Tonight in Inazuma, the weather was inexplicably pleasant. The soft moonlight cascaded down, draping Akio and Yae Miko, who were locked in a kiss, in a radiant glow.
"How wonderful~ Miko has finally found a companion to walk this path with her," Kitsune Saiguu murmured, gazing at the two from the window of a nearby room. Her eyes were filled with tenderness. "These past five hundred years have truly been hard on her."
"But… why do I feel envious of Miko?"
After a long while, Akio and Yae Miko finally parted, their eyes only seeing each other.
"There aren't many beautiful things in this world, but tonight's moon and your smile are among them," Akio said softly.
Yae Miko's amethyst-like eyes shimmered with warmth. She smiled gently and buried her face in Akio's chest.
"The future may be difficult to navigate, Miko. Are you willing to hold my hand and face it together?" Akio asked.
"Of course, I'd be delighted!" Yae Miko replied firmly.
The moment Yae Miko agreed, all the power she possessed surged into Akio's body.
Akio didn't bother to examine the newfound strength. He hadn't expected that the most cunning fox lady would be the easiest to win over.
"Ding~ Detected that the master has entered a relationship with Yae Miko."
"Unlocked: Blazing Stones."
"Blazing Stones: When in danger, the user can actively deploy a shield capable of withstanding three full-power attacks from a top-tier Archon-level being. Completely immune to attacks below Archon level. Duration: 1 hour. Cooldown: 1 day. Blazing Stones also grant complete immunity to soul and mental attacks."
"!" Akio's eyes widened.
Blazing Stones? These are ridiculously overpowered! They were undoubtedly a life-saving treasure, especially the immunity to soul attacks.
That was just absurd.
"Ding~ The Blazing Stones will be gifted to the master in the form of necklaces."
Immediately, Akio noticed ten exquisitely beautiful necklaces appear in his imaginary space.
"I see, System. You're just setting me up to give gifts to my wife, aren't you?" Akio chuckled. "Not bad, System. You're doing great."
"No, no, it's all thanks to the master's good luck," the System replied.
"Akio~" Yae Miko's voice brought Akio back to reality.
Her gaze was filled with deep affection.
The pent-up emotions of five hundred years had finally burst forth, and there was no trace of her usual mischievousness.
She was all warmth and tenderness now.
"Miko, I have a gift for you," Akio said, producing a necklace.
"What a beautiful necklace!" Yae Miko exclaimed. Like any woman, she adored shiny, pretty things.
The necklace was made of silvery metal, with a blue gemstone hanging in the center, emitting a soft blue glow.
"Let me put it on you," Akio said, fastening the necklace around Yae Miko's neck. The Blazing Stone only enhanced her already stunning beauty.
"How do I look?" Yae Miko asked, gazing at Akio.
"Absolutely breathtaking!" Akio nodded, then scooped Yae Miko into his arms and headed toward the house.
"Miko, can I hold your big tail again tonight?" Akio teased with a smirk.
"Just the tail?" Yae Miko giggled behind her hand. "Akio, you're such a coward. You don't even dare to think about more~"
"I don't dare? I'll show you what I dare to do!" Akio, provoked by Yae Miko's challenge, was not about to back down.
"Come on then, my dear~"
"Let's go!" Akio, now thoroughly riled up, carried Yae Miko into the house and slammed the door shut.
Soon, strange noises began to echo from within.
…
"Tsk… these two are going too far," Kitsune Saiguu muttered from the neighboring room, her face flushed crimson.
As a woman who had never experienced such things in her life, the sounds were incredibly tempting.
"Akio…" Kitsune Saiguu's eyes grew hazy, and her hands began to wander restlessly.
…
Meanwhile, at the Kamisato Estate, just outside Chinju Forest.
Kamisato Ayato was reviewing some intelligence, his expression grave.
"Brother, what's wrong?" asked the silver-haired beauty kneeling beside him. It had been a long time since she'd seen her brother look so serious.
"Ayaka, the Grand Narukami Shrine has reinstated the position of the Great Divine Official," Ayato said, frowning. "What is Lady Yae up to?"
"The Great Divine Official?" Ayaka gasped. "That position hasn't been filled for hundreds of years!"
"Exactly. I have no idea what Lady Yae is thinking," Ayato sighed deeply.
"All we know is that the Great Divine Official's name is Akio. I had someone investigate, but there's no record of anyone named Akio in Inazuma before this. That means he's not from here."
"Why would Lady Yae give such an important position to an outsider?" Ayaka asked, incredulous.
"I don't know," Ayato shook his head.
"The Shuumatsuban's reach doesn't extend into the Grand Narukami Shrine, so we know almost nothing about Akio."
"What should we do?" Ayaka frowned. "If…"
"Enough, Ayaka. You should get some rest. I'll figure out who this Akio is. You don't need to get involved," Ayato said, waving his hand dismissively.
"Brother!" Ayaka protested. He always did this, keeping her out of the loop.
"That's enough, Ayaka. I'm tired and need to rest. You should go to bed too," Ayato said, ending the conversation.
"Understood, Brother. I'll head back now," Ayaka relented, turning to leave.
Ayato watched her retreating figure and murmured, "To be appointed as the Great Divine Official directly, this Akio must have some extraordinary methods. Ayaka, I can't let you face even the slightest danger."
Back in her room, Ayaka sat cross-legged on her bed, muttering to herself, "Brother always treats me like a child. I've grown up. The burden of the Kamisato family shouldn't fall on him alone. I need to share it with him."
"If Lady Yae appointed him as the Great Divine Official, this Akio must be a good person, right?" Ayaka pondered. "I should find an opportunity to meet him and get to know him better."
"The Great Divine Official oversees all ceremonial matters, making him one of the Kamisato family's superiors. It's important to build a good relationship with him, as the Kamisato family's affairs will need his approval in the future," Ayaka reasoned.
The Great Divine Official managed all ceremonial and ritual affairs. While the Yashiro Commission reported directly to the Shogun, all their decisions now had to go through Akio's approval.
Previously, with no Great Divine Official, the Yashiro Commission had made decisions independently. But with the position reinstated, a significant portion of their authority had been effectively transferred to Akio.
This was a major shift in the balance of power!