Due to the presence of the Raiden Shogun, Inazuma indeed had no fear of foreign invasion. Yet, for the same reason, its internal defenses were easily breached.
There was no helping it—who could have expected that the Raiden Shogun, who held the highest authority in Inazuma, would now be so hands-off in governance?
Take Venti, for example—he also didn't involve himself in governance, but then again, he didn't hold any real power either. Zhongli, on the other hand, held power and actually governed properly.
Nahida and Furina were the same—either they didn't hold power, or they didn't involve themselves in governance.
Only Ei was special—she held power yet refused to govern.
The Vision Hunt Decree had been enacted due to Inazuma's internal issues, but now, thanks to Scaramouche's words, people realized the Fatui also bore significant blame.
Thus, among the three nations written about so far, the Fatui had become thoroughly unwelcome.
The Traveler in the story also held no goodwill toward the Fatui, charging at them sword in hand.
Yet before they could strike, they were hit by a trap and collapsed to the ground, promptly bidding "Goodnight, Makka Pakka" as they naturally fell asleep.
However, before the Traveler's "natural demise," their vision was filled with the sight of Yae Miko's fair legs and delicate feet, stepping forward gracefully.
Lucian had even specially drawn an illustration of this perspective, allowing everyone to appreciate the Guuji's fair legs.
In reality, Yae Miko herself had no comment on this illustration.
But truth be told, when she first saw it, she had spat in Lucian's direction.
This was meant to be seen by the entire world—what kind of proper prophet would use this kind of perspective?!
The second illustration in the story showed the Traveler opening their eyes to Yae Miko's beauty filling their vision.
[Yae Miko, voice gentle: "Say after me: 'Three two one, one two three, ahh—'. Come on, quickly."]
Some readers were instantly enchanted—as expected of a fox, so skilled in beguilement!
What captivated the readers most wasn't Yae Miko's delicate feet, nor the close-up of her beauty—it was her final words, "Come on, quickly."
These three words added a playful charm to Yae Miko's otherwise mature and elegant demeanor. This contrast was the true killing move that won them over.
Some had been torn between choosing Yae Miko or Kamisato Ayaka—now, the answer was clear.
Earlier, Ayaka's dance had won her a surge of fans, but now Yae Miko had leveled the playing field. No longer was it a one-sided victory for the Ayaka faction.
[After confirming the Traveler was unharmed, Yae Miko teased: "It wasn't easy fishing you out, little one—you were practically embedded in the ground. It would've been such a shame if you'd broken."]
"Embedded in the ground"—seems the Traveler had been sleeping very soundly.
When readers first met Yae Miko, her identity as the Guuji, the Grand Priestess, gave her an air of elegance, making her seem unapproachable.
Now, however, Yae Miko was meeting the Traveler as an ordinary fox spirit, so her speech and demeanor were far more relaxed.
The Inazuman readers were beside themselves—so their great Guuji-sama was actually like this in private?!
This was... wonderful, wasn't it?!
That said, though the Traveler in the story had been knocked out, the mission to destroy the factory was a success.
They had already exhausted much of the Fatui's forces, and by the time Kokomi led the resistance army there, no resistance remained.
As for Scaramouche—after receiving the "gift" from Yae Miko, he naturally had no reason to stay and guard the factory.
[Yae Miko smiled: "She did quite well, that woman named Sangonomiya Kokomi. I'd love to have a proper chat with her face-to-face... Pity that differences in faith are such a nuisance."]
Readers broke out in a cold sweat—as the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, wasn't it a bit much to call faith a "nuisance"?
Barbara frowned—how could this shrine maiden be so indifferent to faith? Did she not like her own god?
Barbara thought it might indeed be dislike, given the Electro Archon's current poor performance.
She didn't yet know that Yae Miko was actually the Raiden Shogun's closest friend—she adored her.
However, while the Yae Miko in the story couldn't have a proper chat with Kokomi, in reality, thanks to Lucian's spoilers and intervention, she had managed to speak with Kokomi this time.
Sadly, her plan to trick Kokomi into performing the Taihei Kagura dance with Ayaka failed—Kokomi saw right through it.
Besides, the Taihei Kagura was more of a dance performed on Narukami's side to celebrate peace. Having a priestess of Watatsumi's Oogosho perform it would have been... questionable, to say the least.
Returning to the story, Yae Miko was discussing the Raiden Shogun with the Traveler, asking if they had met her.
[Yae Miko: "I'm not talking about that puppet. I mean... you've met her, haven't you?"]
["The true Raiden Shogun, who endlessly meditates in the Plane of Euthymia to preserve her self—"]
["—her name is Ei."]
Now it was Kujou Sara's turn to be stunned.
Wait, what? The Shogun I've been seeing all this time isn't the Shogun? The real Shogun is somewhere I can't see?
I thought there were two Shoguns—double the joy—but turns out one's a puppet?!
Then does the one I confess to daily even count as the Shogun?!
...Also, where can I buy a puppet of this level of craftsmanship?
It wasn't just Sara who was stunned—the rest of Inazuma was equally shocked.
Most couldn't even meet the puppet Shogun, let alone know such secrets.
When the story first mentioned two Shoguns, they thought it was some kind of technique—a skill effect. But no, they were literally two separate beings!
[Yae Miko: "Even the spirit is not immune to erosion. So she placed her consciousness within her blade, using meditation to shut out all disturbances."]
Ei had placed her consciousness within her blade, but she herself didn't know—her sister's consciousness was also in that blade.
[Yae Miko continued: "The Plane of Euthymia is a space akin to her inner world, one that normally permits only the existence of the self."]
["Shut away in her own world, she leaves all external complexities to that puppet, who does nothing but charge recklessly toward eternity..."]
["Heh... Isn't her behavior just like a child throwing a tantrum and locking themselves in their room?"]
["And what she calls eternity has long since become nothing but her own idea of eternity."]
["When you get down to it... she's simply afraid of losing."]
Yae Miko's sharp critique of Raiden Ei—only she, with her knowledge and boldness, could speak so freely in Inazuma.
The other Inazuman readers, of course, had no idea what their Shogun feared losing or why she acted like a child locking herself away.
This was their god—a deity who had ruled for centuries, who had carved the Musoujin Gorge with a single strike. How could she be childish?
Little did they know—the one who had ruled for centuries was Ei's elder sister, Makoto.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice: Makoto — About Inazuma Act III
"Ah, my foolish little sister has really caused trouble for Inazuma. I believed she would come to understand, but I never expected the process to be like this."