Akiko had grown up quite a bit under Reiko's guidance. At the very least, she could be a good witch without Horii's help.

Horii sat lazily in the corridor, while Akiko, who was still young, sat on the other side wiping the bow and arrow. Watching her movements, Horii couldn't help but smiled.

White Mist Pill jumped down from the eaves, rolled twice on the ground, and accurately delivered itself to Horii’s hand.

Horii rubbed this little Yokai who had gained a lot of weight recently, Horii suddenly said, "Akiko."

Akiko stopped her movements and said, "Lord Horii?"

When Horii finished the first word, she didn't know how to continue. She had thought of leaving here when Akiko was able to manage the shrine, but she did not know how to tell Akiko.

She wondered if this was a bit selfish, shifting her responsibility to Akiko.

However, Akiko seemed to understand what she was thinking. Akiko lowered her head and continued to wipe the bow and arrow in her hand. "Is Lord Horii ready to leave?" She said.

"… I am considering this."

Akiko said, “If you're worried about the shrine, I can handle it now! When are you leaving?"

"… Next month, let's wait until the weather is colder before we set off."

Akiko nodded and remained silent.

The little Yokai in the shrine surged up and surrounded Horii, asking in all directions, "Lord Horii, are you really leaving?"

"Bring us along!"

"Lord Horii, don't leave! We won't complain about you anymore!"

"Who can protect us if you leave here …?”

"…"

Horii pressed down on her temples in a distressed manner, and the sad emotion that she had brewed diluted a lot.

"Quiet down." She shouted softly, and the little Yokai immediately quieted down, blinking as they looked at her.

"I'm just going out for a while. It's not like I'm not coming back." Seeing the happy expressions on the little Yokai's faces, she said, "When I'm not here, you guys have to obey Akiko and take good care of the shrine. Understand?"

"Are you coming back?"

"Of course!"

"Oh," The little monsters nodded, then turned around and dispersed.

Horii was dumbfounded as she watched the group of little Yokai swaying back to their original positions to bask in the sun. Horii was so angry that her eyes twitched as she took out a fire talisman from her bosom.

Akiko looked at this and tried to stop Horii.

"Akiko, don't stop me. I must punish these fellows today!"

…

One month later, Horii didn't leave as her plan.

The back of the mountain at night was very quiet. Any movement of wind and grass seemed to be magnified infinitely.

Horii quietly opened her eyes in the darkness. She stood up and put on her clothes. She looked at Akiko who was still asleep and walked out of the shrine.

Horii walked down the hill. Before she could take a few steps, the bushes on the side suddenly trembled a few times and were separated by a pair of fair and delicate hands covered in bloodstains.

At the same time, the faint smell of blood that Horii had previously smelled became even more intense.

A beautiful face appeared.

"Who are you? Why did you come to my shrine late at night?" Horii frowned and paused on the woman's beautiful face for a moment before looking at the swaddling infant in her arms.

The woman was a human, but the infant she was hugging …

Horii did not know what was happening to her. From a long time ago, her sense of smell and hearing had become sharper and sharper day by day. Just like before, she had heard footsteps coming up the mountain in her sleep, and now she could smell the demonic aura of a baby in a woman's arms without looking.

Half-Yokai.

The child probably belongs to this woman and some other powerful Yokai.

The woman was somewhat uneasy by her gaze. She lowered her head and whispered, "May I ask if you are Lord Reiko?"

"I'm not. Lord Reiko has already died."

'"Ah, how could that be" The woman cried out in surprise. Then, she reacted and introduced herself, "I am so sorry to bother you in the middle of the night. My name is Izayoishiingu. It was Lord Dog General who asked me to see Lord Reiko."

"You mean the Dog general … well, he's your husband?" Horii thought for a moment and thought that this guess was very reasonable.

No wonder she felt that she smelled a familiar demonic aura from that half-demon, which made sense.

Izayoishiingu blushed and nodded.

Just as Horii was about to say something, her expression suddenly changed and she extended hand.

Pa--

A flattened flea slowly drifted down.

Before it landed, Horii used her two fingers to pinch the flea.

"Yokai?"

"Little girl, quickly let go of your grandfather Myouga!" Myouga was pinched in Horii’s hand.

Horii lowered her eyes. After a moment of silence, she suddenly smiled and flicked Myouga out with her fingers.

“Lord Myouga …" Izayoishiingu exclaimed.

"Don't worry, just let him calm down." Horii looked at Izayoishiingu and said, “Izayoishiingu is a princess from a nearby city?"

When she went out, she heard that there was a city not far away. The City Lord had a beautiful daughter named Izayoishiingu. She must be the daughter.

"Yes …" Izayoishiingu hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded. "Lord Dog originally sent me to look for Lord Reiko, saying that she is his old friend. Reiko can temporarily protect me and my son … Something unexpected has happened in the city …"

It didn't seem humane to drive a woman who had just given birth out late at night.

Horii thought for a moment and allow her to stay in the shrine.

"Since its General Dog's invitation, you can stay."