Haruhiko subconsciously looked at Hoshino Hotaru.

She, like herself, seemed rather dazed.

It was absolutely unexpected to see Hoshino pear here.

In addition, Utsunomiya Mina and others also looked at each other.

They know Aoi Hoshino.

But he also knew that she would never appear here, and she had become an earthbound spirit.

The only explanation is that she is Ri Hoshino.

And she should be in the first penalty area.

Even if he died, he shouldn't run to the ruins of the main god of the great country thousands of miles away.

"Are you Hotaru?"

After being stunned, Ri Hoshino recognized Hoshino Hoshino.

In terms of appearance and temperament, she is too similar to Aoi Hoshino.

Plus she's also seen Hoshino Hoshino.

Although it was when she was a child, she knew that Hoshino Aoi and Hoshino Hotaru had different personalities.

"Why are you here?"

Hoshino Ri didn't wait for Hoshino Hoshino to answer, and continued to ask.

Haruhiko was stunned.

That's exactly the question he wanted to ask.

I didn't expect it to be Hoshino Ri who asked first.

But it also proves that she does preserve her memories and sanity during her lifetime.

There is no obstacle to talking.

"Aunt Pear."

Haruhiko thought for a moment, took a half step forward, introduced himself, and said, "My name is Haruhiko." ”

"Haruhiko?"

Ri Hoshino was slightly stunned, and then asked, "Haruhiko Utsunomiya?" ”

“……？”

This time it was Haruhiko's turn to be stunned, and he asked suspiciously, "Do you know me?" ”

"I don't know you."

Hoshino Ri shook her head, smiled, and said, "But I know your mother, Utsunomiya Yuya. ”

You're my mother's best friend too?

Haruhiko subconsciously came up with this sentence.

No way.

He found out that his mother simply had a wide range of friends.

From humans to youkai, from shrine maidens to onmyoji, it's literally everything.

Haruhiko suspects that his mother may have a favorability system.

Of course, this is impossible.

But it's good to know.

At least the atmosphere won't be so tense.

"Aunt Pear, do you know the snake spirit?"

Haruhiko said directly, "We were able to come here because we got a specific location in the snake spirit. ”

"Snake spirit, no wonder."

Ri Hoshino had a hint of surprise on her face.

Obviously, she not only knew about the snake spirit, but she also knew quite a bit.

Haruhiko was thoughtful.

Perhaps Rishi Hoshino and Aoi Hoshino are still in touch.

Opening the door to this relic requires a special spell from Izumo Shrine.

It means they can come and go freely.

And Haruhiko doesn't believe that Aoi Hoshino doesn't know the whereabouts of her sister.

After all, she was the only one who had seen the last side of Ri Hoshino.

The two of them walked into the first forbidden area at the same time, but it was Hoshino Aoi who came out.

Hoshino Ri doesn't know whether to live or die.

Most people thought she had died at the hands of alien demons.

Now it seems that the situation is somewhat different.

Earthbound spirits are spirits that operate in a specific area.

And this particular area is where they are after their death.

In other words, Ri Hoshino died in this ruin, not in the first forbidden area.

Haruhiko suspects that the First Exclusion Zone is just a façade and that Izumo Shrine is hiding some major secret.

"Snake Spirit, since its establishment, they have searched for ruins everywhere, but they didn't expect to be found here."

Hoshino Ri sighed and said.

"Luckily, we got ahead of the game."

Haruhiko said with relief, "The Snake Spirit Headquarters was severely damaged by the Great Imperial Force not long ago, and they should not dare to explore this ruin in a short period of time. ”

"You found the Snake Spirit Headquarters?"

Ri Hoshino was a little surprised when she heard this.

This happened not long ago.

Aoi Hoshino probably didn't have time to tell her, so she didn't know.

"Fluke."

Haruhiko casually found a reason.

The main thing is that I can't talk about this in detail, and it will reveal some secrets that he will have.

Fortunately, Hoshino Ri didn't ask.

"Aunt Pear, what are you doing here?"

Seeing that the conversation was about the same, Haruhiko asked the key question.

He thought he could harvest a spiritual ore here, but he found that there was an owner.

It's awkward.

He didn't want to run for nothing.

If you can know the purpose of Hoshino Riri, it will not be a loss.

“……”

Ri Hoshino fell silent.

Haruhiko frowned slightly.

Her reaction was really tricky.

But because she is the sister-in-law of Rin Hoshino and Hoshino Hoshino, it is impossible for him to purify her to ashes.

This will directly become a mortal enemy of Izumo Shrine.

No matter how you look at it, it's not a cost-effective thing.

"It doesn't hurt to tell you."

Hoshino Ri suddenly spoke, "But I have one condition, except for you and Hotaru, everyone else has to leave." ”

Haruhiko naturally agreed.

