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"What a remarkably backward nation," Su Ran remarked.
Compared to the desperate, rapid industrialization of Snezhnaya, life in Inazuma felt stagnant and primitive.
"How does it compare to Snezhnaya?" Ei asked. She was curious about the development of the nation ruled by the Tsaritsa.
"Well, although the people there dress quite warmly, their god is still far more doting toward her subjects than Inazuma's god is toward hers." Su Ran cast a strange, lingering look at Ei.
In his mind, he compared them. One was a duck-loving manager, the other a homebody who did nothing but cook. It made no sense; the homebody should be the kinder of the two. Perhaps the issue was that she was worse at gaming and didn't know how to play management simulations. That must be why Inazuma lagged so far behind Snezhnaya.
"Er... the Shogun cares deeply for Inazuma as well," Yoimiya interjected. She was the type of person who felt obligated to defend her own god whenever they were being unfavorably compared.
"Oh? If that's the case, Yoimiya, does that mean the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree are just expressions of the Shogun's love for her people?"
The girl's retort sparked Su Ran's interest. Since the Shogun was standing right there, he decided he might as well let her hear what her subjects actually thought.
"This..." Yoimiya trailed off. As a firm opponent of the Vision Hunt Decree, she could hardly defend it as righteous.
"If you truly believe the decree is correct, then why do you secretly help those escaping its pursuit?" Su Ran asked, laying bare her covert activities.
Yoimiya panicked. "Hahaha, this..." She glanced nervously at Kamisato Ayaka. How could an outsider possibly know about that? Had Ayaka told him?
Ayaka shook her head silently. She had never spoken of these things to anyone, and she never would. But under the gaze of a god, even the smallest secrets hidden in the corners of the world became glaringly obvious.
"Don't worry, I won't expose your resistance activities," Su Ran said. "In fact, if I have the chance, I might even help the resistance army."
Yoimiya quickly lunged forward, clapping a hand over his mouth. "Brother Su Ran, you can't go around saying things like that!"
They were currently in the heart of Inazuma City, the base of the Tenryou Commission. Speaking so openly about the resistance was practically begging the shogunate army to arrest them. She looked around, and only after confirming no one had overheard did she finally pull her hand away.
"What's there to be afraid of? Will they arrest me? Is freedom of speech that restricted in Inazuma?" Su Ran rubbed his nose. When Yoimiya had covered his mouth, he had caught a faint scent of gunpowder. As expected of a girl who made fireworks, though he couldn't tell if it was just residue or if she was thoroughly marinated in it.
"Brother Su Ran, you don't understand. The resistance is clashing fiercely with the shogunate army right now. If word of what you said reaches the Tenryou Commission, they will definitely lock you up!" As an Inazuman, Yoimiya knew the reality of the city all too well. She had even forged a fake Vision to hand over to the Tenryou Commission herself. Mentioning the resistance now was suicide.
Ayaka cast a strange look at Yoimiya, prompting the firework-maker to distance herself from Su Ran. It was obvious she believed Ayaka's possessiveness was the issue; she wouldn't let the Shogun be held, and she wouldn't let any other woman near her man.
Ayaka: ...
"Anyway, let's just not bring up the resistance here!" Yoimiya pleaded.
"How about you help me get in touch with their leaders? I'm quite interested in meeting that strategist of theirs."
"Are you incapable of listening? And besides, how would I have the connections for that?" Yoimiya groaned in frustration. She couldn't believe he was still asking to meet the strategist. That mysterious person was not someone anyone could just walk up to. Helping victims of the Vision Hunt Decree was the limit of her reach; she had no ties to anyone that powerful.
"What a pity. I was hoping to infiltrate the resistance, climb to the top, defeat the shogunate army, and establish a new..."
Hearing him go from bad to worse, Yoimiya broke out in a cold sweat. Her eyes darted around, and she suddenly caught sight of a terrifying figure approaching them. It was the general of the Tenryou Commission and the chief enforcer of the Vision Hunt Decree: Kujou Sara.
If she was caught by someone like that, there would be no escaping. Yoimiya reached out and shoved her hand back over Su Ran's mouth. If he kept talking, he would surely implicate Ayaka and the entire Yashiro Commission in a prison sentence. She knew all too well that the Tenryou Commission and the Yashiro Commission were at odds.
However, Kujou Sara did not stop. She walked straight up to the four of them, first glancing at Ei held in Ayaka's arms with a look of intense envy, before fixing her gaze on Yoimiya.
"What are you doing?" Sara asked, her voice sharp with interrogation.
This was the god who had defeated the Shogun herself, a deity who could truly bring eternity to Inazuma. Even the Narukami held her in high regard—how could a mere mortal be allowed to show such disrespect?
"Haha, well... we were just joking," Yoimiya said with a nervous laugh, desperate to figure out how to dismiss the terrifying general.
"Joking with the presence of a god, are you?"
Yoimiya: !!!
Had she heard everything? Was it too late to run?
"Remove your hand," Sara commanded, her eyes turning glacial.
Faced with such an intimidating presence, Yoimiya had no choice but to comply.
"Lord Su Ran, why have you ventured out?" Sara asked, looking visibly annoyed. She couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't been sent to the front lines, would she be the one holding the Shogun right now? Alas, some opportunities, once missed, are gone forever.
"What? Am I not allowed to leave the house?" Su Ran asked. He had intended to tease the tengu a little, but he had clearly underestimated how deeply her reverence for the divine ran.
"Sara spoke out of turn. Please, Lord Su Ran, punish me!" Sara bowed her head instantly.
Yoimiya: ...
What on earth was happening?