[So that is how... I was born...]
Listening to Ei recount the events of the past, the Shogun could not help feeling astonished. Though she had long sensed it, hearing it spoken aloud still felt unbelievable. Born from Makoto's "heart"?
'So... Makoto was my mother as well?'
A question she had once harbored in doubt was now confirmed. Makoto was indeed her other mother.
"That is right. You were born from Makoto's 'heart,' from her lightning. However... at that time, I also shared my own lightning with you. To put it plainly, you are... a child 'born' of Makoto and me."
Ei walked toward the valley of Chinju Forest. As she moved, she continued telling her daughter stories of the past. It was time to reveal everything.
[...]
The other side fell silent.
"I am sorry, Shogun... that I am only telling you the truth now. Makoto... she is your mother as well."
When Ei spoke those words, guilt colored her tone, and she hesitated.
[Why are you apologizing? You did nothing wrong. I had actually thought about this long ago. Hearing you say it now... I feel somewhat relieved.]
The Shogun did not blame her. Nor did she wish to. She understood Ei's hardships. At that time, Ei herself had not yet emerged from the shadows. So... she truly did not mind. In fact, knowing it now felt good.
After all, she had not one mother, but two. It gave her a sense of family completeness. Of course, this "completeness" was not about reunion, but the feeling of a whole family—of having both father and mother. Though in reality there was no father, only two mothers. And one of them had already passed before she was even born. She had never seen her once.
"Haa... you have grown more and more sensible."
Ei paused slightly, then smiled and praised her.
[What do you mean 'more and more'? Was I not sensible before?]
There was a trace of dissatisfaction in her voice.
"It is nothing. Just a passing sentiment."
Ei chuckled softly and resumed walking.
[...]
The Shogun narrowed her eyes speechlessly. The headache had faded, yet her body still felt weak. Her legs were soft and unable to support her weight. A wave of drowsiness crept in. She had just slept, yet she felt sleepy again.
...She shook her head slightly, trying to clear her mind.
"At that time, Makoto... she hid it from me and went alone to Khaenri'ah. She was different from me. She was not skilled in martial arts at all, and she was physically frail."
As Ei walked, she continued her narration.
[...!]
Hearing Ei's voice through the haze of sleepiness, the Shogun forced herself to focus and not drift off.
"Every time danger like that arose in the past, I was the one who dealt with it."
Ei did not notice her abnormal state and continued reminiscing.
"But that time, the situation left her with no choice. She could only leave me behind—no... it would be more accurate to say she hid me behind her. By the time I realized it... it was already too late."
Though hundreds of years had passed, the memory remained vivid. The blood on Makoto's body felt as though it still stained her hands, causing Ei's brows to knit slightly.
[Ei...]
"When I saw her, she was already on the brink of death. Only by entering her consciousness could I help her regain a faint breath and speak with me briefly. She entrusted the future to me, told me not to stagnate because of this. Haa... as for what happened afterward... you already know."
Yes. She had not listened to Makoto's words. She had not stepped out of the shadows. She had indeed stagnated. If Makoto knew, she would surely be saddened.
However...
Something suddenly occurred to her. She halted once more and turned to look at the Sacred Sakura towering above the Grand Narukami Shrine. Beneath the bright golden sunlight, its crimson blossoms were dazzling, forcing her to narrow her eyes.
After handling her sister's affairs, she had returned to Inazuma, only to discover that a colossal sakura tree had appeared on Mt. Yougou—the Sacred Sakura as it now stood. She had questioned the nearby people one by one, but the result was... every single person told her that the Sacred Sakura had existed since ancient times. They did not understand why she was so surprised.
Clearly, the Sacred Sakura's existence conflicted with her own memory. It seemed that only Raiden Ei herself knew that it had appeared out of nowhere.
Even now, she could not understand it. In her memory, Inazuma had not possessed this tree at first. Why, after that incident, had it suddenly appeared? In the end, she abandoned the investigation. Makoto's death had dealt her such a devastating blow that she had no energy left for such matters.
[Ei? You... what is wrong?]
On the verge of being overtaken by sleep, the Shogun noticed her silence and asked worriedly.
"It is nothing. I was merely distracted."
Ei returned to herself and stopped dwelling on it. She did not tell the Shogun about this matter. After all, the Shogun had been born afterward and would certainly know nothing of it. Besides, speaking of it would only worry her.
[Ei... I... feel... sleepy...]
Her voice grew soft and drowsy.
"Then sleep. Rest well. Leave this to me."
Ei reassured her gently. She alone was more than capable of handling this.
[...]
No reply came. She had clearly fallen asleep.
It would be best to resolve this quickly. Ei was deeply concerned about her daughter's condition. Once this was over, she would return and examine her thoroughly.
What she did not notice was that within the Plane of Euthymia, the Shogun, after closing her eyes under the weight of sleep, did not remain kneeling. Instead, she collapsed directly onto the ground, as though unconscious.
"Roar!!"
Sure enough, Riftwolves prowled this area as well. As before, they gathered around the Sacred Sakura's roots, clearly intending to gnaw at the sap within.
