The more Yae Miko thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed.
When she looked at Kamisato Ayaka again, her gaze had completely changed.
Gone was the look of disdain.
Now she looked at Ayaka as if she were a precious treasure.
"I have a task for you. Will you do it?"
"What task?"
Ayaka's expression turned serious.
This was clearly the start of an RPG questline.
Once the story triggered, a mission would follow.
"I want you to surrender to Ei."
"…What?"
Ayaka nearly jumped in shock.
Lady Guuji, have you lost your mind?
I'm the Hero!
If I surrender to the Demon King, won't the other players laugh me to death?
Besides, she didn't even have the option to switch factions.
"Lady Guuji, I'm the Hero. I can't join the Demon King's army."
"Who said you actually have to join?"
Yae Miko rolled her eyes and pulled out several red gem-like objects.
"These are alchemy bombs."
"You'll go to Ei's side and secretly place these."
"Then we'll attack from inside and outside at the same time."
"…A fake surrender?"
Ayaka was stunned.
That was the Raiden Shogun.
Was Yae Miko trying to get her killed?
"Relax. It's just a game. Ei won't get angry."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Yae Miko nodded confidently.
Then she added,
"Have you forgotten? I once protected your clan before."
"As long as I'm here, what are you afraid of?"
"…Alright."
After some hesitation, Ayaka finally agreed.
Just as Yae Miko said—
This was only a game.
The Shogun wouldn't really punish them.
Besides, winning the game meant rewards.
That would benefit Inazuma as well.
"I object."
Yukong raised her hand immediately.
"Miss Ayaka is the Hero. She shouldn't take such a risk. If someone must go, it should be someone else."
Yukong understood the danger.
If those bombs exploded, Ayaka would be in serious trouble.
Raiden Ei might execute her on the spot.
"Ei wouldn't trust anyone else," Yae Miko replied.
She knew her friend too well.
If anyone else approached, Ei would definitely be suspicious.
But Ayaka was different.
She was a loyal citizen of Inazuma.
Ei would never guard herself against her own people.
"But—"
"What's there to fear?"
"At the critical moment, I'll be there too."
"I'm over level sixty."
The group nearly spat blood.
How could an NPC class have a higher level than the main character classes?
For a brief moment, Ayaka even considered kicking someone out of her party to recruit Yae Miko instead.
She was clearly a powerhouse.
Unfortunately, Yae Miko's role couldn't join the Hero party.
The plan was finalized.
Ayaka walked toward the enemy camp, turning back every few steps.
Even though Yae Miko had made it sound easy, Ayaka's heart was pounding.
"I hope the Shogun won't blame me…"
One hour later.
"So you wish to join our side?"
"Yes, General."
Ayaka answered firmly.
Though her legs were trembling.
"Very well."
Raiden Ei clenched her fist happily.
Her army had grown stronger again.
If the Inazuma players continued joining her side, and she eliminated the Heroes afterward—
It would be a massive victory.
"You may rest for now. After the game ends, I will reward you according to your merits."
"Yes, General."
Ayaka bowed and quickly retreated.
If she stayed any longer, she might reveal the truth.
Deceiving the Shogun felt like courting death.
Watching Ayaka leave, Raiden Ei nodded with satisfaction.
Then she glanced at Kamisato Ayato, who was tied nearby.
Her expression immediately turned contemptuous.
"Look at your sister. She understands how to support Inazuma."
"And you? Why are you so narrow-minded?"
"General… I'm just a villager. I can't change factions."
Ayato was nearly in tears.
It wasn't that he didn't want to switch.
He literally couldn't.
And he knew perfectly well Ayaka hadn't actually defected.
She was here as a spy.
Just imagining the moment when the Raiden Shogun discovered she had been tricked by his sister made Ayato shiver.
Although the Shogun treated him decently now, she would definitely take her anger out on him later.
"Little sister… you're putting your brother in a terrible position."
