The barriers in both the tidal flats and Araumi had been completely dispelled by her efforts through the entire night. The corresponding Thunder Sakura roots were purified one after another. She hadn't had a moment's rest all day—working from dawn until deep into the night. By now, it was past two in the morning.
Fortunately, she didn't require sleep like mortals did. Otherwise, anyone else would have collapsed long ago. But she was used to such exertion; this kind of relentless schedule—something akin to a mortal's "996" routine—was tolerable for a woman like her, who managed Inazuma's affairs daily. Compared to those two slackers from Mondstadt and Liyue, her diligence was something rare indeed.
Speaking of those two gods—she wasn't even going to bring up the drunkard. As for Morax, when she first heard of his retirement, she was a bit surprised. But on second thought, it made sense.
He even went so far as to hold his own funeral... yes, that was very much like him. It made clear that Morax had entrusted his nation to the people. Liyue was now in the era of humanity. And Inazuma…? At that thought, her steps faltered slightly.
No. Not yet. Inazuma wasn't ready to stand on its own. It was still like a newborn child—needing the constant, watchful care of its mother to grow strong. And she, they, were that mother.
She admitted she was a little envious of Liyue's unity, of a land where faith in the divine had already evolved into self-sustaining stability. A nation that its god could entrust entirely to its people—such a thing was still far from her reach. But she believed that one day, Inazuma too would mature, and eventually, it would no longer need their protection. It would face the world's tempests on its own.
But that's all for the future. Right now, Ei was still stubbornly clinging to her concept of eternity, so far from such ideals. Besides, both Inazuma and she herself were still in their prime—full of vitality and potential. As the saying went… youth is the time to strive. While she still had that energy, she would push forward.
And wasn't she proving that right now?
Even the Sacred Sakura Cleansing—a shrine maiden's duty—had ended up being her responsibility. Haa… Ei, that woman, still idling away within the Plane of Euthymia. It would be nice if she'd come out to accompany her once in a while. Honestly~
The Shogun let out a soft, inward sigh of helpesness. Yet despite her playful complaint, her steps didn't falter.
Chinju Forest was the final barrier location. According to Hanachirusato, she needed to find a statue and communicate with it. But after searching nearby, she hadn't found anything resembling one. Could it be that?
Following her memory through the dim, secluded forest, her heels pressed lightly against the soft grass, producing clear rustling sounds. Fireflies glowed faintly as they drifted by, circling her curiously. The clear trickle of a nearby stream added a melodic note to the serene forest night.
Her violet eyes swept across the surroundings—apart from a few mischievous bake-danuki hiding in the shadows, all she saw were familiar flowers, trees, and shrubs.
Taking a few more steps deeper into the forest, she finally reached the end of the path, where a large tanuki statue sat bathed in pale, sorrowful moonlight. The statue's expression was relaxed and carefree, sprawled lazily upon its stone pedestal.
Jingle, jingle~
The nearby tanuki shook the silver bells around their necks incessantly, as if trying to draw her attention.
"…"
The Shogun silently approached, placing one leg upon the stone pedestal as she leaned closer to examine the great tanuki. She raised her hand, reaching out to touch it—
"Touching someone so casually the first time you meet them—how rude~!"
The sudden, ethereal voice made her flinch slightly, her fingers instinctively drawing back. She blinked, glancing around the area.
"Over here~! Right in front of you," the voice continued cheerfully.
"…You're alive?" she asked, looking at the great tanuki statue before her, arms folding instinctively.
"Where do you see me dead, huh~? Ah… the youth these days, so impolite."
The Shogun sighed softly and took a few steps back from the pedestal. Since the other party had already called her "rude," continuing to stand there uninvited wouldn't be proper.
"So then, girl… who might you be?" the statue asked.
"…You don't know who I am?" she paused for a moment before replying softly. There was no offense in her tone—only mild curiosity. Just how long had this creature been isolated from the world?
"Hmm? Have we met before? I don't recall seeing you… Wait, no… you do look a little familiar. Ah, but I can't quite remember."
Though the statue remained perfectly still, the Shogun could sense something within it—a presence, a spirit. It was alive. Yet its words were puzzling, almost absurd.
"Have you perhaps… deteriorated over time?" she asked.
"Huh? What's 'deteriorated'?" the voice replied blankly.
