Chapter 324
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Chapter 324: Pleasing to the Eye
Yingzhou is a land of wonder, where foreign beliefs take root and flourish.
Yet, in this eastern land, many foreign deities inevitably blend into Shintoism. Over time, variations like Buddhist Shinto, Confucian Shinto, and even State Shinto emerged.
In a world brimming with mystery, deities and beliefs were never mere spiritual symbols.
It couldn’t hurt to believe a little.
Or better yet:
There are immense benefits—come quickly and believe in my deity.
Driven by the lure of solace and benefit, faith grew, intertwining deeply into the lives of believers.
In Goryeo, wicked followers were abundant, and in Yingzhou, the adherents of Shintoism were countless. Ise Shrine, Inari Shrine, Nara Kasuga Shrine, Itsukushima Shrine—all housed deities that truly brought blessings, dispelled calamities, and resolved difficulties.
In the present day, the shrine functions as a disaster management organization, overseeing all of Yingzhou. It operates under the direct authority of the shogunate, reporting to the shogun himself. Though it rose to prominence in the last half-century, its roots extend far deeper. Long before, witches gathered and collaborated with the shogunate and local shrines to build its foundation.
Shrines, regardless of their name, exist because of gods. Without gods, there would be no witches or priests to serve and worship.
For centuries, the shrine lacked divine care.
The witches, nearly all of them, clung to their belief in gold. Even though this mysterious metal was absent in their land, they steadfastly rejected other gods, worshipping long-absent deities with unwavering devotion.
But everything changed.
First, the shrine came under the shogunate’s control.
Then, twenty years ago, the Bloody Red Moon unleashed the Scarlet Curse.
Finally, the shrine split in two.
One faction left the shrine, returning to the fields to uphold tradition, caring for descendants of witches afflicted by the curse. The other faction became the shogunate’s warriors, abandoning the gods they once revered.
The former clung to faith, sheltered witches, and relied on the miraculous Golden Miracle of Europa, which crossed the vast ocean to bless them.
The latter forsook their beliefs entirely. Sword witches became professional warriors, ignorant of their origins or the bloodline they carried. Most believed their transformations under the Crimson Moon were mere consequences of a curse, unaware of the awakening of their witch heritage.
Kokonohana Nori stood in astonishment.
She was a sword witch who had lived through the shrine’s division and had once seen a peculiar portrait.
The painting, unlike anything native to Yingzhou, used techniques from Europa’s golden age, an empire’s cultural zenith unmatched even by allied nations today.
Now, the young man before her bore a startling resemblance to that divine figure in the painting—not just similar, but identical.
Bai Wei, in his spiritual form, had not considered his own reflection. His current appearance resembled not his present self but an emperor or mentor from the past.
Unaware of Kokonohana Nori’s recognition, he hoped she wouldn’t notice. Explaining his altered features—hair, eyes, and all—would be too complicated. What would he say? That he was a Super Saiyan?
Yet, Nori did recognize him, though doubt clouded her certainty. After all, in her world, gods were long-dead beings unworthy of trust.
If she were to witness the witches in Europa—blessed, thriving—her heart would twist with sorrow and rage. Why were they spared while Yingzhou’s witches suffered?
Despite her disbelief, Nori pressed on, seeking answers.
“What is happening here?”
“You’ve simply awakened,” Bai Wei replied.
“Awakened?”
“For a witch to fully realize her talents, she must awaken. The Scarlet Curse triggered your awakening but also caused chaos in your bloodline. Expel the curse, and you’ll complete the process. Given your age, there’s no risk involved. You’re a successor of the witch’s bloodline.”
“Witch?” Nori hesitated. “Not a shrine maiden?”
“A shrine maiden serves gods; a witch is born with it. Because of your unique bloodline, the Scarlet Curse affected you,” Bai Wei explained. “It seems you weren’t aware of your heritage.”
Nori shook her head. She hadn’t known—she hadn’t cared.
In Europa, witches were common. Simple village girls. Across the ocean, why would they care about each other’s struggles?
But something clicked. The Scarlet Curse affected witches. Sword witches from Yingzhou, lacking that bloodline, remained untouched.
“Then why wasn’t it a problem before?” Nori asked.
“Because the red moon didn’t exist before. Your survival now may be due to age and increased resistance.”
Bai Wei paused, realization dawning.
“Who else within the shrine carries this bloodline?”
“Over 90% of the sword witches are actually witches,” Nori admitted, gritting her teeth.
“…90%?” Bai Wei murmured.
The realization struck hard. For years, his encounters with non-witch sword witches had skewed his perception. The truth—hidden by survivorship bias—finally emerged.
“What do you think?” Nori asked.
“Is this… important?” Bai Wei deflected.
She wanted to press him, to demand his identity, but held back.
Her emotions were tangled: anger, hope, doubt. If this deity was truly their protector, why now? Why not sooner?
“If you’re lost here, I can show you a way out,” Bai Wei offered.
“Do you know how to navigate?”
“Of course.”
“I still need to find the other two sword witches,” Nori said.
“Explore here. I’ll guide you through the Underworld labyrinth.”
“Thank you…”
“Sure,” Bai Wei replied evenly.
As he turned to leave, Nori called out, “Why are you helping me so much?”
The young man paused, his back to her.
“Because I find you pleasing to the eye.”