Kujou Sara Is Troubled

But... Kujou Sara gently pursed her lips.

My first reaction... seemed to be joy and excitement?

No... This is the body that serves Narukami, how can we cheer and rejoice just because we have changed sides?

(The eternal way is vast, the resounding spirit is eternal... The eternal way is vast, the resounding spirit is eternal...)

The eternity here is merely a wish from believers.

Kujou Sara kept repeating this phrase, reaffirming her resolve.

"...?"

Raiden Makoto looked at Kujou Sara with a somewhat puzzled expression.

Why did this child suddenly start praying?

Chapter 196 Kujou Sara's Heart is in Turmoil

Kujou Sara didn't actually have to get hung up on the "Shogun" and "Narukami" names.

However... this change was just too big for her.

You could say that when Kujou Sara put on this golden headband... cough!

It's like they've mixed up the shows.

It should be said that ever since Kujou Sara took office as the magistrate of the Tenryou Commission, she felt that matters of love and romance had nothing to do with her anymore.

In fact, Kujou Sara had indeed been loyal to his duties before this, even if Kujou Sara was only considered blindly loyal, rather than incompetent or self-serving.

Then, well, because of the matter of Raiden Makoto, he encountered Liu Bai, an outsider.

Living under the same roof, I also needed help from others. We cooperated several times, and Liu Bai's conditions were indeed undeniable: he had the ability, the reputation, and the ambition...

In this situation, Kujou Sara could only remind herself that she was Inazuma's general, and loyalty had to be her top priority; she and Liu Bai would have to separate sooner or later.

Deceiving yourself like this is actually quite effective.

And now it seems Liu Bai is about to become a general...

Although I know that the current hand-holding posture might be Liu Bai taking care of his general, I can't explain it by Musou Isshin!

This is not something that can be easily dismissed by simply asking Liu Bai to carry it for him.

Doesn't she know that her general doesn't usually carry a sword?

It's better to carry a shadow than a knife...

The only possible reason why Liu Bai carries a sword at his waist is that his own general gave the sword to Ying.

But... The Shogun doesn't like carrying a sword doesn't mean this sword isn't Inazuma's most prized possession!

Besides killing, a knife is also a symbol of status...

Liu Bai becoming a general... Well, Kujou Sara thought about it carefully and felt that this was actually completely acceptable.

But is this... a good thing?

No, of course I'm not questioning Liu Bai's abilities, but rather questioning the others.

For example, Kitsune Saiguu and Miyuki Chiyo.

If what Kitsune Saiguu said before was just another story about her visiting the red-light district, then now... we can believe it all!

Given that Liu Bai is a general, such explicit scenes as nude dances and beautiful sumo wrestling can be made to work.

The difference between "allies" and "family" is quite obvious.

A shrine Guuji who is equivalent to Prime Minister Inazuma, and a legendary general who has retired to the second line—if these two were to do those things with outsiders, even if the general didn't care, it would still be taboo and despicable. Therefore, Kujou Sara always thought that the two of them were just making lewd jokes to each other.

But if Liu Bai becomes a general, these two doing this... while it can't be called normal, it's not really a matter of principle. At most, it's just workplace incest.

Well, even if she were a high-ranking general in Tenryou Commission, if she encountered something like this, as long as it didn't involve complicated relationships like minotaurs, she could only offer moral condemnation. Her own subordinates would just give her a few words of reprimand. It was consensual, and no one was hurt. The potential impact on the future is just that—the future. It's impossible to prejudge someone's future sins.

Moreover, Kujou Sara thought of the most important part.

That is... Inazuma didn't originally limit themselves to monogamy!

Although civilized society is supposed to be monogamous in principle, there are no such mandatory legal provisions in Inazuma —and even if there were, could they restrain people of their level, or the shogun who ruled Inazuma?

Not to mention that there are countless ways to circumvent this.

Kujou Sara, who felt she had figured out what Kitsune Saiguu and Miyuki Chiyo were thinking, began to waver. If her family really started having messy relationships, should she... get involved too?

Well, although she despises this kind of thing, if someone takes the lead in doing it... it might be a bit shameful for one person to do it alone, but if they do it together, then Liu Bai is too alluring. If she doesn't follow the crowd, it's because she is noble and independent; if she does follow the crowd, no one can find fault with her.

No, no! Kujou Sara, how could you think of such a thing!

Kujou Sara keenly realized that her thoughts were slipping and immediately stopped herself, constantly chanting Narukami's name.

"... Sara?"

"Your subordinate is here! General, what are your orders?"

The real voice brought Kujou Sara back to her senses, and she revealed a solemn expression, not at all like someone who had just gone through a complex internal struggle.

"Um... could you please stop nagging me?"

It's true that you can receive prayers; although you can't read minds, Kujou Sara's incessant chanting is really...

It's clear the child is shocked.

"Ugh—!?"

