novelraw Chapter 231 - 229: Fish Also Dreams of Freedom
Chapter 231 - 229: Fish Also Dreams of Freedom
Should one say, as expected of a street wanderer? He, who seemed somewhat clumsy, was surprisingly much more agile than Bai Luo had imagined.
After leaving a few dents in the wall, Arataki Itto landed steadily beside Bai Luo.
"This... is this really the tengu's house? It's huge, isn't it?"
After Arataki Itto stood firm, he had just glanced into the courtyard when his gaze became fixed.
The first impression this courtyard gave him was that it was big.
That's right, super big!
Not to mention anything else, the lotus pond right below their feet was half the size of Hanamizaka.
A few plump, delicious-looking fish could be vaguely seen in the pond. Due to the lack of natural predators, they swam leisurely in the water, not even afraid of people approaching. Instead, they would gather around, opening their mouths as if acting spoiled, trying to beg for some food.
Neatly trimmed vegetation completely covered the ground around the lotus pond. A few pine trees used for decoration, though not large, were just right as part of the scenery.
Several strangely shaped rocks were placed beside the lotus pond. Not only did they not ruin the overall aesthetic, but they also added a bit of solemnity to the courtyard.
Coupled with the cherry blossoms falling with the wind, it made one want to lie down on the green grass, letting the sunlight spill wantonly upon oneself, and perhaps even roll around a few times.
"This Kujou Tengu really knows how to enjoy life, doesn't she?"
For the development of the Arataki Gang, Arataki Itto had also worked for the wealthy before.
But even the richest people couldn't create a landscape of this caliber in their homes.
"Shh."
After making a hushing gesture, Bai Luo pressed down on Arataki Itto's head, and the two of them lowered their heads together.
The Okuzumeshuu patrolling here just glanced in their direction and didn't pay too much attention, thinking they were just passing stray cats or dogs.
It wasn't that they were slacking off, but that they couldn't imagine, even if they racked their brains, who would be so bold as to climb the walls of the Tenshukaku.
After the Okuzumeshuu left, Bai Luo tiptoed down from the wall and hid behind the rockery.
Arataki Itto followed suit, but unfortunately, he didn't have Bai Luo's "Fallen Angel" passive and ended up falling on his butt.
After confirming that the Okuzumeshuu had left, Bai Luo came to the side of the lotus pond.
Seeing him, the plump, delicious-looking fish in the pond all gathered around, opening their mouths to beg for food.
Unexpectedly, Bai Luo, like a magician, waved his large hand and took out a snakeskin bag, scooping up all the plump fish in the pond.
"Brother Bai, isn't it a bit wrong to steal things?"
Looking at the fish in Bai Luo's bag, Arataki Itto said.
He had always had a bad reputation in Inazuma City. Although he wouldn't be classified as a bad person, he was definitely not a law-abiding good resident either.
Even so, he had his own bottom line.
For example, children's snacks had to be won. Even if he found an ownerless Lavender Melon by the roadside, if he was sure that someone else had roasted it, he would leave some Mora to prove that he had bought it.
No stealing, no robbing. This was the absolute bottom line of the Arataki Gang, and also the dignity of the Arataki Gang!
"Steal? A scholar's business... is that called stealing? Fish are creatures bestowed upon us by nature. They are trapped in this small pond, gloomy and depressed all day long, their bodies have even swollen several sizes. What we need to do... is to liberate them! Let them go to a wider place!"
Bai Luo said with a serious and righteous expression.
It was just that the act of swallowing his saliva was a bit of a mood killer.
"It seems... that makes sense."
Although he felt that what Bai Luo said was a bit off, it seemed to have some truth to it.
Looking at the plump fish in the pond, he thought of himself when he was locked in jail.
He knew very well how uncomfortable it was to be trapped in such a place.
If Shinobu hadn't gotten him out... he might have been driven mad inside.
Perhaps the reason these fish gathered around when they saw them was because they saw the hope of freedom.
With the efforts of the two, more than half of the plump fish in the pond ended up in Bai Luo's bag.
Before the Okuzumeshuu returned, the two climbed back onto the wall and left.
It was not long after they left that another person arrived.
Her long pink hair was tied behind her back, swaying slightly as she walked. Her long fox ears drooped behind her, seeming to blend in with her long hair.
The clothes she wore looked like a shrine maiden's uniform, but compared to an ordinary shrine maiden's uniform, her attire looked a bit more complicated.
Various accessories made her look more high-ranking than an ordinary shrine maiden.
Or rather... she was the object of admiration for all the shrine maidens of the Grand Narukami Shrine—Yae Miko.
Holding fish food in her arms, she seemed to be in a good mood.
Because according to the intelligence she had, the author who had been delaying his updates for a long time had finally returned to Inazuma.
However, according to Kuroda, after that guy returned to Inazuma, he went out for a stroll on the streets again.
She would deal with the matter on the Shogun's side first, and then go find trouble with him.
"Hmm?"
After sprinkling the fish food, Yae Miko noticed that the surface of the water, which should have been churning, was much calmer than usual.
Were these fish not energetic enough?
No, the way they were churning didn't seem like they lacked energy.
It looked more like...
A purple light flickered in Yae Miko's eyes. After her gaze lingered in the water for a moment, she confirmed one thing.
Where are my fish?
After glancing around, Yae Miko's gaze fell on a cat licking its paws at the base of the wall on the opposite side of the pond.
Cat: "???"
"Forget it, I'll have them buy a few more later."
Shaking her head slightly, Yae Miko poured all the fish food she was holding into the lotus pond, then strode into the Tenshukaku.
After passing the lotus pond and climbing thirty-eight steps (I specifically went to count, it's exactly thirty-eight), there was a brightly lit building.
At the very top of the building, three large, gilded characters written in the Inazuman script read "Onsen."
In fact, according to Inazuma's geographical environment, there were no natural hot springs caused by volcanic activity like in Natlan.
A long time ago, the hot spring culture was introduced to Inazuma. The Inazumans, addicted to the warmth and soothing properties of hot water, tried every means to replicate hot springs in Inazuma.
In the end, it was the Kanjou Commissioner at the time, Hiiragi Hirosuke, who introduced a high-efficiency blast furnace from Snezhnaya, which raised the water temperature to that of a hot spring. Then, by adding precious minerals and plants collected from various countries to the water, the first Inazuman hot springs were formed.
However, compared to the Onsen in the Tenshukaku, the ordinary hot spring bathhouses on the main street did not have the addition of minerals, so the level of comfort was naturally not as good as the Onsen.
"Lady Guuji."
Upon seeing Yae Miko arrive, the Onsen Commissioner, Mikawa Akane, who was in charge of hot spring-related matters, came over and bowed to her.
Unlike other places, the subordinates of this Onsen Commissioner were all female.
The official explanation was that women were more meticulous than men and more suitable for this kind of work.
But the real reason... was unknown.
After all, this was a place that received high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
However, since the Onsen was located within the Tenshukaku, it was estimated that not many people would dare to commit such an act of disrespect.
"The usual place. The water shouldn't be too hot."
"Alright, I'll prepare it for you right away."
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