Because this was near Chinju Forest, sunlight was blocked by the cliffs on either side, leaving the interior dim. Large numbers of fireflies dwelled here. Startled by the monsters' roars, they scattered instinctively, darting into the flowers to hide.
Buzz~
A cold violet glow gradually filled Ei's eyes. With one hand loosely clenched, she summoned Musou Isshin and prepared to charge forward.
However...
Buzz~
"!"
An inexplicable sensation suddenly froze her body for an instant, as though she had shut down. Her eyes dimmed for a split second before regaining their brilliance.
"...?"
She stopped, frowning in confusion. She instinctively moved to check her body—but seeing the Riftwolves already lunging toward her, she cast aside those thoughts, steadied her stance, and rushed forward like a phantom, blades descending in rapid succession!!
Szzzt!
Several thunderous blade marks tore through space like a dense forest, striking every monster before her with perfect precision. She flashed past in a streak of lightning, lowering her stance, her long legs set firmly apart. Her elegant braid streamed behind her, revealing the violet mitsudomoe emblem on her back as she performed a swift sheathing motion.
"Thunder..."
The word fell softly.
Boom! ×N
A series of thunderous explosions resounded. The monsters were severed by the blade marks, their bodies twisting before being sucked into black voids and vanishing without a trace.
In mere seconds, every monster in the area had been eradicated.
"Haa..."
She exhaled lightly and began to rise.
Szzzt~
"!"
That same inexplicable freezing sensation struck again. Her movements locked as though shackled by iron chains, her body frozen mid-sheathing. Confusion filled her eyes.
Crack~
Several seconds later, control returned. The momentum from before caused her to stumble forward. She hastily braced herself against a nearby rock wall to steady her balance.
"...What is happening?"
One hand pressed against her forehead, her face filled with bewilderment. What was wrong with this body?
Meanwhile, within the Plane of Euthymia, the Shogun—who had collapsed unconscious—slowly opened her violet eyes and rose to her feet.
But unlike before, there was no emotion within her pupils. They were as lifeless as a machine, occasionally flickering with patterns resembling lines of code. As violet light shimmered within them, her expression grew colder and colder. The once shy girl who occasionally teased her mother was nowhere to be seen. It was as though she had become an entirely different person.
Standing upright, the Shogun slowly lifted her icy gaze and looked straight at the projection displaying Ei's condition outside—the sight of Ei leaning against the wall, clutching her forehead.
The code-like patterns shimmered within her eyes as she spoke.
[One who defies eternity, do not taint this vessel.]
Her voice no longer carried its former warmth. It was cold as frost, rigid and mechanical, tinged with an eerie hollowness.
The cold, hollow voice echoed in Ei's mind. Her pupils contracted slightly, and her body trembled instinctively.
"...Shogun?"
She rose in confusion and called out to the one who had just spoken. This feeling... it was like the very beginning, when the Shogun had first inherited her will—cold and devoid of warmth.
[This vessel is the executor of eternity. All that interferes with eternity shall be erased!]
The voice rang out again, as cold and mechanical as before.
"...Shogun?! What is wrong with you?"
She hurried forward several steps, staring into the void as she spoke to her daughter within the Plane of Euthymia, urgency rising in her voice.
Why would she say such things to her?
Why?
[Silence! Traitorous one... you have no authority to command this vessel!]
Within the Plane of Euthymia, the Shogun raised a hand and pressed it against the air before her. A violet mitsudomoe emblem appeared in her palm. Purple light surged across her body, vibrating through the surrounding space. The hand bearing the emblem slowly twisted, as though unlocking a seal.
"Ungh~!"
In the next instant, Ei felt her body freeze again—far more violently than before. Her physical functions halted entirely. She stood rigid like stone, only her eyes still able to move.
At that moment, a tremendous force clashed within her body. It felt as though something were trying to drive her out, forcibly ejecting her consciousness from the vessel she currently occupied. The sensation was agonizing. Her brows furrowed, her lips pressed tightly together as she endured the pain.
"Shogun... you... do not do this—unngh! I will...!!"
A trace of pain crossed her face as she gritted her teeth and resisted the force within her. She struggled even to speak, yet the other side did not heed her words. The force only intensified. Unease and fear surged within her.
Shogun... what has happened to you?!
Why has it become like this?!
Buzz~
"!!"
A burst of violet light enveloped her entire body. In the next second, her consciousness was expelled in one decisive surge. It condensed into a particle of light in midair, forced to take form through Musou Isshin. The violent force sent her flying backward. She hurriedly braced herself against a wall to steady her balance.
The Shogun who had expelled her now stood bathed in dreamlike violet radiance. Her cold gaze swept across the surroundings before settling once more upon Ei—the one who had been flung away in such a sorry state.
In that instant, ruthless killing intent flashed within her eyes.
Light gathered in her hand, forming into a naginata.
"Haa... haa... Shogun... you—!!"
Ei steadied her breathing and instinctively turned toward her—but—
Whoosh!!
