After a while, realizing that Luo Li and the others showed no intention of leaving, Raiden Makoto finally couldn't tolerate it anymore. Half-serious, half-teasing, she complained:
"Alright, that's enough. You all should be going. You keep interrupting my official duties all day long."
If one were honest—
she wasn't wrong.
These people came running to Tenshukaku whenever they pleased, turning the dignified residence of the Shogun into a casual lounge for chatting and relaxing.
"Chiyo, don't you have a batch of new soldiers to train? Go."
Called out by a now-serious Makoto, even the bold Chiyo didn't dare argue.
When they joked around, everyone felt close and familiar—but when it came to responsibilities, hierarchy still existed.
Fortunately, everyone present understood this well, so no one felt awkward.
Though reluctant, Chiyo still stood up from where she had been sticking to Luo Li's side.
Her playful smile faded, replaced by the pride and intimidating aura of an oni general—contained within that deceptively petite body.
"Then I'm off."
Unable to hide her reluctance, she bid Luo Li goodbye—and before leaving, she leaned in and pecked the corner of his lips.
The blatant display of affection made Ei's pupils widen in shock.
She… how dare she!
But seeing that Makoto and Saiguu were both unbothered, Ei could only pretend she hadn't reacted.
It wasn't jealousy—
to gods, multi-partner relationships weren't incomprehensible.
What she couldn't understand was doing something like that openly in front of others.
Only after Chiyo's figure disappeared beyond the courtyard did Makoto turn to Luo Li.
"You too."
"I've got nothing official to do. Staying here won't interfere with you."
That single sentence blocked all of Makoto's retorts.
And before she could come up with an argument, Luo Li added:
"Besides… I have something important to discuss with you alone."
Meeting his calm, unwavering gaze, Makoto finally nodded gently.
Saiguu immediately caught on. She waved Ei over.
"Let's not stay here and disturb them. Come, help me tidy my new room."
Since she would be living in Tenshukaku from now on, she naturally needed a place to stay.
Though with her relationship with Makoto, anywhere in Tenshukaku was practically available to her.
Before leaving, Saiguu also scooped up the little fox and took her along.
Once the two left, the courtyard grew quiet—sakura petals drifting lightly in the breeze.
"Alright," Makoto said softly. "It's just us now. You can speak freely."
She patted the cushion beside her, inviting him to sit.
Once Luo Li sat close, Makoto spoke first:
"I think I can guess what you want to talk about. It's related to Celestia… isn't it?"
He hadn't expected her to be even more direct than he was.
Since she had opened the door, Luo Li didn't bother hiding it anymore.
"It is connected to Celestia… but the greater reason lies with you."
"Me?"
Makoto didn't understand how the situation involved her. Nor could she know.
After all, Celestia had not yet issued the command for the Seven to attack Khaenri'ah.
She had no idea she might die in that catastrophe—
only that the future of Inazuma felt dangerous, unstable.
That was precisely why Luo Li needed to talk to her now.
From what he knew, Makoto's death fused with Istaroth's power, allowing her to traverse the river of time and protect Inazuma.
Combined with the infighting among the Three Lunar Goddesses, there might very well be traces of Celestia's silent manipulation behind her death.
Left unchecked, it could become another divine family tragedy.
"Barbatos has already told me everything he knows about Khaenri'ah," Luo Li began smoothly.
"He and Zhongli both believe Celestia will soon order the Seven to launch a full assault on Khaenri'ah."
A complete lie—
but Makoto had no way of confirming it.
"So that is what they believe?"
Makoto frowned slightly. She trusted the insight of the Wind and Geo Archons—the two oldest gods.
And trusting them meant worrying.
The Seven all knew how powerful Khaenri'ah was—
not something any single nation could confront alone.
How else could a godless nation survive until now, mass-producing mechanical giants that rivaled divine constructs, even maintaining equal diplomatic status with the Seven Nations?
"I don't buy that you know nothing about it," Luo Li said bluntly, locking eyes with her.
This woman was a riddle herself—never saying anything, and later going alone to Khaenri'ah to die, all to preserve Ei and Inazuma.
Makoto gave a soft, helpless smile.
Of course she wasn't ignorant.
It was because she understood too well that she chose silence—shouldering everything alone.
Even when Luo Li saw through her, she still wouldn't admit it.
Luo Li understood—and didn't press.
"It doesn't matter whether you tell me the details. I only have one request."
He leaned forward slightly.
"No matter what Celestia wants you to do… don't shoulder it alone."
"Inazuma can already sustain itself. Ei has begun learning to handle affairs. Even without our help, she'll grow into it."
"With Saiguu and Chiyo around, even if a disaster comes, they'll be able to survive it."
"So if there's trouble—tell me. After cultivating for so many years, it's about time I stretched my limbs."
Makoto gazed into his calm, faintly smiling eyes, and found she couldn't reject him.
She let out a quiet, weary sigh.
"…Why go so far?"
In her plans, she had already arranged everything.
It wouldn't be perfect—but it would minimize the losses.
"That's not the right question." Luo Li replied with a smile.
"I haven't yet seen what Ei becomes—after losing her elder sister's protection.
Don't you want to see how she grows in the future?"
Makoto's expression softened.
To say she wasn't tempted would be a lie.
"But still…"
"Listen." Luo Li leaned closer.
"Whether you hide things from Saiguu or Ei is your choice.
But with me, honesty is better."
Makoto shot him a glare, half flustered, half amused.
"You're always so overbearing. Ei would never like that."
"What about you?"
Since things had reached this point, Luo Li simply laid his ambition bare.
Makoto blinked—then let out a low, amused sigh.
"My, my… it seems someone's appetite is larger than I imagined. No wonder Saiguu warned me to be careful."
"Ahem…"
But Makoto wasn't angry.
Not even close.
She had always held a quiet fondness for Luo Li.
Otherwise, no one would be allowed to come and go from Tenshukaku as freely as he did—
nor speak to her with such irreverence.
And truly—
what could she criticize, when it came to someone she trusted to live and die beside her?
The tension slowly dissolved.
"You know," she said softly, "I don't want Ei to be hurt."
Luo Li nodded.
"Neither do I."
◇ I'll be dropping one bonus chapters for every 10 reviews. comment
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read 60 chapter ahead on P@treon if you're interested: patreon.com/PixelAero