Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Sending Kamisato Ayaka to Deliver a Message to the Resistance

[Quest issued: Resolve the war between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate.]

Another quest?

Su Ran’s gaze fell on the worried Kamisato Ayaka.

“It’s been some time since you’ve been home, hasn’t it, Ayaka? Today the Shogun has recovered—I’ll give you a day off. Go see your family.”

Once the dream machine was complete, every soul in Inazuma would enter the dream.

At that point, the war between Watatsumi and the Shogunate would vanish from reality.

After all, in dreams, everything could exist.

No need to waste lives fighting over scraps of land and resources.

But if things ended that easily, his “theater” wouldn’t be nearly as entertaining.

Resistance was essential.

When the Traveler arrived in Inazuma and found its people lost in dream, unwilling to wake— there had to be someone standing against it.

Otherwise, why would the Traveler break the dream?

If everyone sided with him, resistance itself would be a crime.

So who would carry the truth to the rebels?

Ayaka, of course.

No one else had the same credibility with the resistance.

With her reputation, they would believe her words without doubt.

“Thank you, Lord Su Ran!”

Though she had been plotting in her heart, Ayaka could not deny she’d felt no mistreatment during her stay at Tenshukaku.

She even enjoyed the conversations with him, the service to him.

But his goals… were too dangerous for Inazuma’s people.

With gratitude on her lips, she departed swiftly, preparing to inform her brother and Sangonomiya Kokomi of all that had transpired.

No one else raised a brow at her sudden leave.

She had stayed for days, after all.

Even Kujou Sara could understand her desire to see her family.

Only Yae Miko frowned.

The dream machine… only those present here knew of it.

Sara herself was still in the dark.

So why, at this very moment, send Ayaka away?

“Visiting family”? Such a flimsy excuse.

Would a god truly care about a mortal girl’s homesickness?

And besides, Ayaka had never once shown signs of missing home.

“…As Yae Miko of the Grand Narukami Shrine, I too have many matters awaiting me. Perhaps it’s time I returned.”

Miko decided to test him.

Su Ran paused his analysis of the gnosis and chuckled.

“No need to be in such a hurry, Miko. Whatever matters you think urgent will soon be irrelevant. In a week, a month at most, everything will cease to be a problem.”

Miko sat back down, lips tightening.

That alone was enough of an answer.

Ayaka’s departure truly had a purpose.

The girl was being used—and didn’t even know it.

“And besides,” Su Ran added, smirking, “what fun is there at the shrine? Why not stay and keep little Ei company?”

Ei: “…”

Little Ei?

Of everyone present, their combined ages didn’t equal hers— and yet they had the gall to call her that?

Yae Miko gave a halfhearted laugh.

“Yes, yes, A-Ei is certainly adorable.”

But her heart was heavy.

This wasn’t reunion—it was imprisonment.

If even the chance to prepare contingencies was denied, Inazuma truly had no hope.

Perhaps the rebels of Watatsumi could still turn the tide.

If Ayaka reached them, the word might spread.

Then Yae Miko froze.

She realized something chilling.

Ayaka had left with Su Ran’s permission.

What if her sharing the truth with the resistance— was exactly what he intended?

Catching her wary gaze, Su Ran only smiled.

“Looks like you’ve guessed it. That’s right. If the rebels know nothing, how will they tell dreams from reality once they’re trapped? They must know. Only then will they resist.”

Once, resistance was born from the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree.

But now?

Su Ran knew well the rebels weren’t just noble idealists.

Watatsumi and the Shogunate had hated each other for generations.

“Resistance? What resistance?”

Ei, ignorant of worldly affairs, tilted her head.

“They’re those who oppose the Vision Hunt and Sakoku Decrees,” Sara explained.

“They’ve rallied at Watatsumi Island, and the Shogunate is currently suppressing them.”

Ei’s face darkened.

“Eternity cannot permit such disruption!”

She had believed that while she meditated in the Plane of Euthymia, the Shogun could manage all.

The Shogun’s strength equaled her own—short of another god, nothing could shake Inazuma.

But Su Ran had arrived.

His presence had changed everything.

And now there was a rebel army?

Shogun, what exactly have you been doing?

“The rebels are nothing more than gnats,” the Shogun replied coolly.

“Lord Kujou Takayuki assured me they could not stir much trouble. He said that with Sara leading, they could be crushed.”

Her gaze slid to Sara.

The pressure was crushing.

Sara lowered her head, ashamed.

Yes, the Shogunate had won more battles than it had lost.

But to have failed to eradicate the resistance altogether— that was undeniable failure.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep