Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Memories of Watatsumi

A truly clever person never trusts just one side of the story—she only believes in what she herself can judge to be true.

Sangonomiya Kokomi was just such a person.

When all the clues and evidence converged, she naturally began to regard Bai Luo as a rather “unusual man.”

And along with that shift, her attitude toward him slowly began to change.

For instance, when certain matters arose, she would actually seek out Bai Luo’s opinion.

She might not always listen to him, of course, but it was still a step beyond how she had treated him before—an increase in trust.

Take now, for example. Regarding the issue of spies infiltrating Watatsumi Island, she had personally invited Bai Luo to discuss the matter.

“Lady Sangonomiya.”

Bai Luo met her at the Sangonomiya Shrine. At that moment, she didn’t seem to be in the best state. Despite having just replenished her energy, she looked extremely fatigued, resting her head in one hand, as if she might fall asleep at any moment.

“Apologies, I drifted off for a moment.”

Realizing Bai Luo had already arrived, Kokomi sat up straight. The fatigue on her face quickly vanished in an instant.

Over time, she had grown used to always maintaining a facade of calm and confidence in front of others, even when she was exhausted to her limits.

Just as Bai Luo had predicted, she had indeed whimsically taken a day off, retreating into the sea to enjoy a rare moment of peace.

But the second she resumed her role as the Divine Priestess of the present world, a storm of affairs once again came crashing down upon her.

Liyue’s people needed to be placated, the families of fallen soldiers had to be comforted, the Shogunate’s spies required investigation…

Even someone like her, known for her almost endless endurance, had been pushed to her limits in just one day, drained of a massive amount of energy.

Even her trusty “My Electro Archon Can’t Be This Cute” couldn’t fully recharge her at this point.

“I wonder what I might assist you with, Lady Sangonomiya? If it’s within my power, I would gladly go through fire and water to see it done.”

Bai Luo showed no hint of knowing anything about Igor or those three hundred million Mora, as if he had never even heard of the tip-off from Rikou.

He wore the same gentle smile as always, the kind that made people instinctively want to trust him.

“It’s still related to the issue with the shogunate spies,” Kokomi replied, her expression turning serious.

At first, she’d thought it was a simple matter of espionage. But the events unfolding on Yashiori Island had taken her by surprise.

She had a strong feeling that this incident was merely the surface, and that beneath it was a conspiracy of enormous scale.

“If it’s a matter of catching spies, I might be of some use,” Bai Luo replied calmly.

Of course, he knew full well that the so-called “spy” was actually Scaramouche.

The guy had simply come to confirm whether the mysterious “Battousai” of Bourou Village was truly him.

And once he confirmed it, he probably wouldn’t return, or at the very least, he’d send someone to announce his visit first.

In other words, it was an easy job with minimal actual work, while also earning him trust and favor.

How could he possibly let such a good opportunity slip by?

Besides, it wasn’t often he got a legitimate excuse to wander freely around Watatsumi Island.

Maybe he’d even get a chance to explore Enkanomiya while he was at it.

“Actually, what I want to ask of you is far more important than the spy situation.”

As she spoke, Kokomi stood up and walked over to the window, gazing in the direction of Inazuma Island.

“Have you ever heard of Orobashi no Mikoto?”

“Of course. Isn’t he the very deity worshipped here on Watatsumi Island?”

Orobashi no Mikoto, also known as the Watatsumi Omikami, had once gone by another name during the Archon War—

Orobax.

A fallen god from an age of divine conflict.

After losing everything and fleeing into the dark seas beyond, Orobashi encountered the forsaken—those who had nothing.

So he made a decision: to stay with them, becoming their Watatsumi Omikami, their Orobashi no Mikoto.

Legend says the great serpent god broke off all the coral branches on his body, so that the children cowering in darkness might have light to guide them.

Another tale claims he built a towering stairway with those coral branches, so that his children could climb back to the surface and bask once more in sunlight.

Even to this day, if you stand on Watatsumi Island and gaze toward the Sangonomiya Shrine, the massive coral structures and shell-like formations resemble a great spiral stairway ascending to the heavens.

All these stories point to one truth:

The ancestors of the people of Watatsumi were once forsaken souls from the depths of the sea, and are rescued by none other than Orobashi, the Watatsumi Omikami.

If not for this god, the people of Watatsumi might still be trapped in that abyss, struggling endlessly in the shadows.

“Orobashi no Mikoto was of an elemental lineage distinct from that of the Raiden Shogun, divided by the western border of the realm.”

“The two existed in uneasy peace—until war broke out and he launched a campaign eastward.”

“The battles were fierce and the people suffered greatly.”

“On Yashiori Island, both sides endured heavy losses, including the Shogun’s beloved general, the tengu warrior Sasayuri, who perished in battle.”

“Ultimately, Orobashi was felled by the Musou no Hitotachi—the Shogun’s most powerful strike, and died on Yashiori Island.”

“After his fall, Sangonomiya dispatched envoys to surrender, pledging fealty to the Inazuma Shogunate.”

Kokomi slowly recited the tale of that long-past war, her hands tightening slightly as they rested before her.

Even though they had once bowed their heads and submitted to the Shogunate, in their hearts, Orobashi no Mikoto remained their one and only true god.

They just no longer dared to worship him openly. Even the Mouun Shrine had been abandoned.

Instead, they built the current Sangonomiya Shrine at the site where their god had first risen from the depths, as a memorial to his sacrifice.

“Lady Sangonomiya,” Bai Luo responded, “though I once wounded the Raiden Shogun, that doesn’t mean I can kill her.”

“If you’re asking me to strike again on behalf of Orobashi, I’ll have to respectfully decline.”

He’d say he’d walk through fire for her, sure.

But if she was really asking him to go and chop up the Raiden Shogun for revenge?

Yeah—absolutely not.

He wasn’t stupid.

Even assuming he could somehow kill her, Yae Miko and Raiden Ei would still be right behind her.

Raiden Ei, in particular, knew about his quantumization delay—that tiny window where he was vulnerable.

She was currently one of the few gods truly capable of killing him.

He had no intention of going out in a blaze of stupidity.

“You misunderstand, Himura-san,” Kokomi replied. “This is all just history now. If not for the Vision Hunt Decree, Watatsumi Island would never have raised an army to resist.”

“What I actually need your help with… is something else entirely.”

Though Kokomi said it was about resisting the decree, the real purpose behind assembling the resistance army was something only Watatsumi’s own truly knew.

Because war… only needs a noble-sounding excuse to be deemed just.

But, as long as she wasn’t asking him to assassinate Raiden Shogun, then… well, he was open to helping.

After all, even fish tanks need fresh water now and then.

A clear tank lets you appreciate the beauty of the fish within.

“After the death of the Watatsumi Omikami, his divine body remained on Yashiori Island.”

“The fall of a god inevitably affects the surrounding region.”

“So, the Shogunate placed a ward there—to suppress the lingering resentment of the fallen god.”

“However, just before the spy infiltrated Bourou Village, that very ward was destroyed by an unknown group.”

The timing was far too convenient.

Kokomi had immediately sensed something sinister behind it.

According to Gorou’s investigation, the culprits were most likely from within their own resistance army.

And conveniently enough, a group of soldiers had gone completely missing around the same time.

But neither she nor Gorou had given any order of that kind.

And that made it all… deeply troubling.

. . . . .

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