The so-called 'Anti-Raiden Shogun Special Training' involved using a device that simulated the Raiden Shogun's combat patterns for detailed practice. According to Miko, the simulation only mimicked Ei's attack style, not the Shogun's. However, since Ei's style was almost identical to the Shogun's, the results were essentially the same. Assuming Ei's swordsmanship had not declined, the machine's efficiency should be just right—so long as she hadn't grown even stronger.
Thus, Aether spent nearly the entire night sparring with this 'Anti-Raiden Shogun Simulation Device.' By the time he realized it, dawn had already arrived.
Miko stood to the side, watching his every movement patiently, seemingly never bored. Paimon floated near her, waiting for Aether to finish.
"Speaking of which... Miko, how come you know so much about the Raiden Shogun?"
Paimon seized the chance to ask secretly while Aether was finishing his training. When he walked back toward them, dragging his tired body, he happened to overhear the question.
"Hm? Perhaps because... I'm one of the 'Raiden Shogun's familiars.'"
Miko answered simply.
"Like how Dvalin is to Barbatos? You don't look like it at all."
"Oh? Are you interested in seeing my true form?"
Miko arched an eyebrow, her tone playful.
"Of course! We want to see!"
Paimon bounced like an excited child.
"Ha... in your dreams."
Her true form wasn't something she could show lightly. In her memory, she had revealed her fox form to only two people: Ei, and her sister, Raiden Makoto. Even the Shogun had never seen it—and she never asked. If she did, Miko wouldn't mind showing her.
"Ehehe..." ×2
The two laughed awkwardly.
"The important thing isn't my form. It's that she and I no longer see each other. 'To build an eternal nation'—that was our shared dream. Yet it was 'Eternity' that separated us. When she entered the Plane of Euthymia, she didn't even say goodbye. Perhaps she thought she was sparing me pain, doing it her own way to make our bond last forever... just like it was back then."
At least, that's how Ei must have seen it.
"To tell you the truth... I was against the idea of her creating the Shogun."
After all, who could guarantee that she wouldn't become another 'Kunikuzushi'? Back then, instead of achieving her goal, Ei only created more potential disasters.
"But... in hindsight, I was wrong. The Shogun's creation was truly a good thing. At the very least... she's not alone in that silent Plane of Euthymia anymore."
Miko's eyes narrowed slightly, filled with a tenderness unlike before—almost nostalgic.
"Miko... do you hate that puppet?"
Paimon asked hesitantly. From Miko's tone earlier, it sounded almost like jealousy—tinged with sadness.
"Hate? Haha... How could I? I adore her too much to hate her. The Shogun, to me, is like a little sister. And besides, I've seen all the contributions she's made to Inazuma. She's even more diligent than Ei at times."
Miko smiled softly, her words filled with genuine affection.
"Oh..."
Paimon scratched her head, half understanding.
"All right... we've done what we came for. Let's return to the shrine. I have another guest to receive today, aside from you two. Come on."
Miko spoke as she took the lead.
"Another guest? Who could it be?"
Paimon asked curiously.
Aether wondered too—could it be Ayaka? A fleeting, wishful thought passed through his mind.
The three of them climbed the steps up Mt. Yougou, returning to the Grand Narukami Shrine. By then, it was around nine in the morning. Sunlight bathed the cherry-colored shrine grounds, giving them a glass-like radiance. Shrine maidens bustled about as usual, carrying out their duties. The trio arrived once more at the main courtyard before the shrine.
"Oh, right. I want your opinion on something."
Miko suddenly turned to Aether.
"What is it?"
He blinked, surprised.
"Do you think the Resistance currently has the strength to challenge the Shogun?"
She asked calmly.
"Not at all."
Aether replied without hesitation. Even as a member of the Resistance, his opinion remained firm—there was no way those people could stand against the Raiden Shogun. He had personally experienced her strength; it was monstrous. In his eyes, she alone could wipe out the entire Resistance.
"Exactly... to be honest, I see them as nothing more than a bunch of weak shrimp soldiers and crab generals—completely insignificant."
