“What did you say?”
Zhenyue didn’t move.
He stood in front of You, the faint silver light around him expanding outward like opening an umbrella, enveloping You entirely.
“I said—You isn’t wrong.”
His tone was calm.
“Back then, you hid in Ama-no-Iwato because you were afraid of Susanoo, weren’t you? The great ruler of Takamagahara, daring to act but not to admit it?”
The corner of Amaterasu’s mouth twitched.
She stared at Zhenyue for a few seconds, then slowly shifted her gaze to You behind him.
“The fine son you’ve raised—he’s just like you.”
Zhenyue smiled.
“Of course. He’s my son.”
Standing behind his old man, You felt his legs go a little weak.
Not because of fear—well, okay, a little fear.
But more of a ‘I’m screwed, screwed, screwed’ kind of after-shock.
‘Did I really just call Amaterasu out to her face?’
‘Am I crazy?’
He glanced at the three people kneeling beside him.
Chihaya’s forehead was still pressed against the back of her hand, her posture perfectly still.
Mai’s shoulders trembled slightly.
Futaba, on the other hand, secretly lifted her head, shot him an approving look, then lowered it again.
That look clearly said—’Divine Child, you are truly the most gutsy person I’ve ever seen.’
You quietly withdrew his gaze.
‘Gutsy my ass. I just speak faster than I think.’
Zhenyue and Amaterasu silently stared at each other for a while.
Amaterasu spoke first.
“Yuejianye You.”
Her gaze passed over Zhenyue and landed on You’s face.
“For the sake of your father today, I’ll let this matter slide.”
She paused.
“But my patience is not unlimited. If there’s a next time, you know the consequences.”
With that, Amaterasu closed her eyes.
You felt that scorching pressure and divine aura recede like a tide, completely gone in a few seconds.
Hitomi opened her eyes again.
The blazing gold in her eyes had faded completely, returning to normal black.
She blinked, as if waking from a long dream.
The gentle, water-like aura around her had also returned.
Her first reaction upon regaining consciousness was to quickly bow to Zhenyue.
“I pay my respects to Lord Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.”
Her voice was still a bit unsteady, but her movements were precise.
Zhenyue waved his hand.
“No need for such formalities. I am not Tsukuyomi now, but Yuejianye Zhenyue. Do you understand, little girl?”
He glanced at the three young women still kneeling on the ground.
“And you other girls, all of you get up.”
As he spoke, the silver light that had been swirling around him dissipated.
That distant, sacred aura vanished, and he returned to the father You remembered—a taciturn, expressionless middle-aged man with a handsome face that looked somewhat slovenly.
Upon hearing Zhenyue’s words, the three young women and Hitomi all stood up.
When Mai stood, her knees were a bit weak, and she had to steady herself by leaning on her sister Chihaya’s shoulder.
Chihaya herself wasn’t much better; her face was noticeably pale.
Futaba, on the other hand, stood steadily, but her usual trademark smile had temporarily disappeared.
A few of them had some dust on their clothes.
Zhenyue looked at Hitomi with a half-smile on his face.
“Girl of the Nissho clan, did my sister tell you something extra just now?”
Hitomi’s cheeks immediately flushed crimson.
She stammered, her fingers twisting together in front of her.
“By the wisdom of Lord Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto… Great Goddess Amaterasu did indeed issue a divine oracle just now.”
She took a deep breath.
“She… she wants me to marry your Divine Child…”
Hearing this, You was completely petrified.
‘What the hell? Another one?’
The three women beside him each reacted differently.
Chihaya and Mai were both stunned.
Chihaya’s eyes widened slightly, her lips moved but no words came out.
Mai’s mouth formed an O shape, big enough to fit an egg.
Futaba was only stunned for a moment—if you weren’t watching closely, you wouldn’t notice.
Then a fox-like smile appeared on her face, like a fox that had just stolen a chicken.
After a while, Chihaya also reacted, but her expression was completely different from Futaba’s.
Her brow furrowed slightly, her lips pressed together, and her gaze fell on Hitomi with a scrutinizing quality.
Seeing Futaba’s expression, You belatedly realized something.
“A spy?”
The two words slipped out.
Then he quickly covered his mouth.
‘Damn it, I did it again. Saying that must be so embarrassing for Miss Hitomi.’
As soon as those two words left his mouth, Mai looked as if she had a sudden realization and covered her mouth.
Chihaya’s slightly displeased gaze turned toward him.
“You, saying it so directly like that is too rude to Miss Hitomi.”
Chihaya’s voice wasn’t loud, but every word was enunciated clearly.
Hitomi’s face grew even redder, from her cheeks to the roots of her ears, even her neck tinged with a light pink.
She lowered her head, looking at her own toes.
Futaba smiled even more happily.
She opened her fan, covering half her face, but her eyes curved into crescents that were almost invisible.
Zhenyue laughed.
“Just as I thought.”
He put his hands in his pockets, his tone casual.
“How could she possibly rest easy about me making any moves?”
He looked at Hitomi, softening his voice a little.
“Girl of the Nissho clan, don’t be afraid. If my sister wants to watch, then let her watch. No matter what your status is, as long as you marry You, you will be my daughter-in-law.”
Hitomi lifted her head, her face still red, but not as flustered as before.
“I understand, Lord Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto.”
She bowed to Zhenyue again, even more solemnly than before.
Then she turned around, walked up to You, and bent slightly.
Up close, You noticed that Hitomi’s white shrine maiden robe had delicate gold patterns on it, giving it an air of nobility.
Hitomi’s ample chest swayed slightly beneath the white fabric as she bowed, and You felt his gaze about to be drawn to that source of gravity again.
“Divine Child, I look forward to your kind guidance from now on.”
You hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.
And thanks to that damn gravity, he was a bit distracted.
But he quickly snapped out of it and also bowed slightly.
“Miss Hitomi, I am Yuejianye You. Please take care of me.”
He still wanted to ask his father more, but Zhenyue had already turned and left.
Leaving only a single sentence and a receding figure in the distance.
“I’m very satisfied with all these daughters-in-law. Do your best, You.”
His voice drifted over from afar.
“Also—what you said in front of Amaterasu just now, that was gutsy. I like it.”
“I’ll be off now.”
You was speechless.
‘What is all this?’
‘Dad always makes decisions on his own like this, geez.’
He turned his head and said to the four young women, “Sorry, my old man is always like this.”
He looked at Hitomi.
“Miss Hitomi, since things have turned out this way, why don’t we go back together?”
Hitomi nodded with a red face.
“Yes, Divine Child. Please allow me to change clothes first, then I’ll come—wearing a shrine maiden robe is inconvenient after all.”
She paused, her voice growing softer.
“Also, you can just call me Hitomi.”
You nodded and watched her turn and walk toward the shrine.
The red hakama skirt made a soft sound as it dragged across the stone path, and her white-clad back gradually disappeared behind the vermilion torii gate.
Futaba still wore her perfect trademark smile on her face.
But her mind had already started sounding the alarm.
‘What did Lord Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto mean by that sentence just now?’
‘He said “all these daughters-in-law” — “all these.”‘
‘Does that include me?’