Kiana and the Captain's Bizarre Adventure

Chapter 112 Eighth Divine Child: Go and drag Shadow out of the Pure Land of One Heart

Back at Narukami Shrine, everyone changed into shrine maiden attire. This was at Yae no Miko's request; after all, she had protected them during this time, so they deserved some recognition. Being taken advantage of wasn't Yae no Miko's habit, and of course, their appearances had been concealed by her sorcery, so there was no need to worry about rumors spreading that the Grand Master was personally serving as a shrine maiden for the Chief Priest.

As for the two requests from Kannazuka and Hachiyū Island, Yae no Miko paid them sufficient compensation afterward, so there was no question of using the compensation to offset the debt of working as a shrine maiden to repay the favor. In fact, Yae no Miko would have preferred that each of them write a bestselling novel to repay the favor rather than working as a shrine maiden. Unfortunately, none of Kiana and the others could write novels, so the matter had to be left unresolved.

Of course, in her spare time, Yae no Miko also prepared a special training device for Raijin's moves so that everyone could become familiar with Raijin's moves. According to Yae no Miko, now all they need to do is wait for Sora to return from the island of Kaiji with the resistance army to face Raijin General head-on.

After all, Sora is the first person in hundreds of years to successfully enter the Pure Land of One Heart where the Kage resides, and she might still need Sora's help to face the Kage face-to-face. Having Kiana and the others familiarize themselves with Raiden General's moves beforehand is to prevent the Kage from pulling them in along with Sora when he enters the Pure Land of One Heart. Familiarity with the moves beforehand gives them a chance to survive against the Kage. Of course, when Sora returns, she will first give him an emergency training session before making further plans.

What Yae no Miko didn't know was that everyone present actually had the strength to defeat a Kage on their own, provided that Yae no Miko wasn't lying. This Thor's Technique Training Device was designed to match the full strength of a Kage.

A week later, Yae no Miko specially brought Kiana and the others to her room, where they saw an Otto with light blue hair.

Well, actually it was just someone who looked a lot like Otto. For a fleeting moment, Kiana instinctively wanted to summon her weapon and shoot the person sitting there.

Fortunately, she held back. After the man introduced himself, everyone learned his identity—Kamisato Ayato, the current head of the Kamisato family and also Kamisato Ayaka's older brother.

As for Yae no Miko, she had already disappeared after they entered the room. According to her, she went to pick up the most crucial person in her plan.

"My younger sister is grateful for everyone's care," said Ayato Kamisato. "I've come here for two reasons. First, to see the person who is rumored to look very much like the Shogun. It seems that the rumor is indeed true. Second, I'd like to confirm the follow-up arrangements with everyone."

"So you're saying you were also involved in Yae-san's plan?" Kiana asked, sitting cross-legged. "It seems that Kamisato-san's secret assistance to the Eye of God holders and even the rebels in the city was all done on your orders."

“That’s right,” Ayato Kamisato said. “After all, as her older brother, I know my younger sister’s personality better than anyone. Even if I don’t agree, she will still do these things secretly on her own. Rather than that, I might as well ‘order’ her to do these things. If we get caught, I can take full responsibility. Coincidentally, the High Priest also intends to oppose the national isolation edict and the Eye Hunting edict, so I have chosen to join the High Priest’s plan. Also, you can just call me Ayato, and you can call my younger sister by her first name. Otherwise, there will inevitably be some confusion in our conversation.”

Tsk, Alto actually willingly took the blame for Rita? Am I still dreaming? How could I have such a dream?

This is Kiana's inner monologue after obtaining some information through the Imaginary Tree. Although she still can't find the Captain's location through the Imaginary Tree, she can obtain some information about Teyvat from it.

It's strange, though, that the Imaginary Tree contains information like "Who is Ayato Kamisato's voice actor?" Logically, this information should only exist in her previous world. Could it be that her previous world was also on the Imaginary Tree? Or was this information deliberately placed there by her future self or by another being? If so, her and the captain's time travel is probably inextricably linked to them.

However, none of that matters now. Since Ayato Kamisato is also involved in Yae no Miko's plan, it's not bad to learn about the next steps from him.

"So what should we do next?" Kiana asked.

"It's not that difficult. First, we wait for Lord Kuji to bring her back, then we try to turn Kujo Sara into a rebel so that she can cause chaos inside the castle tower. Finally, I will send out the Kamisato family's secret forces to secretly help the resistance reach the castle tower, where Inazuma's fate will be judged."

