The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapters 104. Promise Under the Sakura Flower

The morning was really crowded. Reda was even very surprised to get such a gentle and warm greeting from the man she loved so much in silence.

Since morning, Reda's face could not stop to blush and she seemed to be unable to control herself.

Even as she was preparing breakfast in the kitchen with her sweet little fox, she still continued to blush.

“How is this? I have a fever now, Ryuunosuke. My face is red and my heartbeat can't stop pounding.”

“This must be because Aragaki-sama is getting flirtatious and indecent, Ryuunosuke is sure. Aragaki-sama became flirtatious at Reda-sama. Slitting cheek Reda-sama like–”

“Ryuunosuke, don't talk anymore!” Relieved in panic and closed the little fox's mouth gently. His face was red this time.

“Don't say such a shameful thing. That is not true, Nushi-sama is very.”.

- Blueuush

Reda does not learn from experience.

But, that innocent nature actually makes Ryuunosuke happy with his favorite girl. He let go of Reda's soft hands and smiled happily.

“If Aragaki-sama hears, he will also definitely be red like Reda-sama.”

“Really?”

“Surely so. After all, Aragaki-sama will never hate Reda-sama again.”

“So, thank goodness. That means I...still fall in love with her.” The gentle expression of Reda made Ryuunosuke happy. He just wants his favorite girl to really be the companion of the master.

Unbeknownst to the two, the two observing tengu looked solemn. Not only that, at the front and back door of the Aragaki residence now, Nagi and Ginko stood guard to ensure the safety of the place.

**

In his room, Aragaki started thinking about everything. All that is meant is a report about the forest that dried up, blackened and turned dead in some places.

An hour after she came out this morning before Reda woke up, she came back to her room, cleaned her body, changed her clothes and called her four servants who were on guard all night.

Apparently, Nagi and his friends did not sleep. They took guard outside the Aragaki residence to ensure that all were safe from intruders.

“Nagi, Ginko, Hakuren, Kuroto.” the ruler called his four loyal servants

It did not take long, the four who were outside immediately appeared before the master.

“We are here, Aragaki-sama.”

“You have to explain all this. Especially you guys, Hakuren, Kuroto.”

The two tengu explained what happened. They recount the beginning of the discovery as they decide to investigate the source of the employer's concerns themselves.

When they went to the forest, they did not realize the bad thing and when they realized it, everything spread.

“Indeed only part of the territory and it is not much, but my forest remains damaged by that kegare and all that belongs to Ara-mitama.” said the ruler on his four servants

Aragaki continued with that sentence.

“Kegare can only be produced by Ara-mitama and I hope you guys don't forget about that reality. And Ara-mitama only lived together with Nue since 200 years ago.”

“Now I know who's after the girl. He is likely Ara-mitama.”

“So apparently. Now when combined with what happened today, then everything is clear.” Nagi tried to conclude

“What does that mean, Nagi?” Hakuren asked Nagi

Nagi explained everything to Hakuren and Kuroto, since they had not known about this before.

“Today after me and Ginko went shopping, we felt followed by another figure. In addition, in the market we also reprimanded some people who spread bad rumors about Reda-sama.”

Ginko added, “As we reprimanded them, they said they heard the news from a witness who claimed to be the one who knew all that.”

“She also said that they don't remember her figure. As soon as we got back, we felt followed and Nagi lured him out.”

“When Nagi's attack hit him a little, Nagi and I believed that it was mitama, although it was unclear which type of mitama.”

“Then in the forest, you found a part of the forest that died and blackened because of kegare. It explained that the possibility of being hit by our previous attack was Ara-mitama because kegare could only be generated by them.”

“And chances are, he cut off his own body part then left it in the forest and turned into kegare.”

“Because of that, match from that incident.Nushi-sama knows that Ara-mitama is likely the one watching Reda-sama since some time ago.”.

Ginko's explanation was very logical and the two tengu eventually found a match.

Hakuren even thought of the worst possible, “All the stories are. And if we do not immediately find the existence of Ara-mitama, then Reda-sama will probably.”.

The other three friends started to look anxious. However, Aragaki firmly said, “I will not let anyone try to harm the girl.”

“…!”

“I will take care of his safety. As long as he doesn't get out of this place, everything will be fine.”

That was how it happened before Reda met the ruler this morning.

At this time, Aragaki was thinking about getting serious about this matter.