"…Forget it. It's better if you don't know," she sighed softly. That would save her from unnecessary trouble.
"So then, who are you, girl?"
"This one is merely a traveler," she replied smoothly.
"Oh… a traveler, eh? That does make sense. Plenty of travelers pass through this area—but one with your face, that's a first for me. And your outfit, too."
The tone was teasing, even playful.
"…As long as one keeps oneself clean, any attire is acceptable."
"Emm… fair point," the statue admitted after a pause.
"Now, it's my turn to ask… Stone statue—"
"I'm not some stone statue! I was sealed in this form, that's all!" the voice snapped indignantly, sounding like a sulking child throwing a tantrum.
"Haah… Then how should this one address you?" she asked with mild helpesness.
"I am the great, world-renowned bake-danuki, Ioroi!" the voice declared proudly.
From the motionless, cold statue came such a boastful tone that the Shogun could almost picture the creature puffing out its chest in arrogance.
"…Who?"
"Ioroi!" it repeated loudly, clearly offended.
"Never heard of you. Were you truly world-renowned?" she asked dryly.
"Hmph! The youngsters these days… no respect for history. No one remembers my name anymore. Times have truly changed."
No… it's not that the times have changed. It's just that no one's ever heard of you, the Shogun thought to herself with an inward sigh. And besides, did this creature just call her a youngster? Though, she supposed it made sense—Inazuma had many who'd heard of the "Raiden Shogun," but few who had actually seen her face. Not recognizing her wasn't too surprising.
"I came here today to find you for a reason," she said, steering the conversation back on track. If this dragged on any longer, dawn would break.
"Oh? And what business could you possibly have with me? You know, being able to speak with me is quite special," the statue replied.
"It's a long story—no need to dwell on it. What I wish to ask is… do you possess a sacred offering?" she asked, folding her arms as her gaze lifted toward him.
"A what now?"
"The sacred offering," she repeated flatly.
"Oh, that thing… you mean that smelly fox's comb, right?" the statue finally responded.
Smelly fox?
"The 'smelly fox' you speak of… do you mean Yae Miko?" she asked.
"Yae Miko? Who's that?"
So it wasn't Miko, then. Who could it be? Could he be referring to Lady Saiguu?
"The sacred offering you mentioned—I can give it to you," he said after a pause. "But you'll have to do something for me first."
"Haah… what is it?" she asked, tone weary but calm.
"Play with the children."
"This is a matter of great urgency. I have no time for meaningless games," she replied curtly.
"Oh, come now~ don't be so uptight. Just play a little hide-and-seek with three young tanuki. It'll be quick, I promise. After that, I'll give you the sacred item, cross my heart!" the statue said, his tone softening—almost pleading.
"…Fine. But if you go back on your word, you'll face the punishment for deceit. Understand?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, her voice dropping to a cool, low tone. Around her, the air thickened with crackling Electro energy.
"U-understood…" the statue stammered, immediately cowed.
"Good," she murmured.
Crackle…
With a soft sigh, her form dissolved into a flash of lightning—vanishing in an instant, leaving the surrounding candles flickering from the sudden gust.
"Why… why did I let that girl intimidate me?! Unbelievable!" Ioroi's indignant voice echoed into the forest, his words full of confusion and bluster.
A few minutes later, the Shogun returned to Ioroi with the three little tanuki in tow. They scampered happily around her legs and then climbed up onto Ioroi body as soon as they arrived, clearly delighted.
"They certainly know how to hide… it took some effort to find them," she said lightly.
"You've done well, girl," Ioroi replied.
"Your promise," the Shogun said directly, not bothering with pleasantries.
"Hehe… I am the great bake-danuki Ioroi, renowned across the land. Of course I keep my word. Here—take it, the comb you wanted."
Bzzz~
At his words, a faint light shimmered before the statue. When it faded, a beautifully crafted half-moon wooden comb floated into her hands. The surface glowed with a soft white sheen, its black-and-white pattern clearly marking it as a rare and precious artifact. The Shogun slipped it carefully into her kimono pocket.
Not a wasted effort after all… though I've had enough of this already.
"But… what do you need that comb for? To comb your hair? It might still smell of fox," Ioroi said curiously.
"It's one of the sacred offerings for the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual."
"The Sacred… Sakura Cleansing?"
Clearly, he had never heard the term. Understandable—sealed away as he was, there was little news he could know. Still, she took a few moments to explain the ritual to him.
