"Oh, by the way, I've also learned about the situation on Watatsumi Island. Let the Yashiro Commission continue supplying them with food," Akio said.
"You already know about that?" Yae Miko asked in surprise.
"Of course. I happened to run into Thoma's convoy," Akio nodded. "And when I visited the Kamisato Estate, I also met the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island."
"That child," Yae Miko smiled. "She came to me personally, sneaking around to reach the Grand Narukami Shrine. She cried and pleaded, and I felt sorry for her, so I gave them enough food for half a month."
"..." Akio looked at Yae Miko, thinking she was truly a mischievous fox.
"Lord Akio, the noodles are ready," Kuki Miyuki brought over a bowl of noodles.
"Ah~ Someone is so lucky, coming back late at night to have someone specially cook noodles for them," Yae Miko teased with a smile. "Miyuki's handmade noodles—I've never even had them~"
"What are you talking about? Lady Guuji, you just ate some earlier," Miyuki pouted, exposing Yae Miko's true nature.
"Oh my~ Has Miyuki been slacking off on her chores? Should I assign you to clean Mount Yougou?" Yae Miko gave Miyuki a dangerous look.
"Wuwu~ Lord Akio~" Miyuki hid behind Akio, tears welling up in her eyes. Cleaning Mount Yougou alone would be the death of her.
"Alright, Miko, stop teasing Miyuki. Can't you let her speak the truth?" Akio laughed.
"Ugh! Akio!" Yae Miko, having been exposed by Akio, glared at him angrily. "Keep talking, and I'll make you clean Mount Yougou too!"
"Hahaha!" Seeing Yae Miko lose her composure was a rare sight, and Akio couldn't help but laugh heartily.
As he slurped the noodles, Akio looked at Miyuki, who was standing behind him with an expectant expression, and praised, "Miyuki's noodles are delicious. From now on, you'll be the one making noodles for me!"
"Mhm!" Miyuki nodded, thrilled by Akio's praise.
"So, Miyuki, why aren't you leaving yet?" Yae Miko, sitting to the side, raised an eyebrow.
"I... I'll wait for Lord Akio to finish eating and then clean up," Miyuki said softly, lowering her head.
Hearing this, Yae Miko didn't press further. She was well aware of the little shrine maiden's feelings and didn't want to expose her. She just enjoyed teasing Miyuki—her shy reactions were adorable.
"Miko, I'm planning to revive Makoto," Akio suddenly said, turning to Yae Miko. "After my trip to Liyue, my Authority of Life and Death has mostly recovered. Reviving Makoto shouldn't be a problem now."
"!" Yae Miko's expression turned serious. She looked at Akio intently and asked, "When?"
"Tomorrow," Akio said. "It's too late today."
"Alright..." Yae Miko's voice trembled slightly. Was the figure from her memories really about to return?
"Tomorrow, seal off the Grand Narukami Shrine. Have a few shrine maidens guard the entrance and prevent anyone from entering," Akio instructed.
"Understood," Yae Miko nodded. "I'll inform Ei tomorrow and have her come as well! Lady Makoto... is finally coming back?"
"Um..." Miyuki suddenly spoke up timidly, "Lord Akio, Lady Guuji, may I ask who this Lady Makoto is?"
"Of course," Yae Miko nodded. "After all, she is our deity."
"But isn't our deity the Shogun and Lord Akio?" Miyuki asked, confused.
"Actually, the current Shogun is not the original Narukami," Yae Miko explained. "The Raiden Shogun is one of twin sisters. The elder sister is Raiden Makoto, whom we refer to as Lady Makoto. She was the first Narukami of Inazuma and perished in a calamity centuries ago."
"The younger sister is Raiden Ei, the current Shogun. After Lady Makoto's passing, she took up the mantle of the Raiden Shogun and became Inazuma's new Narukami—the one you know as the Raiden Shogun."
"Eh? Really?" Miyuki's eyes widened in shock. There were two Narukami? This was unbelievable! Even the Grand Narukami Shrine had no records of this.
"Tomorrow, Akio will revive Lady Makoto at the Grand Narukami Shrine, so you understand," Yae Miko said.
"I see," Miyuki nodded. With another deity returning, wouldn't that mean Inazuma would have three gods?
Goodness, Miyuki couldn't even imagine how powerful Inazuma would become with three deities!
Soon, Akio finished his noodles, and Miyuki, still in shock, quickly came over and said, "Lord Akio, you can go rest. I'll take care of the rest."
"Alright," Akio nodded and headed back to his room with Yae Miko.
Perhaps out of gratitude for Akio's actions, or perhaps too excited about Raiden Makoto's revival, Yae Miko gave Akio an unforgettable experience that night!
...
Early the next morning, Yae Miko had the shrine maidens on duty seal off the entrance to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Akio, meanwhile, transformed into a streak of light and flew toward Tenshukaku in Inazuma City.
"Miyuki, go rest," Yae Miko said, noticing the dark circles under Miyuki's eyes after her night shift.
"Eh? No need, Lady Guuji. I want to witness Lady Makoto's revival with my own eyes," Miyuki waved her hand. Lady Makoto was also a great deity!
Akio moved swiftly, arriving at Tenshukaku in no time and descending gracefully from the sky.
"Who goes there?" the guards at the entrance, the Tenryou Commission soldiers, shouted. "This is Tenshukaku, a restricted area. No one is allowed to enter without permission!"
"Lord Akio!" But when the guards saw Akio's face, they immediately saluted. As the Raiden Shogun's personal guards, they naturally knew Akio—this new deity was their superior, just like the Shogun.
"Mhm," Akio nodded. "I'm here to see the Shogun."
"Please enter. The Shogun has already instructed us that Tenshukaku is half yours," the guards replied respectfully.
Akio nodded and entered Tenshukaku.
As expected, the Raiden Shogun was, as usual, meditating with her eyes closed.
"You're back?" Sensing Akio's presence, the Raiden Shogun opened her eyes. A hint of joy flickered in her cold gaze as she asked.
"I'm back," Akio nodded. "Shogun, where's Ei? Let her come out."
"Why do you immediately ask for the inner self as soon as you return? Do you not wish to see this vessel?" The Raiden Shogun frowned, clearly displeased. "This vessel is made from the inner self's flesh and is identical to her!"
"Huh?" Akio looked at the Raiden Shogun in surprise. Wow, was the Shogun actually jealous?
"Alright, Shogun, I need to speak with Ei urgently," Akio soothed the Shogun's emotions.
"This vessel understands," the Raiden Shogun said indifferently. Then, her expression changed, her cold gaze turning slightly vacant. Ah, Raiden Ei had taken over.
"Akio! You're back!" Seeing Akio, Raiden Ei asked happily.