Multiverse: Why does the world show a health bar? !

The way Hana Saruri appeared was swift. At least, in Li Mo's perception, he couldn't sense how she had arrived. The only explanation he could think of was teleportation.

Of course, Hana Saruri's situation was special. Li Mo knew that her existence was based on impurity. Did she still retain some of her abilities?

Li Mo couldn't find the answer in his memories. All he knew was that Miss Hana Saruri couldn't fight.

"How did Miss Hana Saruri appear?"

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you that," Hana Saruri replied. "Did you call for me earlier?"

Li Mo nodded. "Yes, I did. Because I came across this thing, and I don't know how to use it. Why does there have to be a puzzle?"

He patted the stone lantern-like object next to him where the ward was placed. The puzzle wasn't difficult, but he just hated it.

If he ever met a riddle-loving person, he'd probably chop them down without a second thought.

"A puzzle? According to her memories, it should be a redundant mechanism. I'm not entirely sure what it is, but I apologize for the trouble," Hana Saruri said softly, her gentle voice lingering in his ears.

It was the kind of voice that belonged to a caring older sister.

Li Mo didn't have much resentment to begin with, and whatever little he had vanished. Hana Saruri was the type of person who, just by standing there, could make you feel as if you were bathed in a warm spring breeze.

"Actually, Miss Hana Saruri, you don't need to apologize. So, is this matter resolved now?"

"Yes, it's over. You truly are the chosen one, effortlessly purging the impurities here," Hana Saruri said.

Li Mo sighed. "Anyone with decent strength could have done what I did. Even if ordinary people couldn't, the Shogun, who resides in Tenshukaku, spends all day in her Plane of Euthymia. She could just take a stroll and handle this."

"The Shogun has to consider the greater affairs of Inazuma. Such trivial matters can be handled by us."

"I was just saying."

Everyone knew that Inazuma's Raiden Ei was a shut-in, holed up in her Plane of Euthymia, lost in thought. Dreamers couldn't accomplish anything, and this world didn't have any sequence upgrades.

Li Mo didn't dwell on what the shut-in Raiden Shogun was doing. He asked, "So, where to next?"

"The next barrier is located at the abandoned shrine northeast of Konda Village. You'll need to find the ward first, then head to the barrier's location. For certain reasons, I'm afraid I can't accompany you there," Hana Saruri explained.

"Huh? Miss Hana Saruri, aren't you able to move freely outside? Why can't you come with me?" Li Mo asked.

His first meeting with Hana Saruri had been in front of the Heavenly Fox statue. Before that, during the battle earlier in the day, she had been observing him and Uncle Teshima fighting the Hilichurls around Konda Village.

She could move freely. So why couldn't she accompany him now?

Hana Saruri looked at him, her expression hidden behind her mask. After a moment, she said, "I cannot approach the barrier."

"Then, going to the shrine should be fine, right? Miss Hana Saruri, how about you accompany me to retrieve the ward? I can handle the rest on my own," Li Mo said earnestly.

He had already said this much...

Was this what it felt like to be needed?

Hana Saruri asked, "Why do you insist on me accompanying you?"

"Well, to put it bluntly, this is Miss Hana Saruri's request. Isn't it natural for me to make such a demand? To be polite, exploring alone can be boring, and I don't have a flying emergency food to talk to."

Li Mo often did missions alone. Once, he had gone on a mission with Makomo, but that was for a very short time. In the Demon Slayer world, during his time as a Hashira, he usually operated solo.

"That's true. I'll accompany you. Let's meet at the Heavenly Fox statue tomorrow morning, where we first met. How does that sound?"

Listening to Hana Saruri's gentle voice, Li Mo felt a pang of doubt. He asked, "Why tomorrow morning?"

"It's dusk outside now. You've been through two battles today. What you need now is rest, not to continue with the mission."

Li Mo was currently underground. Even though there was light from various sources, it wasn't sunlight. The distinction between day and night was based on whether the sun had set. Underground, time was hard to gauge, and Li Mo didn't have any device to tell the time.

"I see. Where will Miss Hana Saruri go tonight?"

"I have my own place to rest."

"Then, I'll see you tomorrow morning, Miss Hana Saruri."

Li Mo bid her farewell.

After that, he climbed out of the well. The Kamai house was next to the Konda house. Thinking about it, the Kamai family lived right next to the village chief's house. Being a close associate was a given. It seemed Kamaiichiro joining the Tenryou Commission wouldn't be a problem, right?

When he returned to the Kamai house, they were waiting for him to have dinner. The family didn't ask what Li Mo had been doing and simply started the meal.

After dinner, Li Mo sat alone in his room. The window was open, allowing him to see the fields outside. He sat on the tatami, meditating.

"If you want to come in, just come in. I have plenty of time."

"Then I'll come in, sir."

The one who entered was Kamaiichiro. Like Li Mo, he had disappeared for the afternoon after the morning's battle, and no one knew what he had been doing.

Kamaiichiro sat down in front of Li Mo and said, "Sir, I have some news. I'm not sure if I should bring it up."

"What news?"

"My former subordinates suddenly found me. They said the Tenryou Commission's Takatsukasa family is secretly recruiting a group of ronin. If we go now, we can form an independent squad."

Kamaiichiro had spent the afternoon dealing with this matter. Many of his former subordinates had already retired, but some were still active as bandits. This news had come from those brothers.

He was unsure. He himself could join the Tenryou Commission, but what about his companions? They didn't have the same connections as Kamaiichiro.

"The Takatsukasa family?" Li Mo didn't recall this family's name. He only remembered that the Tenryou Commission was under the Kujou family's jurisdiction.

So... why was the Takatsukasa family recruiting ronin?

"Will you be given official positions?"

"No, it's a private recruitment."

A private army?

This was getting interesting. Why was the Takatsukasa family recruiting a private army? No, it was possible they were expanding their private forces. But why?

Li Mo looked toward the southeast, where he could vaguely see the imposing silhouette of Inazuma City. With the Shogun seated atop Tenshukaku, detached from worldly affairs, and the Tri-Commission managing Inazuma, what undercurrents were stirring?

"My advice is, don't go. And tell your comrades not to go either. With the Fatui in Inazuma, who knows what the Takatsukasa family is planning?"

"Thank you, sir."

"If you want to use my name, go ahead." Li Mo then realized that Kamaiichiro probably understood this logic but was hesitant due to personal ties.

Kamaiichiro said, "Thank you, sir."