Before being completely consumed by darkness, Kitsune Saiguu continued:
[If you grant me one wish,]
[Please return my ever-bright memories]
[To the land I so dearly love.]
[I hope that, even after your rampage,]
[Something beautiful can still remain…]
The darkness fully engulfed Kitsune Saiguu. In the next panel, cherry blossoms fell from the Sacred Sakura, whether wilting from absorbing the dark filth or weeping for someone.
Kamisato Ayaka and Naganohara Yoimiya could no longer see the pages clearly, their eyes filled with tears.
No matter how desperately they wiped their tears, the scene before them remained blurry, as if they might hyperventilate from crying.
Even Arataki Itto couldn't hold back his tears, turning his head to hide in a corner of the room, not wanting anyone to see.
Even the slowest readers now realized that the fox friend Ioroi had been waiting for would never return.
This hide-and-seek game, lasting nearly five hundred years, was won by Ioroi… or perhaps Ioroi had never truly won.
This time, Ioroi won, but it was a victory that brought no joy.
Kitsune Saiguu was gone. Everyone thought the story ended here, but turning the page revealed more.
This time, the figure in the scene wasn't Kitsune Saiguu but a somber woman in purple.
The woman looked down, cradling her sister—Raiden Makoto—in her arms.
She raised her head, and in her eyes, she saw her sister—the Sacred Sakura.
These two images depicted Ei, head bowed, weeping over Makoto in Khaenri'ah, and then returning to Inazuma to see the 'suddenly appeared' Sacred Sakura.
Neither Ei nor the readers yet knew that the Sacred Sakura was Raiden Makoto's transformation.
In the illustration, Ei returned to Inazuma. At this time, Inazuma was shrouded in darkness, plagued by monsters. She drew her blade.
As if venting her emotions, Ei's sword was unstoppable, cleaving through the dark monsters in her path.
The Shogunate samurai, seeing their General return, were overjoyed, believing Lord General could surely rid them of the calamity.
In the scene, the Shogunate samurai raised their weapons, shouting, '"The Eternal Way is grand, Narukami everlasting!"'
But their Narukami's expression was heavy. Wielding the Musou no Hitotachi entrusted by her sister, she searched Inazuma for something.
Her friend's figure—why couldn't she find it? Why!?
As time passed, the calamity was gradually eradicated, but Raiden Ei still couldn't find her friend.
Until one day, a girl with oni horns appeared before her.
The girl who once danced before her now stared at her with murderous, beast-like eyes.
Her hands were stained with blood. Ei closed her eyes, praying it wasn't the blood of Inazuma's people.
Mikoshi Chiyo faced Ei, drawing her blade against the Narukami she revered.
A close-up showed Mikoshi Chiyo's face, her eyes turned scarlet, reflecting Ei's figure, filled only with killing intent.
Another image was a close-up of Ei, her expression stunned, eyes open, her purple pupils reflecting the girl's red—was it her eyes or her clothing?
Neither. The red came from her blood, her broken oni horn, her severed sword-wielding arm.
Mikoshi Chiyo let out a pained groan, fleeing into the mountains like a wounded beast. Ei stood frozen, the samurai beside her shouting, but she didn't respond.
What was Ei thinking? Perhaps that she once lay in her sister's arms, and now her sister had died in her arms.
Once, Mikoshi Chiyo lay in my arms. Did I now end her…?
I found my friend, so why does it hurt so much? Why?
Ei seemed to hear the samurai's calls. Her cold gaze swept over her subjects beside her.
This pain was unbearable even for a god—how could humans endure it?
I can't… I can't let my people suffer this too.
Perhaps only unchanging eternity could end this pain…
Yes, only unchanging eternity could end it all!
Ei eradicated the calamity. After it was over, another contrast illustration appeared.
On the left was the scene of Ei enjoying cherry blossoms with her friends. On the right, the same scene was bleak, with only Ei remaining.
Ei lowered her head, her eyes empty, the beauty of the scene entirely gone.
Further on, another contrast illustration. On the left was half of Kitsune Saiguu's face, holding a fox mask over the unseen half, with only the mask's edge visible.
On the right was Hanachirusato, also showing half her face, wearing the fox mask that perfectly aligned with the one Kitsune Saiguu held.
However, Hanachirusato's hand was on the mask, poised to remove it.
Between the two was a shared line:
"Unyielded by deception, unshaken, always walking the path you believe in."
Below them was another contrast illustration.
On the left was the left half of Ei's face, her expression cold, her lips slightly downturned.
On the right was the right half of Lumine's face, her expression gentle, her lips slightly upturned.
One's background was purple cherry blossoms, the other pink cherry blossoms.
What they shared was that both were crying.
The story ended. The final scene was pure darkness, with only the words 'Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual · Conclusion' written.
Cheer up, for Kitsune Saiguu succeeded. Even centuries later, her memories remain bright and beautiful.
Even as a conglomerate of filth, her will still shines with radiance.
Time and again, she saved Inazuma, becoming the white moonlight in others' hearts, only to disappear time and again.
Yes, time and again, from the lost little boy to the passing little girl.
Fox, oh fox, once again you left an indelible mark in someone's heart.
Fox, oh fox, once again you vanished without a trace afterward, leaving behind only that fox mask…
Hanachirusato's story brought readers to tears, and Kitsune Saiguu's story made them weep in anguish.
Lucian told this story through both novel and manga forms, naturally adding ample detail to flesh out the narrative.
Especially at the story's end, this 'manga' segment wrung out countless tears.
Hanachirusato and Kitsune Saiguu's images became ever more vivid in readers' hearts, and walking alongside Hanachirusato felt like gaining a friend.
Reading Kitsune Saiguu's story felt like living her life, experiencing so much with her.
Now, Hanachirusato is gone, and Kitsune Saiguu won't return. Readers were utterly heartbroken.
Their hearts held only endless gratitude for Lucian. We agreed, didn't we? To write stories for a lifetime.
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Character Voice · Arataki Itto: About Mikoshi Chiyo
"The oni clan's seniors sure is as carefree as me, hahaha."