"..."
Listening to her explanation, The Shogun fell slightly silent.
"You had gone to see Miko earlier, so when I left, I didn't have the chance to tell you."
Perhaps afraid she might feel upset over it, Ei even specifically gave a reason for keeping it from her.
"But I didn't expect we would meet again. This must be what they call a mother-daughter bond."
As she said this, Ei gave her an adorable smile, her voice soft and gentle, as if savoring the meaning behind those words.
"Mm... I suppose you're right."
She did not respond coldly. Instead, she returned Ei's gentle smile with one of her own.
"...By the way, Shogun, why are you so dirty?"
Only now did Ei notice the faint traces of dirt on her clothes. She stepped closer, frowning slightly as she asked, her palm brushing lightly over the surface of her garments.
"...!"
Seeing that, she immediately thought, This is bad. She had once again failed to mention the headache from earlier.
"I..."
"Your sleeves... your hem... they're all dirty."
Ei's expression grew increasingly serious. Her fingers brushed over each of the places she mentioned, and then her gaze lowered to her legs beneath her skirt.
"Even your stockings... your knees, your calves—it's everywhere!"
She reached out and touched her slightly soiled white-stockinged legs, running her hand from her knees down to her calves, to her ankles, and even beginning to slide lower toward her toes—
"Mm~ D-don't touch there... I just fell down earlier."
Seeing Ei's hand about to move further down, she instantly flushed and drew her calf back, stepping away as she hastily made up a completely flimsy excuse.
"...You fell? You?"
Still crouching, Ei looked up at her with a face full of disbelief.
"Y-Yes... There was a system malfunction earlier. My sense of direction got a bit blurry, and I tripped over my own feet."
Her eyes shifted away guiltily as she answered in a flustered tone.
"..."
Ei looked at her silently. She did not look back at Ei.
"Haa... If you don't want to tell me, then fine. Why make up a reason to lie to me?"
Ei sighed, bracing herself on her knee as she stood up again. A trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes, and there was a faint hint of grievance in her voice. After that, she stepped past her.
"I'm sorry..."
She apologized softly.
"Silly... there's nothing to apologize for. Come on."
Ei paused, her voice still gentle without the slightest trace of anger. She turned around and took her hand on her own initiative, leading her over to the Sacred Sakura's root.
Raising her hand, Ei gently stroked the somewhat damaged root before them. As her palm brushed over it, faint purple light flickered within the scars.
"I originally thought it was just ordinary monsters causing trouble. I assumed the Tenryou Commission could handle it. I didn't expect the situation to be this severe. It cannot be ignored."
Ei's voice sank slightly as she touched the surface of the Sacred Sakura's root.
"You mean... they're gnawing at the Sacred Sakura's roots?"
She asked.
"That's right. If that is truly their objective..."
"..."
She also raised her hand and placed it against the surface of the Sacred Sakura just like the person beside her. Their palms occasionally brushed against each other.
"You mentioned earlier that the Tenryou Commission doesn't have enough manpower? Have the monsters really overrun things to such an extent?"
She asked.
"Indeed... The Tenryou Commission is currently focusing all its efforts on dealing with the Riftwolves in their assigned regions. And this particular area happens to be short on personnel."
That made sense... After all, the Sacred Sakura's roots were spread across the various islands. If the Riftwolves truly aimed for them, then their numbers must be staggering. Worse still, they were difficult to track. The only option was to guard the roots and wait for them to come. And each location would require a substantial number of defenders just in case. That was how things had evolved into a shortage of manpower.
"So you came personally?"
She asked.
"Mm... But that isn't the only reason I came here..."
Ei slowly shook her head.
"There's something else?"
She asked.
"..."
Ei silently looked into her eyes. She said nothing, merely gazing at her. Their pupils reflected one another. After several seconds, Ei averted her gaze, a faint look of reminiscence appearing on her face.
"When Riftwolves attack the Sacred Sakura, it reminds me of that disaster..."
She gently stroked the tree root as she answered in a soft voice.
"The past... could it be five hundred years ago—"
"That's right... the calamity Inazuma experienced five hundred years ago."
Ei replied gently.
"..."
Hearing this, she lowered her eyes slightly. Although she possessed those memories, she had not experienced them personally. When she tried to recall them, they felt vague and unreal, like a dream without substance. Yet she knew it had all truly happened. The one who had genuinely lived through that story was her mother.
"It's alright... I know you don't truly feel it, and there's no need for you to blame yourself."
Ei gently touched her cheek, afraid she might start overthinking.
After all, those events were what Ei herself had endured. It was her story. She would bear it, and only she could bear it. She would never selfishly force her child to shoulder it in her place. After all, the Raiden Ei of today had changed.
Feeling her mother's touch against her face, she instinctively covered Ei's hand with her own, savoring the warmth of that familial bond.
