"General!"
"The Grand Shrine Priestess of Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko, has rebelled."
Kujou Sara walked slowly into Tenshukaku.
Her steps were steady, but her heart was anything but calm.
After Yae Miko issued the decree, she was the first to notice something unusual.
So many… so many beings sharing her bloodline were suddenly awakening.
In Inazuma, where you almost never saw youkai, now—aside from Narukami Island itself—across all other regions, countless presences were stirring.
Numerous, varied, and all heading toward the same place: Narukami Shrine.
Although Sara herself was of the tengu clan, she had not grown up among them.
Raised in the Kujou household, she had never even heard of the "Mandate of All Youkai."
So, naturally, what she saw looked like undeniable evidence of the Grand Priestess rebelling against the Shogun.
"Gen…eral?"
Seeing Tenshukaku empty, Sara froze.
She had planned to give a full report, but the Shogun was not here.
Just moments ago, she had clearly seen her return.
Yet now—
Sara rushed forward, etiquette forgotten, and pushed open the inner doors.
Still no Shogun.
Instead, on the floor was a deep pit, faint lightning still flickering along its edges.
Sensing the residual thunder, Sara was certain.
So… the Shogun was beneath Narukami Island?
Without hesitation, Sara leapt down.
Currently, one-third of Inazuma's forces were at the frontlines.
She held one-fifth to guard Narukami Island.
The rest were scattered across the archipelago.
With only such a small force in her hands, she could never stop the incoming youkai.
To summon more troops, she needed a direct decree from the Shogun.
But time was running out.
Wings spread, Sara dove swiftly.
It took her three whole minutes to reach the bottom.
What she saw there would stay with her forever.
Her always-noble, always-dignified, awe-inspiring Shogun…
was currently surrounded by piles of "junk."
Objects flying everywhere—picked up, tossed aside, stored away.
Her immaculate robes were smudged with dust.
Even her flawless face bore a blackened fingerprint.
Sara's worshipful image of perfection shattered in an instant.
"...Sara?"
Without turning, the Raiden Shogun (Ei) asked calmly, "What brings you here?"
"Ah? Oh—"
Sara quickly dropped to one knee, saluting.
"General, the Grand Priestess has gathered all the youkai of Inazuma. This is an act of rebellion. I beg you to issue orders so that I may muster troops to suppress it."
"Youkai?"
"I understand."
Ei paused briefly, then ordered softly:
"Spread my command. All three Commissions, all soldiers, all of Inazuma: cooperate fully with the youkai.
If anyone obstructs, causes disorder, or refuses—execute them!"
"You, Sara, as vice-commander, are to coordinate the youkai's actions."
"I… I obey!"
Sara froze.
Had she heard right?
The Shogun was ordering all of Inazuma to cooperate unconditionally with the youkai?
And anyone who disobeyed would be executed?
She almost couldn't believe it.
"Take this naginata," Ei continued, tossing her own weapon forward, "as proof of my order. Any who defy you—cut them down."
The weapon fell heavy in her hands.
But no matter what, the Shogun's order was absolute.
"I obey!"
With the sacred weapon in hand, Sara unfurled her wings and shot skyward.
The youkai were already converging on Narukami Shrine.
She had to spread the decree before anyone dared move against them.
Even if her heart protested—she would cut them down.
The Shogun's will was law.
But tomorrow… what would happen between the Shogun and that fox priestess?
She couldn't ask the General directly.
So, she would ask the fox herself.
For now, she had no choice but to carry out her orders.
Lightning flaring, Sara raised the naginata and broadcast the decree:
"By the will of Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho—hear her command!"
"All Inazuma—obey!"
…
She gave the crowd no chance to question, then soared straight toward Narukami Shrine.
At the same time—
Inside Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko had finished gathering her possessions and returned.
She waited quietly for the gathering of Inazuma's youkai.
The tengu arrived first—over a hundred.
Next, fifty or so white foxes of the Byakushin clan.
The oni were still on their way—strong in body, but slower.
Beyond that, baku, tanuki, and many others came rushing.
Narukami Shrine and even the whole mountain were soon overflowing.
So many strange and varied youkai, yet so few great ones remained.
Most of Inazuma's powerful youkai had perished five hundred years ago.
"Esteemed elders, it has been five centuries—how have you fared?"
Yae Miko greeted them with a smile.
"Still alive, still the same. We saw much on the way here."
"All right, save the chatter. Tell us why you used the Mandate of All Youkai. Is there a great calamity again?"
The noisy crowd fell silent.
"No," Yae Miko said, raising her hand.
"This time, it is good news. Otherwise, I'd never trouble you all."
She projected the vision she had seen from Ei.
The youkai studied it in silence.
When it faded, heavy breathing filled the shrine.
"Little fox, is this true?"
"Little fox, you're not playing tricks on us?"
"Never heard of such a thing, but…"
"Hehe~"
The Shifty Fox covered her mouth and chuckled.
"Even if you don't trust me, surely you trust Ei? She saw it herself."
"At first, even I didn't believe it. But now…"
The gathered youkai exchanged glowing looks.
"Say the word, little fox. Tell us what to do."
"We'll act at your command."
…
(End of Chapter)
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