Looking at Ember's retreating figure, Yae Miko, with a hint of confusion, unfolded the note in her hand, which bore faint traces of crimson.
Through her keen fox-like sense of smell, Yae Miko instantly realized that the red on the note was not decoration, but blood.
Opening the note, it detailed the grim reality of the tatarigami seal on Yashiori Island being broken and the island's guards almost entirely wiped out.
When she closed the note again, the relaxed and carefree expression Yae Miko had worn previously was gone. The deep violet beneath her eyes began to flicker.
Picking up a scroll from beside her, Yae Miko already had her own suspicions about its contents.
Sure enough, after opening the scroll, a series of names met Yae Miko's gaze.
She only took a quick glance and saw many familiar names. These people were either Sergeants who had come up the mountain for supplies or Shrine Maidens registered at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Now, without exception, all their names were written on the scroll.
"I understand. The Grand Narukami Shrine will arrange for the families of these people." Taking a deep breath and calming her emotions somewhat, Yae Miko solemnly nodded to Ember.
"What were you doing before?" Ember muttered under his breath, turning around.
Hearing this, Yae Miko's expression uncharacteristically showed a trace of apology. However, this subtle change in expression was quickly hidden.
"I truly did not foresee such a thing happening. I've been busy with other matters recently, and I was actually outmaneuvered by that Kujou Clan boy..."
The note and scroll in her hand vanished. Yae Miko's expression remained unchanged, but her tone grew increasingly colder.
"What could be so important that you neglect your duties?" Ember looked directly into Yae Miko's eyes, questioning her.
Yae Miko, naturally, showed no fear, meeting Ember's gaze head-on.
As a Guuji for several centuries, Yae Miko's facial expression management was impeccable.
Everything in her eyes could be real, or it could be fake; only she herself knew the truth and falsehood within them.
But soon, she conceded defeat. Yae Miko's expression and gaze were indeed multifaceted and ever-changing, like a shattered prism.
However, someone had to be looking, right? Ember's peeking gaze couldn't even let light in.
Making eye contact with him was like making faces in the dark without turning on the lights at night; there was no feedback at all. It would be better to find a mirror and look at herself.
Tilting her head slightly, Yae Miko looked towards the Sacred Sakura Tree behind the Grand Narukami Shrine. After a moment of silence, she slowly said:
"I am busy with something that can prevent such things from happening again."
Yae Miko thought of the Gnosis in her hand. The Raiden Shogun's Gnosis could be considered the Gnosis with the most concentrated divine power.
Presumably, only the Cryo Archon's Gnosis, who rules all of Snezhnaya, could rival it.
The Raiden Shogun and the Cryo Archon, both deities, directly govern their respective nations, and their prestige among the populace is paramount.
The divine power condensed from such faith would be difficult not to be concentrated.
As long as she could figure out how to gather faith and convert it into power using the Gnosis. She, a suitable person, plus the wishes of all of Inazuma today, would be enough to open Ei's heart!
As for why this person couldn't be herself, Yae Miko understood very clearly. She was a Kitsune, and a great Kitsune of a thousand faces and forms, destined to be unable to perfectly resonate with the wishes of humans.
Moreover, bearing the wishes of the masses sounded like a troublesome task. She neither wanted to bear it nor could she.
The person capable of bearing wishes must be someone with an upright belief and unwavering perseverance.
Thinking of this, Yae Miko turned her head to glance at Ember, who was currently digging around in the large pit.
With just one look, Yae Miko ruled Ember out. Ember was indeed upright, but unwavering perseverance... Yae Miko didn't think Ember was a person of unwavering perseverance.
However, if Ember knew this, he would surely refute Yae Miko's statement. What did she mean by not having perseverance? He just had many things he was persistent about, making it seem like he lacked perseverance.
"What are you doing down there? Is breaking the floor of my Grand Narukami Shrine not enough? Do you want to dig through the ground?"
"No, I just want to see how fertile the soil is after being hit by a meteorite." Ember idly responded, rubbing the cooled rock in his hand.
"???"
Yae Miko heard Ember's words, and a rare trace of confusion appeared in her eyes. Weren't they just talking about tatarigami? How did Ember's thoughts jump to soil fertility in the blink of an eye?
Opening his palm, Ember saw the dark-colored rock particles in his hand. The particles were distinct, like black sand.
"Experiment failed." Ember threw away the rock particles in his hand and shook his head.
He had been considering how to solve the soil problem on Watatsumi Island. The meteorite impact on the Grand Narukami Shrine, in addition to him truly being annoyed by that broken road, also contained an element of experimentation.
If the land became more fertile after being hit by a meteorite, Ember might have considered doing it to Watatsumi Island.
But looking at it this way, it seemed unlikely. He would have to find other methods.
Climbing out of the large pit, Ember asked Yae Miko, "You mean you have a way to improve the current situation in Inazuma?"
"I can only say it's possible, but that possibility is enough for me to try!"
Yae Miko nodded. Ei's pursuit of eternity would only bring ceaseless turmoil.
Human wishes would not cease, and Visions would continuously fall into the hands of Inazuma's populace.
The Vision Hunt Decree was simply a decree that could never be accomplished.
As for the Sakoku Decree, there was even less to say. Sakoku could only lock oneself in, but not others out.
If other nations were determined, the thunderstorms surrounding Inazuma would not be able to stop them.
The Sakoku Decree was merely placing hope that others would not stir up Inazuma.
Hearing this, Ember looked at Yae Miko with some suspicion. This pink-haired Kitsune was indeed strong, but to say she could contend with the Raiden Shogun... "No matter what you do, your primary duties must always be done." Waving his hand, Ember stopped thinking about it.
Anyway, Yae Miko definitely understood the Raiden Shogun better than he did. Since she said it was possible, Ember would tentatively believe her this once.
After speaking, Ember remembered the tatarigami on Yashiori Island, so he continued, "Oh, and arranging the families isn't enough. Yashiori Island, send people to seal the tatarigami!"
Was sealing tatarigami a difficult task? With existing warding stones and formations, it really wasn't difficult.
It was only because the Shogunate had been concealing the news of the tatarigami leakage that the tragedy of widespread suffering on Yashiori Island occurred.
"Of course, I'll arrange it immediately." Yae Miko immediately agreed; this was inherently the Grand Narukami Shrine's responsibility.
"Good, and what else?" Ember nodded, then changed the subject and asked Yae Miko again.
"Are you talking about the Kujou Clan?" Yae Miko pondered, then shook her head.
"As for the Kujou Clan, we can't touch it yet. Once it's alerted, our preparations might be discovered."
"Wait for the right time. Then I'll let the Kujou Clan know the consequences of deceiving me!"
"So mysterious?" Ember looked up at Yae Miko, then pulled out a map and handed it to her.
"Where is the Kujou Clan? Point it out."
"Here." Yae Miko pointed to a cluster of buildings below the Tenshukaku.
"This is the Tenryou Commission. Almost everyone from the Kujou Clan with an official position is here."
As soon as Yae Miko finished speaking, Ember snatched the map away.
"Wait for my good news."
"Also, remember to check if you have any scheduled rituals that haven't been performed. Do them quickly. Don't blame me if trouble arises and I didn't warn you!"
"Wait..." Yae Miko's words reached her lips, then she swallowed them back.
Because after leaving those two sentences, Ember disappeared from the Grand Narukami Shrine.
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