...
On the other side—inside the Kujou household—
The grand hall of the Kujou residence was rectangular in structure, spacious and resplendent. Golden tatami mats, lavish decorations, racks filled with various blades and spears, and walls adorned with solemn patterns emitting a dignified radiance—all together formed an atmosphere of stately opulence. Only the Kujou family's residence dared to mirror the splendor of Tenshukaku itself, given the influence they held.
Seated cross-legged at the center of the hall was an elderly man with gray-white hair. He held a brush in hand, writing bold characters upon the paper before him. His slightly clouded eyes still carried the sharp gleam of a seasoned mind.
Tap, tap…
A subordinate opened the grand doors of the Kujou residence and approached with disciplined steps, bowing respectfully before the elder.
"Lord Takayuki."
The subordinate addressed him reverently.
"Hm… Have those guests from Snezhnaya been properly accommodated?" the old man asked in a deep, resonant voice.
"Yes, everything has been arranged. They mentioned that they intend to stay in Inazuma permanently," the subordinate replied with head bowed.
"Is that so… And what about the Kanjou Commission?"
"They too have been settled. Moreover… I heard that those guests brought several crates of goods. When I inquired about their contents, they did not answer directly—only said that in time, these goods would aid us against the resistance forces."
"Oh? It seems our friends from afar have their own secrets. So be it… let them be."
Without stopping his writing, Kujou Takayuki let out a faint, knowing smile.
"As you command!"
The subordinate bowed again and began to rise, intending to take his leave—
"Wait."
"Eh… my lord?"
Kujou Takayuki suddenly lifted his gaze, halting him mid-motion. The subordinate stiffened, startled and uncertain, fearing he had erred.
"How are things with the Yashiro Commission? Has that Kamisato girl been behaving herself lately?"
"Uh…"
The subordinate hesitated, silent.
"Speak plainly! Don't stammer!" Takayuki's voice thundered through the hall.
"Y-yes, my lord!" the man stuttered, quickly kneeling again. "The Kamisato family… seems to be plotting something lately. They've been entertaining several unfamiliar visitors."
"Unfamiliar visitors? Anything else of note?"
The elder set his brush aside, his sharp eyes narrowing with suspicion. His gravelly tone carried such weight that the subordinate dared not lie.
"Today… Lady Kamisato Ayaka also went out with those guests for a time, but…"
"Stop hesitating!!"
Bang!
A thunderous slap struck the table, making the subordinate flinch violently.
"B-but… we lost track of them, my lord!" he confessed, trembling with cold sweat.
"Useless fool!!"
Takayuki's roar shook the air.
"T-this servant deserves death!!" the subordinate cried, bowing lower, his forehead nearly to the ground.
"...Hmph. Forget it."
The elder waved his hand dismissively, retrieving his brush once more.
"That girl can't stir up much trouble. As long as the Shogun isn't informed, everything remains under control."
Every petition from the Kamisato family had been rejected by them, and the Yashiro Commission's actions were constantly under their surveillance. Every move Ayaka made was known—she had no chance to act freely.
"Speaking of the Shogun, have you kept track of Her Excellency's movements?"
"Yes, my lord. The Shogun has remained within Tenshukaku these past few days and has not gone out."
"Good. If the Shogun leaves, you and your men are to monitor her discreetly. Make sure there's no contact between her and the Kamisato family."
His tone sank lower, carrying a chilling authority that filled the empty hall.
"As you command."
The subordinate straightened slightly, preparing once again to leave—
"Stop."
The old man called out once more.
"M-my lord? Is there anything else?"
Takayuki lowered his brush, stroking the short beard on his chin, his eyes narrowing in thought. A sly glint flashed in his gaze.
"Tell me… has the number of Visions collected by the Shogun reached one hundred yet?"
...
His tone grew strange and mocking, his voice stretching with a sinister playfulness. Though it sounded almost like a jest, the soldier before him broke into a nervous sweat. In that instant, he understood perfectly the cunning glint of a seasoned old fox.
"Y-yes… currently the number stands at ninety-nine," he stammered.
"How are the preparations for the ritual?"
"They have been completed."
"Have you found a suitable candidate yet?"
