Chapter 18: Yoimiya's Treat

"Ouch! That hurts!"

The girl clutched her head, mumbling softly. She quickly looked at Liam, who she had bumped into, and urgently asked,

 "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Liam, now a Herrscher, had significantly enhanced physical capabilities. He was fine, only stumbling a bit from the collision. He stood up and extended his hand to the girl.

"I'm fine. Let me help you up."

The girl grabbed Liam's hand and was pulled up.

"I'm glad you're okay! I'm so sorry! By the way, my name is Naganohara Yoimiya!"

Yoimiya clasped her hands together, repeatedly apologizing to Liam.

Hearing her name, Liam wasn't surprised. He had recognized Yoimiya the moment he saw her; after all, she was quite distinctive.

"I'm fine, but Yoimiya, you should be more careful in the future. If you bump into an elderly person or a child, it could be serious."

Liam smiled and waved his hand, then started to take a closer look at the girl who, in the game, was on par with the gods. Yoimiya gave him an immediate impression of being sunny and cheerful, like a little sun radiating youthful vitality.

"Hehe, I'm really sorry! I'll definitely be more careful in the future! By the way, what's your name?"

Yoimiya asked sheepishly.

"My name is Liam, Liam Norville. You can just call me by my name."

"Alright, Liam. But why does your name sound so familiar? Anyway, I need to deliver these goods!"

After Liam introduced himself, Yoimiya felt like she had heard his name somewhere but couldn't remember where. She thought it might be because she had been too busy lately. Suddenly, she realized her fireworks had disappeared.

"Ah—! Where did my fireworks go?"

Yoimiya exclaimed in a panic, then remembered that the fireworks had vanished just before she almost bumped into Liam. She turned her gaze to him.

"Liam, do you know where my fireworks went?"

Upon hearing Yoimiya's question, Liam recalled that he had subconsciously sent the items to the pocket space. He replied,

"Don't worry, your stuff was sent away by me subconsciously. Let me see if I can get them back."

Liam searched the pocket space and indeed found the pile of items floating there. He retrieved them and placed them in front of Yoimiya.

"Wow! That's amazing! Liam, you're incredible!"

Yoimiya's eyes lit up at the sight of the fireworks appearing out of nowhere.

"Yoimiya, are you delivering these to someone's house?"

Liam asked, looking at the pile of fireworks that was as tall as a person.

Yoimiya nodded.

"The Saitou family ordered a lot of fireworks to celebrate their son's birthday. I was delivering them when I tripped on something and then bumped into you."

Liam nodded, then picked up half of the fireworks.

"Hey! Liam, what are you doing?" Yoimiya asked in confusion.

"Helping you carry these. I don't have anything else to do right now. Lead the way."

Liam raised an eyebrow and gestured for Yoimiya to lead.

"No, no, no! How can I let you help?"

Yoimiya quickly refused. She had just bumped into him and felt it would be too much to ask for his help.

"Come on, let's go! Do you want to bump into someone else?"

Liam wasn't about to miss an opportunity to get closer to Yoimiya.

"Hmm..."

Yoimiya thought about it for a moment and then nodded.

"Okay, but after we're done, I'm treating you to a meal! You can't refuse!"

"Alright! No problem!" Liam agreed readily.

Yoimiya picked up the remaining half of the fireworks and led the way. On the way, her talkative nature was fully revealed.

"So, Liam, what do you do for a living?" Yoimiya asked.

"Me? I'm sort of an official."

Liam thought for a moment before replying.

"An official? Are you working for one of the Commissions?"

Yoimiya asked curiously.

"No, I work in the Tenshukaku." Liam smiled.

"The Tenshukaku? Liam! I remember now! You're the Shogun's personal disciple that everyone's been talking about recently!"

Yoimiya suddenly looked surprised as if she had recalled something.

"Yes, that's me."

Liam nodded, not denying it. It wasn't something that needed to be kept secret.

