Originally, Luo Li only wanted to probe the pearl to understand its condition.
He had not expected to accidentally create a Stigmata.
Still, from the perspective of Teyvat,
such a thing did not seem particularly useful.
Yet the infant inside seemed nourished by him
and instinctively radiated a desire to draw closer.
Before Luo Li could react,
a messenger arrived to report that Watatsumi had reached a decision.
The Divine Priestess paused her explanation, then said:
"Your Highness, shall we return?"
"No need. They won't need me anymore.
From here onward, you can discuss the details with the people I brought."
Since Watatsumi had already made their decision,
whatever followed no longer required Luo Li's presence.
Whether they agreed…
or refused…
it was no longer his concern.
But based on his prediction,
their agreement was almost certain.
The rest would simply be negotiations on terms
what Watatsumi must offer,
and what support the Shogunate would provide.
The Divine Priestess froze for a moment, then nodded.
"Very well.
If you wish to tour the island further,
I can assign guides."
"No need. I'll return directly to Narukami."
She did not try to persuade him otherwise,
merely bowed quietly.
"Then I shall arrange an escort for Your Highness."
In the days that followed
Things unfolded exactly as Luo Li had predicted.
Watatsumi and the Shogunate reached a preliminary agreement:
When calamity arrived,
Watatsumi would pay a significant price
in exchange for Shogunate military aid.
In return:
Watatsumi citizens must begin integrating
into the rule of the Shogunate
and surrender certain administrative rights.
A first step had been taken.
Luo Li believed the long-standing stalemate would finally begin to loosen.
Fortunately, the current Divine Priestess was reasonable
with a different leader,
this might not have gone so smoothly.
The only difficulty lay in the inevitable friction
born from attempts at integration.
Small conflicts were unavoidable.
Only after several generations
could the two peoples fully accept each other.
Thus, for half a year,
small frictions gradually decreased.
The monster problem grew increasingly obvious.
Even though the matter was not made public,
common folk learned bits and pieces through merchants, travelers, and rumor.
Merchants were attacked more frequently,
injuries rose day by day.
Petitions piled into Tenshukaku
like snow in a blizzard.
Only
it was Raiden Ei handling them now.
"Ei, don't give me any more work!
There are so many things I don't even know how to deal with!"
Collapsed over her desk after another exhausting day,
Ei stared bitterly at the thick stack of documents
every page handled by her own reluctant hands.
Even fighting a war against a Magatsu Mitake Narukami no Mikoto
would feel less draining than this.
Meanwhile, the rightful Shogun
sat nearby enjoying tea and the sunset.
"Doesn't it feel fulfilling," Makoto asked gently,
"watching Inazuma grow more prosperous
because of your efforts?"
She pointed toward a newly built street near Hanamizaka.
"That place was barren once.
But under your direction, people settled there.
Trades opened.
Isn't that beautiful?"
Ei could not deny the warmth in her chest.
There was a reason so many people liked "simulation and management" games
the satisfaction of seeing growth was unmatched.
But tiredness was still tiredness.
"But if you were the one doing it," Ei muttered,
"it would take half the time. My efficiency is too low."
Leaning against the window, Luo Li interjected:
"You'll get used to it.
Makoto wasn't capable from the start either.
Skill comes from practice."
Makoto was about to nod in agreement
then shot him a murderous glare.
Luo Li blinked, then remembered why she was glaring.
When he returned urgently from Watatsumi,
he immediately demanded Makoto honor their agreement
the "reward" she had promised before he left.
The Shogun could not break her word.
And so, before witnesses,
Makoto bestowed her first kiss
a treasure she had guarded for centuries.
Luo Li still found it a shame
that with so many people watching,
he could not take the opportunity
to push their relationship further.
If they had been alone…
with Makoto's softness and gentle temperament…
he might have gotten away with quite a bit more.
What a wasted opportunity.
Makoto caught him reminiscing
and glared harder.
Pretending he did not see,
she resumed comforting her sister with a warm smile.
"In these months, you've matured a lot.
Your speed, your judgment
all much better than before."
"All that I can teach,
I've taught.
Even if one day I retire or disappear…
you can stand as Inazuma's Shogun."
Ei did not hear the deeper meaning hidden in the words.
Her face fell.
To think this miserable life of paperwork
would continue indefinitely…
A warrior forced into clerical work
a tragic fate indeed.
Worse, she was occasionally tormented
by a lazy Yae Miko and the teasing Chiyo,
neither of whom she could properly refute.
"Makoto should stay Shogun.
I'm not suited for this…"
Makoto only smiled,
choosing not to correct her.
For months,
omens from Celestia had grown more frequent.
Any day
at any moment
the calamity could erupt.
Before that day came,
Makoto wanted Ei to understand true eternity
and to protect Inazuma even in her absence.
"Eternity is not stagnation," Makoto thought quietly.
"Eternity belongs to those who continue moving forward."
She hoped Ei would one day understand.
But time was running short.
Every day, worry gnawed at her
for Inazuma,
for Ei,
for the future.
She sought a perfect solution,
but before she could find one…
The long-feared disaster
finally arrived.
◇ 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