In theory, the Commissions indeed had the strength to handle this issue, as the infiltration of Rifthounds was not yet severe.
But Ei couldn't wait. These monsters stirred up unpleasant memories for her.
Those were memories of a time overrun with monsters, of friends and loved ones lost.
Rifthounds were the vanguard of the Abyss's forces, their purpose to tear open spaces for even more powerful monsters to enter.
Thus, the first thing these little dogs did upon reaching Narukami Island was to gnaw at the roots of the Sacred Sakura, the ley lines that "stabilized space."
[Ei sighed: "Perhaps in your eyes, my vigilance toward these creatures seems excessive."]
Readers protested: Excessive? How could it be excessive? These wretched dogs—how could any amount of caution be too much?
Readers declared that calling them wretched dogs wasn't even a personal jab; it was simply stating facts.
Inazumans even felt that the Raiden Shogun was too lenient, her approach somewhat conservative.
In their view, such creatures should be driven out entirely, leaving not a single one behind.
In the story, Ei and the Traveler acted together, intending to resolve this incident as a team.
Before, facing the Raiden Shogun felt like a heart-pounding, hopeless ordeal.
Now, traveling alongside her to deal with other enemies filled them with an overwhelming sense of security, instantly calming their nerves.
This was Paimon's thought, and Lumine nodded in agreement. This sense of security was especially pronounced with Zhongli.
But for some reason, despite being a fellow Archon, this feeling wasn't as strong with Venti.
After some thought, it wasn't about strength but rather that Venti, that old rascal, wouldn't step in unless absolutely necessary.
If something happened, the Raiden Shogun would strike with a single slash, and the Geo Archon would act to protect you. But the Anemo Archon? He'd guide you to solve the problem yourself, only stepping in if you truly couldn't handle it.
In the story, Ei and Lumine traveled together, two "diamond Barbies" united, all muscle and no hesitation. The monsters along the way were in for a treat.
Even if they passed by a random dog, the two would go up and give it a couple of kicks.
No, wait—their target this time was specifically to deal with dogs, so kicking them was the right move.
As they dealt with the monsters, they investigated the sap flowing from the Sacred Sakura. The sap was glowing, its light coalescing into a faintly transparent figure.
Not just one figure, but many. Most were lying on the ground, with only one still standing, though he was gravely injured.
Judging by their attire, both those on the ground and the one standing were soldiers of the Shogunate Army.
[Kitamura: "Ugh… I can't just fall like this… My brothers still depend on me…"]
He was resisting the beastly tide, and despite his severe injuries, he never considered giving up, because the civilians were still evacuating.
Seeing the Traveler here, he urged her to flee quickly.
The Traveler's attire didn't resemble that of a Shogunate soldier, so Kitamura mistook her for an ordinary civilian, someone he needed to protect.
[Kitamura: "Run, quickly!"]
["We… will absolutely protect Inazuma until the very last moment!"]
["The General is gone, Lady Kitsune Saiguu is gone too. All we can rely on is ourselves."]
["I don't know how long we can hold on, but… if we give up even hope, we'll truly have nothing left."]
Other readers were fine, but Inazumans fell silent, already on the verge of tears. These were warriors who died to protect Inazuma…
Even if they saw no hope, even if they didn't know how long they could hold on.
Even if the only thing they knew was that they would certainly die!
Yet they still let the civilians escape first, choosing to hold their ground until the last moment.
[Ei reassured: "Don't panic. I am right here."]
Her single sentence brought Kitamura a sense of security, calming his emotions considerably. The panic subsided, but astonishment took its place.
[Kitamura: "G-General!?"]
["Please, save Inazuma!!"]
"Save Inazuma" was his immediate reaction upon seeing the General.
He himself was likely on the brink of death, yet he didn't ask to be saved—he asked for Inazuma to be saved.
For those who never abandoned hope, seeing "hope" now was like a bolt of lightning, a light capable of illuminating and dispelling the darkness.
[Ei, in a gentle tone: "Calm down. That war has already ended."]
["Look around you. The grass is lush, the winds are calm. This is no different from the peaceful Inazuma in your memories."]
Kitamura calmed down, looking around in a daze.
It was true—no darkness, no monsters. The lush grass swayed in the gentle breeze, the birds' songs were especially pleasant, and the sun was dazzling but felt unusually warm. It was just like before the catastrophe.
[Kitamura, stunned: "But, why? They were just here…"]
["Just moments ago, I saw my comrades' bodies torn to pieces…"]
At this point, another illustration appeared: the Shogunate Army facing a dark beastly tide.
Humans stood on the ground, facing enormous, terrifying monsters in the sky. They appeared small and fragile.
But they didn't retreat. The illustration showed only their backs, all of them facing the dark beastly tide, forming a "wall" in the darkness.
War was imminent. Though the humans fought desperately, they were no match. More and more were torn apart, devoured, their blood spilling onto the ground, covering the green of the grass.
In the darkness, the sun's light couldn't be seen. The air carried only the stench of blood.
There were no birds' songs, only the roars of monsters and the screams of comrades.
[Paimon: "Hey, calm down! It's okay now!"]
It's okay now? Kitamura snapped awake, the memories fading.
Is that so? It's really okay now… Did the General save Inazuma?
[Kitamura: "General… Was it you who saved Inazuma?"]
["Believing in the General was indeed the right choice. As long as the General is here, Inazuma will endure forever…"]
["Thank you, General. Thank you, thank you…"]
Amid his repeated thanks, Kitamura vanished, perhaps content at last.
But Inazumans felt unresolved. It shouldn't be you saying thank you—it should be us saying those words to you.
"Thank you." "It was you who saved Inazuma."
Ei let out a long breath. Facing Kitamura's repeated thanks in the book, each one pierced her heart.
She had indeed saved Inazuma, but she was too late. If only she could have been faster.
Whether it was with her sister or with Inazuma, she was always too late. If only… she could have been a little faster!
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Raiden Shogun: About the Shogunate Army of the Past
"They… I acknowledge, the will of humans is not weak. They deserve recognition."