“YUZU HELP!” I shrieked, my voice cracking as panic fully overtook me. My butterfly wings sputtered erratically, their stamina nearly drained, and I was rapidly losing altitude. The weight of the nine-tailed fox in my arms wasn’t making things any easier, and the sword I clutched in my other hand only added to my sense of helplessness. I was falling—fast—and the ground was coming up way too quickly.

Below me, Yuzu perked up, her ears flicking as she instantly positioned herself to catch me. Her hands tightened around the hilt of her katana as she prepared to act. “Mashiro, fall faster! Yuzu will—”

I didn’t hear the rest.

My instincts had taken over, drowning out everything but the overwhelming urge to grab onto something. My frantic eyes darted across the surroundings, searching for anything solid, anything stable—anything that could stop me from crashing into the dirt where those disgusting cockroaches skittered below. My gaze locked onto the closest structure: the shrine’s roof. It wasn’t ideal, but it was something.

The last remnants of my wing’s stamina flickered out, and just as the translucent, glowing appendages faded from existence, my foot made contact with the roof’s surface.

A sharp jolt shot up my leg as my momentum nearly threw me off balance. I staggered, my tail whipping wildly behind me as I struggled to stay upright. But before I could even process the fact that I had successfully landed, a familiar holographic notification flashed before my eyes.

[A low level NONO presence detected, requesting a spiritual cleansing…]

[Accept?]

My heart pounded violently against my ribs, each frantic beat echoing in my ears. My breaths came in short, uneven gasps as pure, unfiltered panic surged through my veins. “DO ANYTHING!” I shrieked, my voice raw with desperation. My arms flailed wildly, my grip tightening around the nine-tailed fox in my arms as I teetered on the edge of the shrine’s roof, dangerously close to slipping. My claws dug into the rough wooden surface, but the overwhelming sense of disgust clawed at my sanity, making it impossible to think straight. Every muscle in my body screamed for an escape, but there was nowhere to run.

And then—I felt it. A sensation so profoundly wrong that my breath caught in my throat. Something wriggled against my shoulder, its tiny, spindly legs brushing against my fur with unbearable lightness. A cold shiver bolted down my spine, my entire body locking up as realization struck with the force of a thunderclap.

One of them is on me.

My pupils shrank to pinpricks. My ears flattened against my head. My tail, previously swishing in wild distress, fluffed up like an overstuffed pillow, standing rigid with sheer horror. Every nerve in my body screamed at me to move, get it off, GET IT OFF, but I was frozen in place, paralyzed by the absolute, soul-deep revulsion of the situation. My mind couldn’t process anything beyond that single, unbearable truth.

And then—another weight.

The disgusting, sickening feeling of tiny legs skittering against my scalp. The sharp brush of wings twitching against my hair. My breath hitched as my stomach twisted violently, nausea curling in my gut. No, no, no, no, no.

A third weight latched onto my leg, sending a jolt of pure terror through me. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t move. The cockroaches clung to me with an unnatural grip, their grotesque, twitching bodies pressing against my skin, their legs shifting slightly as if preparing to burrow into my very soul.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to die. I wanted to do anything—anything at all—to get them OFF of me. My entire being was consumed by a single, all-encompassing need to escape, to claw these filthy abominations away before I lost my mind completely.

The holographic notification in front of me flickered once more, the glowing text shifting and solidifying into something new.

[Shrine Maiden acquired, Gacha commencing…]

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The moment the words [Shrine Maiden acquired, Gacha commencing…] flashed before my eyes, a powerful force surged through me. My body tensed as the shrine beneath my feet pulsed with energy, sending waves of spiritual power rippling outward like an unseen shockwave.

I barely had time to process what was happening before golden light erupted around me, enveloping my entire form. My sword vibrated in my grip, reacting to the sudden burst of energy, while the white nine-tail fox in my arms let out a soft, approving purr.

Then— A massive gust of wind exploded from the shrine’s roof.

The cockroaches—disgusting, twitchy little monsters—were instantly swept away by the force. I felt the one clinging to my leg get ripped off first, followed by the one on my shoulder. The final one, the absolute worst offender that had been sitting atop my head, let out a tiny, horrific screech before flying off.

I collapsed onto my hands and knees, panting. What just—

A notification popped up.

