The next day, Jared and his group made their way to Thousand Crane Shrine. It was located on the peak of Fujio Mountain. The climate there was frigid all year round, and the fog was thick.
Even then, it didn’t stop the worshippers from making the trip to the shrine for the grand ritual. The worshippers’ journey up the mountain was a strange sight to behold because many of them were accompanied by a young girl.
Additionally, all the girls were dressed prettily in traditional Jetroinian outfits. Both Flaxseed and Jared found the phenomena strange. Confused, Jared asked, “Why are so many of them bringing girls on their pilgrimage to the shrine, Ryosuke?”
“Because His Holiness will pick a girl during the grand ritual every year, Master. Once a girl is chosen, her family will be granted a bright future. It is why many brought their families’ most beautiful girl to the shrine after dressing them up well,” answered Ryosuke.
Flaxseed growled, “What the hell? Whatever he is, he just sounds like an old pervert!” Despite his apparent rage, he couldn’t hide the envy in his eyes. I never experienced what it’s like to choose a consort before!
“Where do the chosen girls go afterwards?” Jared asked. Ryosuke shook his head. “No one knows. Their families don’t bother to ask once they’ve soared to greater heights.” Jared sneered, “Seems like the deity of Thousand Crane Shrine is quite interesting…”
Soon, they arrived at the shrine and saw a majestic building standing atop the peak. Thousand Crane Shrine was evidently influential to be capable of building such gigantic architecture on the mountaintop.
At that moment, thousands of worshippers had gathered at the square. Hiroichi was sitting on a chair before an altar in a samurai outfit. His face was filled with delight as he gazed at the worshippers..
After a while, he delivered an impassioned speech at the designated time to rouse the worshippers. Just as the crowd was growing more excited, Hiroichi ordered his men to push out a sculpture concealed in black cloth.
“Almighty Deity who protects us, we offer everything we have to repay you.” While speaking, he cut his finger. The blood spilled from the wound and floated in midair instead of dropping to the ground. Upon seeing that, thousands of worshippers did the same. Some even bit their finger. Their blood slowly hovered in the air.
“What the heck is going on, Jared?” Flaxseed was dumbfounded by the scene. I’ve encountered plenty of magecraft before, but I’ve never seen anything like that!
With his eyebrows furrowed, Jared watched the scene unfold silently. After the blood gathered in the air, the black cloth on the sculpture was removed, revealing a sculpture of a man clad in armor holding a katana.
When the gathered blood slowly landed on the sculpture, it was absorbed by the sculpture. Following that, the sculpture’s eyes abruptly glowed in red. Upon seeing that, Hiroichi and the worshippers hurriedly kneeled before the sculpture and chanted, “Martial Arts God, Martial Arts God…”
