liliana again.
Dressed in casual clothes instead of her usual shrine maiden attire, Yuri looked like any other fresh-faced city girl. After about ten minutes, she saw a flash of silver-white as Liliana emerged from the elevator.
Delighted, Yuri stood up, about to call out to her, when she noticed three other girls exiting the elevator behind Liliana. Most notably, Liliana was looking at the blonde girl at the front with an expression of utmost respect, piquing Yuri's curiosity.
Yuri knew well that Liliana was no ordinary person. As a high-ranking knight of the Bronze-Black Cross, Liliana held a prestigious position. Even among prominent knights, few commanded as much respect. Yet here she was, deferring so deeply to this young blonde girl.
"Could this be Erica Blandelli, the new Campione?" Yuri wondered. The thought alone made her hesitate, a feeling of anxiety bubbling up inside her.
On the way to the hotel, Amakasu had informed her of the events of the past two days. She knew Erica, originally from the Copper-Black Cross, had recently become a Campione and defeated Marquis Voban.
The fact that Erica had killed Voban, whom Yuri had long feared, should have brought her a sense of relief. After all, Marquis Voban was the same Campione who had kidnapped her five years ago to serve as a sacrificial shrine maiden in his ritual to summon a Heretic God. The terror of that experience had left a deep scar on her psyche, making her wary of all Godslayers.
However, instead of relief, Yuri found herself even more intimidated by the thought of Erica. If Erica had the power to kill Voban, she must be an even more dangerous and ruthless figure. In Yuri's mind, Erica must be another violent and merciless Godslayer like all the other Campione.
"But… Amakasu said the new King didn't come to Japan…" Yuri hesitated, her anxiety rising. She stood there, unsure whether she should approach or retreat.
As she wrestled with indecision, the group, led by Liliana, noticed her presence. Despite trying to stay composed, Yuri's beauty and nervous demeanor made her stand out, drawing the attention of several hotel staff members and passersby. Even Eriri's group couldn't help but notice the conflicted girl standing in the lobby.
"Yuri Mariya," Liliana greeted her as she approached. "It's been a while. What brings you here?"
"Ah… Liliana…" Yuri snapped out of her daze, her eyes widening as she heard her name. Seeing Liliana up close after five years, she stammered for a moment. "I, um… came to see you…"
Before she could finish, Yuri's eyes drifted again to the golden-haired girl standing beside Liliana, whose stunning beauty left Yuri momentarily speechless. Eriri's perfect features, her confident aura, and the respect she commanded from Liliana all made Yuri instinctively lower her gaze, unsure of how to act.
Yuri had no idea that Eriri was far from the Campione she had imagined. In fact, her real power and nature were beyond anything Yuri could comprehend. But Eriri's appearance and Liliana's demeanor suggested that she must be someone of great importance, perhaps even the new Godslayer herself.
Still, even with her exceptional spiritual abilities, Yuri couldn't sense anything extraordinary from Eriri. Instead, the only one who stood out spiritually was Shinobu, whose powerful aura marked her as a formidable individual. It surprised Yuri that Amakasu hadn't mentioned this little girl, which made her grow cautious.
Yuri took a deep breath, steadying herself. She couldn't afford to falter now. Bowing politely to Liliana, she greeted her formally. "It's been a long time, Lady Liliana."
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