"Miss Ryougi, how can you falsely accuse someone? I only learned about this game a few days ago!" Thoma's eyes widened, looking incredulous.
"Hmph, who knows? Maybe you're already preparing something strange and putting it in your Vision."
Shiki glanced at Thoma pointedly. You've already put the pot into your Vision, what else can't you fit in there?
"Uh, hahahaha…"
Thoma laughed distractedly. It was unbelievable. Are women's intuitions always that accurate? How did she know he put uncooked Berries in?
"In short, hotpot is fine, but the hotpot game, no!"
Shiki said, making an 'X' with her hands. She didn't want to experience that feeling of her stomach churning.
After dinner, Kazuha continued to inquire about Tsubame Gaeshi. As a swordsman, the sword in his hand was everything.
Although Musou no Hitotachi was the strongest in Inazuma, he had never seen it with his own eyes. In terms of subtlety, Kazuha believed the girl's Tsubame Gaeshi could rival it.
"Tsubame Gaeshi is a technique to cut down swallows. However, swallows can preemptively evade slashes by sensing air vibrations. You can never defeat an opponent who can foresee the future, unless that future is something he cannot change."
"One slash blocks the way in, one slash blocks the way out, and the final slash ends their life. This is an unavoidable sword technique. Even if you can foresee the incoming slashes, you can only die beneath the blade."
Kazuha's eyes gleamed throughout. He had created a sword technique called "Kazuha's One Slash" after his own name, but it was far inferior compared to the girl's.
And regarding his own one slash, he also had some new ideas in his mind, perhaps he could make his sword technique more perfect.
"I'm going out for a bit, I'll be back later."
After speaking, Kazuha vanished in a flash, leaving Thoma quite confused.
He practiced the spear, not the sword or blade, so he was only half-convinced by the miraculous sword techniques described by the girl.
A person only has two hands, how could they possibly unleash three slashes at the same time!
"By the way, where did young Kazuha go?"
"He was inspired and went to practice, what else could he be doing!" Shiki waved her hand, then also left Komore Teahouse.
As for Fujiwara? Of course, she was left here. Anyway, she would have to go to the Kamisato Clan with Kazuha later to handle matters regarding her position.
'But speaking of which, what exactly did I miss?'
After returning home, Shiki sat on the bed and pondered carefully. After she defeated Fujiwara, the subsequent events were full of incongruities.
For example, why did the Raiden Shogun just say a few words and leave? Was that one slash in her mind really just an illusion? And Fujiwara...
Wait!
What about Fujiwara's injuries? After being hit by Tsubame Gaeshi, she should have three sword wounds!
Thinking of this, Shiki took out the omamori Yae Miko had given her. Seeing that the three talismans inside were still lying there intact, Shiki finally realized.
All the incongruities lay with Fujiwara. She had a broken rib, internal bleeding, and three penetrating wounds, yet she hadn't used the talismans. How could she be perfectly fine?
But why did everyone think this was a matter of course? Why did everyone overlook the incongruity regarding Fujiwara's condition?
'Calm down, calm down.'
Shiki admitted she was a little panicked. Fujiwara was such a big person, yet everyone ignored her condition. What if it happened to herself? Would she be forgotten after a while?
As soon as she thought of an unknown existence possibly as powerful as a god, Shiki's heart couldn't help but pound faster.
People fear the unseen; what is truly terrifying is often not what is seen, but what is not seen.
Shiki was in a daze all day. Even when Ioroi, that simpleton, returned from hibernation, it only slightly improved her mood.
"Shiki, I feel like your complexion is very bad… Is something wrong?" Ioroi looked at the girl's dispirited expression, a little worried.
"No… nothing…" Shiki shook her head, a somewhat forced smile on her face.
Only she herself had discovered this point; who knew what bad consequences might arise if she spoke of it.
That night, Shiki tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. That unknown thing was like a Sword of Damocles hanging over her head, and no one knew when it would fall.
