Kannazuka Island, a beach beneath the cliffs.
At a shabby little campsite, several wandering ronin were cooking. One of them frowned as the firewood dwindled.
He glanced around—none of his companions had bothered to gather more wood.
With no choice, he went to look for branches. But being so close to the sea, everything he found was damp and useless for kindling.
His eyes drifted to the parcel that courier girl had dropped yesterday. He remembered—it contained a doll.
Useless to men like them, since as wanted criminals they couldn't exactly stroll into town and sell it.
But the cotton stuffing inside? Perfect to use as tinder.
He walked over to their junk pile and pulled out the parcel tossed carelessly on top.
It was a clear package bag. Inside was a limited-edition Raiden Shogun plushie—worth hundreds of thousands of Mora if sold.
A shame. Even with valuables in hand, fugitives like them had no way to convert it into money.
Using something so expensive just to light a fire—what luxury.
The ronin sighed. Once, he'd sought shortcuts to get rich quick. Now he was a fugitive, forced to live in hiding. Even if he had wealth, he couldn't spend it. Was this really worth it?
If only he'd chosen differently back then… perhaps now he'd be like any other citizen, with his own home in the city.
As he sank into regret, suddenly his vision went black. His thoughts went blank, and the parcel slipped from his hand. Before it hit the dirt, another hand caught it.
[Defeated A Strong Enemy. Obtained 1,241 Adventure EXP.]
"Whew… Even a little dirt on this wouldn't do when handing it over to Kujou Sara. Luckily it's still clean."
Nolan examined the parcel.
No damage. Not even dirty from the ronin's careless storage. Good. Otherwise, its value would plummet—and he'd have no good excuse for Sara.
"Who goes there?!" The other ronin saw their comrade fall and a stranger appear.
"Courting death!"
They drew their swords, blades polished with elemental ore that sparked with lightning and flame. With a shout, they charged Nolan, long blades slashing down with heavy force.
"Your skills aren't bad. If you'd chosen to be adventurers, you could have lived well—and earned people's respect.
"So why throw your lives away as outlaws?"
Nolan swept out his hand. Instantly, he caught every blade mid-swing. Sparks and fire licked harmlessly against his grip, unable to break through.
"W-what?!" The ronin gaped in disbelief.
These were the blades that had slain monsters by the dozen—blades that had even driven off Hilichurl Chieftains. And now one man had seized them barehanded.
Could he be some great yokai in human form?!
Fear spread like wildfire. They yanked desperately at their weapons, but nothing budged. Their legs began to tremble.
Damn it… who had they provoked?!
A sharp crack echoed. The ronin stared in horror as their proud weapons crumbled to shards in Nolan's hand, iron fragments clattering to the ground.
They broke at once, collapsing to their knees, begging for mercy.
"Spare us, great lord! Spare us! We don't even know how we offended you, but whatever you command, we will obey!"
"Oh? At least you know your place." Nolan folded his arms, then nodded toward one of them. "You. Bind the others. Then carry the unconscious one on your back. You're coming with us to the Commission."
"Yes, yes, thank you, my lord, for sparing us!"
Compared to death, prison was nothing.
As one ronin bound his comrades, Yoimiya and Kirara approached, faces bright with admiration.
"Incredible—you took them down in an instant!"
Both girls' fair faces were tinged with awe.
[Yoimiya Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 330 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.9 (750/900).]
[Kirara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 380 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.5 (300/500).]
Seeing the twin notifications pop up, Nolan smiled.
"Well, I am a rather famous adventurer. A few ronin are hardly a challenge."
He held up the transparent package. "This should be your missing delivery, right?"
Kirara carefully took it and examined it. Finding no damage, she beamed.
"Yes, that's it! Thank goodness… Now I won't have to face Kujou-dono's wrath. If I lost my job… I'd have to slink back to the mountains and live as a yokai again."
"Since the parcel's safe, let's deliver it to General Kujou at the Tenryou Commission—and drop these scoundrels off at the office while we're at it."
Yoimiya crossed her arms, glaring at the disgraced ronin.
"Right!"
Kirara eagerly agreed. With the package recovered, her spirits were soaring.
The plush's packaging box was gone—that at least would have to be explained to Kujou Sara.
But perhaps, since they had also captured a group of wanted ronin, Kujou Sara might not hold it against her.
Kirara had heard that Lady Kujou Sara was a very upright person. Surely she wouldn't fuss over such a small matter.
Most likely, Sara wanted the Raiden Shogun plush for her room, as a reminder to always model herself after her Excellency.
Inazuma City, Tenryou Commission.
After dropping the ronin off at the Commission office, the group went to visit Kujou Sara.
Normally, an ordinary visitor would need to state their business and convince the gate guards of its importance before they would inform her.
But with Nolan present, the guards didn't even ask—they went straight to notify Sara.
Before long, Kujou Sara herself appeared, wearing her red tengu mask tilted to the side, wooden clogs clacking against the stone. She looked over the group and said:
"Nolan, the fireworks shop owner, and a courier from Komaniya Express… What an unusual combination. So, what business brings you here?"
