Villa.
Luo Chen spoke with a sigh of emotion.
"When Beelzebul stood at a crossroads, unable to decide what to do—"
"The former Grand Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Kitsune Saiguu, appeared."
"After learning of Beelzebul's situation, she made her vow."
"She would mobilize all the power at her disposal."
"She would shoulder the duty of defending Inazuma."
"She would clear away every worry for Her Highness."
"Upon hearing this promise, Beelzebul finally felt at ease."
"After confirming the situation, she hurried toward Khaenri'ah."
"But by then… it was already too late."
"What awaited her was Makoto—on the brink of death."
"Faced with this sight, Beelzebul was overcome with grief."
"But she knew her sister had little time left."
"So she endured the pain and met Makoto one final time—within Makoto's fading consciousness."
"After the sisters bid each other farewell—"
"Makoto entrusted Musou Isshin and the Electro Gnosis, symbols of the Raiden Shogun's authority, to her younger sister."
"Beelzebul did not linger in that place of sorrow."
"She preserved Makoto's collapsing consciousness realm and brought it back to Inazuma."
"Yet upon her return—"
"She discovered that a Sacred Sakura tree had suddenly appeared at the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"In Beelzebul's memory, no such tree had ever existed in Inazuma."
"It was as if it had appeared from nothing."
"But when she questioned those around her, she was told the Sacred Sakura had existed since time immemorial."
"The contradiction between memory and reality left her deeply unsettled."
"This matter will be discussed in detail later."
"For now—"
"Beelzebul had lost the one person who had shared her life for thousands of years."
"But this… was only the beginning."
Tenshukaku
"Makoto…"
As the light screen spoke, Ei once again recalled her journey to Khaenri'ah.
She had gone there carrying hope.
But she returned with nothing but despair.
Thanks to Yae Miko's earlier comfort, she did not collapse—
Yet her eyes were still filled with sorrow.
When the Sacred Sakura was mentioned, Ei's expression grew thoughtful.
Back then, she had indeed been puzzled by the tree's sudden existence.
But with the calamity still raging, she had no choice but to attribute it to Makoto's consciousness.
Now that the light screen brought it up again—
It truly did seem connected to Makoto.
Yae Miko frowned slightly.
"So the Sacred Sakura was planted by Makoto?"
"But when?"
"And why do our memories differ so drastically?"
Ei had no answers.
Their doubts only deepened.
Across from them, Lumine and Paimon were equally confused.
Leaving home and returning to find a tree where none had been—
Was strange enough.
But having everyone insist it had always been there?
Utterly bizarre.
Paimon suddenly put on a serious face, rubbing her chin.
"If Ei's memory is the only one that's different…"
"Could it be that Ei herself planted the tree?"
"And she just doesn't remember?"
"Maybe her memories were altered!"
"Or maybe—she traveled back from the future to plant it, but that time hasn't happened yet!"
Lumine rolled her eyes.
"I told you to read fewer light novels at Ayaka's place."
"Time travel? Really?"
"If she could do that, why plant a tree?"
"Why not save her sister instead?"
"Hehe…"
Paimon scratched her head awkwardly.
Even she felt that was a stretch.
But Ei and Yae Miko exchanged a glance.
Given what they knew—
It wasn't impossible.
Villa
Luo Chen continued.
"Second tragedy—the fall of Kitsune Saiguu, former Grand Guuji and Beelzebul's closest friend."
"She, Mikoshi Chiyo, Makoto, and Beelzebul often played cards beneath the cherry trees."
"Much like Guizhong and Ping in Liyue, their bond was deep and sincere."
"Kitsune Saiguu was… a fascinating person."
"She once wagered with Ioroi, betting that he couldn't steal Naku Weed from the Raiden Shogun's garden."
"And thus tricked him into becoming a retainer of the Shogunate."
"She also loved pranks."
"So much so that she earned the nickname Inazuma's Heartbreaker."
"Stories like these are endless."
"In fact, her personality was even more troublesome than Yae Miko's."
"Perhaps that's why Yae Miko turned out the way she did."
"Yet despite her mischief, Saiguu was unwavering when it mattered."
"Before the calamity arrived, she already sensed it."
"When facing her friends, the sorrow and reluctance in her eyes only grew stronger."
"When Yae Miko reached adolescence, Saiguu tricked her into inheriting the position of Grand Guuji."
"Then she left the Grand Narukami Shrine and went to Tenshukaku."
"The reason was simple."
'When heaven and earth change, those who stand beside the sovereign must protect all living beings.'
"Disaster descended."
"With Beelzebul torn between duties, Saiguu stepped forward."
"She told Her Highness to go without worry."
"She would defend Inazuma with everything she had."
"Before parting, she left Beelzebul her final words."
'Do not be deceived. Do not waver. Walk the path you believe in.'
