Nuke Miko: Chronicles of America

——An ugly duckling like her who accidentally strayed into the upper class, does she still expect to meet some Prince Charming who falls in love at first sight here?

Importantly, Megumi Akiyama agreed to take her to take a photo with Scarlett Johansson and Elon Musk at the end of the party!

Just such a photo is enough for her to boast in front of her classmates and relatives for ten years!

Expectation, excitement, excitement, nervousness, anxiety, fear... All kinds of indescribable emotions were mixed together for a while, rushing to her heart, making Yuu Asakura restless and unable to eat anything, even the coffee in his hand. It took a long time without taking a sip.

At the same time, Akiyama Megumi, who was sitting at the same small round table with her, was calmly wearing a priestess costume, attacking the meal with a knife and fork in his hand.

In front of Megumi Akiyama, there are two main dishes, French pan-fried foie gras and Provence lamb chops, an ice tray with French emerald oysters and a pair of Madagascar black tiger prawns on top of shiny crushed ice, in addition to Fruit salad, soup and cakes for dessert.

A dazzling array of dinner plates filled the small round table, which was not too big, and overflowed with an alternative style of painting that was incompatible with the venue.

——As we all know, the main function of Americans holding parties is to socialize rather than eat and drink. The drinks at the party can at least moisten the throat and prevent the guests from speaking hoarsely.But the food is pure meaning, few people will eat and drink at the party, the more advanced the party, the more so.

(Those low-end parties, such as alumni associations and so on, often have losers who can't get girls to eat to relieve depression.)

Therefore, many "party girls" often eat nothing but drinks at parties, or at most stuff a few mouthfuls of pastries to fill their stomachs.

People like Megumi Akiyama who sit at a party and don't talk to anyone, but eat slowly, can be said to be rare.

It can even be said that there is obviously a problem-please, this is a fundraising party for your Inari Shrine!

As a fox-eared priestess who serves Inari God, shouldn't you be holding a gift box, full of sweet words, and begging for money and checks from them one by one?

How can one concentrate on sitting and eating and drinking, as if watching someone else's play?

And... Yuu Asakura looked around, and found that even the three maidens who came to the United States with him have now changed into evening dresses with fragrant shoulders and half-exposed—it was bought by Megumi Akiyama, with tall feet Wine Cup, although he didn't dare to talk to the celebrities, he still wandered around very curiously.

Only Megumi Akiyama is still in the unshakable red and white witch costume. Putting it on this party with fragrant clothes and shadows, the style of painting is wrong no matter how you look at it.

——After all, this is a more formal high-class party, not a fancy comic exhibition, nor a masquerade party with a Japanese cultural theme!

Therefore, Yu Asakura couldn't help asking Akiyama Megumi: Why did she pay for Chanel's luxurious evening dresses for others before, but she was still the only one in a plain red and white witch attire?Would it be too indecent to dress like this and disappoint the governor and his wife hosting the party?

After all, the guests are whatever they want, and since you are going to a party, you have to dress yourself up in a more sophisticated and fashionable way.

How could it be like Akiyama Megumi now, without makeup at all, and come out with a plain face?Although she is not ugly even without makeup!

"...Hey, you don't understand this, if I also take off the priestess costume and put on an evening dress, it will be disappointing! Yoyo!

Why do you think they came to this party?Do they want to see an unqualified vase in an evening dress with no breasts, buttocks, and legs at this party, or do they want to see a superhuman who can bring them youth, health and safety? "

After listening to Yoyo's question, Akiyama Hui put down the knife and fork, picked up the napkin and wiped his mouth, and replied like this.

"...Ah, well, they are indeed all here for your spells."

Asakura Yuu tilted his head and thought for a while, then suddenly realized, "...So, you have to be ready to cast spells at the party?"

"...Yes, look at these celebrities, all of them are well-dressed and look like dogs. But their bones may not be so healthy."

Megumi Akiyama pointed at the stars and celebrities at the venue, "...Among these people, there are not many who have always had good living habits. Some still like to play crazy and take drugs, and some indulged when they were young. I have changed my bad habits, but my body has already buried hidden dangers.

You may be able to bear it when you are young and strong, but when you are old and frail and your body functions decline, all kinds of hidden diseases will break out together, and it is difficult for gods to save them.

This is also the reason why they all come to this party - they want to get acquainted with me so that they can ask for treatment in the future!

