A few days later, after Yae Miko had arranged everything at Narukami Shrine, she and Qixuan went to the Sacred Sakura Tree, because Makoto's remaining soul was there.
As for Ei, she said she was going to hold the Hundredth Vision Hunt Ceremony. Saiguu had also tried to persuade her dear friend that the Vision Hunt Decree was inherently unreasonable, but Ei didn't listen and turned to leave.
“Yae Miko: Perhaps only Makoto can persuade her, sigh…”
“Qixuan: (Lumine, I hope the protective measures I left for you won't be needed.)
“Saiguu: Hmm… I hope we can make it in time.”
Meanwhile, Paimon and Lumine had upset stomachs after playing the Hot Pot game prepared by Thoma. After lying down for a few days at their lodging, they returned to Komore Teahouse, because Qixuan had sent Lumine a message the day before, telling her not to look for her, as she was busy with something very important. So today, Paimon and Lumine decided to go back to Komore Teahouse to check.
“Paimon: Huh? Why is it so quiet today?”
“Taroumaru: Woof woof… woof!”
“Paimon: Could it be… another one of these double acts? Thoma—Thoma—!”
“Taroumaru: Woof! Woof!… Woof!”
“Paimon: Hey—stop hiding, I see you—huh? No one's responding at all, where did Thoma go?”
“Taroumaru: Woof woof woof!”
“Paimon: Hmm? Why is Taroumaru so agitated today?”
Just then, Kamisato Ayaka rushed over.
“Kamisato Ayaka: You two, have you seen Thoma?”
“Paimon: We thought he was with you. What happened?”
“Kamisato Ayaka: Oh no… On my way here, I heard that Thoma was taken away by the Tenryou Commission. I couldn't tell if the news was true or false, so I immediately rushed over to confirm. If Thoma doesn't show up here as promised, it means something really happened to him.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: The Raiden Shogun will hold the Hundredth Vision Hunt Ceremony in front of the Statue of the Omnipresent God, and the holder of that hundredth Vision… will probably be Thoma.”
“Paimon: Could it be that the ‘ceremony’ Thoma heard about earlier, which the Tenryou Commission was preparing, was specifically the Vision Hunt Ceremony prepared for him?”
“Kamisato Ayaka: It should… be. The Shogun and the Tenryou Commission prepared the Hundredth Vision Hunt Decree to demonstrate the phased results of the Vision Hunt Decree.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: …No! I have to save him.”
“Taroumaru: Woof woof woof!”
“Lumine: But Shirasagi Himegimi also represents the Shogunate.”
“Paimon: That's right, if you go yourself, wouldn't that mean the Shogunate would be at odds with the Raiden Shogun? If you openly defy the Raiden Shogun, the ordinary people of the Shogunate will also be implicated, won't they?”
“Kamisato Ayaka: There's nothing else I can do… Time is running out, the ceremony is about to begin, I can't just abandon Thoma like this.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: He's my friend. Just a short while ago, we were all together…”
“Lumine: He's my friend too. I'll go save him.”
“Paimon: Um… Lumine, Qixuan-jie isn't here, can we really do this? (Whispering~)”
“Lumine: Hmph, don't underestimate me.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: But…”
“Lumine: You just said it, didn't you? Time is running out.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: ……Hmm, I will… wait for you both to return safely.”
“Paimon: Don't worry, Ayaka! A friend's life is at stake, we definitely won't fail!”
What Kamisato Ayaka didn't know was that after this, Inazuma would return to its proper course.
At this moment… at the execution site for Thoma, many Inazuma citizens came to watch, but it didn't stop our Traveler from blending in.
In front of the statue, Thoma was tied with his hands, and in front of him were the Shogunate samurai, Kujou Sara, and… the Raiden Shogun.
Ei walked to the front of the statue, then turned back and was about to absorb Thoma's Vision with one hand.
“Thoma: Amenos.”
Thoma still tried to resist, but was unfortunately pinned to the ground by two samurai, only able to watch helplessly as his Vision was taken away.
Just at this moment—the Traveler made her move.
“Lumine: That's right, so I made my move (scum).”
Lumine teleported with a lightning flash, snatching back the Vision that was about to fall into Ei's hands, then struck down two samurai with two lightning blades, and then tried to rescue Thoma.
Lumine looked at Ei with a mischievous grin, as if saying, “Dare to strike me?”
Ei indicated she would grant her wish.
Ei's feet glowed with lightning as she slowly walked down from the statue platform and said, “To be able to wield elemental power without a Vision… You… are an exception. Exceptions… are the enemies of eternity.”
Then Ei condensed the Electro element with both hands, a powerful lightning field erupted, and a sword slowly emerged from Ei's chest. Ei then pulled it out and raised it above her head: “I will carve you… into the statue!”
Suddenly, the surrounding space began to collapse, and then Lumine was pulled into the Plane of Euthymia by Ei.”
