"Why do the ley lines become disturbed?"
"And why do monsters gather around the abandoned shrine rather than elsewhere when the ley lines are in disorder?"
Lumine, with her extensive adventuring experience, knew this behavior was abnormal.
She remembered Paimon's questions and chose this moment to bring them up.
"Lumine, what do you think the ley lines are?"
Lumine shook her head - this was clearly beyond her knowledge. She didn't even know how to define the ley lines.
Li Mo stood with his hands behind his back and said, "I haven't fully uncovered what the ley lines truly are. But one thing is certain - they're deeply connected to human thought. The ley line blossoms called 'Treasure Hoarders' are born from humanity's desire for wealth. The buds called 'Revelation' reflect past adventures."
In Teyvat, there are two types of ley line blossoms - one provides Mora, while the other grants combat experience.
In the game, one gives currency, the other gives experience books. But in the real world of Teyvat, "experience books" don't exist. Instead, the "Revelation" blossoms, when activated, put the opener in a meditative state, enhancing their martial skills, techniques, and mastery of Visions.
Essentially, instead of directly gaining experience, they receive a buff, a focused enhancement to their abilities.
"However, both types of blossoms represent blocked elemental circulation and stagnating ley line energy. People often say they encounter monsters near ley line blossoms, but as an adventurer, Lumine, you should know - when you try to collect them, they instinctively release monsters in self-defense."
"I have two theories. First, the monsters are stored inside the blossoms. Second, they're newly born creatures."
Inazuma is not Sumeru.
If this were Sumeru, he could consult scholars to refine his ideas. But in Inazuma, most people are still struggling for basic necessities - hardly an environment that fosters academic thought.
"Ah, I've strayed into speculation. Lumine, you know I only need the beginning and the result to replicate something. Ley line blossoms are created by the ley lines, and these blossoms in turn produce monsters. Using this concept, I need the ley line's energy."
The ley line disturbance was his doing.
In the world of A Certain Magical Index, ley lines also exist. Though the concept differs between worlds, both contain usable energy.
According to Inazuma's intelligence network in Sumeru, scholars there have developed machines to extract ley line energy - further supporting his theory.
"But what do you need the ley line energy for, Your Excellency?" Paimon asked. "Does it have anything to do with the so-called 'Hyakki Yagyou'?"
Li Mo smiled. "Paimon hasn't figured it out, but has Lumine?"
"Mm. No matter the process, as long as the beginning is the same, the result will be the same," Lumine stated, echoing Li Mo's core philosophy.
The shrine priest nodded approvingly. "As expected of Lumine. Paimon, you still don't understand, do you?"
"Ugh! Why does everyone speak in riddles? How did we jump from this to that?"
Yae Miko does it, the shrine priest does it, even Lumine does it. In the end, isn't Ei the most straightforward one among them? Paimon couldn't help but sigh.
Li Mo chuckled. "Simply put, I'm using the ley line's energy to reconstruct bodies for the youkai, letting them live again."
"Wait, that's possible?!" Paimon's eyes widened.
Li Mo didn't bother explaining further - Lumine understood, and that was enough. With a wave, he shooed them away from under the Sacred Sakura.
In his perception, the youkai were awakening. After receiving the life force he had prepared, their presence grew stronger.
The full moon bathed the land in silver, making Li Mo narrow his eyes. Tonight's Hyakki Yagyou had only one living participant - himself.
He looked up at the moon, his irises turning pure gold.
...
"Ei, sometimes I wonder - does that boy really have Hakushin blood in him?"
Yae Miko stood by the guest room window, gazing at the scene outside.
Beneath the Sacred Sakura, the shrine priest in his robes looked up at the moon. She could see his profile, the golden glow in his eyes.
"Miko, we both know it's undeniably Hakushin blood," Ei replied. "In a way, he's even your descendant."
Li Mo's Hakushin lineage came from Yae Miko.
Ei didn't know how he had achieved it, but in a sense, he and Miko shared a blood connection.
"But he doesn't resemble me at all! Look - he's got white hair! I'm a lovely, elegant pink! How is this fair?" Miko pouted.
Below the tree, Li Mo unfurled his tails and ears - five snowy tails swaying in the moonlight.
Ei ignored Miko's complaints. If she indulged her, Miko would only get more dramatic.
Looking back at the shrine path, she saw Lumine - the Traveler whom Li Mo treated as a sister - heading down toward the Kamisato Estate. The path from Grand Narukami Shrine to the foot of the mountain was nearly complete, but descending still took some time.
However, by using wind gliders instead of taking the mountain path, one could reach the foot quickly.
Ei paid attention to that Traveler because of Li Mo's connection to her. She wouldn't show excessive interest otherwise.
"They're coming."
Yae Miko reminded her, having dropped her earlier pout for a calm smile, her eyes focused on the courtyard ahead.
The youkai known as "Echoes" appeared one after another in the courtyard. Centered around Li Mo, they gathered in layers until their presence filled the entire Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Ei, without his permission, the youkai don't dare move freely. It's as if he's their master, even though you're their Shogun."
"You're still teasing me at a time like this?"
"Because I'm bored. You won't even let me go to Yae Publishing House," Yae Miko said lazily.
Ei shook her head. "You... Mo spoils you too much, doing everything for you."
"Hehe, jealous? He's my shrine priest after all."
Li Mo remained unaware of this conversation between the Guuji and the Shogun.
Looking at the surrounding youkai, he finally spoke: "Let the 'Hyakki Yagyou' commence."