Chapter 153. Just returned to Inazuma City, and was treated as a suspect?
Futsu Mitama and the others stepped into Sangonomiya Kokomi's office.
The moment they crossed the threshold, silence thickened.
On the long desk before her lay towering stacks of documents — reports from the front lines, supply logs, intelligence briefs, internal assessments, recruitment rosters. The sheer volume alone made one's scalp tingle.
This was not exaggeration.
This was her daily reality.
Every matter on Watatsumi Island. Every movement of the Resistance. Every whisper of the Fatui. Every fluctuation within Inazuma City.
And the more precarious the situation became, the more absolute her focus had to be.
"This is truly…"
Yae Miko's usual smile faltered ever so slightly.
Even if she combined the affairs of the Grand Narukami Shrine and Yae Publishing House, it would not amount to half of what lay before Kokomi.
If she had to personally process all of this—In less than three days, she would likely resemble Kokomi's current state.
"Do not worry," Kokomi said gently, noticing her expression. "Most are minor matters. Those can be delegated. The priority lies with the Resistance's movements, the Fatui's deployments on the front line, and intelligence from Inazuma City."
"And infiltration attempts," she added softly. "Spies and suspicious individuals seeking to enter the troops. That requires the most mental energy."
"There are also newly formed recruit units. They can handle monsters, perhaps…but people are another matter."
As she summarized the situation, Yae Miko's lips twitched.
So many variables. So many unstable factors. She was merely a fox who had lived five centuries.
Why must she endure this hardship?
Her eyes drifted toward the others, seeking assistance.
Kuki Shinobu quietly stepped half a pace behind Futsu Mitama.
Shenhe and Aila adopted expressions of complete detachment, as though merely visiting for "training."
Futsu Mitama, meanwhile, kept his gaze fixed on Kokomi — entirely uninterested in Yae Miko's silent plea.
"Very well."
Yae Miko exhaled.
No one would help her. She had no choice.
If she abandoned this post, the Resistance might be crushed outright.
"Mm." Kokomi's smile softened. "With one full day of rest, I can recover. If the Guuji can oversee matters for that time, I will return immediately."
One day.
Yae Miko nodded.
Surely one day was manageable. After all, for five hundred years, major decisions in Inazuma had passed through her hands.
Granted…she typically ignored minor issues. Managing a Resistance…should not be difficult. Should it?
Kokomi had already taken her seat and invited the others to sit. She began recounting recent developments in greater detail than what had been shared previously in the group.
When she learned that Aila, Shenhe, and Kuki Shinobu would remain to assist—
The fatigue in her eyes visibly lightened. This was not a small reinforcement. This was decisive support.
The Resistance did not lack basic manpower. It lacked individuals capable of independent command.
Shenhe had stepped into the Adeptus realm. Outside of the Raiden Shogun, perhaps only a Fatui Harbinger such as Scaramouche could match her.
Aila possessed both strength and sharp judgment.
Kuki Shinobu, though comparatively less powerful, was versatile — precisely the kind of talent the Resistance urgently needed.
Combined with Yae Miko temporarily assuming her duties—
The most precarious phase had been stabilized.
"As you know," Kokomi began calmly, "the Tenryou Commission and the Fatui have formally aligned. Before open war, the Fatui established a base on Yashiori Island. I have confirmed the location. However, Gorou and Kazuha remain tied down by elite Shogunate harassment. I cannot risk sending other generals."
Her smile turned faintly bitter.
It was not distrust alone. It was the fear they would not return.
Premature exposure of strength would be fatal.
"Three strongholds exist on Yashiori Island," she continued. "Alongside a factory producing an unknown item. The strongholds must be eliminated. The factory…do not approach. A Fatui Harbinger is likely stationed there. Elite forces as well. Attacking rashly would trigger war ahead of schedule."
Time was the Resistance's most valuable resource.
"Three strongholds…" Futsu Mitama murmured.
"I can assist in removing one before returning to Inazuma City. But strategically, that alone is harmless to the Fatui."
"Correct," Kokomi nodded. "It is not about damage. It is about training. With your leadership, and the Fatui's elite forces as opponents, we can forge experienced soldiers."
