After finishing their meal at Tenshukaku, the three bid farewell to Raiden Ei and returned to the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Akio, if you're going to Liyue, why not travel with a fleet?" Yae Miko suggested.
"A fleet? Isn't Inazuma under the Sakoku Decree?" Akio asked.
"There's still one port open on Ritou. By my calculations, a fleet called the Crux should be arriving in a few days," Yae Miko explained.
"The seas around Inazuma are currently engulfed in thunderstorms. While you're not afraid of them, there's no need to make the journey unnecessarily difficult."
The Crux Fleet? Wasn't that Beidou's fleet? Akio recalled the woman known as the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, rumored to be capable of slaying sea monsters with her mortal strength.
"The captain of the fleet is Beidou. I'm acquainted with her, so I'll write a letter of recommendation. She'll let you board and return to Liyue," Yae Miko said.
"Alright," Akio nodded. Interacting with notable characters from the game was naturally one of the conditions for triggering the system.
Yae Miko and Kitsune Saiguu busied themselves preparing for Akio's journey. It was his first time traveling far, so they had to make sure he was well-prepared.
Yae Miko also decided to prepare some delicacies for her old friends in Liyue.
Time flew by, and in a couple of days, Akio found himself staring at the mountain of items Yae Miko had prepared.
"Miko, I understand the clothes and Mora are necessary, but what's with all these Sea Ganoderma?" Akio asked, rubbing his chin.
"Oh, those are for Sister Ganyu," Yae Miko explained. "Akio, your Imaginary Space can keep things fresh, right? These are the freshest Sea Ganoderma. Peel off the outer leaves, and the tender core is sweet and delicious when eaten raw. You can also use it to make soup—it's incredibly flavorful."
"Sister Ganyu is of the Qilin race. She drinks only dew and eats only the finest grains, avoiding all meat. She's probably been craving Sea Ganoderma for a long time," Yae Miko said with a smile.
"This is the letter of recommendation. As the Great Divine Official of the Grand Narukami Shrine, your status is no lower than that of the Liyue Qixing. When you arrive in Liyue, you must be treated with the highest respect. We can't let them slight you," Yae Miko pointed to an envelope.
"Alright, I understand," Akio nodded, storing all the items away.
It had to be said, Yae Miko had thought of everything. In addition to countless sets of clothes personally made by Saiguu, she had prepared five million Mora for Akio.
As Yae Miko put it, "You can't charge things to the Grand Narukami Shrine in Liyue. You can't be without money when you're away from home," so she had directly handed him five million Mora.
However, before leaving, Akio decided to visit Kamisato Ayaka. After all, he had kissed her, and he wanted to know her thoughts and choices.
---
"Lord Akio is here?" In the Kamisato Estate's training ground, Ayaka, who had been practicing her swordsmanship, hurriedly stopped upon hearing Thoma's report.
She had just finished an intense workout and was drenched in sweat. Meeting Akio in such a state would be far too improper.
"Please… please ask Lord Akio to wait a moment. Allow me to freshen up and change," Ayaka said, flustered, as she rushed out of the training ground and back to her room to wash up.
"…" Thoma watched as his lady became visibly flustered at the mere mention of Akio. He sighed helplessly and went to inform Akio.
Akio, hearing Thoma's report, nodded and sipped the tea that had been prepared for him.
"Hmm?" Akio's gaze suddenly shifted to a small room nearby. As the Herrscher of the Void, he could sense spatial fluctuations. There was someone familiar hiding there.
Inside the small room, Kaedehara Kazuha was sweating bullets. Ever since he had taken his friend's Vision and fled, he had been a wanted man. Fortunately, Kamisato Ayato had taken him in.
Ayato had arranged for Kazuha to leave with the Crux Fleet when it arrived, allowing him to lay low for a while.
But now, Akio had suddenly arrived at the Kamisato Estate, and Kazuha had no choice but to hide. He knew this man was close to the Raiden Shogun. If he were discovered and brought before her, it would be the end for him.
Moreover, the events at Tatarasuna had already spread throughout Inazuma. Kazuha had heard of Akio's divine might and had no intention of facing him directly.
Akio had considered investigating, but at that moment, a flustered Ayaka emerged, and he temporarily set the thought aside.
"Lord Akio!" Ayaka called out. The Yashiro Commission had recently received an edict from the Raiden Shogun, instructing them to assist the Grand Narukami Shrine in designing the details of the divine coronation ceremony. The new god was none other than Akio.
"Ayaka," Akio said, seeing the delicate girl who had just bathed, looking as fresh and beautiful as a lotus flower. Her snow-white hair still dripped with water droplets.
Under Akio's intense gaze, Ayaka's fair skin flushed with a hint of red.
The thoughts of a young girl, beautiful and shy, were incredibly impactful on Akio.
Ayaka dismissed everyone else and looked at Akio with determination. Since learning that Akio was to become Inazuma's new god, she had made a decision—she would confess her feelings to him!
Since he was now a god, and gods weren't bound by human rules, having a few beautiful wives wouldn't be a bad thing, right?
However, Ayaka hadn't expected Akio to visit her today. She had planned to approach him in a few days.
"Ayaka, I'm planning to go to Liyue tomorrow. I thought it would be best to let you know," Akio said, unaware of the girl's thoughts.
"Huh? To Liyue?" Ayaka was taken aback.
"Yes, but I won't be gone for long," Akio nodded.
"Oh… alright…" Ayaka lowered her head, feeling a bit disappointed. Her birthday was in a few days, and she had hoped to invite Akio on that meaningful day to confess her feelings.
"Ayaka, do you remember what I said to you that night?" Akio, noticing the girl's sudden sadness, decided to take the initiative. "It's been a while. Can you tell me your choice now?" he asked seriously.
Ayaka froze. She hadn't expected Akio to bring this up so directly. Her face turned bright red, and she lowered her head without saying a word.
After a long wait, Akio sighed in disappointment. "Alright, if you're not ready to make a decision, I'll respect your choice…"
Before he could finish, Ayaka looked up, her face filled with determination. She walked over and, mustering all her courage, took Akio's hand.
"L-Lord Akio! I… I've made up my mind," Ayaka stammered, her heart pounding. This was the first time in her life she had confessed her feelings to someone she liked.
She was so nervous! She hadn't fully prepared herself! But if Akio went to Liyue, would she have to wait even longer?
A/n - Next Target is 300PS ... will upload one more chapter in few hours