Tenshukaku, rear courtyard.
The open space here was quite large. Raiden Shogun would occasionally sit beneath the pavilion to admire flowers and birds. For a quick spar, the place was just right.
"Come!"
Facing each other, Nolan summoned the Frostlight Descending Blade.
Without a word, the Shogun drew her long polearm naginata.
Her wooden geta clicked sharply as she stepped back, then suddenly she lunged forward. Even without calling upon Electro, sheer physical might propelled her before Nolan in an instant.
The naginata's edge cut through the sunlight, descending like a flash of lightning.
So fast! Nolan's expression hardened as he raised the icy blade to meet her strike. Clang! The impact sent shock reverberating up his arm.
Both fighters used the force to rebound away, circling briefly before clashing again, searching for openings.
In terms of swordsmanship alone, Nolan, who commanded both Lumine's Authority and Musou no Hitotachi, two god-tier sword arts, had the edge over Raiden Shogun, who mastered only the latter.
Yet her physical prowess far surpassed his. Even without divine arts, her raw body strength compensated for any technical gap.
Thus, their duel felt evenly matched—neither able to gain the upper hand.
And that was what made it exhilarating. To be felled in a single strike, or to win in one, left no thrill of battle.
Their spar stretched on for over an hour before both sheathed their weapons.
"Not bad. A rare, satisfying bout." Raiden Shogun gave him a nod of approval.
"Not bad at all… I nearly lost, though." Nolan wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. "By now, the negotiations may be done. Let's head back."
"Mm." The Shogun folded her arms beneath her pale chest, nodding as they walked together. Then curiosity flickered in her violet eyes:
"Recently, my Inner Self has grown stronger. She said it was through training with you. What kind of training is this?"
"Oh?" Nolan glanced at her. "Are you interested in trying it yourself?"
"Why not? Is there a problem with that?"
Her gaze cut sideways at him, sharp as her blade.
"No problem at all. If you want to train, we can try right now." Nolan coughed lightly, then smiled. "Where's your room? Let's go there. It'll be quieter, no one will disturb us."
Training indeed needed a quiet place. Seeing no issue, Raiden Shogun led him toward her chambers.
Before long, they arrived.
The Shogun's quarters were spacious, though sparsely furnished beyond the luxury of their décor—just a bed, wardrobe, small table, and, tucked in the corner, a bathing room. She was a puppet, yes, but a physical one; even her body required cleansing.
"What exactly is this training?" she asked, turning to him.
"My method is very simple." Nolan shut the door behind him. "You just need to cooperate and not move. Follow my instructions."
"Training that requires nothing of me? Curious indeed…"
Her violet eyes glimmered with faint doubt, but she nodded.
"If that is all, I can comply. What must I do?"
At the level of an archon, growth was painfully slow—only centuries of accumulation could advance one further. The idea that her Inner Self had improved rapidly piqued her deeply.
"For now, just stand still. Let me handle the rest."
Nolan's tone was serious.
He stepped forward. Under her puzzled gaze, his hands reached up and gently pinched her soft, pale cheeks.
"…Why do you treat me so rudely? This has nothing to do with training."
Her dignified face distorted under his touch, and the exalted Shogun was not one to be handled so lightly. She was about to brush his hands away when his explanation came:
"Patience. Before we begin, I must perform bone reading. Surely you've heard—in Liyue, certain martial arts require specific innate bone structures.
"Usually one must start as a child, when the body is pliable, the bones flexible, making training twice as effective.
"My method is similar. Let me assess your foundation. If your 'roots' are excellent, our training will be far more efficient."
"Martial arts…?"
The Shogun had little knowledge of Liyue's fighting styles. She had once heard Kujou Sara mention them—mostly theater performances, or simple fist-and-kick techniques. The so-called legendary feats were often little more than tricks.
But Nolan's strength was undeniable, one of the rare few to stand against her. Perhaps he truly did know some secret art.
So she nodded, allowing him to continue this so-called bone reading.
So gullible… Nolan thought with a smirk, though his hands didn't pause.
After kneading her soft cheeks, his fingers traced the line of her jaw, moving like a true examiner of bones.
Perhaps from the earlier battle, her skin still held a faint dampness of sweat. Pale and supple, yet with the slightest slickness, it was unexpectedly pleasant to the touch.
Feeling the itch along her jawline, Raiden Shogun furrowed her brows slightly. Her lips parted as she muttered, unable to hold back:
"…Is it necessary to linger here? You've been at this spot for three minutes."
"The longer I read, the clearer the result." Nolan chuckled, letting his fingers slide down her pale neck, pausing at her collarbone.
Her skin looked as though the slightest touch might bruise it, yet no matter how his hand moved across, it remained smooth and snow-white.
Nolan placed his hand on the Shogun's waist, giving it a light squeeze. With a hesitant look, he said:
"Hard to tell through the clothes… would it be alright if I loosen them a bit?"
"…There is no reason you may not."
After a brief pause for thought, Raiden Shogun nodded in consent.
Ordinarily, to stand half-exposed before another would be a disgrace to her dignity, utterly improper. But given Nolan's closeness with her Inner Self, he too could be considered a trusted companion.
And since this was supposedly for training, there was no great harm.