To truly overturn the Vision Hunt Decree, one couldn't rely on those people. Their actions produced no results and wasted too much time. How could a group of ordinary humans without Visions hope to contend with a god?
Not to mention... those laughable radicals who talked about overthrowing the Raiden Shogun's rule—still acting all self-important while basking under her divine protection. To Yae Miko, they were nothing more than a joke that even light novel authors wouldn't dare write.
"Uh... that's a bit harsh, don't you think? Aether is the captain of Swordfish II, you know."
Paimon said awkwardly, as if Miko were mocking them.
"Oh really~? I never would've guessed."
Miko replied in a teasing tone, her smile sly.
"..."
Aether was speechless.
"By the way, Miko... who exactly is this 'guest' you mentioned earlier?"
Paimon asked curiously.
"Why, she's already here. Right behind you."
Miko smiled faintly, glancing past them as several footsteps echoed from the path ahead.
Tap, tap...
Then came a firm, commanding voice—
"Don't move."
Aether froze instantly. His entire body stiffened, eyes going wide.
No way... her? Here?!
"K–Kujou... Sara!!"
Paimon spun around, alarmed. The short-haired girl with dark locks, a red tengu mask on the side of her head, and a sharp, commanding presence stood before them—Kujou Sara, accompanied by several soldiers.
"Even wanted criminals dare to stroll so brazenly into the shrine."
Sara crossed her arms, her golden eyes cold and contemptuous as she regarded them.
"Don't try anything foolish. Come quietly to the Tenryou Commission. Seize them!"
The two soldiers behind her immediately stepped forward, weapons raised.
"Yes, ma'am!" ×2
They moved in swiftly—
"Now, now~ Have you all forgotten where you are?"
Miko's voice cut through the air, smooth yet dangerous.
"This is the Grand Narukami Shrine. If you draw your weapons here... that would count as disrespecting the Shogun herself. Tell me, who among you plans to take responsibility for that?"
Her arms crossed, her gaze calm but sharp enough to make the air grow heavy.
"Uh—!" ×2
The two soldiers froze in place, faces paling. They hesitated immediately.
Aether looked over his shoulder at the pink-haired shrine maiden, puzzled by her intent.
"Lady Guuji Yae... are you protecting this fugitive?"
Sara narrowed her eyes.
"Hehe... what are you saying? I'm merely entertaining some friends. 'Protecting' is such a strong word. Why don't you have your men step aside? You and I can talk privately."
Miko smiled serenely, her expression as unreadable as ever.
In truth, she hadn't specifically invited Kujou Sara here—she simply knew that at this exact hour each week, the tengu girl would come to the shrine for her regular prayers. All she had to do was wait.
"Tch... you two, stand down."
Sara frowned slightly, clicking her tongue almost imperceptibly before waving her subordinates away.
She never felt comfortable dealing with these cunning women—Yae Miko, Sangonomiya Kokomi, and even that young lady from the Yashiro Commission. They were all the same—too clever by half.
Still, perhaps the problem lay within herself. Maybe... maybe this was exactly the kind of woman the Shogun admired.
Could it be that the Shogun liked intelligent, composed women like these? Was that her type? Should she... start reading strategy books or study more?
"Yes, ma'am!" ×2
The two soldiers saluted and retreated, taking position near the torii gate.
Once they had stepped back, Miko approached Sara gracefully, her steps light and deliberate. The two women now stood face-to-face at last, their meeting truly beginning.
When Miko approached and locked eyes with her, Sara thought for a moment before speaking.
"Then allow me to ask, Lady Guuji Yae—does harboring a wanted criminal within the shrine not count as disrespect toward the Shogun?"
She was clearly trying to turn the tables.
"Hehe~ Still the same as ever, Lady Kujou Sara. When it comes to loyalty toward the Shogun, no one can compare to you."
Miko smiled calmly, completely unfazed by her underlying challenge.
"..." ×2
In that instant, both Aether and Paimon could sense an invisible tension between the two women—a quiet yet deadly pressure in the air. If Aether were standing between them, he'd probably suffocate.
