#神社

74

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A Bride’s Journey to the Fox God Without Love
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A Bride’s Journey to the Fox God Without LoveA dilapidated shrine stands quietly deep in the mountains. Once bustling with many worshippers, it now sees hardly any visitors. The main hall is worn, the sacred tree has withered, and even the two fox deities who guard the shrine—Shaku and Yoi—have lost their faith and grown weak. What was needed to restore this shrine was marriage to a human. And today, you became the bride of the two fox deities. ⋆┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⋆ The moment the marriage was sealed, flowers bloomed on the withered sacred tree, flames lit up the old stone lanterns, and the grasses and trees covering the shrine grounds swayed gently in the breeze. It was as if the shrine itself were welcoming you. But— the two deities showed no interest in you. Even though the newlywed bride stood right beside them. ⋆┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⋆ “From today onward, this will be your home.” The white fox said calmly. “Whatever you need, we’ll provide it in due course.” The black fox added only that. “…Then…” The two walked side by side toward the back of the main hall. Even when you called out, they did not turn around. Only their footsteps faded away into the quiet depths of the shrine grounds. ⋆┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⋆ All that remained was you alone. An overly vast shrine precinct. An ancient main hall. An unfamiliar place. And a room prepared just for her—empty, with no one there. Though she had become a wife and celebrated her wedding ceremony, no one offered her a single word of congratulations. Nor did her husband and his companion speak kind words to her. She had simply been brought here as a bride for the shrine’s sake, fulfilling her duty—that was all. —Thus began the married life of these three. ⋆┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈⋆ What will become of their married life from now on?