I’m Really Unnerved In Tokyo

Ten minutes later, Senshu 2-chome, Yoshihara red light district.

On the dark road, Araki Sousuke and Abeji walked behind Kato Junko, looking at the surrounding streets.

"Hey, Zong... Ms. Kato, is there really a shrine in the direction we are going?"

The ambiguous neon lights of the bubble bath shops on both sides of the road and all kinds of powerful light box posters, Kato Junko walking in front of the swaying waist, and the cold-faced Abe Temple next to him with a pair of knives, let Araki Sousuke have a sense of self-consciousness. Bodyguards, being led into a hidden shop by a girl who attracts customers, and the illusion of high-ranking customers who are about to enjoy the "Emperor's Original Package".

"Don't worry, they won't sell you. The Yoshihara Shrine was originally built at the westernmost location of Yoshihara Yukaku..."

Kato Junko, who was walking in front, explained to the two of them without looking back.

The original city walls and moats of Yoshiwara Yukaku have been demolished and rebuilt many times, and they have long been turned into ordinary streets, and ordinary people can't see the clues at all.

It can only be seen on the tour map that the rectangle formed by the streets from Edo-cho 1-chome and 2-chome to Kyodo-cho 1-chome and 2-chome, as well as Kakucho, Yangyacho and Chiheigou, originally belonged to Yoshihara Yukaku. area within the city walls.

However, the currently reserved area that allows the operation of custom industries has long since shrunk to less than one-tenth of the original Yoshihara Yukaku.

Soon, under the leadership of Kato Junko, the three of them passed through the exciting pink area and came to the quiet and deserted ordinary street.

"Perhaps it is due to the resentment of a large number of wandering women who gathered in their miserable lives. Yoshihara Yukaku has been a troubled area since its establishment..."

Wisps of white water vapor in the early morning, like smoke, permeated both sides of the road, complementing Kato Junko's low-pitched words.

"From the Edo period to the present, Yoshihara Yukaku, which is mainly made of wooden buildings, has experienced many fires... In addition, in the Great Kanto Earthquake and the Great Tokyo Air Raid, Yoshihara Yukaku was completely burned twice. "

Because the buildings in the Edo period were mainly made of wood, and the fire prevention awareness and facilities were extremely inadequate, fire has been dubbed "Edo's famous thing" since ancient times.

Of course, there is also another metaphysical version of the explanation, saying that Edo was originally a place where "the fire is prosperous and the water is scarce".

However, with the establishment of various firefighting organizations such as Damingho, Chohoho, and the popularization of firefighting facilities such as "Dragon Spit Water", "Xuanbantong", "Huochuji" and "Dote", from Edo to Tokyo, this Instead, the city was "burning more and more prosperous" amidst large and small fires.

Even after each fire, the rebuilt area will be more prosperous and lively.

Even Ginza, the current commercial center, was completely destroyed in the fire, and the government decided to build a new commercial center there.

"Every time a disaster occurs, in the Yoshiwara Yokoko, which is surrounded by water on three sides and has only one closed gate, the trapped wanderers and guests often have nowhere to escape, and can only struggle in the thick smoke and flames and wait desperately for death ..."

Halfway through, Kato Junko suddenly stopped, took out her phone and glanced at it.

"The shrine I'm talking about is at the end of this road, and we'll be there soon..."

Sousuke Araki glanced sharply, and found that she seemed to be confirming the location through the navigation app.

It seems that it is not so familiar as boasting...

"The Yoshihara Shrine was built to commemorate the countless souls of Yoshihara Yukaku who died in the disaster."

As if responding to Kato Junko's words, a gray and white torii gate appeared at the end of the street corner under the night.

On the torii beams and the white lanterns hanging below, as well as on the stone tablet standing beside it, "Yoshihara Shrine" is written in blood-red characters.

On the side of the torii, there is also a support tower engraved with "Kanto Earthquake Commemoration".

Crossing the approach behind is the main hall of a small shrine with a green roof, red beams and glazed flying tiles.

Although the scale is small, there is a simple and exquisite atmosphere everywhere in the Danying carvings.

"Yoshiwara Shrine, enshrines one of the 'Asakusa Seven Lucky Gods', Princess Mei Benzaiten of Ichitoni Island, who is in charge of wealth, knowledge and skills..."

Kato Junko, who was dressed in a black kimono, stood beside the shrine in the dark under the night, and bowed to the torii with a sacred and pious expression.

"However, like most shrines in Tokyo, this place has long since cut off the inheritance of spiritual power and has become a purely commercial shrine."

"Let's go, let's see if there is another 'Yoshihara token' enshrined in this shrine."

"Hmph, there may be danger inside. As the guide of tonight's operation, I order you to stand by at the rear..."

Before she could finish speaking, Araki Sousuke and Abeji, who had been "unbearably lonely" along the way, were already shoulder to shoulder, pushing each other to enter the torii gate first.

"Wait... Don't you think that the fog tonight is a bit too big?"

Kato Junko, who was left behind by them, looked around with a pair of winking eyes, and her expression suddenly became a little complicated.

The early morning white mist that could be seen everywhere has somehow become so dense that people can't see the surrounding street scenes clearly.

What's even more strange is that where Araki Sosuke passed, the white mist disappeared, showing a passage that was one person wide.

"not good……"

When Junko Kato turned her head again, the torii and shrine that were in front of her had disappeared.

In her line of sight, there was nothing but the dense white mist, and it was difficult to distinguish her position for a while.

"Hmph, as an instructor, shouldn't you sit in the rear and direct the overall situation, and let me, an 'apprentice', hone my spirit removal skills?"

"Ugh, damn..."

Under the torii gate, the tall Araki Sousuke, with his Godzilla-like strength, directly flew the "thin" Abeji, and passed under the torii gate one step ahead.

"Hehehe, little boy, you want to compete with me. I'm afraid you have forgotten how you lost the previous few times... Ah, where is he?"

After Araki Zongsuke turned around proudly to show off, he realized that Abeji and Kato Junko, who were supposed to be following behind him, had disappeared.

"Abeji? Miss Kato?"

"These two guys, couldn't help themselves, and took the opportunity to elope to the hotel to 'compete skills', right? 』

While teasing, Araki Sousuke lifted the blindfold on his forehead and looked around vigilantly.

Because, no matter how good Abeji is, it is impossible for him to disappear in front of his eyes in an instant.

Through the coquettish golden pupil of his left eye, the wisps of white mist that originally lingered around the shrine turned out a strange blood color.

As soon as the blood-colored mist touched his body, it condensed into ordinary dew, seeping into his robe.

And the source of the bloody mist that continued to spread towards the surroundings was the Yoshihara Shrine in front of him.