"Tap…"
The wooden clogs clacked crisply on the floor. Shiki abruptly sat up from the bed, only to see… another herself?
"Hello, Shiki. Speaking of which, this should be our first meeting, shouldn't it?" Shiki's gentle tone startled Shiki. What was with this déjà vu?
"You are…"
"Hmm, it's what you perceive, but with a slight difference." Shiki tilted her head and acted cute, but Shiki's heart was churning with immense waves.
Root Shiki, an existence that could reset the world with a flick of her hand, omniscient and omnipotent. She contained all the mysteries of the universe. All things were equal before her, for they were things that could be destroyed at will.
"I, originally, was unconscious, but because of your intrusion, I gained sentience. So, based on your description of me in your mind, I created myself."
"It's just that the description in your mind came from another universe, didn't it?"
"My initial form was somewhat like what is called quantum mechanics; it was impossible to observe, so there was no fixed, cognitive appearance."
"Simply put, whatever image each person has of me, that is what I am. It's just that you are the first and only person to see someone linked to me."
If an ordinary person saw her, her image would be that of an omnipotent god who creates worlds.
If it were Otto, she would be an endless giant tree, an Imaginary Tree connecting all worlds.
But the one who saw her was Shiki, so she became a chaotic vortex containing everything in the world, the Root of all mysteries.
This is the so-called "form follows the heart," because everyone's perception is different, the appearance presented in each person's mind is also different.
Just like the Honkai God, she can be nobody, but also everybody.
"Seeing you anxious all day, I decided it was better to tell you. I am another you, there's no need to be afraid."
Shiki gently opened her arms and embraced the girl. She originally had no consciousness of her own, only an unconscious program. It was the girl's existence that gave her the ability to think.
She was the foundation of all things operating, like computer components. How could hardware have its own consciousness?
Shiki felt the warm embrace, and her eyelids gradually grew heavy. She simply fell asleep in the other's arms.
"Honestly, why think so much?" Shiki tucked the girl in, left a piece of information in her mind, and then fell into slumber herself.
In her dream, Shiki deciphered the information Shiki had left in her mind. Simply put, as long as there was no life-threatening danger, she would remain in slumber, and she looked forward to the day the girl could truly reach that place.
She was a consciousness born from the ultimate realm. Being alone was always boring, and the only person who had the chance to reach the other shore was the girl who had established a link with her.
The girl who woke up from bed the next morning had never felt so relaxed, as if everything had returned to its original state, and her body seemed to contain endless vitality.
However, recalling what happened last night, Shiki felt her face flush. Sleeping in… her own arms was too embarrassing.
What kind of situation is this? Am I coaxing myself to sleep?
But since there was also a "Root Shiki" in her body, it meant that the Raiden Shogun really did slash at her yesterday. As for why she was fine, it must have been blocked by her.
Presumably, Fujiwara's injuries were also healed by her. With such an existence backing her, Shiki's confidence instantly soared.
However, thinking that the other party was still in slumber, she decided to continue acting according to her plan. After all, the other party was sleeping soundly, and constantly disturbing her was not a good behavior.
Anyway, if anyone were to wake Shiki up in the middle of the night, it would truly be "Your death line is shining" (joking).
Moreover, the Raiden Shogun from yesterday also just said a few words and left. In a sense, it meant she allowed herself to rectify Inazuma. As for whether Root Shiki told her about her plan or if it was because of Root Shiki's existence, that wasn't important.
'If that's the case, then can I just directly clean out the Kanjou Commission from top to bottom?'
Healing Inazuma was a skilled job. Starting with the Hiiragi Clan, who managed trade and finance, was a good choice, to first restore Inazuma's vitality economically.
However, the existence of the sakoku decree and the Vision Hunt Decree remained a problem. Although Root Shiki and the Raiden Shogun might have reached some unknown agreement, who knew if she would revoke these two decrees.