The intent was clear.
Use the enemy as a whetstone. Ordinary Resistance recruits could not grow through drills alone. Fatui soldiers were hardened veterans. Even the most basic among them could fight one against ten.
Electro Cicin Mages. Debt Collectors. Mirror Maidens.
Without powerful oversight, it would not be training — it would be slaughter. Now, with this group present, the plan became viable.
"There is a Harbinger at the factory?" Shenhe's interest sharpened.
Only opponents of that caliber could truly temper her strength.
A similar gleam flickered in Aila's eyes.
"When war begins," Kokomi replied evenly, "you will likely be required to confront that individual."
"For now, patience."
They agreed.
After addressing further matters and outlining priorities for Yae Miko, Kokomi stood and bowed deeply.
Her gratitude was genuine.
Yae Miko responded lightly; her motives were layered.
Futsu Mitama's were simpler — he did not wish to see Kokomi destroyed by the tides of war.
Kuki Shinobu fought for Inazuma's future.
Aila and Shenhe sought growth — and to stand stronger beside him.
Kokomi then handed Futsu Mitama a sealed letter.
"Give this to Gorou and Kazuha. They will understand."
With responsibilities transferred, she finally allowed herself to retreat.
The composure remained intact—But the moment she turned away, the exhaustion felt heavier.
Behind her, Yae Miko transformed into Sangonomiya Kokomi's likeness and sat at the desk.
Documents were drawn closer. Ink brushed parchment.
The Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine began to shoulder the weight of Watatsumi Island.
Meanwhile, Futsu Mitama and the others departed for Yashiori Island. Though Watatsumi was headquarters, the true frontline elite gathered there.
After hours at sea, they reached the Resistance's primary encampment. Activity pulsed everywhere — even more intense than the island.
Thanks to Kokomi's token, no one obstructed them.
Soon, they arrived at the training grounds. Rows of soldiers practiced with determination in their eyes — not reckless fervor, but disciplined hope. At the forefront stood a familiar figure.
A breeze stirred. The young man turned.
Recognition flickered across his features before softening into a quiet smile.
"So," he said lightly, "the reinforcements The Divine Priestess mentioned…are you."
"Long time no see," Futsu Mitama replied with a faint chuckle.
The man before them was none other than Kaedehara Kazuha. Once a wandering swordsman, now an essential pillar of the Resistance — second only to Sangonomiya Kokomi and Gorou.
And as the wind shifted around them, it carried with it the unmistakable scent of approaching war.
Furthermore, he was not merely a wandering swordsman lending temporary aid. Among the Resistance's visible forces, he was currently the strongest individual standing on the surface.
"Yes… long time no see."
Kaedehara Kazuha studied Futsu Mitama, Aila, and Kuki Shinobu in turn, a quiet sigh escaping him.
"You've all grown considerably stronger."
It had only been a little over a month. Yet the aura radiating from Futsu Mitama now was profoundly different. When they had sparred in the past, Kazuha could still measure the distance between them.
Now?
The presence before him felt comparable to the oppressive might he once sensed from Scaramouche. If they crossed blades seriously, Kazuha estimated he would not endure ten exchanges.
Aila and Kuki Shinobu were less overwhelming, but their composure, their control of breath and stance — neither would be easy opponents.
And then there was Shenhe. Tall, white-haired, her bearing distant and almost transcendent. Even without movement, she exuded danger.
Kazuha understood immediately: if he went all out, he likely would not last long against her.
Fortunately, she stood on their side.
"You all continue your drills," Kazuha said to the soldiers. "Teppei, supervise."
The young man straightened instantly. "Understood!"
At the name, Futsu Mitama's gaze lingered.
Teppei. A fate once steeped in tragedy.
An ordinary Resistance member who, in pursuit of strength, grasped at a Delusion — paying a price too heavy for a mortal body. That quiet despairing line — "Perhaps the gods truly do not watch over me." — echoed faintly in memory.
But this time, the trajectory had shifted.
Under Kazuha's guidance, Teppei's foundation was steadier. The path ahead no longer seemed inevitably doomed.
"Let's speak elsewhere," Kazuha suggested.
