Everyone in the Chat Group already knew that Futsu Mitama had been taken away by Raiden Ei for training—the live feed he forgot to close had captured everything in real time.
Kuki Shinobu glanced at him, this once-unremarkable young man now recognized by the Kamisato Clan's lady, the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, Guuji Yae Miko, and even the Raiden Shogun herself.
A small sigh rose within her. Truly—those who shine will shine anywhere, no matter how deeply buried they once were.
"Is dinner ready?"
Freshly returned from the Plane of Euthymia, Futsu Mitama wore no expression befitting someone trained by the Electro Archon. Instead, his face showed pure bitterness as he turned to Aila.
"I'm starving."
"Yes, Young Master." Aila immediately quickened her steps. "Everything is prepared. We were just waiting for you to wake up."
"Great!!!"
Futsu Mitama jumped to his feet and urged, "Then let's go! I have something to tell both of you."
"Alright."
"Mhm."
Kuki Shinobu and Aila nodded and followed him.
During dinner, Futsu Mitama explained the reason for his sudden collapse earlier. It certainly wasn't fainting from hunger—his consciousness had been forcefully pulled away. But Aila and Shinobu already knew. After all, he had never turned off the live feed.
"Huh?!"
Realization struck him. He immediately opened the Chat Group and terminated the stream.
This earned loud complaints from Raiden Makoto and Azhdaha. They had been enjoying watching him dine, reminiscing about ages long past—only for the stream to cut off mid-meal.
"You really didn't notice?" Kuki Shinobu asked, calmly sampling her fish. Though she wanted to laugh, her professionalism held firm.
"Not even a little." Futsu Mitama took another bite and spoke with his mouth half full. "When I meditate, I enter a very relaxed state… and when I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was the Raiden Shogun. At that moment, would anyone think of anything else?"
Aila and Shinobu nodded. Indeed—waking up to find Raiden Ei standing before you, only to be attacked before you can even speak… anyone would forget the existence of a live feed.
"But I really need to think about forging a weapon." Futsu Mitama swallowed his food, expression becoming serious.
After Raiden Ei brought it up, he finally accepted that he needed a proper weapon. Elemental weaponization consumed far too much stamina. A real blade would dramatically increase his endurance.
Fighting Raiden Ei made this painfully clear—maintaining Musou Isshin ate away at both his elemental reserves and physical strength. Half the Electro Archon Authority was being forced into stabilization, and at the same time he had to defend himself from her onslaught.
"Mhm." Kuki Shinobu nodded lightly. "I also know a bit about forging."
"I have an advanced forging certificate."
Futsu Mitama and Aila both paused at the familiar phrase. There it was—Kuki Shinobu's trademark line.
In Inazuma, one could always rely on Kuki Shinobu. Anything short of being asked to become a shrine maiden—she could do it.
"It's alright, Miss Shinobu," Aila said as she set down her bowl. "The Young Master and I have forged weapons before. The results were not bad."
Futsu Mitama nodded. "We still have two tachi left in another residence. The cost was fifty thousand mora, but people only offered sixty thousand—or even fifty-five. Too big a loss. So I kept them."
Thinking back, Futsu Mitama didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His first experience in weapon sales had nearly destroyed his savings.
"…"
Kuki Shinobu said nothing, but her eyes carried clear sympathy. The forging industry in Inazuma City was essentially monopolized. Earning small money was easy; big money required either the Raiden Shogun's approval or the Tenryou Commission's direct backing. Neither of which had been achievable back then.
"Ahem." Feeling her pity, Futsu Mitama coughed and tried to sound casual. "When I first got that mysterious forging technique, I got carried away. That's why I wasted two years."
Only then did Kuki Shinobu understand why he had suddenly decided to become a blacksmith. "So that was the reason"
"Thank you for the meal." ×3
By the time they finished chatting, Aila and Shinobu had cleaned their plates. Futsu Mitama finished last—though strangely, despite eating so much, he felt only about seventy percent full. As Aila and Shinobu went to wash the dishes, Futsu Mitama opened the Chat Group. A meal followed by some idle chatting—truly a pleasant ritual.