After listening to Ayato Kamisato's explanation, Kiana took a deep breath and said, "Mobilizing the Kamisato family's secret forces to help the resistance, Mr. Ayato, do you know that this is tantamount to rebellion? If the other two magistrates find out, your Kamisato family will be completely finished."

“I know, so this matter can only succeed and cannot fail. Besides, in the end, you are all outsiders. Your purpose in coming to Inazuma is only to take this Miss Mei away from Inazuma. Unlike that traveler who was forced to get involved, why is he so insistent on changing the current situation in Inazuma?”

“We have our reasons for doing this. Besides, if we can lift the Eye Hunting Order or even the isolation order, wouldn’t that be a good thing for Mei? At least she wouldn’t have to smuggle herself out of the country anymore, right?”

"But her appearance... well, since you don't care about that, I won't say anything more. Now that you have a general understanding of Lord Kuji's and my plans, you can ask any questions you have now. I'm busy with family matters and can't stay here any longer."

"Is there anything wrong with that secret unit you mentioned?"

"That's natural. The members of this unit have all been trained since childhood to be loyal to the Kamisato family. Only members of the Kamisato family can command them, so there is no possibility of them being turned."

"What are we going to do on the day of the operation?" Fu Hua asked.

"We must adapt to the situation," said Ayato Kamisato. "The original plan did not include your participation, and changing the plan at the last minute will create many uncertainties. Therefore, both I and Lord Miyaji hope that you can remain still. Of course, you can participate as appropriate, but everything must be done to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan."

After answering a few more questions, Ayato Kamisato left. Not long after, he returned carrying the unconscious Yae no Miko using sorcery.

After Paimon explained, Kiana and the others finally understood what was going on.

It turns out that after Sora went to the island of Kaido, he was exceptionally appointed as the captain of the Swordfish Second Division by Kokoro Sangomi. Teppei, who accompanied him, was assigned to participate in another mission and soon became the captain of a newly established squad.

Unfortunately, their good fortune didn't last long. Perhaps for the purpose of human experimentation, the Fools secretly funded a large amount of supplies to the resistance, including many of the Evil Eyes.

Those evil eyes are tools that allow users to manipulate elemental power by consuming the user's life force. Teppei did indeed obtain an evil eye. Due to excessive use of the evil eye, Teppei died because he exhausted his life force. He died in front of Sora. Sango Miyako and Goro also began to thoroughly investigate the existence of the evil eye internally.

Blinded by rage, Sora stormed into the factory where the Fatui were building the Evil Eyes without looking back after learning its location. After destroying all the production facilities and eliminating all the Fatui members and researchers inside, Sora was possessed by a spirit summoned by his negative emotions and fell into a coma.

Just before they were about to be captured by the Fools who came to their aid, Yae no Miko arrived at the Evil Eye Factory and rescued Sora and Paimon, bringing them back to Narukami Shrine.

Yae no Miko is currently helping to cleanse the evil spirits within Sora's body. Before long, Yae no Miko will have completely purified all the evil spirits within Sora's body, and Sora will slowly awaken at this moment.

"Come on, repeat after me, 'Three, two, one, one, two, three, ah ah—' Hurry up."

Sora, whose mind was blank, repeated what Yae no Miko had said, and Yae no Miko smiled with relief.

"Hmm, not bad, not bad. That means at least for now, his brain isn't seriously damaged, hmm..."

As Sora gradually regained consciousness, she got up from the floor, and Yae no Miko also dusted off imaginary dust from her clothes and stood up from the floor.

"It was such a pain to finally get you out of the ground, you little guy who looks like you're stuck there. It would be such a waste if you got hurt."

"Hmm, I've wanted to ask you this from the very beginning, Divine Child, why is your mannerisms and speech completely different from when I first met you..."

"Is that so? Perhaps it's because she dismissed the other priestesses. Besides, I've always been like this, you know?" Yae no Miko laughed.

“Exactly, exactly,” Kiana chimed in. “Could it be that your first impression of Yae-san wasn’t what it is now, Paimon?”

"Um... how should I put it? When I first met the Divine Child, she gave me the feeling of mystery and elegance? In short, it's completely different from how I feel now!"

"Heh, people only ever show the side they want to show, I know that very well. So, every side is actually the real self, it's just that people like to define it meaninglessly. Study humans more, little Paimon."

