Deep into the night, after confirming both sisters had fallen safely asleep, Cloud quietly slipped away.
In the hospital room, only the soft beeping of medical instruments remained.
"Sis, are you asleep?" In the darkness, Chizuru's voice came softly.
"Not yet." Maki's gentle reply drifted back.
"Sis!" Chizuru's voice carried an almost imperceptible tremor. "Did we... really win?"
Though Goenitz had been sealed, the shadow of that battle still loomed over her heart. The powerlessness and despair she'd felt facing a god still haunted her.
Maki was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "We only won... a single battle. The true war is far from over. Goenitz was merely the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings. Above him still stands Orochi. As long as Orochi's will remains, the mission of our Kagura clan will never end."
"Mission... always the mission..." Chizuru's voice carried a deep weariness. "Sis, I'm so tired. Ever since we were little, we've had this duty to guard the seal and fight Orochi drilled into us."
"We can't go shopping like normal girls, or watch movies, or fall carelessly in love. Our lives have been bound by invisible chains from the moment we were born."
She paused, her voice growing thick with emotion. "Especially you, Sister. You've shouldered so much to protect me, to protect this family. Half a year ago, if Cloud hadn't arrived in time, you would have..."
"Silly girl." In the darkness, Maki reached out and took her sister's hand, patting it gently. "This is our fate, and also our honor. There's nothing to complain about."
"But I can't accept it!" Chizuru's tone grew heated. "Why should our destiny be decided by some ancient seal from eighteen hundred years ago? Sis, I don't want to watch you risk your life and sacrifice yourself for this so-called mission anymore! I want you to live like a normal girl—to enjoy the sunshine, to pursue your own happiness!"
"Chizuru..." Maki could feel her sister's hand trembling in hers. Her heart warmed, tinged with bittersweet emotion.
"Sister, I have an idea." In the darkness, Chizuru's eyes burned with unprecedented determination.
"I want to... ask Cloud to become our fourth pillar in the fight against Orochi!"
The next morning, when Cloud arrived with his "Divine Congee Pro Max Edition," he was met with Chizuru's extremely solemn and serious expression.
"Mr. Cloud, I have something very important to discuss with you."
Seeing her demeanor—like she was about to pitch to venture capitalists—Cloud set aside his playful attitude and nodded. "Go ahead."
Chizuru took a deep breath and began revealing the thousand-year secrets passed down through the Three Sacred Treasure families.
She told him how, 1,800 years ago, the three great families had joined forces to seal Orochi.
How, 660 years ago, the Yagami clan (then still called Yasakani) had made a blood pact with Orochi in pursuit of greater power, shattering the Three Sacred Treasures alliance.
And now, with the Orochi seal weakening and the Divine Tribe stirring, the world once again faced crisis...
"The Kusanagi Sword represents destruction, possessing the power to burn all things to ash."
"The Yasakani Magatama represents binding, able to tear through space and imprison gods and demons."
"And the Yata Mirror that our Kagura family guards represents protection and creation. It can not only create illusions and guard reality, but serves as the core processor of the Three Sacred Treasures' power, harmonizing the other two artifacts."
Cloud listened quietly. As a transmigrator, he knew all this background better than anyone. But he maintained an expression of "impressed but confused," nodding occasionally to show he was paying attention.
"The Three Sacred Treasures form a tripod—remove one leg and it falls." Chizuru's expression grew grave. "But now, though Kyo Kusanagi is powerful, he's too young and his temperament isn't settled. Iori Yagami has been corrupted by Orochi's blood and become an extremely unstable factor. Our Kagura family alone cannot face the true Orochi that's coming."
She raised her head, her beautiful eyes filled with hope and plea, meeting Cloud's gaze directly.
"So, Cloud, we formally invite you to become—after our three great families—the fourth pillar protecting this world!"
"I hope you'll fight alongside us against Orochi. In return, the Kagura Financial Group... and I personally, are willing to provide any assistance you need!"
Cloud looked at this girl before him, so sincere she was almost nervous, and couldn't help but feel impressed.
This girl's got ambition. She's not looking for a "pillar"—she's clearly trying to grab a golden thigh and find some heavy backup for her family's thousand-year KPIs.
Instead of answering immediately, he asked: "Why me?"
"Because..." A lovely blush crept across Chizuru's cheeks. She lowered her head shyly, her voice dropping to nearly a whisper. "Because in you, I see... hope."
"That composure in the face of gods, that unfathomable power that seems to have no limit... and also..." She stole a glance at Cloud. "And also how you still thought about saving my sister and protecting us, even in such dangerous circumstances..."
At that moment, the atmosphere in the hospital room suddenly became... intimate.
Cloud gazed at the young woman before him. She had revealed the shyness and vulnerability appropriate to her age.
Those eyes that usually sparkled with wisdom and composure now shimmered like spring water, reflecting his image in their depths.
He wasn't made of wood. Of course he could sense that special emotion in her words—something beyond mere "alliance."
Honestly, his impression of Chizuru had always been excellent.
This girl had brains, responsibility, beauty, and figure. She was also a wealthy heiress rich enough to rival nations.
Apart from being occasionally "scheming" and "calculating," she was practically the perfect template of a "Yamato Nadeshiko."
To say he wasn't moved would be a lie.
...
Get 20+ chapters ahead on - P.a.t.r.e.o.n "RoseWhisky"