Upon entering, he was greeted by Raiden Makoto and Azhdaha complaining about the abrupt end of the dinner live feed.
[Futsu Mitama: "I'm back!"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Welcome back. You've already finished eating? That was fast. The Resistance just started."]
[Albedo: "I ate a few fruits from Dragonspine. Quite decent."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "It's not mealtime yet. So hungry (soul leaves body)."]
[Futsu Mitama: "You haven't eaten?"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "No. The Kamisato Clan has set mealtimes. Just ten more minutes."]
[Raiden Makoto: "More importantly—how do you feel?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "You fought Ei. What's your impression?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "Too strong. She held back deliberately. If she fought seriously, I might not even withstand one strike."]
[Azhdaha: "Naturally. Beelzebub is a mighty Archon. She aided Baal in seizing the Electro seat among The Seven."]
[Azhdaha: "Without overwhelming strength, she would never have survived the Archon War."]
[Azhdaha: "But enough about her. What of your weapon?"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "Watatsumi Island has plenty of ore. You may take what you need; your help has been invaluable."]
[Albedo: "If you require alchemical refinement, I can help."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "The Yashiro Commission has records left by master smiths. I can lend them to you."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Ei is right. A real weapon is essential. Elemental ones are fine for daily combat, but tough foes will exhaust you."]
[Azhdaha: "If you want ores and masters, I know just the place."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Liyue?"]
[Azhdaha: "Hahaha, exactly. Find Morax. For my sake, he'll surely assist you."]
[Kokomi: "Isn't that too troublesome for the Geo Archon?"]
[Futsu Mitama: "No, no. I'm not ready to die. The Sakoku Decree is the Shogun's will. She won't permit someone she has her eyes on to just leave for Liyue."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Is it that serious?"]
[Albedo: "I've heard of the decree. Though trade still exists, Inazuma does not welcome outsiders into its 'eternal realm.'"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "It's difficult to explain, but yes… leaving is not simple."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Because of the Sakoku Decree, I couldn't even retrieve my graduation certificate from Liyue."]
[Aila: "@Kuki Shinobu, stop slacking! The dishes aren't done!"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Just a little left."]
[Kuki Shinobu: "In short… if the Shogun notices someone and they try to leave, it's nearly impossible."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Exactly. Even if I want to, the risk is too great. One wrong step and I'd anger the Shogun."]
[Azhdaha: "@Raiden Makoto Baal, what is Beelzebub thinking?"]
[Raiden Makoto: "I thought she would stagnate, but I didn't expect her to go this far."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Even so, I'll aim to leave Inazuma within the year."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Once we expose the Tenryou Commission's collusion with the Fatui, the Shogun may lift both the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Ei won't change her mind for the Kujou Clan or the Fatui. She must hear the voices of the people."]
[Raiden Makoto: "@Sangonomiya Kokomi. The Resistance is essential. Keep going, strategist!!"]
[Kokomi: "(Soul leaves body) I'm trying…"]
Futsu Mitama exhaled softly. As expected of Raiden Makoto—she understood her sister better than anyone. From the story he knew well, Raiden Ei ultimately changed because she witnessed the brilliance of countless wishes—the will of the people.
Raiden Makoto wasted no time taking action. She strengthened the Resistance, undermined the Tenryou Commission, and shared arts such as Transcendence: Baleful Omen and Raiden Style · Martial Arts. Before he even realized it, Futsu Mitama had been pulled aboard this warship.
"Washed-up one," Kuki Shinobu said as she wiped her hands. "Should we follow the plan and assist the Resistance first?"
Her contract with him was nearly over. Originally, he hired her to dig traps for the Hiiragi Clan. But the Raiden Shogun personally intervened—crushing the Hiiragi Clan so thoroughly they could hardly recover. Yet Shinobu showed no signs of ending her cooperation. Perhaps it was friendship. Perhaps it was her desire to change Inazuma's rigid atmosphere.
"No. We forge the weapon first." Futsu Mitama's tone firmed.
