NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 18: Chapter 18
"This scenery is really beautiful. Standing at the top, you can see all of Narukami Island," Takumi said happily as he walked along the cherry blossom-covered stone steps.
"As long as you like it, Lord Takumi," Yae Miko replied calmly. Then she asked curiously, "I wonder if there is anything at the Narukami Shrine that interests you?"
"What am I doing here? Of course, I'm here to do something that will shock all of Teyvat. If you want to know, Miss Fox, you'll have to pay the price of one ear." Takumi looked playfully at Yae Miko, who was clearly trying to trick him.
She truly lived up to being a fox—cunning, shrewd, and always assessing the situation. Half of Inazuma's strategies came from her thoughts, and the other half from Kamisato Ayato. Together, they were Inazuma's sleeping dragon and phoenix.
"The price of one ear?! Do you want to cut off a poor little girl's ear?" Yae Miko was startled, and her two fox ears, which had been drooping, moved closer to her temples.
"I'm not that cruel, nor would I want your ears. Cutting them off would make the beautiful fox incomplete, wouldn't it?" Takumi chuckled. Seeing Yae Miko's ears twitch with fright brought him joy, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"The price I'm talking about is just the ownership of caressing your ear. For granting me the ownership of one ear, you will learn a secret that will shock all of Teyvat. It's a huge bargain, practically a steal."
"Just touching my ears? A secret that will shock Teyvat? Here, on Mt. Yougou? Is it directly related to Inazuma?" Yae Miko's eyes widened slightly.
She hesitated, unsure if she should believe him. After all, his character was quite troublesome, but on the other hand, he was the god of Celestia.
And he hadn't come to Mt. Yougou just to find a reason to touch her ears.
"Of course, it's directly related to Inazuma. Otherwise, why would I come here? You have only one chance, and it's time-limited. I'll count down from ten, and if you don't agree, I'll say nothing."
Takumi shrugged, his expression indifferent, but a small smile curled his lips.
"I'm starting the count—10, 9..."
Yae Miko kept weighing the pros and cons in her mind.
It was related to Inazuma and Mt. Yougou—perhaps even something Kage didn't know about. And the price was simply the right to touch her ears.
Her ears had only ever been touched by Ei and Lord Kitsune Saiguu.
This time, she would trade away the right to caress her ears... to a male god. Despite her inner conflict, a blush spread across her innocent and charming face.
But if this secret concerned Inazuma, whether it was good or bad...
Yae Miko's mind raced.
"2, 1." Just as Takumi counted down to 1 and was about to sigh in disappointment, thinking Yae Miko would not take the bait, she spoke up.
"Fine, I'll trade," Yae Miko said suddenly, her tone a little awkward. Her cheeks turned pink, and her ears trembled slightly.
"What a decisive choice. The contract is now established—if either of us breaks our promise, we will be punished by eating rocks," Takumi said with a smile.
"Go ahead... touch them," Yae Miko said, moving her head closer. Her drooping fox ears trembled slightly, like those of a startled cat.
She silently reassured herself—*This is for Inazuma, for the people of Inazuma... A secret known only by the gods of Celestia. No loss, no loss at all.*
Takumi's lips curled into a smile. He understood that Yae Miko had been convinced by his divine authority as a Celestial god.
For someone as shrewd as Yae Miko, such authority could not be doubted.
That was enough—he had just wanted to tease her.
Takumi reached out, gently pinching one of her pink fox ears. Yae Miko immediately squeaked in surprise, covering her mouth in embarrassment.
The sensation in her ears made her brain momentarily short-circuit, as if her soul had been sucked out.
Seeing Yae Miko's ears grow hot, Takumi stopped. "It feels wonderful. It's different compared to ordinary foxes."
Touching a fox-eared girl's ears for the first time—it truly was a unique experience. He was satisfied. Any further, and Yae Miko might be overwhelmed. After all, there was a limit, and they had plenty of time.
"You really are an evil god," Yae Miko said with mixed emotions, seeing the mocking smile on Takumi's lips. "So, what's the secret you mentioned? It wasn't just to tease this little fox, was it?"
He had even said, "Those who break their promises shall be punished by eating rocks." She wondered—would the Geo Archon of Liyue dare to punish a Celestial god? She didn't quite believe it.
"Of course, the secret is real," Takumi said with a wicked smile, pressing a finger to Yae Miko's forehead.
Information about the 'World Swallowing Plan,' 'Details of Demon Slayer World,' 'The World Gate at Narukami Shrine,' 'An Actor's Self-Cultivation,' and 'Mythology of Takamagahara' flooded Yae Miko's mind.
Yae Miko's eyes widened, shifting from confusion to shock, and finally, to horror.
"A plan to annex another world! This, this, this..."
It was unbelievable, insane, exaggerated—impossible to fathom.
She didn't doubt it was true; after all, Ei emerging from the Plane of Euthymia and traveling to Celestia had proven its credibility.
The overwhelming information took her a while to process.
When she finally gathered her thoughts, she looked at the Sky Island god standing before her with a mixture of shock and resentment. She knew she had been deceived.
To say it was a secret was correct—it was certainly not something that ordinary Inazuma citizens could know. But for her, a member of the Narukami family, it wasn't a secret at all. Ei would have told her eventually.
After all, such a grand plan required the cooperation of the Vision holders and the followers of the gods.
"This is a secret for you, the current Guuji. I'm not lying," Takumi said, smiling at Yae Miko's resentful expression.
"What a wicked god—you actually bullied a poor little girl," Yae Miko said with indignation. She was angry, but she couldn't hit him, nor could she outwit him.
In her mind, the image of Ei overlapped with Takumi.
Though their priorities differed, their personalities overlapped entirely.
After teasing Yae Miko, Takumi finally walked toward the Narukami Shrine, looking at the Sacred Sakura tree that protected the land.
Without this Sacred Sakura, Inazuma's ley lines would have long been broken. The ley lines that couldn't be repaired could only be sealed with a Nail of Celestia.
"Alright, it's time to build the World Gate."
He communicated internally with the system.
"System, location: in front of the Sacred Sakura of the Narukami Shrine, establish the World Gate."
'Ding! Location confirmed: Inazuma, Narukami Shrine.'
'Constructing the World Gate.'
'Connecting to the world dimension coordinates of Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba.'
A massive golden pillar of light shot up from the peak of Mt. Yougou and rushed into the sky. The pillar gradually expanded until it enveloped the entire mountain.