Hearing Ei's agreement, Kujou Kamaji's face lit up with excitement… he then clasped his hands and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Shogun-sama!"
"There's no need for such formality. Go prepare yourself—I'll be there shortly."
Ei gestured toward the open half of the dojo across from them, signaling for him to wait there. Since this was to be a duel, positioning mattered. In her mind, it should be man on the left, woman on the right. Thus, Kujou Kamaji stood on the left side of the dojo, while she took the right.
"As you command!"
Kujou Kamaji answered resolutely, then straightened himself, carrying his sword to the left side of the dojo. There, he drew his blade, carefully wiping the steel with a cloth, or stretching his body to loosen up—preparing himself mentally and physically for the coming duel.
Ei took this time to glance toward the Shogun. Coincidentally, the other's gaze met hers.
"I see a certain will in his eyes. A strong one."
The Shogun spoke softly.
"…Is that why you asked me to accept his challenge?"
Ei exhaled lightly at those words. Her expression softened, and her tone grew gentle.
"You wanted to witness their will and resolve for yourself—not merely to see mortals recklessly challenge you. For no matter how talented they are, none could truly defeat you."
The Shogun approached her slowly, her own voice—though identical in sound—carrying a distinct aura unlike Ei's calm presence.
"…You know, Shogun,"
"Mm?"
The Shogun blinked, surprised by Ei's tone.
"What you just said… sounded exactly like something she would have said."
Ei's words carried no criticism—only a soft, almost imperceptible smile. Her voice was warm and filled with quiet pride. Her daughter truly hadn't strayed from the right path. She possessed her own decisiveness and resilience… as well as Makoto's gentleness and insight. It was rare and precious.
"...Ei, I—"
"Don't misunderstand… I'm complimenting you, Shogun."
Ei quickly clarified, realizing how sensitive the child's heart was, afraid she might have misunderstood.
"..."
The Shogun subconsciously touched the warm glow of lightning at her chest. It radiated through her body with a motherly gentleness—protective and tender.
Perhaps this light had been influencing her all along. Maybe… from the very first moment she opened her eyes, it had already taken root within her.
"…I should go."
Ei felt it was time. Glancing back, she saw Kujou Kamaji already standing ready at his position across the dojo, waiting for her. She spoke softly to the Shogun.
"Mm… here."
The Shogun folded up her oil-paper umbrella, transforming it into the Engulfing Lightning. Holding it with both hands, she presented it reverently to Ei.
Ei silently accepted it.
"He is but a mortal…"
"Don't worry. I know my limits."
Ei knew exactly what she was about to say, and she gave a small nod of reassurance. Gripping the Engulfing Lightning in one hand, she rested it behind her. Under the Shogun's gaze—and the watchful eyes of all those present—she strode with unwavering grace toward the other end of the dojo.
Gulp ×N
As Ei came to stand opposite Kujou Kamaji, the aura she radiated instantly filled the entire space. Not only Kujou Kamaji, but even those observing—Takatsukasa Susumu, the soldiers, and others—couldn't help but swallow hard.
The dojo fell silent. Even the sound of breathing was clear in the air. Though the duel wasn't theirs, the tension made it feel as though they were standing on that battlefield themselves.
This… this was Shogun-sama's aura?!
The Shogun quietly took her place at the edge of Ei's side of the dojo, watching her intently. Takatsukasa Susumu and the others stood on Kujou Kamaji's side.
Whoosh!
Despite being indoors, a cold gust seemed to blow through, making the flames in the surrounding braziers flicker wildly.
Ei stood tall, her exquisite form poised, Engulfing Lightning resting elegantly at her side. The aura of Shadow from long ago emanated from her once again. Her long braid, kimono sleeves, and the back of her garment swayed gently with the unseen wind… the perfect union of beauty, power, dignity, and grace.
"The honor of the Kujou Clan began with courage, flourished through sincerity, and transcends life and death."