“Ei: You are the furthest from eternity, I am very interested.”
Then Ei attacked Lumine. Lightning and Ei's figure flickered rapidly in front of Lumine. Lumine initially struggled to parry, but slowly found her rhythm.
But Ei was, after all, the Electro Archon of Inazuma. Just as Lumine finally picked up her weapon, imbued it with the Electro element, and charged towards Ei, Ei, with her powerful Electro element, struck Lumine down to the ground with one blow.
(Lumine: Folks, I was lulled to sleep, it was too much, I couldn't fight at all.)
Then Ei dispelled the Plane of Euthymia.
Thoma quickly used a nearby weapon to saw at the ropes, while our emergency food was frantically shaking the lulled-to-sleep Lumine.
“Paimon: Wake up! Wake up!”
Ei walked closer, step by step, with her sword. Just then, Thoma's ropes finally broke. As Thoma tried to launch a surprise attack with a quick counter-move, an Electro element arrow shot from afar, knocking the spear out of Thoma's hand.
Thoma looked at Kujou Sara and thought, “Damn it, too late!”
Just as Ei was about to strike, a spatial ripple emanated from Lumine, which then repelled Ei's sword and forced her back to the front of the statue.
“Ei: This power… why does it feel somewhat familiar?”
Then a spatial ripple appeared, and several figures walked out from within. Ei saw Yae Miko, Qixuan, Saiguu, and… someone she had desperately tried to save back then.
Time returned to when Qixuan and the others arrived at the Sacred Sakura Tree…
Upon arriving at the Sacred Sakura Tree, everyone began to prepare the ritual.
“Yae Miko: Do you need my help?”
“Qixuan: Just stabilize your sister's soul. When I cleanse the Sacred Sakura Tree of its defilement, some of the leaked defilement will be missed, but it's harmless.”
“Yae Miko: Okay.”
Qixuan raised one hand, and then the Imaginary energy surged forth, directly and violently eradicating the residual defilement in the Sacred Sakura Tree. Then she stabilized the Ley Line connected beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree.
Some inconspicuous defiled residue fell out, forming one monster after another.
“Yae Miko: Hehe… I can't let you little rascals cause trouble.”
“Saiguu: Yae, be careful.”
“Yae Miko: Don't worry, sister. As the Grand Narukami Priestess, I still have some strength.”
Yae Miko's Vision instantly lit up, and streaks of lightning struck the monsters, making them vanish into thin air.
Qixuan quickly found Makoto's residual soul, then ‘extracted’ it, ‘restored’ it, and ‘awakened’ it.
Then she took out two bodies and said, “How is it? These are perfectly restored one-to-one.”
“Yae Miko: They are indeed identical.”
“Qixuan: Alright, if we don't hurry, Ei will turn Lumine into Lumine-sauce.”
“Yae Miko: Hehe… You mean that little one?”
At this moment, Makoto, who had just regained some consciousness, didn't understand the situation. She heard her sister's name, saw Saiguu, and also…
However, before Makoto could react, she suddenly felt a dizzying sensation, and then her Vision went black.
When she woke up again, she saw several figures standing before her, and then she heard some words.
“Yae Miko: Did something unexpected happen? Why hasn't Makoto woken up yet?”
“Saiguu: I feel perfectly fine, it shouldn't be like this, should it?”
“Qixuan: Perhaps she hasn't come to her senses yet. (She specifically bought the Herrscher of Thunder core and gave it to Makoto, hehe, Heavenly Principles, you can't say I'm poaching.)”
“Makoto: What… what's going on?”
After an explanation, Makoto understood the whole story.
“Makoto: Thank you, Miss Qixuan, for saving my life. I never thought my departed self could return.”
“Saiguu: Alright, alright, Makoto, how do you feel now?”
Makoto felt the power within her body and said, “Very good, my authority seems to be stronger. Oh, right, where's Ei? How is she? How is Inazuma being governed now?”
“Saiguu: ……Hmm.”
“Makoto: Hmm?”
“Yae Miko: Let me tell her.”
Then the mischievous fox exaggeratedly recounted everything Ei had done over the past few centuries.
(Mischievous fox: Hmph, that's what you get for speaking ill of me.)
“Makoto: …Sigh, I never thought Ei would walk this path. It's my fault for not admonishing her well. When I left, I only told her to guard Inazuma.”
“Yae Miko: After all, the passing of one's own kin is a very painful thing.”
“Makoto: Thanks to Miko. I never thought the fox who used to only act spoiled and mischievous around Saiguu could now stand on her own.”
“Qixuan: Um… there's plenty of time for reminiscing, but your sister might be about to be harsh on my friend.”
“Makoto: I'll talk to her properly.”
Then Qixuan sensed that the ‘Spatial Counter-Defense’ she had left on Lumine had been triggered. Qixuan immediately teleported everyone over.