After some thought, Shiki felt that it was unlikely. Perhaps she just wanted to see how far she could go, and simply didn't want to revoke these two decrees!
'In any case, let's first expose Hiiragi Shinsuke's little tail. If you want no one to know, don't do it. I don't believe he left no flaws at all.'
Thinking of this, Shiki put on her clothes and went out. Speaking of which, tying this big bow was really difficult for her, but with practice, it became nothing.
Tejima didn't ask what the girl was going to do; he just quietly wrapped two Onigiri and handed them to the girl. Of course, he didn't forget Ioroi's portion.
Shiki would definitely take Ioroi with her to the Kanjou Commission. The Tanuki's magic could make her invisible to patrolling Foot Soldier, after all, no one would pay attention to a weed by the roadside.
The Tanuki's magic was that amazing, but unfortunately, she had no magic power and couldn't learn it.
Ritou was still a lifeless sight, but according to Shiki's observations, the merchants' expressions were much better than they were initially.
Presumably, Kurisu had also found other buyer channels through Ogura Mio, right? Goods only create value when they circulate, which is a good thing.
However, after inquiring around, the Kanjou Commission had still raised taxes, just not as outrageously as in the game.
'Is she testing me?'
Once, to ensure the merchants of Ritou got through that most difficult period, Shiki snuck into the Hiiragi Clan late at night and cut off a strand of Hiiragi Shinsuke's hair, hanging it on the main gate.
But capitalists, as long as there is three hundred percent profit, will risk being hanged to make money. Such guys should be hung from lampposts.
Given Hiiragi Shinsuke's greedy nature, he wouldn't let Mora just flow past his eyes. Raising taxes was both to satisfy his greed and to test her bottom line.
Shiki asked several merchants in a row, and the amounts were surprisingly consistent, already twice the normal stipulated tax.
"Let's go, Ioroi, we're going to the Hiiragi Clan."
"Right! Let's kill this hateful guy!"
Ioroi clapped his hands, buffing the girl and himself. The figures of one person and one demon vanished into thin air on the street, without attracting any attention.
However, when Shiki arrived at the Kanjou Commission's residence, she discovered a very bad situation.
'Why are there so many Fatui?'
With a single glance, Shiki saw three hooded Pyroslingers. There was also a Mirror Maiden in the corridor. Don't let their lack of eyes fool you; their perception was surprisingly strong.
'So that's it, it's to guard against me, but can you guard against me?'
Shiki placed a golden Thunder Sphere on the spot, then slowly walked towards the Mirror Maiden.
Although she had great confidence in Ioroi's magic, who knew if this thing would discover her. It was always better to be careful.
Leaving the Thunder Sphere was also for this reason. If she were discovered, she could instantly deal with the opponent and escape the battlefield.
Fortunately, Ioroi's support ability was still effective. The Mirror Maiden showed no sign of discovering her and continued to stroll leisurely.
Better safe than sorry. The Mirror Maiden was not a problem for her, but if she were to engage, it would mean the magic wasn't working, and all the Fatui would discover her.
Whoosh!
Shiki transformed into a tiny golden electric arc and disappeared, then returned to her original position.
"Shiki, how's the situation?" Ioroi asked in a low voice.
Don't worry, it used a silencing spell, so the sound won't carry.
"There are many Fatui. Forcing our way in would be very disadvantageous for us, but we can use this as evidence to pressure Hiiragi Shinsuke."
Shiki said, then left the residence with Ioroi. She currently had nothing to record with, so she had to buy a Camera first.
If she photographed the situation at the Kanjou Commission and printed it in the Inazuma Times, she wouldn't have to do anything, and the Kanjou Commission would be completely discredited in the eyes of the public.
Even Shiki had to inquire around Ritou to figure out the taxes, which shows how severe the blockade here was.
Influenced by her, Hiiragi Shinsuke's blockade of Ritou must be much more severe than in the game. It's estimated that even a Crab walking on the beach would have its entire ancestry questioned.
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