Of course, things like medical treatment are generally not brought up at parties, but will be finalized in private chats at a later date.But it doesn't rule out that impatient people want me to cast healing spells on the spot-so, just in case, I must be prepared to cast spells.

Not to mention, who knows if there will be any other believers of the evil gods from the outside world coming to the door today, wanting to fight with me? "

"...That's why you insist on continuing to pass on the priestess costume?" Asakura Yu nodded, "...But even so, why do you always sit here and eat by yourself instead of going over there to say hello to them? Today The theme of the party is to collect donations for the construction of the Inari Shrine!"

"...Yuyo! Do you think that these people were really inspired by God Inari to listen to the teachings of us priestesses?"

Megumi Akiyama shrugged his shoulders, "...No, except for those who want to contact me for treatment, the rest of the big shots don't care about God Inari, what the host is talking about, and don't care about donating money. Where did the little money go. They just used this occasion to make connections and talk business-just like those charity dinners in the past, no rich man really cared about children in war-torn areas or terminally ill patients.

So, why should I take the initiative to go up and talk?Besides, you also noticed the height difference between us and these people, right? "

She sighed with a bitter face, "... If I leaned over and stood and chatted with them, what do you think it would be like?"

Chapter 196: Is this the Valley of the Wicked?

What kind of scene would it be if Megumi Akiyama walked over with a glass of wine to chat with those big figures in American high society?

Asakura Yuu narrowed his eyes, and took a closer look at Akiyama Ena, who was a dozen centimeters taller than him, but still less than 1.5 meters tall.

Then he turned his head and looked at the supermodels and female stars with beautiful long legs, as well as the generally burly and tall American men in the venue.

Obviously, if the short Akiyama Megumi walked over to chat with them, he would definitely have to raise his head and stretch his neck...

He even had to keep jumping in place and jumping up in order to attract the attention of those tall people.

No way, the average height difference is thirty or forty centimeters!

To put it nicely, it means that anyone who talks to her has to bow; to put it bluntly, that is the perspective of a pet looking up at its owner from its feet.

But in any case, this kind of cute feeling that seems to have degenerated into a kindergarten child seems to be quite shameful.

——Imagine, in a slightly noisy venue amidst the sound of music, Dwayne Johnson looks around with his wine glass in his hand, muttering in confusion, "It seems like someone is calling me", while a little bean in a witch costume is bouncing vigorously beside him , shouting anxiously, "This way! Look down!"

Pfft, this is really funny!

Thinking of this, Yu Asakura, who was only 132 centimeters tall, couldn't help nodding slightly, thinking he understood Megumi Akiyama's difficulties.

So, being unresponsive, she put her heart back into her stomach, calmed down a little, and began to lower her head to sip the pour-over coffee in her hand.

Well, although it's already cold, the taste is still far from the instant coffee that Asakura Yu used to drink.

——It has a little acidity and a little bitterness, but the most touching thing is its rich taste and distinct floral and fruity aroma.

After one sip, Asakura Yu was intoxicated by that luxurious sense of luxury and had endless aftertaste.

It seems that because the nervousness was relieved, after drinking coffee, she began to feel a little hungry, and saw Megumi Akiyama picked up the knife and fork again, nibbling the lamb chops with gusto, so Asakura Yu also stood up, wanting to go to the long table to get something to eat.

But as soon as she stood up, she saw the portrait of God Inari on the big screen in the center of the venue, and she was shocked.

"...Megumi, that's not right! This party was held in the Capitol building by the governor and his wife of California to raise funds for you to build the Inari Shrine. In other words, all the money raised today will go to you In your pocket—so, how can you act like nothing happened?

Even if it's not to thank you for today's donation, but for the long-term plan in the future, you have to connect with a few big donors! "

She gently pulled Qiu Shanhui's arm, "...just treat it as a deal with the benefactor, go over and say something thankful to them, Huihui!"

——Although, as a shy female high school student, Asakura Yu herself decided that she didn't have the courage to talk to those billionaires and male and female stars, and she didn't even have the courage to approach them.But if she was following Qiu Shanhui's side as a bag-carrying girl, she still wanted to see those celebrities up close.

Regrettably, Akiyama Megumi still didn't intend to get up from the dining table, but gently shook off Asakura Yu's hand, and continued to eat on his own.

"...Hey, Yoyo, don't take things for granted! First of all, they are not donating money to me, but to the governor's wife.

