Afterward, the Shogun turned her gaze toward the pink-haired shrine maiden before her, studying her face for a moment.
"Mi...ko..."
She softly called out to her.
"My my~ Didn't I already tell you to call me Sister Miko~?"
Miko suddenly puffed up proudly, the corners of her lips curling into a teasing smile, as though she were playing with a little girl.
"...Miko."
Hearing that, the Shogun squinted slightly, ignoring the request and calling her again. It was as if she was obedient yet slightly defiant at the same time—adorably so.
"Hehe... How cu~te~ you are, Shogun."
Resting her chin on one hand, Miko let out a few soft giggles before looking at her affectionately.
"My apologies... Miko."
But the next moment, she heard the younger woman's voice offering an apology, which left her a little confused.
"Stop~ What's this about? Apologizing the moment we meet?"
Miko waved her hand dismissively.
"I... let him go."
The Shogun replied, guilt evident in her tone.
"Haa~ You really are her flesh and blood, aren't you? Didn't I already tell you before? This isn't your fault. No matter what you chose, you wouldn't have been wrong. If you killed him, it was because he disturbed Inazuma's peace. If you spared him, it was because he is Ei's child—and your kin. Either way, it's justified. So there's no need to apologize. Especially not to your dear sister, alright~?"
She reached out and poked the Shogun's nose, playing the part of an older sister—though one with a sly, mischievous streak.
"Haa... Enough. Why are you here?"
The Shogun set the matter aside and asked.
Miko tilted her head slightly with a faint smile.
"Oh my, what kind of question is that~? Can't I come because I was worried about you being all alone and decided to lend a hand?"
She teased playfully, her alluring eyes carrying a hint of provocation.
"...Am I that untrustworthy to you?"
The Shogun's eyes lowered slightly, her tone carrying a trace of helplessness.
"Haa~ To me, you and Ei really are alike—especially in personality. Maybe you're a little more flexible, but still... you can't escape that stubbornness of yours. Truly her 'daughter,' through and through."
Hum~
Miko waved her hand, releasing a ripple of Electro energy. Behind her appeared a large, majestic purple fox. With a single sweep of its tail, the remaining debris before them vanished as if cleansed anew.
"Since you're here, I assume you already know about the Fatui's scheme?"
The Shogun, having grown used to Miko's mannerisms, didn't seem surprised by her words. Instead, she calmly shifted the topic.
"Of course~ Watching their clumsy little plots at the shrine was like watching a troupe of clowns. After seeing you take action today, I thought... perhaps it's time I made my move as well."
Miko shrugged lightly.
Upon hearing that, the Shogun seemed to recall something and gave a faint smile. The small gesture caught Miko's attention—because in that instant, she looked just like Ei.
"What's so funny? Tell your sister too~"
Miko asked with a playful smirk. She knew perfectly well that the Shogun was teasing her.
"Haa... It seems you haven't been slacking off at the shrine. I see you've been quite diligent."
The Shogun replied softly.
"Oh, come now~ What kind of person do you take me for? Sure, I might slack off a bit here and there, enjoy some fried tofu, read a light novel or two—but when it matters, I never let my guard down."
Miko countered with a grin, fully accustomed to the Shogun's teasing.
"For example... the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual?"
The Shogun asked casually.
"Wasn't that already handled by you? You don't need me anymore, do you~?"
"..."
The Shogun fell silent once again.
"Oh, don't be so serious~ Always looking backward isn't good for you. Speaking of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual... that little shrine maiden named Hanachirusato—she was the one you recommended, wasn't she?"
Miko skillfully steered the conversation elsewhere.
"How is she doing?"
Upon hearing the name, the Shogun recalled the smiling girl beneath the cherry blossoms and couldn't help but ask.
"She's doing well. Living peacefully at the shrine. She's adorable, dependable too. I'm even considering making her my assistant."
Hitomi would probably cry if she heard that.
The Shogun silently thought to herself.
"Anyway~ Enough tangents. Shogun, what have you been investigating these past few days? Have you found anything?"
Miko's expression grew slightly more serious as she asked.
"In the Fatui stationed in Inazuma, aside from Kunikuzushi, there's another executive—'La Signora.' About a year ago, Ei met her in person. It was she who proposed the Vision Hunt Decree."
"Mhm~ That matches my findings. As for that woman..."
"She's ours to deal with. Miko... I'll leave the Kujou Clan's matter to you."
The Shogun replied directly. The 'we' in her words clearly referred to herself and Ei.
"Hehe... understood. I was planning to do the same anyway."
Miko immediately grasped her meaning, chuckling softly.