"No, my lord. In recent days, the Tenryou Commission hasn't been able to confiscate any new Visions. It's as though they've all vanished—or perhaps been hidden away."
"No matter…"
Kujou Takayuki stroked his beard again, a sly smile creeping across his face.
"I already have someone in mind."
"My lord?"
The subordinate looked up in confusion at the elder before him.
Takayuki slowly rose to his feet, flicked his kimono sleeve, and walked to the splendid golden folding screen ahead of him.
"The Kamisato family… don't they have a certain servant?"
"!"
At those words, the subordinate's heart jolted.
"My lord, surely you don't mean—"
"Heh…"
Takayuki did not answer. Instead, he picked up a wanted poster that had been lying ready on the desk and flicked it downward with a smooth motion.
The soft parchment landed precisely before the soldier. On it was the portrait of a young man. The subordinate picked it up and looked toward Kujou Takayuki.
"Send word: tomorrow, before Statue of the Omnipresent God the Shogun's one-hundredth Vision confiscation ceremony will be held. The event will be overseen by the Tenryou Commission. The Yashiro Commission… is forbidden from entering."
"As you command!"
The soldier rose swiftly and exited the hall.
Bang!
The heavy doors closed behind him, echoing through the chamber like the pounding of a heart.
Kujou Takayuki stroked his beard in satisfaction, his eyes glinting with a sly, malevolent light.
"Let's see how obedient you remain this time, Kamisato Ayaka… hehehehe~!!"
That eerie laughter—like that of a devil's—spread through every corner of the hall, as the scheming elder prepared the final step to ensure the Yashiro Commission's downfall.
"Princess of the White Heron," he sneered inwardly. "Hmph… to me, the most fitting place for that little white heron is a gilded cage."
Meanwhile, a single droplet of black ink slid from the brush resting on the desk. It fell onto the pristine white paper below, slowly spreading, staining and consuming the characters written upon it—'Kamisato Family.'
...
Swish…
The door of Komore Teahouse slid open. Aether and Paimon stepped inside, having completed their task.
"Ayaka, we're back!"
Floating in midair, Paimon's cheerful voice filled the once-quiet room with her usual lively energy.
"…"
Yet Ayaka did not respond. She stood by the window, her gaze lowered, seemingly deep in thought.
"…" ×2
The two exchanged an awkward glance.
"Miss Kamisato?"
Aether approached and called to her once more.
"Oh… welcome back, both of you. How is Master Masakatsu…?"
Ayaka blinked, regaining her composure. Her expression softened into her usual calm demeanor as she turned toward them, speaking with her characteristic courtesy.
"He's safe! We rescued him—together with Yoimiya!" Paimon said proudly, hands on her hips.
"As expected… You've both done well. Please convey my gratitude to Miss Yoimiya later," Ayaka said with a gentle smile, bowing slightly.
"However… during the process, we encountered Kujou Sara," Aether added, his tone growing more serious as he began recounting the events to Ayaka and Thoma.
Several minutes later—
"I see…" Ayaka nodded softly. The story went as follows: together with Yoimiya, they had infiltrated the Commission's office, overcoming numerous obstacles until they found Master Masakatsu, who was being tortured and interrogated by two Tenryou Commission soldiers. By the time they arrived, he was already on the verge of collapse. Fortunately, Kujou Sara appeared and stopped them, citing the Shogun's decree—"No use of torture upon the people."
In the end, Kujou Sara had caught sight of all three, but out of pity for the old man's injuries, she chose to let them go. Her exact words were: "This man's wounds are severe. If not treated soon, he may not survive. Once he recovers… I will personally see to bringing him back."
...
"—That's exactly what she said."
Paimon spread her hands as she mimicked Kujou Sara's tone, though her impression was completely off.
"So that's what Kujou Sara said… It seems she's not entirely unreasonable."
Thoma looked out at the streets of Hanamizaka, which were now growing dim with the passing of time, his fingers lightly pinching his chin in thought.
"Sara's personality is upright—a true warrior's spirit. If her subordinates disobeyed orders and used torture, and the Shogun were to punish her for it… she would accept full responsibility. Even if you hadn't intervened, she wouldn't have stood by and done nothing."
