Before the Sacred Sakura of the Grand Narukami Shrine lay a small plaza where worshippers would once buy amulets and hang them on the tree.
Now, this plaza had become a training ground. The only Tengu of the present age, the former general of the Tenryou Commission, Kujou Sara, practiced here.
At dawn, she trained. By midday, she moved to sparring.
In Inazuma, there was an event called the "Heart's Blade Martial Arts Tournament," organized by the Yashiro Commission. It involved skilled disciples from various schools competing in a tournament-style format.
But unlike ordinary tournaments, the final match was against the Shogun herself.
The last time such a thing happened was five hundred years ago—ancient history to today's participants. For them, the tournament was merely tradition, a way to gain fame. The Shogun had not personally participated in years.
Kujou Sara, however, enjoyed the privilege of daily sparring with the Shogun. And after each session, the Shogun would point out her flaws.
After dismissing Kujou Sara, Raiden Ei walked from the center of the courtyard toward the Sacred Sakura. Not a single drop of sweat marked her brow.
Kujou Sara was still too green.
In contrast, the man lazily sipping tea beneath the Sacred Sakura was a far tougher opponent.
"Huh? Shogun, why are you looking at me like that? Another match, like yesterday? No thanks. I'm no match for you—can I just surrender?" Li Mo, dressed in priestly robes, lay slumped in a reclining chair, looking utterly indolent, as if infected by Yae Miko's laziness.
Years had passed since the reforms, and the flood of documents to the Grand Narukami Shrine had dwindled. Most of the tanuki had been freed from their busywork, and Li Mo had grown idle as well.
"Fight."
"Shogun, when did you become such a battle maniac? Fine, last one! Hand me the blade."
The Engulfing Lightning had long been reduced to scrap after the battle at Tenshukaku, its surface riddled with cracks. At its core, it was merely a four-star weapon—a masterpiece of human craftsmanship, but still just a human weapon.
In the battles of gods, the Engulfing Lightning was too fragile.
The Musou Isshin was passed to Li Mo instead.
"Wasn't your usual preference the Musou no Hitotachi?" Li Mo tilted his head, then noticed the shift. "Ei? When did you come out?"
"Just now," Ei replied. "Watching the Shogun fight you made my fingers itch."
Fingers itching meant she wanted to fight.
Li Mo sighed. "You're really stealing the Shogun's chance like this?"
Still, he took the Musou Isshin and stepped onto the makeshift training ground.
Same field, same battle. The clang of metal echoed, but the combatants had changed.
Li Mo had little experience with polearms, but upon activating "Sage Form: Raiden Shogun," he mastered all techniques—including the naginata.
Both fighters refrained from using elemental energy, clashing purely in skill rather than brute force.
When Yae Miko returned, this was the sight that greeted her.
Her god and her shrine priest sparring, with the priest wielding her god's own weapon.
The Musou Isshin and the Engulfing Lightning used for mere practice?
Bored, Yae Miko settled in a corner with snacks and tea, watching idly—until she noticed something odd.
Why was the Shogun glancing at her so often?
Wait… was that Ei?!
Almost instantly, Yae Miko saw Raiden Ei swing the Musou no Hitotachi—toward her. Lightning surged, the blade's glare eclipsing the sun itself.
Of course, the strike didn't land. No one knew better than Yae Miko how to dodge Ei's attacks.
The nearby Sacred Sakura branch was cleaved, the blade's energy dissipating harmlessly.
For Ei, any strike short of her secret technique could be controlled—even the surrounding structures remained untouched.
"Ei, what was that for?!" Yae Miko stormed forward, indignant.
"Because I felt like it," Ei said flatly. "As the head priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine, you've been absent for days, lazing about elsewhere. Doesn't that deserve a slash? You dodged anyway."
"Ei, are you really you?" Yae Miko feigned exaggerated shock. "You're not the Shogun in disguise, are you?"
Ei raised the Musou no Hitotachi again, and Yae Miko promptly surrendered, hands raised.
Dragged into the office, Yae Miko stood before Ei while Li Mo leaned against the doorframe, the Engulfing Lightning in his arms—clearly ready to cut off any escape.
Had she done something to provoke them recently?
"What's the situation with Urakusai?"
"Eh? Ei, how do you know—" Yae Miko shot a glare at Li Mo.
The outsider who seemed to know everything about Teyvat, as if he'd observed it all from afar. Was this normal?
Ei's voice was icy. "How I know doesn't matter. Miko, explain everything—from the beginning."
Cornered, Yae Miko relented. It all started with the book *True Tales of the Supernatural*. She'd recognized Urakusai's handiwork immediately. Then came the light novels based on the Traveler's adventures, the publishing rivalry, and finally tracking Urakusai down days ago.
"And where is Urakusai now?" Ei demanded.
"Oh, he's off jogging the memories of youkai possessing humans," Yae Miko said.
She could see it now—Ei's anger had been stoked by a certain instigator. She even caught Li Mo's smug grin.
Ei asked, "Are they preparing for another Hyakki Yagyo?"
"Yes. For those old-timers, the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons is the height of excitement."
Ei fell silent for a long moment before finally leaving, reclaiming the Engulfing Lightning from Li Mo on her way out.
The moment she was gone, Yae Miko pounced. "You sold me out!"
"Who else would I sell out?"
The commotion inside faded as Ei stood alone in the courtyard, lost in thought.
Hyakki Yagyo. The first time she'd heard the name in centuries, she'd dismissed it. But now, with its revival imminent, memories surged unbidden.
Of watching it with Lady Saiguu at the shrine… of standing beside her sister at Tenshukaku…
She looked up at the Sacred Sakura and smiled faintly.
"At least… there's still a glimmer of hope."