Volume 3, Chapter 61 – A Startling Discovery

Volume 3, Chapter 61 - A Startling Discovery

Translator: Aoi

Lily employed a spirit probe in the secluded valley and scanned all 10 kilometers of it, yet she failed to find any monsters except for some wild animals.

This was pretty strange as this place was located near the Endless Demon Mountains and should’ve been the prowling grounds of a few monsters, but there were none present here.

This place was akin to a utopia that monsters couldn’t enter because the real underground tunnel was the only passage leading to it!

From the feedback received from the spirit probe, Lily was able to ascertain that a vast section of the valley consisted of woods, meadows, rocks and streams as well as some astonishingly humid lowland areas and lakes. There were also a lot of ponds, a few of which were hot springs, but Lily wasn’t able to distinguish them precisely from the spirit probe’s feedback. They were obviously covered by snow at present, but the terrestrial heat of the land was relatively higher due to the presence of hot springs, which was the reason the stream water hadn’t frozen.

“Hmm?” Lily sensed exceptionally dense energy from the hillside at the western corner of the valley at this moment, but it wasn’t from a powerhouse or a monster and was rather the spirit power present in nature.

“Let’s check out the western side,” Lily stated while going towards the west through the woods and her sisters followed behind.

“You can all relax, there are no monsters here,” Lily added while walking.

The group passed through the dense patch of red fir wood trees in the west and arrived at the base of the mountains enclosing the valley.

The slope of the mountain was pretty steep and consisted mostly of protruding rocks.

“The spirit power is pretty dense here,” Lily stated.

“Yes. I sensed the same as well,” Yukiko continued.

“Over there, Master,” Shiu pointed at the spot on the nearby slope.

Lily looked in that direction and discovered a series of translucent, turquoise-colored crystals jutting out from the fissures between the rocks on the ashen slope.

Lily scanned them and drew in a cold breath instantly.

“These crystals seem to be the source of the dense spirit power. I can sense an abundant amount of it from within them!” Lily exclaimed.

A crimson light flashed, and the Sakura Parasol manifested in the outside world accompanied by falling sakura after obtaining Lily’s permission to exit the mirror space and floated up in order to examine the slope.

“This is...! You’ve earned a windfall, Master!” Kagura stated excitedly.

“These light blue-green crystals are magatama ores!” Lily had never seen such an excited Kagura as she looked down on everything usually.

Yuki-Onna added, “You’re right about that. At best, you would receive 500 kan and a plaque as an extra reward while the imperial family will subsume the whole ore, and, at worst, they will dispatch a transcendent to eliminate all of you secretly so that they can obtain this ore safely.”

“Heavens... Who could’ve imagined that such a great windfall would be accompanied with greater danger,” Yukiko sighed weakly.

“Yukiko, Yumi, we’ve discussed enough for now. We must return to the entrance immediately and ensure that no human or monster has followed us inside before securing the entrance. We can discuss what to do later!” Lily stated promptly, “It’s possible that there are other treasures or special locations in this valley, but we can investigate that later slowly. Anyhow, although this place is pretty huge, it doesn’t seem like any monsters are present here, which means no human or monster has entered here from outside within the past few centuries. Thus, the entrance below the mountain temple should be the only entrance to this valley!”

“Master is right. Let’s secure the entrance first and leave the talk for later!” Yukiko nodded.

The group rushed towards the entrance after that. The ore was located about 2,000 meters from the entrance, so Lily and the others backtracked to the location they climbed up to and jumped down before returning to the mountain temple via the underground tunnel.

Lily scanned the surroundings and sighed in relief after determining that no intelligent lifeform had discovered the entrance until now.

“Let’s protect this mountain temple for now. This land was given to me by Lord Takeda, so no one unaware of the hidden treasure will attempt to occupy it if I use my power to protect my land!” Lily stated.

“Indeed. We shall also protect this place together with you then, Master,” Yukiko added.

“No. I’ll have to trouble you two to return to Izu immediately, Shiu, Yukiko, and seek Kotoka. Tell her to set the matter there aside for now and rush over here swiftly along with Nanako and the twenty cavalrywomen Sister Uesugi left behind for me! There’s no time to waste, make haste now,” Lily stated decisively and revealed an exceptionally rational and firm demeanor instead of showing complacence.

“Nanako needs to be brought here at once, and if any eminence really attempts to plunder the ore... Hmph! I’ll just allow Kagura to act,” Lily mused, “A Blood-Spirit Magatama is nothing in comparison to this ore. I fear even existences like Sugawara no Michizane and Shuten Doji might invade with their demon parades in an attempt to plunder it!”

Lily reminded Shiu and Yukiko once again before they left, “Make sure you travel cautiously and discreetly, got it?”

“Yes! Don’t worry, Master,” Shiu replied.

Kotoka wouldn’t believe the information unless Lily sent Shiu, but she was too weak, and this was the reason Lily had ordered Yukiko, who possessed strength equal to Yumi, along with her as she would be much safer with her.

As for Yumi, Lily wanted to keep her close as she still couldn’t trust this woman completely even now.

Thus, no one else except Lily could protect this place.

Yukiko and Shiu left swiftly after that. As kunoichi of the Midō clan, stealth and speed were their specialties, and even though Yukiko had lived as a married woman for a long time, she still possessed her strength.

“Phew!” Lily heaved a sigh of relief once again. Her job right now was to protect the entrance inside the mountain temple and prevent any human or monster from entering inside until Yukiko and Shiu returned with Kotoka, Nanako and the cavalrywomen.

“Lord Takeda... You probably never expected that this nameless valley that you gifted me contains a treasure that might embroil all of the East in catastrophe!”

“However... even if Lord Takeda hadn’t gifted it to me, I would’ve still done whatever it took to occupy this valley! No matter how big or small something is, I won’t hold back at all as long as it involves the hope of waking senior sister and the ability to protect my sisters!”