"That's the situation."
Kiana had found Granny Zaohua on the first floor and explained the gravity of the matter to her.
She hoped Granny Zaohua could organize the residents of Zaohua Street to take action, increasing their chances of survival when danger struck.
But the elderly woman—usually kind and wise—refused her request.
"A disaster that will affect the whole of Nagazora City…" Granny Zaohua shook her head. "Kiana, it's fine to tell people to stock up on supplies, but having everyone move into shelters? That's unrealistic."
"And you don't even have a specific date. If this 'disaster' of yours never comes, do you expect everyone to live in shelters forever?"
Kiana thought for a moment, then said earnestly, "A month. If something happens, it will happen within a month. I hope everyone can take this seriously—it's a matter of life and death!"
"A month?" Granny Zaohua shook her head again, her voice gentle but firm. "Asking everyone to abandon their jobs, their homes, and move into shelters over an unverified rumor—it's impossible."
"But if we do nothing, when the disaster really comes, it'll be too late!"
Mei sighed quietly. The truth was, the old woman simply didn't believe what Kiana had said—but that was understandable. To most, it sounded like a story.
She gently patted Kiana's shoulder, signaling to let her handle it.
The woman before them—Granny Zaohua—was someone Mei knew. She visited the Narukami Shrine to offer prayers at the start of every month.
"You remember me, don't you?" Mei asked softly.
"You're the shrine maiden of Narukami Shrine—Miss Raiden Mei, right? Every time I visit, you're the one who receives me."
"I'm willing to vouch for Kiana," Mei said seriously. "In the name of both the shrine and the Raiden family. Everything she says is true."
Since the divine blade Narukami had been taken, Mei's feelings toward the shrine had become complicated. But when these words left her lips, they carried immense weight.
Hearing this, Granny Zaohua was visibly shaken. The Narukami Shrine had stood in Nagazora for centuries—its name alone held authority.
A guarantee from the shrine itself… Could Nagazora City truly be facing an unprecedented disaster?
"No matter how many people end up believing it," Mei said, "I hope you can at least spread the message to the people on the street."
From disbelief to hesitation, the old woman's expression wavered. She didn't want to believe in a disaster that would disrupt the calm of her twilight years.
She was already half a step into her grave—she only wished for peace, not turmoil.
And what if it wasn't true?
What if even the shrine maiden had made a mistake?
Granny Zaohua hesitated. If the disaster never came, her reputation as a respected elder would be ruined.
Seeing her uncertainty, Mei spoke again, her tone calm but firm. "You can tell others that this message comes directly from Narukami Shrine—that the source of the disaster will be the Almighty Thunder, once sealed within the shrine."
"Mei!" Kiana's eyes widened. "You can't—this will make the shrine look guilty!"
Even Granny Zaohua was surprised by Mei's boldness. The Narukami Shrine was centuries old and one of Nagazora's most respected institutions.
"…Very well," Granny Zaohua said at last. "If the shrine itself is willing to take responsibility, then I suppose I can at least try."
A shrine maiden showing such resolve—it was something she couldn't ignore.
"No, that's not right!" Kiana protested. "Almighty Thunder has nothing to do with the Narukami Shrine. Narukami was the blade forged to slay it!"
This wasn't as simple as it looked—it wasn't a sacrifice without cost.
"The truth doesn't matter that much, Kiana," Mei said quietly. "What matters is making people believe the disaster is real. Only then will they take action."
A claim without evidence would never convince anyone. No matter how convincing their words, people would just dismiss it as fantasy.
Unless they saw a Kami with their own eyes, they wouldn't abandon their fragile sense of safety.
If they wanted more people to believe…
Then the rumor had to come from the shrine itself.
If the shrine spread news that harmed its own reputation, people would think:
"If it were false, why would the shrine destroy its own name by spreading it?"
The Narukami Shrine had stood for hundreds of years.
To the citizens of this district, it carried a meaning far deeper than simple tradition or faith.
"But I can't let you bear that stain!" Kiana said firmly, unable to accept the proposal. "I don't agree with this!"
"I refuse—I won't let saving others come at the cost of your suffering!"
She couldn't allow Mei's shrine—something she had devoted herself to—to be destroyed for the sake of a mere possibility. She couldn't let people misunderstand Mei, to think of her as an impure shrine maiden.
She wanted to save lives, yes—but not at any price.
She would never build her sense of justice on Mei's sacrifice, not even if that sacrifice was only her reputation.
She would never allow it!
"Kiana…"
Raiden Mei was stunned for a long moment, not expecting such a fierce reaction.
Kiana's desire to save others was something Mei admired deeply. She had assumed Kiana would agree—it was the most effective way, after all.
"I refuse!" Kiana took a deep breath, her voice unwavering. "If it takes your sacrifice for people to believe me, then I'd rather they never believe a single word I say!"
"I'm sorry, Granny," Kiana said, turning to Zaohua with a respectful bow. "I didn't consider the difficulties you mentioned. I'll think of another way. But we're not using Mei's plan."
Just as she had said—
She would never let Mei lose anything, not even a part of herself.
Warning others of the danger—that was already enough. It was what she could do with a clear conscience.
After all, this wasn't her fault. The Honkai wasn't something she had unleashed, nor was this disaster hers to bear alone.
She had no obligation to save everyone.
Kiana turned on her heel and started to leave.
"Kiana? Kiana!" Mei hurried after her.
"I won't let you do this!" Kiana said, her voice rising with emotion as she stopped on the stairs. "You absolutely can't! If you sacrifice your reputation just to prove my hunch, then I'll go confront Almighty Thunder myself!"
"Alright, alright! Don't get so worked up, Kiana," Mei said quickly, raising her hands. "I won't do it, I promise—I won't use that plan."
Kiana fell silent again, her anger slowly cooling. She bowed her head and continued up the stairs, Mei following close behind, the cursed blade still in her grasp.
They entered Kiana's apartment together.
The door closed, the lights flicked on, and for a long moment, the room was quiet.
Kiana finally broke the silence, her tone low and heavy. "I'm not as noble as you think I am."