"It has been five hundred years."
Walking with Miko on the road outside Inazuma City, Makoto gazed at the surroundings and couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Centuries ago, She never would have imagined that today She would still be standing here, looking upon Inazuma.
"Yes, five hundred years." Miko nodded, her gaze shifting from Makoto to their surroundings. She could guess what Makoto was thinking, but she wouldn't say much.
After all, isn't it nice just to let Makoto quietly observe the Inazuma of centuries later?
"It seems Ei has done quite a good job."
Withdrawing Her gaze, Makoto felt satisfied with Ei's governance over these past few hundred years. Back when She was on the verge of death, She had worried whether Ei could shoulder the responsibility of the Electro Archon. But now, it seemed She had at least met Her initial minimum requirements, and perhaps even exceeded them by far.
Quite good...?
Miko, who had silently observed Inazuma for these past few centuries, did not quite agree with Makoto's assessment. However, she felt she shouldn't spoil Makoto's mood right now, so she didn't immediately speak up.
But regardless, she felt it was necessary to mention Ei's "slacking off" over these centuries.
Sigh... When would be a good time to mention it? Truly puzzling...
Watching Makoto, who was looking around again, Miko couldn't help but think this.
"However, this is only on the surface."
Just as Miko was wondering when to tell Makoto about the real Inazuma, Makoto suddenly said this.
?
Snapping back to reality, Miko looked at Makoto with some surprise. But soon, she understood; that must have been told to Her by Mei or Kaito.
In any case, Makoto at least had an understanding of the current Inazuma; She wasn't completely ignorant. If that was the case, then things would be easier. At least she didn't have to agonize over when to tell Makoto the truth.
"So then..." Miko suddenly stopped mid-sentence. There was no helping it; people were passing by them now, so she'd better not say it for the time being.
"It's Her Excellency, the Shogun! I didn't expect to meet Her Excellency, the Shogun here, and Lady Miko as well."
The passersby were extremely surprised upon seeing Makoto. They hadn't expected to see the Shogun here, and for a moment, they all stopped in their tracks.
Her Excellency, the Shogun? Indeed, She is the Shogun...
Miko thought this silently regarding the civilians' address. Regardless, there was absolutely no problem addressing Makoto as "Her Excellency, the Shogun."
Moreover, more importantly, she wanted to see how Makoto would respond to these people.
"I am not Her Excellency, the Shogun."
Under Miko's gaze, Makoto slowly shook Her head.
Oh? She's actually denying it?
But that makes sense... Her Excellency is currently 'suffering from amnesia'...
Stunned for a moment, Miko quickly understood why Makoto said that. However, even so, she still wanted to hear how Makoto would explain the fact that She looked so much like Ei.
"N-Not Her Excellency, the Shogun?"
Upon hearing this answer, the people looked at each other, seeming a bit at a loss. They really hadn't expected to receive such a response. They originally thought they were lucky to encounter the Shogun out on business, but it turned out they seemed to have mistaken the person.
But is that really the case? Is there really someone who looks so much like the Shogun?
Could it be for an event requiring someone to cosplay the Shogun?
Thinking it over, they coincidentally all thought of this point. Otherwise, they really didn't know what was going on. It couldn't be that someone was impersonating the Shogun, right?
"I just happen to look a bit like Her Excellency, the Shogun. You don't need to overthink it."
Seeing their obvious shock, Makoto spoke up to explain. However, She knew Her explanation might not be convincing.
"Uh... I see."
Nodding stiffly, the people obviously didn't believe this explanation, so they turned their gaze to Miko at the side. After all, as the Shogun's friend, Lady Miko must know something.
However, Miko did not say anything in response to their gazes; she just stood there quietly.
"Then... we won't disturb you."
Seeing that Lady Miko said nothing after a long while, the group decided to leave.
Afterward, under the watch of Makoto and Miko, the Inazuma citizens headed toward Inazuma City.
"Say, Makoto, why didn't you admit it? If you had admitted it, I'd like to see if She could continue staying in that space all day long."
After those people walked away, Miko finally spoke.
"Why?"
Looking at Miko, Makoto seemed not to understand why she would say that.
"That's obviously because Ei has been hiding in that space all day since you died, never coming out. She's become an old shut-in."
As she spoke, Miko sighed, looking very helpless, and then continued, "So, if you said outside that you were the Shogun—and you indeed are the Shogun—She definitely wouldn't be able to sit still."
After finishing, Miko added, "Though actually, She should be outside all the time now. It's much better than before."
"Ei's philosophy and mine are not the same. It was fine when I was around, but once I was gone, She acted according to Her own philosophy."
In truth, Makoto knew about the current situation in Inazuma; She had already asked Miss Mei and her boyfriend.
"Yes, She's become an eternal shut-in. At least when you were around, She would still come out."
In front of Makoto, Miko ceaselessly complained about Ei. There was no helping it; previously, she had nowhere to complain, so she had been holding it in for hundreds of years. Now, she finally had the chance to vent.
"It seems you have quite a lot of grievances against Ei."
Hearing Miko's complaints, Makoto smiled. Even after hundreds of years, Miko still had traces of her former self; she wasn't completely different.
"How would I dare? I am just a lowly familiar; I wouldn't dare have any other thoughts."
Seeing Makoto say this, Miko immediately claimed she wouldn't dare.
Of course, that was just talk. Both usually and now, she had done plenty of things that went against Ei's wishes. But as long as she wasn't caught, it was as if she hadn't done them. So, right now, she was still that familiar who hadn't done anything wrong—very well-behaved.
"Duplicitous Miko."
Hearing Miko's high-sounding words, Makoto couldn't help but laugh again. It had to be said, the current Miko felt increasingly familiar to Her.
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