[Congratulations! You have acquired the role of Shrine Maiden.]

[A contract has been established with the Abandoned Shrine.]

[Purification effect activated: Low-level NONO entities will be expelled upon touch.]

[Shrine Gacha activated. Spinning…]

Wait, wait, wait—what?! My eyes darted across the text, my mind struggling to keep up. Shrine Maiden? Purification effect? Gacha?!

Before I could even begin to understand what was happening, a large glowing wheel materialized in front of me, floating in midair. It was similar to a slot machine, except instead of numbers or fruit symbols, it was filled with mystical artifacts, weapons, and strange glowing talismans. At the very top of the wheel was a golden icon labeled “???”, while the lower sections displayed more common-looking charms and scrolls.

The wheel began spinning on its own, the motion swift and unstoppable. My eyes widened as the colors and symbols blurred together, each rotation faster than the last. My stomach twisted with a strange mix of anticipation and dread as the wheel whirred around, every second adding to the tension that had suddenly seized my body. I couldn’t tear my gaze away, mesmerized by the spinning wheel, wondering what would happen next. The sound of its motion filled the air, a low hum that almost drowned out my frantic thoughts.

Below me, Catherine and Yuzu were staring up with wide eyes, their faces a mixture of awe and complete confusion. I could feel their gazes burning into me, their bewildered expressions sending a strange chill down my spine. Catherine’s grip tightened on her staff, her knuckles white as she tried to make sense of the situation. Her voice, though cautious, carried a hint of concern as she called up to me.

“Mashiro,” she said, her voice laced with caution, “what exactly did you just do?”

Yuzu, on the other hand, was bouncing on the balls of her feet, her tail wagging eagerly. Her wide eyes sparkled with excitement, as if she had just witnessed something fantastical. “Shrine Maiden?! Mashiro is now shrine catto?!” she exclaimed, the words tumbling out in a rush of disbelief. Her hands shot up in the air, clearly overwhelmed with the concept. “Gacha is happening?! Yuzu wanna roll too!” Her enthusiasm was almost infectious, but I could barely focus on her words as the wheel in front of me continued its dizzying spin.

Before I could even attempt to answer, the wheel began to slow, the once-frantic rotations grinding to a gradual halt. My heart hammered in my chest as I watched the pointer inch closer and closer to an item that seemed to glow brighter than the rest. It was a talisman, its intricate golden markings shimmering against the swirling colors of the wheel. I held my breath, unsure of what the outcome would be. My palms were sweaty, and my entire body felt on edge as I watched the pointer come to a stop, landing squarely on the glowing charm.

And then, with a soft, almost musical chime, the wheel stopped completely.

Ding!

The sound of the wheel coming to a halt was quickly followed by a brilliant burst of light. The air shimmered around me, and for a moment, I could hardly see, blinded by the radiant glow. The light seemed to pulse with divine energy, almost as if it had a life of its own. I squinted, trying to adjust to the brilliance before me. As the light began to fade, a form slowly materialized in the air—a golden paper charm, its edges delicate and glowing softly with an ethereal energy. It floated before me, its presence serene, yet undeniably powerful, like something blessed by the Inari themselves.

The holographic notification in front of me flickered once more, its text shifting to accommodate the change.

[You have obtained: Divine Banishment Talisman (Rare)]

[Effect: Instantly exorcises low to mid-level NONO entities upon contact.]

I stared at it, my ears twitching.

"...Huh?"

From below, Yuzu's excited voice rang out, cutting through my momentary confusion. “Oooh! Shiny!” she squealed, her voice filled with glee, her tail wagging in a blur of excitement as she bounced from foot to foot. Despite the chaotic situation, Yuzu's infectious enthusiasm almost made me forget about the swarm of nightmares hovering in the air.

Catherine, however, rubbed her temples with an exasperated sigh. "I don't know how you keep getting yourself into these situations, but please, for the love of the spirits, explain later—just deal with the roaches first!"

Right. The cockroaches. I gripped the glowing talisman, feeling a sudden surge of confidence. If this thing worked like the description said… I turned toward the remaining airborne cockroaches, my tail flicking.

"Alright, you disgusting little nightmares…" I narrowed my eyes, raising the talisman high. "Begone!"

And with that, I slammed it down.