When Raiden Ei learned that Yashiori Island was nearly devoid of living people, her expression dimmed.
She didn't speak—she simply followed silently behind Su Xuan as he walked toward the island's interior.
Waiting for him to continue writing.
[The "Tatarigami" on Yashiori Island is actually just the lingering malice of a fallen god—what remains of their power after death.]
[For ordinary humans without Visions, this corruption is extremely dangerous.]
[This phenomenon isn't unique to Inazuma. Liyue also has it—though there, it's called "Karmic Contamination."]
[Long ago, the serpent god Orobashi led Watatsumi Island in a war against Inazuma.]
[Raiden Ei slew him here—splitting the land itself—creating what is now known as the Musoujin Gorge.]
[Musoujin Gorge.jpg]
[Serpent God's Remains.jpg]
The images of Orobashi's colossal skull and the scar of lightning-shattered earth shocked all who saw them—
But that was not what gripped their hearts.
What mattered was why the island had died.
[After Orobashi's death, his corpse continued to leak corruption.]
[To contain it, Inazuma placed sealing wards—Serpent God Warding Stones—throughout the island.]
[And over time, a valuable mineral, Crystal Marrow, formed from the god's remains.]
[This led to the founding of a mining village—Higi Village.]
[It was once a bright, peaceful place.]
[Until the Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree pushed Watatsumi Island into open conflict.]
Watatsumi — Sangonomiya Shrine
Sangonomiya Kokomi, reading along, froze.
She knew of the Tatarigami corruption—
but she did not know the truth behind what triggered it.
Her fingertips trembled.
[One moonless night, Watatsumi Island's extremist faction disguised themselves as Shogunate soldiers and landed on Yashiori.]
[Under the instruction of an outside agent, they destroyed the Warding Stones.]
[From that moment on, the entire island was consumed by corruption.]
[The people of Higi Village—became mad, died, or fled.]
Kokomi's breath caught.
"…It was us?"
No—
Not "us."
But to others, there was no distinction.
And Ei—
Ei was standing right next to him.
Lightning cracked overhead.
Raiden Ei's tone was quiet, yet sharp as a blade:
"So the cause of Higi Village's tragedy… was Watatsumi Island?"
Lightning snarled across the clouds—thick, violent.
Su Xuan gave her a sideways glance.
"What's the point of getting angry now?"
"The villagers are already gone."
Ei fell silent.
[Even if she's angry, what does it change? Stomp her foot at the sky?]
Ei: "..."
Kokomi nearly fainted.
Please, stop talking.
I'm begging you.
[But the situation isn't that simple.]
[Ei shut herself away in the Plane of Euthymia. The puppet remained in Tenshukaku.]
[Neither of them knew what was happening in the world outside.]
[The destruction of the Warding Stones was orchestrated by a foreign agent—Nathan.]
[He taught the extremists how to break the seals.]
[And gave them a directive specifically to avoid interference from Watatsumi's Divine Priestess—Sangonomiya Kokomi.]
Kokomi's heart pounded painfully.
[The instructions were as follows—]
Su Xuan displayed the text of the secret order.
Every line was worse than the last.
[This entire scheme was designed behind Kokomi's back.]
[Any normal person would notice the suspicious elements immediately.]
[But Watatsumi had plenty of… let's say… enthusiastic idiots.]
[They charged forward waving the banner of "restoring Orobashi's honor"—and doomed an entire village.]
Every woman reading:
"..."
[Honestly, it fits. Watatsumi troops aren't exactly known for strategic genius.]
[Even Kokomi thought she could challenge the Raiden Shogun.]
[Did she not worry Ei would just cut her in half on the spot?]
[Ah… this level of decision-making…]
[Well. She's a goldfish after all. She only needs to look pretty and swim.]
[I'll collect her for my pond eventually.]
All readers:
"…"
So the viewer he is referring to—
is himself.
Kokomi felt her heart and brain collapse simultaneously.
She could barely breathe.
[Oh, right—one more thing about Higi Village.]
[When corruption spread, the villagers begged the Shogunate for rescue.]
[The Kujou Clan's patriarch, Kujou Takayuki, did something truly "magnificent."]
[He promised to evacuate them.]
[Loaded every villager onto boats.]
[And once the ships reached open sea—
they were scuttled.]
[Then he blamed it on the Resistance.]
[So now Kokomi is carrying two blame pots.]
[I really don't know if her tiny frame can handle it.]
Sangonomiya Kokomi:
"..."
One pot was already enough to crush me.
Now there are two.
I am absolutely going to die.