If the Traveler had been there, perhaps Kitsune Saiguu wouldn't have died, and if Kitsune Saiguu hadn't died, I wouldn't have been born.
Hanachirusato's identity, combined with Kitsune Saiguu's memories, was deeply tormenting for her.
As Kitsune Saiguu, she wanted to protect Inazuma and the ley lines its people depended on.
But as 'Hanachirusato,' her very existence was a harm to Inazuma's ley lines.
She wanted to see more of this world, to see 'her' friends, but she wouldn't allow herself to do so.
Ei watched in silence, dearly wishing she had been by Kitsune Saiguu's side back then.
A single wrong decision led to so many tragedies—how could Ei not regret it? Her reclusion was merely a form of escape.
At this moment, Ei didn't yet know about Hanachirusato's 'tainted identity,' but hearing her old friend's 'remnant soul' speak like this made her heart ache.
Though Ei's expression remained cold, the Plane of Euthymia had dimmed slightly—her true feelings couldn't be hidden.
Back to the story, after completing the five seals, the final step of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual arrived.
This time, they needed to purify the evil spirits in the Sacred Sakura's root system, located directly beneath the Sacred Sakura, under the Narukami Shrine, deep within Mt. Yougou.
At the crevice in Mt. Yougou, Paimon asked if it was finally time for Hanachirusato to reveal everything.
Hanachirusato said she would share everything after the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual was complete, apologizing for not being able to say more yet.
With that, she lifted the seal on the crevice, allowing the Traveler to enter.
[Hanachirusato: "Please jump in."]
[The Traveler looked at the bottomless crevice: "P-Paimon can fly…"]
Lumine hesitated, but Hanachirusato reassured her to jump boldly, as the Sacred Sakura would protect those performing the Great Purification, ensuring a safe landing.
Hanachirusato couldn't join the Traveler due to her physical condition, which prevented her from doing such things. She could only go down after the Traveler completed the purification.
Before setting off, the Traveler asked Hanachirusato what the 'tumor' was—was it a collective of filth like the Fatui?
[Hanachirusato: "Fish people…?"]
Hanachirusato hadn't heard of fish people, though she had heard of mermaids.
This showed that Hanachirusato was well-versed in events from hundreds of years ago but knew little of the present.
The Fatui had something to say about this: What do you mean, a collective of filth? We're a goal-oriented, disciplined, organized… official group!
But they were used to it—being slandered in prophecy books felt like the norm by now.
They wondered if future prophecy books might ever portray them positively.
In the story, the Traveler took a 'leap of faith' and jumped into the pit. Just as Hanachirusato said, she was fine.
After dealing with the 'tumor' on the Sacred Sakura's root system, the Traveler completed her task.
[Hanachirusato appeared, looking up at the 'tumor' gradually dissipating from the Sacred Sakura's roots, her tone carrying a sense of relief.]
["And so, it's all over."]
["With this, the pain borne by the Sacred Sakura has finally been relieved, hasn't it…"]
With this, the pain she bore could finally be relieved as well.
With the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual completed, Hanachirusato was ready to reveal everything, but first:
["I'm terribly ashamed to admit this, but throughout our journey, I haven't had the chance to formally ask for your names…"]
[Traveler: "I'm Lumine."]
[Paimon: "I'm Paimon!"]
[Hanachirusato nodded: "Lady Lumine, Lady Paimon, those are wonderful names. I'll keep them in my heart."]
Her encounters and experiences with Lumine and Paimon—Hanachirusato would never forget them, as these were 'Hanachirusato's memories.'
Hanachirusato told the Traveler that she inherited 'Kitsune Saiguu's' memories, which is why she knew so much about events from hundreds of years ago, but Kitsune Saiguu died in the calamity centuries prior.
As such, Hanachirusato knew nothing of the events in the centuries following the calamity.
As Hanachirusato, she had no personal experiences or memories of her own. She didn't even know the widely talked-about Fatui.
Hanachirusato only knew Lumine and Paimon—these two people alone.
Lumine and Paimon had witnessed nearly all the experiences of 'her' life, encompassing her entire existence.
Hanachirusato was happy to have inherited Kitsune Saiguu's memories and felt proud of them.
Meeting the Traveler and Paimon made her feel fortunate for this experience.
The Traveler was curious: since Hanachirusato inherited Kitsune Saiguu's memories, was she one of Kitsune Saiguu's kin?
Hanachirusato said that she did sense the aura of an immortal fox at the Narukami Shrine, but she herself was not a kin of the 'immortal fox.'
The immortal fox aura Hanachirusato mentioned was Yae Miko.
In contrast, Hanachirusato herself was the embodiment of Kitsune Saiguu's lingering will and memories. Like the monsters defeated in the previous seals, she too was a 'monster' formed from filth.
This left readers stunned. They had guessed all sorts of possibilities, but they never expected Hanachirusato to be a monster!
A monster protecting Inazuma? Guiding others step by step to eliminate monsters?
Wait! Eliminate monsters!? Could that mean Hanachirusato would be eliminated too!?
Readers had a bad feeling. After reading so many of Lucian's prophecies, they felt like they were starting to predict the future themselves.
But this prophecy was far from pleasant. If the future played out like this, readers didn't even know how to change it.
If the monsters weren't eliminated, the Sacred Sakura would wither. If the monsters were eliminated, Hanachirusato would disappear—a deadly dilemma!
That said, the birth of filth-born monsters stemmed from the 'longings' and 'memories' of an era, a kind of lingering will after death.
Seeing how severely the Sacred Sakura was tainted, Hanachirusato couldn't help but ask:
["If I may, I hope you can tell me honestly. Is Inazuma today shrouded in the flames of war?"]
"…" Ei remained silent. She had meant to protect Inazuma, but instead, it had come to this.
Fortunately, the resistance and the Shogunate forces had now ceased fighting, and the war was over.
Recalling Kitsune Saiguu's advice: "Do not be swayed, do not waver, and always walk the path you believe in."
Ei had been obedient. She did her utmost to follow the last two points but failed at the crucial first one.
She indeed didn't waver, steadfastly walking the path she believed in, but she was swayed.
Because she failed at the first point, she kept walking down the wrong path without wavering.
If Kitsune Saiguu knew, she'd be furious. She was already upset with Miko, and now she'd be upset with the Shogun too.
But Kitsune Saiguu deeply respected the Shogun, so her anger wouldn't amount to much.
So, it really was up to Makoto to return. They couldn't let Kitsune Saiguu bear all the anger alone.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Raiden Ei: About Hanachirusato
"Gentler than Saiguu."