The Incompetent Noblewoman Marries the 'Devil of the Far East' as a Substitute Bride—Told by Her Parents to 'Die in Place of Your Sister,' She Left the House, but Her New Family Turned Out to Be Wonderful and She's Happy - Episode 2.4

With my hundred eyes, I identified the location of the divine spirit.

I came to the site together with Satoru-sama… but.

“Not here.”

Looking around, the road just stretches out, and there’s nothing that resembles what I’m looking for.

However, when you look closely, this area is filled with a very strong light.

Because of the presence that is too enormous, it’s hard to tell where it is.

“Rei-tan”

A woman’s voice echoes in my mind.

This voice… Nue-san?

“That’s right Rei-tan’s pet, Nue older sister, or as we call her, Nue-san”

Nue-san, what’s wrong?

“I came to tell you that the little fuzzball over there is what you’ve been looking for”

That is…

Indeed, there was a small tuft of fur lying at the edge of the road.

I crouch down and scoop it up with both hands.

Like a damp, wet rag…

“Rei, what’s wrong?”

“Master Satoru… can’t you see this?”

“What’s this? I can’t see anything.”

As I thought… does this mean that this is the divine spirit…?

For some reason, it doesn’t move an inch. Is it not feeling well…?

“My stomach…”

“to?”

“My… stomach… is growling…”

It seems like you’re hungry.

“I want to eat umeboshi rice balls…”

“Ume rice ball… is it?”

“That’s right… and if possible, I’d like to drink some warm tea…”

Satoru-sama has a puzzled expression on his face.

But, it seemed like he quickly noticed something.

“Are you talking to a spirit?”

“Yes. It seems like they’re hungry. They’d like rice balls and warm tea. Oh, and they prefer the rice balls with plum.”

“That’s a lot of requests… Well, I guess I’ll hear him out. It’s certain that this guy is the cause of the snow. Even if we’re going to negotiate, we need to be able to talk first.”

“Isn’t it?”

“Even so, there’s nowhere to find rice balls and tea…”

I nod and say.

“Yes, exactly.”

“What the heck?”

“Please wait a moment. Tao Tie!”

A hole opens in the space.

I reached in and took out what I was looking for.

It’s a bundle with a bento and a tube with tea.

“R-Rei!? What is that!?”

“This is the late-night snack I stored in the gluttonous iron pot.”

“Shut it…!?”

“Yes. It seems that Tōtetsu-san has four stomachs.”

A demon in the form of a sheep… Mr. Tōtetsu.

“Apparently, out of the four stomachs, there’s one where you can store things. So, I put my bento there… Wait, what’s wrong?”

Satoru-sama eyes were wide with surprise.

“Wh-why do you know about that?”

“I learned it from Nue-san before.”

There are four stomachs, and you can store things in them.

“Talking to the demon inside you… huh? Normally, that’s not something you can do, you know?”

“Is that so?”

“Ah. I’ve never spoken with the spirit turtle.”

The supernatural creature that Satoru-sama keeps, the spirit turtle.

The spirit turtle was Ms. Sumi Mori, the mother of Satoru.

Why, Sumi-san… it is still unclear why your mother is inside Satoru-sama.

Satoru-sama, how pitiful.

Even though the most important person is within me, I can’t meet them…

Is there any way we could meet?

“Anyo”

The white furball twitches.

Huh, I, I messed up…

“I’m hungry, you know…”

“Excuse me! Right away…”

I hold the rice ball in one hand while carrying the fluffy kitten in the other.

“It’s a plum rice ball.”

“Really, Reshka!”

Nom nom nom! The fluffball is eating the rice ball.

“It’s super delicious! I’ve never had such a tasty rice ball in my life! I feel so energized!”

The spirit devours all the rice balls and then drinks the tea in big gulps…

Grr…! The fluffball shone brightly.

And then…

In front of me, a single, beautifully furred… deer appeared.

“Thank you, daughter. I am Iihika, a spirit of ice.”

From the previously slurred speech, the divine spirit… Iihika-sama speaks clearly and distinctly.

“Rei… right in front of me, there’s a spirit.”

“Y-yes… it is a very divine deer spirit.”

“I see… I can vaguely sense it too. A strong power.”

Iihika-sama glares at Satoru-sama with a sharp look.

