"This place is really complicated."
As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, Paimon couldn't help but comment.
"I never expected that even though there aren't many prisoners here, there are traps everywhere."
"This is normal. Generally, a clan's private dungeon is only used to hold a few specific types of prisoners."
"Since there aren't many of these prisoners, they place more emphasis on preventing them from escaping."
Kamisato Ayaka explained.
"Also, dungeons usually have two or more exits. Later, we can have Kujou Sara lead us to another one, so we don't run into enemies when retracing our path."
"Although we aren't worried about a fight given the Traveler's strength, we should still try to avoid conflict since we are very limited in our actions."
After hearing Kamisato Ayaka's words, the others nodded one after another.
"Speaking of which, why haven't we found Kujou Sara yet? I feel like we've been going in circles here for a long time."
Paimon said with some confusion. And right at that moment, Aoba stopped in his tracks.
"Paimon's feeling is correct. We've been here before. The mark on the right wall is one I left earlier."
Everyone looked in the direction Aoba was pointing and indeed saw a shallow mark on the wall, their expressions turning slightly more serious.
"Aoba, are we lost?"
Kamisato Ayaka asked, looking at Aoba.
"There should be a hidden passage we haven't found."
"It's fine. Normally, we would have to risk triggering traps by groping around, which is both dangerous and a waste of time."
"But with the Traveler here, it's simple."
"Traveler, please carve out a new passage downward from where we're standing."
After hearing Aoba's words, Lumine's mind exploded with a "boom."
Right, why hadn't she thought of such a simple method?!
To hell with puzzles!
From today on, she would become a brute who doesn't solve puzzles!
Lumine looked at Aoba with gratitude. His words had been like a sudden enlightenment, as if he had given her a new lease on life!
Immediately after, Lumine withdrew her gaze, and a large amount of Geo Elemental Power condensed on her right leg.
"Tremble!"
Once her power had built up to its limit, Lumine stomped her foot hard on the ground. Instantly, the entire dungeon began to shake, and the area where she stood started to collapse downward in large chunks.
The reason for this was that the dungeon had not been built on a slant, but rather in multiple levels directly below each other, with hollow spaces in between. Under the impact of Lumine's immense power, the rock layer between two levels could be directly broken through.
Without hesitation, Lumine jumped down into the pit, and Enjou quickly followed.
"Traveler, wait for me!"
Paimon hesitated for a moment, but finally flew down after them, leaving only Kamisato Ayaka and Aoba behind.
Aoba was just an ordinary person, and it was obvious that he would need a little help to get to the next level, but the other three had forgotten this.
"Aoba, excuse me."
Kamisato Ayaka's face flushed slightly as she closed her folding fan. Under Aoba's bewildered gaze, she picked him up in a bridal carry and jumped down after them.
Soon, the group arrived at the second underground level. It was a large open area, completely different from the cells they had all imagined, but here they saw Kujou Sara's figure.
"Kujou Sara!"
Paimon shouted in surprise and delight.
"So you're here! We've finally found you!"
"Oh, it's you."
Kujou Sara lowered her guard, her expression remaining somewhat flat. Only when her gaze swept over Lumine did a hint of surprise flicker in her eyes.
Meanwhile, Kamisato Ayaka took advantage of no one paying attention to quickly set Aoba back down on the ground.
"Milady, we could have just told Brother Enjou in advance and asked him to catch me below."
"That would be a bit against the rules. If My Lord found out, he would definitely be angry."
"Then we just won't let Elder Brother know."
Kamisato Ayaka flashed a bright smile, leaving Aoba momentarily dazed.
On the other side, Paimon flew directly to Kujou Sara, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, and spoke.
"Kujou Sara, hurry and leave this place with us! We've come specifically to rescue you."
After hearing Paimon's words, Kujou Sara fell silent for a long time, then slowly shook her head.
"I will not leave this place. You should go back."
Hearing Kujou Sara's words, everyone was inwardly shocked.
"Why?!"
"Kujou Sara, weren't you forcibly stripped of your duties by that Kujou Ittou and imprisoned here?"
Paimon spoke in utter confusion.
