The shrine maidens nearby were somewhat flustered when they saw their Guuji vanish, but the next moment... when Lady Guuji's voice rang out nearby again, they relaxed!
"Looks like you saw those light novels! So? Aren't they interesting?"
Yae Miko appeared in another direction, utterly unconcerned by Ei's slash, because she had long understood her temperament.
Besides, Miko had spotted the light novel Ei was carrying.
"..."
Raiden Ei did not answer her, merely walking toward the Sacred Sakura.
Yae Miko did not mind. After telling the shrine maidens to return to their duties, she went to Ei's side. She gave Raiden Mei a thoughtful glance.
"It's been a long time, Shogun... no, Ei."
Whether the person before her was the Raiden Shogun or Ei, Yae Miko had immediately guessed from those actions just now! After all, no one knew Ei better than she did.
Though she found it utterly unbelievable...
Before Raiden Ei had chosen to remain in the Plane of Euthymia, she had simply tossed the Gnosis to Miko for safekeeping. Then, for the past several hundred years, she had never emerged again, leaving Yae Miko dumbfounded!
Miko had initially thought it would only be temporary. She had never expected Ei to be so ruthless toward herself. She lodged her consciousness within a blade, transformed her body into an autonomous puppet, then hid her consciousness away in her inner world and fled reality for centuries...
Yae Miko had been considering what she could do to drag that shut-in girl out, yet before she could even finish a proper plan, Ei had come out on her own.
It was all because of this Raiden Mei at Ei's side!
Both Mei and Sakura were variables, but for now, this variable seemed to be developing in a good direction.
"It has