Chapter 38: The Supporting Role of Raiden Shogun and the Panicked Kamisato Ayaka
"Alright, it's time to stop crying and act like a general. You're the ruler of Inazuma now, so you can't keep breaking down like this."
Raiden Shogun comforted Ying for a long time before gently pulling away.
"You've suffered so much over the years."
Raiden shogun's heart ached when she thought about how Ying had to shoulder the responsibility of governing Inazuma alone after her death. She felt guilty. No matter how bad things had gotten under Ying's rule, she couldn't blame her sister. Everything had been thrust upon Ying, and Raiden Shogun had never considered whether her sister could handle it.
"But I'm actually so glad to see you here," Raiden Shogun added softly.
Even if it was just a dream, even if it wasn't real, she would allow herself to indulge in it.
Raiden Shogun wasn't completely unaware of the nature of this dream, but she understood its purpose. So, she didn't refuse. Now, her only goal was to make up for all the lost time and everything she owed to Ying. Even if she couldn't fix everything, at least before the dream ended, she wanted to ensure that Ying felt happy.
After all, being able to communicate with Ying in this way, standing on the same land, was something Raiden Shogun had never imagined after her death. Even if it was just a dream, it was linked to the dreams of all Inazuma's people. In this space, it felt as though they were in the heart of Inazuma itself.
"Ying... let's go to Inazuma City together," Raiden Shogun said, taking Ying's hand.
She longed to see the Inazuma she hadn't set eyes on in five hundred years, and she wanted to experience it with her sister.
The two of them passed by Su Ran and the others, who were watching the scene unfold.
"Who said they wouldn't cry and make a fuss?" Su Ran muttered to himself, recalling something.
Ying flushed with embarrassment but didn't want to waste any more time. She didn't want to embarrass herself further in front of her sister, so she chose to ignore Su Ran's teasing.
"Excuse me, two beautiful ladies, can you spare a moment?" came a voice from behind them.
Although Ying didn't plan to stop, Raiden Shogun paused. With no choice but to stay, the two of them turned around. However, facing Su Ran's teasing smile, Ying felt too shy to meet his gaze.
Not wanting to let Ying continue to feel embarrassed, Su Ran decided to ease the situation.
"Excuse me, ladies," he continued, "Do you agree that Mr. Su Ran, a world-renowned genius, is unparalleled in beauty and wisdom?"
Raiden Shogun rolled her eyes, uninterested in the narcissism. But to her surprise, Raiden Zhen smiled and clapped her hands.
"Yes, Mr. Su Ran's beauty and wisdom are unparalleled in the world."
Ying's discomfort grew, seeing Raiden Shogun so supportive of Su Ran's antics.
"Well then, since the two beautiful ladies think so, I'll give this beloved little fox to you," Su Ran said, raising a small pink fox in his hand.
The cute appearance of the little fox immediately caught Raiden shogun's attention.
"This is such a cute pet," Raiden Shogun remarked, smiling at the fox.
Ying, on the other hand, was unimpressed.
"What's so great about this fox?" she thought.
"Thank you for this gift, Mr. Su Ran," Raiden Shogun said as she took the pink-haired fox into her arms, cradling it just as she had once held Ying when she was younger.
Raiden shogun's mood instantly soured, though she tried to suppress it.
At first, this had been a special world between her and Ying. But now, there was this "child of God" in the mix.
Raiden shogun's muttered under her breath, "Tsk..."
Hearing her "tsk," Yae Shenzi couldn't help but glance back at the situation, then buried herself into Raiden arms.
After all, being a pet certainly had its perks. Unlike a certain adult who, despite being older, still liked to be coddled in his sister's arms, you couldn't lie down all the time like that. Maybe, in the future, when Ying learned the truth about Zhen, she'd regret not competing for affection like Yae Shenzi's fox.
After receiving the pink-haired fox, Raiden Shogun and Ying continued down Yingxiang Mountain toward Inazuma Castle.
"I hope the drama version unfolds the way I expect," Su Ran mused, watching the sisters walk down the mountain.
He couldn't help but imagine the struggles that would arise between the Traveler and Ying when the latter entered Inazuma's dreamscape in the future. Would the wishes of the Inazuma people be easier to fulfill? Or would the gods' wishes hold more weight?
Looking at the sky for a moment, the general turned toward Su Ran.
"After all this is over, can you leave me this dream?" she asked.
Only Raiden Shogun would believe that this dream might remain unbroken. The general, however, knew the truth.
Dreams could be eternal, but they were not indestructible. Too many factors could cause them to break.
The only thing General Raiden could do now was wait for everything to conclude, and once the human consciousness returned to reality, the only thing left would be dreams without any variables. That, for her, would be true eternity—not the fragile, bubble-like eternity she experienced now.
"Alright, consider it a betrothal gift," Su Ran replied with a sly grin.
---
Meanwhile, on Haiji Island in Coral Palace, Xinhai slowly woke up, her eyes blinking in confusion as she looked around.
"Am I... asleep?"
She had felt sleepy the night before, but she had only planned to take a short nap. Yet, when she opened her eyes, it was already dawn.
"I wonder if the Shogunate will accept this peace talk," she thought, feeling oddly relaxed, as if she had rested far more deeply than usual.
---
Back in the castle tower, Kamisato Ayaka also woke up, her eyes fluttering open. The first thing she saw was a familiar face.
And there, standing awkwardly, was Ipan Sara. She hadn't woken up much earlier than Ayaka.
Of course, the main reason Sara was embarrassed was that more than just the three of them were present.
At the signal from Kujo Sara, Ayaka turned to look in the other direction, her gaze landing on a man kneeling there.
He had light blue semi-long hair and was lowering his head, his expression unreadable.
"Brother?"
Ayaka Kamisato instantly stood up, straightening her clothes in a flurry. She was beyond flustered. It felt as if she had confessed her feelings too soon, and now her family had caught her.