"Alright!"
Ruu nodded excitedly. Under his lead, Jiang Yan and Raiden Ei followed him to the appointed meeting place with the Thunder Bird.
Kanna Mountain.
Jiang Yan and Raiden Ei, guided by Ruu, arrived at the foot of the mountain.
"This is where I made my appointment with Lord Thunder Bird."
Standing atop a rock, Ruu's tone was full of joy.
Jiang Yan could also feel that the aura of that demon god was drawing closer and closer.
"It's already here."
Raiden Ei spoke from the side.
At the same time, the Wheel of a Hundred Eyes of All Wishes unfolded behind her, violet light gathering in her eyes.
Jiang Yan patted Raiden Ei on the shoulder and said:
"Relax. We're not here to fight."
Then he looked at Ruu again.
"Little Ruu, tell me—do you like the Thunder Bird?"
Ruu nodded, speaking happily.
"Lord Thunder Bird and I are very good friends! Ruu likes him very much!"
"I see."
After rubbing Ruu's head, Jiang Yan pulled Raiden Ei aside.
"Ei, what do you think about letting Ruu follow the Thunder Bird?"
Jiang Yan asked.
Ei frowned.
"The Thunder Bird is a demon god. We don't know its temperament. If we rashly let Ruu follow it, would it…?"
Her concern was reasonable.
A demon god's disposition was unpredictable, and neither of them had had any real contact with it—they simply couldn't know.
"Should I… go back and ask Makoto?"
Raiden Ei asked. After all, she was responsible for martial affairs, and wasn't familiar with handling situations like this. Raiden Makoto, as the nation's administrator, excelled at such matters.
It wasn't that Jiang Yan couldn't handle it—he just felt that since he was fundamentally from Liyue, meddling too much in Inazuma's internal affairs might not look great.
But going all the way back to Narukami Island to ask Makoto would take too long.
Jiang Yan decided it wasn't necessary.
"Forget it, I'll handle this."
He scratched his head. He had saved the kid; he might as well handle things to the end.
Raiden Ei nodded. She wasn't overthinking it—if Jiang Yan could handle it, then she would leave it to him.
Before long, dark clouds gathered in the sky.
A massive Thunder Bird descended from above.
When it saw Jiang Yan and Raiden Ei, its eyes flashed with wariness.
"Inazuma's… Raiden Shogun!"
Seeing Raiden Ei's appearance, the Thunder Bird's lightning-filled eyes narrowed slightly.
"Lord Thunder Bird!"
Ruu ran forward excitedly, eyes sparkling.
The Thunder Bird turned to the tiny Ruu, a gentle look appearing in its eyes.
"You're here, little one."
"That new song you promised me—did you prepare it?"
"Mhm!"
Ruu nodded with a smile.
"I already prepared it long ago!"
"We'll listen later."
The Thunder Bird inclined its head, then turned toward Jiang Yan and Raiden Ei.
"Inazuma's Raiden Shogun—what business brings you here today?"
It did not recognize Jiang Yan, and since he wasn't releasing any aura, the Thunder Bird automatically ignored him, assuming he was merely the Shogun's attendant.
Raiden Ei looked toward Jiang Yan.
He stepped forward, looking up at the towering Thunder Bird with a smile.
"Hello."
"I am speaking to the Raiden Shogun."
The Thunder Bird was proud. In its eyes, the silver-haired youth before it was merely a mortal.
"Ay… why don't you listen when I'm talking nicely?"
Jiang Yan sighed.
Then—his pupils suddenly contracted. A pale red aura burst outward from him.
Conqueror's Haki.
In almost an instant, the Thunder Bird's feathers stood on end. Terror flashed through its eyes as it stared at the man who was continuously releasing pressure.
The man it had thought was just an ordinary mortal was now unleashing a presence stronger than even Inazuma's god.
This man… was strong.
Stronger than the Raiden Shogun beside him.
"Now, can you listen properly?"
Jiang Yan smiled lightly at the Thunder Bird.
The Thunder Bird nodded hesitantly. Jiang Yan calmly withdrew his aura.
"Honestly, we could've just talked peacefully. Why make me show off?"
Jiang Yan muttered as he pulled Ruu closer to him.
"You're right—it was my fault."
Having been startled, the Thunder Bird became far more obedient.
"Alright. The reason we're here is mainly to ask what you think of this child."
Jiang Yan rubbed Ruu's small head as he asked.
"Ruu? A child with a lovely singing voice."
The Thunder Bird answered honestly.
"And do you like this child?"
Jiang Yan continued bluntly, not beating around the bush.
"This…"
The Thunder Bird glanced at Ruu. Under the boy's hopeful gaze, it nodded.
"Then if this child were to live with you from now on—could you accept that?"
Both the Thunder Bird and Ruu froze.
"What do you mean by that?"
Confused, the Thunder Bird listened as Jiang Yan explained what had happened that morning.
"These wretched mortals!"
The Thunder Bird roared in fury, lightning crackling around them as heaven and earth changed color.
Originally, it hadn't cared much about humans—viewing them as no different from the sacrificial offerings presented to it: weak, insignificant.
Only after meeting Ruu had that changed.
The Thunder Bird had been drawn to the boy's singing, and eventually became his friend.
But those people had tried to do that to Ruu—and even planned to offer him as a sacrifice?
The thought that it might unknowingly have eaten Ruu—
The Thunder Bird could hardly imagine it.
It would have gone insane.
Yes, even the Thunder Bird had to admit—it liked this child.
"Thank you. And thank the Raiden Shogun as well, for saving Ruu."
At that moment, the Thunder Bird finally lowered its proud head toward Jiang Yan and Raiden Ei.
It was genuinely grateful.
"He's safe now, but he can't go back."
"So I want to ask—can Ruu live with you?"
"After all, you're friends, aren't you?"
Jiang Yan said softly.
Ruu's eyes lit up, staring at the Thunder Bird with anticipation.
"As long as Ruu doesn't mind, I have no objection."
The Thunder Bird extended a wing and gently patted the boy's head.
"I don't mind! I want to sing for Lord Thunder Bird every day!"
Ruu threw himself into the Thunder Bird's embrace, rubbing his cheek against its chest feathers.
The Thunder Bird quietly withdrew the sparks of lightning around its body—it didn't want to shock the child.
"Nn! Lord Thunder Bird, do you have a name?"
Ruu lifted his head, eyes shining.
The Thunder Bird froze, then shook its head.
"Then how about I give you one?"
"Kapatcir—Kanna Kapatcir!"
The Thunder Bird actually turned its head away shyly.
"Hmph, do as you like."
Seeing that it didn't object, Ruu grew even happier.
"Alright—Lord Kapatcir!"
"Don't call me 'Lord'… you little brat!"
"Yes, Lord Kapatcir!"
"…"
Watching the harmony between bird and boy, Jiang Yan and Raiden Ei exchanged glances—smiles in both their eyes.
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