Chapter 18: Shiki Eiki is Also 'Working' Today!
Youkai Mountain, Shameimaru Aya's room.
This morning, she didn't go out as soon as the sky brightened like usual, but spent some time preparing the things she needed.
"Fresh bamboo shoots and mushrooms, delicious fruits and vegetables, thanks to the harvest gods in the mountains, having the tengu help collect these things in advance was useful!"
Packing them into a basket, Shameimaru Aya prepared to deliver it to Luke's restaurant.
Previously, due to taking photos randomly around the restaurant, she was almost blacklisted by Luke, which sparked the idea in Aya to 'send gifts and improve relations'.
One must know that restaurant often had customers from other worlds.
A special place that could transcend the Great Hakurei Barrier would definitely generate more news in the future!
Plus, Hakurei Reimu, who exterminated incidents, had acknowledged the peculiarity of Luke's restaurant and taken no action, further proving the restaurant's value.
"Alright!"
Picking up the basket, Shameimaru Aya took her camera and flew out from her balcony.
After confirming the direction of Luke's restaurant, Shameimaru Aya increased her speed.
"Hmm?"
Squinting, Shameimaru Aya saw strange movements below.
The youkai who usually played on Youkai Mountain were running towards the depths, as if fleeing some dangerous monster.
"Ooh! Big news is here?!"
A true reporter must bravely go against the current and capture the most precious material at the first opportunity!
Thus, to get the information firsthand, Shameimaru Aya didn't ask the fleeing youkai, but flew straight in the opposite direction behind them.
The chaotic movements were quickly left behind.
Shameimaru Aya saw two figures about to pass through the woods near Youkai Mountain.
"Whoa..."
The moment she noticed them, the thought 'this is bad' popped into Shameimaru Aya's mind.
"It's actually them..."
Just as she thought of turning around and flying away, a scythe fell from above, blocking Shameimaru Aya's path!
Forced to stop, Shameimaru Aya looked at the other party with a wry smile.
"Well, well, good morning. Isn't this Miss Shinigami? Why has this little tengu caught your attention?"
The person blocking her path had short red hair tied into twintails, and crimson pupils staring intently at Shameimaru Aya.
Moreover, holding an oversized scythe in her hand, she currently exuded a strong sense of pressure.
This person was the Shinigami, Onozuka Komachi.
She was the ferryman of the Sanzu River, her job being to transport the dead from this shore (the present world) to the other shore where the Yama resides.
If one clashed with her, the consequences would be unimaginable.
No wonder those youkai were fleeing.
"The Yama wishes to see you, come with me."
"Eh? I have some things to do right now..."
"I won't say it a second time."
"I'll go, I'll go!"
Shameimaru Aya immediately agreed.
Following Komachi to the ground, Shameimaru Aya saw the Yama standing under a dense tree.
The Yama of Hell, Paradise's highest judge, Shiki Eiki, wore a serious expression.
She often served as the judge for the deceased in Gensokyo and was the Yama most closely related to Gensokyo, thus becoming an existence that youkai avoided.
"Good morning, Yama-sama."
"Tengu... are you still the same as always, often taking photos everywhere and fabricating news?"
"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding, Yama-sama. This tengu reporter always pursues truth! Although some news isn't entirely accurate, I haven't lied! It's just a different angle!"
"Still trying to argue?"
"No!"
Shameimaru Aya immediately lowered her head.
Because Shiki Eiki possessed the ability to clearly distinguish between black and white, she naturally understood Shameimaru Aya's current attitude.
"Forget it, next..."
Halfway through her words, Shiki Eiki suddenly looked towards the northwest direction.
She frowned slightly and turned around.
"Let's go, Onozuka."
"Yes, Yama-sama."
Seeing the 'Hell Duo' suddenly intending to leave, the frightened Shameimaru Aya didn't choose to slip away.
Since it caught Shiki Eiki's attention, it must be big news!
"I'll come too!"
"No matter. Letting you see some things with your own eyes, taking it as a warning, is also good."
Shiki Eiki agreed, then led Onozuka Komachi towards the location of the 'abnormality' she had sensed.
After arriving at the destination, Shameimaru Aya discovered the endpoint was actually the restaurant she planned to visit!
"Yama-sama, why did you come to Luke-san's restaurant? Are you perhaps hungry?"
"Baseless speculation only adds trouble. I came here, not wanting to eat."
Shiki Eiki finished speaking and walked towards the main entrance.
Onozuka Komachi, seeing this, immediately opened the door for her.
Shameimaru Aya, following them into the restaurant, found there were already three customers inside.
And the restaurant owner, Luke, stood inside the counter, his expression not surprised, but rather showing a slight smile.
In Gensokyo, there aren't many people who aren't afraid of Shiki Eiki...
Shameimaru Aya thought this, as Shiki Eiki walked straight towards the guest on the right, sitting down directly opposite them.
What happened?
Is she going to judge the strange guest with the broken mask?
Shameimaru Aya didn't ask immediately, but carefully carried the basket and walked to the kitchen.
"Luke-san, I brought ingredients for you."
"You didn't just bring ingredients, you also brought an interesting guest."
"I didn't bring her! It was Yama-sama who suddenly decided to come over herself!"
Shameimaru Aya continuously shook her head, denying any connection with Shiki Eiki.
And over on the Yama's side, Shiki Eiki was staring at the guest wearing the broken mask, her expression even more solemn and serious than before.
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