They moved aside.
Futsu Mitama handed over Kokomi's letter.
Kazuha read swiftly, comprehension dawning almost immediately. It was fortunate the letter reached him; Gorou might have required strategic pouches and prolonged contemplation before unraveling its layered meaning.
"Your arrival changes much," Kazuha said earnestly. "Our situation is…delicate. Gorou leads the front lines against the Shogunate. The Fatui will likely commit forces within days. It is easy to gather troops. Hard to cultivate generals."
Relief flickered across his features. With Aila, Shenhe, and Kuki Shinobu remaining, the imbalance eased.
"But you," he added, looking to Futsu Mitama, "you intend to return to Inazuma City?"
"Yes."
The answer was immediate. If the Raiden Shogun herself turned her gaze upon Resistance headquarters, morale alone would collapse.
This struggle existed because the conflict was framed around decrees — not direct defiance of a god. Should the Shogun appear personally, even silently observing, the psychological tide would shatter.
"Will that not endanger you?" Kazuha asked quietly.
From his perspective, the Tenryou Commission's alliance with the Fatui signaled tightening control. Information flowed. Accusations could be manufactured.
He still remembered that clash with Scaramouche — the moment Futsu Mitama unleashed a move so decisive it forced retreat, yet left a lingering weakness.
In his understanding, returning to Inazuma City was walking into a trap.
"What are you implying?" Shenhe asked, her tone cool.
Kazuha faltered slightly.
Then she stated plainly:
"Futsu Mitama is a retainer of the Raiden Shogun. In Inazuma, none may judge him but Her Excellency."
Silence fell.
Kazuha stared.
"A…retainer?"
In the minds of most citizens, only one figure bore that title: Yae Miko.
To hear it applied to Futsu Mitama—
He did not refute it. Instead, he searched Futsu Mitama's expression.
"Is it true?"
There was hope in his voice. If true, perhaps the Resistance's ideals could bypass the Three Commissions entirely.
"Mmm," Futsu Mitama confirmed. Then, gently but firmly, he added, "Do not place your hopes on persuasion. Even if the Guuji and I stood together, we could not sway the current Shogun."
The flicker of hope dimmed.
If even retainers could not reach her…what then?
Despair brushed Kazuha's thoughts.
In Inazuma, Archons were absolute.
Should one intervene directly, all strategy would dissolve.
"Do not misunderstand," Futsu Mitama continued evenly. "The Guuji and I stand with the Resistance."
"The voice of a retainer may not reach the Plane of Euthymia. But the purest wishes of the people…those will."
Kazuha inhaled slowly. He did not know if such faith was justified. But it was the only path forward.
The conversation ended there.
Midday light stretched long across the training grounds.
Futsu Mitama would return to Inazuma City before dusk — to meet the Shogun, to receive guidance.
Aila, Kuki Shinobu, and Shenhe would remain.
They would temper soldiers against Fatui steel.
Before war erupted fully, he intended to test the factory's depths himself — to determine whether Scaramouche stood alone, or whether the ever-calculating Il Dottore lurked unseen behind the stage.
Caution was not weakness. It was preparation.
And the wind that moved across Yashiori Island carried the quiet certainty that the decisive storm had not yet arrived.
This arrangement had been settled in advance. Aila, Kuki Shinobu, and Shenhe raised no objections.
After receiving the directive from Sangonomiya Kokomi, Kaedehara Kazuha likewise voiced none. Upon returning, he intended to inform Gorou personally and coordinate the next phase.
They would lead strike teams to harass the Fatui.
In terms of rank, the three women were all appointed as Generals—equal in standing to Gorou and Kazuha.
Kazuha was indifferent to hierarchy. And Gorou, who had never once questioned Kokomi's judgment, would certainly not object.
Moreover, Kuki Shinobu and Aila had assisted the Resistance on multiple occasions. Trust had already been established through action.
As for Shenhe, that was merely an extension of circumstance.
After issuing his final instructions, Futsu Mitama said nothing further. He simply stated that any urgent matters could be reported through the Chat Group. Then he turned and departed the Resistance headquarters without hesitation.