A sharp blade wind grazed her cheek like a needle. In the next instant, the violet-clad woman was already before her, the naginata arcing toward her neck. The blade was mere centimeters away.
"!"
Her pupils shrank. By reflex, she summoned Musou Isshin and raised it before her throat.
Clang!
The naginata collided with Musou Isshin, releasing a deafening metallic cry. A powerful shockwave blasted outward, sweeping dust into the air and sending both their hair streaming.
Whether because Ei had yet to fully grasp the situation and hesitated, or because the other side's strike was utterly merciless, the result was the same—she was forced back, the naginata pressing her brutally against the stone wall behind her.
Boom!
A dull impact resounded. Cracks spread where her back struck the rock, fragments crumbling down.
Screech—
The harsh scrape of metal rang in her ears. A thin sheen of sweat formed on her forehead. The naginata pressing against Musou Isshin bore down relentlessly, its edge inching toward the skin of her throat. She immediately exerted more force, pushing it back by a sliver.
"Shogun... what is wrong with you? You want to... kill me?"
She could feel it. The other side was serious. The strength behind that weapon was no weaker than her own—if anything, it made her strain. She raised her eyes urgently, meeting the other's frigid gaze.
"..."
No reply came. The pressure only increased. Within those pupils, patterns like lines of code flickered.
"...Who are you? Where is she?"
Her expression hardened instantly. The tenderness in her eyes froze into biting cold. Her voice dropped low as she demanded an answer. With the shift in her resolve, her strength surged, forcing the opposing blade farther away.
"..."
Still no response.
"What have you done to her?!"
Her shout echoed through the valley.
"...This vessel is the guardian of eternity. This vessel—"
"Silence!"
Ei cut her off sharply.
In that split second, she released one hand from her sword hilt with explosive speed and drove a punch toward the other's flank.
Yet just before contact, her fist hesitated for half a beat. It shifted into an open palm instead, the force slightly reduced.
Even so—
Thud!
The strike sent the other stumbling back several steps.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Ei straightened, her face cold as she twirled Musou Isshin in a clean arc. In a flash, she vanished and reappeared before her opponent, blade descending in one seamless motion.
Clang! ×N
In an instant, they exchanged several moves. The explosive clashes of steel echoed through the valley, startling flocks of birds into flight.
In the end, the other could not match her. Ei forced her against the rock wall, mirroring the earlier position.
"What has happened to the Shogun?! Answer me!"
Her voice trembled with urgency.
"Heh... ignorant."
The other sneered.
"!"
Ei's expression darkened at once.
"This vessel is her. Can you not see?"
The cold smile remained.
"...!"
She froze, bewilderment washing over her. The strength in her grip slackened slightly.
"..."
Thud.
In the next second, the woman she held at blade-point suddenly lost all strength. Her eyes slowly closed, as though falling into sleep once more. Her attire shifted unconsciously back into simple clothing.
"Shogun!"
Ei immediately dropped her weapon and caught her daughter before she could collapse. Supporting her carefully, she lowered her against the wall and gathered her into her arms.
"Mmm... ngh..."
The girl in her embrace furrowed her brows as if trapped in a nightmare. A cold sheen of sweat covered her forehead and pale face. Soft, pained murmurs escaped her lips. She curled instinctively, burrowing into Ei's arms. Her fingers clenched tightly in Ei's clothing.
The sight twisted Ei's heart painfully.
"It is alright... it is alright. Mother will take you home."
She stroked her back gently, then lifted her in a princess carry.
Before leaving, she glanced once more at the phantoms emerging from the Sacred Sakura's roots. Her lips pressed together, expression complicated.
"I am sorry... everyone. Please forgive me."
With that apology, she turned and transformed into a streak of lightning, vanishing from the valley.
She no longer had the luxury to deal with illusions.
In the end, she chose her family.
She truly was unfit to be a god.
(Forgive me... everyone.)
Even gods possess emotions. Even gods harbor private attachments.
Szzzt!
Within the grand hall of Tenshukaku, Ei materialized, the Shogun still in her arms. She moved swiftly up the steps and into their bedchamber.
Crash!
With the tip of her foot, she nudged aside the folding screen and entered. Gently, she laid the girl upon the bedding on her side, revealing the mitsudomoe mark at the back of her neck. Raising a hand, she caused the emblem to glow violet and connected directly to the Shogun's internal system.
"Initiate scan."
She issued the command.
Szzzt—!
"!"
This time, however, the system did not comply.
It rejected her command outright.
A cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"It is her."
That personality from earlier... she remembered now.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed along the corridor. Pandora, clad in a kimono, entered the room slowly, surprise written across her face.
She had heard the commotion below and came down out of concern, only to find this scene.
"...Mother, what happened? Why is the Shogun..."
...in such pain?
Pandora hurried forward anxiously.
"I do not know. I am investigating."
Ei replied curtly.
"...Mother, is there anything I can do to help?"
Pandora volunteered at once.
"..."
Ei paused, recalling Pandora's abilities. A spark lit in her eyes.
"Perhaps there is."