Ayaka didn't seem surprised at all. She knew Sara well—a person sincere and honorable, one worthy of friendship. Naturally, the Shogun held her in great regard too. That was why, when the Shogun went to Seirai Island, Sara had been assigned to accompany her.
"In that case… could we try contacting her again? Maybe we could get more information from her," Thoma suggested, a little awkwardly.
"I think that would be difficult."
Her response came without hesitation, completely crushing his idea. Indeed, the professional far surpassed the amateur.
"Uh… heh-heh, I was just saying~" Thoma rubbed his head awkwardly, enduring the unimpressed stares from Aether and Paimon.
"Though Sara is upright, she lacks flexibility. Loyal—yet blindly so. We've disagreed many times over the Vision Hunt Decree, even quarreled outright. She is one of its enforcers, after all, and follows only the Shogun's orders. To her, Master Masakatsu posed no direct threat to the decree—that's the only reason she let him go."
The term blind devotion suited Sara perfectly. But Kamisato Ayaka was different. Her loyalty was not blind—it was her own kind of loyalty toward the Shogun. No matter what others thought, she could confidently say her devotion was unmatched. Even if her actions were misunderstood, she would not regret them.
In her eyes, the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree were not the right path. For Inazuma's future, they had to be abolished. Yet… she sighed inwardly… such a thing was easier said than done. She understood the Shogun's position too—and that was what troubled her most.
"Speaking of which… Ayaka, you and Kujou Sara seem pretty close! You even call her by her first name," Paimon remarked, catching onto a small detail.
"That's true… but that's all in the past. It's just a habit in how we address each other now—nothing to dwell on."
Ayaka shook her head lightly, brushing off the question.
"Still, saving Master Masakatsu means we've managed to strike back a little," Thoma said, his eyes gleaming with approval as he looked toward Aether and Paimon.
"This time, thanks to Yoimiya and Aether, we've taken another step toward victory!" he said enthusiastically, stepping forward and clapping a friendly hand on Aether's shoulder, leaning in like a comrade-in-arms.
"You're even more reliable than we thought, old buddy~!"
"Uh… th-thanks for the compliment…" Aether replied awkwardly, half-trapped in Thoma's friendly hold—a rather intense display of camaraderie.
"Hehe… it wasn't that amazing~! Heehee…" Paimon said modestly, though her proud grin betrayed her. Wait… no, she was literally floating above them already.
"…"
Throughout the lively exchange, Ayaka remained silent. Unlike the others, her expression stayed serious—her icy-blue eyes slightly lowered, deep in thought.
For her, there was no such thing as free time. Though the mission was complete, it had left many uncertainties for the future—issues that could not be ignored. She couldn't help but worry that something even worse might come to pass.
"…"
Aether's gaze drifted to the ice-colored maiden lost in contemplation. His expression softened with something unspoken. He couldn't help but notice that Miss Kamisato always seemed to carry a faint shadow on her brow—never showing a true, carefree smile. Even when she did smile, it felt… polite, practiced, almost like a mask worn for others.
...
He couldn't deny it—this girl before him was unlike any he had ever met. It wasn't only the sharp, blade-like glint in her eyes earlier, but also that strength and purity in her heart that deeply moved him. What had shaped her into such a remarkable person? Especially within a household of such status?
He didn't know. After all, he had only just arrived in this land, having known her for less than a day. They might not even be considered friends yet—but still, he could tell this young woman was deeply fixated on something.
"Hey, Aether… Ayaka's completely zoned out~!"
Paimon smacked him lightly on the back of the head, sounding a little annoyed.
"Uh… sorry…"
Aether smiled awkwardly, realizing his gaze had lingered too long—it must have seemed rude. He'd been too lost in thought about her.
"…"
Yet Ayaka still didn't react, lost in her own world as though separated from everything around her, the silence hanging so heavy that even the air felt awkward.
"A-Ayaka… you don't have to be so serious all the time… always frowning like that."
Paimon awkwardly tried to lighten the mood.
"Hmm? Oh… my apologies. It's a habit of mine."
She returned to herself and smiled faintly.