"Good."
Nolan pulled her into his arms, their faces nearly touching, as his hands slid to her back to untie her corset.
"Why here? Would it not be simpler from behind?"
Shogun tilted her head slightly aside, otherwise her lips would have brushed against his and made speaking impossible.
"No trouble—this way I can also assess your overall posture," Nolan explained offhand, pressing his face against hers, leaning toward her ear as an excuse.
Beneath the cascade of violet hair, her pale earlobe was right before his eyes. His lips brushed against it lightly.
"Y—you…!" Shogun's lips parted in shock. She was just about to demand why he would bite her ear when she realized her corset had already been undone and slipped to the floor.
Her kimono fell open down the middle, exposing her pale abdomen and the violet-trimmed shorts that hugged her hips.
Before she could speak, Nolan cut her off:
"This is part of the training. Don't mind it."
And with that, he moved to face her directly, locking eyes with her amethyst gaze, and sealed her mouth with his own before she could press further.
His hands slid down her back to her hips, kneading gently.
Shogun immediately sensed something amiss—this was nothing more than his frivolous liberties! What did it have to do with training?
Her brows furrowed as she pressed against his shoulders, about to push him away—when a warm energy surged into her body. At once, she felt her strength sharpen, her physique measurably tougher.
The increase was small, yet it was equal to a month or two of training. Nolan hadn't lied. This was some kind of training… though why was it so strange?
Though doubts lingered, she no longer tried to push him off.
After kissing her lips for a moment, Nolan pulled back slightly and said with a smile:
"I checked your bone structure just now—it's quite good. Even a simple attempt brought great effect.
"Let's move over there. The closer the contact, the better the results."
He slipped his hands beneath her, lifting her up. Shogun instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck. Carrying her to the bed, he set her down.
Her kimono hung loose, pale stomach exposed. With her gaze still clouded with some doubt, he slipped off the violet-laced shorts, leaving them dangling at her stocking-clad ankles, and raised one leg gently.
---
Tenshukaku, Audience Chamber.
Meanwhile, Yae Miko smiled as Sangonomiya Kokomi signed the cooperation pact. Her fair, charming face lit with satisfaction.
"My, what a journey it has been. At last, Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate are partners. Roadwork and other infrastructure will begin soon.
"Then trade between our lands will flow smoothly, prosperity will rise along the routes—it will bring great benefit to all of Inazuma."
"Hehe, then I must thank Lady Guuji for her gracious efforts."
Kokomi covered her lips with a soft laugh.
The two women spoke as if the prior two hours of intense debate had never happened.
With the agreement settled, Kokomi did not press further—after all, such talks were tiring. She glanced around the chamber.
"Strange… where is the Shogun? For this partnership with Watatsumi, her presence as witness would lend proper authority."
"That one? Early this morning she dragged a certain young adventurer off to spar. No doubt their fight carried on. I'll send General Kujou to fetch her."
Miko chuckled, gesturing for Kujou Sara to head toward the courtyard.
But just then, two figures emerged from that very passage—Raiden Shogun and Nolan.
Kokomi's sharp eyes noted the strands of Shogun's hair clinging together with sweat, a faint sheen upon her neck catching the light. Clearly, Miko had been telling the truth—the spar must have been fierce.
She greeted politely:
"Shogun-sama, forgive me for disturbing your training."
At her words, Shogun instinctively glanced sideways, then folded her arms, replying calmly:
"It is nothing. I have witnessed today's pact between you and the Shogunate. You have traveled far, Kokomi; rest now, and later I shall host a banquet in your honor."
As hostess, offering a banquet was only proper. Kokomi had no reason to refuse. She bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Shogun-sama."
"Mm."
Shogun nodded, turning away to depart—sweat on her body suggested she sought a bath.
It would not do for Nolan to follow in front of everyone, so instead he greeted Kokomi:
"Kokomi, how did the talks go?"
"Smoothly. Lady Miko was unexpectedly agreeable today." Kokomi smiled at him, then cast Miko a brief glance.
She had arranged to meet Nolan here today, so his presence wasn't surprising. What was surprising was that the Shogun had pulled him away to spar—explaining why he hadn't been seen all morning.
"Good." Nolan nodded. "Since there's time now, could you tell me about this 'Sanctification' problem?"
"Of course." Kokomi inclined her head gently.
Seeing the two conversing so intently, Yae Miko's lips curved in amusement. She decided not to intrude, instead leaving with Kujou Sara.
As the hall emptied, Kokomi sat with Nolan, her shrine maidens standing guard nearby. She began to explain the situation with Watatsumi's land sanctifying into barren soil.
Later that afternoon, after Raiden Shogun hosted the banquet, Kokomi and her party had completed their mission and prepared to return to Watatsumi.
After taking leave of the Shogun, she led her maidens back to the ships—this time with Nolan among them, since he had accepted her commission to resolve the sanctification problem.
From Kokomi, he had already learned the cause: just as he knew from the game's lore, Watatsumi's "spirits" had sunk into Enkanomiya, leaving the land to sanctify into white desert.
It was a long-standing issue. Kokomi had a solution—Nolan only needed to lend his strength.
(End of Chapter)
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