Her voice rang out—cool, resolute, and tinged with a sharp, cold beauty.
"Let me see if your blade… can bear the weight of that legacy."
Whoosh whoosh!!
With those words, she stepped forward twice, spinning the heavy, long naginata several times with one hand before resting it lightly behind her.
Whoosh!
In that instant, the swing of her blade created a powerful gust of wind pressure, stirring up the dust on the dojo floor.
"!" ×N
Those watching nearby instinctively took a half step back. That single motion alone was enough to terrify them—the sight of the long, heavy naginata being swung like a wooden stick with one hand was beyond belief.
If that strike were to land on any of them… there would be nothing left.
And yet, despite that overwhelming aura, Kujou Kamaji showed no sign of fear. His eyes remained firm as he faced the woman before him. Gripping his drawn katana tightly with both hands, he took his stance.
"Shogun-sama, please grant me your instruction!!"
Crack!
As soon as the words left his mouth, he bent low and dashed toward Ei in an instant!
Tap tap! ×N
His movements were quick—Ei could tell he had solid training. But against her… it wasn't enough. To her eyes, he was full of openings.
"Uraaaah!!"
Kujou Kamaji reached her and swung his blade several times in rapid succession!
Whoosh! ×5
Five slashes in total, each from a different angle. But to Ei, it looked like a child swinging a toy sword—weak, clumsy, and painfully slow.
"..."
She sighed inwardly. Then, with the grace of someone simply stepping aside, she dodged every strike, letting the blade's edge graze harmlessly past her. She didn't even need to focus on the direction of his attacks; a single glance at the movement of his wrists and arms was enough to predict them all. Her expression remained calm, almost bored—as though indulging in a child's game.
Unlike her, Kujou Kamaji was already exhausted. After only a few swings, sweat poured down his face. He was giving it everything he had, pushing his body to its limit. But no matter how hard he tried, his strikes met only empty air. The woman before him moved like a ghost, always just beyond reach.
Ei never once used elemental power. A duel of swordsmanship was meant to test pure martial skill—using elemental strength would make it an audience-with-the-Shogun duel, a battle to the death.
Seeing that he couldn't even graze her despite her allowing five attacks, Ei sighed softly in her heart. Truthfully, she could have ended this duel before he even drew his sword—but she had gone easy on him.
Still… watching him like this, she couldn't help but act.
After avoiding his final swing, she used the non-lethal part of the naginata's guard to strike his back directly!
Thwack!
"Ugh—!"
A sharp pain shot through his body as Kujou Kamaji stumbled forward, losing his balance before collapsing face-first to the ground.
Thud!
"!" ×N
The soldiers watching around them all stepped back in alarm, their faces pale.
Ei pulled her naginata back and stood quietly, her expression still cold and composed as she watched the fallen man.
"Ugh…"
Kujou Kamaji struggled to his feet, gripping his katana once more and raising it before him. Gritting his teeth, he faced the unmoving woman and charged again!
"Uraaah!!"
This time, he changed his stance—switching to a mid-level guard—and thrust his blade forward!
Ei's sharp eyes followed the path of the blade. Then, she moved. With one hand, she spun the naginata in a tight arc and struck directly against his sword!
BANG!
A deafening impact echoed through the dojo. Kujou Kamaji's arms went numb instantly, his steps faltering as he was forced backward.
Ei lowered her stance slightly and unleashed a rapid series of strikes against his blade.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several heavy clashes, Kujou Kamaji could barely hold on. His grip on the hilt loosened as his arms trembled from the shock. With ghostlike agility, Ei sidestepped behind him, swinging her blade horizontally to strike his back once again.
Thwack!
"Ah!!"
The blow sent him stumbling forward once more. But Ei had already anticipated his movement—appearing in front of him before he could recover. Her long naginata circled once around his neck, the blade precisely grazing the flat of his sword.
She was deliberately striking against his weapon—a sign of mercy. Had she used her full strength, he would have been dead several times over.
