After hearing Miketsu's words, Tsuruha quickly explained, which made Miketsu pause in surprise. In her original imagination, Tsuruha didn't seem to like Konkiku very much.
"Don't worry, she didn't do anything. I was just curious to ask, after all, she's quite different from other foxes, isn't she...?" Miketsu continued, thinking that perhaps Tsuruha and Konkiku's relationship wasn't as she had imagined.
"Is that so...? I thought that child was ill-mannered and had offended Lady Uka..."
"Regarding that child, although she is very mischievous and disobedient, often saying outrageous things that give me a headache... her nature is not bad."
Tsuruha said to Miketsu, carefully choosing her words.
"Yes... I've noticed that too. I also see that she doesn't quite approve of the Inari fox spirit beasts and divine messengers' identities, instead she advocates for the yokai's way of life... Tsuruha, do you know why this is?" Continuing to stroll through the divine realm, Miketsu asked Tsuruha beside her.
"Lady Uka, why would you suddenly ask such things today...? Did Konkiku really say something to you?" Hearing Miketsu's words, Tsuruha's tone changed slightly.
"Whether she said anything or not isn't important, Tsuruha. Although I am a deity, I am also a part of Inari Mountain. Some things don't need to be specifically hidden from me..."
After hearing Miketsu's words, Tsuruha's body trembled slightly. After a long moment, she sighed helplessly and said.
"Ah... Although I repeatedly warned her, did that child still tell you everything in the end?"
"Since that's the case, Tsuruha can only advise Lady Uka not to be overly influenced by these matters, to continue upholding your nature, restore your power, and strive to let Inari Okami return to the world soon."
"I know that... But if I, as Inari Okami, can never fully revive, are you just going to keep enduring like this?"
"Lady Uka..."
Miketsu stopped, her hand caressing the divine messenger beside her, her eyes revealing a hint of tenderness.
"I have no memories of the past, so I haven't experienced how glorious and great Inari Okami once was. To be honest, that feels somewhat ethereal to me, but for you, it's different.
"Since I awoke in this world, Tsuruha, you, and all the Inari foxes have been my reliance, my protection. To me, you are real, you are my family...
"Therefore, no matter what, I don't want any of you to be harmed, no matter where that harm comes from.
"Tsuruha, if there are any enemies in the future, no matter who they are, let us face them together."
...
Just as usual, Miketsu and Tsuruha arrived at Heian-kyo. After crossing Suzaku Avenue and reaching the Onmyoryo, they skillfully made their way to the Archives Bureau, where she was delighted to find that the Spell Archives were finally open.
So, Miketsu decisively entered the Spell Archives and immersed herself there for a long time.
With her previous experience, Miketsu was more targeted in choosing the spells she needed to copy, which significantly increased her efficiency.
Finally, after spending a morning in the Spell Archives, Miketsu walked out unsteadily with the copied spells. Looking at the sundial on the high platform within the Onmyoryo, she realized it was now two o'clock in the afternoon (Ushi-nikoku), and her agreed time with Yura was two to four in the afternoon (Hitsuji-no-koku), which meant it was time to go.
Miketsu confirmed the time, then headed straight out of the Onmyoryo. Relying on her memory, she eventually found the izakaya where she had first drunk with Yura, and simply waited outside the izakaya.
And that wait lasted for an hour...
Miketsu looked at the sun already setting in the west and suddenly realized a problem: she seemed to have been stood up.
"Yura stood me up? What's going on? Did she forget about today, or did something urgent come up that prevented her from coming on time?"
Miketsu pondered, but couldn't find an answer. At this moment, she sorely missed a mobile phone; a simple call would clarify everything.
After waiting for a long time without Yura appearing, a hint of worry rose in Miketsu's heart. After much hesitation, Miketsu left the izakaya. She did not return to Inari Mountain, but instead made her way to the Bumingtang of the Subjugation Bureau.
Miketsu looked around among the bustling crowd but didn't find Yura. Then she made her way to the counter where the Onmyo-sei worked.
"Is there, is there something you need, my lady?"
An Onmyo-sei, who looked much older than Miketsu, immediately stopped what he was doing and respectfully spoke upon seeing Miketsu in her kariginu.
"Nothing much, I just wanted to ask if you know Ashiya Doman?"
"Ashiya Doman? Yes, I know him. He's a master who suddenly emerged among those Exceptional Individuals. In less than a few days since he came to this Bumingtang, he has already completed over a dozen missions, many of which were Jia-rank or even Vermilion Jia-rank. Many people wonder why such a master hasn't joined the Onmyoryo." As soon as he heard the name Ashiya Doman, the Onmyo-sei immediately replied, indicating that Yura was quite famous here.
After all, with her strength, not to mention these Exceptional Individuals, even regular Onmyo-sei couldn't compare. She had fully reached the level of a formal Onmyoji, meaning her strength was at least Junior Assistant rank or higher. Such strength would undoubtedly attract immense attention among this group.
"So, did Ashiya Doman come to take on a mission today?" Miketsu continued to ask. Since Yura completed missions so quickly and frequently, it was possible she would be there today.
"No, he hasn't been here today, and not just today, he hasn't been here for the past two days. I don't know why, it's very unusual. Normally, he completes several missions a day." The Onmyo-sei continued to reply, and this answer made Miketsu's body tremble slightly.
Hasn't been here for two days? That means ever since she and Yura parted ways at the Bumingtang that day, she hasn't come back to take on any missions.
Miketsu knew very well that Yura was different from a 'salted fish' like herself; she desperately wanted to join the Onmyoryo. One could tell from the frequency of her missions that she was incredibly diligent.
Not coming to take on missions for two consecutive days was clearly abnormal. This very likely hinted that Yura had encountered an accident during a mission.
Thinking of this, Miketsu couldn't help but frown. She hadn't imagined that there would be missions in this Bumingtang that Yura couldn't handle.
Regardless, Yura considered her a friend, and she couldn't just ignore her. Even if Yura had indeed met with misfortune during a mission, she at least needed to confirm it.
Thinking of this, Miketsu began to recall her conversation with Yura that day. She vaguely remembered Yura describing the mission she was undertaking at the time.
It... seemed to be a mission to investigate strange sounds.
Thinking of this, Miketsu immediately rushed to the rack displaying various mission wooden tablets and began to check each one.
Miketsu knew that if a mission was accepted and the person who accepted it did not return to report within the stipulated time, a new wooden tablet for that mission would be marked with a red stripe and hung up again. If she could find that new tablet, she would know the detailed circumstances of the mission.
Miketsu carefully searched among these tablets for any related to strange sounds, but after she had gone through all the wooden racks and examined all the tablets, she found no wooden tablet with a description of related content.
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