Chapter 380
"Bang!!!"
The Raiden Ei transformed into a fierce, dragon-like bolt of lightning, instantly arriving at Watatsumi Island and shattering the magnificent Sangonomiya.
"Come with me, or find a Living God Shrine Maiden?"
"Greetings, Her Excellency, the Almighty Shogun, I am willing to serve you!"
Then, Raiden Ei, holding a terrified five-star ornamental fish, transformed once again into a terrifying thunder dragon with bared fangs and claws, and in an instant crossed the sea, returning to Inazuma City.
Kaguya, Kamisato Ayato, the Three Commissions, and other temporary high-ranking officials have all arrived.
Raiden Ei tossed the ornamental fish onto the seat.
"The Yae Miko hasn't arrived?"
"The chief priest said she doesn't have..."
"I'll go there."
"Respectfully seeing off the General!"
Raiden Ei came and went in a hurry, and all that was left for everyone to do was to see him off and wait.
However, afterwards, only Kaguya, the sage who changed Inazuma's situation and the current high-ranking officials of the Three Commissions, were present. The only Watatsumi Island was met with a series of meaningful gazes.
QAQ!
Sangonomiya Kokomi cried three times, and she really cried.
She heard on Watatsumi Island that the shogun had left the Tenshukaku, and she also witnessed the removal of the Heavenly Thunder Curtain and the departure of the Inazuma official fleet. Therefore, she is already making every effort to withdraw her troops and suppress the voices of "gyokusai" and "fight to the death" within Watatsumi Island. She will organize a surrender and homage procession in the next day or two to solemnly bow down to the Raiden Shogun.
But it was too late.
Didn't they say the general is working hard to treat refugees and deal with internal problems in Inazuma, so we still have some time? Since we have time, of course we should clean up Watatsumi Island as thoroughly as possible, so that we will have less guilt after surrendering, which is better for the people of Umijima!
If I had known the general was in such a hurry, I would have come over and knelt down to lick his shoes long ago!
A moment too late, and the nature of the problem would be entirely different. Sangonomiya Kokomi trembled, then realized that only the legendary Kaguya was present, looking at her with relatively calm and gentle eyes.
So she gave Kaguya a stiff, trembling, and ingratiating smile.
Raiden Ei rushed to a place where a filthy seal was suppressed by the branches of Great Sakura Tree.
Amidst the thick, foul aura, Yae Miko, disregarding the danger to herself, was anxiously and persistently doing something. Even her usually well-maintained hair and tail appeared slightly frizzy and disheveled.
"Yae Miko?"
"Get out of the way, I'm busy right now!"
"Yae Miko, listen to me, I..."
"I told you I'm busy!"
Yae Miko turned around, and Raiden Ei was startled.
Because she saw bright red tear stains in the eyes of her usually cynical friend.
"Yae Miko..."
Raiden Ei was at a loss for what to do, then instinctively walked over and gently hugged his little fox.
After an unknown period of time, Yae Miko seemed to lose all her strength and collapsed limply onto Raiden Ei.
Raiden Ei quickly teleported her to the outside world, into the fresh, clean air.
"Yae Miko, what exactly are you doing? These past few days, whenever we try to contact you, it's just a short 'busy' message. What's wrong?"
"I... discovered Lord Hozoumi."
"What!?"
Raiden Ei was immediately thrown into chaos.
Yae Miko nestled in Raiden Ei's arms, her face showing signs of exhaustion, and slowly said:
"Although I was investigating with the expectation of disappointment, I did see her. Although it was only once, and although she has been avoiding me ever since, no matter how hard I try, I absolutely, positively cannot mistake her for someone else!"
Yae Miko and Hakushin Clan are both from Hozoumi Inazuma Shiratatsu clan.
To Yae Miko, Hozoumi was a teacher, a friend, an elder, and even a half-mother. When she was young, she loved to climb all over Hozoumi, Shin, and Kage, or perch on their shoulders, wrap her fox tail around their necks to keep them warm, and make them all laugh.
That was an incredibly relaxed and happy time.
And the love of small animals is often the purest and most unwavering.
Yae Miko said it was Hozoumi, Raiden Ei believed it one thousand percent.
"First it was my elder sister, then it was Hozoumi, does that mean..."
"Hmm. Other old friends may also have remnants in the Ley Line. My previous speculation has been strongly confirmed. Perhaps it is the favor of the heavens to Inazuma, or perhaps the Inazuma Ley Line and the calamity of that year are indeed special. It may also be related to the Great Sakura Tree. In any case, it will probably take a long time to fully understand it."
"Why is Kehu Hozoumi avoiding you?"
"There are only two possibilities. Either she's been circulating in the Ley Line for five hundred years, just like Zhen now, and has had too many memories erased, so she doesn't recognize me now. Or... this heartless guy thinks he can't be saved, so he's simply avoiding me, not wanting to disappoint me again! Bastards, they're all bastards!"
Yae Miko punched Raiden Ei in the chest in grief and anger.
Then it bounced back softly.
However, no one was paying attention to this beautiful scene at the moment; Raiden Ei just looked at Yae Miko in his arms with heartache.
Yae Miko is a little out of control.
"Whether it's Hozoumi, Zhen, or you, you all just leave whenever you want, and you never come back! You're all so noble, so great, but what about me? Why should I be all alone, guarding the Great Sakura Tree? Have you ever thought about my feelings? Don't I deserve anything? Must I lose everything? Am I destined to be alone forever?!"
Yae Miko's delicate body trembled as she desperately sought a glimmer of hope from years ago, only to find it still eluding her. Finally, her emotions collapsed.