Scaramouche may have fled wounded, but once another Harbinger arrived, the Fatui would move again. And Dottore was already watching him. For now, power came first.
"Understood." Kuki Shinobu nodded. But before she could continue, a sudden commotion erupted outside.
Both she and Futsu Mitama paused and listened. After a moment, Futsu Mitama lowered his voice.
"It seems Tenshukaku has delivered its verdict on the Hiiragi Clan."
Today would be recorded in the chronicles of Inazuma. It was also the darkest day the Kanjou Commission had ever faced. The head of the Commission—Hiiragi Shinsuke, patriarch of the Hiiragi Clan—had been pronounced guilty of treason by the Raiden Shogun herself in Tenshukaku.
Ordinary offenders would have been executed without hesitation, but in recognition of the Hiiragi ancestors' long-standing service to Inazuma, the Shogun stayed the blade. Still, mercy did not equate to leniency.
Hiiragi Shinsuke was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment. Those within the Kanjou Commission who had colluded with the Fatui were likewise detained, with punishments handed down according to their crimes.
But the Commission could not be left leaderless. All administrative duties were transferred to Hiiragi Shinsuke's daughter—Hiiragi Chisato. Should she fail, the Hiiragi Clan would meet its end. This decree satisfied most common citizens. Even many nobles approved without complaint.
The ambitious nobles in Ritou, who had long coveted greater authority, could only suppress their dissatisfaction and comply with Chisato's restructuring efforts. But while the Hiiragi Clan's fate shook the political world, another development arrived almost simultaneously.
Kujou Sara had returned to Inazuma City—and brought with her a startling report: The Shogunate Army had suffered defeat.
A wave of disbelief swept through the city.
The Shogunate Army, defeated? By the Resistance? Impossible!
To the people of Inazuma, the Resistance was a motley rabble—wandering swordsmen, Watatsumi troops, Visionless citizens, those aggrieved by the Vision Hunt Decree. Unorganized. Unrefined. Barely a true force. How could they overcome a fully armed, disciplined army led by none other than General Kujou Sara?
Impossible—absolutely impossible.
But when the official announcement was made, clarity followed. The Shogunate Army had fallen into an enemy stratagem and suffered heavy losses. And then—there was the matter of the Fatui.
Or more precisely… Scaramouche's devastating area attack.
Though Sangonomiya Kokomi's intervention prevented mass casualties, most soldiers were rendered unable to continue fighting. Sara's return served two purposes: to seek reinforcements and to warn Tenshukaku of the Fatui's involvement.
Kujou Sara suspected the Resistance had no ties to the Fatui, yet the Fatui's hostility toward the Shogunate Army was undeniable. To prevent history from repeating itself, she sought to recruit capable individuals within Inazuma City for temporary service.
After delivering her report, she also knelt in apology—both for her failure and to request revisions to the Vision Hunt Decree.
But for now, these matters did not concern Futsu Mitama. At this moment, he, Kuki Shinobu, and Aila were at another residence retrieving the two weapons left unsold.
"Swish—!"
In the courtyard, Kuki Shinobu suddenly drew a tachi with delicate violet lines running along its blade, cleaving through a specially reinforced marionette.
A pale flash, a whisper of thunder—and the puppet split cleanly in two.
"Impressive." Kuki Shinobu sheathed the blade, faint surprise flickering in her eyes. She glanced at Futsu Mitama. "I've heard many speak highly of the weapons you forge, but this—this borders on excessive."
Even with her experience, Kuki Shinobu assessed its value at over a million mora. Electro-aligned, amplifying the wielder's element, flawless craftsmanship, elegant aesthetics—everything about it exceeded expectations.
Why such a weapon remained unsold baffled her.
She was already calculating her savings and considering offering three hundred thousand mora to seize this opportunity.
"Right?" Aila, unusually agreeable, sighed. "That's exactly what we thought when we were selling it."
"But everyone kept nitpicking just because of Young Master's age."
Futsu Mitama gave a helpless smile. If even Kuki Shinobu recognized its craftsmanship instantly, the problem clearly did not lie in the blade.