Once he had left the others behind and was alone, Futsu Mitama transformed into a streak of Electro and shot toward Inazuma City.
The fusion of Anemo and Electro dramatically enhanced his mobility. In the past, traveling at full speed from Yashiori Island to Inazuma City would have required seven to eight hours.
Now? Less than two.
If he invoked the deeper authority of Anemo and Electro, the time would shrink even further.
He exhaled quietly. He had grown stronger. Undeniably so.
With a sharp crackle of thunder, he vanished into the sky.
Elsewhere on Yashiori Island, Scaramouche stood outside the factory, his restored limbs flexing subtly—courtesy of Il Dottore.
Through the Fatui intelligence network, he had long known the location of the Resistance headquarters. He had simply never considered them worthy of attention.
They were insects.
Only because of Kazuha had he refrained from crushing them outright.
His true targets were two: Futsu Mitama, who had forced him into disgrace, and Yae Miko—the cunning fox.
Suddenly, Scaramouche lifted his gaze.
A familiar aura passed overhead. His eyes narrowed.
"Is it him?"
Electro gathered faintly around his form. If he moved now, he could likely intercept the figure. He simply did not know whether it was Yae Miko—or that detestable Futsu Mitama.
"Scaramouche-sama!" A Fatui woman hurried from the factory. "There is new intelligence from Liyue!"
Scaramouche paused. There was no need to rush. The Resistance was entangled with both of his quarry. He could harvest them all in due time.
"Speak."
"According to Lord Tartaglia, Futsu Mitama and his group departed Liyue three days ago. Their lineup is formidable. He advises caution."
Scaramouche did not question why three-day-old intelligence was only now arriving.
Instead, he smiled faintly.
"Formidable?" His voice cooled. "What did that brute say exactly? Does Liyue intend to interfere in Inazuma's internal affairs?"
He nearly laughed.
Liyue was powerful—crowded with Adeptus and hidden masters. Even he would weigh his steps there.
But Liyue adhered to old principles.
One of them: non-interference.
"You are correct, Lord," the woman said carefully. "However, Liyue has sent an Adeptus disciple. According to Lord Tartaglia, this disciple is extremely strong. If he joins forces with Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko, underestimating them could lead to defeat."
A flash of Electro ignited in Scaramouche's eyes.
The woman trembled instantly.
"Defeat?" He sneered. "I do not underestimate anyone."
"Still… Liyue sending someone is interesting. An Adeptus disciple, hm?"
A low laugh escaped him.
"I look forward to testing their strength."
The oppressive aura dissipated. He did not vent his mood upon a mere messenger. That would be beneath him.
Returning to the factory, Scaramouche's thoughts sharpened. With Dottore's devices, without drawing the Shogun Puppet's attention, victory was assured.
And when that moment came—He would claim the true Heart.
—
An hour and a half later, Futsu Mitama arrived before Inazuma City.
He gazed at it quietly.
"I'm back… Inazuma City."
He descended slowly. Strangely, there was no bitterness in his chest.
He had lived here for years. Even flawed memories did not erase attachment.
Like a wanderer returning home.
Yet the city remained unchanged—alive, but subdued. Nothing like the fervor of Watatsumi Island.
At the gates, security had tightened. Eight elite soldiers stood aligned, spears grounded, vigilance in their eyes.
"Stop!"
One stepped forward.
"Futsu Family."
Futsu Mitama presented his identification smoothly. The Futsu Family still carried weight in Inazuma City—affiliated with the Yashiro Commission. He had been gone just over a month. Surely memory had not faded so quickly.
"I know who you are," the soldier said evenly. "By order of Lord Takayuki, all who return to the city are to be detained for three days. Resistance rebels have been infiltrating. Cooperate, and you will be released once cleared."
The other soldiers watched him with faint pity.
Tenryou Commission personnel would never be treated this way. Yashiro Commission members, however, were different.
Futsu Mitama raised an eyebrow.
A retainer of the Raiden Shogun—detained as a suspect? How amusing.
Very well. He would comply.
He was curious how that old fox intended to resolve this personally.
"Stop."
A sharp female voice cut across the air. Kujou Sara strode forward, her expression severe.