"...Haa."
After hearing Kokomi's long, almost confessional speech, the Shogun sighed softly and turned her gaze aside. The icy look in her eyes gradually melted, replaced by a faint warmth.
In truth, she had done this with a purpose. She wanted to test the other woman—to see what she would say in such a situation. Yet Kokomi's words had gone beyond her expectations. She hadn't imagined that Sangonomiya Kokomi would say so much... and so sincerely.
With her years of experience, she could tell Kokomi wasn't lying. She could see it in those radiant eyes—this was genuine.
"I just now…"
"?"
Hearing her voice, Kokomi lifted her gaze to look at her again.
"What I said earlier may have been too broad. It's not you I hold prejudice against... but your subordinates."
"..."
Kokomi didn't look pleased by that clarification. Instead, her expression turned complex—she understood what the Shogun meant.
"Let's go."
Perhaps sensing her mood, the Shogun didn't continue the topic. She simply resumed walking—this time at a slower pace, waiting for Kokomi to follow.
"Mm…"
Kokomi answered softly and obediently followed, walking beside her down the narrow path toward Bourou Village.
"Cough... cough... haa."
"?"
Hearing a soft cough beside her, the Shogun turned her head, puzzled. The girl beside her had raised a delicate hand to her lips, her voice weak and fragile as she coughed lightly, her hand occasionally pressing to her chest.
"Are you ill?"
She asked.
"Eh? Mm... my health hasn't been great lately. (Cough…)"
Kokomi blinked, then gave a faint, weary smile as she explained, before suppressing another gentle cough.
"Haa…"
The Shogun exhaled softly, reached up to unfasten the rounded shawl draped over her own shoulders, and placed it gently over Kokomi's. She tied the ends into a small bow beneath her chin.
"...!"
Kokomi froze, her hand instinctively touching the soft fabric on her shoulders. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the Shogun.
"Wear it for now. Don't read too much into it—I simply dislike shawls."
The Shogun crossed her arms, closing her eyes as she gave the excuse with a faintly tsundere tone.
"...Thank you, Lady Shogun."
Kokomi's gaze softened, her voice like gentle ripples over water as she thanked her quietly.
"Let's go."
The Shogun began walking again, the ends of her violet hair swaying by her cheeks—just enough to hide the slight flush of her ears.
"...///"
Watching her from behind, Kokomi tightened the shawl around herself. A faint blush colored her fair cheeks as a gentle smile bloomed on her lips. She followed again, her steps light and graceful.
...
The path to Bourou Village wound through small forest trails, crossing several stone bridges that spanned bubbling streams. At one such bridge, two members of the resistance—now properly called the Sangonomiya Army—stood on guard.
Splash, splash~
The roaring of the nearby waterfall struck the surface of the river, its clear sound echoing endlessly. Yet for the two guards who had long grown used to it, today that familiar noise felt oddly grating—almost irritating.
"Ugh… honestly."
One of the soldiers sighed, looking troubled.
"You've been sighing all day!"
His comrade snapped impatiently.
"Hey, tell me something… What's Lady Sangonomiya thinking?"
He asked suddenly.
"Huh? About what?"
The other didn't quite follow.
"The peace talks, obviously! What else could it be? How could she agree to negotiations?!"
He raised his voice, his frustration spilling out.
"Oh, that... Yeah, you've got a point. Those Tenryou Commission bastards aren't to be trusted. I even heard they've been colluding with the Fatui—planning to start another war with us!"
The comrade nodded vigorously, leaning closer in gossip.
"What? Seriously?!"
The first soldier's expression lit up, as though he'd just heard something exciting.
"Of course it's true! Our men ran into the Fatui and overheard them plotting it firsthand."
The other soldier nodded even harder, as if he had witnessed it himself.
"Tch, I knew it! Those bastards never learn… haa… Lady Sangonomiya is still too naive. How can she trust the Shogunate? From what I know, none of the Three Commissions—the Tenryou, the Yashiro, or the Kanjou—are any good!"
He struck the ground angrily with his spear, grumbling with resentment.
"Shh—quiet!! Lady Sangonomiya is coming!"
His comrade quickly kicked his shin and whispered in panic, spotting Kokomi's approaching figure.
"Ah—ouch, not so hard!"
The man winced, rubbing his leg before hastily straightening his posture as if he hadn't been the one complaining moments ago.
Tap, tap! ×2
Kokomi approached with the Shogun beside her, who was dressed plainly to conceal her identity.
"Lady Sangonomiya!" ×2
Both soldiers stood upright and bowed.
"At ease… What were you two talking about just now?"
Kokomi gestured for them to rise and asked calmly. She thought she had caught a few words about the Shogunate—enough to pique her interest.
"Uh? Nothing at all... we weren't saying anything."
"Ah—yes, we were talking about the weather! Haha... tonight's weather is lovely, you can even see the stars!"
"Right, right~! You can see the stars, beautiful night, haha..."
The two stumbled over their excuses, laughing awkwardly as they tried to cover it up.
