Chapter 49

Raiden Ei was truly confused when Takumi-sama mentioned the name "Istaru."

Seeing Raiden Ei's confused expression, Takumi knew she had never heard of Istaru. After all, Istaru was the most mysterious of the Four Shadows and had used countless divine names. Most people who knew her called her the "Eternal God."

"That's the one who gave you the seeds of the Sacred Sakura Tree," Takumi explained.

Raiden Ei suddenly understood, and a seed of the Sacred Sakura Tree appeared in her hand. The seed emitted a purple light, with the silver power of time wrapped around it.

"So, you're talking about the ruler of time. She spoke to me before the disaster in Khaenri'ah, but I did not see her," Raiden Ei said. "She gave me the seed of this Sacred Sakura Tree and asked me to plant it in the past when I awakened in the future. She said it would help me solve Inazuma's disaster."

After saying this, she looked at her sister and lowered her head. Now, she understood everything. During the disaster in Khaenri'ah, she left Inazuma in the care of Kitsune Saiguu and ran to Khaenri'ah to save her sister. Not only did she lose Kitsune Saiguu, but Inazuma was also left in shambles. Five hundred years after her sister's death, Raiden Ei still had to clean up the mess left behind.

Raiden Ei lowered her head in guilt, like a little girl who made a mistake. "I'm sorry, Inazuma ended up like this because of me."

Raiden Shogun gently touched her head. "You're not good at this kind of thing anyway," she said softly.

Raiden Shogun then handed the Sacred Sakura Tree seed to Takumi. "I don't know if you're trying to find that person, Lord Takumi, but this is all I can give you," she said.

The seed was crucial—without it, Inazuma would have been destroyed during the cataclysm five hundred years ago. However, since Takumi was the law of heaven, Raiden Shogun could trust him with it. He would never let Inazuma be destroyed.

Takumi played with the seed for a moment before throwing it towards Yashiori Island five hundred years in the past. All he wanted was the trace of Istaru's presence on the Sacred Sakura Tree, which would help him locate her.

Meanwhile, Yae Miko looked at Takumi—who was respectfully called "sama" by Raiden Shogun—and had a realization. Wasn't he the "Demon God of Time"? Why was he searching for the "Ruler of Time"? Had she guessed Takumi-sama's identity wrong?

Thinking of this, Yae Miko was flustered and embarrassed. She recalled her playful demeanor when she had asked Takumi about his identity, and she now felt the weight of social embarrassment hanging over her.

Just as Yae Miko was looking for a hole to crawl into, Raiden Shogun approached and gently touched her head. "Is this Yae Miko? She's grown into an adult just as dependable as Kitsune Saiguu," she said with a smile.

Yae Miko looked up, and for a moment, she enjoyed Raiden Shogun's hand on her head. "Shogun-sama..."

Five hundred years ago, Raiden Shogun held her in her arms and touched her head just like this, giving her a feeling of warmth that made her want to cry.

However, the heartwarming scene was suddenly interrupted by a teasing voice. Yae Miko looked at Takumi, who was making a mocking sound.

"Tsk tsk tsk," Takumi clicked his tongue. "So the little fox still enjoys this, huh? I think I'd like to see you acting this way toward me, or else I wouldn't be satisfied."

Takumi was having too much fun teasing her. He had spent a lot to obtain Yae Miko when she was summoned as a playable character, and now, teasing the real and animated Yae Miko felt like a reward.

Yae Miko rolled her eyes shyly and said, "You're such an evil god. I won't act that way toward you—don't even think about it."

She couldn't help but think about how this god was even more annoying than a mischievous elf.

Takumi sighed dramatically. "Oh, is that because you've found a new master, and now I'm just some stranger? I've seen it all before."

Yae Miko stamped her foot angrily but didn't dare to scold him, holding back her frustration. "I am a fox, not a dog," she said.

Takumi spread his hands. "In my world, foxes belong to the canidae family, so they can technically be considered dogs."

Yae Miko's face turned bright red with anger. "You, you, you..."

She wanted to yell at him, but she knew she couldn't. Not only did she not have the strength to challenge him, but she also wasn't brave enough to be disrespectful. It was infuriating.

She looked at Raiden Shogun for help, but Raiden Shogun pursed her lips, trying to suppress a smile. Deep down, Raiden Shogun knew that Lord Takumi was no ordinary god—he was a god who had the same emotions and desires as humans.

When she saw Raiden Shogun suppressing her laughter, Yae Miko felt the world might as well end. She had the sudden, absurd urge to "destroy everything."

Raiden Ei, however, was confused. She couldn't understand why Takumi-sama enjoyed teasing Yae Miko so much.

Seeing Yae Miko's blushing face, Takumi decided it was enough. He didn't want to push her too far. He sighed and said, "Alright, I'll leave now. I'll let you all enjoy your reunion without eavesdropping from the corner."

With that, he disappeared from Raiden Shogun's consciousness space.

The moment Takumi disappeared, Yae Miko let out a scream of frustration. She stomped her feet and cursed loudly. "Ahhhh, you damn bastard! So what if you're a god! You're a dog! Your whole family is a dog! You're an evil, vile god!"

Raiden Ei and Raiden Shogun were dumbfounded as they listened to Yae Miko scolding the Heavenly Law, her hair practically standing on end. The two sisters were astonished—neither of them dared to speak ill of the Heavenly Law, let alone think about offending it.

Raiden Shogun quickly covered Yae Miko's mouth and said seriously, "Miko, how can you curse someone like that? You must not scold that person."

Raiden Ei nodded. "Yes, you mustn't curse at him. You can't do it again, alright?"

Yae Miko, with her mouth covered, was taken aback. She felt aggrieved. Wasn't she their companion? She was their familiar, yet they were defending Takumi instead of her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt utterly wronged.

Meanwhile, Takumi returned to his own consciousness, and Yae Miko and Raiden Ei also returned to reality. No matter how much time passed in the consciousness space, it only amounted to a mere moment in the real world.

Takumi looked at Raiden Ei, whose expression was filled with happiness. "It will take some time for Raiden Shogun to regain her form. The leyline energy cannot be given all at once, or else Inazuma will be overrun by monsters."

Raiden Ei nodded. She had no more questions.

Yae Miko then spoke up, her voice filled with longing. "I want to resurrect Kitsune Saiguu."

Takumi looked at Yae Miko, noting her teary-eyed expression. He had indeed teased her too much earlier, and though he enjoyed teasing Yae Miko, he never intended to make her truly cry.

"Kitsune Saiguu is not a demon, so resurrecting her doesn't require much leyline energy. Moreover, she still has a physical form and wanders the White Fox Wilderness. Her resurrection requires very little leyline energy. I can do it right away."

Yae Miko's grief turned into delight, though she was momentarily stunned.

"Kitsune Saiguu has a physical form?"

Kitsune Saiguu had died during the cataclysm, so how could she still have a physical form? And why had she been in the White Fox Wilderness, so close to Yashiori Island?