“What’s this? For Sumi’s son, your spiritual sense is quite weak.”

“Do you know Sumi-sama?”

“Oh, I know. Sumi Momi took care of me. The food she made and offered was filled with divine power and was very delicious.”

As if reminiscing about the past, Lord Iihika says.

Sumisa-sama had an interaction with the divine spirit.

“In that sense, my daughter, you are wonderful. You have a very strong spiritual sense, and your spiritual power is impeccable. Just as Megane Maru said.”

“Glasses Maru…?”

“It’s about the tsukumogami that bestowed the glasses artifact upon you.”

Ah, um… that cute little monkey.

It’s called Megane-maru…

“I listened to what that notorious chatterbox had to say with half a mind… but to think, there really is someone like you.”

“Um… from the way you’re talking, does that mean you came to see me?”

“That’s right. A girl with an enormous amount of spiritual power, the talent to see divine spirits, and the ability to use solar energy. Even though I thought such a ridiculous existence couldn’t possibly be real… there was no one else I could rely on. That’s why I came here.”

Did I… cause the heavy snowfall…?

“It’s not your fault. I was the one who made it snow. And… thanks to you being there, I was able to survive. Be proud, you… you saved a spirit.”

It makes me happy to hear you say that.

Iihika-sama is approaching.

“Let’s give a reward. Hmm… that man over there, is it your turn?”

“Y-yes!”

“Is that so? Hmm. If he’s the son of Sumi Morimi, then he’s from the barrier master clan. In that case… hey girl, tell the kid to make a move.”

I will convey the words of Iihika to Satoru-sama.

He nods and extends his left hand forward.

Iihika-sama gently places the tip of her nose on Satoru-sama palm.

In an instant, a blue light bursts forth from his body.

“I have granted this one a portion of my ice power.”

“This guy… a divine spirit…?”

Lord Satoru clearly recognizes the person in front of him, and then asks that question.

“Can you see now?”

“Ah, ah…”

Hmph, Lord Iihika snorts.

“You rude bastard. If it weren’t for Rei, I would have frozen you to death. Be grateful to Rei.”

Satoru-sama tilts his head.

“What is the spirit saying…?”

Satoru-sama, it seems that while you can see the spirit’s form, you can’t hear its voice.

“Um… to know how to show respect.”

“This is rude of me.”

When Satoru-sama bows his head, Iihika-sama snorts.

“Well then. Rei. You’ve been a great help. Thank you.”

“No. I’m glad to hear you’re doing well.”

“Hmm… I suppose I should reward you with something too… Yes.”

Plop… the antlers of Lord Iihika fell off and came before me.

“Take it.”

“Y-yes…”

When I picked up the antlers… they transformed with a pop into a magnificent blue deer fur.

“Then you should make a scarf or something.”

“Um, excuse me? Is it really okay for me to receive such… a magnificent deer pelt?”

Lustrous, beautiful, and yet… very warm.

Such a wonderful fur… is it really okay for me to take it…?

“Good. You have healed the spirit. This is not something just anyone can do. The only human who could do it was Sumi Moromi.”

It seems that Mami Sumi-sama is indeed an incredible person after all.

“Well then, farewell.”

Lord Iihika is soaring through the sky.

“That’s right. Rei. Tell Sumi’s son to get stronger. Otherwise… they’ll take away something important to you.”

Important things…

What could that be? Before I could ask, Iihika-sama had already dashed through the sky and disappeared somewhere.

“He’s gone now.”

“Yes…”

“Last time, we were talking about something.”

“Yes… they said to become stronger. Otherwise, something important would be taken away from us…”

Satoru-sama was glaring.

What is something important, I wonder?

“I see…”

“Um… what is that important thing…?”

“There’s no one else but Rei, right?”

“M-me…?”

“Why are you acting so surprised? There’s nothing more important to me than you. Well, the black suits too, but… you’re the most important, Rei.”

Satoru-sama hugs me tightly.

I felt a warm sensation deep in my chest. I couldn’t help but be overjoyed when I heard them say that I was important.

“I found a very good girl. She has great spiritual power. Thanks to her, my fur has become even more beautiful! Now, let’s brag to the other spirits.”

In the distance, it seemed like Lord Iihika was saying something.

But… I couldn’t hear what they were saying because they were too far away.