"Hmm? Go on." Kuki Shinobu leaned forward, intrigued. Aila rarely complained unless something truly unjust had occurred.
"Back then," Aila explained, "we disclosed everything honestly—that the weapon was forged by Young Master."
"We even used the Futsu Family name. No matter what, the Futsu ancestors were blacksmiths of renown in Inazuma."
"But people deliberately sought faults. 'Too flashy—will it break?' 'Is the Electro infusion single-use?' 'Pretty, but useless?' They questioned everything."
Even when Futsu Mitama offered trial rentals, most refused. A few discerning customers recognized its value, but hesitated—concerned that a young blacksmith's masterpiece might be a single burst of luck. Weapons are tested in life-or-death confrontations. If a blade failed at the crucial moment, the wielder paid with their life.
Rumors spread, fanned by both envious rivals and opportunists. Before long, Futsu Mitama's weapons were virtually unsellable. Aila suspected the other forging schools had formed a silent alliance to suppress him.
Kuki Shinobu exhaled softly when she heard this. She had never witnessed the famed Raiden Gokaden herself—but based on what she had seen, Futsu Mitama's work was comparable.
And the sake he brewed—she had never tasted better.
Even if he claimed they were simply rewards from some "Chat Group," Kuki Shinobu doubted anyone else could replicate them. Some techniques could be shown to others, yet never truly learned.
"Is this tachi for sale?" Kuki Shinobu stroked the blade, reluctant to set it down.
Even without her Vision, she still commanded Electro through a Delusion gifted by a Hiiragi samurai. With this blade, her strength would grow considerably.
"Hm?" Futsu Mitama blinked. "If you want it, take it. We're friends. You've helped me so much—cooking, errands, gathering intel—of course I remember."
He had intended to sell it for 150,000 mora originally, but it had gathered dust for two years. Giving it away didn't matter.
"No." Kuki Shinobu shook her head firmly. "Friends or not, I won't accept such a priceless gift for free. How about… 500,000 mora?"
"Five hundred thousand!?" Futsu Mitama and Aila spoke in unison.
Kuki Shinobu, however, calmly assessed the tachi's worth. As a piece to be passed down through generations, even 500,000 mora was a bargain.
"No! That's too much—just… two—no! 200,000 mora is enough!"
He refused to profit from someone he trusted.
"Enough." Kuki Shinobu crossed her arms. "500,000 isn't a burden for me."
After years in the Tenryou Commission—and certain side jobs—her private savings were significant. While not enough to match Futsu Mitama's multiple estates, the sum was meaningful to her. And this was her sincerity.
After a long negotiation, Futsu Mitama allowed her to lower the amount— they settled at 350,000 mora. Both sides considered it a victory.
At that moment—
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock interrupted their conversation. The three approached the door, and upon seeing the visitor, froze.
"Sara?"
Kuki Shinobu was first to react. "Shouldn't you be at Tenshukaku?"
Standing before them was none other than Kujou Sara—who had only just returned from her audience with the Shogun.
Sara blinked upon seeing Shinobu. "You're here as well? I thought you'd be with the Arataki Gang."
Seeing all three present, she allowed herself a small sigh of relief.
"Perfect. All of you are here. Have you heard the recent rumors?"
Aila asked cautiously, "About the Hiiragi Clan or the Resistance?"
"Both." Sara nodded. "I reported everything at Tenshukaku earlier. And— will you let me inside? It's rather awkward discussing classified matters on the doorstep."
"Oh—please, come in." Futsu Mitama moved aside.
As she stepped inside, he asked, "But how did you know I lived here? I wasn't even home these past two days."
"Pure luck," Sara said lightly. "This was my first stop."
Kuki Shinobu silently marveled. She, who knew how slippery Futsu Mitama's schedule could be, could not help but admire Sara's fortune.
Once seated, Sara quickly downed her tea and snacks—evidently exhausted. Then, she straightened her posture, her expression sharpening.
"To speak plainly," Sara said, voice steady, "I came to invite the three of you to temporarily join the Shogunate Army."