Chapter 40

Leaving aside the missing Kaedehara Kazuha, Bai Luo's life was becoming more and more comfortable.

With the release of the second volume of My Raiden Shogun Can't Be This Cute, the atmosphere in Inazuma City, which had been somewhat heavy due to the Battousai incident, was reignited.

No one had expected that this masterpiece would have a second volume.

Moreover, with the introduction of new characters, such as the White Heron Lady, who hid her noble identity and revealed a different side of herself, and the mysterious beauty who went by the pen name "Deep-Sea Tongue Flounder," the story became even more captivating.

Some people also began to notice certain details.

For example...

Gorou.

As a general of the Watatsumi Army, he possessed an innate combat intuition and indomitable will akin to that of a beast.

The Watatsumi Army's ability to stand toe-to-toe with the Shogunate forces despite being at a disadvantage in terms of resources and equipment was largely due to Gorou's efforts, second only to Sangonomiya Kokomi's strategies.

If Kujou Sara, the current general of the Tenryou Commission, was a ruthless and iron-fisted figure, then Gorou was the complete opposite.

It might be hard for outsiders to imagine, but the Gorou who stood firm against thousands on the battlefield was, in private, like a caring older brother who got along well with every one of his subordinates.

If there was one flaw he had... it might be his occasional lack of composure.

War was brutal, and compared to seasoned veterans who had been through decades of battles, Gorou's battlefield experience was somewhat lacking. Sometimes, he would get carried away by his emotions and make less-than-rational decisions.

However, in his battles against the Shogunate forces, he was gradually overcoming this weakness.

Rushing back from the front lines, his expression was not good.

An important figure in their army had gone missing.

There were many rumors about Kaedehara Kazuha, but some of them had hit the mark.

During the battle at Nazuchi Beach, the ship Kaedehara Kazuha was on had been targeted and ultimately sunk.

Although Gorou had sent skilled swimmers to rescue him after the battle, based on their reports, it seemed he had drifted out to sea with the wreckage.

The land of Inazuma was surrounded by endless thunderstorms.

If he had been swept into the storm by the waves, there was no way he could have survived.

Due to the impact of the duel before the throne, Kaedehara Kazuha held a special significance, and Gorou felt it was necessary to report this matter to Lady Sangonomiya.

However...

Seeing Sangonomiya Kokomi sitting at her desk, lost in thought, Gorou wasn't sure if he should disturb her.

His eyes casually glanced at the book on her desk.

Unlike the military strategy books she usually favored, this one looked more like a light novel from Yae Publishing House.

"Isn't this..."

With just a glance, he recognized the book.

Unlike Inazuma City, as a hostile force, even though some bold individuals from Inazuma occasionally traded with them, the transactions were limited to miscellaneous goods and food.

Light novels were definitely not part of the trade.

So this novel was the only legitimate copy on Watatsumi Island.

But Watatsumi Island had its own ways of dealing with this.

Although Yae Publishing House strictly prohibited unauthorized handwritten copies of light novels, Inazuma's laws clearly didn't apply to Watatsumi Island.

Thus, handwritten copies of this book were also extremely popular on Watatsumi Island.

Even paper merchants were making a fortune.

If it weren't for Sangonomiya Kokomi's order to prevent price gouging, he would have shown the world what it meant for paper to become as expensive as gold.

"Gorou, you're back."

Gorou's reaction snapped Sangonomiya Kokomi out of her reverie.

She discreetly put away the light novel and regained her usual confident and elegant demeanor.

"Lady Sangonomiya, I apologize for my incompetence. I was unable to rescue Mr. Kaedehara."

As Gorou spoke these words, his ears drooped slightly.

He genuinely respected Kaedehara Kazuha.

Everyone had witnessed the contributions Kaedehara Kazuha had made to the resistance. His disappearance was a significant blow to Gorou.

"About Mr. Kaedehara, you don't need to worry. He has already been rescued."

In fact, after the Crux Fleet rescued Kaedehara Kazuha, they had contacted Watatsumi Island using a special method.

Sangonomiya Kokomi had originally planned to send someone to inform Gorou, but she hadn't expected him to return so soon.

"Where is he now?"

This was perhaps one of the few pieces of good news recently. Gorou's earlier disappointment was swept away.

Next time, he wouldn't dare to assign Kaedehara Kazuha to such dangerous missions.

"He's in a very safe place now."

Looking up, Sangonomiya Kokomi gazed in the direction of Liyue.

She had already spoken with him. Since he preferred to stay with that fleet, she didn't force him to return.

As she had promised him, the resistance would always welcome him, and if he chose to leave, she wouldn't stop him.

"...I understand."

The resistance couldn't keep him. Gorou knew this better than anyone.

Kaedehara Kazuha was like a free-spirited wind. He might linger over a falling leaf, but he would never stay in one place for long.

"Alright, parting is just for the next reunion. His roots are in the land of Inazuma. As long as the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree remain in place, he will eventually return."

Sangonomiya Kokomi comforted him while casually picking up a small box nearby.

She had prepared many such boxes, each containing carefully written strategies.

Gorou would know how to use them.

After sending Gorou away, Sangonomiya Kokomi's gaze returned to the light novel she had placed beside her.

As a fan of light novels, when she first read this book, she immediately labeled it a masterpiece.

It even surpassed The Autumn Sword Chronicles in her esteem.

Moreover... she sensed something extraordinary about this novel.

The seemingly fictional plotlines subtly intertwined with reality.

From this book, she had gleaned a lot of useful intelligence.

And this intelligence had quickly been proven accurate.

So when the second volume was released, she specifically ordered her subordinates to risk their lives to purchase a copy from Yae Publishing House.

At first glance, it shocked her deeply.

"Deep-Sea Tongue Flounder..."

That was her pen name!

As the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island and the current leader of Watatsumi Island, she had her own little secrets.

For example, she enjoyed reading light novels.

Sometimes, she would submit manuscripts to Yae Publishing House or correspond with fellow enthusiasts.

Naturally, she couldn't use her real name in those letters, so "Deep-Sea Tongue Flounder" became her pen name.

But this was something no one else in Watatsumi Island—no, in all of Inazuma—should have known.

So how did this guy know her pen name and seem so familiar with her?