Futsu Mitama stared blankly at the Chat Group screen. His expression twitched, caught somewhere between disbelief and amusement.
Raiden Makoto… joining the Resistance?
Excuse me?
Big sister, you are the Raiden Shogun!
If your little sister, Raiden Ei, ever found out, she'd probably storm out of the Plane of Euthymia right this instant! She'd unsheathe that milky-scented blade of hers, press it against my neck, and force me to add her to the Chat Group as well!
Mitama rubbed his temples. This was beyond his mortal comprehension. And he wasn't the only one shocked.
Kuki Shinobu also shocked—not because Raiden Makoto wanted to join the Resistance, but because Sangonomiya Kokomi had already established one.
Resistance against the Raiden Shogun herself. That wasn't just bold—it was treason.
For the Tenryou Commission, such a revelation would bring unimaginable rewards. In Inazuma, no one dared resist a god. The very idea was laughable. Or so everyone thought.
[Kuki Shinobu]: "Are you… serious? This is not a joking matter."
[Kuki Shinobu]: "To resist Her Excellency's pursuit of eternity is an act that would make the entire nation your enemy."
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "No, you misunderstand. The purpose of the Resistance isn't to oppose Her Excellency's eternity—it's to oppose the Vision Hunt Decree."
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "Since the Sakoku Decree, life for ordinary people has become unbearable. And now, with the Vision Hunt their very wishes are being taken away."
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "Even a god cannot rob her people of their dreams. The Resistance exists to let Her Excellency hear the voices of the suffering."
[Raiden Makoto]: "Well said. I agree."
[Raiden Makoto]: "Even a god must not silence the hearts of her people."
[Aila]: "That's easy to say. But how will you resist when the Shogun uses her Musou no Hitotachi?"
[Futsu Mitama]: "Yeah, and Watatsumi Island is starving and unarmed. You plan to resist with what, exactly?"
Mitama sighed. Given Watatsumi's current state, resistance seemed more like desperation than strategy. But Kokomi didn't argue. She knew. They all knew. Without food or weapons, they could barely survive, much less rebel. And yet—doing nothing meant letting despair rot the island from within. The air in the group grew heavy.
Mitama hated heavy atmospheres. So he did what any sane person would do—change the subject.
[Futsu Mitama]: "Alright, everyone who just joined the group, go check in. Let's see how lucky your first draw is!"
[Raiden Makoto]: "Already checked in. 5 experience."
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: "I received 20 experience. Is this used to level up the group?"
[Kuki Shinobu]: "…"
[Futsu Mitama]: "What's wrong, Shinobu?"
[Kuki Shinobu]: "Nothing. When you get home, message me. We need to talk."
[Futsu Mitama]: "????"
Mitama froze, a bad feeling creeping up his spine. "'We need to talk'" he muttered.
"That's never good."
Even Aila, walking beside him, noticed something off.
"Young Master, shall we rest here for the night?" she asked quietly. "No. Let's travel through the night. We need to return to Inazuma City quickly."
The maid nodded. She could tell Kuki Shinobu's "talk" was not going to be a friendly chat. As they left Konda Village, the road ahead was swallowed by the crimson dusk.
Meanwhile, in Inazuma City—
Kuki Shinobu finished wiping the rainwater off the Statue of Her Excellency, the Almighty Narukami Ogosho, God of Thunder. She sighed and opened the Chat Group again, performing her own sign-in.
A flash of light. In her hands appeared… a shrine maiden's outfit. Sleeveless, with exposed armpits.
A small message appeared below: [Congratulations! You've received: Hakurei Shrine Miko Outfit (Reimu Ver.)]
"…You've got to be kidding me."
Shinobu clicked her tongue. Disdain flickered in her eyes, but she didn't throw it away.
Instead, she folded the outfit neatly and stored it—planning to confront Futsu Mitama in person later.
"Shinobu, you've worked hard."
A crisp, strong voice called from behind. Kuki Shinobu turned, finding herself face-to-face with a woman of striking beauty—black hair tied back, tengu mask resting above her ear, eyes the color of golden lightning.
Kujou Sara.
"It's no trouble," Shinobu replied. "Maintenance just takes time, that's all."
Sara smiled faintly, then her expression turned serious.
"Do you want to spar today?" Shinobu asked suddenly, the itch of adrenaline stirring in her chest.
"Not today," Sara said after a pause.
Shinobu blinked. That was unusual. Usually, it was Sara who challenged her, not the other way around.
"Why not?"
"Because we've received orders," Sara said quietly. "A Resistance has formed on Yashiori Island. I'm leading a detachment to suppress them."
Shinobu froze. The timing was impossible. The Resistance had only just been founded—she'd learned of it minutes ago from Kokomi herself.
"How… how do you already know?" she whispered.
"My father received intelligence this morning," Sara explained. "The moment the word 'resistance' was uttered, he flew into a rage. He wants it crushed before it spreads."
Shinobu clenched her fists, forcing herself to nod calmly.
"Then… be careful."
Sara gave her a grateful look before departing.
As the door closed, Shinobu exhaled, her thoughts racing. If the Tenryou Commission already knew, that meant… there was a leak. And not just any leak—someone inside the Resistance, or close to it.
Dusk fell fully by the time Mitama and Aila reached the foot of a forest path. They had hoped to make it back to the city without incident. But fate had other plans. From the shadows ahead, seven figures emerged—ragged armor, bloodshot eyes, and blades that gleamed dully in the fading light.
Wandering samurai. Ronin or Nobushi.
Their leader grinned, eyeing the pair like wolves scenting prey.
"Well, well. A young noble and his pretty maid. Jackpot, boys!"
Laughter erupted.
"Grab the man! That's our payday right there!"
Mitama sighed inwardly. Of course.
Even before they attacked, he could tell from their stances—they'd done this before. Aila stepped forward, her body still, eyes cold.
"Do you know me?" Mitama asked, almost amused.
"Know you? Everyone in Ritou knows you!" the leader barked. "The rich young lord who walks around with no guards, only a maid! Been doing big business with foreigners, right? Must be loaded!"
As soon as he finished, the leader lunged. His blade flashed toward Aila's throat—and in the same instant, the faint shimmer of Hydro light danced at her chest.
A single slash of pure blue light cut the air. "—Swish!"
The next moment, the ronin leader's head rolled onto the dirt. The others froze, eyes wide.
"B-Boss?!"
"She's got a Vision!"
"Kill the man first!"
They rushed in. Aila said nothing. She glanced back at Mitama, awaiting his order.
"Leave one alive," he said quietly. "We need answers."
"Yes, Young Master."
Her tachi dissolved into droplets, replaced by a fan of water-forged knives. She flicked her wrist—
"—Swish!"
The knives shot forward, splitting mid-flight, twisting unpredictably like living serpents. The ronin barely had time to raise their swords.
"Wha—"
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Five bodies dropped to the ground almost simultaneously. Only one remained, trembling, drenched in blood.
"I said one alive," Mitama muttered, scratching his head. "Next time," Aila replied flatly.
He sighed. "You always say that."
Then he knelt in front of the surviving ronin, whose eyes darted between him and the unflinching maid.
"Two choices," Mitama said evenly. "One, tell me who leaked my movements, and I'll hand you over to the Shogunate alive."
"Two—"
"Two! I pick two!" the man shouted, panic overtaking sense. "Wait, no—don't come any closer!"
Aila stepped forward, her tachi materializing once more. "The second choice," Mitama said with a smile, "is that this beautiful scenery becomes your grave."
"Wait, wait, wait! I'll talk! I'll talk!!!" The ronin fell to his knees, shaking. "I choose the first one!"