He was ready to return in vain today, but he didn't expect Hoshino Ri to choose to tell him.

The secret that she could remain here after her death was obviously of great value.

Even if you can't cash it out, it's not in vain.

"Stand back."

Haruhiko waved his hand.

Utsunomiya Mina and the others immediately did so.

Even Jinguji Winter Palace, in order not to arouse suspicion, stayed away.

After all, in her opinion, as long as Haruhina knows, it means that she will also know, and there is no need to rush at this time.

Jinguji Winter Palace is not really interested in most of them.

But there is a little bit of interest in this ruin.

The main thing is that she couldn't see the enchantment before.

Under normal circumstances, even if it was an enchantment formed by a fifth-order spirit tool, she could feel it.

Not this time.

Its strength is much higher than that of the average fifth order.

It could be a legendary artifact.

Rishi Hoshino was not completely reassured.

She flicked her fingers, and immediately a psionic energy flowed out, enveloping the three of them.

"Did you go to another way?"

After Hoshino Ri finished it, she asked.

"I've been there."

Haruhiko glanced at Hoshino Hotaru and said, "Hotaru also tried to open it, saying that there is an unknown passage underneath. ”

"Not bad."

Hoshino Ri let out a breath and said, "That's the entrance to the Yellow Spring. ”

Haruhiko couldn't help but show surprise on his face.

Is it the Yellow Spring he understands?

But why is it here?

Hey, it seems reasonable.

The main god of the great country is the ruler of the reed plain.

A thousand years ago, the Takamagahara, the Reed Plains, and the Yellow Springs were interconnected.

In particular, the Yellow Springs Road is called Yellow Springs Hirazaka in the legend of Toei.

And most believe that its actual location is in Shimane Prefecture.

Now they are in Shimane Prefecture.

It seems that the appearance of the Yellow Springs Road is not surprising.

The god who presides over the Yellow Springs is called Izanami, and she is also the mother of the gods.

It's just that it's not in Huangquan at this time, so it's hard to say.

"Why do you want to block Yellow Springs?"

Haruhiko asked suspiciously.

"Blocking the Yellow Spring is naturally to protect the world."

Ri Hoshino spoke amazingly.

"Protect the world?"

Haruhiko raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is there anything in the Yellow Spring?" ”

Under normal circumstances, people who have died would go to Yellow Springs.

But after going to Huangquan, I can't go back.

It is no longer the soul that can return, but something else.

"Alien."

Ri Hoshino said an answer that Haruhiko didn't expect.

How could there be a demon in the Yellow Springs?

And listening to this meaning, there are a lot of them.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have said that she was protecting the world.

"It all started thousands of years ago."

Hoshino Ri knew that Haruhiko was puzzled, and she didn't sell it, so she directly explained the reason.

Izumo Shrine was built and has been impossible to study.

But surely it is extremely ancient.

In the time of the gods, it was quite active.

The first few palace priests of Izumo Shrine had seen the main gods of the great powers.

Because this god is different, he does not live in Takamagahara, but in Reedbara.

A thousand years ago, Reedhara was the Izumo Kingdom.

In other words, he is a god who walks in this world.

The connection with Izumo Shrine is naturally closer.

Therefore, they know better.

For example, the reason for the disappearance of the gods.

It was caused by the combination of the Yaki Orochi and the demons.

The former is actually easier to deal with than the latter.

Susanoo alone, Yaki Orochi can't be beaten.

But the demons are different.

There are just too many of them.

The structure of the alien demon is relatively simple.

After the fifth order, they can be regarded as true clansmen.

The rest are tool men or poultry-like locations.

As long as they eat enough, they can continue to evolve.

Their strength is not weaker than that of the gods at all.

Coupled with the undercover agent of the Yaqi Orochi, the gods were caught off guard and fled in defeat.

But that doesn't mean they didn't do anything.

The first thing was to break up the Nine Swords of the Gods.

Of course, Ri Hoshino didn't know about it.

What she knew was the second thing, and that was that all the demons that came to her were locked in the Yellow Spring by the gods.

Yellow Springs is the world of the dead.

Alien demons are the living.

Theoretically, as long as it lasts indefinitely, they will all die in the Yellow Spring.

Of course, the alien demon is powerful, and it is impossible to sit still.

The way they do this is by teleporting.

Sometimes, it will appear in the present world.

In addition, the alien demons in the alien plane are also trying to invade.

Before the gods left, the main god of the great country instructed the people of Izumo Shrine to guard the entrance to the Yellow Spring for generations, and not to let any strange demons come out.

"We dig the spirit mine precisely to continuously strengthen the entrance."

Ri Hoshino finally added.

"But why ......"

Haruhiko wanted to speak and stopped.

"Why the spirit state?"

Ri Hoshino said what he didn't finish.

Haruhiko nodded.

Even if you want to guard the entrance, you don't need to kill yourself.

