Genshin Impact: I'm The Envoy of Snezhnaya (Patreon)

Chapter 16: Not a Tanuki, but a Mujina

A bundle of firewood might not change their oppressed life, but it's enough to feed their  family today.

So, even knowing the forests are full of monsters and demons, some young people still carry their not-so-sharp machetes and wander in the wilderness.

It's all for their livelihood.

Besides firewood, occasionally, there are some special things that they can find, like those barrels and boxes displayed under the trees.

Ordinary people wouldn't place these things in the wilderness; most of it is food and drinking water collected by the Hilichurls.

Although it's probably just simple vegetables like carrots, sunsettias, or cabbages, for the impoverished families of Inazuma, it's still a significant harvest.

If they happen to find some Mora or shiny jewelry, that would be even better.

That's what the young people who came to cut firewood today are thinking.

They heard there was a gathering place of the Hilichurls nearby and wanted to try their luck.

Whether this is truly a gathering place of the Hilichurls is hard to say because while there are traces nearby, it doesn't quite look like Hilichurls's tracks.

Even the Hilichurls know that you should peel and cook carrots to make them tasty.

Who would eat raw carrots like that?

But aside from these traces, the young people are in for a surprise.

This is a more exquisite wooden barrel compared to the ordinary ones.

Although it looks somewhat small, it doesn't seem to be the work of the Hilichurls; it looks more like a wine barrel.

"Am I... going to hit a jackpot?"

The young man paused for a moment, then excitedly ran over and tapped the wooden barrel.

Because if this is truly a wine barrel, then he’s going to be able to gain some sizable amount of mora if he sold it.

As he continued to tap on the wooden barrel, there was a muffled thumping sound coming from it. It didn't sound like it was filled with liquid but rather with something solid.

Never mind that; it must be holding something valuable.

As he tried to brush away the fallen leaves on the barrel, he noticed that one of the leaves seemed to be stuck to the barrel. No matter how much he tried to peel it off, it wouldn't budge.

"Weird..."

When he attempted to remove it again, he heard a loud pop, and after a puff of smoke, a large tail suddenly appeared next to the barrel.

"A Ta-Tanuki!”

The young man's face turned pale at the sight. He didn't care about anything else and sprinted away in fear.

The mountains and forests are home to all sorts of Tanuki spirits, and he knew that.

Even though these small creatures aren't particularly harmful, supernatural beings like them are usually associated with bad omens, no matter where they are found.

Especially Tanuki spirits.

Unlike the Tengu, who protect the mountains, Tanuki spirits often take on various bizarre forms to play tricks on passing humans.

This has given them a bad reputation among humans, with strange superstitions that encountering a Tanuki spirit brings bad luck.

And the art of transforming with leaves on the head is precisely the rumored Tanuki magic.

"It's not a Tanuki... it's a Mujina!"

The wooden barrel had completely vanished, replaced by a small figure dressed as a ninja.

She stretched lazily, rubbing her head with a puzzled expression on her face.

She couldn't help but feel like someone had knocked her on the head while she was asleep.

"Senior, what time is it... Oh!?"

After shaking off her drowsiness, she had intended to ask her senior, who was also a ninja of the final chapter, about the time. However, she realized that her companion was no longer in the forest, and she was all alone.

"Have I been abandoned again?"

After a few moments of bewilderment, she finally realized that she had been abandoned by her companions, probably because she had fallen asleep due to drowsiness.

"Well, it's not so bad, I guess."

Yawning again, Sayu muttered to herself, still feeling a bit drowsy.

Last night, she had been ordered to investigate the upper ranks of the Fatui's Brigade, and she had been unexpectedly discovered.

Being discovered was one thing, but that person had persistently pursued her for so long. If it hadn't been for the timely intervention of the Tengu, who had disrupted her pursuer, Sayu couldn't even imagine what would have happened if she had been captured.

Rumors had it that the Fatui's Brigade would skin and gut Tanuki spirits they caught, using their thick fur to make capes... No, wait! Sayu was a Mujina! Not a Tanuki!

Yes, it was all the Fatui's Brigade's fault!

If it hadn't been for their relentless pursuit, she wouldn't have fallen asleep during the mission, and her teammates wouldn't have abandoned her.

Hmm... Speaking of the mission...

"Oh no!"

As if recalling something, Sayu's eyes, which had been heavy with drowsiness, suddenly widened like light bulbs.

"Oh no, oh no! I'm running out of time!"

She finally realized why she had been abandoned.

It wasn't because her senior left her here to sleep, but simply because she had received a new mission.

She had to meet that woman before noon.

Otherwise... otherwise...

Just thinking about the fate of those who had crossed her path and been pranked by her sent shivers down her spine.

Sayu suddenly snapped to attention.

It was said that even the Shogun couldn't handle that woman.

If she found facing the Shogun as troublesome, then that woman... that woman was truly terrifying! She mustn't be provoked, absolutely not! She had to hurry to the appointment!

With these thoughts in mind, her drowsiness completely disappeared.

"Yoohoo Art: Fuuin Dash!"

After forming the hand seals, Sayu leaped high into the air, and the abundant Anemo element became visible to the naked eye.

As she hugged her knees, the Anemo element enveloped her entirely. She rolled through the forest like a wheel.

Though this ninja technique was quite useful, it had its downsides. Spinning like a wheel for an extended period could make her dizzy.

However, she had no time to think about that now.

She feared that woman more than she feared becoming dizzy from the technique.

Boosted by the Anemo element, Sayu, who had started her journey into the city much later than Bai Luo, surprisingly arrived at Inazuma City earlier.

"So... dizzy..."

Upon arriving outside Inazuma City, Sayu had reached her limit.

In the midst of the barking of an Akita dog, she clung to a cherry blossom tree just outside the city, almost vomiting the food she had eaten the night before.

Wait... she had only nibbled on a carrot last night.

Carrots, when used in cooking, were undoubtedly delicious. But eating them raw was a different story.

Well, now wasn't the time to think about that.

After shooing away the barking dog, Sayu made her way to the waterwheel. She cupped a handful of cold spring water and splashed it on her face, relieving some of the dizziness caused by her rolling technique.

After scanning the area to make sure no one strange was following her, Sayu entered Inazuma City, albeit a bit unsteadily.

Inazuma City at noon was not particularly lively. Even though most ordinary people didn't have Vision, the Vision Hunt Decree still weighed on them like a heavy stone, making it hard to breathe.

Most people preferred to stay at home rather than risk getting questioned by the Shogunate's enforcers on the streets.

If there was no urgent need, very few ventured out.

"Oh no... I'm going to be late!"

Sayu looked at the sun in the sky and estimated in her mind. Her expression became even more troubled.

If her calculations were correct, even if she rushed to Uyuu Restaurant at full speed, she would still be at least three minutes late.

"Ugh... that woman will never let me off the hook!"

"That woman?"

Just when she was feeling downcast, a playful voice suddenly reached her ears.

"Which woman?"