"In that case, I'm relieved. It seems today's first goal has been achieved. Now, onto the second..."
Saying so, Miko stepped toward the Traveler, who had been blown to the corner of the room during the earlier battle. He was still unconscious.
"My, my... sleeping so soundly, are we?"
She crouched down, lifted his chin gently with a finger, and looked over his face with a teasing smile.
"What are you doing?"
The Shogun asked in confusion, watching her movements.
"He's still useful to me. I'm taking him with me."
Miko stood up and lightly flicked the bell-tipped wand in her hand. A soft purple light enveloped the Traveler, lifting him effortlessly into the air beside her. At the same time, she reached out and pulled Paimon—whose head had been stuck in the floor—free with a flick of her wrist.
"...Are you planning to use him against me?"
The Shogun could easily guess her thoughts. After all, the Traveler could use elemental power without a Vision—an exceptional case. And he had even entered her Plane of Euthymia—something previously thought impossible.
"Not quite~ You have your plans, and I... have mine."
Miko smiled affectionately, not at all surprised. Then she turned back toward her.
"Shogun, you stand by Ei's side—she needs you. As for me, I'll stand with the people of Inazuma who still chase their wishes. And this Traveler... will be my weapon."
Miko's tone grew more serious as her violet eyes met the Shogun's.
"Let's make a wager, shall we? Let's see who's right in the end—you two, or us."
"..."
The Shogun glanced at the unconscious blonde boy, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"You intend to place the wager on him?"
"That's right. There's risk involved, of course, but I'll do my best to minimize it."
Miko's eyes glimmered with clever mischief as she locked gazes with her.
"What's the wager?"
The Shogun asked, her tone now holding a faint note of curiosity.
"If you win... I'll abandon all hope—cease resisting the Vision Hunt Decree—and accept Ei's ideals of Eternity without question."
Her lips curved into a mysterious smile, her eyes shimmering with quiet amusement.
"But if you—and she—lose... Hmm, let me think..."
The Shogun fell silent again, a hint of helplessness crossing her face.
"Hehe~ It's a secret for now. I'll tell you when the time comes."
Miko winked playfully.
"...Fine. Either way, you won't succeed."
The Shogun shook her head lightly, unconcerned.
"Then we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? Ah, by the way—"
Miko, still holding the floating Traveler beside her, turned to leave but suddenly paused, remembering something. She glanced back at the Shogun.
"What is it?"
The Shogun asked, puzzled.
"Take this."
Whoosh!
Miko reached into her sleeve and tossed something lightly toward her.
The Shogun caught it with one hand and opened her palm—only to find Ei's Gnosis resting within it.
"Ei entrusted it to me before, but now I'm returning it to you. The Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya has been collecting the Gnoses of all the Archons. Keeping it myself has become... risky."
"Besides, if you hadn't arrived today, I might not have been able to save him."
Miko gestured toward the unconscious Traveler beside her.
"I even planned to trade the Gnosis for his life, if necessary. But thinking it over... it's safer in your hands. If I keep it, who knows—I might just waste it on a whim someday."
The Shogun fell silent, lowering her gaze to the Gnosis in her palm. The soft, dreamlike violet glow radiated a gentle warmth—the warmth of Ei herself. That warmth slowly seeped into her body, comforting and tender. She placed her other hand over it, closing her fingers as if to hold that familial warmth close.
"Shogun."
"?"
Hearing Miko's voice, she raised her head. The shrine maiden had already turned away, her back facing her as she prepared to leave.
"Don't you think humans are fascinating creatures?"
Miko spoke without turning around, her voice light and distant.
"..."
The Shogun remained silent, waiting for her to continue. The fog-shrouded figure before her seemed almost ethereal.
"Despite their fleeting lives, they can still shine brighter than daylight."
"There are some among them whose brilliance doesn't fade—even across the endless flow of time. Perhaps that's what it means to be human—the strength born from their ideals and their wishes. Soon enough, we'll see it for ourselves."
As she spoke, Miko finally tilted her head slightly, glancing back at the Shogun. Her violet eyes gleamed with mystery, and her lips curved into a faint, knowing smile.
Hum~
With that smile, she and the Traveler both dissolved into particles of purple light, vanishing into the air.
Only the purple-haired woman remained, standing in quiet thought.
The Shogun slowly lowered her gaze to the Gnosis in her hand. Her lips parted slightly as she whispered softly—
"How could I not know?"
Her voice was faint, tinged with complexity and quiet emotion.
...
Tap, tap...
After leaving the room, the Shogun was just about to take the elevator back up when she suddenly encountered numerous Resistance soldiers entering the factory. She immediately stopped and instinctively pressed her back against the corner wall to hide from their sight.