"Wow! I've heard so much about you lately. I didn't expect to meet you in person! You're quite different from the rumors!"

Yoimiya said excitedly, meeting him was like encountering the second-in-command of the country!

"Oh~! Rumors? What do they say about me?"

Intrigued, Liam raised an eyebrow.

"Um... you won't get mad if I tell you, right?" Yoimiya hesitated.

"Do I look like someone who's that petty?" Liam chuckled.

"The rumors say the Shogun's disciple is eight feet tall, has a fearsome face with fangs, four arms, and likes to eat children, things like that."

Yoimiya recounted some of the outlandish tales she had heard.

Liam: "..."

Seriously, how could the rumors be that ridiculous? He wasn't extraordinarily handsome, but he was certainly decent-looking. If he looked like that, the Raiden Shogun would probably cut him down at first sight!

"Rumors are unreliable. You should stop believing such nonsense."

Liam eventually managed to say something after a moment of speechlessness.

Seeing Liam's reaction, Yoimiya burst into laughter, but quickly stifled it, thinking it might be inappropriate.

Liam glanced at her and said,

"If you want to laugh, go ahead!"

With his permission, Yoimiya's face lit up with a radiant smile.

"Haha, I knew the rumors couldn't be true, but they're so exaggerated that it's kind of funny!"

Liam and Yoimiya continued chatting as they walked. After a while, Yoimiya stopped in front of a house.

"Alright, we're here! I'll go knock."

Yoimiya put down the fireworks and called out,

"Mrs. Saitou, it's Yoimiya! I've brought the fireworks!"

Yoimiya's voice was loud, and soon a middle-aged woman came out. Upon seeing Yoimiya, she smiled warmly.

"Oh! Yoimiya, you're here!"

"Hehe! Mrs. Saitou! Hello! I brought the fireworks!" Yoimiya greeted warmly.

"Hehe, thank you, Yoimiya! Come in and have a seat!"

Mrs. Saitou, looking at the lively and enthusiastic Yoimiya, found herself growing more fond of her.

"Hehe, no need! No need! I still need to treat my friend to a meal!"

Yoimiya smiled as she declined Mrs. Saitou's invitation.

At this moment, Mrs. Saitou noticed Liam standing nearby. She took a closer look and realized he seemed very familiar. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and said,

"You're the Shogun's disciple, Sir Liam, right?"

"Yes, that's me."

Liam nodded, not denying his identity. Although the Shogun no longer wanted him to call her master, he would still be known as the Shogun's disciple for some time.

Mrs. Saitou, seeing Liam holding the fireworks, seemed a bit flustered. She hadn't expected the legendary disciple of the Shogun, with his immense influence in Inazuma, to personally deliver fireworks to her!

Liam shook his head slightly and said,

"No worries, I was just helping Yoimiya. It's not a big deal."

Mrs. Saitou quickly opened the gate, and together they moved the fireworks into the courtyard.

After moving the fireworks, Yoimiya waved and smiled at Mrs. Saitou,

"Well, Mrs. Saitou, we'll be leaving now!"

"Alright! Be careful on your way!"

Mrs. Saitou, knowing she couldn't keep Yoimiya, smiled and reminded her to be careful.

"Hehe, it seems like you're quite popular, Yoimiya!"

Liam joked with Yoimiya, knowing from the game that she was well-liked by both adults and children due to her warm and helpful nature.

Liam had often thought that if the reputation system in the game wasn't centered at the Kamisato Estate, it would probably be at Yoimiya's fireworks shop.

"Not really! Hehe!"

Yoimiya scratched her head, smiling sheepishly.

They walked for a while longer until they returned to the street. Yoimiya then led Liam to Uyuu Restaurant.

"Let's eat here!"

Liam raised an eyebrow at the sight of the restaurant, thinking that he almost came here every day.

"Sure!"

Liam nodded.

He followed Yoimiya into Uyuu Restaurant.