"I am guilty. I should accept my punishment."
Kujou Sara's gaze was somewhat desolate. Even now, she still could not forget the words spoken by the people of Inazuma on the street back then, and her heart still ached deeply.
"This is all my fault!"
Yes, it was all her fault. If she could have been more cautious, Inazuma City would not have been breached, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of innocent people.
If her command had been more brilliant, her soldiers would not have suffered such heavy casualties.
From the moment she stepped onto Yashiori Island, she had been completely led by the nose by the enemy. How could someone as incompetent as her be qualified to leave her cell and command the Shogunate Army again?
Even now, there had been no message from the Almighty Shogun. Perhaps she had completely disappointed the Almighty Shogun...
Kujou Sara even began to question the very meaning of her existence. If she weren't waiting for the Raiden Shogun's final judgment, she might have already considered ending her own life.
"Kujou Sara, none of what happened before was your fault. You made the right choices."
Seeing the expression on Kujou Sara's face, everyone's hearts sank.
No one in Inazuma City could have ever imagined that something could go wrong even with the Raiden Shogun guarding it.
As for the heavy casualties at the front lines, that was purely because the enemy was too powerful. For the soldiers' morale not to collapse directly while fighting so fiercely was already a testament to Kujou Sara's strict military discipline.
Kujou Sara shook her head.
"You don't need to persuade me anymore. I will not leave."
Seeing Kujou Sara's resolute expression, everyone exchanged glances, and for a moment, they had no good solution.
After a moment, Aoba stepped forward, bowed to Kujou Sara, and then spoke.
"Lord Kujou Sara, if you feel that everything is your fault, then you should leave with us all the more."
"Kujou Ittou of the Kujou Clan conspired with Kamisato Ichiman of the Kamisato Clan and Hiiragi Kōchū of the Hiiragi Clan to collude with the Fatui and bring harm to the people of Inazuma. Now, Inazuma has reached a critical moment of life and death."
"In such a situation, do you still want to escape?"
"You must know that if these few unknown figures were to lead troops into battle, the post-war casualties would be a horrifying number."
"Even after knowing this, will you still remain indifferent?"
Hearing Aoba's words, Kujou Sara was slightly startled.
"The Kamisato Clan and the Hiiragi Clan... have they also run into trouble?"
At this point, Kujou Sara finally sensed something was amiss.
She had originally thought that only the Kujou Clan had suffered a coup, but now it seemed that all of this had been planned long ago.
No wonder she found it strange that the person who made the move was Kujou Ittou, an unremarkable figure within the Kujou Clan. Where did he obtain such powerful support? As it turns out, the Fatui were pulling the strings in secret.
At this thought, Kujou Sara's eyes turned cold, and she was about to stand up again.
Seeing this, everyone's hearts rejoiced, and they cast admiring glances at Aoba.
However, she suddenly realized that the Raiden Shogun had not paid any attention to her until now, perhaps because this was exactly what she wanted to see.
So, Kujou Sara sat down once more and sighed.
"You should still leave. The Almighty Shogun's attitude has already made everything clear."
Seeing Kujou Sara give up on the thought of leaving again, Aoba spoke with a hint of urgency.
"Lady Kujou Sara, the Almighty Shogun is no longer in Inazuma City. She has already launched a counterattack against the enemy."
"At a time like this, you should lead the soldiers and follow the Almighty Shogun into battle!"
A conflicted expression once again crossed Kujou Sara's face, but it soon faded, replaced by a calm composure.
"Since the Almighty Shogun gave no orders before she left, I cannot defy her will. I will wait for her return."
Hearing Kujou Sara's words, the others grew even more anxious. Paimon was about to speak when she suddenly started coughing violently.
"Cough, cough, cough! Where is all this smoke coming from?"
"Oh no, someone is pumping smoke into the dungeon!"
Kamisato Ayaka's expression changed. She immediately used her Cryo Elemental Power to form a white barrier around everyone.
Just then, an incredibly arrogant laugh echoed from above.
"Hahaha! Kujou Sara is colluding with outsiders to escape. Execute her on the spot!"