Upon understanding the true meaning Kujou Sara's face immediately turned red.

"Yes, yes, I obey..."

Kujou Sara was somewhat embarrassed, but also secretly relieved.

Fortunately, she didn't let her mind slip into praying for a marriage.

Furthermore, Kujou Sara didn't know whether to feel disappointed or relieved, but Raiden Makoto responded very naturally when she addressed him as "General".

In other words... Liu Bai is not yet?

"Oh, Sara, call the others over too."

"... Yes, sir!"

... Is it going to be announced now?

Despite her mixed feelings, Kujou Sara meticulously carried out Shin's orders.

Before long, everyone from Inazuma gathered on the first floor.

[Raiden Ei Favorability Rating: 4979]

[Kitsune Saiguu's Favorability: 6276]

[Miyuki Chiyo's Affection Level: 5969]

[Favorability of Yae Miko: 5565]

[Kamisato Ayaka's Affection Level: 4454]

Sakura's Affection Level: 2843

[Kirara feeling: 4757]

[Kujou Sara favorability: 6780]

The fact that the spirit could "stand and walk on land" really boosted everyone's (Inaji's wife) liking for it, with the lowest being 10 and the highest being 30.

Of course, part of it was the surprise of actually being able to get out of bed and move around, and part of it was... the surprise brought by Musou Isshin.

Well, as for Ying... there's also the complicated but still somewhat happy feeling of "my sister has won over my brother-in-law".

"Has Miss Zhen fully recovered?"

Guinaifen, who was observing from the sidelines, asked the question that everyone wanted to ask the most.

Although she felt betrayed again, she still took some of what Kujou Sara had said to heart, and since she and Makoto actually had a good relationship, Guinaifen was quite happy for Makoto.

"It's still a little short, but for Zhen now, it's probably already within the range of self-healing. Just continue eating normally."

Liu Bai began to explain.

"You can start rehabilitation now, and you are expected to be fully recovered in a little over a week."

"As expected of my brother-in-law!"

Raiden Makoto: "?"

Liu Bai: "?"

Liu Bai and Raiden Makoto looked at Ying with puzzled expressions.

Apart from Kitsune Saiguu and Miyuki Chiyo, Guinaifen, Kujou Sara, and the others looked at Liu Bai and Raiden Makoto with puzzled expressions.

He had an expression that said, "Did we miss something important in the plot?"

"Shadow~"

"...elder sister?"

As sisters, like twin flowers blooming side by side, Ying suddenly sensed something ominous.

—Of course this is bad!

Although I really did put in a lot of effort for Liu Bai, why did you have to be so blunt?

Saying this now would be tantamount to offending everyone except Inazuma, wouldn't it?

"Shadow, don't talk nonsense."

He admonished her in a tone that was both gentle and stern.

Kitsune Saiguu and Miyuki Chiyo were secretly amused by each other nearby.

Why did she call her brother-in-law so quickly? It seems like the sister-in-law can't wait to cheat on him.

In fact, they all knew that Ying loved to worry about the future the most—but most of the time it was just pointless worry, unfounded anxiety and obsession.

"Kitsune Saiguu, Chiyo— "

Zhen turned to look at her two closest friends.

Hehe, if Ying could figure this out herself, she wouldn't have to worry about Ying at all.

Someone must have taught them.

Among those present, Ayaka, Sara, Sakura, and Kirara were all good children. Although Yae Miko was occasionally mischievous, she wouldn't go so far as to instigate something like Kage.

Only two people Kitsune Saiguu and Miyuki Chiyo, are capable of doing this.

However... although I did name these two people, there's really not much to say.

We've been friends for hundreds of years; what needed to be said has already been said.

"Alas... Lord Liu Bai, Little Gui, please don't take it to heart. It was my fault for not managing my subordinates properly."

On another note, there's really no need to explain this, so the only option is to offer an ambiguous apology to Liu Bai and Guinaifen.

"N-nothing!" Bai was alright, but Guinaifen was still a little flustered that she had been seen through.

Meanwhile, those who were still a bit confused began to gradually come to their senses—of course, Kirara was not among them.

—The kitten just doesn't want to use its brain.

Although Raiden Makoto's words were short, they contained a great deal of information.

The most important thing, without a doubt, was an ambiguous apology, which only said that he had not managed his subordinates well, rather than a more direct rebuttal.

Secondly, Raiden Makoto addresses Liu Bai as "Lord Liu Bai".

The general is supreme, now he calls another "sir," and then there's Liu Bai's Musou Isshin his waist...

You know what, aside from being a bit premature, there's really nothing wrong with Ying calling him "brother-in-law".

The Yae Miko's eyelids twitched twice.

Should she say, "As expected of Lord Kitsune Saiguu," the setup was incredibly fast.

Did the teacher call him "brother-in-law" because he knew the Shogun had already made up his mind?