"Wow…"
Kitsune Saiguu widened her eyes slightly as she watched the two of them kissing passionately, completely absorbed in each other. She swallowed unconsciously.
"Can it really make someone this intoxicated?"
Even she, who had never experienced love before, felt a strange and unfamiliar sensation stirring in her heart.
"Hm?"
Akira Shindo suddenly opened his eyes, looking at Yae Miko with a hint of surprise.
As expected of a fox spirit—she picked things up naturally without anyone teaching her.
After a long while, their lips finally parted.
"Was it sweet?"
Yae Miko's eyes were hazy with charm, her cheeks flushed crimson. Her gaze was so gentle it seemed as though spring water might spill from it at any moment.
"Very sweet. Very delicious," Akira Shindo said with a satisfied smile as he looked at the lovestruck Yae Miko.
Leaning down to her ear, he whispered softly,
"I can't even imagine how delicious you must be."
"Oh really?"
Yae Miko lightly brushed her cheek against his and replied in a sultry voice,
"You coward. I can imagine perfectly well just how delicious I am."
"So bold?" Akira Shindo chuckled. "Why don't you let me have a taste?"
"Hmph~ Then come and try," Yae Miko teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Alright, that's enough, you two!"
Kitsune Saiguu's annoyed voice rang out from the side.
"How long are you two going to keep being this clingy?"
"Oh my, A-Shindo is just too sweet," Yae Miko said with a playful smile as she turned toward her.
"I completely forgot there's a lonely old fox watching from the side."
"My apologies, Lady Saiguu. I didn't consider your feelings. Surely you wouldn't punish this poor little fox, would you?"
The sarcasm in her tone made Kitsune Saiguu grind her teeth.
That sly fox had truly mastered the art of teasing.
With a sudden pounce, she tackled Yae Miko.
"You brat! Since when did you become so shameless?!"
"Hey! Don't touch my hair ornaments!" Yae Miko cried out. "Didn't I learn it all from you, you old fox?!"
The two immediately began wrestling and bickering.
Their playful scuffle beneath the afternoon Sacred Sakura formed a breathtakingly beautiful scene—one that only Akira Shindo was fortunate enough to witness.
"Her consciousness is really too weak…"
Akira Shindo gazed toward the Sacred Sakura, sensing the extremely fragile remnant of Raiden Makoto's consciousness within it.
"Even though in the original course of events it could last until the Traveler defeats Ei… still…"
"Better be safe."
With a gentle flick of his finger, a strand of white light shot into the Sacred Sakura.
It seeped into Makoto's faint consciousness, nourishing it with gentle life energy.
Inside Tenshukaku.
Within the Plane of Euthymia, the will of the Raiden Shogun and the will of Raiden Ei stood in opposition.
"Inner self," the Raiden Shogun said coldly, "you are beginning to deviate from your Eternity."
When Ei controlled the body earlier, the Shogun had naturally sensed everything that happened outside.
"Offering yourself to an unknown god and even allowing that god to become a deity of Inazuma—this is an irreversible blow to Eternity."
"Akira Shindo is no longer an unknown god!" Ei replied stubbornly.
"And he has the power to revive Makoto!"
"If Makoto can truly return… I am willing to lose everything."
"Hmph…"
The Raiden Shogun lowered her gaze.
She had inherited Ei's memories, emotions, and abilities. Naturally, she understood how important Makoto was to Ei.
But although she was a puppet, she possessed her own consciousness and judgment.
Her purpose was to pursue true Eternity.
Anything that threatened Eternity was, by definition, wrong.
Unless Ei could defeat her through combat and prove that this change was not erosion, the Shogun would never accept it.
"Shogun… this chance is rare," Ei said softly.
"I truly… don't want to lose Makoto again."
"…."
The Raiden Shogun's expression remained cold.
"Only the law of Eternity remains unchanged."
"Inner self, do not stray from Eternity."
"Otherwise… this body shall become a demon of slaughter."
With that, her figure disappeared, leaving Ei alone within the Plane of Euthymia.
Back in Tenshukaku, the Raiden Shogun opened her eyes.
Her gaze was cold and emotionless.
Yet when she noticed the neatly folded robe Akira Shindo had placed aside earlier, her eyes flickered slightly.
Almost unconsciously, she picked it up and held it gently in her hand, feeling the faint trace of Akira Shindo's presence lingering on it.
"Why would this body…"
A hint of confusion—and even unease—passed through her eyes.
"No. Impossible."
"Resolve, courage, love, hatred… all of them will inevitably twist and decay in the river of time."
She shook her head, as if denying her own thoughts.
"I am the guardian of Eternity."
"That cannot happen."
"…Akira Shindo."
Time passed quickly, and before long, night had fallen.
"Alright, that's enough! Stop fooling around!"
Inside Yae Miko's room, Kitsune Saiguu sat sewing clothes while watching Akira Shindo and Yae Miko playfully wrestling on the bed.
Akira Shindo was happily hugging one of Yae Miko's fluffy tails and petting it.
"Honestly…" Kitsune Saiguu muttered.
"One is the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, the other is the Chief Divine Priest—and a god at that."
"And yet you two are acting like children."
Yae Miko had spent five hundred years suppressing countless emotions.
Now that Kitsune Saiguu had truly returned to life—and now that she herself had become Akira Shindo's woman—all those feelings finally poured out.
In front of Akira Shindo, she completely let down her guard and the dignified persona she usually maintained.
Knock knock.
"Lady Guuji, Lord Akira Shindo, the banquet is ready."
Kuki Yuki's voice sounded from outside the door.
"Alright, we know. We'll be there shortly," Yae Miko replied.
"A-Shindo, put this on," Kitsune Saiguu said, taking out a set of clothes.
While Akira Shindo and Miko had spent the entire afternoon playing around, she had hurriedly tailored a formal robe for the Chief Divine Priest.
Encouraged by Miko—and filled with gratitude after Akira Shindo revived her—Kitsune Saiguu had also begun calling him A-Shindo like Miko did.
"Alright." Akira Shindo nodded and changed into the outfit.
Kitsune Saiguu's craftsmanship was excellent.
The garment was exquisitely made—fine brocade embroidered with golden threads. The fitted black robe gave Akira Shindo a dignified and steady presence.
A golden cloud-patterned mantle draped over his shoulders, making him look exceptionally refined and handsome.
"Hmm… perfect," Kitsune Saiguu said, adjusting his collar and studying him with satisfaction.
"I have to say," Yae Miko added, "A-Shindo shouldn't buy clothes anymore. Lady Saiguu should just handle all his outfits."
"Sure," Kitsune Saiguu nodded.
Her skills were excellent, and she would happily make all kinds of beautiful clothes for Akira Shindo.
Now that she had nothing tying her down, finding something enjoyable to do sounded nice.
Earlier, Yae Miko had even complained that Kitsune Saiguu once tricked her into becoming the Guuji with a ridiculous excuse and demanded she take the position back.
But Kitsune Saiguu refused with perfect seriousness.
"Everyone already recognizes you as the Guuji. Replacing you suddenly wouldn't be good."
"And besides," she said with a smile, "I've been gone for five hundred years. I just woke up—why should I start working immediately?"
"This kind of hard labor is better left to Miko."
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