With the human body, isn't it the same?

"It was because of an accident."

Ri Hoshino explained, "About eleven years ago, a strange demon struck the entrance to the Yellow Spring, causing a shock. They and I both died in that accident, but because of the breath leaking from the Yellow Spring, we became Earth Bound Spirits. ”

Eleven years ago?

Haruhiko's heart moved.

It's this familiar point in time again.

It was also the time when he was sent to Inari Shrine.

Haruhiko suddenly had a flash of inspiration and realized something.

"Did my parents participate in that accident?"

"Not bad."

Hoshino Ri didn't hide it and said directly.

Haruhiko's eyes lit up.

What Mina Utsunomiya told him before was that his parents disappeared into the first forbidden area.

But Hoshino Aoi also said that there has always been an Izumo Shrine guard in the depths of the first forbidden area, and he has not seen it.

Haruhiko didn't know if they were in the first penalty area.

At this time, Hoshino Ri finally helped him solve this doubt.

But on the other hand, it is also said that the star Aoi deceived him.

She was so good to him, apparently because of his parents.

But she never told him why.

"Are they dead?"

Haruhiko came back to his senses and asked.

"Nope."

Hoshino Ri shook her head and said, "They're missing in the Yellow Springs. ”

“……”

Haruhiko was stunned.

The Yellow Spring is full of demons.

Is that still alive?

"Don't worry."

Rishi Hoshino saw his thoughts and said, "They carried the artifact of the gods of Izumo Shrine, so they shouldn't be dead." ”

Haruhiko couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Although there is not much affection, it is his parents after all.

And for the sake of the face of Yui Tachibana and others, he also had to save people.

After all, they have a lot of relationship.

"Aunt Pear, I still have a doubt."

Haruhiko glanced at Hoshino Hotaru and asked, "The outside world said that you and Aunt Aoi entered the first forbidden area, what are you going to do?" ”

Since Hoshino Pear is in the ruins of the main god of the great country, it means that the first forbidden area may not be as dangerous as imagined.

At least not one has to die to come out.

Ri Hoshino fell silent.

She looked at Hoshino Hoshino, her lips moving, and she stopped talking.

"This is the secret of Izumo Shrine."

Ri Hoshino redirected her gaze to Haruhiko's, "I'm sorry, I can't tell you. ”

“……”

Haruhiko was not disappointed.

In fact, he expected it.

For now, Rin Hoshino and Hoshino Hoshino Hoshino must go to the first forbidden area.

This is clearly related to the twin inheritance.

But it's not for nothing.

Both of them are likely to survive.

This made Haruhiko feel a little less stressed.

As for the specific reason, when he reaches the fifth or sixth order, he will naturally know.

It's just a matter of time.

"It's okay."

Haruhiko shook his head and said, "Since the Izumo Shrine is here, then let's abandon this ruin." ”

Although the spirit ore is very precious, it is still not as good as Rin Hoshino and Hoshino Hoshino.

"No, you don't."

Hoshino Ri smiled and said, "Spirit ore is only used to strengthen the enchantment, but it is actually more wasteful, you can also mine it." ”

Haruhiko couldn't help but be a little surprised.

But on second thought, she actually said it well.

The enchantment in the magma can be maintained, and the spirit ore is only a small part of the factors, and the most important thing is the spirit tool.

As long as it exists, the enchantment will always exist.

The only thing needed is a regular replenishment of psionic energy.

And the spiritual energy of the spirit ore is overflowing, and digging out a part of it and selling it or using it on the Utsunomiya clan is completely more than enough.

To Haruhiko's surprise, Ri Hoshino actually agreed to give up the spirit mine.

Is it the credit of his parents again?

Perhaps they were the key players in the accident eleven years ago.

Otherwise, why do they have the artifact of Izumo Shrine on them?

Can something like an artifact be handed over to an outsider casually?

Apparently impossible.

They were definitely playing the most important role at the time.

Haruhiko was not polite either.

If you refuse, it will definitely make Utsunomiya Mina not very happy.

For this maid, he still has to be careful.

After all, she was working for herself.

The more powerful the Utsunomiya clan is, the better it will be for him.

After Haruhiko agreed, he turned around and went to see Utsunomiya Mina.

I omitted a specific reason, but I just said that I would mine spiritual ore together with Izumo Shrine.

Utsunomiya Mina didn't ask either, anyway, the goal had been achieved.

And in a sense, a cooperation with Izumo Shrine was reached.

Even when she was in charge of the Utsunomiya clan and the Yagyu clan, she never did it.

Although the Utsunomiya clan is not particularly strong now, at least the relationships and connections are tough.

As long as you don't make mistakes, develop with peace of mind, and have the Dogomon clan and Izumo Shrine as partners, outsiders will not dare to covet it.

(End of chapter)