We spend our time in the marketplace, buying everything we can buy using the money Rogue prepares for us. She is kind enough to give me one of her Agents, this world's smartphone, that allows me to transfer money.
This world might be fucked, but there are a lot of things they sell. Their fashion sense is also rather unique. Most of them are colorful and bombard you with stimulants, with a combination of color and style. Just like this city.
Don't get me started with the sex-filled fashion in this place. Even the red-light district back home will grimace at the sight around us.
Other than buying clothes, shoes, and other fashion-related things, we decide to visit other things. We even visit some kind of food court and decide to test the food. The end result? We decided not to eat food in this place.
It is disgusting, and our enchanted senses suffer because of it.
So we decide not to eat the food in this world and continue our walk around the city.
"Ryan, look."
I stop and look where Yasaka points at and see a small building called Misty's Estorica and Chakra Harmonization.
"What is it?"
"Look deeper."
I shrug and use my senjutsu to look deeper. I blink for a second when I notice a flicker of blue coming from someone inside the building.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Yup! Someone who has the potential to become a Miko! A Hime Miko at that!"
"Hime Miko, huh? That is rare. Let's go."
I wave my hand, creating a barrier around the building to keep the reporters and paparazzi who gather around us at bay as we explore this place. I don't want them to do anything to this place and the people inside.
With that done, Yasaka and I walk into the shop and see a young woman standing behind the counter. She is wearing blue clothes and goth accessories. When she sees us coming, her eyes widen, and she immediately greets us.
"Welcome to my shop, My Lord, My Lady."
I immediately wave my hand and say.
"Call me Ryan. I am not someone strict in formality and such."
"The same with me, dear. As long as we are not at a formal event, call me Yasaka."
We walk toward her, and I say.
"We are here because we sense something within you."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it looks like you are one of the lucky humans who is still born with spiritual energy inside of you."
I look at Yasaka and say,
"Do you want to explain it to her?"
"Of course."
Yasaka walks forward, takes her right hand, and says,
"Just like my husband says, you are born to wield the power of spiritual energy. It is an energy that is used by Miko or Shrine Maiden in English."
"Really?"
"Yup! It is a very rare thing, you know? Especially in this world. Have you experienced something supernatural lately? Seeing the wind of the world? Seeing something that others do not see?"
"I don't see anything, but I can feel something each time I use my tarot cards."
"Oh! Divination! What a rare gift. Well, what you are trying to do is to connect your spiritual energy to the leyline. Sadly, leylines in this world are already dead and require a lot of effort to revive."
"What is a leyline?"
"Think of them as the veins of the planet. It carries the breath of the planet itself and the reason there is life on it. There are still residues that make the planet habitable, but it will soon disappear."
"What happens when it disappears?"
"Well, the atmosphere will disappear, and this planet will be nothing but a floating rock in space. Humanity either needs to create something that lets them survive here or search for a new planet that is hospitable for them."
"Can you do anything about them?"
Yasaka looks at me, and I release a sigh. I rub the back of my head and say.
"I could, yes. However, it also requires cooperation with humans. Because Gaia itself, the soul of the planet, is dead, I need to recreate a life engine to replace the soul itself. It requires a lot of Green Mana, and if humans are still destroying this planet… Well, it will break, and I will not create more."
The woman looks at me and says.
"We will try. I don't know why, but for some reason, humanity will get out of this darkness."
"Very well. Then, you need to train to be a Miko first. We need someone to maintain the core, after all. It will be your duty to perform the ritual around the core and make sure it receives enough spiritual essence for it to grow."
I look at Yasaka and say.
"You teach her the basics while I take care of the preparation. I wonder if there is any land that I can purchase to make the temple."
"Temple?"
"What? You are going to be a Hime Miko. Of course, you need a temple. You are now a Priestess."
I should return to the Afterlife and ask Rogue about that. She knows a lot of things in this place, right? She must have a contract that allows me to buy land for the temple. I leave the building and see many people gathering behind the barrier.
I snap my fingers and reduce the barrier, protecting only the shop.
As I do that, I see a massive man walking toward me. I can feel his worry, but he puts on a tough front.
"Excuse me… Señor."
"Call me Ryan. What's up?"
"Errr… Can I ask what you are doing there, Señor Ryan?"
"What? Are you one of the reporters?"
"What?! No! I ain't a media. The owner of that shop and I have… a close relationship, and I wonder if she is okay."
"Ah! I see. Don't worry. We just noticed that she is carrying something extraordinary, and my wife is currently teaching her how to be a Miko."
"Miko?"
"A priestess. However, unlike a regular priestess, she will be closer to Onmyouji."
Seeing his confused expression, I chuckle a little and say.
"Magician. Think of her as a magician, but she needs to invoke the names of Gods to cast her spell."
"Ah, I see. C-Can I enter?"
"Of course. Go ahead. However, don't bother them too much, okay?"
"Yes! Thank you, Señor Ryan."
I create a small hole for him to enter the barrier, then close it again. I don't want the others to bother them and keep up the barrier. With a deep breath, I jump and fly toward the Afterlife. It is not that far, and I arrive in a minute.
I land on the ground and enter the underground bar, where I see people busy with the food from my world. It looks like they are ripping the scroll and are busy moving it to a storage facility, huh?
I can see Rogue sitting in front of the bar with a glass of whiskey in her hand.
"Yo, Rogue."
"Welcome back, Ryan. You have been busy."
"You know that?"
"It is all over the news, you know? There are three different channels performing live news at the moment. It looks like you have found someone interesting."
"Oh, yeah. My wife wants her to be a Miko. However, as a Miko, she needs a temple to take care of. Can you buy a rather large plot of land, I can destroy and rebuild?"
"I know a few people willing to give away their land."
"Perfect. Can you get that land for me? I will pay you in gold, silver, or favor."
"I will do you a favor. I need to call a few people now."
"Thank you. Now, it is time for me to create the seed that shall revive this planet."
"What?"
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