Chapter 906 Volume 9 – Chapter 140: Is There Such A Life (4)

[In a blink of an eye, five years have passed. The fourteen-year-old Chizuko Nagato was about to take over the Unripe Rice Villager shrine from the previous witch. But before that, Chizuko Nagato still needed to complete a witch test. The content of the test was: Chizuko Nagato had to get rid of a toad demon beast that had recently wandered into the mountains near Unripe Rice Village without resorting to the dog’s (Inugami) divine power. The fourteen-year-old Chizuko Nagato already possessed robust spiritual power. The Unripe Rice Village’s witch was confident in her. But Chizuko Nagato didn’t have the experience of getting rid of the demon beast alone, so she was a little nervous before departing. Since Chizuko Nagato grew up in the shrine from the age of 6 to 14, this Inugami had spent enough time to get familiar with Chizuko Nagato’s habit. For example, when she was nervous, she would clean the courtyard in front of the shrine in the evening.]

[“I heard that you are going down the mountain tomorrow.” Inuyasha put his head on her back and reached behind Chizuko Nagato. Unknowingly this damn kid had grown to the height of his neck. For Inugami, eight years was just a small part of a long life, passing in a hurry. But what happened in eight years was like an illusion as if it was all yesterday.]
[“En.“]

[“Maybe you can’t survive. That toad is not easy to deal with. Even if it is me, it will take a lot of effort.” Inuyasha then emphasized, “Of course, it’s wasting a lot of effort. I won’t get hurt.”]

[Chizuko Nagato stopped and assessed Inugami with her head tilted. Perhaps for Inugami, eight years was short. Chizuko Nagato would grow bigger soon as a human and then grow old like the Unripe Rice Village’s witch. She then looked for a suitable heir like her and helped the new trainee witch to become the new master of Inugami. Inuyasha would guard the shrine from generation to generation. The shrine’s witch will be replaced one after another.]

[“Why are you looking at me!?” Inuyasha snorted, “Are you a scared baby? Then, come and beg me! I have a way to prevent the damn old woman from knowing and then quietly help you! But, I got to let you know it’s no problem for me to help you, but you have to promise me a condition to remove the necklace from my neck.”]

[Chizuko Nagato tilted her head to think about it, then threw the broom on her hand forward. The Inugami of the shrine darted out without saying a word and took the broom back in his mouth. Chizuko Nagato took the broom, stroked Inuyasha’s head a few times, and said calmly, “I can do it. Don’t worry.”]
[“Who cares about you! Damn kid! Don’t think of me as that kind of stupid dog!” Inuyasha was furious at once. He didn’t understand why he would fetch the things Chizuko Nagato threw every time and come back. Yes, every time! “I don’t care about you anymore! Damn kid, you fend for yourself! Please die so that I can be free!” Inuyasha knew that he couldn’t fight Chizuko Nagato’s ‘sit’ spell and finally left angrily.]

[All night, Inuyasha did not show up. As usual, Chizuko Nagato started to do the day’s homework after accompanying the Unripe Rice Village’s witch for dinner. In the middle of the night, there was a strange noise outside Chizuko Nagato’s bedroom. She opened the door and saw that an amulet was placed on the corridor outside the bedroom. Chizuko Nagato picked up the amulet, knowing that Inuyasha had sent it surreptitiously. She smiled and then returned to the bedroom to sit quietly and recharge her power. Chizuko Nagato felt that it was better to do the test while her master was still up and vigorous. If the test failed, it proved that she was still incapable of taking over the shrine. If she could return, she could continue to learn under the Unripe Rice Village’s guidance. If she failed to return safely, the witch still had time to find and train a new successor witch. ]

[Before dawn, Chizuko Nagato quietly left the shrine. Before leaving Unripe Rice Village, she went to Nagato’s house but watched from a distance. Chizuko Nagato didn’t leave until the gate of Nagato’s household opened, and the servants came out.]

[Leaving Unripe Rice Village, Chizuko Nagato passed a valley. She saw a stream nearby, so she decided to rest. At this time, there was a cry from behind a layer of rock in the creek. It was a thirteen years old child. ]
[“What’s going on?”]

[“The demon beast took my little brother. I am sad. I wish I could slay the demon beast personally, but there is nothing I can do. What else can I do besides crying secretly here?” The child was distraught. It appeared that the child had been crying for some time. Chizuko Nagato guessed that the demon beast child mentioned was probably the one that the Unripe Rice Village’s witch asked her to get rid of, so she continued to investigate. She soon found out that it was the case.]

[This toad liked to put on a red robe and called himself a ‘Red Mage.’ Everywhere he went, he would catch young boys. The ‘Red Mage’ believed that the blood of a boy was the key to longevity, so the captured boys were kept in captivity using the secret technique. He would pick a specific day, putting red clothes on the boy, and then doing immoral things. After these boys lost their value, they would be eaten directly in the end. So far, the news said that more than 13 boys had died at the hands of the ‘Red Master.’]

[“I’m the Unripe Rice Village’s trainee witch. This time I came here to slay the ‘Red Mage.’ If you know where the ‘Red Mage’ is, please tell me so as not to hurt more people.” Chizuko Nagato directly expressed her intention. ]
[The crying boy saw that Chizuko Nagato was about the same age as him, so naturally, he didn’t believe that she could deal with it and sighed, “I don’t want more people to be hurt. My little brother was captured. It may be his fate. But if he dies, it is worth it to exchange for peace in the village. The ‘Red Mage’ is so powerful that you can’t handle it.”]

[Chizuko Nagato took off the wooden bow directly, hitched a feathered arrow, and shot towards the big tree ten feet away. She moved quickly and shot three feather arrows in a row. The arrow was nailed directly to the trunk. It nailed on the armpit and the top of a civet cat who was climbing. The feathered arrow fixed the civet cat on the spot, unable to move, showing an expression of horror. Chizuko Nagato slowly said, “Don’t worry, I can protect myself.”]

[Seeing that Chizuko Nagato’s archery was magical, this child knew that he had met someone capable. He had long hoped that someone could slay the “Red Mage.” He quickly informed Chizuko Nagato where the demon beast was hiding and told Chizuko Nagato that the Red Mage was weakest at midnight.]