Watatsumi Island.
Returning to Sangonomiya Shrine, Lumine was appointed captain of the Swordfish II due to her outstanding performance in previous battles.
Kokomi had originally wanted to appoint Yunling as captain of another squad, but she declined.
"Lumine is the captain of Swordfish II, so I'll just be the vice-captain."
It had already been agreed upon before coming; her second sister, Kuki Shinobu, only needed to follow her.
Anyway, Yunling was most familiar with Lumine here, so being in the same team as her was better.
Kokomi had no objections, and Lumine was naturally happy to see it happen.
They then went to greet the members of Swordfish II and got to know each other...
Life in the resistance was actually not bad, much more exciting than when they were in Inazuma City.
From time to time, they would go out to clear out nearby nobushi and ambush Shogunate troops.
There hadn't been any major battles like the one at Nazuchi Beach before.
Soon, Yunling had been with the resistance for quite some time.
Teppei, just like in the original plot, had somehow obtained a Delusion and began to use it secretly.
During this time, his complexion grew worse and worse; yesterday, when they met, his hair had even turned white.
Yunling didn't intervene much; this was Teppei's choice.
He actually knew the drawbacks of the Delusion, understanding that while it brought great power, it also demanded a corresponding price.
But he still used it.
For a soldier on the battlefield, especially on the front lines, a Delusion might not necessarily be a bad thing...
That day, Yunling was outside when she encountered someone she found very annoying.
This guy wore his signature half-mask, and just looking at him made one want to punch him.
The person walked directly up to Yunling and stopped, making it impossible for Yunling to ignore him.
"Hey, who are you, and why are you blocking me?"
The Doctor took out a Delusion from behind his back, smiling sinisterly.
---
That night, at the temporary residence arranged on Watatsumi Island.
"Second sister, what are you doing?"
"Writing a letter."
"Writing a letter? To whom?"
"To the boss, and also... to the eldest sister."
Yunling said, "Oh," realizing that sending it to the eldest sister was probably because she was easier to talk to, unlike their old-fashioned father.
"Second sister, Lumine told me that once a vision holder loses their vision, the wish they originally had when obtaining it will gradually be forgotten, but why does the boss seem to have no change?"
Kuki Shinobu: "Uh..."
How did the boss get his vision again?
It seemed he got it after waking up, and as for what wish made the gods cast their gaze... Kuki Shinobu really didn't know.
However, losing his Vision without any impact should be a good thing for the boss.
Yunling lay on the bed, tossing the Delusion given to her by a man with a half-mask today in her hand:
"They say the conditions for obtaining a Vision are very strict; many people spend their entire lives unable to get one. This thing called a 'Delusion' can give ordinary people the same power as a Vision holder. I wonder what principle it uses."
Although Kuki Shinobu was writing a letter, her ears were always listening to Yunling's mumbling.
Upon hearing the words "Delusion," she immediately stopped what she was doing.
"Is that a Delusion in your hand?"
Kuki Shinobu walked over, took the Delusion from Yunling's hand, examined it carefully, and confirmed it was indeed a Delusion.
"Who gave you this thing?"
Seeing her sister's serious expression, Yunling also got up from the bed.
"It was a guy wearing a half-mask, sis, what's wrong?"
"Is it only you who has one, or do others have them too?"
Yunling thought carefully, then shook her head: "I don't know."
Kuki Shinobu carefully looked at the Delusion in her hand, feeling the eerie aura within it. She said to Yunling:
"You rest first; I have something to go out for."
"Go out? It's so late, second sister, where are you going?"
"This matter is of great importance; I need to go find Miss Sangonomiya."
After Kuki Shinobu left, Yunling lay back down on the bed.
Strange, why would a segment of the Doctor appear here, and it seems he's even targeting me.
Did he see the potential of this body of mine, or was he just trying to cause trouble in Inazuma using me?
---
The next day, Sangonomiya Kokomi called all the squad captains.
She brought out Delusions, told everyone about their dangers, and demanded a thorough investigation of all resistance soldiers. If anyone possessed a Delusion, they were required to hand it over.
After the crowd dispersed, Kokomi stopped Teppei, who was about to leave.
The current Teppei was no longer the same Teppei as before; everyone could clearly see it.
"Teppei, how long have you been using the Delusion?"
Teppei had already shown signs of aging, giving everyone the impression of a candle in the wind, liable to go out at any moment.
"Your Excellency, I..."
Kokomi sighed inwardly; it was already too late.
Teppei: "Your Excellency, I actually always knew that Delusions were not good things, but they gave me power!"
"When I was fighting enemies, if it weren't for it, I would be dead by now. For me at that time, even if it accelerated my body's aging, this trade was very worthwhile."
"I actually thought about using it just that once and then stopping, but... humans are ultimately greedy. I lost myself in the repeated feelings of power. I was unwilling to be ordinary, so after getting it, I used it so urgently."
"Teppei..."
Lumine and Paimon had noticed it before, thinking Teppei hadn't rested well, but they never expected it to be a Delusion... "Cough, cough—"
Teppei suddenly coughed violently. Yunling and Lumine tried to help him, but he waved them off.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, I failed your expectations..."
Kokomi: "You've already done well enough."
Teppei handed over the Delusion and walked back dejectedly.
Lumine, Yunling, and Paimon watched Teppei's retreating figure, their eyes filled with worry.
"Yunling, I heard you also got a Delusion. You haven't used it, have you!"
Lumine looked at Yunling nervously.
"No, I have a Vision; why would I use that thing?"
Lumine and Paimon both breathed a sigh of relief.
Paimon looked at where Teppei had left, still a little uneasy: "Yunling, Lumine, let's go check on Teppei. I just feel like his current state is very wrong."
Lumine and Yunling were also very worried and immediately followed.
In front of Teppei's residence.
The current Teppei no longer had the strength to stand up. He leaned against the front of the house, looking at the few people weakly.
"Ah... it's you all. You've come?"
"Wait a moment, I'll stand up first... Sorry, I don't have much strength in my body..."
"I haven't had a chance to tell you yet, but recently, I've accomplished several more meritorious deeds."
"..."
Teppei spoke to himself about his experiences during this time; he seemed to know his time was short.
Lumine felt very sad, seeing another friend leave in front of her, and there was nothing she could do.
"Teppei, the Delusion, who gave it to you, and when?"
"Probably the day you became captain of Swordfish II. I didn't see his face. He told me that if I wanted to become stronger, this... Delusion, would respond to me."
Yunling watched Lumine and Teppei's conversation from the side, gently patting Lumine's shoulder.
"I really wasn't favored by the gods."
Lumine: "..."
"When our team uniforms are ready, bring mine back too... We'll put them on together..."
"What's with that expression, buddy? Don't worry, let me rest for a bit... just a bit... maybe I'll be fine..."
After Teppei said this, his eyes slowly closed.
Paimon's face was full of sorrow: "Teppei..."
Lumine clenched her fists and ran off.
"Lumine, wait for me!"
Yunling and Paimon quickly followed.
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