Chapter 310: The Considerate and Thorough Kamikawa Mitsu, the Frenzied Assist Chie-chan

With even the Void Lord's shadow at a loss and having died within the mysterious fog, now that Kamikawa Mitsu has returned from a corner palace in Heian-kyo, it is highly likely the government will seek Kamikawa Mitsu's help.

Kamikawa Mitsu is powerful, that is true, but the world within the mysterious fog is treacherous and terrifying — a single drop of spray killed a god and demon outright — one can imagine how dangerous it is; it is not certain that Kamikawa Mitsu would be safe even if he went.

Kamikawa Chie did not want Kamikawa Mitsu to take the risk.

Even if the world and its people would suffer harm and crisis, compared with Kamikawa Mitsu's life, these were not worth mentioning.

Reaching out to gently pat Chie's head, Kamikawa Mitsu said softly,

"Don't worry, I'm not a hothead, I won't act rashly."

His words fell.

Kamikawa Mitsu looked toward Rikai.

"The Void Lord's shadow died — after that, did you all take any further action? Apart from seeing the blood-yellow Dahe, did you specifically see anything else, such as living beings, mountains and rivers, buildings — these more attention-catching things?"

Rikai thought for a moment and replied,

"Yes. The Void Lord told me that after his shadow entered that strange place, he could always hear some creepy sounds by his ear, like howls and screams — he couldn't tell whether they were beasts or living beings crying out.

As for living beings, buildings and the like, the Void Lord's shadow actually didn't stay in that place long before being splashed by the spray and killed, so there was no way to investigate carefully.

He only told me that upon entering that place, at first glance there were no living beings or buildings at all.

Apart from that, he only saw a river — one that clearly looked so vast the opposite bank couldn't be seen, at first glance more like a sea, yet somehow he knew in his heart that it was a river."

Kamikawa Mitsu propped his chin on one hand, his brow slightly furrowed.

A strange long river, vast as the sea, yet somehow giving a person the sense that it was simply a river.

He had felt it was strange before — according to Rikai's description, that long river was vast, like the sea; the Void Lord didn't even have time to investigate, and since he couldn't see the opposite bank, how did he judge that it was a river? So that was how it was.

Clearly, that long river had something special about it — like a brand, it imprinted the impression of a long river, so that at a single glance one knew it was a long river.

This kind of special quality is like the Dao of Heaven and Earth, the unchanging rule of all things — even without touching it, one knows. It exists within the Dao, exists within all things, mysterious and ethereal, beyond words.

Rikai spoke again:

"Once the Void Lord's shadow died, because that place is strange and dangerous, without the shadow, the main body rashly entering wouldn't necessarily walk out safely. The Void Lord and I discussed it and decided to report what happened in the mysterious fog to the government. After that, the Void Lord and I did not go again."

Her exquisitely beautiful, bewitching face carried a Solemn gravity and sternness.

She gazed at Kamikawa Mitsu, her tone grave:

"Kamikawa-san, the Void Lord didn't spend long in that strange place, but he personally experienced its terror. He made a judgment — that place, even if a god of the Third Step entered, would likely meet more misfortune than fortune; a god of the Fourth Step he hadn't encountered.

But he felt that place gave him too strange a feeling — even a god of the Fourth Step, who has stepped into the mid-Third Step, would be in danger entering.

If the government really is asking you for help, I don't recommend Kamikawa-san go. If possible, it would be best to have an elder come instead."

……

That night.

Tokyo, Japan, Arakawa Ward, an apartment.

Dinner had been eaten.

"Matsuka-nee-san, this is a gift I brought back from the other world for you — keep it at home." Kamikawa Chie presented a pot of treasure-flower to Matsuka Chisato, who had been invited to dinner at the Kamikawa household.

"What a lovely fragrance."

Matsuka Chisato sniffed it and found the flower's fragrance gave her a sense of ease — she felt that the day's exhaustion from work was shed in that moment, and her spirit and energy were lifted.

Looking closely,

the flower's stamens glowed with a faint shimmering light, as if pollen were endlessly scattering over the stamens, falling in little drops — a sight too beautiful for words.

"How pretty — is this a flower from the other world? Chie-chan, thank you for giving me such a wonderful gift. I'll treasure it well."

"Right? I also think this flower is beautiful. Matsuka-nee-san, this one was chosen for you by Nii-san — he knew your work as a doctor would be very tiring, so he specially picked this one that, just by smelling it, can calm the mind and relax the spirit."

At this, Kamikawa Chie's big dark eyes rolled, and she went on:

"Nii-san chose this Celestial Pine Flower not only because it can relax Matsuka-nee-san's mind and ease her stress, but also because it can subtly improve the body over time. And also — the flower's name shares a 'pine' character with Matsuka-nee-san's name, so it suits her very well.

Besides, Nii-san knows Matsuka-nee-san lives alone and must be very lonely, and that being home by herself every day might be very boring, so he specially chose this Celestial Pine Flower to give you.

This Celestial Pine Flower is no simple thing — as long as Matsuka-nee-san carefully tends it, in time the flower can bear very, very cute little animals.

As for what kind of little animals, Nii-san didn't tell me — he was afraid I'd accidentally tell you. He said he wanted to give Matsuka-nee-san a surprise. Matsuka-nee-san, Nii-san is very thoughtful, isn't he? Afraid you'd be lonely."

Matsuka Chisato was stunned for a moment, her heart moved.

Kamikawa-san had taken Chie to travel in the other world, yet had not forgotten to care for her, carefully selecting for her this gift that was the best for her.

Matsuka Chisato's parents had died several years earlier, leaving only her, all alone.

Originally, she had wanted to raise a kitten for company.

But a doctor's work was very busy — every day when she came home she was exhausted to death, with no time even to take care of herself, let alone a cat.

And so, every time she came home and looked at the empty house with only herself in it, she felt, more or less, a sense of loneliness.

Kamikawa Mitsu knew this, and had specially chosen such a flower spirit.

That's right — this one flower was spiritual, a flower spirit capable of nurturing forth little pet-like beings of spiritual nature.

Raising kittens or puppies is troublesome — they need feeding, need to be taken for check-ups, and so on. But this flower spirit needed none of that — it only required watering each day. When the time came, the flower would nurture forth a flower spirit that could keep her company and keep her from being lonely.

Once the flower spirit was nurtured forth, it didn't need feeding either — it was itself a flower, and would absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on its own.

Kamikawa Mitsu had considered things very thoroughly for Matsuka Chisato — this gift was almost tailor-made for her.

Involuntarily, her heart warmed, and she spoke softly.

"Really? Then I really must thank Kamikawa-san properly."

At once, she looked around the living room, toward Kamikawa Mitsu's room beside it.

She found that Kamikawa Mitsu was not at home.

"Oh? Where's Kamikawa-san? Wasn't he just eating dinner with us a moment ago?"

"Nii-san went out — he said he was going to take a look at the mysterious fog."

Kamikawa Chie answered honestly.

Matsukawa Chiri changed color and sprang to her feet with a swish.

"Aren't those mysterious mists very dangerous? It's too risky for Kamikawa-kun to go alone—call him back right away."

Earlier during the meal, Kamikawa Chie had told Matsukawa Chiri about the mysterious mists.

She knew the mysterious mists were dangerous; now that she learned Wang Zun was heading toward them, she immediately panicked and reached for her phone to call Wang Zun.

Kamikawa Chie patted Matsukawa-nee's shoulders with both hands.

"Matsukawa-nee, don't worry—Nii-san isn't entering the mysterious mists. He's just looking at them from out at sea."

……