"Eh?"
One of the soldiers froze for a moment after spotting a fleeting, ghostlike purple silhouette. He rubbed his eyes and looked again—only to find the figure gone.
"What's wrong?"
His companion asked, puzzled.
"I swear I saw someone just now."
"Someone? Could it be the Fatui?!"
The two instantly grew alert, gripping their weapons tightly as they crept toward the corner where the Shogun was hiding.
Tap, tap... ×2
The sound of multiple footsteps echoed clearly in her ears. Hearing their voices, the Shogun sighed quietly, narrowing her eyes slightly. Judging their pace and timing, she moved with fluid grace, slipping into the nearby room in a flash.
Moments later, the two shadowy figures passed by the door—
"There's no one here. Were you seeing things?"
"I don't know! I could've sworn someone was here!"
"Ugh... forget it. Let's stick with the main group. We still have to find that Traveler, remember?"
"What Traveler? That's Captain of the Swordfish II Unit~! Personally promoted by Lady Sangonomiya herself."
Their muffled conversation could be faintly heard through the sliding door, just enough for her to catch every word.
"Alright, once we find him, destroy the machinery inside the factory, and we're done."
"Lady Sangonomiya's orders?"
"Of course! Who else's? Let's move—she's waiting outside."
Their voices and footsteps gradually faded away. The dark shadows outside the door disappeared, leaving behind complete silence.
The Shogun had made no sound at all—like a phantom moving through the shadows, committing every word they'd said to memory.
Clack...
She slid the door open just a crack, peering out through the narrow gap with her amethyst eyes. After confirming that no one was nearby, she quietly stepped out.
From what those two had said... there were likely a large number of Resistance soldiers deployed throughout the factory. Leaving through the front entrance was unrealistic. Of course, she could fight her way out—but there was no need. Moreover, her contact with Sangonomiya Kokomi could not be exposed, both for Kokomi's sake and her own.
She turned and returned to the large hall—the place where she had fought the Balladeer. It was the deepest part of the factory, where the Resistance had yet to reach.
Her body dissolved into flickering arcs of lightning, slipping through the hole left by the Balladeer's escape and reemerging into the open air outside Inazuma.
Rumble... crash!!
Outside, the storm still raged. But then, on Yashiori Island, rain and thunder were nothing unusual—it was an all-too-familiar sight.
Kokomi stood at the entrance of the hidden factory—this old dojo—with her arms crossed. She had sent several unit captains and soldiers inside to investigate while leaving some to guard the perimeter. The area had been converted into a temporary base of operations to serve as logistical support.
As usual, she stood calmly beneath the heavy rain, her clothes and hair already drenched. Her gaze was thoughtful, fixed on the dojo's main doors.
"Lady Sangonomiya, your rain cloak."
Gorou jogged over quickly, holding out a cloak respectfully toward her.
"There's no need. Give them to the soldiers instead—they've worked hard."
Kokomi shook her head with a gentle gesture, refusing.
"But, my lady..."
Gorou hesitated.
"I'll be fine... Don't be fooled by appearances; I'm actually quite healthy. Go on."
Kokomi smiled softly, brushing a strand of wet hair from her cheek, her tone full of quiet reassurance.
"Alright..."
Gorou's eyes softened with emotion. With a reluctant sigh, he distributed the remaining cloaks to the nearby soldiers.
"..."
Kokomi simply smiled faintly in response. In truth, her body was not as strong as she claimed—she was frail by nature. Her words were merely to ease the others' concern. In moments like this, her soldiers' well-being mattered far more than her own.
Turning her gaze back toward the dojo and the gloomy sky above, her expression grew thoughtful and complicated.
"Sangonomiya."
"?"
The next second, she heard a voice calling out to her—cool and steady, yet tinged with softness. It was a voice she knew well... after all, they had only just met not long ago.
Her eyes brightened slightly. Following the sound, she turned—and saw that familiar purple-haired woman standing quietly behind one of the tents at the edge of their camp. Only half of her body was visible, and she motioned with her eyes for Kokomi to come closer.
Thankfully, her movements were subtle—none of the surrounding soldiers noticed a thing.
Kokomi smiled faintly, glanced around to confirm that no one was paying attention, then stepped quietly around the tents to meet her in the empty space behind them.
The area was secluded—a perfect blind spot, rarely passed by anyone. Safe enough for a private talk.
"Shogun-sama?"
Kokomi greeted softly, her gentle voice as calm as the sea.
"Shh... Let's keep this brief."
The Shogun raised a hand to her lips in a quieting gesture, her tone low and controlled.