"..."
The Shogun folded her arms, her cold gaze settling on them. It was obvious they were lying. Even without hearing everything, she could guess the gist of their earlier conversation. If they truly had nothing to hide, why the nervous fumbling? Clearly, they were itching to stir trouble.
"If it's about the peace talks, there's no need to discuss it further. Do not spread idle rumors among yourselves—it'll only unsettle the ranks."
Of course, Kokomi wasn't foolish. She knew exactly what they had been talking about. But rather than punishing them, she chose to give a warning—a preemptive reminder meant to extinguish such thoughts before they spread.
"Uh… y-yes, ma'am!" ×2
The two soldiers stiffened, cold sweat forming on their foreheads as if she had read their minds.
Meanwhile, the Shogun's eyes briefly lowered to the ground, spotting a small gouge where a weapon had struck the earth. Her gaze narrowed slightly, but she said nothing.
"Alright… I trust you. Don't let me down."
Kokomi spoke softly, then passed by them, leading the Shogun onward along the path toward Bourou Village.
"..." ×2
Only after the two women had gone did the soldiers dare glance at each other.
"Hey… who was that woman beside Lady Sangonomiya?"
His comrade asked curiously.
"I don't know… probably a friend? Judging by her outfit, she looks like some kind of traveler."
"Eh? But doesn't she look exactly like the Raiden Shogun?"
The first soldier frowned, confused.
"Pfft~! What Raiden Shogun? There's no way Lady Sangonomiya would bring her enemy onto her own island! She might look similar, but I didn't feel that kind of presence from her—it's impossible!"
"But… isn't Lady Sangonomiya supposed to be negotiating peace? If that's the case—"
"Even so, no way. The talks are with the Tenryou Commission. The Raiden Shogun has nothing to do with it! You think she'd come here herself?"
"Oh… yeah, that makes sense."
The man nodded slowly, finding the reasoning convincing. After all, why would the Raiden Shogun herself personally come to Watatsumi Island? That was unthinkable.
If the earlier incident had made the Shogun doubtful, then this one left her utterly speechless at the behavior of Kokomi's subordinates. With such a group of hot-headed men, it was a wonder Kokomi could manage to keep them under control.
When Kokomi led the Shogun to the entrance of Bourou Village, they happened to stumble upon another scene. In front of them were two soldiers and a middle-aged man dressed like a merchant. Judging from their tone, a heated argument was underway—their voices loud enough to be heard from afar.
"Speak!! Are you secretly transporting Watatsumi Island's goods to the Tenryou Commission?!"
A soldier named Matsuda barked, glaring fiercely at the trembling merchant before him.
"Uh… I—"
"I've long thought it suspicious that a merchant from the Tenryou Commission would come do business on Watatsumi Island! Now you've got no excuse, have you?!"
He didn't even give the man a chance to respond, pressing his own logic like an interrogation.
"My lord! I-I'm innocent—please, I've been framed!"
The merchant bent deeply, clasping his hands together in desperate protest.
"Innocent?! We should've never allowed you to trade on Watatsumi Island in the first place!"
Beside Matsuda stood another soldier named Uchimura, just as unyielding, ignoring the merchant's pleas and pressing forward with the same accusations.
"No, wait—my lords—!"
"Enough! Take him away!!"
Alas, one man's words could not stand against two stubborn soldiers. They were already seizing him when—
"Wait a moment…"
Kokomi's voice cut through the tension, stopping them in their tracks.
"!" ×2
Both soldiers froze mid-motion, instinctively straightening their posture when they saw her.
"..."
The Shogun merely stood with her arms crossed, watching the scene with faint amusement. She'd already lost count of how many such things she'd witnessed on this island.
"What's going on here? Why are you two so worked up?"
"Reporting to Lady Sangonomiya! This merchant was acting suspicious, and we caught him red-handed!"
Matsuda answered firmly.
"..."
Kokomi turned her gaze toward the middle-aged man on her right. The Shogun didn't even bother looking, merely narrowing her eyes slightly in bored disinterest, listening idly to the exchange ahead.
"According to our observation, he's been buying but not selling for a long time—and he's got no goods to show for it! He must've sent them secretly to the Tenryou Commission!"
Matsuda's tone was full of conviction as he reported.
—They don't even bother listening to explanations. Arresting people based purely on assumptions? Are you kidding me?
The Shogun mentally scoffed.
"I didn't—!!"
The merchant shouted, his voice cracking with desperation.
"Silence—!"
The soldier roared back.
"Enough, Matsuda, Uchimura. I know you're concerned for Watatsumi's safety, but regardless of whether this merchant has committed a crime, we must at least allow him the right to explain himself."
"If he's guilty, punishment will follow. But if he's innocent, we can't wrongfully accuse him. On Watatsumi Island, we deal in facts, not assumptions."
Kokomi shook her head slightly, her tone calm but firm. Then she lifted her gaze to the tall merchant before her.