“I may be overdoing it, but now I am increasingly convinced that the demon Nue may have something to do with this all.”

“Everything related to the filthy girls of that damned village always ends in death and they all have the same fate of being food for Nue.”

“If indeed he is after her, it means that he could have done something bad to the girl. For example..”

“…”

Finally there was something that was in the bright spot. Although it is only prejudice, it can be true.

“I won't let it. I'll see Nue after this.”

That morning, Aragaki's intentions were clear. But it seems that someone can delay all those plans and that is the village girl.

When breakfast is ready, the village girl who stole Aragaki's attention comes with her beloved little fox.

“Aragaki-sama, Ryuunosuke and Reda-sama are coming. Breakfast is ready, Aragaki-sama!”

All the heavy thoughts that had just been in his mind instantly disappeared like they had never existed. He stood up and came out looking at the pretty face of the village girl who used to be so cursed by him.

The blushing smile of the village girl can never again be rejected by Aragaki and her heart always wants to be close to her unwittingly.

Unlike the previous, Aragaki begins to accept her own feelings. He fell in love with the village girl and was still waiting for the time until his heart could say it without any burden.

That morning, sitting down and spending breakfast beside the village girl became a new habit for the ruler and from now on, it may never disappear from his habit again.

Finished breakfast, Reda sweeps the courtyard and the garden alone as her little fox goes into the forest with the two youko in search of wild vegetables.

Cleared by Reda are fallen cherry blossom petals.

“I'll put you guys under a tree again. So let me clean you guys up yeah.” he said with a smile

The reason he said that was because Reda believed in what everyone said.

Each petal of cherry blossoms in the Aragaki residence is the soul of all the demons that died during the bloody tragedy 200 years ago. Therefore, Reda considered that the shed petals of cherry blossom were also the souls of all of them.

Just then, the wind was calm so he could get a few piles of sakura petals.

“Well, if put here, you will be able to be with others. No need to be scattered anymore.”

Shut up for a moment, Reda knelt down and smiled as she picked up a few petals of cherry blossoms.

“Thank you for blooming and continue to treat the sadness of Nushi-sama. You guys are already blooming pretty and treating Nushi-sama's wounds.”

“Thank you for protecting everyone. You guys really love Higashi no Mori, don't you? May you be calm and always happy in the sky.”

When he stood up, Reda did not realize that behind him was the ruler who heard all that.

With a smile and ease, he looked up at the sakura tree. Now, he saw a beautiful sight from below.

“In the village, I have never seen cherry blossoms grow. It feels good to be alive and to see it this much.”

Aragaki only heard the girl continue muttering to herself without saying anything.

“I want to know..is the late mother Ryuunosuke among the thousands of cherry blossom petals yes?”

“He must be happy to see his sweet little fox always smiling. Already so, he is good at making funny songs.”

“Ahaha, it feels good to hear him sing while wagging his tail.”

Reda swept back the petals of the cherry blossoms nearby with a smile. Until he finally realized that someone saw him. When he looked, the figure near him was the ruler.

“Nushi...-same..”.

Aragaki just smiled and walked over to the girl. Reda clasped the handle of the broom in her hand tightly due to being so embarrassed, yet she tried to act ordinary.

“Still sweeping alone?”

“Iya.”

Reda looks embarrassed. He even thought that everything he said earlier was clearly heard by the ruler. Until finally the girl asked, “Since when..Nushi-sama was here?”.

Aragaki lied, “I just came.”

“So.” Reda felt relieved instantly. She even showed a pretty smile that made Aragaki's heart soften, arguably melt.

“Beauty.” that's what it says in the heart

Aragaki steadied her heart and said to the girl, “I want to say something to you.”

“Says something?”

“I will protect you from now.”

“Eh?”

“From now on, no matter what happens.I will be the first to protect you. Therefore, I just want you to trust me.”

Reda does not understand what Aragaki is saying to her, but she knows that it is the most beautiful sentence of her life.

“Nushi-sama...will protect me?”

Aragaki hugged the girl tightly, “I promise I will protect you. I'll do anything to keep you safe.”

Reda could only hear the heartbeat of the man she loved beating fast. And at this time, under the cherry blossoms, the wind-blown wave of twigs began to shed thousands of other petals.

“I swear I'll protect her. After all is done, I will say that I have fallen in love with her.”

****