Truth is everywhere within range

"Old God. I didn't expect you, Qiao Sang, to be able to talk and laugh even with the old gods."

Kitashirakawa Rika said in disbelief.

"?"

Qiao Qiao sat in his room, a little confused.

There is no need for Old God Wishes to come to him specifically at this time. Ise Shrine is a heavily guarded place, so there must be other reasons why he came here.

"Attracted by the fragrance of desire?"

Qiao Qiao noticed something special in his words. If the old god's wish is really the incarnation of human prayers, then he can naturally sense the wishes of others. In other words, there is someone nearby who has a strong enough or strong enough desire. Attract His desire?

If we really want to talk about it, perhaps only Kitashirakawa Rika's desire to leave the shrine and see the outside world can make the old god wish to take risks and visit Ise Jingu.

"However, at least one thing is certain. The old god in charge of the power of decay has fallen. There may be another reason for those corpses."

"Qiao Sang, do you have an idea?"

Kitashirakawa Rika asked.

"There is a Chinese proverb."

Qiao Qiao replied.

“After all the impossible answers have been eliminated, the one that remains, no matter how bizarre or unbelievable, is the correct answer.”

"This matter has nothing to do with the old gods, so naturally there needs to be corresponding existence to complete all of this."

He closed his eyes and thought for a moment.

I already have the answer in my heart.

Three days later.

Qiao Qiao's room is full of books.

These are the directories about the Ise Shrine dungeons that Qiao Qiao brought from Kuroda Jun, entry and exit records in the past six months, and various miscellaneous information.

Although these materials are neatly arranged, because there are so many, the whole room seems very crowded and it is difficult to move down.

At the door, Kuroda Jun came over with another stack of documents, looked at the room where he couldn't stay, and sighed.

"Qiao Sang, you haven't left your house for three days. The other priests are waiting for you to investigate. Can you really find the whereabouts of the old god by sitting here looking at these documents?"

Kuroda Jun was a little skeptical.

"Put it there, thank you."

Qiao Qiao said without raising his head.

"Now everyone in the shrine is in panic. Everyone is worried that people whose spirits have been polluted by the old gods will sneak into the shrine. They are also worried that such an incident will happen again. Qiao Sang, are you really investigating seriously?"

Kuroda Jun's words had a hint of accusation.

Originally, the atmosphere in Ise Shrine was just a little more serious. Now, the atmosphere where everyone is insecure, distrustful of each other, and afraid of attacks by the old gods really makes Kuroda Jun not like it.

After hearing Kuroda Jun's words, Qiao Qiao stopped turning the pages and raised his head.

"Kuroda-san, is there a rehearsal for the New Year Prayer Festival tonight?"

".Yes, but now everyone's heart is not focused on it."

Kuroda Jun nodded.

"Kuroda-san, you should also appear?"

Qiao Qiao asked again.

Kuroda Jun was startled and hesitated for a moment before answering.

"Yes, as the representative of this generation of shrine maidens, I will dance the Kagura dance and perform the ceremony at the Kagura Hall during the New Year Prayer Festival, and I will also participate in the rehearsal tonight."

During the New Year Festival, the shrine maidens of Ise Jingu Shrine will dance in front of the Kagura Hall as an offering to please the gods.

Amaterasu Omikami came out after watching the dance of Tenden no Mikoto in Amato to bring the sun back to the world. Therefore, Kagura dance is one of the most important rituals in the festivals related to Ise Jingu.

The shrine maidens wearing Maeten crowns, Chihaya, and Kagura bells were dancing to classical music. Maybe Qiao Qiao couldn't help but take a second look.

No wonder Amaterasu left home.

"Be careful tonight. If possible, it's best not to go to Kagura Hall. That's all I have to say."

Qiao Qiao reminded.

"Um?"

Kuroda Jun wanted to ask, but Qiao Qiao had already lowered his head.

He hesitated to speak, but Kuroda Jun finally closed the door and left.

In the room, Qiao Qiao put down the file.

"Is something going to happen tonight?"

Kitashirakawa Rika has also been reading the dossier with Qiao Qiao these three days.

Moreover, two people can read it separately to speed up reading.

Men and women are matched, so work is not tiring.

During the break, Qiao Qiao told Kitashirakawa Rika some things about the outside world.

For example, the rotating Ferris wheel, the summer fireworks display, the sun, the beach and the sea.

But Kitashirakawa Rika is most interested in school-related matters.

She had never been to school, and all knowledge was taught by the priests.

Therefore, Kitashirakawa Rika was particularly excited when she heard Qiao Qiao talk about the school.

Things like getting caught late for school, fighting for bread with classmates in the cafeteria, club activities after school, and part-time jobs.

Kitashirakawa Rika listened with gusto.

Compared to Sayoko, she has less social knowledge and yearns for that kind of life even more.

"I checked the dungeon's shift schedule and found that tonight happens to be the dungeon's shift change day."

Qiao Qiao glanced at the information he had compiled on the laptop screen nearby.

"Dungeon?"

Kitashirakawa Rika couldn't figure out what this had to do with the dungeon.

Apart from being the place where Fujinami Shinji died, the dungeon should have nothing to do with this series of cases.

"Well, according to my speculation, similar murders will no longer happen near Ise Shrine. All preparations have been completed."

Qiao Qiao explained.

"Everything ready?"

Kitashirakawa Rika thought of those summoning rituals.

But Qiao Qiao also said that this incident had nothing to do with the old gods.

What kind of preparation is this and for what purpose?

Completely confused.

"Qiao Sang, can you explain it more clearly?"

"Well, this matter starts from the dungeon of Ise Shrine."

Qiao Qiao opened the dungeon structure diagram and the secrets of imprisonment that he had summarized.

"On the third floor of the dungeon, there are about a dozen powerful big monsters, or it would be more accurate to call them quasi-old god-level monsters, such as pythons, descendants of Yamata no Orochi, and the tengu who once caused trouble in Heian Kyo."

"These monsters are strictly suppressed on weekdays. They are protected by the large formation of Ise Shrine and cannot cause trouble."

"But if Ise Shrine is attacked or even destroyed by half, then these monsters are likely to escape."

When Kitashirakawa Rika heard Qiao Qiao's words, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Destroy Ise Shrine. This, this is impossible. The dungeon has a powerful barrier and the protection of the Yata Mirror. Weirdly, there is no way to break through that barrier."

"Of course not weird."

Qiao Qiao paused.

"But humans can."

"Humanity."

Kitashirakawa Rika was in a trance, and then recalled many things.

"Qiao Sang, what do you mean?"

She thought of the Chinese proverb that Qiao Qiao said.

After all the impossible answers have been eliminated, the one that remains, no matter how bizarre or unbelievable, is the correct answer.