Hearing this voice, Kujou Sara clenched her fists. She could never mistake it. This was the voice of Kujou Ittou, the very man who had captured her and brought her here.
"Oh no, they're using this opportunity to eliminate all of us!"
Kamisato Ayaka spoke with a grave expression, then turned to look at Kujou Sara.
With the Traveler's strength, they could certainly escape this place safely. But if Kujou Sara refused to leave, her enemies would likely not spare her either. This was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity for them to eliminate Kujou Sara.
"It's getting harder and harder to breathe..."
Although the barrier protected them from the smoke, the oxygen in the dungeon was still growing thinner.
Seeing Paimon and Aoba's pallid faces, Kamisato Ayaka spoke urgently to Kujou Sara.
"Kujou Sara, come with us and leave this place quickly. If you die, you'll have nothing left!"
"Don't you still want to await the Almighty Shogun's Judgment?!"
Kamisato Ayaka's words touched Kujou Sara's heart. She finally stood up again and nodded to everyone.
"Alright, I will go with you."
Hearing these words, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"However, my Vision is with Kujou Ittou. I will go find him and take it back."
"Leave this to us! Go, Traveler, you're the one for the job!"
Paimon rested one hand on her hip and pointed upward with the other.
"Let that guy know what we're made of!"
A streak of bright yellow light flashed past Paimon, ascending from the second basement level to the surface with unimaginable speed.
Under the terrified gaze of her enemy, Lumine raised her hand and summoned a fierce wind to blow away the smoldering dry leaves and twigs. Then, she pressed the Dull Blade against Kujou Ittou's neck, smiling chillingly as she extended her hand.
"Don't kill me! I'll give you anything! Let's talk this over!"
Kujou Ittou's eyes widened, and his legs went weak, nearly causing him to collapse to the ground.
Other samurai stood by Kujou Ittou, but they dared not make a move in such a situation. Besides, any action would have been futile.
Soon, Lumine returned to the group with Kujou Sara's Vision and weapon. Then, guided by Kujou Sara, everyone found another exit to the dungeon and left the place.
What the crowd did not know was that shortly after they left, Kujou Ittou's expression returned to calm, a stark contrast to his previous terrified appearance, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly as if carrying a hint of mockery.
"As expected, Kujou Sara."
"I knew keeping you around would eventually prove useful!"
"The Traveler's appearance was an unexpected bonus. That thing will surely have some effect on her as well."
At this moment, a slight movement appeared beside Kujou Ittou, and immediately after, a Debt Collector materialized by his side.
"You've come at the right time. Tell them the plan was a success, and we only need to wait for the moment to close the net."
"Kujou Ittou, you've done well. Lord will grant you a reward beyond your imagination."
The Debt Collector nodded in satisfaction at Kujou Ittou, and then his figure vanished once again before everyone.
Right after he left, Kujou Ittou raised his hand, ordering someone to clean up the scene.
As for Kujou Ittou, he returned to the Kujou Clan's courtyard, looked at the guards who were forced to kneel on the ground, and spoke coldly.
"Since this is already over, you're useless now. Kill half of them, and throw the rest in the dungeon."
"Yes, Lord Kujou Ittou!"
As these words fell, terrifying screams echoed through the courtyard, followed by a sickeningly thick stench of blood.
The surviving guards, their bodies and faces stained a jarring crimson, stared blankly with trembling forms, as if their souls had been ripped away.
It wasn't until they were forcibly dragged to their feet and marched toward the dungeon that they finally snapped back to their senses, erupting into deafening roars at Kujou Ittou.
"Kujou Ittou, may you die a miserable death!"
"I'll kill you! I swear I'll kill you, Kujou Ittou!"
"Kujou Ittou, if you have the guts, kill me too! Otherwise, as long as I have a single breath left, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth!"
Suddenly, various piercing lights flared in the courtyard. As the glow gradually faded, a total of four Visions had materialized beside the guards. In their extreme rage and grief, their desperate wish to completely crush Kujou Ittou had drawn the gods' gaze.
Kujou Ittou's expression remained unchanged as he ordered his men to seize the Visions, then continued to have the survivors marched to the dungeon.