"Nurarihyon, I call you here for a small question."
I hold myself from laughing at the sight of the legendary old youkai in front of me. Even a being as old as him cannot stay calm when Amaterasu uses that kind of tone. I can already hear the cog inside his head, working really hard to search if he does something wrong.
"Of course, my lady." He says slowly, "Ask me anything, and I shall answer."
Amaterasu nods her head and says.
"Are you involved in selling Heavenly Ore?"
That is the name of the ore coming from Takamagahara.
And by the look of Nurarihyon, I know that he did not know. However, Yasaka already taught me not to trust someone's expression at face value because they can fake it. However, my Senjutsu is already telling me he is confused and concerned about that question. I think he is innocent. However, I will leave the last judgment to Amaterasu.
"My family and I never once sold the Heavenly Ore trusted to our family."
"Even the weapons were made out of them."
"Yes. We would rather use them than sell them with how little the ore is trusted to our family."
"How about your alliance?"
"While I cannot fully speak for them, I know that they will not sell any of the Heavenly Ore."
Amaterasu nods her head and says.
"Very well. You are clear for now."
"Apologize for this, my lady. However, can I ask for the reason for all these questions?"
Amaterasu nods and starts to explain the situation to Nurarihyon, who has a frown on his face that gets bigger and bigger with every word Amaterasu says.
"Do you know any information regarding this mess, Nurarihyon?"
The older youkai think for a few seconds before saying.
"I have a couple of people that might know some information. However, it was just a feeling. I did not have enough evidence to suspect them."
"Why do you think they know the information we need?"
"They are a group of Youkai that have a good relationship with the underworld. Not the underworld where devils and fallen angels live but rather the criminal underworld. Yasaka, you remember the incident when Heavenly Ore managed to get into the underworld auction?"
Yasaka nods her head and says.
"I do. I am the one dispatching my force to kill the thieves and retrieve the ore before the buyer can use it to create something. Lucky for us, the devil that buys this ore is not strong, and we kill him without leaving any evidence."
Nurarihyon nods and says,
"Yeah, those guys. They are the ones I am talking about. They are a group of thieves that steal anything they fancy. However, they already learn their lesson when you hang their member in the public with a face full of agony."
Yasaka shakes her head and says,
"It was not my intention. It was an order from Lord Kagutsuchi. It was a gift from him to one of the blacksmiths they killed, and Lord Kagutsuchi wanted to give an example."
"Ah, I understand. Anyway, they no longer dare to steal any Heavenly Ore from anyone, but they must have some information about this mess."
Amaterasu nods her head and says.
"Very well. Nurarihyon, I want you to investigate this matter. You are one of the best people to gather information. Do this, and I shall reward you."
"Of course, my lady. However, may I ask for the reward now?"
Uh-oh. I can see Susanoo and Tsukuyomi glaring at the old youkai. However, Amaterasu raises her hand and says,
"I shall grant you this one time. However, you shall be punished the next time you dare to ask this type of thing. Take this as a reward for your clan, which guards southern Japan."
Nurarihyon bows and says.
"Thank you for your kindness, my lady."
"Tell me. Tell me what you desire. However, remember your station."
"Of course, my lady. My wish is simple. I only want for the Natural Energy in Kanto to be as pure as the one in Kyoto."
Ah, shit. That is my doing, isn't it? I spread the teaching of my Senjutsu training, and because of this, the natural energy in Kyoto is free of corruption.
And when everyone looks at me, Nurarihyon looks at me with interest and curiosity.
Yasaka chuckles a little and says,
"If you want that, you need to ask him, Nurarihyon."
Ah, the cat is out of the bag.
"What do you mean, Yasaka?"
"He is the one that created this miracle. He taught us a new way of using Senjutsu. This method allows us to purify the natural energy in Kyoto slowly."
Now he looks at me with one of his eyebrows raised and uses his Senjutsu to look at my body. I release a sigh, absorb the Natural Energy, and enter Sage Mode. His eyes widened as he looked at my body, absorbing the natural energy, purifying the corruption, and releasing a lot of the pure natural energy back into the planet.
"Y-You are a sage. The planet loves you. It loves you so much that it is willing to give you as much natural energy as you want. You have unlimited energy ready to be used at any time you want.."
I look at him in surprise and say.
"That is not true. If I take too much natural energy, I will be turned into stone."
"No. If you use our technique, you have unlimited energy ready to use."
"But it will hurt the planet instead of healing it. That is the reason why I use this technique."
"And that is why you are the sage of this planet. You are someone who does not want power and is truly concerned about this planet. That makes you worthy of the title of Sage."
I don't know what to think about that. I can only nod and say.
"Anyway, I shall teach you this technique and help you purify the natural energy in the Kanto Region."
Nurarihyon bows his head and says,
"Thank you, Sage. It is an honor for a Sage to teach me."
"Please raise your head. Also, please call me Ryan. I am not used to all these titles."
"Of course, Sage Ryan."
I can only sigh at that word. He will not call me anything but that, huh?
"Good. With your reward being given, now it is your duty to gather as much information about this situation."
Nurarihyon looks at Amaterasu, bows his head, and says,
"Your will shall be done, my lady. I shall gather as much information as I can."