Chapter 25: Grand Narukami Shrine

Sigh... Sigh...

Bai Luo is currently in a very strange state.

He feels awake, yet he cannot control any part of his body.

He wants to scream, but no sound can be squeezed out of his throat.

He tries to pinch himself with his hand to wake up.

But he doesn't even have the strength to move a finger.

Gradually, even breathing becomes difficult.

The surrounding environment is getting colder and more humid.

The increasingly heavy air gives a viscous feeling.

"This is..."

This cold, suffocating, and weakening sensation... Isn't it the same feeling he had when he jumped into the river to save someone?

Why is the scenario repeating?

Speaking of which, although he knows he was swept away to winter because he jumped into the river to save someone, he still can't remember what that child looked like.

All he can do now is use all his strength to swim towards the light in the darkness.

Maybe that is the surface of the water.

As he approaches the surface, the dizziness from suffocation becomes more severe.

When he emerges from the ice-cold, bone-chilling river, what he sees is not the gray, snowy sky of winter, but a little girl with a slightly pale face.

The girl looks at him, her eyes filled with sadness, despair, and a hint of... fear?

"You– uh!?"

Bai Luo wants to comfort her, but feels a sharp pain in his abdomen.

Looking down, he finds a short sword covered in black substance piercing through him.

No...

The black substance is not on the sword, but on him.

He doesn't know when, but a black, unknown substance has attached itself to him, and he just swam out of it.

Now he... has become a monster.

The dagger takes away all his strength, and the muddy black substance pulls him again, dragging him into endless darkness.

Before the last light is swallowed, he seems to hear a crane's cry with a hint of surprise.

...

"Ugh– What time is it now?"

Subconsciously touching his stomach, Bai Luo sits up from the comfortable bed.

He has had many dreams, but they usually fade with time, lasting only half an hour in his mind at most.

But this dream seems different, with many details still clear in his memory.

Like the intense pain of being stabbed in the abdomen.

If it weren't for the fact that there are no scars on his belly, he would really think he was stabbed.

"Lord Ausbilder."

Sensing movement in the room, the Fatui's Brigade member, who had been waiting outside, entered after getting Bai Luo's permission.

"As per your instructions, the manuscript has been delivered to Yae Publishing House's editor, Kuroda."

Remembering the content of the manuscript, the Fatui's Brigade members worry again for their superior.

Is it really okay to write like this?

Setting aside other things, if someone in Snezhnaya dared to write about the Tsaritsa in a book like this, even under a pseudonym, they would definitely be incinerated by the wrath of the Fatui's Brigade member.

"Oh? What did the editor say?"

Pouring himself a cup of hot tea, Bai Luo inquires.

Even though his writing is not great, the story is quite novel.

It will definitely crush the light novels currently on the market in Inazuma.

"Editor Kuroda said the theme is quite special and must be personally approved by Yae Publishing House head. If it passes, they will notify you."

In his opinion, the editor named Kuroda was already quite merciful.

If it were him, he would definitely throw the book mercilessly at the author's face, letting him understand the consequences of disrespecting the Shogun.

"Okay, go now and remember to notify me when you receive a response."

"As you command."

After leaving the room, the face of this Fatui's Brigade member was full of worry.

He felt that the day he received a response would be the day he'd be thrown into jail by The Tenryou Commission.

After a sigh, the Fatui's Brigade members left.

Unbeknownst to him, the manuscript he had sent out had already been delivered to the Grand Narukami Shrine by Kuroda.

In Inazuma's territory, there is a magnificent high mountain.

This mountain is called Mt. Yougou.

As one of the highest peaks in Inazuma, it is even taller than the Tenshukaku, the dwelling place of the Shogun.

At the top of Mt. Yougou, there is the largest shrine in Inazuma - the Grand Narukami Shrine.

It is said that those with wishes can climb to the top step by step, pass through numerous torii gates, find a priestess to ask for a fortune, and pray for the protection of the honored Shogun, enshrined there.

Whether the wishes are granted depends on how satisfied the priestess of the Grand Narukami Shrine is with the visitors.

If it's an interesting wish, the priestess doesn't mind helping to realize it.

Apart from enshrining the Electro Archon, this shrine has another little-known purpose.

To protect the unique divine cherry tree at the top of the mountain.

No one can tell the origin of the divine cherry tree, but its existence seems to date back a long time.

At least in the memory of many Inazuma citizens, it has always been there.

As the sun sets, the setting sun drapes a fiery red cloak over the earth.

Being the highest point in Inazuma, the Grand Narukami Shrine can be said to have a panoramic view of all the beauty of Inazuma.

After sending away the worshippers, the miko finally have a moment to quiet down and tidy up the shrine.

"Ah, Sayu has run off somewhere again today, and Lady Guuji hasn't shown her face all day. Thankfully, there were fewer worshippers today, or it would have been difficult to manage."

While cleaning up the accumulated cherry blossom petals, Kano Nana couldn't help but complain.

In the morning, Yae Miko handed all the tasks to her and then locked herself in her room with a new book, leaving everything to Nana.

After a busy day, she still had to clean up in the evening.

"Puahaha!"

Laughter erupted from the side hall again, but the miko seemed to have gotten used to it, shaking their heads helplessly before continuing their work.

"What's with Lady Guuji today? Why is she laughing so much in her room?"

One of the Miko, Maki, quietly approached Kano Nana and asked.

She was responsible for the area near the divine cherry tree today, so she had no idea what had happened with Yae Miko.

But Kano Nana might know something, as she took over all the duties from Yae Miko today.

"What else could it be? A super interesting light novel came from Yae Publishing House. It's said that the content of the story to be quite bold, and they wanted Lady Guuji to review it personally."

Yae Miko is the boss of Yae Publishing, and most of the miko at the Grand Narukami Shrine, influenced by their leader, were interested in light novels.

So, hearing it was a bold light novel, Maki's face showed anticipation.

"What kind of novel is it? Will it pass the review? When can we read it?"

Kano Nana thought for a moment and then mentioned the name of the manuscript that Yae Miko was holding.

"I think It's called 'My Electro Archon Can't Be This Cute'."