Festival Begins

A sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon, and the red sun rose above it. Gradually, warm sunlight streamed into the Kamisato Estate.

"Traveler, wake up. The festival is today." In Lin Yiyi's room, the young man had unusually slept well. Kamisato Ayaka had already changed into her outfit and stood at the entrance, calling softly to him.

Taking advantage of some free time two days earlier, Lin Yiyi had already talked everyone into properly enjoying the festival. Whenever Kamisato Ayaka attended one before, she would only arrive when it was nearly over, which had truly been a shame.

Inazuma's way of washing up differed from that of other regions, and even from reality. Only under Thoma's guidance did Lin Yiyi come to understand Inazuma's unique washing routine.

After eating the breakfast Lin Yiyi had bought in his original world, the group prepared to set off.

"You all take your time. I'll go on ahead." Then, before everyone's astonished eyes, Lin Yiyi vanished with a red sheet of thin cloth in hand.

Kamisato Ayato smiled helplessly. "As a Traveler, he can use teleport waypoints freely."

"What a pity. If we use them, we must pay the corresponding 'price.'"

"Whoa, this is put together pretty well, huh?" After teleporting to the waypoint before Tenshukaku, Lin Yiyi greeted Kujou Sara. Learning that she was the chief person in charge of security for this festival, he felt it was a bit of an overqualified assignment.

Lin Yiyi noticed a huge stage before Tenshukaku, much like the one Shikanoin Heizou had used last time to promote anti-fraud awareness.

"My lord, the Yashiro Commission erected it. From what they said, they will deliver ceremonial blessings later," Kujou Sara said respectfully as she stepped forward.

As the Shogun's friend, she did not dare show him any neglect.

Once he understood the situation, Lin Yiyi picked up the red sheet in his bare hands and headed into Inazuma City. The scene before him was brimming with festivity, no less lively than the atmosphere of Lunar New Year back in China.

It even surpassed it somewhat. In China, the flavor of the New Year had been growing fainter and fainter, making it inferior even to Liyue's Lantern Rite.

"Oh? Little one, have you come to join the festival today?" As Lin Yiyi walked along, he realized he had reached the entrance of Yae Publishing House, where the fox shrine maiden was greeting him.

"Ah, it's Yae Miko." Lin Yiyi strolled over unhurriedly and handed her some snacks.

Yae Miko chuckled. After accepting them, she said, "It's rare for a festival to be held within Inazuma City."

"I specifically came down from the Grand Narukami Shrine to take the chance to promote Yae Publishing House's light novels."

"Even if I fail to promote them, I can still stay here and watch people struggle with their troubles."

"Ah, not having to deal with shrine matters really is relaxing."

Lin Yiyi broke into a cold sweat. As expected of someone like Sparkle—she just loved seeking amusement.

After chatting with Yae Miko for a while, Lin Yiyi noticed citizens gradually making their way toward the upper part of Inazuma City.

Realizing that the Yashiro Commission's speech was about to begin, Lin Yiyi teleported over.

The moment he appeared, he gave the person standing beside the waypoint a huge fright. "Who goes there? How dare you ambush the great Arataki Itto?!"

Lin Yiyi had barely steadied himself when he saw a fist swinging toward him. Startled, he hurriedly dodged.

"Damn it, stop right there! You dare ambush the great Arataki Itto? Don't run!"

The man before him was powerfully built, with a pair of horns on his head and several abdominal muscles exposed. He looked exceptionally imposing.

Put bluntly, though, he was just a muscle-brained brute.

Lin Yiyi stepped aside, and Arataki Itto fell flat on his face.

"Damn it, if you've got the guts, stop dodging! Let's have a fair and square duel!" Arataki Itto shouted, drawing over another girl.

She wore a mask and had green hair. She wore a black cropped top and a short purple hooded jacket, exposing her midriff and perfectly displaying the young woman's figure.

After Kuki Shinobu helped Arataki Itto up, she apologized to Lin Yiyi. "I'm sorry, sir. If our boss struck first, the Arataki Gang can offer appropriate compensation."

She seemed to instinctively assume that Arataki Itto must have been the one to cause trouble first.

"Hey, Shinobu! He clearly ambushed me first! I'm the one who should be teaching him a lesson!"

Before Kuki Shinobu could change her attitude, Lin Yiyi asked, "Who ambushed you?"

"You! You suddenly appeared in front of me just now. If that wasn't an ambush, what was?"

"Don't tell me you can use teleport waypoints too?"

Lin Yiyi gave a derisive snort. "You actually got that right."

Just then, Kujou Sara arrived with several people to quell the disturbance. Before the stunned eyes of everyone present, Lin Yiyi vanished, then reappeared beside the waypoint.

"?????" Arataki Itto's already limited brain was now full of question marks.

"I truly did not expect that you could use teleport waypoints, my lord." Even Kujou Sara, normally so composed, was extremely shocked.

"To use teleport waypoints, one must not be recorded by Irminsul."

"If they are Vision holders, they must pay a certain price."

"Think carefully. What kind of people can freely use waypoints without being recorded by Irminsul or paying any so-called price? That's what I am."

Lin Yiyi spoke calmly, his expression utterly indifferent.

Kuki Shinobu and Kujou Sara quickly figured out Lin Yiyi's identity, and both their eyes revealed their shock.

Only Arataki Itto remained completely in the dark. "Who the heck are you?"

"Me? A visitor from another world."

"Brother Yiyi, does your world have oni like me too?"

"Brother Yiyi, why did you decide to join Inazuma's festival?"

"Brother Yiyi, what's that red thing you've got?"

"Brother Yiyi, Brother Yiyi..."

"? Where did he go?"

Lin Yiyi truly could not endure Arataki Itto's barrage of questions, so he simply teleported back to the entrance of Tenshukaku—the Signora weekly boss arena. By coincidence, the Shogunate soldiers on duty that day had seen Lin Yiyi before, so they did not question him further.

To prevent Arataki Itto from clinging to him again if he teleported back, Lin Yiyi had no choice but to walk outside Tenshukaku. There, he spotted several figures standing behind the stage.

They were members of the Yashiro Commission. Kamisato Ayaka was already preparing to step forward and give her speech.

"Ayaka, wait." Lin Yiyi suddenly called out to her, then gestured for her to bring him onstage as well.

"People of Narukami Island, the Yashiro Commission is honored to participate in this festival alongside all of you."

"Unlike previous years, this festival is being held within Inazuma City."

"We hope everyone will enjoy experiencing a different side of Inazuma City."

"This festival will also feature new activities and events."

"Therefore, I hereby announce..." Kamisato Ayaka saw Lin Yiyi unfold the red sheet and hang it behind the stage. Several large characters were clearly written upon it:

"Warmly celebrating the successful opening ceremony of the Inazuma City Festival"

Kamisato Ayaka smiled. "This festival has officially begun. Please enjoy yourselves to the fullest!"

As Kamisato Ayaka's calm voice faded, string after string of fireworks shot straight into the sky.

"Hey, hey, hey! Those are my fireworks! Ahahaha! Dad, look! The fireworks I made are flying!"

Within the crowd, the fiery red-haired girl danced excitedly, tugging at her father as she spoke with delight.

Naganohara Ryuunosuke was completely dumbfounded. "What? There's fertilizer at home too..."