"It should be the owner of a vegetable shop who took advantage of the festival to take out the unsalable old cucumbers. It doesn't matter, just use it as an ingredient for dinner, such a big one, smash it into cold salad, diced and stir-fried, slice and cook soup, and make it into 'cucumber three eats' is not a waste......"

Yuma Tori smiled and gently grabbed the corner of the other party's clothes, stopping Sosuke Araki, who was holding a "forty-centimeter cucumber" and was about to threaten the stall owner to return the goods.

After all, fruits and vegetables are relatively expensive ingredients in Japan.

"Everything is all purchased, the time is almost up, let's go back."

After picking out a few small and cute cucumbers and eggplants, and then picking up a few lanterns that I had selected earlier to light the "soul fire", the two of them walked in the direction of Akagi Shrine.

The narrow Kagurazaka Street, in the dim sunset, looks like an endless path that stretches forward infinitely.

The two walked side by side on the ramp, and for some reason, neither spoke.

"It's really lively, it's obviously a festival for the dead, isn't it?"

Looking at the strong festive atmosphere around him, Sousuke Araki couldn't help but sigh, trying to break the subtle atmosphere.

"It seems that Mr. Araki rarely celebrates Mon Ranbon, and it is because of the return of the departed that he has a good time celebrating their temporary escape from hell."

Kotori Yumako glanced at him curiously and explained with a smile.

Lampon is arguably the most important large-scale holiday other than the New Year.

After all, most people will choose to take advantage of this holiday to return to their hometowns to worship their ancestors, and various activities will be held in various places according to customs.

The Kagurazaka slope, which has preserved the Edo atmosphere, is lit up like a New Year's Day and is lined with orange lanterns representing the Mon Bon Festival.

Kagurazaka traditionally opens the festival with a dance parade by the teams of each town on this day.

After that, there will be stage performances, festivals, fireworks displays, and Hyakki cosplay.

"Yes, I really haven't had a serious time with Mon Lan Pen, it's just an annual day to make money......

If it were a previous year, Sousuke Araki would have been busy at the food stalls in the night market.

It's a pity that this year, the original "Yokohama Night Market Duo", but he is the only one left.

As soon as he thought of this, his eyes were full of loneliness.

Looking at his side face, the little bird on the side, You Zhengong, showed distressed eyes, and opened his mouth slightly, but he couldn't say anything.

At the same time, what Sosuke Araki didn't know was that somewhere in Taito Ward, something was happening that made him even more sad.

……

Taito-ku, Kuramae Apartment.

The entire apartment parking lot is enclosed by a temporary partition wall for construction.

At the exits of the apartment, yellow tape with the words "During construction work, entry is prohibited" is blocked.

Several construction vehicles crowded the otherwise empty parking lot.

"The fifteenth blast is about to start, and the groups are in place...... 5、4、3、2……”

"Boom !!"

Loud tremors and explosions rang out on the roof of Kuramae's apartment.

"Ahem, ahem...... Damn it...... How can it be...... The blasting range has obviously expanded to this point......"

The smoke cleared, revealing the black, unscathed iron gate on the rooftop, and the walls around the iron gate without even a single crack.

Looking at the scene in front of them, everyone showed expressions of disbelief.

In order to contain this suspected iron door as soon as possible, Lesson 9 mobilized people and horses, and used methods such as hammer knocking, electric welding, and directional blasting to separate the iron door from the wall for the walls around the iron gate.

It seems that this iron gate, along with the surrounding structures, has been reduced to an indestructible resentment.

And just now, the fifteenth directional blasting has covered the entire load-bearing wall under the roof.

Under normal circumstances, the entire roof of the apartment would have collapsed under the blast by now.

“…… Is this the confidence of IBM700 to dare to openly declare war on the government? ”

Looking at the fifth floor of the dilapidated apartment that had been unscathed after the blast under the rooftop, a terrible thought appeared in Mochizuki Ayano's mind.

"Bang, bang, bang......"

She suddenly pulled out her pistol and fired several shots at the ground of the apartment in the distance, startling the agents around her.

"Sure enough......"

Looking at the ground in the distance in distraction, Mochizuki Ayano's pupils dilated slightly.

"It seems that you can't do it without playing big...... Contact the Metropolitan Police Department immediately and find a reason to evacuate the residents within a few kilometers of the Kuramae apartment! ”

"What...... What the?! Evacuating such a large area of residents is not an easy task. ”

Hearing Mochizuki Ayano's order, Takeshi Iwata's exclamation came from the communication channel.

"I don't care, I can ask the Fire Department, the Ministry of Natural Disasters, and the Ministry of Defense to cooperate, earthquakes, typhoons, gas leaks, and cult poisoning, in short, evacuate all the people! Otherwise, they cannot be held accountable except for any problems. This grudge is no longer the simple thing we used to contain......

As the bullet casings fell weakly and the smoke gradually dissipated, everyone could see that the concrete floor where the shot had been shot did not leave a single bullet mark.

……

At seven o'clock in the evening, in the outer hall of Akagi Shrine, which was renovated for the festival, Yutaro Kotori was wearing a priest's costume and moaning to the groans of a large number of fanatical female fans with a thick stack of incense money, and presided over the festival with a solemn face.

"If you don't go outside to help, Uncle Xiaoniayou is alone, is it really okay?"

In the quiet apse of the shrine, Sosuke Araki glanced at Yutaro Kotori, who was surrounded by "illegitimate meals", his clothes were gradually messy, but he still maintained a "business smile", and a drop of cold sweat quietly slipped from his forehead.

With the help of the little bird Yu Zhengong, the two have built a small "elf shed" in the middle of the meadow.

"Well, after all, it's just a small ritual event, and you don't need a full-time shrine maiden to appear. When it comes to presiding over ceremonies, my father is far better at it than I am. ”

Hearing the other party's question, Kotori Yu Zhengong moved his eyes to the side in a little panic, his eyes fluttered, and his thin lips pursed.

As her hair was lifted by her little thumb, her hot ears were exposed.

That's right, a certain full-time shrine maiden at Akagi Shrine lied in the land of the gods.

In the past, as a full-time shrine maiden, she would personally perform the "Soul Suppression Divine Raku" on stage and hold a solemn ancestor sacrifice ceremony.

I'm sorry, Lady Gods, but I'll make an exception this year.

Because, today, there are people here who need me more.

Gathering her thoughts, she handed the lantern in her hand to Sosuke Araki and reminded softly, "Mr. Araki, it's time to light the soul fire." ”

On the day of the "Blessing", the flame in the lantern must be lit before it is completely dark, so that the soul of the deceased can find its way back and come to the "Spirit Shed" to enjoy the offerings and receive worship.