"...Understood."
Kokomi nodded obediently.
The Shogun leaned her back against the tent wall and pulled from her kimono pocket a document—the Tenshukaku Monitoring Directive. She handed it to the girl before her.
"..."
Kokomi accepted it without hesitation, unfolding it carefully. Standing beside the Shogun, she shielded the paper from the rain, reading silently.
After a moment of silence, Kokomi lifted her gaze, her expression complex.
"This document is authentic."
The Shogun spoke first, seeing her reaction.
"Yes... I know. You wouldn't forge such a thing."
Kokomi shook her head, understanding her intention immediately.
"It seems the Fatui have infiltrated both sides—both the Shogunate and the Resistance."
Kokomi mused, resting her chin in thought.
"Indeed... Eliminating them completely won't be easy. But I imagine you understand—it's not just about spies. This matter also involves members of your Resistance."
The Shogun crossed her arms, her tone carrying quiet weight.
"Mm... I know..."
Kokomi's lips tightened, sorrow flickering across her face.
"That man, Nathan, may have initiated it—but there's no way he could've broken the seal on the blighted god alone. Many within the Resistance agreed with him and joined his efforts."
She paused, glancing up at the Shogun. Kokomi's head remained bowed, her expression one of quiet guilt. Her delicate hands fidgeted slightly, clenching and relaxing. Her blue eyes held remorse.
"This isn't just about infiltration—it also reveals that some within your ranks harbor... questionable intentions. I'm not scolding you. I simply want you to stay cautious."
The Shogun's voice softened slightly.
"I'm sorry, Shogun-sama. I'll conduct a thorough investigation after this. Haa... this is my failure. If not for this letter, I might never have realized."
Kokomi lowered her gaze further, her voice full of regret.
"Enough... Everyone makes mistakes. And with the situation on Yashiori Island, I share the blame."
The Shogun sighed softly, her tone reassuring.
"..."
Hearing that, Kokomi finally dared to lift her eyes to meet hers.
"Besides, I'm saying this because of you, not because of... the Resistance."
"Because of... me?"
Kokomi blinked in surprise.
"Yes. You're different from them. And that 'difference'... is enough for me."
The Shogun straightened slightly, her gaze steady.
"...Does Shogun-sama wish to understand me?"
Kokomi asked with a quiet, knowing smile.
"...Perhaps."
The Shogun met her eyes briefly, her reply vague.
"What a coincidence... I wish to understand you too."
Kokomi's serene blue eyes met hers directly, her tone calm yet sincere, as if what she said were the most natural thing in the world.
"...Truly?"
The Shogun asked softly.
"Without a doubt."
Kokomi's voice was firm.
"...Another time, then."
The Shogun averted her gaze slightly, her tone indifferent but not cold.
"..."
Kokomi lowered her eyes quietly, showing no outward emotion, though inside she felt a faint trace of disappointment. Still, she understood. Now was not the time. Perhaps, when everything was over, they would meet again.
Tap, tap...
At that moment, Kokomi sensed the woman before her moving closer. She was just about to lift her gaze when something dark and soft draped over her head.
She blinked in surprise, her hands instinctively reaching up to touch it. The texture beneath her fingers made her pause—it wasn't just any cloth... it was a rain cloak.
Lifting her gaze, she looked at the Shogun in astonishment.
"Put it on. You're pale and frail... It'd be troublesome if you fell ill."
The Shogun crossed her arms, her tone cool but faintly gentle.
"My complexion is naturally fair... and it's not 'pale,' you know."
Kokomi replied with a hint of amusement.
"Oh? And what about the 'frail' part?"
"And what makes you think I'm frail?"
Kokomi tilted her head slightly.
"You just look it. Small frame, delicate air—completely fragile."
"..."
Kokomi gave her a rare, mildly helpless look, as if silently asking, 'Do I really look that weak to you?'
"I'll take my leave."
Seeing her expression, the Shogun allowed herself the faintest smile before turning to go.
"You're not carrying an umbrella either, you know,"
Kokomi called out teasingly.
The Shogun paused for a moment, then resumed walking.
"Where did you get the rain cloak from?"
Her question carried a light, curious lilt. Kokomi couldn't resist asking as the purple-haired woman's figure began to fade into the distance.
"Borrowed it from the camp."
The Shogun's divine, ethereal voice drifted back just before she dissolved into particles of light—leaving behind words that utterly shattered the mood.
"Pfft..."
Kokomi couldn't help but laugh softly. Glancing at the pouring rain, then at the cloak around her shoulders, she drew it tighter, warmth blooming quietly in her heart.
Thank you... Shogun-sama.