"As her subordinate, I must be loyal to the Shogun. As a warrior, her level of mastery is what I seek all my life."
Sara answered sincerely. Every word was true—without exaggeration or deceit. To her, both her heart and soul already belonged entirely to the Shogun. Whatever the Shogun commanded, she would obey without a trace of complaint.
"What a noble aspiration... even if the Shogun were to take your Vision one day?"
Miko gave a small, helpless sigh, her expression tinged with pity, though her eyes turned faintly cold. That was the complexity of Yae Miko's nature.
"The Vision Hunt Decree was the Shogun's decision. Besides... my Vision was personally bestowed by her. If she wishes to reclaim it, I will offer it willingly."
The Shogun had given her a second life. On that rainy night, the figure of the woman who had changed her fate was forever etched in her heart—along with the words she spoke when granting her the Vision.
'I bestow this upon you today... It shall change your place within the Kujou Clan. Treasure it well in the days to come.'
'Sara, as one born of the tengu bloodline, you must make your heart unbreakable. Perhaps one day, we shall meet again. Let this serve as proof.'
Recalling those words, a flicker of softness appeared in Sara's gaze.
"Ah... such loyalty. Yet loyalty often ends up betrayed by the tides of time. Should I call you foolish—or the only one still clear-headed?"
Miko sighed softly, a hint of genuine regret in her tone.
"Please speak plainly, Lady Guuji. What do you mean by that?"
Sara asked impatiently, tired of Miko's cryptic phrasing.
"The Vision Hunt Decree is nothing more than a misguided policy born from the Fatui's manipulation—forcing Inazuma's people to cripple themselves."
Miko's voice grew serious as she finally spoke her mind.
"And the ones who clouded the Shogun's judgment are none other than your own masters—the heads of the Tenryou Commission, the Kujou Clan."
Her tone darkened with the weight of those words. The faint smile vanished from her face, her amethyst eyes narrowing coldly.
"!"
Sara's body trembled slightly, her heart skipping a beat. The accusation alone was enough to make her head spin. Still, she instinctively refused to believe it. She wanted to argue back.
"You're saying... the Kujou Clan... has betrayed the Shogunate?"
She forced her voice to remain steady, though the faint quiver didn't escape Miko's notice.
"Heh... precisely. You understand me well."
Miko's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"..." ×2
Sara fell silent, staring straight into Miko's eyes. Miko, in turn, met her gaze with quiet confidence. Neither spoke for a long moment.
Though Sara's posture remained firm, her hand unconsciously clenched the fabric of her sleeve. Miko's eyes flicked toward the small motion, noting it silently.
"Lady Guuji, your accusations are not only dangerous but absurd. The Three Commissions have always served the Shogun loyally—without even a hint of rebellion. Since my adoption into the Kujou Clan, I have seen nothing but devotion. The entire Tenryou Commission honors the Shogun above all, especially Lord Kujou Takayuki. His reverence for the 'Musou no Hitotachi' surpasses that of anyone else. Compared to him, my admiration for the Shogun is insignificant. So, with all due respect—"
"Hehe~!"
Before she could finish, Miko suddenly burst into laughter, even covering her lips to stifle it.
"...Why do you laugh, Lady Guuji?"
Sara frowned, visibly displeased.
"My, my... 'loyal beyond compare,' you say? Even Kujou Takayuki himself doesn't believe that. You're giving him far too much credit~"
Miko's tone was laced with mockery.
"Please, mind your words, Lady Guuji."
Sara's eyes grew cold.
"Sara... you're far too naive."
No wonder the Shogun paid her such special attention. Thinking about it now, "special attention" truly was the right phrase—otherwise, with that straightforward personality of hers, she'd surely end up suffering.
"..."
Sara frowned slightly, showing faint irritation.
"You see the world far too kindly. You still don't understand the ugliness of human nature—the secret power struggles between the Commissions are completely unknown to you."
"The Tenryou Commission has been secretly colluding with the Fatui, while the Kanjou Commission takes advantage of the situation to embezzle funds and manipulate power. Together, the two have worked in secret to suppress and isolate the Yashiro Commission. If the Shogun hadn't intervened to stop the Tenryou Commission's actions, the Yashiro Commission would still be under their surveillance even now."
