"This is wonderful."
"Makoto, you're finally here."
Gorou was quite happy, his joy completely written on his face. Seeing Lumine and Kujou Sara beside Raiden Makoto, he knew they must be the helpers Raiden Makoto had brought along.
At this point, Kujou Sara had only just learned that the resistance had become a significant force, and the Shogunate only had a small garrison on Yashiori Island, so Gorou did not recognize Kujou Sara.
He didn't know Lumine either.
However, Kaedehara Kazuha, standing beside Gorou, not only recognized Lumine but also Kujou Sara, and even more so, Raiden Makoto who was between them. How could he not know who the person in the middle was? She was once the object of his faith.
Especially with Kujou Sara's presence by her side, it proved that the Lady in the middle was definitely the person he thought she was.
Kaedehara Kazuha's pupils constricted. In an instant, he felt as if he were facing a great enemy. In the next moment, he even drew his weapon directly, staring at Raiden Makoto and Kujou Sara with a tense expression.
Kujou Sara naturally recognized Kaedehara Kazuha as well. The youth who was the first to defy the Vision Hunt Decree was now a Shogunate fugitive, and a major one at that.
Seeing Kaedehara Kazuha draw his weapon, she instantly drew her bow and aimed at him.
"How dare you draw your sword against the Grand Narukami!"
"???"
Gorou was somewhat bewildered. He had no idea what was happening or why the atmosphere had suddenly become so tense.
Not just Gorou, but Raiden Makoto and Lumine were also somewhat confused. However, seeing the change in the expression of the youth beside Gorou, she knew he must be an enemy of Kujou Sara.
"Kazuha? What's wrong with you two?"
Did Kaedehara Kazuha hate the Raiden Shogun? He certainly didn't hate her now; to be precise, he hadn't hated the Raiden Shogun from the very beginning. Although his friend had been slain by the Raiden Shogun after the Shogunate Duel, that was the rule of the Shogunate Duel, which he understood perfectly well.
Unless his friend could withstand the Musou no Hitotachi, he would surely lose his life.
But he never imagined that the Raiden Shogun and Kujou Sara would personally visit Watatsumi Island.
"That is the Shogunate General Kujou Sara and the Raiden Shogun!" Kaedehara Kazuha's low voice carried a hint of dread. No one could have imagined the Raiden Shogun would personally come to Watatsumi Island.
"The Shogunate General and the Raiden Shogun???" Gorou was stunned. Kaedehara Kazuha would never lie to him, but no matter how he looked at it, weren't they just the helpers he had invited to solve the problem? How could they be the Shogunate General and the Raiden Shogun?
"Why would the Raiden Shogun come here???" Gorou looked incredulous. "And that person is the one I told you about, Makoto. Didn't you just say you wanted to see what she was like?"
"Sara, put away your weapon." Raiden Makoto stopped Kujou Sara, who had notched an arrow. She knew the youth beside Gorou harbored no ill will, for she only saw a flash of terror in his eyes and the current look of unease on his face.
"Yes, Grand Narukami."
After Kujou Sara put away her weapon, Raiden Makoto's gaze slowly turned toward the youth with orange-white hair beside Gorou, and she studied him closely.
"Kazuha? Let's go over there."
Gorou was still somewhat confused as he began walking toward Raiden Makoto and Kujou Sara.
"Makoto, you're finally here. Lady Sangonomiya, she..." Gorou's expression held a hint of worry. "She's currently trapped in the Sangonomiya Shrine by those people and can't come over."
"I see."
"I'm aware of the situation on Watatsumi Island. That girl Kokomi has done quite well." Raiden Makoto smiled. Her smile was so infectious that the unease in Gorou's heart faded significantly.
"That person is your friend, right? Why isn't he coming over?"
"Grand Narukami, I know him... Shall I tell you about him?" Kujou Sara noticed that Raiden Makoto seemed unaware of the situation and spoke up to explain.
"Very well."
"His name is Kaedehara Kazuha. He and his friend openly defied the Vision Hunt Decree and challenged me to a Shogunate Duel. After losing the Shogunate Duel, his friend was slain by Her Excellency the Shogun... while he was just about to come and rescue his friend..."
"And then I ordered a Wanted Poster for him..." After Kujou Sara finished explaining those events, Raiden Makoto understood the reason for everything.
Kaedehara Kazuha must have mistaken her for the Raiden Shogun.
"Grand Narukami?" Gorou was a bit dazed. In Inazuma, the only one who should be called the Grand Narukami was the almighty narukami ogosho, god of thunder, who was indeed the Raiden Shogun.
Gorou looked at Kujou Sara again... His pupils also began to constrict. He had never seen the Shogunate General Kujou Sara, but he had heard of her. Seeing her at such close range, he knew that the person beside Raiden Makoto must indeed be Kujou Sara.
And Kaedehara Kazuha hadn't lied to him just now; he believed Kazuha wouldn't lie to him.
"You are the Shogunate General, Kujou Sara?" Gorou's heart tightened as he looked at Kujou Sara warily.
"Yes."
Kujou Sara did not deny it, which meant what Kaedehara Kazuha said was truly the truth.
Gorou stared at Raiden Makoto with wide eyes and said incredulously, "Makoto... Makoto... You're the Raiden Shogun?!"
"In a way, yes, but I am not the current Raiden Shogun. Gorou, those matters are too complicated; I can't explain them clearly to you in a short time."
"You don't need to worry about all that. Just know that I'm here to help you and Kokomi."
She knew that if she wanted to completely resolve the issues on Watatsumi Island, she had to reveal her identity. She wanted to settle the problems of Watatsumi Island once and for all, leaving no future troubles.
"Alright..." Seeing Raiden Makoto's gentle side, Gorou naturally didn't think too much more. However, his heart was still not at peace because Raiden Makoto hadn't denied it, which meant she really was the Raiden Shogun!
No one could remain calm when meeting the Raiden Shogun at such close range.
"You are Kaedehara Kazuha... right?" Kaedehara Kazuha was somewhat tense, but looking at Raiden Makoto's gentle smile, he began to feel certain that the Raiden Shogun he had seen back then was likely not the person before him.
"Come here."
Seeing Gorou nod to him, Kaedehara Kazuha slowly walked over, though he remained somewhat cautious.
"Good child."
Raiden Makoto's smile left Kaedehara Kazuha dazed; it was like the smile of his own mother.
The Raiden Shogun would never have such a gentle smile. His tense nerves began to slowly relax.
"Sara, once the problems on Watatsumi Island are resolved, cancel the Wanted Poster for him."
"A child who has traveled far must also return to his homeland." Raiden Makoto already knew that Kaedehara Kazuha was the youth Gorou had told her about.
"Don't be afraid."
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