Chapter 345

The heavy rain is still falling, and I'm terrified inside.

At this moment, Shirakawa Mai's entire body was bound by rainwater; those water tentacles had nearly touched the forbidden zone of the National Goddess that only Uesugi Muneyuki had ever touched. Her spiritual power shield had completely shattered, her mouth was blocked by a water cover so only her eyes could move. For this opportunity, she had nearly exhausted herself.

One must admit, the strength of the Head of the Kanto Shinai Alliance is truly top-tier. If not for her hard power, Uesugi Muneyuki would have had no chance to converse with the Rain Woman.

Yes, Uesugi Muneyuki judged in a moment that they could not possibly be a match for the Rain Woman, but the Qinghui Stone lit up, indicating the laws of the Death Soul Contract were usable. Although the light that shone this time was completely different, meaning what was contacted this time might not be a dead soul but something else, it did not hinder Uesugi Muneyuki's intention to make contact with the other party.

Say, can we reconcile?

Moreover, Uesugi Muneyuki could tell that the Rain Woman simply disliked being disturbed; she did not dislike those few people specifically, but equally disliked everyone.

"Speak quickly, don't ask questions, or I'll kill you, and her." Arimura Hana simply stated her own name, then emphasized it again; clearly her patience had reached its limit.

"I came this time for the inheritance of Kurosawa Shinai; I received a commission from the Last Shinai Maiden, Kurozawa Yōko..."

"Oh, I know. There are inheritance relationships among the Mortal Race because you have lifespan limits." Arimura Hana, her whole body still soaking in the rain curtain, looked strangely at Uesugi Muneyuki: "So those few people are the same?"

"I don't know. I said I'm not with them..." Uesugi Muneyuki immediately begged humbly: "Now, the two of us want nothing. I have only one request: let us leave. We swear never to return, and will spend money and effort to guard the peace and tranquility of this place for you!"

"Not needed." Arimura Hana drew her voice out long, her words carrying a casual killing intent like stepping on a cockroach: "I can eliminate any mortal. Your strength... too weak. Hers... passable, but still too weak. Why should I let you go? Kill you all, make you part of me, that's the only way to truly guard the secret, and wait... for the opening."

Uesugi Muneyuki broke into a sweat: "If you're willing to let us go, I can mobilize all my human connections and resources. I can designate this place as a forbidden zone. If you have any needs, I can provide them too. We're not ordinary people..."

"Heh~hehehehe~" Arimura Hana laughed twistedly. She directly cut off Uesugi Muneyuki's words: "You? Help me? How? You and her may have significance to mortals, but to me, you're nothing at all."

Twisted killing intent emanated from the plain kimono within the rain curtain; clearly Arimura Hana was itching to act.

"However, you do have something unique. Actually, not a single mortal has been able to converse with me... So I'll give you one more chance, a final chance. Tell me, mortal, why should I let you go?"

Uesugi Muneyuki pursed his lips. He roughly understood, so he pointed at the distant closed immigration bureau: "Those people will bring you trouble. I'll do my best to help you handle that trouble! They're not with us. If they die, there'll be even more trouble afterward."

"How so?" Arimura Hana gestured for Uesugi Muneyuki to continue.

"They were dispatched from the Kansai forces, probably also to investigate here. If you kill them all, that side will send more people, stronger ones, as strong as her." Uesugi Muneyuki pointed at Senior Student Mai, explaining to the Rain Woman: "Even... there might be a New God! They'll want to find out the reason these people disappeared and died. They may spend considerable time, but they'll eventually find this place."

"New God?" Arimura Hana glanced at Shirakawa Mai, her face showing disdain mixed with mockery: "So, I should be afraid?"

"No. I know you certainly have the ability to eliminate them, but they'll keep sending people. At first small groups, then more and more. They'll drive cars, try to understand what happened. Because of bizarre legends, this place might even become a scenic spot. People might return to settle here, tourists would come to play. Kurosawa Shinai would be rebuilt. And you would never have a peaceful day."

"You'd keep eliminating these people, but that would attract more. There'd be people with guns, airplanes, cannons, even missiles... Outside, mortal technology advances daily. They have many things that can directly destroy an entire mountain."

"The Inner World cannot exist completely detached from the Outer World. When that time comes, your peaceful life will be shattered. You don't want to be constantly disturbed either, right?"

"........" After listening to Uesugi Muneyuki's words, Arimura Hana fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded. She waved a hand, and the water tentacles binding Senior Student Mai loosened. Shirakawa Mai, her spiritual power exhausted, collapsed limply and was caught in Uesugi Muneyuki's embrace: "What do you plan to do?"

"She and I will do everything we can to help you conceal matters here. As for the trouble from the Kansai side, I'll also do my best to deal with it for you, so they won't disturb your tranquil life. As long as you let us leave, we'll do our utmost in this lifetime to let you wait for the day the Main Gate of the High Plain of Heaven opens." Uesugi Muneyuki said: "Although I don't know if I can live to see that day."

"Interesting. Will you?" Arimura Hana gazed coldly at Uesugi Muneyuki. Though her features couldn't be seen clearly, Uesugi Muneyuki discovered she seemed to have taken an interest in him: "How can I believe you? How can I guarantee you won't be like those few people after you leave?"

"We can sign a Contract." Uesugi Muneyuki raised the Qinghui Stone in his hand: "We're conversing precisely through the power of a Contract, aren't we?"