"Haa... Back then, the land was shrouded in pitch-black fog, and monsters ran rampant... That disaster claimed countless lives. The homes people had painstakingly built were nearly destroyed entirely."
Ei released her and continued recounting the past—memories that were still vivid to her even now.
"Monsters committed countless atrocities across Inazuma. And these 'Riftwolves'—they were merely the vanguard of the horde."
At that, Ei's gaze shifted toward the tree root before them.
"Their duty was to tear open space with their sharp claws and fangs, summoning even more powerful beasts from the other side."
"Similar to Musou Isshin?"
She rested her chin in her hand thoughtfully.
"Perhaps... That kind of power remains mysterious even now. That includes the true Musou Isshin."
Ei placed her hand over her chest, feeling the flow of Musou Isshin's power within.
"It is a fragment of memory I never wish to recall of my own accord,"
"...Perhaps I am somewhat overly cautious toward such creatures. But... I do not think that caution is misplaced. They... they once took away people by my side. When I saw you surrounded by them just now, my heart... Haa... it trembled. I was afraid they would snatch you away from me, devour you in darkness—just like before... just like Kitsune Saiguu. She was my dearest friend. And you are my most precious family. Do you understand me, Shogun?"
Even though she knew the Shogun's strength, that image had still surfaced in her mind instinctively, like a nightmare. It had driven her to use her ultimate technique without hesitation.
"Ei... I know... I understand you."
Afraid Ei might sink too deeply into sorrow, she gently took her hand and rubbed it, then simply embraced her mother, stroking her hair as she murmured comfort against her ear.
"Mm..."
With her reassurance, Ei gradually calmed down. The two of them met each other's gaze and smiled.
"Since you want to be 'overly cautious,' then I'll be overly cautious with you, alright?"
She smiled at her mother as she asked.
"Alright. We'll be 'overly cautious' together."
Ei laughed at her choice of words. That smile was breathtaking—one that could topple cities, capturing the hearts of any man, or even... woman. Perhaps only she, as her daughter, was fortunate enough to see it. When Raiden Makoto had still been alive, Ei had rarely smiled. In fact, she had hardly smiled at all.
...
Swish!!
"Bury the Thunder!" ×2
As mother and daughter stood back to back and called out their techniques one after the other, their lightning intertwined. In less than a few seconds, the countless Riftwolves surrounding them were completely annihilated, not even a shred remaining. The moment their bodies were severed, they turned to dust and were sucked into the void.
"Haa..." ×2
They exhaled in unison. Perhaps because they had both stepped back slightly, their backs brushed softly against each other. Feeling the gentle warmth behind them, they both turned their heads at the same time and exchanged warm smiles.
"You could have just stayed at home..."
Ei teased her.
"Haa... Do I look like the type who obediently stays home waiting for you to return?"
The Shogun shot her a glare.
"Pfft... you do."
Ei retorted, barely suppressing her laughter.
"You're awful..."
She huffed, pinching the flesh of her palm in embarrassment.
After that, the two of them stepped apart slightly and stood side by side, looking toward the now-empty foot of the mountain before them. They were currently on the beach east of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Because it was near the shore, there were no mountains blocking their view. The distant horizon stretched endlessly before them, and from time to time, a cool sea breeze brushed across their faces.
"Mm—judging from the traces nearby, there should still be quite a few monsters wandering around. We must eradicate them all."
Ei stepped forward a few paces and crouched beside a conspicuous blue stain on the sand. She dipped her fingertip into the paint-like blue substance, rubbed it between her fingers, and even brought it close to smell it, confirming it was a trace left behind by passing Riftwolves. Then she stood and spoke to her.
"..."
However, she noticed the Shogun staring at her hand with a deep frown.
"...What is it?"
Ei looked puzzled.
"Aren't you disgusted? Touching something like that with your bare hands."
The Shogun gestured toward the still-blue stain on her fingertip, asking with visible distaste.
"Dirty! Ah... I forgot."
Ei realized what she meant, and then—
Hum~
A flash of violet light erased the stain from her finger, restoring it to its original fair softness.
"Come on. Let's go check the Sacred Sakura—"
As she spoke, she reached out to take her daughter's hand, but—
"Don't touch me... it's dirty, dirty~!"
The Shogun instantly dodged, clutching her own hand protectively while staring at her with both caution and an unmistakable hint of adorable stubbornness.
"...It's fine. My hand is clean now. Come—"
"N-no~!"
She retreated several more steps.
"..."
Ei's brows finally furrowed, and her expression cooled.
"..."
Seeing her mother's slightly cold expression, the Shogun felt a little intimidated, yet she still refused to approach.
"Come here."
Ei's tone now resembled the authority she once carried as the Raiden Shogun.
"Y-you don't need to drag me. I can walk myself—"
"I do not wish to repeat myself."
Ei ignored her explanation and stepped forward firmly.
"!"
She instinctively stepped back.
