At midnight, a village should by all rights be quiet and sparsely populated. Yet when the two of them arrived, they found several braziers already lit throughout the village. Not only that, villagers carrying torches hurried back and forth with anxious expressions.
It was obvious—something had happened.
Tap tap! ×N
Chaotic footsteps filled every corner of the settlement. The tranquility of midnight had completely vanished.
"Are we too late..."
The Shogun frowned faintly as she murmured.
"Um... what happened?"
Emilia quickly stopped a passing villager and asked.
"Eh? Ah... Lady Emilia. Y-Yes... several children from the village have gone missing!"
"Missing?!"
Emilia exclaimed.
"Yes. The adults are searching everywhere."
He nodded.
"If possible... could Lady Emilia also help?"
The villager pleaded.
"Mm. I understand. I will help."
Emilia reassured him with a nod.
"Thank you so much!!"
The villager bowed deeply.
"Shogun... what should we do?"
Emilia instinctively turned to the silent woman beside her, asking dependently.
"...They have not gone far."
"Eh?"
Emilia blinked in surprise. Only then did she notice the faint violet glow in the Shogun's eyes—the same as before—as though she were observing something beyond ordinary sight.
Indeed, the Shogun had already activated her elemental vision. A pale purple haze overlaid her field of view.
Hum~
Ripples spread outward from her like sonar. Soon, fresh footprints became visible on the ground—along with streaks of black cursed energy. Both trails extended toward the eastern forest.
"Follow me."
"Mm!"
The Shogun led Emilia swiftly out of the village and toward the dark forest several dozen meters east of the entrance. The villager carrying a torch hurried after them.
When they reached the fence surrounding the settlement, they saw that several of the barrier lamps that should have been lit in sequence had been destroyed.
"The barrier is broken!"
Emilia exclaimed.
The barrier was meant to prevent magical beasts from invading. Nearly every forest village installed them. Now that some lamps had gone dark, the protection had weakened. For stronger monsters—at least, stronger compared to ordinary villagers—breaking through would be effortless.
"Who would do such a thing...?!"
The villager clenched his teeth in anger.
"It is likely the spellcaster. To lure magical beasts into the village. But why only take the children?"
Emilia analyzed.
"It is pointless to speculate now."
Whoosh!
In the next moment, the Shogun placed a hand on the top of the fence and vaulted over with effortless grace. She summoned Engulfing Lightning, holding it behind her. As her skirt swayed, a faint fragrance drifted toward Emilia, causing her to lose focus for a second before quickly following after her.
"Um..."
The villager behind them looked awkward.
"You may wait here."
The Shogun turned and spoke calmly.
"Y-Yes!"
Her tone was neither commanding nor cold, yet it allowed no room for refusal. He straightened instinctively and responded.
With elemental vision guiding them, the two followed the footprints out of the shadowed forest and into an open plain. The missing children lay unconscious atop a small hill ahead.
"!"
Emilia hurried over and knelt beside them, checking their conditions one by one.
The Shogun approached as well, but instead of lowering her gaze immediately, she stared toward the distant woods. The black aura there was thick and oppressive.
"Shogun, this is bad."
Hearing Emilia's voice, she finally turned her attention over.
"They are all cursed. There are bite marks on their arms."
Emilia looked at her, face pale.
The Shogun crouched down and examined their skin briefly, then let out a soft sigh.
"Haa... We were still too late. No matter—it is not without remedy."
As she spoke, she once again gathered Musou Isshin into the air before her. Dreamlike particles formed the exquisite blade, which radiated dense starlike brilliance. The light enveloped all the children at once.
As the glow intensified, black energy began seeping from the bite wounds on their arms. Drawn out by the purifying radiance, it gathered steadily into the blade itself.
"You are truly amazing, Shogun."
Emilia's eyes shone with admiration as she watched the life-saving scene unfold. This was true salvation—not the half-measures she herself could offer.
"...It is merely a small trick. Nothing worth mentioning."
She shook her head modestly.
She had discovered Musou Isshin's healing properties long ago. When she purified Hanachirusato, she had used this same method. It was undeniably effective—but it had limits. It was not as effortless as it seemed. Perhaps if she grew stronger in the future, its power would deepen further.
If she were still here... perhaps she would have told her the true way to wield Musou Isshin.
At that thought, her eyes dimmed with sorrow.
Ei had once told her that when she was born, both sisters had given her something precious. Then Raiden Makoto was also her mother, was she not?
Yet that other mother had already—
"...Shogun? What is wrong?"
