Of course, the spatial ring was not a free gift.
Severin stated his condition.
"Take down the light novel published by Yae Publishing House—
The Prince of Snezhnaya and the Shrine Maiden of Narukami: A Tragic Love Story."
Yae Miko smiled.
"So the Prince is worried about his reputation? I'll have it withdrawn immediately."
As the editor-in-chief of Yae Publishing House, a single order from her was all it took.
"Even if it affects my reputation, the impact would be minimal," Severin said calmly.
"But the shrine maidens under you are still unmarried."
"That novel could easily be twisted into malicious rumors, ruining their reputations—
affecting their futures, their relationships, even their marriages."
The shrine maidens froze for a moment, then realized the truth of it.
While they wouldn't have minded a bit of scandal involving the Prince, such rumors would follow them for life—
affecting who they could date, who they could marry, and even the harmony of their future families.
As that realization sank in, their admiration for Severin only deepened.
Or rather—
They were thoroughly won over by his personal charisma.
Understanding and consideration from someone in power was always the easiest way to win hearts.
"What the Prince says is entirely reasonable," Yae Miko agreed with a nod.
"Then… do you have any other requests?"
"If possible," Severin replied lightly,
"I'd like to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine a few more times for tea."
"After all, not everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy tea personally brewed by the Guuji."
His words carried a faint hint of ambiguity.
Yae Miko thought he was teasing her again—
Only to realize that he had already stood up, taken the Mirror Maiden with him, and turned to leave.
On the tea table sat a single spatial ring.
"Lady Guuji," one of the shrine maidens whispered in awe,
"the Prince of Snezhnaya treats you incredibly well. Such a precious item, given away just like that."
"But… what does he actually want?" another asked.
"The cost and return don't seem balanced at all."
"You're overthinking it," a third said softly.
"Perhaps the Prince is simply generous by nature."
Yae Miko folded her arms and laughed.
"He's buying exclusivity."
"He's buying the privilege of my personally brewed tea."
"In other words—from now on, I may only brew tea for the Prince of Snezhnaya."
"How greedy of him."
At the same time, within Tenshukaku—
The Raiden Shogun suddenly returned from the rooftop.
Kujou Sara had been waiting for some time.
"Shogun."
"Sara," the Raiden Shogun said calmly,
"you don't understand, do you?"
Kujou Sara spoke bluntly.
"The Prince of Snezhnaya interfered with the Duel Before the Throne, openly contradicted you, and showed blatant disrespect."
"Why did you not punish him—to curb Snezhnaya's arrogance?"
"The Prince only managed to block Musou no Hitotachi because you did not use your full strength."
"You underestimate him," the Raiden Shogun replied.
She drew her blade.
Where it had been blocked by Severin's power, cracks now spread across its surface.
Then she spoke words that left Kujou Sara utterly stunned.
"You see only that I held back."
"You do not see that the Prince of Snezhnaya also held back."
"His true strength… may not be inferior to mine."
"The rise of Snezhnaya is inevitable."
The words struck Kujou Sara's heart like a hammer.
So the Prince of Snezhnaya had already grown powerful enough
to stand on equal footing with the Raiden Shogun herself.
Then—
Her defeat in the Duel Before the Throne no longer felt unjust.
"Raise the Prince of Snezhnaya's danger classification to the highest level," the Shogun ordered.
"And issue a decree—he is to be received with the highest diplomatic courtesy."
Inazuma's intelligence apparatus maintained power assessments on major figures from the other six nations.
Previously, the Prince of Snezhnaya had only been rated as medium risk.
"Reporting, Shogun," Kujou Sara said hesitantly,
"the Guuji issued the same order earlier this morning."
The Raiden Shogun smiled faintly.
"Of course she did. She always thinks faster than I do…"
"Sara," the Shogun called again, stopping her as she turned to leave.
"Yes, Shogun."
"Remember this."
"The Prince did not insult me."
"Nor did he defy me."
"That confrontation may be regarded as a debate."
"He merely offered me… a different interpretation of Eternity."
Kujou Sara was shocked once more.
The aloof Shogun was… explaining herself on the Prince's behalf.
"My resolve to pursue Eternity needs no one's understanding," Kujou Sara declared solemnly.
"Nor does it require validation."
"I will follow you unto death, Shogun—
to protect Inazuma and uphold the will of Eternity."
"Only Eternity can halt decay and grant Inazuma undying existence," the Raiden Shogun replied.
"You may withdraw. I will enter seclusion for a time."
She turned her back, gazing out the window.
Kujou Sara, who knew her all too well, understood—
The Shogun's Dao-heart was no longer steady.
The Plane of Euthymia
Time and space stood still.
Suspended in midair, seated cross-legged, the Raiden Shogun meditated in silence.
She had maintained this posture for centuries.
At this moment, her long lashes trembled slightly.
Her violet eyes opened.
"Who dares enter?"
Anyone stepping into the Plane of Euthymia would be sensed instantly.
This was her inner world.
Here—she was absolute.
Compared to the Shogun's cold, metallic tone,
Raiden Ei's voice was softer, gentler.
Severin did not answer.
Lightning gathered in his palm.
In the next instant, he threw a punch.
The strike carried terrifying elemental power—
destructive light and aura flooding the entire space.
Ei did not retreat.
A long sword glowing with soft pink radiance appeared in her hand—
Musou Isshin.
The blade Makoto had entrusted to her.
Musou Isshin had never been sharpened.
Makoto was gentle by nature—she had never used it to kill.
All battles had always been Ei's responsibility.
Even now, Ei was unwilling to stain that purity with blood.
But the intruder before her—
Was powerful enough that she dared not underestimate him.
She did not yet know what had occurred in the outside world.
But if even the Raiden Shogun could not stop this man—
Then she would show no mercy.
"Secret Art: Musou Shinsetsu!"
"Ultimate Technique: True Meaning of Dreams!"
Lightning tore through the Plane of Euthymia.
After a fierce exchange of elemental techniques, Ei finally shattered the intruder's body.
Yet her expression remained calm.
There was no joy of victory.
First—
The intruder clearly wielded Cryo,
yet he had deliberately used unfamiliar Electro techniques.
To challenge the Electro Archon with lightning itself—
Was it arrogance?
Or intent?
But one thing was certain:
Had he used Cryo, this battle would not have ended so cleanly.
Second—
Though his body shattered, his life force did not fade.
It remained terrifyingly strong.
This meant that, like her, he had stepped into a realm approaching immortality.
The fragments of his body began to converge.
Rapidly.
Restoring him whole.
Ei frowned.
In countless battles, she had faced monstrous gods—
Yet never had an enemy revived so swiftly after Musou no Hitotachi.
At the moment of his rebirth, she sensed something else.
A familiar power.
This intruder had grasped a truth of lightning
that only she had ever touched—
Something even the other six Archons could not achieve.
"Exhilarating!" Severin laughed, ignoring his injuries entirely.
"Destruction gives birth to rebirth—
and within rebirth lies destruction."
"They complement one another…"
"This… is the supreme truth of lightning!"
On the voyage here, standing on the ship's bow amid the storm,
he had begun to comprehend the essence of Electro.
Now—
Through direct battle with Ei—
That understanding had deepened.
This was why he had come to the Plane of Euthymia.
To temper himself against the God of Thunder.
To break through.
And ascend to a higher realm.
At this moment—
He had succeeded.
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