[The Morning After]
The Inazuma Festival had officially concluded.
Merchants from all seven nations left with heavy coin purses and satisfied smiles. However, many tourists chose to stay behind. Inazuma's unique landscape—from the floating Amakumo Peak to the underwater palace of Watatsumi—was too vast to explore in a few days.
Plus, the prices were surprisingly affordable compared to Liyue or Mondstadt.
At 9:00 AM, Su Han bid farewell to Jean and Ningguang at the docks. Watching their ships disappear over the horizon left a small hollow in his chest. He preferred the lively noise of a full house.
But there was no time to mope. He had a nation to run.
Returning to Tenshukaku, he found a familiar figure waiting for him.
Sangonomiya Kokomi.
The Divine Priestess had spent most of the festival on Watatsumi Island managing the influx of tourists. Now, she was here with a report.
"Lord Su Han," she bowed, her expression a mix of exhaustion and excitement.
"Kokomi. I assume the festival was profitable?"
"Profitable is an understatement," Kokomi said, her eyes wide. "We generated 6 million Mora in revenue. After deducting taxes to the Shogunate and profit-sharing with Liyue Harbor... we profited 2 million Mora."
Two million. In just a few days.
For a poverty-stricken island like Watatsumi, this was an astronomical sum.
"The problem is... I don't know what to do with it," Kokomi admitted, wringing her hands. "I'm a strategist, not a merchant. We have money, but we have no infrastructure. Tourists are complaining about having nowhere to sleep!"
Su Han nodded. He signaled Baiwen, who immediately produced a blueprint.
"I anticipated this," Su Han said. "Watatsumi has beauty, but it lacks comfort. Here is the plan."
He pointed to the map.
Luxury Accommodation: "Carve hotels into the cliff sides. Use giant shells and pearls for decoration. Tourists love that 'underwater fantasy' aesthetic."Wedding Venues: "Market the Sangonomiya Shrine as a top-tier wedding destination. Train your shrine maidens to be wedding planners."Transport: "Build a slow-moving rail system around the island. Walking is tiring. A sightseeing train is romantic and practical."The Big Project: "We will construct an Undersea Tunnel connecting Watatsumi to Narukami Island. The Shogunate will pay 80%, you pay 20%. This will integrate your economy with the capital."
Kokomi scribbled furiously in her notebook, her eyes sparkling.
"Understood! I will implement this immediately!"
As they finished, Raiden Ei wandered into the room. She grabbed a dango from the table and sat next to Su Han, listening idly.
Kokomi froze. The pressure of sitting next to the Ogosho was still terrifying for her.
"Relax," Ei mumbled, chewing. "I'm just here for the snacks."
"A-Alright..." Kokomi took a deep breath. "Lord Su Han, there is one more issue. A serious one."
"Go on."
"Since the explosion at the Tatarasuna Arsenal... the Tatarigami on Yashiori Island has become unstable. The aura of the slain god is leaking. My soldiers are falling ill."
The Curse of Orobashi.
"Is the ward broken?" Ei frowned.
"I believe the shockwave from the explosion disturbed the seals," Kokomi theorized.
Suddenly, a voice floated down from the upper floor.
"Ara? Little Jellyfish is in trouble?"
Kokomi looked up. A stunning woman with short silver hair and fox ears walked down the stairs. Her presence was overwhelming—far stronger than Yae Miko.
Hanachirusato (Kitsune Saiguu).
"Who... who is this?" Kokomi whispered, intimidated.
"Oh my, you don't know me?" Saiguu giggled, leaning over the railing. "I knew your predecessor, though. The previous Divine Priestess... she was quite the fan of mine. She used to chase me around, begging for lessons."
Saiguu smirked. "Poor girl. She tried to catch me once, tripped over her own robes, and face-planted right into the mud. Cried for an hour."
Kokomi turned red. "Please do not slander the previous Priestess! She was a dignified and noble woman!"
"Is that so?" Saiguu pulled a photo out of her sleeve. "Look at this."
It was a black-and-white photo. A young shrine maiden in Watatsumi robes was lying face-down in the dirt, wailing like a baby.
Kokomi's world shattered.
My idol... my ancestor... was a klutz?
She stood there, frozen in shock.
"Don't worry," Saiguu patted Kokomi's head. "I won't show anyone else. But from now on... call me Big Sister Hanachirusato. Okay?"
"Y-Yes... Big Sister..." Kokomi whimpered, clutching the photo to hide the evidence.
"Good girl," Saiguu beamed. "As a reward, I'll handle the Yashiori problem. I haven't stretched my legs in centuries. Let's go purify a snake."
[Yashiori Island – Musoujin Gorge]
Thirty minutes later.
Su Han, Raiden Ei, and Saiguu hovered above the massive skeletal remains of the serpent god, Orobashi.
The air was thick with purple miasma—the Tatarigami.
"The resentment is strong," Saiguu noted, wrinkling her nose. "This snake really held a grudge. Say, Ei... Orobashi was on good terms with us originally. Why did he suddenly attack?"
Raiden Ei looked at the giant skull, her expression somber.
"He had no choice," she said quietly. "He sought his own death. If I hadn't struck him down, he would have destroyed Yashiori and marched on Narukami. He forced my hand."
It was a suicide by executioner. A sacrifice to protect his people from a truth they weren't meant to know.
"I see," Saiguu sighed. "A tragic god. Well then... let us put him to rest permanently."
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