"Um, actually—" Kirara began.
"Wait."
Nolan quickly remembered that collecting Shogun merchandise was one of Sara's private hobbies. If mentioned in public, it could embarrass or anger her.
He cut Kirara off at once.
"What we have to discuss is important. Better to speak inside."
"Hmm?"
Kirara tilted her head in confusion. Wasn't this just about a delivery? Surely not classified information.
"Ah—right. Lady Kujou Sara, let's discuss it privately," Yoimiya added, realizing his intent.
"Very well. Please, come in." Believing it must be something serious, Kujou Sara led them into the Commission.
In a quiet meeting room with no one else present, she had them sit and asked, "Now, what exactly is the matter?"
Kirara produced the Shogun plush, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
"Well… here's what happened."
She explained the whole story of the lost package.
"What?!"
Sara leapt to her feet, alarmed that her Shogun plush had fallen into ronin hands. Then, catching the others' odd looks, she coughed and forced a calm smile.
"I mean… how dare they rob couriers of their packages! Such behavior is utterly unforgivable!"
No wonder Nolan had insisted they speak privately. If her colleagues ever discovered their strict commander secretly loved plush dolls, she'd sooner flee Teyvat—or bury herself in the earth.
Because of that discretion, her impression of Nolan improved slightly.
[Kujou Sara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 360 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.5 (260/500).]
"Don't worry, Lady Kujou Sara. Since the plush is already in my hands, it means everyone who tried to steal it has been captured!" Kirara declared, patting her chest.
"You've done well." Kujou Sara accepted the Raiden Shogun plush, relief flickering across her face.
If those ronin had used it as kindling, that precious limited-edition plush would have been lost forever. The thought alone was unbearable.
[Kujou Sara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 340 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.6 (100/600).]
Her regard for Nolan and his companions, who had rescued the plush, rose another notch.
"Please, there's no need to thank us. Delivering packages safely and on time to every client—that's our duty as couriers!" Kirara said happily.
Though it was a pity the original packaging box was gone, the plush itself was intact, and even the outer bag remained clean.
Since they still had another commission to complete, once the delivery was safely returned, Nolan and Yoimiya took their leave of Sara.
They then bid farewell to Kirara as well, who returned to Komaniya Express to continue working.
"Next up is the Arataki Gang, right? The second commission said Deputy Kuki Shinobu is troubled about bailing her boss and his men out of the Commission's custody."
Yoimiya pulled out the commission slip to confirm.
"Mm. I know where the Arataki Gang's base is. Let's just teleport there directly."
Nolan took her soft hand.
"Mhm." Though he'd held her hand before—and even done more intimate things—the busy street made her blush shyly, her fair cheeks tinged red.
Soon, they warped to the Arataki Gang's hideout, where they found Kuki Shinobu looking troubled.
"Shinobu, what's wrong? You look worried." Nolan asked with a smile.
Seeing him arrive, Shinobu's eyes widened slightly.
"Nolan? You're here? And Miss Yoimiya too?"
"We've been sent by the Yashiro Commission to help grant people's wishes. Since you look so troubled, I'm guessing you have a problem that needs solving?" Nolan said lightly.
"So it was true… Yesterday, when they collected wishes, I didn't think they'd really send someone. Even if the Yashiro meant it, I thought my wish wouldn't count."
Shinobu admitted in surprise.
[Kuki Shinobu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 330 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.6 (220/600).]
"No doubt about it, Miss Shinobu," Yoimiya grinned. "Your wish is included. You must be worried about bailing your gang members out, right?"
"That's right. If you two step in, I'm sure we can gain the Guuji's forgiveness."
Shinobu explained why the gang had been detained and why they couldn't yet be bailed out.
As she'd told the wish collectors, it wasn't just a matter of paying bail. They needed the Shrine's forgiveness.
Really, it wasn't difficult—if Shinobu apologized to the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine on behalf of the gang, and took responsibility for removing their flyers, things would likely be settled.
But for certain reasons, she wasn't keen to go herself.
"Oh? And why's that?" Yoimiya asked. "It's not like the shrine is a dangerous place."
"It's… complicated." Shinobu evaded. "Anyway, please go in my place. With Nolan there, I'm sure the Guuji won't make things hard."
If I go myself, of course it'll be fine, Nolan thought, amused. After all, Guuji Yae shares my bed. She wouldn't trouble me over such a trifle.
Still, he said aloud:
"But even if I ask Yae Miko for forgiveness, if the deputy herself doesn't show, won't it look insincere?
"How about you come with us? True, Yae is unpredictable—but with me there, she won't trouble you."
"Exactly," Yoimiya agreed. "If you go too, the Guuji might feel your sincerity and forgive them."
After all, without the gang's representative, asking for forgiveness would seem half-hearted.
"Ugh…" Shinobu frowned beneath her black face mask.
Her reluctance wasn't just about facing the Guuji—there was another reason. But Nolan and Yoimiya were right.
She would have to go. Hopefully, with the presence of this legendary adventurer, the Guuji wouldn't make things too difficult.
(End of Chapter)
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