Back to the present…
The people of Inazuma were still watching the commotion, and Lumine was still sleeping on the ground.
(Lumine: Still watching! I'll charge you all.)
Ei looked at the familiar figure and could no longer resist rushing forward to embrace her.
“Kujou Sara: That… that is… Lady Makoto? But, wasn't the Shogun's sister already…”
The expressions of the Inazuma citizens were even stranger; some even jumped up.
Random Passerby 1: “Hiss~~ How amazing, and who is that person who looks exactly like the Shogun?”
Random Passerby 2: “Indeed, amazing. Also, I told you to read more often, but you don't. Inazuma's founding history states that it was jointly ruled by two Gods. If I'm not mistaken, that person is the Shogun's sister.”
Random Passerby 3: “Are you that sure?”
Random Passerby 2: “Of course, that's why I tell you all to read more.”
At this moment, Ei tightly embraced Makoto, a tear flowing from the corner of her eye.
Makoto patted her back and said, “There, there. You are now the God of Inazuma, act like a God should.”
Ei nodded, then ordered Kujou Sara to disperse the crowd. As for Thoma, he was sent back to Komore Teahouse.
“Paimon: Qixuan-jie! Come quickly and look at Lumine, she… she might have already…”
Qixuan walked over, looked at Lumine, who was still sound asleep, then whispered into her ear like a demon: “Lumine~ If you don't wake up, Paimon will eat all your Mora.”
Suddenly, Lumine's eyes snapped open, and she sprang up with a carp-like flip.
“Lumine: Paimon! How many times have I told you to eat less? Look how fat you've gotten.”
Then she realized that the situation at the scene seemed a bit off. Who was that big sister who looked just like the Raiden Shogun? She was quite pretty, and she felt even gentler than the Shogun.
Then Lumine remembered that she had been lulled to sleep by Ei. She then spotted Qixuan, and as for Thoma, he must have escaped. Lumine looked at Qixuan and said, “Qixuan-jie, why don't we take this chance to run?”
“Qixuan: Run for what? Did your head get chopped off?”
“Paimon: What… what exactly is going on?!”
Just then, Makoto walked over.
“Makoto: You two must be the Traveler and Paimon, right? My sister doesn't know her own strength, so I apologize to you on her behalf.”
“Lumine: Hehe, um… actually (drooling) it's not a big deal anymore.”
“Paimon: Wipe your drool before you speak! Wait… you said… your sister? You're the Raiden Shogun's sister?!”
“Makoto: That's right.”
“Lumine: Oh no, Qixuan-jie, it seems we can't leave today. Come on! I won't give in!”
“Qixuan: Alright, alright, stop messing around! Now, come with me into Tenshukaku.”
“Lumine & Paimon: Huh?!”
……Inside Tenshukaku.
“Paimon: So that means?! The Raiden Shogun chose to close off the country and seal Visions because her friends left one by one?”
“Qixuan: A one-sided explanation.”
“Lumine: The gentle big sister is better. Ei is too violent.”
Qixuan gave Lumine a punch.
“Makoto: I am truly sorry, both of you. Ei knows she was wrong. I will take over Inazuma's political affairs and lift the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree starting today. Saiguu, please help me with this. It'll be a good chance for Miko to rest.”
“Saiguu: I have no problem with that.”
Ei stood quietly next to Makoto, simply watching her.
“Yae Miko: Finally, I can rest. That's all well and good, but what about the resistance on Watatsumi Island?”
“Ei: Hmph, they're clueless, just cut them down.”
“Makoto: Ei! That's enough.”
“Yae Miko: Even if the Vision Hunt Decree is explicitly lifted now, will they believe it?”
“Makoto: This… I will try to talk to them. After all, they are also citizens of my Inazuma.”
“Yae Miko: I do have a plan. It's definitely not feasible for our own people to go talk to them now, but if it's not a local…”,
Yae Miko looked at Lumine and Paimon.
(Lumine: I knew it, the prettier the woman, the more dangerous. Waaah.)
“Paimon: No way? You want us to go again! We haven't even pursued compensation for Lumine being beaten up like that.”
“Yae Miko: I know you little ones are the most reliable, right?”
“Paimon: Even if you say that… it…”
“Yae Miko: Thirty million Mora, plus permanent free hot spring access at the ‘Akitsu Kimodameshi’ and various snack benefits! I'm very familiar with the owner there.”
“Lumine: Even so, we will not yield!”
“Paimon: Okay! We accept!”
“Qixuan: ……”
“Makoto: Then I'll leave it to you.”
“Lumine: Is Qixuan-jie coming with us?”
“Qixuan: Sure, I've finished my work here anyway.”
“Paimon: Yay! Let's go, let's go, for Mora and hot springs!”
“Lumine: …”
……