Kujou Kamaji instinctively tried to block, but—
BANG!
The force behind her attack was simply too great. His arms, already numb, could no longer bear it.
His sword flew from his hands, spinning through the air.
At the same time, his entire body was hurled backward, flung through the air. As his weapon fell far from reach, his vision blurred with frustration and sorrow. In that fading moment, he caught a glimpse of the woman's calm form standing tall in her kimono, still holding her finishing stance. Their eyes met for a fleeting second.
Thud!
Then he crashed heavily to the ground.
"Cough…"
Kujou Kamaji felt as though his body were sinking into the depths of the ocean—heavy, immovable, every breath a struggle. Even the act of moving a finger was excruciatingly difficult. He knew he had lost. Lost completely. In truth… he had never stood a chance.
But still—his will remained unbroken. He refused to surrender. Enduring the pain that wracked his entire body, he crawled toward his fallen sword in the distance, desperate to grasp it once more. That blade represented his last shred of hope.
Tap… tap…
Ei walked a few steps toward him, her naginata resting behind her. She had assumed he would give up—but to her surprise, the man forced his battered body to stand before her once again.
For the first time, her expression wavered ever so slightly… but she quickly regained her composure.
"..."
From a distance, the Shogun watched with a faint, nearly imperceptible smile. Just as she had believed—the man's will was strong.
Tap… tap…
Kujou Kamaji staggered forward, his grip trembling around the sword hilt. His steps were unsteady, his once-present glasses now missing. His face was swollen and bruised, his entire body wracked with pain. His eyes were dull, nearly lifeless—but the strength of his resolve alone kept his body moving.
He continued to approach Ei. Even as his vision blurred into emptiness, he kept going—kept moving forward.
Until finally—
Thud!
His body could take no more. Stumbling past Ei, he collapsed heavily to the ground, unable to rise again.
"..."
Ei turned her head slightly, her gaze complicated as she looked at the fallen man.
Was this too… a variable of eternity? she asked herself silently.
Even so… that sense of honor clearly still flowed through his bloodline.
Turning her head, she looked at the crest of the Kujou Clan on his back, and for the first time, a faint glimmer of satisfaction softened her expression.
"Kujou Kamaji is injured. Descendant of the Takatsukasa Clan—you will be responsible for tending to him."
"Uh—!"
Takatsukasa Susumu froze for a moment before awkwardly stepping forward, hesitating in his movements.
"If you lack the courage to challenge, surely you can handle something this simple."
Ei didn't even look at him as she delivered the biting remark, her tone cool and dismissive.
"Y-Yes! My apologies! S-sincerely sorry!"
He pressed his palms together, nearly falling into a full dogeza in panic.
Meanwhile, the Shogun quietly stepped to Ei's side. Seeing Kujou Kamaji unconscious on the floor, she knelt gracefully, smoothing her kimono as she lowered herself. Placing her hand gently against his back, her palm glowed faintly with violet light as she infused him with her power—temporary healing to stabilize his condition and prevent further injury.
Ei watched her daughter's delicate movements for a moment, then spoke to Takatsukasa Susumu behind them.
"The Kujou Clan can no longer sustain the Commission's burden. I've heard of this situation before. It is true that finding a new head for the Tenryou Commission is of utmost importance…"
She paused briefly before continuing.
"However, after this duel, I have decided to postpone any disciplinary measures against the Kujou Clan."
Turning to Takatsukasa Susumu, she continued calmly.
"For the time being, the Takatsukasa Clan will continue as before—providing aid to the Kujou Clan."
Her words were firm yet measured—an order, not a request.
The Shogun finished administering her healing, withdrawing her elemental energy as she rose silently. She hadn't said a word the entire time. There was no need to—though she had governed Inazuma for five hundred years, she knew Ei's experience and wisdom far surpassed her own. She was content simply to assist.
"All will be as Shogun-sama commands—no dissent whatsoever!"
