Chapter 52: A God Comes to Buy Melons, Her Name is... Yasaka Kanako!
After sending off Yakumo Yukari, the Gensokyo girls staying in the restaurant also left one after another.
Completely idle, Luke also began cleaning the kitchen utensils used just now for making 'Cherry Blossom Jelly'.
Cleaning, wiping, storing—midway, Luke couldn't help but feel curious.
Why did Saigyouji Yuyuko, living in Hakugyokurou of the Netherworld, choose to ask Yakumo Yukari, and then ask him to make the dish?
If he remembered correctly, the half-human, half-phantom gardener, Konpaku Youmu, also possessed decent cooking skills.
Could even she not handle the thousand-year cherry tree gum?
If there's a chance, I should let Yakumo Yukari take me for a tour of the Netherworld.
He quite wanted to know what delicious things Konpaku Youmu usually made for the gluttonous young mistress of Hakugyokurou...
When Luke finished contemplating, the work before him was also completed.
Today, Kobayashi Rindo and Nakiri Erina might come over.
However, before that, a visitor who somewhat surprised Luke appeared.
The other party was related to a topic Shameimaru Aya mentioned before—
That is, 'Moriya Shrine'.
Luke looked towards the entrance.
Standing outside the pushed-open main door was a tall, beautiful woman with a dignified appearance, lips curved upwards, looking straightforward and hearty.
Simply put, the feeling was like that 'cool big sister next door'.
She possessed shoulder-length blue-purple hair, tied with a shimenawa rope on top, simultaneously using flowers as decoration.
Her upper body wore a bright red short-sleeved shirt the color of sunset, the cuffs similarly bound with shimenawa-style ropes.
Wearing grass sandals, she somewhat resembled the pleasure-seeking gods described in mythology walking the mortal world, currently sizing up the restaurant opened by Luke with great interest.
Finally, her gaze landed on the restaurant owner.
The sound of footsteps resumed.
The visitor, like a dignified big sister boss, walked up to Luke.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Of course. Heard from Reimu. The god of 'Moriya Shrine' on Youkai Mountain, Yasaka Kanako."
"Calling a great god's name directly, you have quite some nerve."
"A visitor is a guest, won't be treated specially. Yasaka-san is naturally included. So... may I ask the purpose of this visit?"
Luke used a serious tone.
Yasaka Kanako sat down accordingly, then looked around.
"Your place seems a bit deserted. No other customers?"
"A batch of customers left just now. I believe new visitors will arrive before long."
Luke changed the subject, asking with a smile,
"How is the situation at Moriya Shrine?"
The situation at 'Moriya Shrine', where Yasaka Kanako resided, was originally not optimistic, which was why the shrine was moved directly to 'Gensokyo'.
Although most gods freely traveled between Gensokyo and the outside world, she moved her base to Gensokyo, seemingly wanting to lock onto the humans and youkai of Gensokyo as believers, thereby gathering firm faith.
It was precisely because of this that she was targeted by the Red-White maiden, ultimately being 'handled' along with Moriya Suwako and Kochiya Sanae.
"The shrine situation is quite good. At least the youkai on Youkai Mountain are very devout."
Because they can't win...
Just like dealing with Reimu.
Assuming the youkai could truly defeat Reimu, the 'Human Village' would have long become their territory...
"During this period, events are still being held, thus attracting some humans to worship at the shrine; besides these, there are also plans to build a cable car route leading to 'Moriya Shrine', slowly raising funds. However, I don't understand much about this aspect, so I won't comment."
Yasaka Kanako described the current situation.
Unlike the Hakurei Shrine managed by Reimu, Moriya Shrine's operational activities were indeed very rich.
As long as it could attract believers and gain faith, then any method would be considered by them.
"Wanting to use modern society's technology... can Yasaka-san accept these?"
"Of course, why not use convenient things?"
It could be seen that Yasaka Kanako favored technological innovation, having no intention of rigidly adhering to tradition.
Perhaps this is the god of the new era...
Keeping up with social progress, using methods favored by young people to attract customers.
Luke remembered seeing related news before coming to Gensokyo.
Japanese Temples attracted many young people to worship through technology like opening online donations, drone performances, coupled with temple maid receptions.
Even the temple abbot would live stream, performing online chanting and remote exorcism...
He also heard about an abbot who was skilled at guitar, quite versatile indeed.
Ending the reminiscence of the past, Luke handed over a menu.
"Don't know what Yasaka-san wants to eat this time? If there's no favored dish on the menu, you can order custom-made."
"Cuisine... I actually came over to buy melons. Sanae said she wanted to make watermelon juice for the customers."
"..."
A god came to buy melons, not to eat.
Although Luke had prepared fruits, and the refrigerator in the shop was special, able to keep them fresh indefinitely, he had no intention of selling them.
"Sorry, Yasaka-san. This shop is not a store, we don't offer the service of selling fruit."
"Is that so... No matter. Just happen to chat with you about other things."
Yasaka Kanako changed the subject.
Perhaps intending to use the excuse of 'buying melons' to find Luke.
"Please speak..."
"It's related to that girl Sanae, you..."
Yasaka Kanako stopped halfway through her sentence.
She shifted her gaze, looking at the stairs leading to the second floor.
"Can I go sit up there for a bit?"
"Quite a sudden request..."
"Thank you for the trouble."
"..."
Luke, being asked by a god, finally nodded.
This god from Moriya Shrine, what exactly did she come here for?
With this doubt, Luke looked outside the shop.
"Er..."
The second god of Moriya Shrine was standing right outside the window...
...