Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Kokomi’s Embarrassment at Arriving Without a Gift

“Milord! The Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya Kokomi, requests an audience!”

As Kujou Sara stepped through the doors, she caught sight of the lively scene: the Narukami group horsing around, Raiden Makoto quietly playing chess, and Kamisato Ayaka nestled shyly in Su Ran’s arms.

Once, Sara had been the closest to the Shogun.

Yet now, Ayaka seemed far more like part of the inner circle.

And she herself—still just a subordinate?

Not that Sara craved power or status.

But how could she not envy the chance to stay at the Shogun’s side so casually— without the stiff formality of reports and orders?

“At last, little Kokomi arrives. Let her in!”

Su Ran had been waiting for this one for quite a while.

Finally, she was here.

Soon after, Sara led in a pink-haired girl.

“Sangonomiya Kokomi of Watatsumi Island… humbly greets the divine ones present…”

As her priestess title was not granted by the Shogun, she could only call herself a “humble daughter of Watatsumi.”

But the moment her eyes fell upon two Shoguns inside the room, she nearly froze in place.

Only her quick recovery saved her from making a fool of herself.

Her gaze drifted subtly toward Su Ran.

Of all present, he alone was unfamiliar.

Everyone in Inazuma knew the Shogun.

Yae Miko was widely renowned.

The Shirasagi Himegimi she often dealt with.

That left only this nameless man— the one who must be the master of the dream.

And yet… silence stretched on.

Only the soft clatter of chess pieces between Su Ran and Makoto filled the air.

Ei had no interest in rebels.

Here in the dream, none of it mattered.

Yae Miko merely waited for drama to unfold.

Makoto didn’t know Kokomi, nor the resistance, and cared only to see what Su Ran would do.

Ayaka, cheeks burning, dared not lift her head— terrified that Kokomi might glimpse her in such an intimate state.

As for Su Ran?

He simply wanted to tease the girl.

So he let her stew.

“…”

Kokomi looked around again, puzzled.

Still, no one spoke.

Surely they had heard Sara’s announcement?

But nothing.

So she stood quietly in place.

Waiting.

And waiting.

Her eyes flicked toward Kujou Sara, pleading silently.

“…Milord, I’ve brought her,” Sara tried gently.

Still no reply.

Even she began to feel embarrassed.

“You’ve lost again!”

Makoto’s face tightened at the dead end on the board.

She refused to continue.

How many times had she been beaten now?

Her pride was in tatters.

Casting Su Ran a resentful glare, she packed away the pieces one by one.

“No more.”

To be humiliated before an outsider— she would not forget this grudge.

Once the debts piled high enough, she’d settle them with him in full.

“Um… Lord Su Ran, that lady is still waiting…”

Ayaka, moved by Kokomi’s pleading eyes, set aside her shyness and whispered a reminder.

“I know. I’m ignoring her on purpose.”

Kokomi: …

What could she say?

With three gods present, she had no choice but to endure.

“And to think—you came to pay respects without bringing the slightest gift. Not much sincerity there, is it?”

Relief flickered through Kokomi’s chest.

So it wasn’t some grave offense she had committed— merely the lack of tribute.

Still, wasn’t it absurd?

A god, demanding a mortal’s offering?

As master of this dream, was there anything he lacked?

“Please forgive my negligence, my lord. I came today with only reverence in my heart. As for a gift—I shall, of course, prepare one to present afterward!”

Her voice trembled, but her confidence steadied.

At least this god was more… human than the Shogun.

That, she could work with.

“Reverence? With empty hands? Promising ’later’? All I hear is perfunctory words.”

Su Ran gently released Ayaka, letting her shift into a more comfortable position.

The Divine Priestess was, he had to admit, strikingly beautiful.

Yet she looked… delicate.

Was Watatsumi so poor that even its priestess suffered malnutrition?

Kokomi felt his appraising gaze and nearly dried up on the spot.

More human he might be, but a god was still a god.

The pressure was suffocating.

“Please pardon me, my lord! I truly meant no disrespect. Only… the thought of meeting a god made me so nervous that I forgot to prepare a gift.”

Even Kujou Sara could see it now—

Su Ran was toying with Kokomi.

After so long at his side, she knew his temperament well.

A mortal with divine might, more approachable than the Shogun herself.

“Tell me—how many gods do you see in this room?”

Kokomi glanced toward Ei, then Makoto, and finally back at Su Ran.

“…Three?”

“Then you know how many gifts you should have prepared?”

“…Of course.”

She only wanted to move past this and discuss Watatsumi, the resistance— matters that truly concerned her.

“Very well. We’ll let the gift slide, for now. Makoto, Ei—she’s yours. The rebellion is not my affair.”

After all, they were rebelling against the Shogun.

He was not the Shogun.

Makoto shot a puzzled look his way.

She’d only just returned—what did this have to do with her?

Ei blinked innocently.

The Vision Hunt Decree, the Sakoku Decree—those had been the Shogun’s doing while she remained sealed away.

Surely not her problem.

The sisters’ eyes met, silently pushing the burden back and forth.

And at last, both turned to Su Ran.

“…Fine.” He sighed. “Since you’ve entrusted Ei to me, that makes Inazuma my territory. I suppose I can handle it.”

Ei’s once-placid gaze sharpened instantly.

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