"I... I don't think I understood that very well," Paimon said, rubbing his head. "Never mind, whatever. Speaking of which, Kiana, what are you doing here? And wearing shrine maiden outfits at that!"

“Paimon, do you remember what we agreed on?” Kiana said. “We came to Hachiman Island because we accepted a request from Miss Yae, and naturally we had to return to deliver it once it was completed. As for why we were wearing shrine maiden outfits, that’s another matter…”

"Alright, enough chit-chat. Instead of wasting time on this, you should be thinking about how to repay me... right? Or is it that there's something wrong with your thought process after all..."

"Thank you very much, Lord Yae no Miko."

"There's no need to be so formal. What I need is your action. Heh." Yae no Miko saw through what Sora was thinking at a glance. "You're probably still thinking about the Evil Eye, aren't you?"

"What happened next?" Kong asked.

"Don't worry, the navigator of that island has already led his men to clean up the mess and issued a strict military order to the entire army, prohibiting the use of the Evil Eye. Sigh, if I had the time, I'd really like to see those fools suffer..."

Yae no Miko sighed and said, "You did a really good job. I really want to have a good talk with that woman named Coral Palace Heart Sea in person, but unfortunately... differences in beliefs are such a hindrance."

"Get in the way? You're the priest of Narukami Shrine!"

Yae no Miko ignored Paimon and continued, "Alright, I'm telling you this to put your mind at ease so you can focus on... doing something for me. You... have seen her, haven't you?"

"You mean General Thunder? I've seen him, during the ceremony beneath the statue..."

“I’m not talking about that doll, I mean…you should have seen [her] before, right?”

"You mean, in that space?"

"Yes, the true Thunder General who, in order to maintain his self, engages in endless meditation in the Pure Land of One Heart... his name is Shadow."

"You mean, the people who appeared at the ceremony were just puppets, and the real Thunder General was the one Sora saw later? In other words, not only the battlefield changed, but the opponents also changed?" Paimon said. "Wait a minute, since Kiana and the others are here, does that mean they knew too? And what about Mei?"

“Yes, they know too,” Yae no Miko said. “In fact, I told them myself, and they knew much earlier than you did.”

"But why..." Kong asked.

“Because this is the [eternity] of that Thunder General,” Yae no Miko explained. “Before pursuing the eternity of this kingdom, one must first touch eternity oneself. The physical body will eventually return to dust, so a puppet body will take its place. The spirit is also subject to wear and tear, so she entrusts her consciousness to her sword. She uses meditation to avoid all disturbances.”

"As for who Mei is, to be honest, I don't know either," Yae Miko said. "As far as I know, Kage has only created two dolls. One was an experimental doll used to collect data, and the other was the final product made from her own body. Theoretically, there shouldn't be enough material to make another doll for Kage, not to mention that Mei already has..."

"What is it?" Paimon asked.

"No, it's nothing," Yae no Miko said, shaking her head.

“Then, the space she cut open with the knife is…” Kong speculated.

“The Pure Land of One Heart is a space that is the same as her inner world, which generally only allows the existence of the self.” Yae no Miko affirmed, “Closed in her own world, she leaves the complexities of the outside world to the puppet that only rushes towards eternity at all costs… This is the path to eternity that Shadow has discovered.”

“Zhongli also mentioned [wear and tear], which was one of the reasons for his abdication.”

"Are you talking about Morax? It's been a long time. So the god of Liyue made such a choice. He is indeed an interesting god."

"However, it seems that General Lei Dian's actions can indeed avoid the problems that Zhong Li encountered..."

“But this behavior is more like a child throwing a tantrum and locking himself in his room,” Bronya said. “When I was in the orphanage, I often saw children who had been arguing for some reason lock themselves in their rooms and sulk. In the end, it was Seele who persuaded them to come out and make up with the child they had been arguing with.”

“Using a child to describe General Thunder… I don’t know whether to say Bronya, you’re ignorant and fearless or something else…” Paimon said.

“I think Bronya is quite right,” Yae Miko chuckled. “Isn’t Kage’s current situation exactly what Bronya described? And her so-called eternity has already become just her own illusion of eternity. In the end… it’s nothing more than a fear of loss…”

"I still don't know what you want me to do," Kong asked.

"Hey, to put it simply, I just want you to bring out General Thunder."

Kiana's words left Paimon somewhat bewildered. With his brain unable to process anything further, Paimon could only utter simple words.

"…ah?"