Entering a Company From Another World! – Chapter 772

Deep within the mountains, the party progressed, surrounded by an almost excessive, over-the-top escort.

Hours passed, the air thick with a subtle tension, occasionally broken by casual chatter. It was the time of day when the sun had already set over the entire area, and the number of people active was dwindling, just the right timing.

“We’ve stopped,” Evia announced.

“We’ve arrived at our destination, haven’t we? I hate it, I hate it. I’ve never liked this atmosphere since way back when,” Keiri grumbled.

Secluded places far from human settlements are indeed ideal for concealing mysteries. If Evia or Jiro were here, they likely would have been led to a different location than the one they had arrived at.

A basin, capable of accommodating a large number of people.

The area was surrounded by mountains, and the only way to enter the basin was a mountain road, merely paved for a single lane.

What greeted them was simply a plot of land with a single, large, red torii gate erected in the basin.

Upon seeing it through the window, Kirika, who recognized the place, let out a heavy sigh and looked at Keiri.

“You should start preparing to disembark. Once we’re here, Kirie will probably summon you too.”

Without any hesitation, she began to exit the vehicle on her own.

“Wait, wait up, just a moment!!”

Her husband, Ichiro, without questioning her actions, followed Kirika, who had hastily grabbed her suitcase and gotten out of the car.

Their movements, as if they fully understood what was about to happen, caused the others in the car to exchange glances with the person seated closest to them. Then, albeit lagging, they too also went outside.

“Something about this place feels… off.”

Amelia was the first to notice the strangeness after stepping outside the car.

She spoke of the basin, where only a torii gate was installed, and only the area around the gate and the road were leveled.

“…It does,” Karen agreed with Amelia’s words.

She too could sense that this place was something out of the ordinary.

“Of course it is. This is a ritual site for descending gods. It hasn’t been used for decades, perhaps centuries, but its remnants still linger strongly. Those old geezers meticulously perform festivals and purification rituals several times a year, which is why this kind of atmosphere persists.”

Keiri herself was also contemplating this space, where something other than spirits, something not of a corrupted aura, lingered strongly. Kirika, without missing a beat, revealed the true nature of the atmosphere.

Her expression, as if she detested gods, was so displeased it could only be described as troublesome.

“You’re the only one who can say that about this place, Big Sis.”

“That’s just how I am, now and in the past.”

Their sisterly relationship wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either.

Their conversation hinted at this relationship, creating a tense atmosphere.

Since they were both adults, they judged that there was no need for an emotional, pointless argument, and thus, no further sarcasm was exchanged.

Those who had gotten out of the car had worried that a quarrel might erupt, but their fears were unfounded, bringing a sense of relief.

“I apologize for interrupting your reunion, sisters, but may we return the item in question to the person over there?”

It was then suggested that the next step was to proceed with the business at hand.

The intention behind bringing them to this place, devoid of any structures other than the torii gate, needed clarification.

Keiri, unable to simply discard the Sacred Treasure, a miraculous item, in this location, searched for a strange presence.

“Please be at ease. The person who will receive it will arrive shortly.”

Once the sun set, only the moonlight would illuminate this area. The police officers took out their lights, attempting to brighten their surroundings, but the members affiliated with the Association stopped them.

And then, it happened moments later.

“…The moon.”

Someone noticed. No, everyone noticed.

It was a phenomenon impossible on Earth. The moon visible from Earth must be a small sphere shining in the sky. It would never display a scene that mirrored the entire surface of the moon, covering the sky’s view.

Abnormal.

The police officers stood stunned, stuck on that single word.

“They’re here,” Keiri stated, unfazed by the abnormal situation. She sighed, as if she had finally grown tired of waiting.

“Kirie-!!”

Then, from the vast expanse of the moon’s surface, a giant fox with fur of a magnificent platinum color came rushing through the air. A child, riding on the back of the divine beast known as the Moon Fox, descended from the sky, waving their hands vigorously as if to draw attention.

“Mimamori-sama.”

The Land God, whom the gods had entrusted with overseeing the earthly realm, had descended.

One could say she was the highest authority in this place. A being beyond human comprehension had arrived. Faced with this fact, the members of the Association prostrated themselves and welcomed the descent of the god.

Kirie, the representative, caught the child in her young form who leaped from the Moon Fox. However, she too should have been one of those who knelt. The reason she didn’t was perhaps due to past amity.

The police force, startled by the sudden actions of the Association members, were in disarray. The residents from the otherworld observed the situation.

“Loli-god, you say!?”

“Be quiet.”

Nan, who had said something unnecessary, let out a shriek as her side was pinched.

In a space that was beginning to descend into chaos, the human desire for order was a natural progression. Gently, she pulled away Mimamori, who had clung to her, and then gracefully knelt on the spot.

“To the revered existence, the gods, we have come to convey that our long-cherished wish is about to be accomplished.”

Not as a friend, but as a Miko, she informed the god that the time had come.

“Is that so? Is that so?” Mimamori-shin smiled joyfully at Kirie’s solemn words.

“Well then, well then!! Shall we open it!! Shall we awaken it!! Come, come!! It has arrived in this era!!” She spun around twice and stood before the giant torii gate, clapping twice.

Was that the signal to summon the gods? The torii gate showed no change. But the people present witnessed the moment a white space was summoned within the torii gate.

“Come, come!! Guests from another world!! Hand over the key!!” Mimamori-shin, having effortlessly accomplished this, turned to Keiri and extended one hand.

