"So, the Seven Archons can influence Vision distribution, right?" Reisen Riou asked Raiden Makoto.
In the polearm finals of the Shogunate Tournament, a burst of blade aura and thunder sparked, and a Geo Vision appeared in Yousen's hand.
Makoto shook her head, smiling. "Probably a coincidence."
"You're right, but I feel you're hiding something, Big Sis," Reisen teased.
As for the match, Yousen's opponent surrendered instantly. The Vision boosted Yousen far beyond normal—his vitality jumped from LV44 to LV52, crossing a life threshold.
That general-like pressure crushed his rival's will to fight. Already outmatched, the opponent relied on higher vitality and a Vision. Now, with Yousen's Vision and epic vitality boost, it was hopeless. He quit.
Lord Narukami awarded Kombumaru Mist-Cutter and Thunderstring Harp, promoting him from reserve to full Okuzume.
She gave Yousen a naginata, Moonglow Thunderblade, and offered him a role as Okuzume polearm instructor.
Yousen declined, insisting on honing his martial path at home. Reisen confirmed—he was a true martial nut.
Post-match, Reisen asked Yousen what he thought before getting the Vision. Yousen said he wanted to win with his own strength.
That desire triggered Narukami's blessing, but ironically, his vitality surge scared off his opponent. Yousen laughed wryly but was thrilled—his victory boosted confidence in his self-made naginata style.
"Want to join the Rock-Shadow-Thunderlight Brigade? As a trainer or agent?" Reisen asked.
Yousen paused. "What's that?"
"Like the Endgame Unit, my private force guarding Inazuma's shadows. I know you want to perfect your naginata style, but one's strength is limited, many's boundless. I can help—I invented the One System, Ten Thousand Minds Machine."
Yousen's eyes narrowed.
He didn't care for much, but his naginata style was refined with the Machine's help. He knew its power.
And so, he joined Reisen's Brigade.
Reisen promised a trainer role until Yousen's style was complete, just guiding agents seeking naginata tips. Regular missions would come later.
…
"By the way, isn't Yushin Seinosuke giving Yae Saiguu some weird looks?" Reisen gossiped to Raiden Ei.
It was a rare rest day—Makoto had given everyone a break.
Half of Inazuma's lively groups had legalized, and public order visibly improved. Major conflicts were now out in the wilds.
"I'm married off, so Saiguu's probably antsy," Ei smirked.
"Don't spout nonsense! That kid and I have nothing going on," Yae Saiguu snapped, her face darkening. "And Yushin's way subtler than you were, Reisen. You've got some nerve."
Reisen froze. "If you're gonna talk, fine. Ei doesn't care, right?"
"Hm, nope," Ei said, grinning at Saiguu.
The duo's teasing crushed Saiguu.
"By the way, Yushin asked me for letters to Liyue's sorcerer clans," Reisen said suddenly.
He'd gotten them while corresponding with Ganyu. As Inazuma's and Liyue's secretaries, some letter exchanges were normal, right?
As a half-qilin, Ganyu was tight with those clans. Reisen sometimes asked her about spellcraft, which she wasn't great at, so she'd point him to the clans. His ties with them made sense.
"Yushin wants to study sorcery in Liyue. Begged everyone, ended up at me, so I wrote the letters," Reisen said. "Saiguu, nothing to say?"
"Yeah, yeah, Inazuma's spells and youkai arts are tough to learn and weak as hell," Saiguu said dismissively. "Anything else?"
Reisen shook his head, speechless. Guess they really had nothing.
"But he's one of your Shadowchaser Trio. You don't care?" Reisen asked.
"Why bother? They're talented but not strong yet. If they had Kombumaru's growth speed, I'd marry Chiyo to him," Saiguu said.
Chiyo, dozing while on guard duty, sneezed and snapped awake.
She scanned around—only regular Okuzume samurai. Narukami's presence was gone.
Panicked, she learned it was a rest day.
Then she remembered—she'd volunteered for overtime to dodge her clan elder's marriage nagging.
"So what's this got to do with Chiyo?" Reisen asked, curious.
"The oni elder's been hounding Chiyo to marry, even dropping the race requirement—just needs a male," Saiguu said, exasperated by the elder.
"That desperate?" Reisen was shocked.
"The elder's running out of time, wants Chiyo wed and with kids. I tried talking sense, but it's useless," Saiguu griped.