“Shiba Inu: Hahaha… There’s nothing to be surprised about. This is your first time seeing me like this, isn't it?”
“Lumine: Thoma is… a dog?”
“Qixuan: A dog-Thoma?”
“Shiba Inu: Hmm… Haven't you seen anything similar in Liyue?”
“Paimon: Oh, I think I understand now.”
“Lumine: This is completely a dog, isn't it?”
Thoma walked out from the side.
“Thoma: Hahahaha… Alright, alright, no more jokes like this.”
“Paimon: Hey! How could you do that, you guy!”
“Thoma: I just wanted to have a special way of greeting you, but please allow me to sincerely apologize. The previous 【test】 was a necessary formality.”
“It determined whether I could bring you before Miss Kamizato, and whether we could become… partners who dare to face the lightning.”
“Paimon: Hmph!”
“Thoma: Haha, my apologies, my apologies.”
“Lumine: Face the lightning is?”
“Thoma: You put yourself above those 【rules】 from the beginning, didn't you? Because your will never wavered, nor did it ever yield.”
“A long time ago, we also knew a friend like that, but after the lightning flashed…”
“Lumine: You mean Kazuha’s friend…”
“Thoma: Oh~ So even you have heard his story. It seems… his light is not weak at all.”
“Qixuan: Can we go see Shirasagi Himegimi now?”
“Thoma: Of course, no problem. I will take you to the Kamisato Estate at the Shogunate. However… before that, there’s somewhere else I’d like to take you to see.”
“Paimon: Huh? Where?”
“Thoma: Something that cannot be ignored by anyone residing on Narukami Island, that massive structure currently under construction—the 【Statue of a Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God】.”
Everyone arrived at the plaza where the 【Statue】 was placed.
“Paimon: There’s a solemn aura around this 【Statue】. Ordinary people wouldn't come here, would they?”
“Qixuan: Are we ordinary people?”
“Lumine: Heh heh!”
“Paimon: That’s not the point! Ah! If you look closely, all of this is…”
“Thoma: 【Visions】.”
“Paimon: So all the Visions confiscated by the Vision Hunt Decree are built into this statue?”
“Thoma: Sigh… The Raiden Shogun is both Inazuma’s supreme ruler and Inazuma’s god.”
“The unchanging eternity for a thousand generations is the will of 【her】 who governs this nation.”
“To this end, she uses the Three Commissions to stabilize state affairs and relies on the Sakoku Decree to cut off the flow of people.”
“The Shogun wants Inazuma to maintain a static state, so that the river of time can flow by on either side, with only Inazuma standing firm, until 【eternity】.”
“Paimon: Every god has their own ideas…”
“Qixuan: Then what's the difference between this and Sumeru's 【insect specimens】, where the most beautiful moment is permanently preserved? ”
“Inazuma, having given up its future, is a form of escape. Is your Shogun afraid of something?”
“Lumine: Bold words!”
“Thoma: Sigh… We have no way of knowing the ultimate reason… Perhaps the Shogun believes that Visions can provide people with the power of 【change】, and the 【eternity】 in the Shogun's eyes cannot permit such 【instability】 to exist.”
“Paimon: In that case… isn’t that Raiden Shogun somewhat selfish?”
“Thoma: Haha, only you guys would dare to say such things, but I also agree. From the day the Vision Hunt Decree was issued, Miss Kamizato was determined to resist.”
At this moment, Lumine, looking at the 【Statue】, suddenly seemed to hear something, clutching his head…
“Paimon: Eh? Lumine, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Qixuan: (Did he hear… the wishes of those Vision holders?)”
“Lumine: Just now… I seemed to hear something.”
“Thoma: Huh? A sound? I didn’t hear anything. What happened just now?”
“Paimon: That’s right, Lumine was staring at the 【Statue】 just now, and then…”
“Lumine: I seemed to hear some people’s 【wishes】.”
“Thoma: 【Wishes】? Hmm… That seems to confirm a saying: when a person’s wish reaches a certain level, the gods’ gaze will fall upon him.”
“That is the origin of 【Visions】, and one could say that a Vision represents that person's 【wish】.”
“If what you just said is true, then it seems these people's wishes are even more persistent than I imagined.”
“Lumine: 【Visions】 don’t symbolize power, but 【wishes】…?”
“Thoma: Alright, esteemed guests, it's time to follow me to the next stop, the 【Kamisato Estate】.”
“Paimon: We're finally going!”
Everyone followed Thoma to the 【Kamisato Estate】.
………………
【Kamisato Estate】
“Paimon: So this is the mansion of a prominent family in Inazuma? It’s not as… exaggerated as I imagined?”
“Qixuan: After all, Paimon, you’ve seen the grand scale of the 【Jade Chamber】~”
“Paimon: Hmph, no, why do I feel like you have a hidden meaning in your words?”
“Thoma: Welcome, esteemed guests, to the 【Kamisato Estate】. The Demoiselle has been waiting here for a long time.”
“Paimon: Is it the Shirasagi Himegimi you keep mentioning? Where is she?”
At this moment, a voice came from behind the screen…
“Paimon: Hmm?”
“Thoma: Heh heh, as the Demoiselle of the Shogunate, Miss Kamizato usually receives guests this way. One could say it's a centuries-old custom of the Shogunate, please understand.”
“Qixuan: After all, she is a famous person in Inazuma.”
“Lumine: I seem to understand.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: Esteemed guests, having traveled across the seas and endured a tiring journey, yet only able to meet in this manner upon your arrival, please forgive my lack of proper etiquette.”
Kamisato Ayaka’s Damselette voice was gentle and bright, yet not lacking in grace.
Lumine was immediately charmed…
“Qixuan: *cough cough*, don’t be tempted, Lumine!”
“Kamisato Ayaka: I have been greatly looking forward to your arrival. From Thoma’s retelling, I am also convinced of the power you possess to 【change the tide of events】.”
“Currently, in 【Inazuma】, under the enforcement of the Vision Hunt Decree, the people’s wishes are being wantonly trampled upon.”
“Although the Shogunate serves the Shogun, due to its duties, it is also the side closest to the people’s livelihood.”
“The authority of the Commission itself stems from the trust of the people. If we were to stand by and do nothing in such a situation, how could we sleep soundly?”
“Traveler, please lend me your strength. We will surely be able to…”
“Qixuan: Do you mean for us to rebel with you?”
“Lumine: We are only here to see the Raiden Shogun.”
“Kamisato Ayaka: Hmm…”
“Thoma: I told you, Demoiselle… that won’t work…”
“Lumine: Then we’re ready to leave.”
Lumine turned to leave, as if he had made some kind of decision…
“Kamisato Ayaka: Ah, ah… Wait a moment! Please… please don’t leave yet…”
“Lumine: What is it?”
“Kamisato Ayaka: I can help you get an introduction to the Shogun, but you have to help me fulfill three small wishes.”
“Paimon: What wishes?”
“Kamisato Ayaka: They are about three people who have lost their Visions. Once you meet them, perhaps you will understand…”
Kamisato Ayaka roughly explained what happened…
“Paimon: A martial artist who protected a village, a former Vision Hunt Decree enforcement samurai, and a swordsman who once aimed to be the best in the world, right…?”
“Kamisato Ayaka: That’s right. Please help them as much as you can. I will wait for your return here.”
“Lumine: I promise you.”
“Qixuan: Then let’s go.”
“Thoma: Good luck, partner.”