“Understood.”

After all, handing over the item was one of the purposes of the Demon Lord’s Army. Signaling her subordinate, the hatch at the rear of the vehicle was opened. The Sacred Treasure, kept securely in a special case, trembled as if it were rejoicing at the prospect of coming to this place, forcibly trying to break free from its restraints. Even through the seal, it was emitting an immense power.

“Hmm! It’s truly reviving!!” Mimamori-shin did not hide her joy at the result.

Some of the police officers lost consciousness upon being hit by the Sacred Treasure’s fluctuations. Nan and the others were on high alert, as if witnessing a nuclear weapon on the verge of criticality. Amelia, who had been in the same car as the Sacred Treasure until just moments ago, turned pale, while Karen deployed her equipment and erected a defensive barrier.

“…Is this what a Sacred Treasure is like?” Nan calmly tried to gauge the opponent’s power, with Katsu subtly positioned behind her to provide support and watch their surroundings.

“I will break the seal.”

“Okay!”

In such a situation, Keiri took the magic stone she possessed for breaking seals from her pocket and crushed it in one hand. The moment the crisp sound of it shattering echoed, a shockwave emanated from the Sacred Treasure as if a storm had blown through, causing everyone nearby to fall and struggle to stand, as the Sacred Treasure’s power raged through the space.

“Karen! Strengthen the barrier more, gozaru!!”

“I’m trying!! But with such immense power, the magic consumption…”

The Demon Lord’s Army, having immediately taken refuge within the defensive barrier deployed by Karen, escaped harm. However, facing this storm-like rampage of the Sacred Treasure’s power, Karen’s barrier, powered by her individual magic and without any means of replenishment, was steadily weakening and wouldn’t hold for long.

“Yes, yes, I know waking up is unpleasant, but please behave yourselves!!” The one who quelled that adversity was the god herself, who desired the Sacred Treasure’s release. With a mere clap of her hands, the Sacred Treasure immediately calmed down.

“Honestly! Izanagi-sama left behind such a troublesome Sacred Treasure! It’s so difficult to use!” Even so, Mimamori-shin, puffing out her cheeks in annoyance at its excessive quirkiness, walked with large strides, trying her best to express her strength with her small body. Eventually, she stretched her arms out desperately towards the floating Sacred Treasure.

“Hnnngh—-!!” She reached out, her face bright red, but it was clear she was nowhere near reaching it. Was the Sacred Treasure rebelling, not recognizing Mimamori-shin as its wielder?

“Come dowwwwwwwn!!!” She waved her hands frantically, but the Sacred Treasure showed no sign of descending from its fixed position. Mimamori-shin stomped her feet in frustration below, but if things could be settled by that, she wouldn’t be in this predicament.

With a sigh, accepting the situation, the Moon Fox rose from its seated position, approached Mimamori-shin from behind, nudged its nose into her crotch, and then, as if carrying her on its shoulders, lifted its head, providing the height she lacked.

“Heh heh! Good, good!!” Finally able to reach the Sacred Treasure, Mimamori-shin praised the Moon Fox.

“Alright, let’s go to the torii gate like this!!” The girl, carrying the key-shaped Sacred Treasure—disproportionately large for her small frame—on her shoulder, mounted the Moon Fox and arrived before the torii gate.

“Now!! Wake up, gods, and hurry!!” She then thrust the Sacred Treasure into the white space without hesitation.

“And pay my overtime!! You’ve slept too much-!!” In that instant, the people present heard an out-of-place scream. The hearts of everyone present agreed that they had heard a statement unbecoming of a god.

“…So gods have overtime too, gozaru.” Nan touched upon a point that was hard to retort to, but perhaps Karen felt the same way, or perhaps that scream was similar to the shouts of a certain person—specifically, their party leader—and thus she couldn’t pursue the matter deeply. It was a scream that was too earnest. It was not a voice a being in the guise of a young girl should ever raise.

“That’s precisely why I dislike gods,” Kirika muttered softly, her voice blending into the surroundings as someone, somewhere, heard it. The Sacred Treasure then fulfilled its original purpose. The torii gate became a gateway connecting to a different world. That world was the Divine Realm, where the Amatsukami, spoken of in Japanese Mythology, were born and resided. The gate to Takamagahara was connected.

“Sakura?” Petals danced, though it was not the season for them to bloom. No, not just cherry blossoms. Sunflowers, cosmos, white lilies, plum blossoms, camellias, and tulips. There was no consistency in the seasons. A world where all kinds of flowers bloomed. A beautiful world that could be called paradise spread out before them.

“Everyone, let’s go!!” Mimamori, riding the Moon Fox, took the lead and entered such a world.

“Go? You mean, into there?” Ichiro understood what he had been told and, unable to suppress his racing heart, gazed at his wife, Kirika.

“Haa, it’s come to this after all. I can’t help it, but I really didn’t want it to turn out this way.” Not to dismiss his expectations, but Kirika, half in resignation and half having resolved herself, took that first step, far ahead of everyone else present.

“Look, look, you won’t achieve your objectives if you don’t go.” Her back was seen by Keiri, Nan, Karen, Amelia, and Katsu—the back of a man who had always taken the initiative in any difficult situation.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry, I have a trump card. We’ll figure something out.” And seeing her smile as she turned back, she thought, ‘Ah, they really are parent and child.’ Encouraged by her reassuring smile, the group stepped into the world where the gods dwelled.

Today’s Word:
Unpaid overtime, absolutely not.

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