Sensing the change in her expression, Emilia asked gently, her hand unconsciously brushing against the Shogun's cheek.
"Haa, it is nothing... I merely drifted for a moment. The purification will take some time. Please look after the children. I will check the distant forest. The magical beasts may still be lingering nearby."
She rose slowly and spoke softly.
"All right... please be careful."
Emilia did not press further. Being able to help at all was enough for her.
"Mm..."
She answered with a warm smile—and transformed into a streak of lightning, soaring toward the forest!
Crackle!
As the thunderous light shot skyward, the surrounding grass rustled violently. Emilia's silver hair fluttered in the surge of wind. Like a violet thunder dragon, the streak cut across the night sky before descending into the distant woods.
"Haa..."
Emilia watched the lightning vanish and sighed softly, though she did not know why.
"Mm..."
Hearing a faint groan from Petra resting against her thigh, she quickly refocused and gently stroked the girl's forehead, calming her once more.
"Haa..."
Another soft sigh escaped her.
"Sis... Sister Emilia...?"
Petra stirred slightly, opening her eyes to see the silver-haired girl above her and calling out weakly.
"Petra, how do you feel?"
Emilia asked tenderly.
"Mm... better."
The girl nodded like a small kitten.
"That is good... Rest a little longer."
Since the bite had been purified shortly after it happened, the corruption had not progressed as severely as Rem's. Thank goodness... no—she should thank the Shogun.
If not for that blade—almost like a divine artifact—who knew what might have happened?
Looking at the exquisite katana floating in the air, continuing to purify the curses, Emilia smiled in relief.
You truly are incredible, Shogun.
Crackle—!!
A torrent of lightning descended like a meteor, striking the very center of the forest with perfect precision.
Boom!!
After the explosion faded and the flames dispersed, a slender female figure formed from violet particles of light emerged from within the crater.
Tap tap~
With measured steps, she walked out of the pit and into the dark, maze-like heart of the forest. She glanced around before activating her elemental vision once more.
Hum~
A violet hue washed over her sight. Chaotic beastly footprints covered the ground, scattering in every direction as if deliberately trying to confuse her judgment.
Howl—!! ×N
In the next instant, sharp wolf-like howls rang out from all around, echoing through the woods and startling the birds in the trees.
Rustle! ×N
They burst into the sky in panic, scattering in every direction.
Whoosh!
A sudden rush of movement came from behind her—followed by a thunderous roar.
Roar!!
Her violet eyes narrowed slightly. Then, with casual ease, she tilted her head.
Whoosh!
The magical beast's pounce missed her by a hair.
Thud...
After landing, the beast turned with unwilling fury, baring its sharp fangs stained faintly with blood.
"..."
She watched it coldly, utterly unmoved, even strolling forward at an unhurried pace.
Whoosh!
The beast lunged again—only to be evaded effortlessly.
Click! ×2
From two other directions, additional beasts burst from concealment. They positioned themselves with eerie coordination and leapt simultaneously from her blind spots.
"...Animals."
Her voice carried faint disdain. In her eyes, their movements were no more than slowed fragments.
Slash! ×3
In the instant the three beasts passed her, streaks of lightning flashed. Their necks were severed cleanly. Heads rolled across the ground as blood sprayed onto the soil, staining it dark.
"Haa... What is the point of hiding? Come out and face me."
She sighed, weary of this tedious harassment. Her dreamlike violet eyes flared with blinding lightning, and the ground trembled in response.
Whoosh—!
Clouds swirled overhead. Then, a colossal bolt of thunder split the sky.
Boom—!
The deafening crash sent every creature in the forest scrambling. For a fleeting second, the lightning illuminated every shadow between the trees.
Red eyes glinted from the darkness—more than a hundred beasts crouched in the corners, staring at her as though ready to tear her apart.
"Come at me all at once, beasts."
She cast them an indifferent glance as they encircled her.
Roar—!! ×N
As if provoked by her words, the entire pack surged forward in a furious charge. Their paws pounded against the earth like war chariots, shaking the ground itself.
And yet—
She remained utterly calm.
Spinning her naginata once, she reversed her grip and thrust it into the ground.
Lightning erupted outward like a tidal wave.
"Bury the Thunder."
A bolt descended, and with intensifying brilliance, the electricity spread in all directions like a surging sea.
Crackle—!!
The charging wolves were swallowed instantly by the storm. Agonized howls filled the air as the lightning scorched their bodies black in an instant.
When the violet light faded—
Only she remained standing amid a field of charred corpses, the faint scent of roasted flesh lingering in the air.
