Paimon quickly retorted, "No way! She's just someone we've defeated—nothing to fear. But... I'm a little worried she might be angry. Just a little worried, that's all."
[Yae Miko: Little Paimon, you're clearly scared.]
[Lumine: Among all the deities we've encountered, Furina is silly, Zhongli is mature and steady without caring for trivialities, and the Shogun is majestic and truly terrifying.]
[Yae Miko: Well, it's only the Shogun who's majestic. Ei is actually quite gentle—at the very least, she doesn't swing her sword indiscriminately.]
[Paimon: That's good to hear. That slash really was terrifying.]
[Furina: Wait a minute, why am I the silly one?]
[Lumine: Just a feeling.]
[Furina: I'm clearly very smart!]
[Paimon: Actually... Furina does seem smart. So why does she come across as silly?]
[Ningguang: Perhaps Furina's daily theatrics are a bit too exaggerated.]
[Lumine: Yes, exaggerated is the word.]
Thoma laughed. "Haha, don't worry. What we're concerned about is the Shogun herself. We've never seen her will waver before."
"Considering that Liyue's deity just stepped down, we feel this thunderstorm situation isn't a good omen."
"Many people now believe the turbulence in the storms is due to the Shogun's health. Her refusal to see anyone also raises concerns that the impact might spread."
Lumine said, "That concern isn't entirely unfounded. There must be a reason for the storms' turbulence."
Thoma replied, "So before rumors spread, Lady Ayaka entrusted me to consult with the Tenryou Commission on countermeasures, so we aren't caught off guard if chaos erupts."
"However, the Tenryou Commission is currently very unstable. The Kujou clan has lost control over the other families. Because they became accomplices to the Fatui and nearly destroyed Inazuma, they're now awaiting the Shogun's judgment."
"Everyone knows the Tenryou Commission will be restructured, but the Shogun's decree hasn't come down yet. In short—there's no one left to follow orders, yet the work still needs to be done."
[Yae Miko: Sigh. What is that old friend of mine doing at home? Inazuma is in chaos.]
[Ningguang: Both the thunderstorm issue and the Tenryou Commission's power transition are pressing matters.]
[Keqing: If things aren't handled promptly, it'll become overwhelming.]
[Navia: Indeed. When I first took over the Spina di Rosula, I was constantly overwhelmed. Matters must be dealt with quickly; delaying too long risks additional losses.]
Paimon said, "Actually, both the thunderstorms and the Tenryou Commission's problems stem from the Shogun suddenly deciding to seclude herself, right? If this continues, people will become anxious."
Lumine thought for a moment. "What if we asked her to come out for a while?"
Thoma exclaimed, "Ah? Can you do that?"
Paimon replied, "We don't know, but we can try. Whether she's willing to come out depends on her mood."
[Yae Miko: With the Shogun's majesty, if she went out for a stroll, watching people tremble in awe would certainly be amusing.]
[Paimon: Even if Ei is kind and approachable, everyone would still be nervous. She is a deity, after all.]
[Yae Miko: That does seem to be the case.]
[Navia: Once they get used to her, it'll be fine.]
[Lumine: Yes. Perhaps the Shogun could take regular walks, like Zhongli does—observing Inazuma, its people, and the things happening here.]
[Ei: Mm. I will.]
Thoma said, "That's an excellent idea. Everyone is worried about the Shogun. If they could see her, all rumors would dissipate on their own."
Lumine said, "I'll try."
Paimon added, "If we want to see her, we'll probably have to go through Yae Miko. Let's head to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
---
Grand Narukami Shrine
Yae Miko was resting beneath the sacred tree. "I didn't expect to receive such distinguished guests during my rest. Have you come to visit me?"
Lumine replied, "Of course."
Yae Miko studied her for a moment. "Slick talker. Your eyes aren't good at lying. You've come because you need something from me, haven't you?"