"...Hm? Ayaka, what brings you here?"
Ei suddenly shifted her expression with remarkable swiftness, looking off to the side with a gentle smile as she spoke convincingly to thin air.
"...?"
Sure enough, upon hearing the name "Ayaka," the Shogun immediately turned her head.
"!"
Seizing the opportunity, Ei flashed forward and grabbed her hand, firmly locking it around her own wrist.
"You—ahhh—!"
"Pfft... why are you screaming like that~!"
Her exaggerated cry left Ei both annoyed and amused.
"Dirty, dirty!"
The Shogun tried desperately to pull her hand back, her face full of disgust, but she was completely restrained.
"Dirty what? There's nothing there anymore. You're nearly five hundred years old and still this fussy~ Come over here and focus on serious matters."
Ei almost broke into laughter at her expression, but she forced herself to maintain a stern face as she dragged her to the Sacred Sakura.
Only after calming her down somewhat did they finally attend to business.
"Fortunately... the damage isn't too severe."
Crouching down, Ei ran her hand over the root before her. Though the surface was cracked, the interior remained unharmed. They had been lucky.
"The maintenance of the roots can be entrusted to the Yashiro Commission afterward."
She rose as she spoke and glanced at her daughter beside her.
"Ahem... what about the sap? Shouldn't it be sealed?"
The Shogun coughed awkwardly to cover her earlier embarrassment, suppressing the blush on her face as she asked in a steady voice.
"You're right... I'll stop the flow first."
Ei raised her hand, and violet light gathered at the crack. However, in the next moment, the sap that had flowed out began to glow with a deep azure radiance. The light passed through both of their bodies and projected itself onto the plain dirt road behind them, forming an illusory scene.
Several soldiers came into view, their bodies torn and battered, utterly devoid of strength to resist. Some were on the brink of death, others leaned against rocks clutching their wounds and gasping for breath. A single glance made it clear that the scene was far from hopeful—it was deeply tragic.
"What happened? They are... ?"
The Shogun asked in confusion, instinctively turning to Ei. But she saw that Ei's eyes were filled with sorrow, as though she already understood.
"...Shogun, let's go take a look."
Concealing the pain in her eyes, Ei turned to her and suggested quietly.
"Mm..."
She nodded and followed at her side.
"Cough—cough! I... I can't die here like this. Inazuma... cough! Inazuma still—cough!"
One soldier, sitting against a rock and clutching his wound, muttered to himself repeatedly with a pale face, as if trying to keep himself conscious through sheer will.
"Are you alright?"
Seeing his miserable state, the Shogun hurriedly crouched before him, placing a hand on his shoulder with concern.
"Y-you... why haven't you run? This place has already been taken over by beasts. Go, hurry!"
He squinted at her and urged her weakly.
It was only natural he failed to recognize her. She was in plain clothes, and Ei stood beside her.
"What... happened to you all?"
She glanced at the lifeless bodies of soldiers around them and frowned. Could this also have been the work of Riftwolves? And what was this illusion? Something like the filth from the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual?
"You... you don't know? The land is crawling with beasts, and even more terrifying monsters! They have no emotions—only endless hunger to devour everything... Ah! Now the Shogun is gone, Lady Kitsune Saiguu is gone. The only ones we can rely on are ourselves. Run, miss!"
He seized her hand and spoke through the pain.
"...Ei."
She instinctively turned to the silent figure beside her, her eyes carrying a trace of helplessness.
"Do not panic. I am here."
Ei nodded reassuringly and crouched beside her, speaking in an exceptionally soothing tone.
"Ugh! Sh-Shogun?! You've returned? Please, I beg you—help us. Save Inazuma!"
The moment the soldier saw Ei, his eyes lit up. The gloom on his face vanished instantly, replaced by hope.
"..."
Hearing this, the Shogun glanced at Ei's profile. Ei's soft lips were pressed together, as if enduring something.
"Without your supreme lightning, we cannot drive away this darkness. If this continues, all of Inazuma will become food for the beasts!"
Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, he endured the pain in his abdomen and spoke desperately.
"Calm yourself. The war has already ended."
Ei finally spoke again, her voice still gentle. There was flawless tenderness in her eyes. As her daughter, the Shogun did not interrupt. She understood that in moments like this, Ei was the one who must lead. She only needed to support her from the side.
"...Ended? W-what are you saying, Shogun—"
"Look around you. The grass is lush, the winds are calm. Everything is peaceful. Does it not resemble the Inazuma of peace you remember?"
Ei lifted her hand slightly, guiding his gaze toward the surrounding scenery.
"...!!"
The soldier was visibly startled, yet the sharp instincts forged in war still kept him wary.
"There are no monsters here. Nothing threatens your life anymore. Do not be afraid. It is safe now."
She placed her hand gently upon his shoulder, comforting him softly—like a mother, Inazuma's mother.