"Yo~! Sir Liam, you're here again! Would you like the usual three-color dango to go?"

Rikuto Okazaki greeted Liam. Having seen how much the Shogun valued Liam just yesterday, he knew he had to treat him well.

"We're dining in today! We'd like a private room."

Liam shook his head and then looked at Yoimiya with a smile,

"Hehe, you order whatever you want since you're treating!"

"No problem!"

Yoimiya quickly rattled off a long list of dishes.

"Alright, boss, that's it! Did you get all that?"

Yoimiya asked Rikuto Okazaki.

"Got it! No problem! Just a moment, I'll have someone take you to a room, and your food will be ready shortly!"

Rikuto called his wife, Eri Okazaki.

"Eri, please take our guests to a private room!"

"Sure! No problem!"

Eri led Liam and Yoimiya to a private room on the second floor.

"Here you go! Please have some tea while you wait. The food will be ready soon."

"Thank you! You can go back to work, no need to worry about us!"

Liam smiled and waved off Eri Okazaki.

"The decor here is pretty nice!"

Yoimiya glanced around the private room, nodding in approval. She rarely came to Uyuu Restaurant since her home in Hanamizaka was quite far from here.

"Well, it's one of the famous restaurants in Inazuma, so it's no surprise the decor is good!"

Liam laughed as he looked at Yoimiya.

"By the way, do you know why I wanted a private room?"

Liam asked Yoimiya.

Yoimiya shook her head.

"Ayaka must have already come to see you about the Vision Hunt Decree, right?"

Hearing this, Yoimiya's expression changed, showing a bit of panic before she tried to act calm.

"Haha! What are you talking about, Liam? Why would Ayaka, the eldest daughter of the Yashiro Commission, need to see me?"

Seeing Yoimiya's reaction, Liam couldn't help but laugh.

"Haha! Didn't Ayaka tell you I'm one of their allies? I'm the one who issued the order for voluntary surrender of Visions from the Tenryou Commission!"

"Huh!?"

Yoimiya was stunned by Liam's words. She hadn't expected him to reveal that he was a double agent for their side.

"Liam, you're against the Vision Hunt Decree too?"

Yoimiya asked.

"Of course, I was the one who suggested creating counterfeit Visions!"

Liam took a sip of tea and spoke leisurely.

"So it was you! I asked Ayaka, but she wouldn't tell me!"

Yoimiya recalled Ayaka's secretive behavior and finally understood.

"Don't blame Ayaka. The fewer people who know about this, the better."

Liam's words were true, but he was thinking,

"Previously, it was to avoid being discovered by the Shogun, but now, both Ei and the Shogun are on our side. Now it's the other side that needs to be careful!"

"Hehe, I wasn't really blaming Ayaka! I was just curious back then."

Yoimiya laughed.

"So, how are things going? Is everything progressing smoothly?"

Liam asked Yoimiya.

"It's going well. Master Shousei in Hanamizaka is the craftsman, and he can make what you need!"

Yoimiya nodded and briefly explained the production of the counterfeit Visions.

After hearing Yoimiya's report, Liam nodded. He remembered that in the game, the craftsman who made the counterfeit Visions was indeed named Shousei.

"Alright, make sure to keep this matter confidential. Only give the counterfeit Visions to trustworthy people! And protect Master Shousei well! If you need any help, come to the Tenshukaku to find me!"

Liam advised Yoimiya. Removing the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions from power was simple, but he needed solid evidence to do so to avoid causing unrest...

The Vision Hunt Decree provided a great opportunity. As for the Fatui, he also needed a reason to eliminate them all. Accusing them of attacking the Shogun's disciple would be a good excuse. Hopefully, the Fatui would be bold enough!

As Liam was thinking about how to deal with the Fatui, the food was served. Looking at the table full of delicious dishes, Liam decided to set aside his concerns for now. As a foodie, nothing was more important than filling his stomach!

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Naganohara Yoimiya

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