LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 26: chapter 26
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Chapter 26: Heartbroken Kamisato Ayato, Panic Heart
Inazuma hadn't even recovered from its original predicament, and now it was falling into an even deeper abyss.
No matter how much Kamisato Ayaka admired the Raiden Shogun, she was left speechless by her series of actions.
"But Ayaka, why did you come back?" Kamisato Ayato asked.
It was normal for humans to fail to understand the thoughts of gods. After all, humans lived barely a hundred years, while gods were immortal. But why had Ayaka returned like this? Wasn't she serving the Shogun?
"It was Lord Su Ran who asked me to come back to see my family. I must return to serve him in a day," Ayaka replied.
Even though she had left Tenshukaku, Kamisato Ayaka still respectfully referred to Su Ran as "Lord." Not only was she impressed by his bold, unrestrained ideas, but she also admired his ability to recreate the Raiden Shogun. Yet, her admiring tone left Kamisato Ayato feeling deeply unsettled.
This man, Su Ran, was a Fatui Harbinger! He had openly admitted to colluding with the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission. He had influenced the Shogun to implement the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree. How could Ayaka speak of him with such admiration? It seemed so incongruous.
"Sister... did Su Ran truly praise your appearance?" Ayato asked, trying to mask his frustration.
He was dissatisfied with Su Ran, but considering the man's god-like power, he dared not voice it openly. What truly concerned him, though, was what Su Ran had said to Yae Miko. Did he really admire Ayaka's appearance? Did he have feelings for her?
"This..." Ayaka hesitated, covering her lower face with her fan to hide her expression.
"Lord Su Ran did praise me," she confessed.
Something in Kamisato Ayato broke. He knew exactly what his sister was thinking.
"But he's a god," Ayaka added softly. Whether or not Su Ran truly felt that way didn't matter to her. To Ayaka, it was a blessing to be noticed by a god, a being so unattainable. If such an entity stood before her, within reach, why would any ordinary person want to let go of that chance?
"And no, I didn't fall in love with him at first sight," she added, lowering her head.
It sounded like a denial, but her flustered expression betrayed her true feelings. The admiration she felt was hard to hide, and it left Kamisato Ayato even more distressed.
He hadn't noticed before, but it seemed his sister was being swept away by someone else. This hurt him more than anything. His beloved sister, who had grown up with him, had been gone for just a few days, and now she had given her heart to someone else—someone from outside their world.
Even if that person had the power of a god, how could Ayaka have fallen for him so quickly? There hadn't been love at first sight, so did she fall for him over these few days? Ayato's heart ached at the thought.
For a moment, he considered the idea of taking the Kamisato family and fleeing overseas. Though the Kamisato clan wasn't as prosperous as it once was, they still had resources. Even in Liyue, they could live comfortably. They would escape Inazuma's current turmoil, and more importantly, they could protect Ayaka.
They could stay out of the Shogun's eternal dream altogether.
The more Ayato thought about it, the more appealing the idea became. With the thunderstorms surrounding Inazuma now gone, wasn't this the perfect time to leave?
While Ayaka might still be focused on finding a way to stop the Raiden Shogun's and Su Ran's plans, Ayato had already made up his mind. They hadn't been able to stop the Vision Hunt Decree or the Sakoku Decree before. What chance did they have now, with the Raiden Shogun likely on the path to realizing her eternal dream?
If they ran now, they still had time. If they waited, it would be too late.
Though brother and sister had different thoughts, they both knew one thing for certain: if they didn't act soon, it would be too late. The dream created by the gods wasn't something ordinary people could wake from at will.
---
Meanwhile, in the Sangonomiya Shrine on Watatsumi Island, Kokomi sat with a troubled expression, holding a letter in her hands. The more she read, the more anxious she became. The more she read, the more absurd it seemed.
The thunderstorm that had besieged Inazuma had vanished, catching everyone off guard. Rumors swirled that the Raiden Shogun had been defeated, and the Shogunate army had fallen into chaos. At first, Kokomi had suspected a trap and decided to wait for more information. But now it seemed like it was all true.
The Shogunate army had regained its morale, and Watatsumi Island's chances of success were quickly slipping away. And now, the Raiden Shogun was planning something even more outlandish than the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees.
Kokomi wanted to collapse at her desk, overwhelmed by the situation. A single misjudgment had led to this disastrous outcome. Who could have predicted that such a catastrophic end awaited?
"General Raiden... she's gone too far!" Kokomi muttered in disbelief.
Dragging all of Inazuma into an eternal dream? A dream from which no one could ever awaken? Was this what Narukami's eternity was supposed to be?
Her hands trembled as she gripped the letter. There was no doubting its authenticity—it had come from Kamisato Ayaka. No one would question the word of the Shirasagi Himegimi.
Ever since the war had begun, Kamisato Ayaka had been in contact with Kokomi, providing crucial support to prevent Watatsumi Island from falling to the Shogunate. Kokomi trusted the news Ayaka had sent.
But what could they do with this information? The rebel army couldn't even reach Inazuma City, let alone confront the Raiden Shogun. How could they persuade a god to abandon her plans? Watatsumi Island was vast, but it wasn't immune to the Shogun's ambitions.
Unlike the Kamisato family, who could potentially flee Inazuma, Kokomi had no way out.
"No... Watatsumi Island must negotiate with the Shogunate," Kokomi resolved. Watatsumi wasn't under the direct control of the Shogunate. Even if General Raiden sought eternal rule, Watatsumi, with its allegiance to the serpent god Orobashi, should be exempt. This was the promise Inazuma had once made to the island.