According to American tradition, the money raised at today's party will not be handed over to me directly, but to a charity established by the governor and his wife. In theory, all the money should be used for the construction of the Inari Shrine .But in fact... only God knows how much money can be given.

According to the current practice in the United States, it is not bad if 5% to 10% of the funds raised at charity dinners are actually used for charitable purposes.

But this is far from the worst. Charities in the United States are at least putting on a show, and they have to engage in some public welfare activities.

In Asia, many charities are simply pocket companies, never doing charity, and the money raised is either turned into the luxury cars and villas of the managers, or sent to the official backers behind the scenes-defrauded by their ability Or the money from extortion, why should it be handed over to the poor?

So, even though this party is a fundraiser for me, I still have to share the bill with the governor's wife, and it's hard to say how much I can get.

Secondly, although these bigwigs in the entertainment industry and political and business circles are very powerful and can shock thousands of people by stomping their feet, why should I curry favor with them?

Yoyo, who do you think I am?Entrepreneurs or speculators who attract investment from all over the world?A developer or inventor trying to sell a new product?Small business managers who want to do business with them?No, I'm neither! "

Qiu Shanhui continued to cut the lamb chops disapprovingly, "...Since I have nothing to ask them, why should I have the cheek to stand in front of these big men, and feel the insurmountable gap between people up close? What about the gap? We are not from the same world as them!

If they come to me for nothing, wouldn't it be easier for us to eat ours and they talk about theirs?

Why do I have to sharpen my head and have an awkward chat in front of them, making everyone feel uncomfortable?Can't understand what each other said!

People who are not in the same circle, if it is not very necessary, it is better not to get together..."

"...Didn't ask them for anything? How come? Didn't you want to raise money from them to build a shrine?" Asakura Yu said puzzled.

"...Hey, Yoyo, do you really think that I am so poor that without the sponsorship of these people, I can't even build a small shrine?"

Hearing this, Akiyama Hui couldn't help but rolled his eyes. He no longer had the appetite to continue eating. He put down his knife and fork and asked back, "...you might as well do the math, build an Akiyama Shrine with my family in a rice-growing area in the American countryside. How much money do you need for a new shrine of about the same size?"

How much does it cost to build a shrine in the United States?

In terms of scale and area, as long as it is as large as the Akiyama family's ancestral shrine in Megumin's hometown in Fukushima Prefecture, is it enough?

Asakura Yuu bit her fingers and rolled her eyes, recalling that she also visited the Akiyama Shrine in Hui’s family last year, and knew that although the place was quaint, it was really not that big—deducting the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, The green belt planted with trees and the vegetable bed opened up by Grandma Akiyama in the backyard, the house and the main body of the shrine covered with slate floors are actually built, and the area is less than two basketball courts, which is only [-] to [-] square meters.

The building area covered by the roof is estimated to be less than [-] square meters, and the rest are corridors and courtyards.

Then, because it is a shrine dedicated to the Goddess of Rice, the Inari Shrine planned by Megumi Akiyama in the United States cannot be built in a bustling and bustling metropolis, or in a wealthy community with high land prices, but should be built in a place where rice fields can be seen rural areas—at least the urban-rural fringe.

I heard that the American empire has a vast territory and abundant resources. Except for the prosperous cities where every inch of land is expensive, the land elsewhere is not worth much.

In other words, the little land needed to build the Inari Shrine does not cost much to buy—the cost of land in the countryside is very low.

However, I heard that labor costs in the United States are particularly high, and it may cost a lot of money to hire construction teams and carpenters.

So, if Megumi Akiyama just wants to replicate an Akiyama Shrine in the rural areas of the United States...

"...Uh, 300 million US dollars? Is it enough?" Asakura Yu thought for a while, and tried to say a higher number.

"...If everything is kept simple, it won't take so much at all.

If I build a house with cheap wood, get a tin shed to serve as a water house, and use copper bells from thrift stores instead of ringing bells. Probably as little as $40 million would be enough. "

Megumi Akiyama took out her smartphone from her arms, looked at the diary on it, and said to her school deskmate and best friend Asakura Yuu, "...Of course, such a cheap shrine , it is a bit too shabby. It is not worthy of the honorable status of our Lord.

But even if the shrine is decorated more luxuriously and extravagantly, the beams and columns are made of high-quality wood, the eaves are inlaid with decorative tiles, and then gold decoration is used in the hall, and "dry landscape" is laid out in the courtyard with white sand, and the most advanced smart furniture is used. Put it on, at most, only 500 million US dollars is enough. "

"...500 million dollars? Is that equivalent to [-] million... no, [-] million... or [-] million yen?"

