Chapter 196

"Huh? A mission? I can play with bombs all I want?" Klee's eyes widened in delight as she hugged Murata Himeko tightly, shouting excitedly, "Yay! Klee gets to go on a mission! Big Sister Himeko is the best!"

"..." Jean glanced at Himeko and hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Himeko, isn't it a bit much to spoil Klee like this...? Her bombs are extremely powerful..."

"Oh, come now, she's just a child. Keeping her restrained all the time isn't good either." Himeko waved dismissively and explained with a smile, "Lately, the monsters have been unusually active. Little Klee and I will head out to clear some of the wild monsters. We'll be helping the people, and she'll have fun too—it's a win-win situation, isn't it?"

"Perhaps that's for the best..." Jean nodded reluctantly, still somewhat worried. She turned to Klee and warned, "Little Klee, you absolutely must not set any mountains on fire!"

Jean knew very well how powerful Murata Himeko was—stronger than most ordinary Archons—so she didn't worry much about Klee's safety. After all, Klee herself was one of their strongest combatants as the Spark Knight.

"Understood, Acting Grand Master Jean!" Klee chirped happily, "If mountains burn, Klee gets grounded! Klee remembers this very clearly!"

"Oh, right. This courtyard has been damaged. Jean, why don't you and Lisa head over to the Tenryou Commission later and have them arrange another place for you?" Himeko suggested.

"Alright." Jean nodded in agreement. "Be careful out there."

"Don't worry. I'll take little Klee to eliminate those monsters now." Himeko gently set Klee down.

Klee eagerly grabbed Himeko's hand, pointing forward enthusiastically and cheering, "Spark Knight! Move out!"

"Move out!" Himeko laughed, taking Klee along as they left.

"Take your time..." Jean called after the pair, still somewhat anxious as she watched them run off.

"Relax, Jean," Lisa comforted gently. "You know how strong Himeko is. Klee's still young; she won't cause too much trouble under Himeko's watch. Besides, keeping her restrained all the time isn't healthy either."

"Yes, you're right. With Himeko around, Klee will be safe." Jean nodded, reassured.

"Good. Now, let's go talk to the Tenryou Commission about switching our courtyard." Lisa smiled as she looped her arm through Jean's, and the two walked away together.

...

At the Grand Narukami Shrine, in Akio's room—

As evening approached and the sky darkened, Sangonomiya Kokomi slowly opened her eyes, still groggy.

Seeing her unfamiliar surroundings, she immediately snapped awake and quickly sat up.

"Awake now?" Akio was sitting nearby, leisurely flipping through a light novel.

"Lord Akio!" Kokomi hurriedly climbed out of bed and stood nervously by his side.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Akio. I've overstepped my bounds..." Kokomi apologized cautiously.

"No need to be so nervous. I'm not an unreasonable person." Akio waved his hand casually and gestured toward the chair next to him. "Sit. There are some things I'd like to discuss with you."

Kokomi pressed her lips together and carefully sat down on the chair beside him.

"The world in novels really is perfect, rather appealing indeed." Akio closed the book and looked thoughtfully at Kokomi, who appeared restless.

"Kokomi, let me ask you something. What exactly were you all thinking?" Akio questioned calmly. "When you raised your banner of rebellion, did you ever consider the consequences?"

"..." Kokomi trembled slightly, opening her mouth but unable to speak, her expression pitiful.

"There's no need to be so tense; we're merely chatting. No matter what you say, I won't blame you," Akio reassured her gently.

"Lord Akio... Actually, I once tried to request an audience with the Shogun, but... our petitions never even reached her." Kokomi steadied her emotions and sighed softly.

"So you chose rebellion instead?" Akio asked, watching her carefully.

"We had no other choice," Kokomi replied quietly, closing her eyes as if bracing for his anger.

But Akio didn't get angry. He simply continued calmly, "Did you ever consider the consequences?"

"If you lost, the entire Watatsumi Island would be forcibly taken over by the Shogunate, stripping away even your last shred of autonomy."

"And even if you managed to defeat the Shogunate and confront the Shogun herself, do you honestly think you'd stand any chance?" Akio shook his head slightly. "You must know that even Orobashi was slain by the Shogun with a single strike. You stand no chance against her."

"Perhaps Watatsumi Island would have been wiped out by a single slash?"

"Did you really think that reaching Tenshukaku would mean you could meet the Shogun and tell her of your suffering?" Akio asked with a slight smile.

"Isn't that the case? It was our only path to survival," Kokomi shook her head bitterly.

"How naive," Akio chuckled softly. "You don't understand the Shogun at all. At that time, she valued only Inazuma's eternity. To her, you were nothing but threats disrupting that eternity."

"If the Shogun had learned of your rebellion, she would have shown you no mercy." Akio continued quietly, "So, win or lose, without outside interference, your future... no, you wouldn't even have a future."

He wasn't joking. At that time, the Shogun was merely a rigid puppet, fixated solely on eternity for Inazuma. Watatsumi Island's rebellion was a direct threat to that vision. Without Lumine's intervention, Watatsumi had no chance of victory, nor would the puppet Shogun have listened to their grievances.

Hearing Akio's words, Kokomi clenched her fists tightly, voice trembling slightly as she whispered, "Then... then do we truly have no way out? Just because we're weak, we deserve oppression and exploitation? Are we supposed to simply await our deaths?"

"You're right." Akio smiled faintly. "Weakness itself is a sin."

"Kokomi, surely you're familiar with that phrase?" Akio mercilessly pressed further. "You have no god protecting you. Orobashi once tried to challenge the Shogun and was slain instantly. But have you ever considered that perhaps the Shogun has been protecting you all along?"

"Inazuma is the nation closest to the Dark Sea, plagued by countless powerful monsters. Ever wondered how your godless Watatsumi Island, without even a proper fighting force, managed to survive amidst constant attacks from those monsters?"

"Don't tell me it was merely the result of your people's struggle and perseverance," Akio stated flatly. "Some monsters are so powerful even Yae Miko struggles against them, and only divine intervention can repel such threats."

"You don't really believe mere human determination can keep those monsters at bay, do you?" Akio teasingly tilted Kokomi's chin upward.

"However..." Akio softened his tone slightly, "Even ants have the right to gaze at the stars. Though raising a banner of rebellion against a god is foolish, I must admit—I admire your courage."

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