"..."
Sara fell silent again. Miko could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes.
"I know you're still clinging to the hope that I'm lying—that I made all of this up. Fine then... three days from now, return here. I'll show you the proof myself."
Miko preferred to let results speak for themselves, not explanations. That was always the most efficient way.
She crossed her arms, looking at the still-naïve young woman before her.
"As Guuji, I know one truth—people believe what they want to believe. Some things remain unseen simply because you refuse to see them."
Her eyes softened, the coldness fading into something almost maternal, as if she were gazing at a child.
"You can think of me as the villain if you like. I don't mind playing that role—so long as I can peel away the layers and show you the truth."
She knew well that some truths came only at a price. Perhaps this girl would hate her later, but that was fine. It would be worth it—for Inazuma, for those two, and for this young woman standing before her. After all, the Shogun doted on her dearly.
"...Haa."
Sara finally exhaled, the sound halfway between a sigh and resignation. Her golden eyes grew more complex.
"Three days, right? I'll come. But if I see no proof, then I'll expect you to apologize to the Kujou Clan. And one more thing..."
Her gaze turned cold as it shifted toward Aether, who had been standing behind them, lost in thought.
"!"
Aether tensed immediately, his hand moving instinctively to his sword.
"Him... I'll be taking him with me."
Aether's grip on his weapon tightened.
"Of course~ I'll be waiting for your visit in three days, dear guest~"
Miko replied as if it were nothing at all, her confidence unwavering. Her beautiful face curved into the elegant, composed smile she used to welcome shrine visitors.
"..."
Sara glanced at her one last time before turning on her heel, leading her soldiers away from the shrine. When she reached the foot of Mt. Yougou, she stopped for a brief moment. Her bangs fell slightly over her eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her hand trembled ever so faintly.
"Lady Kujou Sara? Are you alright?"
One of the soldiers asked, concerned by her sudden pause.
"...I'm fine."
Tap, tap...
With that, she forced her steps forward again, walking away from the mountain. Deep down, she prayed—prayed that Miko would not find any proof. Because if she truly did... her heart would shatter.
Back at the shrine, once Sara had left, both Aether and Paimon let out a collective sigh of relief.
"That scared me half to death! I didn't think she'd actually come here. I really thought we were gonna be taken away!"
Paimon clutched her chest, looking like a traumatized victim.
"Yae Miko... that 'proof' you mentioned—does it really exist?"
Aether asked warily.
"Why do you always ask questions like that? Of course not."
Miko answered without hesitation. She hadn't even been to the Kujou residence—where was she supposed to get evidence from? Pull it out of thin air?
"What—?! You don't have any?! Then why did you say that?!"
Paimon panicked immediately. "You tricked us?!"
"Oh, you're quite bold to say that, aren't you?"
Aether muttered in helplessness.
"To 'change the will of a god' is, in itself, a gamble. Who can face a god with absolute certainty?"
That was why she had made a wager with the Shogun before—because there had never been any guarantee of success.
"Th-Then what do we do now?! We only have three days! We'll be invited for tea—if we're lucky! Maybe not even that!!"
Paimon was nearly in tears.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic~ It's difficult to find proof, sure—but also quite simple, if you know who to ask."
Miko's tone remained calm as ever.
"Who could possibly help us? Who would want to?"
Aether asked.
"You two should know her—the young lady from the Yashiro Commission."
"You mean... Kamisato Ayaka?"
Aether guessed.
"Exactly. Go ask her for help. Tell her everything that's happened so far. You won't even need to explain—she'll understand right away."
After all, that girl was sharp—far sharper than most gave her credit for. She was known as the 'Little Strategist of the Shogun's Court', after all. Hehe~
"Alright then... Aether, let's go find Ayaka."
Paimon nodded, already urging him along.
"Yeah."
Aether agreed, his mind wandering for a moment. Truth be told, he also wanted to see that beautiful girl of ice again.