Yuu Asakura counted with his fingers for a long time but couldn't figure it out, "...What is the exchange rate today? It seems that it has been plummeting recently."

"...It doesn't matter how many Japanese yen you exchange for! Anyway, I'm here to earn dollars and spend dollars."

Megumi Akiyama said proudly, "... just a sponsor of the Disney company gave me 1000 million US dollars before. On the way back to California from Seattle, I used the [Complete Healing Technique] to cure a few terminally ill rich men. Another $500 million came in.

Recently, the Nissin Instant Noodle Company also called me to negotiate, and wanted to make their company's "Fox Ramen" a holy meal certified by Inari God. The endorsement fee was just spent on the construction of the shrine.

I should be able to raise $3000 million before the month is out, and even now I have over $1000 million in cash.

Although the value of the U.S. dollar has been greatly depreciated nowadays, it should be enough to build a small shrine with 1000 million U.S. dollars, right?

If it doesn't work, believe it or not, as long as I find the address and post a post on Twitter, announcing that if I use [Complete Healing] as a reward, I am willing to bring my own travel expenses and dry food to help the engineer who built the shrine for free With skilled construction workers, the construction site can be overwhelmed in no time! "

Asakura Yu: "..." You know that spells can cure terminal illnesses, that's really amazing!

——The shrine sounds a bit tall, but a small shrine like the Akiyama house is, to put it bluntly, just three or four small bungalows.

Such a small project has no technical difficulties, and it doesn't even take half a month from start to finish, which is similar to that of ordinary Americans building their own houses.

But now the epidemic is raging again. Although many Americans did not die suddenly after being infected with the COVID-19 virus, they were troubled by as many as three or four hundred kinds of sequelae after recovery (the real sequelae are more than 200 kinds), ranging from The quality of life declines, and life is worse than death.

What's more terrible is that because these sequelae have just appeared, the medical profession has no time to study them, and there is no cure for the patients for a while.

——Even billionaires are completely unable to fall asleep due to severe sequelae of tinnitus, and the pain is so painful that they commit suicide, and ordinary people are even worse.

As we all know, magical treatment is usually nothing but a cure, and a cure will cure all diseases.

Therefore, with many years of work experience in building houses, doing more than ten days of voluntary labor in exchange for a healthy body is obviously a very good deal for construction workers-even if you don’t need it yourself, there are always relatives in life friends and children spouses,

It's better than sending tens of thousands of dollars to the hospital for treatment, but it is likely that the cure will not be cured, and maybe you will be "forced to euthanize"?

Therefore, with the life-saving spell in his hands, Akiyama Hui will not have to worry about finding migrant workers who are willing to work for free or even pay for materials.

"...In short, regardless of whether there is a fundraising party today, as long as I find a suitable address, I can build the shrine.

And after the establishment of the Inari Shrine, the subsequent missionary work and recruitment of personnel will not use the connections of these bigwigs—the level difference is too great. "

Akiyama Hui finally concluded, "...Since there is no place to ask for them, why should I approach them? I am not a salesman!"

Asakura Yu was stunned by Akiyama Megumi's argument, which was similar to "drinking tea while lying flat", and it took him a long time to come up with a sentence:

"...Uh, the shrines in the United States are only built this small, so it really doesn't matter? Don't you need to make it more grand?"

"...Hey, it's useless to make the shrine too big!" Akiyama Hui shrugged, "...Now that the spiritual energy is revived and the true god has come to the world, priests must master divine magic to be qualified, and priests who don't know magic , It is useless to recruit, it will only displease the gods.

Right now, there are only a few people available around me, so it is meaningless to build a super big shrine!

In the future, when my lord's incense is strong and there are millions of believers, it will be too late to raise funds and expand the shrine.

Aren't the shrines and temples in this world developed step by step, from small to large?Is there a way to ascend to heaven in one step? "

"...It seems to be right. Anyway, you don't lack the funds to build the shrine... Wait, it seems that this is not just a question of money, right?"

Yuu Asakura nodded ignorantly at first, but then his expression changed, "... I heard that rural areas in the United States are as exclusive as rural areas in Japan. What can you do if you make things difficult for me?

I heard that the high-speed rail in California was unable to be repaired after decades of tossing because of people making things difficult and resisting..."