92 -90- [ Enenra ]

In the pitch-black forest, the dense miasma made the night even more profound and the air heavier. Rozen and the group were making their way towards the center of the forbidden land, where the shrine was located.

However, each member of the group showed different behaviors along the way.

For example...

"Why are you following us?"

"Did we say we're following you?"

"Then go take another path!"

"But this is the way to the shrine. We don't need to take a detour, right?"

"I don't care! Just don't follow us!"

"Well, don't be like that."

Akabane Raishin and Kamo Subaru were at the front of the group, fiercely arguing as they moved forward. One seemed nonchalant, while the other was red-faced and agitated.

And also...

"Ojou, you shouldn't come with us. Let me escort you out."

"No, if Subaru and Mutsura don't plan to leave, then I won't leave either."

"Ojou..."

"How about you both leave with me?"

"But..."

"Anyway, as long as Subaru and Mutsura stay, I won't go."

Domon Hinowa and Yuge Mutsura were walking at the rear, having this conversation. Despite being terrified earlier, Domon Hinowa still had no intention of leaving alone. It seemed she had decided to persuade Subaru and Mutsura to leave, displaying a stubborn side that they hadn't seen before, causing Yuge Mutsura to wear pained expressions.

Amidst this bustling scene, the group continued their journey towards the shrine in the center of the forbidden land.

As for Rozen...

"Can't you guys walk a bit slower?"

Breathing heavily and falling behind, Rozen could only lament.

This earned scornful looks from Subaru and Mutsura.

"Didn't expect your magic to look so impressive, but your stamina is so weak."

"Looks like even the men of the Akabane family are nothing special."

Subaru and Mutsura sneered at Rozen, who twitched at the corner of his mouth.

Even Akabane Raishin patted Rozen's shoulder and spoke kindly as if offering advice.

"I always told you not to stay home all the time, to go outside more. Look at you now, what a disgrace."

Akabane Raishin delivered the final blow.

"Stop nagging! Don't treat me like some barbarian! I... I rely on my intellect for a living!"

Rozen exploded.

Although he had the highest abilities among the group, he was still being scorned. It was unbearable.

Rozen even dared not look at Domon Hinowa in the eye. Though he knew her personality wouldn't allow her to do such a thing, he really couldn't bear being looked down upon by a little girl.

At that moment, Rozen also felt a bit frustrated.

"Are we not there yet? Is it that far?"

Rozen complained.

"We're almost there."

Kamo Subaru, leading the way, replied helplessly. Maybe he felt a bit sorry for Rozen, as he surprisingly refrained from picking a fight.

Thus, the group continued on their way towards the central shrine of the forbidden land.

During the journey, despite Rozen's weakening stamina, he remained vigilant, constantly emitting the magical fluctuations of "Heaven's Eye," observing their surroundings.

Gradually, Rozen noticed a wide variety of familiars wandering in the forbidden land. The most numerous were stray dogs possessed by low-level spirits, followed by various small creatures shrouded in black mist, such as monkeys leaping between trees, rabbits darting through the bushes, and small deer running through the woods.

He even encountered a colorful butterfly about the size of a palm.

"That's a Gokuraku butterfly. Unlike those low-level familiars, this is a phoenix butterfly that appears only in Hell. Its ability is fire. If you touch it, you'll instantly burst into flames!"

Yuge Mutsura's explanation made Akabane Raishin, who was about to touch those beautiful butterflies, turn pale and quickly withdrew his hand.

Rozen couldn't help but be amazed. "Are there familiars with special abilities? Those must be mid-level familiars, right?"

Besides the Gokuraku butterfly, Rozen encountered familiars with various special abilities, all of mid-level familiar status. If they encountered these familiars, undoubtedly, it would result in a tough battle.

So, Rozen repeatedly warned the group to avoid areas where familiars were active, ensuring a safe journey.

Fortunately, while encountering several challenging mid-level familiars, they had not come across any high-level familiars like the mountain god from before.

However, their good fortune didn't last long.

Finally, just before reaching their destination, the shrine, Rozen's group encountered a high-level familiar.

"This must be a joke, right?"

Kamo Subaru and Yuge Mutsura had stiff expressions.

"You're telling me even that kind of thing is here too?"

Cold sweat trickled down Akabane Raishin's forehead.

The group huddled in a clump of bushes.

In front of them stood a rundown shrine, indicating that they had reached their destination. However, right in front of the dilapidated shrine, there was a terrifying presence that couldn't be ignored.

"Hoo..."

That was the sound of howling wind.

The source of the wind was a dense smoke.

In front of the shrine, an unusual mist was drifting.

Within that mist, horrifying faces occasionally appeared.

These were grimacing human faces.

Witnessing this terrifying scene, everyone present froze in place, too scared to make a sound.

Domon Hinowa tightly clenched her sleeves and murmured, "Enenra..."

-------Enenra

It's a type of yokai dwelling in smoke, born from humans' fear of fire.

Enenra could assume various forms and manifest human faces from the smoke.

In Japanese folklore, it was often depicted as a creature frequently appearing around farmhouse stoves, hearths, and campfires, associated with the image of hellfire.

Without hesitation, it could be said that this familar's rank will not be lower than the mountain god they encountered earlier.

Witnessing the high-level familiar floating in front of the shrine, as if guarding it, distorted and sinister, Kamo Subaru and Yuge Mutsura reactions were quite understandable.

After all...

"Enenra is a familiar without a tangible form!"

"It shouldn't be able to possess living beings!"

Both of them whispered anxiously.

That's right.

Enenra was a familiar without a tangible form, unable to possess living beings and materialize physically.

In other words...

"That's not a familiar that naturally occurs in this forbidden land."

Domon Hinowa also came to this conclusion in a low voice.

Considering that Enenra guarded the area in front of the shrine, where the token was likely to be placed, how could Rozen not figure it out?

"It's most likely a familiar intentionally summoned by someone from the Izanagi Clan."

The reason behind it was quite simple to speculate.

On the surface, it probably served as the final challenge of the trial to test whether the participants could overcome this difficulty.

As for any hidden motives, that depended on individual perspectives and opinions.

"Don't you think they've gone too far? Dammit!"

Akabane Raishin inwardly cursed.

Attempting to break through and obtain the artifact from such a creature?

In one word...

Delusional.