A few minutes later—
"So that's how it is… Such an important matter indeed. No wonder that smelly fox is nowhere to be found—she must have sent you to handle it instead. I recall there being a barrier on the eastern coast as well," he said thoughtfully.
The eastern sea… That must be the next and final location.
"…Thank you for the information," she said simply, not intending to linger any longer. The sooner she dealt with the remaining seal, the better.
"Hey, girl…" he called out again just as she turned to leave.
Her steps paused. "What is it?"
"For one of such divine nobility, you sure act without restraint. If you keep being so rude, I swear you won't even have a stone left to turn into," he grumbled.
Her head turned slightly, violet eyes glinting coldly as she fixed her gaze on the statue. Her voice dropped to a calm, frigid tone that carried a faint rumble of thunder.
"And to whom are you referring? 'Girl'? I've tolerated it until now, but you're overstepping."
"Eep~!! I-I was just being… friendly, that's all! You're so young, so what should I call you then?" Ioroi stammered in panic, nearly bursting free from the stone. He could tell she wasn't joking—one wrong word and his head might be gone.
"Haah… If I were to tell you that I am Raiden Shogun, would you believe it?" she asked, sighing softly, her tone casual. She didn't expect him to believe it.
"Raiden Shogun?! Hahaha!" he burst into laughter, then straightened and said flatly, "Not a chance."
See? Knew it.
"According to rumor, Raiden Shogun is a figure of awe and thunderous majesty, like the embodiment of lightning itself. Untouched by mortal concerns—she's never even stepped foot outside Inazuma City. And you expect me to believe you're that Raiden Shogun? What an absurd joke!"
Listening to his description, she pressed a hand to her forehead, her expression growing weary.
Is that really how people see me? The way he spoke, she sounded like some eccentric old hermit rather than a divine ruler. Majestic posture, sure… but 'untouched by mortal concerns'? That's just exaggeration.
"Still… if the Raiden Shogun were really someone like you—doing everything personally—that wouldn't be a bad thing. Inazuma might actually have hope," Ioroi added.
Heh~ Well, sorry to disappoint—apparently I'm that aloof, otherworldly old god, she thought, half amused, half helpless.
Forget it.
"Instead of wasting time with foolish thoughts, perhaps you should take better care of your tanuki," she said curtly before turning away, walking off without another glance. Her beautiful figure faded into the shadows between the trees.
For a moment, Ioroi was silent—then something seemed to occur to him.
"Hey—girl!" he called again.
This time, she didn't turn around, merely paused and waited for him to continue.
"If you happen to see that smelly fox, could you pass along a message for me?"
"…Go on," she replied, not refusing.
"'You wretched fox! I'm furious! Get back here and face me in a duel—we still haven't settled our score! And while you're at it, undo this seal for me! Not that I can't do it myself, of course, but you still owe me a few favors! Oh, and by the way, that Gyoubu Koban fellow said he looks like you!' That's the message," Ioroi said all in one breath.
"…"
Step, step…
The Shogun resumed walking in silence.
"Hey! Did you even remember what I just—"
"Be quiet. I remembered."
She cut him off impatiently, her figure flickering with a surge of lightning before disappearing from the forest.
"…"
Ioroi fell silent for a few moments.
"She actually remembered?!!"
...
Unlike the previous three times, this final barrier wasn't deep within a cave but closer to the surface—merely a small rupture in the terrain. Even the structure of the mechanism was simpler, the formation smaller, and the distances between the lamp pedestals much shorter.
Following the familiar process, she placed the sacred offering into the mechanism and broke the seal with precision. As before, a spirit warrior materialized to challenge her.
"Allow me to test my blade!"
It was the same dutiful fallen samurai as always. The line was so repetitive she could almost recite it herself by now.
Watching him wipe down his oversized sword, she sighed.
"Could you perhaps… commit seppuku instead?" she asked flatly, folding her arms and half-lidding her eyes in boredom.
"Hah! Ridiculous! Taste my blade!!" the phantom roared and lunged forward.
"Haah…"
With a soft sigh, she raised her hand, gathering concentrated Electro energy in her palm before swinging it forward.
Boom!
A massive hammer of violet light formed and slammed squarely into the warrior's chest.
Crash!