Given the Kamisato family's current position, she couldn't help but think ahead for the future. Her brother was already busy enough—she couldn't let him be troubled by these matters as well.
"My lady…"
"I'm fine, Thoma. But… what we've done so far is still far from enough."
She hadn't meant to dampen the mood, but the words left her lips anyway, like a cold drop of water.
"…" ×3
The three fell silent.
"We must start planning our next steps," she murmured softly, perhaps more to herself than to them.
"My lady… if you continue to overwork yourself like this, your health will…"
Thoma looked at her with worry. The fatigue in her eyes and the pallor of her face were clear to see. As her retainer, he couldn't help but fear what might happen if she pushed herself too far.
"It's fine… This is what I must do."
Whether for Inazuma… or for the Shogun herself—this was her duty, one she would never shy away from.
She turned to leave, but after taking a few steps, she paused and looked back at Aether and Paimon with her polite smile, deliberately ignoring the concern in their eyes.
"Thank you both for all your help today. I'm truly grateful for your efforts. As for my promise, I'll fulfill it tomorrow. I wish you both a pleasant evening—please rest well. I'll take my leave now."
With a graceful bow, she turned and left Komore Teahouse, her delicate fragrance lingering in the air as her icy-blue silhouette disappeared beyond the door.
"…" ×2
The three watched her go, unable to take their eyes off her.
"Thoma… do you think Ayaka's okay?"
"She seems so tired… like she's forcing herself."
They both sighed softly.
"Yeah… That's true. Milady admires the Shogun more than anyone. It's that very feeling that drives her so strongly."
Thoma rubbed his head as he spoke. Ayaka knew the Shogun had lost her way, and she wanted—desperately—to bring her back to the right path in her own way. Even if it was futile… she couldn't simply stand by and do nothing.
"Eh? Honestly… I don't see what's so great about Raiden Shogun. Why does Ayaka rely on her so much? She's just a stubborn person if you ask me~!"
Paimon spread her hands, bewildered.
"Haa… You really don't understand Milady," Thoma said, shaking his head with a weary smile.
"And also… don't ever let her hear you say that."
"Why not?"
"She wouldn't get angry, but… it would sadden her. Ever since Lady Kamisato—their mother—passed away, the Shogun has practically been the one who raised her. To Ayaka, the Shogun is like a parent—her provider, her guide. So, if anyone were to speak ill of the Shogun in front of her, she wouldn't take it lightly."
"But I think Miss Kamisato was right—now's not really the time to be celebrating just yet," Aether said, frowning slightly instead of sharing Paimon's carefree mood.
"Aether~? Not you too?" Paimon groaned.
"Ahaha… Well, at least things are moving in the right direction. We rescued Masakatsu safely, and we've gained new allies."
Thoma laughed, trying to lift the mood.
"Oh, right—I heard the Tenryou Commission is preparing some kind of 'celebration.' Some sort of… ritual, maybe?" He crossed his arms, trying to recall the details.
"A ritual? What kind of ritual?" Paimon asked curiously.
"I'm not sure… But there are fewer samurai enforcing the Vision Hunt Decree on the streets now. Things feel peaceful for once! Isn't that worth celebrating?"
Thoma's voice grew cheerful—it had been so long since Inazuma had known calm.
"But why would the Tenryou Commission handle a ritual? Isn't the Yashiro Commission responsible for events like that?" Aether asked, his sharp intuition sensing something off.
"Uh… I don't know either. But it shouldn't have anything to do with us, right? Anyway, they're probably too busy to bother us. If necessary, I'll mention it to Milady tomorrow and hear what she thinks."
Thoma shrugged.
"Why didn't you just tell Ayaka earlier~?" Paimon complained.
"I didn't want to trouble her with possibly useless information. She's already overworked as it is—I didn't want to add to her burdens." Thoma scratched his cheek awkwardly. "She's barely been sleeping these past few days. If I said something pointless, it'd just make things worse."
"Well… when you put it that way…" Paimon said, half-convinced.
"…"
Aether shot the two of them a sidelong glance and sighed. Perhaps what Ayaka feared most wasn't the lack of information… but the imbalance of it.
—
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