Takatsukasa Susumu dared not raise his head. His entire body trembled, his legs threatening to give out beneath him.
"If any of you still think you can manipulate the Shogunate by feeding false information through the Fatui's methods—hoping to mislead my judgment…"
Ei's eyes flashed coldly with violet light, her voice like frost. A spark of thunder rippled around her.
"…then I will appear again, just as I have today. But next time, my blade will show no mercy."
"U-understood! Th-thank you, Shogun-sama! Your wisdom is boundless!!"
Takatsukasa Susumu dropped to his knees in terror, pressing his forehead to the floor in a full dogeza. The other soldiers, terrified, followed suit—kneeling beside him in the same pitiful posture. The scene was almost pathetic to behold.
"Enough. I'll have the Okuzumeshuu handle the rest of the investigation."
Ei didn't bother acknowledging their groveling. She simply waved her hand dismissively, signaling them to rise, her tone casual and commanding.
"(Let's go…)"
She quietly reminded her daughter beside her, handing back the folded oil-paper umbrella.
"…Mm."
The Shogun accepted it gently, nodding once before obediently following her mother as they left the cave together.
Soon, the two of them emerged onto a cliffside midway up Mt. Yougou.
By now, it was already midday. The sun shone high above, illuminating the pair of beautiful women and drawing out their radiance in full. The two shades of ethereal violet that belonged to them—softly blending together—formed a breathtaking scene.
The Shogun turned slightly, her gaze resting on Ei. Reaching out her hand, she gently plucked a fallen sakura petal from her mother's hair—her motion tender and delicate.
"?"
Feeling the faint touch atop her head, Ei glanced at her daughter's gesture and felt a warmth blossom within her heart. What a thoughtful child… she thought. This feeling of quiet affection, of a small but precious closeness—it was truly wonderful.
"I… handled things decently back there, didn't I?" Ei asked softly, her tone half playful, half reflective. "I think I'm getting better at adapting. Though if it had been you, you probably would've handled it more perfectly."
She smiled faintly as she added, "Sometimes, in situations like this, you manage to stay calm before I do. You think things through more carefully."
The Shogun shook her head gently.
"That's not true…" she replied softly.
"Mm?"
Ei tilted her head, curious.
"Ei… in truth, I am still far from your level of maturity. You are far more adept at managing such matters than I. If it had been me handling today's situation, it might have ended… far less gracefully."
Her voice carried sincerity, her eyes reflecting honest humility.
"…You're being too modest," Ei countered gently.
"No… it's the truth," the Shogun said, shaking her head slightly. "I've always thought of myself as cold, detached… a being who could make emotionless decisions when necessary. But the truth is… I don't even fully understand myself yet. I'm softer-hearted than I imagined. Perhaps… that's my greatest flaw—"
Before she could finish, she was suddenly pulled into an embrace. The warmth of her mother's arms—Ei's arms—silenced her completely. Wordlessly, she rested her head against Ei's chest, her own hands slowly wrapping around her mother's waist.
"Shogun… I've never thought of you as cold," Ei murmured gently. "You're kind… thoughtful. To me, you feel like one of those young women around Ayaka's age. And I want you to stay that way. Because you have a heart—a gentle, caring heart."
Perhaps, in the process of inheriting her will, Makoto's will had also taken root within her daughter. This was exactly what Ei had hoped for.
And it was also… the greatest difference between her daughter, the Shogun, and the one known as Kunikuzushi.
She felt the child in her arms tighten her hold slightly. Ei smiled softly, returning the embrace with equal warmth.
"Shall we go home?"
She whispered the question close to her daughter's ear.
"Mm…"
The Shogun responded in a small, muffled voice, her cheeks faintly tinged with red.
"Let's go, then…"
Ei took her daughter's hand in hers and led her down the mountain path. Today's mother-daughter outing had become one of the most unforgettable experiences she'd had in a long, long time. And as she walked forward, she knew—
It was time for her to change as well.