I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

The day was overcast, with only a faint silhouette of the sun visible through the thick clouds.

On a worn red torii gate, a mother bird was busy building her nest.

But in just the blink of an eye, a sinister gust of wind swept through, and when the bird turned back, she was shocked to find—her eggs were gone!

"Chirp chirp chirp—!!"

"My, my, who would've thought I'd stumble upon three bird eggs while walking? Don't worry, I'll gratefully enjoy them with care," Kiichi Hougen remarked, a grin spreading across her face as she anticipated the meal ahead.

Slung over her shoulder was a small boy, seemingly unconscious.

"Hmm, what kind of dishes can I make with these eggs? So many options... it's actually making me indecisive. After all, they all sound delicious."

"Fried eggs are nice, roasted eggs are good too. For something simpler, boiled eggs would do. Oh, and bird egg omelette... Hmm? Bird egg omelette?"

Kiichi Hougen's expression darkened as a memory surfaced.

She recalled a humorous image she had once seen: Kujou Sara blushing furiously while presenting a plate of her special bird egg omelette to the Traveler.

"..."

Kiichi glanced down at the three eggs in her hands with a thoughtful frown.

"...Suddenly, I've lost my appetite. Maybe I should return these to the mother bird. Eating her children just doesn't sit right. I hope she doesn't have a heart attack from the shock of losing them."

Turning back, Kiichi carefully returned the three eggs to the frantic mother bird, who chirped in relief.

---

"Perfect! The barrier around the courtyard is still intact. Seems like no one discovered this place while I was away."

Effortlessly passing through her own barrier, Kiichi Hougen stepped into a traditional Japanese-style courtyard. It appeared like a vision, as fleeting and surreal as flowers reflected in a mirror or the moon in water.

At the entrance stood a familiar figure, who gave her a slight bow.

"Welcome back, Master."

"Oh! It's Sara. Have you eaten? Did you gain any weight? Have you been training properly while I was gone? …Ah, never mind, that's a silly question when it comes to you," Kiichi said with a teasing grin as she walked across the neatly laid stone pathway.

As Kiichi's disciple, Sara was long accustomed to her master's eccentricities and remained utterly composed.

"…Sara."

"What is it, Master?"

Kiichi scrutinized Sara's stern, serious expression and rubbed her chin in contemplation.

"While I was gone... did you become even more rigid?"

"Not at all, Master."

Sara raised her head to meet Kiichi's gaze, and after a brief pause, a faint smile finally graced her lips.

A few months had passed since the events surrounding the sealed space. Kiichi Hougen and Sara had returned to the courtyard Kiichi had built, resuming their previous routines.

Sara continued her training within the courtyard, while Kiichi spent her time instructing Sara or venturing out occasionally to eliminate any lingering Rifthounds in the forest.

Thanks to her Vision and Kiichi's guidance, Sara had grown strong enough to take on Rifthounds herself, no longer reduced to risking her life just to leave a minor injury on one.

Of course, if multiple Rifthounds appeared, Kiichi still insisted that Sara avoid combat. She had no desire to see her apprentice injured.

If Ushiwakamaru were to witness such a scene, she would likely shout, "What kind of yokai are you? Get away from my master!"—only to end up being chased by a smiling Kiichi wielding her blade, the two running from Tokyo all the way to Washington.

When Sara finally lifted her head, having kept it lowered until now, she noticed the unconscious boy slung over Kiichi's shoulder. He appeared younger than her.

Then again... girls matured faster than boys, so on second thought, maybe he was around her age?

Due to the angle, Sara couldn't see the boy's face, only a... brownish-yellow tail?

Correction—not entirely brownish-yellow. The underside of the tail was white.

"Master... who's this?"

Sara recalled how, not long ago, Kiichi had declared she was bored of staying in the forest all the time. With most of the Rifthounds exterminated, Kiichi had decided to venture out on a trip.

Given that this island was covered in forests, Kiichi must have traveled to another island to leave the woods. After all, Inazuma was an archipelago, and islands and seas were defining features of the region.

Sara herself had never left the forest before; her memories were entirely rooted in this place.

So... why did her master return from a short trip with a boy in tow?

Sara didn't think her master was the type to abduct children. More likely, the boy had encountered some trouble or danger and had been saved by Kiichi, just as she had.

"Oh, this?" Kiichi gave the boy's back a light pat and grinned.

"This is your junior disciple."

"..."

Surprisingly, Sara wasn't all that shocked.

"Then... let me prepare a room for him."

Sara didn't bother questioning where Kiichi had found this new disciple or what kind of person he was. Her trust in her master was absolute. She believed that anyone chosen by Kiichi would surely possess both talent and a good heart.

"Oh, well... I did set up cleansing and anti-dust wards in the house. Does the room still need preparation?"

Kiichi wasn't worried about the number of rooms. Back when she used to play Minecraft, her houses were poorly designed, but she always built plenty of bedrooms and extra bathrooms. When she created this courtyard, she followed the same logic, preparing five bedrooms. Her foresight now seemed quite handy.

"Master, tidying up isn't just about cleaning," Sara explained seriously. "The rooms may be clean, but they're too plain. Living in them would feel uncomfortable. I'll need to set up bedding and organize the interiors. Perhaps we could add some personal touches to suit my junior disciple's preferences? Of course, we'd have to ask for his input on that... Speaking of which, does he have any belongings with him? Like clothes, perhaps?"

Sara glanced at the unconscious boy and then at Kiichi, who merely shrugged in response.

"Looks like he doesn't," Kiichi said with a wry smile.

---

Greetings, esteemed reader.

Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.

Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:

[patreon.com/WiseTL].

Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.

With sincere regards,

Zhongli