The impact shattered his armor to pieces, scattering fragments through the air. His body flew backward like a home-run ball, slamming into the distant cliff face.
Bang!
The ground trembled from the blow, and loose stones cascaded down the slope.
Step, step…
The Shogun approached the fallen warrior, picked up his katana, and calmly plunged it into his abdomen—finishing the seppuku for him.
Splurt!
"There… you win… this round!" he gasped before fading away, leaving only silence.
Watching as the Thunder Sakura roots before her purified completely, she exhaled softly. Finally—it was done.
But before she could move on—
A warm, teasing breath brushed against her ear.
"Sho~gun~ sa~ma~."
"!"
The ticklish whisper made her neck twitch slightly in surprise. Regaining composure, she turned her head with mild annoyance toward the culprit.
"Hehe… that adorable reaction just now, Shogun-sama—I'll be remembering it~," Hanachirusato said with a musical giggle from behind her mask, her tone laced with playful mischief.
Seeing her look so pleased with herself, the Shogun didn't get angry. Instead, she subtly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, hiding the faint redness there.
"Ahem… you're getting quite familiar with me, aren't you? Growing more mischievous by the day," she said softly, covering her mouth with her hand to clear her throat, her tone half-reproachful, half-amused.
"…It's only because Shogun-sama is so irresistible. I can't help myself," Hanachirusato replied with a bright, teasing lilt. The girl had clearly relaxed around her, her tone lively and unrestrained.
"You… aren't you afraid I might get angry? Hmm~?"
The Shogun tilted her head slightly, a knowing smirk forming on her lips as she folded her arms and stepped forward—her exquisite legs carrying her closer, slow and deliberate. Within seconds, Hanachirusato found herself backed against the cold stone wall, no room to retreat. It was a subtle but effective bit of payback.
"Uu…"
Hanachirusato instinctively took a few steps back, pressing against the wall, her head tilting upward to meet those striking violet eyes now gazing down at her.
With their height difference—barely half a head—it was the perfect cinematic angle, like something out of a shōjo manga.
"Shogun… sa…ma, you…"
Before she could finish, the Shogun closed the distance, her presence filling the narrow space between them—not forceful, but smooth, natural. Hanachirusato froze, her back against the wall, heart fluttering as the Shogun leaned in just slightly, her calm gaze unwavering.
The beautiful woman before her now had her cornered against the wall. Those captivating eyes—like deep pools of violet light—drew Hanachirusato in, leaving her dazed. The tiny beauty mark at the corner of the Shogun's eye only made her more alluring, so much so that Hanachirusato's throat went dry. If she didn't restrain herself, she might just lean in and press a kiss to that very spot.
"…Are you truly not afraid of me, Miss Hanachirusato?" the Shogun asked softly, her voice carrying a tender warmth as she gazed at the masked face mere centimeters from her own. She could even catch the faint, sweet fragrance that clung to the other's form.
"I… am not afraid… of Shogun-sama," Hanachirusato replied, her voice trembling faintly—not from fear, but from shy nervousness.
"Oh~?" The Shogun's tone rose slightly in a teasing hum, inviting her to continue.
"Because… Shogun-sama is so gentle. How could Hanachirusato ever fear you?"
As she said this, Hanachirusato slowly raised both hands, placing them over the Shogun's crossed arms, and gently guided them down until they rested against her chest.
"What… is the meaning of this?" the Shogun asked quietly, letting out a soft sigh.
"Hehe… nothing much. I just wanted to etch this moment into my heart—to remember Shogun-sama while I still can. Because… I might not be able to for much longer."
No—because she would soon be unable to remember anything at all.
The Shogun didn't pull away. She simply let the girl hold her hand, watching her silently. She could feel the faint trembling in Hanachirusato's palm—it wasn't fear of her, but of something else entirely. Something deeper.
"How long can you stay this time?" the Shogun asked softly.
"Eh? This time should be a little longer… because I wanted to speak with you about what's in my heart," Hanachirusato answered gently, lifting her gaze.
"In that case… let's take a walk," the Shogun said, turning her head slightly toward the small path that led back toward Konda Village.
"...Alright," Hanachirusato replied obediently, nodding without complaint.
And so, the Shogun led the little shrine maiden down the path, their steps quiet beneath the dim light. Their hands remained intertwined—not for any grand reason, but simply because the Shogun felt… that right now, this girl needed that comfort.