"Heh. I roughly understand. You've probably been communicating with lower existences through the 'Maha Bo Agreement' all along. You think that kind of agreement can work on me?" Arimura Hana was clearly displeased with Uesugi Muneyuki's proposal.

"I'm humbly requesting you." Uesugi Muneyuki said in a low voice: "If you have other ideas, I'll serve you wholeheartedly."

"........" Arimura Hana seemed to be thinking. She kept watching Uesugi Muneyuki. After pondering for a long time, the Rain Woman Princess suddenly said: "I've never heard of any Kurozawa Yōko, Shinai Alliance..."

Uesugi Muneyuki hesitated slightly, then immediately had an epiphany: "Our promise to guard your peace can also become your 'Window' to see the outside world, undisturbed!"

"With my body as the boat and my eyes as the target, you only need to form a Contract with me, and I can take you to see everything you want to see, as repayment for letting us leave?!"

"The outside world changes daily. The mortal world has its own mortal splendors. I can tell you about them! Because I can converse with you!"

"........" Arimura Hana indeed revealed a trace of irrepressible curiosity toward that clamorous, unfamiliar outside world. Before, she didn't go out because there were no same-dimension existences to communicate with: "What a pity."

"Huh? What is the Princess pitying?" Uesugi Muneyuki felt a bad premonition.

"What a pity. She was originally an excellent vessel. Her spiritual power circuit and spiritual power capacity are both outstanding. I originally planned to melt all her limbs, keep only the torso, and use her brain and reproductive system to create a Spirit Power Furnace for experimenting with birthing new creations." Arimura Hana spoke of extremely terrifying things in a calm tone: "If not for you two being symbiotic, her fate was already sealed."

From her tone, it was like discussing a household cockroach.

Uesugi Muneyuki subconsciously glanced at Senior Student Mai in his arms, but Senior Student Mai couldn't understand what the Rain Woman was saying at all.

In her ears, she heard a pile of sharp noise. It not only produced instinctive hostility, but also pain from the depths of human DNA. It was as if several hundred words of content were condensed into a few pronunciations, exceeding the human brain's processing limit, and the other party spoke extremely fast, making understanding impossible.

Actually, Arimura Hana's feeling was the same. Every syllable she spoke to a mortal caused her extreme pain, like humans painstakingly learning to use spiracles to vocalize like Madagascar hissing cockroaches — extremely, extremely painful, and the cockroach opposite couldn't understand what you were doing either.

Under these circumstances, communicating with the outside world is an extremely painful thing, but now there is an extreme exception.

A moment later, cold rain threads gently wrapped around Uesugi Muneyuki.

The wounds on his body healed at a visible speed, as if washed and reshaped by the purest rainwater. His overdrawn Spirit Spheres were filled by a cool but gentle force, even purer than before.

Deep in Uesugi Muneyuki's soul, a tiny, droplet-shaped mark was branded, representing the Contract's completion.

Rain Contract!

Simultaneously, Shirakawa Mai also felt a pain in her lower abdomen. The same droplet-shaped Rain Contract appeared at the center of her Spirit Mark.

One Lotus Together Born. The Rain Woman restored Uesugi Muneyuki's power, which also meant replenishing her spiritual power. Likewise, forming a Contract with Uesugi Muneyuki meant both signed together.

Negotiation Succeeded! Although I don't know how it was negotiated.

"Leave here. Where will you go?" Arimura Hana asked.

"We'll return to Tokyo Metropolis." Uesugi Muneyuki knew the Contract was done.

"Go back. I'll stay here, waiting for you to fulfill your promise to me. But I'll see and feel the outside world through your senses. When necessary, I'll manifest. But I hate humans. Don't come disturbing me with mortal affairs and grudges."

Arimura Hana extended a finger, gesturing that they could scram.

A flash of light, and they returned to the entrance of Kurosawa Shinai in the real world. Bodies intact, spiritual power abundant, as if the tragic battle just now was merely a nightmare. But the "Rain Contract" deep in their souls and the lingering cold sensation proved everything's reality.

"We... survived?" Shirakawa Mai still found it somewhat unbelievable.

"Are all Inner World creatures like her?" Uesugi Muneyuki, having survived the calamity, also felt lingering fear.

"Like what?" Suddenly, a voice came from behind Uesugi Muneyuki.

Heaven and earth congealed white; fine snow fell soundlessly. Night as curtain, only heavy snow reflecting faint cold light. In this chaotic silence, Arimura Hana's figure suddenly emerged, as if condensed from snow mist.

A plain white lined kimono. Wide kimono sleeves and hem billowed slightly in the cold wind, making her slender figure appear even more ethereal, as if about to break. Jet-black hime-cut hair was the only dark ink in this pure white — forehead bangs cut evenly like a ruler, side locks falling straight down, clinging to pale, nearly transparent cheeks. A few snowflakes quietly settled in her crow-feather hair, adding more cold clarity.

She lowered her head slightly. A wide beige wool scarf wrapped around her jaw and neck, covering nearly half her face, revealing only those signature round, deep eyes. Eyelashes drooped, dotted with tiny ice crystals. Her gaze fell quietly on the accumulated snow beneath her feet, where lay undissolvable heavy sorrow and indescribable resolve, like a deep pool reflecting no starlight.

Cold wind brushed past, swirling snow dust, and finally lifted a corner of the concealing scarf, revealing her purely beautiful, transparent face.

"Come on. Didn't you say you'd take me to see the outside world?"

"By the way, what's your Given Name?"