Chapter 31

The location for the duel before the throne was set at the training grounds of Tenshukaku.

Contrary to Bai Luo's expectations, this duel was only open to a select few high-ranking officials of Inazuma, and no civilians were allowed to attend. This forced Bai Luo to abandon his plan of causing chaos during the event.

However, the Raiden Shogun herself would be in attendance.

Speaking of which, although Bai Luo had come to Inazuma as an envoy from Snezhnaya, he had yet to meet the Raiden Shogun.

Part of the reason was that he didn't want to see her, but it also seemed that the Raiden Shogun, who resided in Tenshukaku, had no intention of meeting him either.

She had delegated the task of receiving envoys to the three commissions under her command.

Logically, the Yashiro Commission, responsible for cultural affairs, would be the most suitable for receiving envoys. However, Kujou Takayuki of the Tenryou Commission had volunteered to take on this task.

This was mainly because the Yashiro Commission had not yet been infiltrated by the Fatui, and there were concerns about potential mishaps.

As an envoy of the Fatui, Bai Luo had also received an invitation from Inazuma.

While it was framed as an invitation to witness the highest level of dueling in Inazuma, it was actually an attempt to showcase Inazuma's strength to him.

However, Bai Luo declined, citing illness as the reason.

If he wanted to stir up trouble, he couldn't appear at the scene directly. Otherwise, it wouldn't be the situation that got stirred up—it would be him.

To be safe, he even prepared a set of traditional Inazuman clothing and a cat-faced mask he bought from the streets.

When not attacking, he could rely on his skills to remain invisible, but in this situation... there was no guarantee what might happen.

What if the Raiden Shogun could see through his invisibility?

It was necessary to be fully prepared.

The duel before the throne was scheduled to begin at noon, but the young man arrived at Tenshukaku before dawn.

He sat on the steps next to the training grounds, playing with his cat while eating a cold rice ball.

The Shogunate soldiers preparing for the duel noticed him, but considering his special status, they didn't chase him away.

"Hey, the duel before the throne doesn't start until noon. You're a bit too eager, aren't you?"

Shimamoto Masayoshi, the samurai in charge of security at the scene, brought over a bowl of hot tea and handed it to him.

"This might be the only chance in my life to enter Tenshukaku, so of course I want to take a good look around."

After accepting the tea, the young man thanked him and replied in a half-joking tone.

"I've been guarding Tenshukaku for decades now. To say something that might be considered disrespectful... it's really not that special."

Sitting down next to the young man, Shimamoto Masayoshi gazed at the Tenshukaku he had guarded his entire life and sighed.

As the most prestigious place in all of Inazuma, Tenshukaku's grounds alone were nearly as large as the entire market district of Inazuma City.

In fact, half of Inazuma City was occupied by Tenshukaku.

The roof tiles adorned with lightning patterns and the golden sculptures on the rooftops gave Tenshukaku a sense of grandeur mixed with an air of solemnity.

It was a place that the people of Inazuma both revered and feared.

"I know why you initiated this duel before the throne, but young man, your thinking is a bit too extreme."

"Uncle, I think you've misunderstood. The reason I initiated this duel is simply to witness the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi."

As for why he had initiated the duel before the throne, several versions of the story had already spread in just one night.

One version claimed that he and Kujou Sara were childhood friends, but she had found a new lover, prompting him to challenge her to a duel in a fit of rage.

Another version suggested that his family had been harmed by the Vision Hunt Decree, and he was seeking revenge against Kujou Sara.

But at some point, a third version began circulating among the people.

He had initiated the duel to resist the Vision Hunt Decree.

And this was the version that gained the most traction.

Even many within the three commissions found this explanation convincing.

"Sigh... if you need any help, you can come to me. You still have half a day left."

Shimamoto Masayoshi didn't take his words seriously. He patted the young man on the shoulder and stood up to continue his security duties.

No one believed he could survive the duel before the throne.

That's right—survive.

Perhaps he could win, but no matter what, he wouldn't be allowed to leave Inazuma City alive.

Even if the Raiden Shogun spared him, the three commissions would never let him live.

"Half a day, huh?"

Chewing on a blade of grass he was using to play with his cat, the young man looked up at the blue sky.

"Still feels like a long time..."

The white cat in his arms, unaware of its owner's unease, continued swiping its paws, trying to catch the blade of grass.

As time passed, representatives from the three commissions began to arrive.

Hiiragi Shinsuke, the head of the Hiiragi Clan; Kujou Takayuki, the head of the Kujou Clan; and Ayato, the head of the Kamisato Clan, all arrived at the scene.

Thoma was still in Ritou and hadn't returned, so a regular servant accompanied Ayato instead.

Looking at the young man sitting on the steps playing with his cat, Ayato wore a faint smile.

Unlike the other two clan heads, he didn't approach to mock or taunt the young man. Instead, he took his seat and waited for the duel to begin.

After some time, the gates of Tenshukaku opened, and the Okuzumeshuu filed out.

The three clan heads, who had been chatting and laughing, immediately stood up.

The Okuzumeshuu were the Raiden Shogun's personal guards. They only took direct orders from the Shogun, and their purpose was to ensure that she always had a force she could trust and command unconditionally.

However, it was worth noting that although they were her personal guards, the Raiden Shogun, who pursued the pinnacle of martial arts, didn't need protection from mortals. The Okuzumeshuu were more focused on preventing civilians from trespassing into restricted areas, avoiding unnecessary trouble.

But wherever the Okuzumeshuu appeared, it signaled the imminent arrival of the Raiden Shogun.

"Tap... tap..."

Everyone stared at the gates of Tenshukaku, not daring to make a sound.

In the quiet training grounds, apart from the sound of the wind, the only noise was the faint footsteps coming from within Tenshukaku.

The sound was soft, but it carried a peculiar rhythm.

This rhythm seemed to synchronize with the heartbeat of everyone present.

One step, two steps...

The footsteps felt as though they were stepping on the hearts of those present. Some of the newer soldiers even began to pale, their legs trembling uncontrollably.

This was the aura of the Raiden Shogun—subduing others before she even appeared.

The first to emerge from Tenshukaku was not the Raiden Shogun.

It was Kujou Sara, who had been waiting in Tenshukaku since the previous night.

She had changed into a martial outfit and was holding a katana.

Although she was renowned in Inazuma for her archery skills, her swordsmanship was also exceptional.

In addition to her training in the military, the Raiden Shogun herself had personally instructed her.

This was Teyvat, not some game.

Here, anything was possible.

For example, Klee wielding Wolf's Gravestone, Ayaka wielding the Unforged, or Diluc carrying Kaeya.

So Kujou Sara wielding a katana wasn't all that strange.

After stepping out, Kujou Sara moved aside and bowed respectfully.

"All hail the arrival of the Shogun!"