"Ayaka, I'm gonna die."
Dead.
Ayaka, frozen in shock.
Silence.
He spoke of his own death so casually, as if discussing someone else's affair.
The Supreme Pillar will die?
For the people of Inazuma, this is an unimaginable scenario.
In their hearts, the Supreme Pillar has become a symbol... a symbol of eternity, just like the eternal symbol itself. No matter how dark the era, as long as the Supreme Pillar exists, Inazuma exists.
The Supreme Pillar has accompanied them for too long, so long that they have forgotten that the Supreme Pillar is also a mortal, and one day, the Supreme Pillar will leave them.
They have taken it for granted.
"...You won't," she lowered her head, eyes slightly red, "You'll be fine."
"Is she still not planning to come out?" Seino asked with a smile.
Ayaka lowered her head, biting her lip, remaining silent.
The 'she' he referred to was the god of Inazuma, Narukami Beelzebul, Her Excellency Raiden Ei.
It had been a hundred years since they last met—his only regret.
It all began with the "Sakoku Decree" and the "Vision Hunt Decree."
Raiden Ei issued the Sakoku Decree, and Seino opposed it. Since then, a rift had formed, and they had grown farther apart.
Or even earlier, their differences began with the death of her sister.
In the past hundred years, the conflict intensified, and with Snezhnaya's interference, the Vision Hunt Decree was implemented.
Seino finally openly defied Narukami's orders, even petulantly resigning from the position of General.
A quarrel on one side, a matching one on the other, and Raiden Ei no longer saw Seino. She never emerged from the Plane of Euthymia.
Little did she expect, this one petty dispute would last a whole century.
That childish imp.
Did she think he was a robust young man?
He's gonna die.
Who can sustain a grudge for a hundred years?
Humanity is truly strange and pitiful. A hundred years ago, he was full of life, but a century later, he's aged and entering the grave.
Seeing the Pillar of Inazuma fall silent, Ayaka grew more flustered. Anxiously waving her hands, she hastily explained, "That's because... Almighty Shogun she doesn't know your current situation. As long as you inform her, she will definitely come to see..."
Ayaka hesitated, unable to utter the phrase "final meeting". After a moment, she spoke solemnly, "She will definitely come to see you."
"I will go now, I will go to meet the Almighty Shogun, I will..."
"Ah, it's just a puppet. Why bother looking for her?"
Seino hummed lightly.
Silence.
"For warriors pursuing eternity, a hundred years are but brief and insignificant."
Seino said, "I won't disturb her because this is her dream, and I don't want to make her sad."
"Promise me, don't tell her about my situation."
This was just one reason; another reason was—he didn't want, when the time came for him to die, to have someone standing by the bed, watching him pass away.
He couldn't bear that.
It would be too undignified a death.
Ayaka clenched her fingers, nails sinking deep into her skin.
Seino took out a letter from his pocket, "After I'm gone, if she asks, please give her this letter."
"...Alright," Ayaka said sorrowfully.
"Don't be sad. Girls should smile more," Seino smiled.
"I'm content. The mission of this body is complete. Whether for her or for Inazuma, I have no regrets."
Outside the window, the snow fell heavily, swirling.
The snow weighed on the pines and cypresses, gradually sliding down, dropping chunks of snow onto the mottled grass, slowly melting.
"Let me quietly die alone." he said.