As time passed, Ayaka secretly placed numerous alchemy bombs throughout Raiden Ei's camp.
Now she only needed to wait.
Once the siege began, she would detonate them and coordinate with Yae Miko for a pincer attack.
Standing beside her, Kujou Sara gazed toward the distant city.
"Do you think the General will capture the city this time?"
"I'm not sure."
Ayaka shook her head.
Whether the city would fall depended entirely on her.
"I believe victory is certain."
Sara was the type who would support the Shogun unconditionally.
Even if Yae Miko was defending the city alone, she believed there was no chance of failure.
Raiden Ei soon stepped to the front of the formation.
She looked toward the pink-haired figure standing on the city walls.
"Yae Miko… just wait."
"When I catch you, you'll regret it."
She was furious.
Originally, she had only planned to destroy villages.
She hadn't brought enough monsters to siege a city.
But Yae Miko had provoked her endlessly from the walls.
Now she had no choice.
That fox needed to be dealt with.
"Oh my, you're terrifying."
"Come catch me if you can."
"Fine. I will."
Raiden Ei raised her hand, preparing to begin the siege.
BOOM!
Suddenly, an explosion erupted behind her.
Then came a chain of detonations.
Within seconds, monsters in the rear ranks were blown apart.
"What… happened?"
Raiden Ei looked confused.
Why was her rear camp exploding?
"Quick! Reinforcements!"
Kujou Sara reacted immediately and rushed toward the rear.
"Understood."
Ayaka nodded and ran as well.
Though her direction led toward the city gates.
Boom! Boom!
Explosions echoed continuously as smoke engulfed the camp.
"Hehe."
Watching Raiden Ei's confused expression, Yae Miko was delighted.
She waved her hand.
"Charge!"
"Follow me and capture them!"
The city gates opened.
Yae Miko led the soldiers on horseback toward Raiden Ei's army.
Raiden Ei looked back at the devastated camp, her eye twitching.
So Kamisato Ayaka had been a spy all along.
She finally understood.
She had been completely tricked.
Seeing Yae Miko's army approaching, Raiden Ei drew her blade.
A flash of cold light—
The first charging soldier collapsed instantly.
"Gira!"
She chanted the spell.
A massive stream of flame erupted from her blade, incinerating nearby soldiers.
"Whoa—she's that strong?!"
Yae Miko was startled.
She had planned to capture Raiden Ei alive.
Now she realized that might have been a terrible idea.
"Begiragon."
Another spell burst forth.
A massive inferno swept across the battlefield.
The soldiers Yae Miko had brought were wiped out instantly.
"Now it's your turn, Miko."
Raiden Ei looked at the stunned shrine maiden with a playful smile.
Originally she had intended to rely only on her monster army.
But since Yae Miko had used dirty tricks first—
She had no reason to hold back.
Did she really think a Demon General was nothing?
Yae Miko felt her scalp go numb.
She quickly cast a detection spell.
Raiden Ei's stats appeared.
[Raiden Ei: LV80]
[HP: 45000 / 45000]
[MP: 814 / 900]
Then she checked her own.
[Yae Miko: LV63]
[HP: 800 / 800]
[MP: 472 / 480]
"…Isn't that gap a bit ridiculous?"
She couldn't understand it.
Their level difference was only around a dozen.
So why was Ei's HP dozens of times higher?
"Um… Ei…"
"How about you let me explain?"
"Of course."
Raiden Ei smiled.
"Once I capture you, you can explain as much as you like."
Oh no.
Seeing Ei completely unwilling to let her go, Yae Miko made a split-second decision—
She turned and ran.
"Kamisato Ayaka is the Hero! Go capture her instead! Why chase me?!"
"No one is escaping."
Raiden Ei was furious.
Did Yae Miko think gathering those monsters had been easy?
She had wiped them out completely.
Today, both of them were getting captured.
Inside the city gates, Ayaka's face turned black.
Lady Guuji… how could you expose me like that?
I should never have listened to you.
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