Swish.
She casually spun the naginata and rested it behind her without even looking back, continuing forward.
After several steps, however, she halted.
Something felt wrong.
Though the beasts were annihilated, the true mastermind—the spellcaster controlling them—had yet to appear.
Had he fled?
Or... returned elsewhere?
A diversion?
Her brows furrowed. In the next instant, she dissolved into lightning and vanished from the forest.
On the other side—
Seeing that all the children had been completely purified, Emilia smiled in relief. Even so, she did not dare touch Musou Isshin. She had no idea how to dismiss it and simply allowed it to continue floating.
Just as she prepared to lift the children, lightning descended from the sky.
Crackle!
The Shogun materialized and stepped toward them.
"Shogun..."
"Has anyone come?"
She asked.
"Eh? No... everything has been fine since just now."
Emilia shook her head.
"Did something happen?"
The Shogun gave a faint shake of her own head.
"I found no spellcaster."
Hum~
She stepped beside Musou Isshin, grasped it, and let the blade dissolve back into light.
"I see... perhaps they are plotting something."
Emilia rested her chin on her hand thoughtfully.
"Haa... Enough. Let us return. Call the villagers to carry the children back."
"All right."
There was little point in lingering. The children were safe. They could question the villagers later—none had reported suspicious individuals. It would be better to wait until daylight.
...
Click...
Back at the Mathers Mansion, the Shogun opened her bedroom door and found Ei still sitting on the bed, unchanged from before.
"You have been waiting for me this entire time?"
She paused in surprise.
"Indeed."
Ei simply nodded, her expression as composed as ever.
"Why did you not sleep?"
After closing the door, the Shogun changed into her slippers and sat on the edge of the bed.
"...I could not. It felt as though something was missing at my side. What could that be?"
Ei looked at her meaningfully.
"You, of course."
The Shogun smiled helplessly and reached out to stroke Ei's cheek.
"What happened?"
Ei did not resist, allowing the touch as she asked.
"Haa... it is a long story—"
The Shogun sighed, removed her outer garments, and changed into a thin-strapped nightdress. She climbed into bed and nestled into the shared blanket within Ei's embrace, recounting the events of the night.
"I see... what a troublesome affair."
Ei sighed softly after hearing everything, holding her daughter close as her gaze drifted toward the curtains covering the window.
"I originally intended to pursue them directly, but it was as if they evaporated into thin air. Even the tracks were disrupted by those beasts. There was nothing left to follow."
Resting in Ei's embrace, she leaned her forehead lightly against her chest, her eyes half-lidded with creeping drowsiness.
"...You have already done well."
Ei pressed her lips gently to the top of her head.
"Then why did you not come with me just now?"
The Shogun seemed to catch onto a blind spot and narrowed her eyes at her.
"The residence required someone to guard it. One must not leave the nest empty."
Ei answered with apparent reason.
"Oh?"
She continued staring at her without replying.
"Cough... I—I had already taken my clothes off at the time."
Ei offered a somewhat guilty explanation.
"And so?"
She asked again.
"...I did not feel like moving."
At last, Ei admitted the true reason.
"...Haa."
She exhaled, too weary to argue further.
"And now you are disliking me again... Do you know how hard it was to raise you to be this big? Taking a short break should not be so unforgivable."
Ei puffed her cheeks slightly, complaining in a wounded tone.
"How long is this 'short break,' exactly?"
Feeling Ei nuzzling against her face repeatedly, a trace of indulgent warmth rose in her heart. She asked with faint teasing.
"Haa... You see, I am growing older. My body is not as agile as it once was. My eyesight dims, my back aches, my waist grows sore. Yet you do not feel sorry for me and keep making me do this and that."
Ei grew bolder as she spoke, tightening her arms around her and burying her against her chest, eyes closed as she grumbled.
Before others, she would never reveal such a side. This was Ei as a mother, acting spoiled toward her precious daughter—not the Electro Archon.
"All right, all right. Stop holding me so tightly. You might strain your back."
She feigned annoyance, trying to slip out of the embrace, but Ei clung to her like a cat.
"Mm~ How cruel. Even in this state, you still dislike me."
Ei complained and hugged her again.
"Was your back not aching just now?"
She paused and asked with a smile.
"When I hold you, it does not hurt anymore. My eyes are not blurry either."
Ei's lips curved in a tender smile as she closed her eyes and pulled the blanket more snugly over them both.
Click~
The warm lamplight filling the room flickered out, and the dim hush of night enveloped the mother and daughter as they lay intertwined in each other's arms.