As a descendant of the white fox clan, Yae Miko's beauty was breathtaking.
Her long, silky sakura-pink hair flowed down to her waist; the Electro Vision hung gracefully from the hem of her ornate, yin-yang-colored shrine maiden robes. Her porcelain legs were bare beneath the short skirt, gleaming like white jade.
Yae Miko was a woman of deep cunning and poise—the living bloodline of the Hakushin, attendant to the Raiden Shogun herself.
"Guuji-sama…" Kamisato Ayaka bowed respectfully.
Yae Miko smiled lazily. "Ah, little Ayaka~ I just heard something very interesting. Something about supporting the resistance?"
Ayaka's face went instantly pale. If Yae Miko decided to pursue this, the Yashiro Commission would be ruined.
"Compared to your brother, you're still too green. I've known what you've been up to for some time. Don't worry, I haven't taken action—it means I tacitly approve," Yae said.
The resistance was, after all, a useful but unstable tool. She knew they couldn't truly change Inazuma's stagnant order.
"Nice to meet you, travelers. I'm the current Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine—Yae Miko."
"Oh, I've heard about you from Cloud Retainer," Koji replied, smirking. "She said you were adorable as a child—Raiden used to hold you in her arms as a hand warmer."
"Cough—!"
Yae Miko choked mid-breath, her composed elegance cracking for the first time.
The worst part? She couldn't even deny it. Cloud Retainer was much older, and before she took human form, Yae truly had been used that way.
"Damn that old bird," Yae thought bitterly. "Does she have to spread every embarrassing story?"
Ayaka looked ready to dig herself a hole and vanish. Why am I here for this conversation?
Yae glanced at her. Should she erase the memory by spell or by force?
"Guuji-sama, I didn't hear anything!" Ayaka blurted out instantly, standing at attention like a soldier.
"…Good girl," Yae murmured. "Didn't expect Cloud Retainer to tell him of all people."
That interruption had thrown her rhythm completely off. She hated that.
"How's Ganyu doing lately?" she asked, changing the subject.
"She's been taking a rare break from work," Shenhe replied calmly.
"Still the same workaholic, huh," Yae sighed. "Her little sister's no better. How can working non-stop be fun? There are fish to catch, tofu to eat, novels to read…"
Her gaze shifted back to Koji and Lumine. "Anyway, let's get to the point. I need your help to wake up my stubborn, adorable god."
"Why don't you do it yourself?" Lumine asked, brow furrowed.
"Me?" Yae pointed at herself, feigning innocence. "A weak little fox like me fighting the Raiden Shogun? I'd be vaporized!"
"I'm not strong enough. But you two defeated the ancient god Osial, didn't you? You're more capable than most mortals."
Even with Inazuma's isolation, she had ways of keeping informed.
"If you succeed," Yae added slyly, "I can personally set you up with little Ayaka here."
"Guuji-sama?!" Ayaka gasped, stunned. Did she just sell me off?
Yae grinned mischievously. "Ayaka, think about it. If this traveler can defeat the Shogun, he's at least god-tier. Wouldn't that be a fine match for you?"
Ayaka hesitated. What Yae said wasn't entirely wrong—having such a powerful ally would make the Yashiro Commission's future secure.
But she shook her head. She couldn't make that kind of decision so lightly.
"Fine," Koji said suddenly, smirking. "I'll handle your Shogun problem. But once I win, you'll have to stay in fox form for three days… with me."
Lumine and the others exchanged glances, visibly tempted. Yae Miko was stunning in her human form—surely her fox form would be even cuter, maybe even soft to the touch.
"…"
Yae was speechless. So that's what this is about.
Even she, confident as she was, blushed at the thought. Being held as a small fox again… embarrassing!
"…Fine!" she snapped through gritted teeth. "For the sake of my foolish god, I'll endure it."
"Excellent," Koji said, bowing dramatically. "Allow me to reintroduce myself—Twelfth Harbinger of the Fatui, Codename Aotian."
"Thirteenth Harbinger, The Traveler, reporting," Lumine added with a grin.
Both Yae and Ayaka froze. Fatui Harbingers?!
Lumine's companions didn't react—they'd known all along.
"I did hear there were two new Harbingers," Yae said after a moment, smiling faintly. "Didn't expect them to be you."
"For reference," Koji said smoothly, "there are two other Harbingers currently in Inazuma. One of them you know—Scaramouche."
Ayaka was dumbfounded. Four Harbingers in Inazuma? What is this, a cursed hotspot?
"That brat," Yae muttered darkly. "The Shogun should've dismantled him long ago."
"Guuji-sama, you know him?" Ayaka asked.
"I do. He's one of the Raiden Shogun's creations—a divine puppet. He left Inazuma years ago. If you get the chance, kill him. Don't worry about the Shogun's wrath."
Ayaka's eyes widened. A creation of the Raiden Shogun herself? That's practically a prince of Inazuma!
Yae waved dismissively. "He's nothing but trouble. If he causes problems again, I'll have the Shogun clean up her own mess."
"Need my help?" Koji asked lightly.
"…" Yae glared at him. "If I let you 'help,' I'd need more than three days—maybe three weeks."
Ayaka blinked. "Wait, aren't you both Fatui Harbingers? Shouldn't you be on the same side?"
"Yes," Koji replied, "but that guy's mouth is foul and nobody in the Fatui likes him. Killing him wouldn't bother anyone."
Yae smirked. "You two really are interesting…"
(End of Chapter)
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