"Sir, since my subordinates have questioned your cargo, would you care to explain? I'll hear you out and make a fair judgment."
Her tone was polite, measured.
"O-of course! Of course, Lady Sangonomiya!!"
The man's face lit up with relief. Knowing she was willing to listen eased his panic considerably.
"Tch…"
The soldier beside him clicked his tongue softly, clearly displeased.
"I've been trading on Watatsumi Island for a while, so naturally, I've built up a stockpile of goods. I was planning to hold onto them until the prices rose again and then— ahem."
Halfway through, the man realized he might've said too much and coughed awkwardly.
—Oh? So he's a hoarder type, huh~?
The Shogun thought to herself, amused.
"But! I didn't expect to be robbed by the Fatui! Do you have any idea how hard I work—rain or shine—only to have my goods stolen and then be accused by your men?!"
As the man went on, his tone turned increasingly aggrieved, his voice rising as though venting his frustration to the two soldiers before him.
"Hmph! And who's to say your story is even true?! The Tenryou Commission is colluding with the Fatui! What difference is there between selling your goods to them or to those dogs?!"
Uchimura said disdainfully.
"And who's to say you're telling the truth?"
"!" ×4
That single, sudden sentence froze everyone present—including Kokomi. All eyes turned toward the silent purple-haired woman who had finally spoken.
The Shogun's words landed perfectly, silencing Uchimura in an instant.
"Wh-what do you mean by that?!"
He snapped, irritated.
"Spreading unverified rumors in a time of war, shaking the hearts of soldiers—are you treating military law like a joke?"
Her voice grew colder with each word, and by the end, the sharp, commanding tone of the Raiden Shogun slipped through unconsciously.
"!!" ×3
A chill ran through the three men before her. Even Kokomi felt a faint pressure in the air.
"Who do you think you are, spouting off in front of the army?! Lady Sangonomiya, who is this woman?!"
Uchimura demanded, still not fully understanding the danger he was in.
"Mio, calm down… come on, relax~ Breathe with me… (sssh~ haa~)… feeling better now?"
Kokomi, however, suddenly began to act oddly—turning to her companion and making exaggerated gestures of deep breathing, as though soothing her.
"???"
The Shogun blinked in confusion, staring blankly at her. Wait—Mio? Who was Mio supposed to be? That wasn't her name.
"L-Lady Sangonomiya?"
Uchimura also looked confused now.
"Haa… please, everyone calm down. This woman is a friend of mine from Narukami Island—her name is Raiden Mio. I invited her here as a guest today. Mio tends to speak rather bluntly, so please forgive her."
...Raiden Mio? Who even was that supposed to be?! The Shogun's expression froze. She had no idea where Kokomi had pulled that name from. And to top it off, Kokomi even reached over and gently took her hand, squeezing lightly through the silk of her glove as though offering reassurance.
"Really now? We've never heard of Lady Sangonomiya having a friend on Narukami Island. You're not lying to cover for her true identity as a member of the Shogunate, are you?!"
Uchimura blurted out boldly, his sanity clearly slipping.
"..."
Kokomi frowned faintly—an extremely rare expression for her.
"Ridiculous."
The Shogun's voice cut through the air, sharp and cold.
"What did you say?!"
Uchimura glared furiously at her.
"Is that how your mind works? And since when do soldiers have the right to demand accountings of their commander's friends? Don't overestimate your worth. You're like a pack of undisciplined dogs barking at their own mistress—do you even remember who your Lady Sangonomiya is?"
Every word of hers struck like a blade. She'd seen enough—every insolent move, every disrespectful tone. These so-called resistance soldiers were nothing but reckless fools acting on their own self-righteousness.
"!!!"
The suffocating chill that swept over them froze every breath in their lungs. Even without raising her weapon, her sheer presence alone was overwhelming. It was as if the weight of the Shogun's divine authority had flooded the area. The soldiers trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat trickling down their necks.
"If you wish to shout and posture, then go do it at Tenshukaku—stand before the Raiden Shogun's blade and see how long your bravado lasts. Empty barkers, with no strength to back your pride."
She crossed her arms, her voice low and cutting as she stared the two soldiers down. Hearing herself refer to the Raiden Shogun in the third person felt strange, almost ironic.
"..."
Kokomi remained silent beside her, eyes lowered, allowing the Shogun to scold her men as she saw fit.
"And you."
Her gaze shifted sharply toward the merchant.
"Y-yes!"
The man immediately straightened up, trembling as if under military inspection.
"During wartime, you hoarded goods and monopolized trade. You deserved to be robbed."
Her voice rang firm and final.
"Y-yes, you're absolutely right!!"
The man almost collapsed to his knees, stammering in terror.
"...Haa."
The Shogun exhaled softly, glancing at Kokomi beside her. She suddenly felt she might have overstepped. She didn't even know why—something about hearing those men speak so carelessly of Kokomi had stirred an unexpected anger within her.
Without another word, she turned away, silently leaving the scene before her irritation could rise again.