"She hoped those words would help her friend—and Inazuma's future Archon—resist lies and malice."
"She likely already knew Makoto's fate."
"After Beelzebul departed, Saiguu began her preparations."
"First—she sought out Ioroi."
"She feared he would throw himself against an enemy he could never defeat."
"So she tricked him into a game of hide-and-seek."
"Told him to hide well."
"And warned him—again and again—no matter what happened, it would all be illusion magic."
"Never believe it."
"Never come out."
"Then she fulfilled her promise."
"She set barriers across Inazuma."
"She protected civilians amid the calamity."
"And in the end—"
"While defending Narukami Island—she was swallowed by the pitch-black disaster."
"As the matriarch of the Hakushin Kitsune—"
"After her death, the Sky Kitsune and Earth Kitsune turned to stone."
"They preserved their power."
"Waiting for the day their lady would return."
"So they could once again walk together through the fields of Hakushin."
"As for Ioroi—"
"He listened."
"He survived the calamity."
"But time passed… and something felt wrong."
"The game of hide-and-seek lasted far too long."
"He caused chaos."
"Even stole ritual tools required for the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual."
"A ritual meant to purge corruption from the Sacred Sakura."
"Without it, Inazuma would suffer immensely."
"Ioroi didn't understand."
"He only knew these items were important to Saiguu."
"He wanted to lure her out."
"But he made a fatal mistake."
"He was sealed into stone by Kazari-no-Kami Harunosuke."
"And remained that way for five hundred years."
"Never restored."
"Never reunited with Saiguu."
Luo Chen paused, sighing inwardly.
He personally believed Ioroi knew the truth.
He wasn't foolish—only pure.
After so long, he must have realized something was wrong.
Yet when he complained to the Traveler, he never asked to be freed.
Perhaps—
As long as he stayed sealed—
As long as he never searched—
Saiguu would always be alive.
He continued.
"Finally—five hundred years later—Kitsune Saiguu returned."
"And yet… she didn't."
"After Beelzebul ended the calamity—"
"Saiguu's memories and longing returned to Narukami's land, forming corruption."
"One fragment of that corruption eventually became Hanachirusato."
"She was born from Saiguu's memories—but was not Saiguu herself."
"Her duty was to assist the Traveler—"
"To complete the Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual."
"In the end, the ritual was completed."
"And as corruption, she dissipated among the blossoms—like a dream."
"All that remained… was a fox mask."
'Parting from you—
I know not when we shall meet again.
Like morning dew, I fade at dawn.'
"Alive—she gave her life to protect Narukami."
"Dead—her memories returned to cleanse Inazuma once more."
"Kitsune Saiguu fulfilled her promise to Beelzebul."
"Only—"
"That farewell… lasted forever."
"With this, after losing her sister—"
"Beelzebul lost another cherished companion."
Luo Chen played footage of the Sacred Sakura Cleansing quest.
So everyone could truly understand Saiguu—and Hanachirusato.
Silence filled Teyvat.
Tenshukaku
After the video ended, the four present stood in silence.
"…Lady Saiguu…"
Yae Miko wanted to joke.
But in the end, she only sighed.
Such a gentle soul—
She couldn't mock her.
Ei stared at the screen, lips pressed tight.
Then she spoke softly.
"On the screen… Hanachirusato said that if Saiguu had someone like the Traveler beside her…"
"Maybe she would have lived."
"Yae…"
"If I hadn't gone to Khaenri'ah…"
"If I had stayed to protect Inazuma…"
"Would Saiguu still be alive?"
"Would Chiyo… the soldiers… the people…"
"Have survived?"
Yae Miko was silent.
It was possible.
With Ei present, losses would have been far fewer.
Saiguu and Chiyo might have lived.
Ei might not have withdrawn into isolation.
But—
History has no if.
And blame isn't measured that way.
"Ei," Yae Miko said softly.
"No one can condemn a sister who chose to save her only family."
"That is human nature."
"If a god abandons her own kin—"
"Who would dare believe in her love for her people?"
"So you were not wrong."
"Only… no one expected the calamity to be so vast."
Lumine and Paimon nodded firmly.
Ei clenched her fists.
Saiguu protected Inazuma with her life.
Even five hundred years later, she returned as Hanachirusato.
Even when learning Inazuma had fallen into chaos—
She still gently told Ei to walk the path she believed in.
The more Ei thought—
The more unbearable it became.
Her fists trembled.
"What good is strength…"
"If I couldn't save anyone?"
"I… I can't do anything at all…"
Tears fell.
Yae Miko didn't stop her.
Ei had carried five centuries of guilt.
Let her cry.
Crying wasn't a weakness.
Even the Hydro Dragon cried often.
"Cry, my friend."
"When you're done…"
"It will get better."
"This time—it truly will."
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