blogombal Page 493
Page 493
After losing the Dugong Arrow, Kadowaki Saori went to find Junhui to ask about the location of her mother's grave, wanting to eat the "mermaid's" bones to achieve immortality!
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad!
This is the extent to which humanity has been utterly extinguished.
Junhui's "good friends" died without any injustice!
"Mermaids are pretty petty!" Hattori Heiji muttered.
"Don't speak ill of mermaids!"
Upon hearing Natsume tease the mermaid, Naoko Kuroe and Saori Kadowaki's expressions changed:
Even if you are outsiders—
"The mermaid's curse will come true!"
"Good good!"
Kogoro Mouri skillfully eased the tension:
"We won't say anything then!"
"Excuse me--"
Conan looked up and changed the subject:
"Where do we need to go if we want to participate in that dugong festival?"
"Of course, it's the shrine on the island!"
Naoko Kuroe pointed to the beach not far away:
"The shrine's longevity matriarch is the star of today's celebration, and she's also a symbol of our island!"
"She has presided over the annual dugong festival since the beginning of recorded history!"
"So?"
Kazuha's beautiful eyes were filled with curiosity:
"Since she's said to be a long-lived woman, may I ask how old she actually is?"
"How old is the long-lived woman?"
Naoko Kuroe was taken aback, unsure of herself:
"Some say he's a hundred years old, others say two hundred, but anyway, he's been around since I was a child—"
"No, my mother was already a long-lived woman when she was a child, right, Saori?"
When asked, Saori Kadori nodded.
"That's right, the Longevity Granny has achieved immortality by eating mermaid flesh, which is why she has been able to live for so long!"
"However, if you want to know her exact age, it's best to ask Junhui!"
"Yes, let's go find Junhui!"
"Junhui?"
Xiaolan heard the name she had seen in the diary and pretended not to know it, asking:
"Who is that?"
"They're friends we grew up with~"
Naoko Kuroe's face showed no sign of anything amiss:
"Junhui is the great-granddaughter of the longevity matriarch and now works as a shrine maiden."
"If you want to know how old the longevity woman is, you can ask her."
"Let's go to the shrine now!"
Xiao Lan couldn't wait to meet the girl Xia Ye had mentioned in his diary, and she grabbed Xia Ye's hand, urging him on.
"Row!"
...
The shrine on the island of America is located near the sea.
The stairs leading to the torii gate are on the beach.
When Xia Ye and her group arrived at the torii gate of the shrine.
A beautiful shrine maiden dressed in red and white is standing on the beach gazing at the sea.
Dark clouds loomed over the distant sea, and the tide kept crashing onto the beach, soaking the sand in front of her. The atmosphere seemed somewhat oppressive.
"Junhui!"
Naoko Kuroe waved to the shrine maiden.
"Naoko? And Saori?"
Junhui turned around, a faint smile on her pretty face:
"You're here so early?"
"We've brought you some guests!"
Naoko Kuroe and Saori Kadowaki spoke to Kimie Shimabukuro with natural expressions, as if they were truly good friends without any barriers between them!
"guest?"
Shimabukuro Kimie looked at Natsume and her group, her beautiful eyes smiling:
"Is this the group?"
"Hello, Miss Junhui~"
Xiaolan and Heye exchanged a glance.
She really is a beautiful and gentle young lady, with a kind of pitiful charm that makes one's heart ache. No wonder Xia Ye mentioned her in her diary.
"Hello~"
I know these girls are all Xia Ye's women.
So even if it's the first time we meet.
Shimabukuro Kimie also naturally felt that they were somewhat close.
After both parties introduced themselves...
Xiao Lan had already started chatting with Jun Hui as if they were old friends.
Compared to her previous cautious and polite personality, she now resembles Yukiko's social phobia!
"oops!"
"How could my great-grandmother be two hundred years old!"
When Ran asked about the old woman's age, Kimie Shimabukuro waved her hand and smiled, saying:
"Actually, she's only 130 years old this year, not as exaggerated as the rumors say!"
"One hundred and thirty years old?" Kazuha exclaimed in surprise.
"This is already outrageous!"
"It's okay~"
A barely perceptible sadness flashed in Kimie Shimabukuro's eyes, but it vanished just as quickly.
Only Xiaolan, who had been observing her, seemed to be deep in thought.
It seems that Junhui has some unspeakable secret, perhaps just like Asai Makoto from Moon Shadow Island back then!
Xia Ye always seems to like girls with a past!
"Then may I ask—"
Hattori Heiji asked:
Where is your great-grandmother now?
"Of course, I'll be diligently crafting the dugong arrow I'll be sending out tonight at the shrine!"
Kimie Shimabukuro pointed to the shrine behind her:
"If you want to see her, you'll have to wait until the celebration begins. She won't come out to see guests before then!"
"That's it..."
Kogoro Mouri suddenly leaned closer and asked mysteriously:
"Miss Junhui, let me ask you, did your great-grandmother really eat mermaid flesh?"
"Cuckoo~"
Kimie Shimabukuro giggled, her sweet, bell-like laughter laced with mockery.
"There is no such thing as mermaids in this world. Those are just made-up stories. Don't believe them, Mr. Mori!"
"You're so stupid!"
A girl's voice came from the torii gate of the shrine:
"Junhui, you say that because you don't believe in your great-grandmother's power at all!"
"Sumi!"
Shimabukuro Kimie turned around to look at the person who had come in.
A beautiful woman with long, straight black hair walked down the steps. She approached and smiled, saying:
“Your great-grandmother truly possessed magical powers, and she did indeed eat mermaid flesh in the past. Three years ago, a mermaid's corpse was found on the island, wasn't it?”
"A mermaid's corpse!?"
Conan and Heiji Hattori were taken aback.
Could that be the person who sent the invitation?
"That's just a rumor!"
Shimabukuro Kimie's hands were clenched tightly behind her back, her nails digging into her palms!
A hint of murderous intent flashed across her clear, beautiful eyes!
Ebihara Tomi's words made her fury for revenge almost uncontrollable!
Three years ago, the three people present wanted to verify whether the longevity woman that Mom was pretending to be was an immortal mermaid. They closed the warehouse door and burned Mom to death. Now they have the audacity to bring up this matter again. They deserve to die!
Can't wait!
We can get started now!
"Haha~"
"You're lying through your teeth!"
Toshimi Ebihara shook her head helplessly.
She wanted to say something else.
But then she heard Saori Kadozaki scream from beside her—
"There are mermaids!"
"what?!"
Everyone was shocked and turned around to look.
Then they saw Saori Kadowaki running towards the surging sea like a madwoman!
Soon the seawater reached her calves and soaked her clothes.
However, she was completely unaware of this, as if her mind had been bewitched by some strange entity, and she wanted to throw herself into the embrace of the sea!
"Saori!"
Kuroe Naoko and Ebihara Hisumi shouted loudly:
"come back quickly!"