At this moment, it was Yae Miko who finally stepped forward.
She first thanked the two Archons for personally returning the relics.
Under normal circumstances, she ought to invite them to stay as honored guests
But both Morax and Barbatos knew Inazuma was in no state to host formalities.
With pressing matters waiting in their respective nations, lingering would only cause trouble.
So after exchanging only the simplest farewells, the two departed
Coming and going as swiftly as the wind.
More importantly,
no one knew what to say if they stayed.
When they were gone, Ei stared at the two items floating before her.
The light in her eyes dimmed, fading little by little.
Tenshukaku sank into a suffocating silence.
Across from her, Yae Miko's expression stiffened as well.
Her forced composure collapsed, and the lively atmosphere from earlier evaporated instantly.
No one knew how long they remained like this.
Eventually, Ei stepped forward and took Dreams One Heart—still warm with a familiar presence—into her hand.
Before she could even reach for it,
the Electro Gnosis dissolved into light and merged into her chest,
as naturally as water soaking into earth.
No resistance.
No separation.
As though it had always belonged there.
"…How are we supposed to tell Chiyo and the others?"
Just imagining it made Miko's heart throb painfully.
Asase Hibiki, Mitsuba Kouden, and Miyuu Chiyo
Every one of them shared deep ties with Luo Li.
If they learned this news…
Miko didn't dare imagine the outcome.
Ei didn't respond.
She herself still couldn't accept reality.
"Forget it… we'll hide it for now.
We can deal with the monster crisis first."
Miko had no choice.
If Inazuma learned that both Makoto and Luo Li had died in the Abyss,
the nation would plunge into chaos before the monsters ever did.
Chiyo and others would lose the will to fight entirely.
As for how long the truth could be hidden
That depended on how long paper could cover fire.
A helpless choice, yes.
But if there were any better answer, she wouldn't have chosen deception.
Ei silently nodded.
And so, for the next stretch of time, under the deliberate concealment of these two women—
Inazuma remained outwardly calm.
The monster purge progressed smoothly.
Thanks to united effort, Narukami Island was cleared of all threats.
The shogunate forces even sailed out to hunt sea monsters, aided by the Tengus, gradually reopening maritime routes.
Though travel was still dangerous, improvement was evident—victory was only a matter of time.
Only Watatsumi Island fared poorly.
Without the Twelve Divine Generals Formation, their casualties were heavy.
But with Miko's mysterious intervention, shogunate reinforcements successfully reached the island, stabilizing the defense.
Even Watatsumi citizens, after fighting alongside the shogunate, began showing a little goodwill
A faint easing of hatred.
If nurtured carefully, the two sides might one day coexist peacefully, no longer brandishing blades at every encounter.
But the peace lasted only a month.
Tenshukaku
"Where exactly did Her Excellency the Shogun and Lord Luo Li go?
How have they still not returned after all this time?!"
After waiting a full month, Miyuu Chiyo finally lost patience.
The oni general missed Luo Li.
She had spent the entire month slaughtering monsters on the front lines
She was sick of it.
Now that the worst seemed over, she finally had time to rest.
Naturally, she wanted to find Luo Li to relax, throw herself at him, or release her pent-up ferocity in… various ways.
Though they'd expected this day to come,
facing Chiyo head-on made Miko hesitate.
Her lips trembled.
She opened her mouth, closed it, and couldn't force the words out.
In the end, it was Ei her gaze dull and lifeless who quietly delivered the Archons' verdict.
Since hearing her sister and Luo Li had perished in the Abyss,
Ei felt as though her heart were sinking endlessly.
Even her blood no longer felt warm.
Everything every breath, every step was cold.
The warm, lively Tenshukaku she once knew… now felt like a suffocating cage.
Chiyo's cheerful expression froze instantly.
She stared back and forth between Ei and Miko, disbelief distorting her face.
"You're… joking, right?"
Neither answered.
"Answer me!"
Her shout was so sharp that even the guards outside Tenshukaku trembled.
Never had they heard General Chiyo so hysterical.
Ei remained unshaken, her voice flat and hollow:
"It is all true.
From this day forward, I will inherit the mantle of the Electro Archon and rule Inazuma."
There is no grief greater than that which collapses quietly.
Even with friends beside her, Ei felt nothing could fill the gaping wound in her heart.
Chiyo staggered back, eyes shaking violently.
She turned to Miko begging, pleading for denial
But Miko only nodded faintly.
"Impossible…"
The oni girl stumbled out of Tenshukaku, completely forgetting her triumphant return, her earlier joy gone like smoke.
The guards could only stare as she drifted past
A warrior emptied of her very soul.
Miko sighed softly.
She felt the same.
She was simply better at hiding it.
Noticing Miko lingering after official matters were concluded, Ei asked quietly:
"…Miko. Is there something else?"
Seeing those once-bright violet eyes now dull as stagnant water,
Miko hesitated before answering.
"Lady Ei… I will have Yae take my place as head of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Too much has happened these past years.
I think… I'd like to rest."
"Where will you go?"
"…I'm not sure.
Perhaps I'll travel the nations.
Perhaps open a small shop somewhere.
Or maybe… disappear into the mountains."
"You're leaving too?"
Ei whispered, barely audible even to herself.
Then she straightened and nodded.
"Very well.
The shrine is yours to oversee.
You don't need my permission."
Miko bowed deeply and slowly walked out.
The Electro Archon seat was filled,
the nation safe…
But those who knew Makoto understood:
The warm, gentle Shogun of the past was gone forever.
Only memory would hold her now.
As Miko stepped outside, faint cries drifted up from the city:
"Glory to Eternity!
All hail Her Majesty!"
It felt unbearably ironic.
The one who once embodied eternity had fallen.
Both princesses both twins were gone.
And the pain of that truth
Only they who remained knew.