"Huh? Me and Sara?"
Lin Mo paused for a moment, then chuckled. "The story between her and me is a long one. This isn't the time to get into it—I'll tell you all about it after the duel."
"A long... story."
In that instant, Ayaka felt a tremor in her chest.
The high-spirited determination that had burned in her eyes on the way here dimmed, replaced by a quiet despondency.
"I see," she murmured, nodding faintly.
She turned and walked toward the training grounds, her steps heavy and listless.
"Miss Kamisato, where's your weapon?" Kujou Sara asked coolly.
"My weapon..."
Only then did Ayaka draw the Amenoma Kageuchi from her waist.
Seeing her opponent armed, Sara glanced sidelong at the head of the Kujou Clan, Kujou Takayuki.
Takayuki shot her a cold glare. "If you're holding back like before, I'll treat it as a joke. Sara, you must take this duel seriously!"
Sara didn't respond. Instead, she turned her gaze to Ayaka, who stood there with a distant, downcast expression, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Takayuki's irritation flared, but he held his tongue. After all, Sara was one of Inazuma's finest warriors. Even if she went easy, the pampered young lady from the Kamisato Clan stood no chance.
"Fine..."
"I declare the duel begun!"
With Takayuki's announcement, Sara didn't move immediately. She watched Ayaka, who remained motionless, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
At that moment—
"Miss! What are you doing?!"
Lin Mo's sharp shout echoed across the training grounds.
The haze clouding Ayaka's thoughts shattered, pulling her back to reality.
"That's right..."
"Mr. Lin has taken care of me for so long..."
"I can't disappoint him at a time like this."
A spark of resolve ignited in her melancholic gaze.
Gripping the Amenoma Kageuchi, she faced Sara and bowed respectfully. "Kamisato Art: Sougen!"
"Ayaka Kamisato, at your service!"
The battle that followed defied everyone's expectations.
The frail-seeming heiress of the Kamisato Clan erupted with astonishing prowess.
Bolts of thundering arrows streaked toward her, but under the frost-imbued blade, they shattered one by one.
Sara's renowned archery, her claim to fame, failed to land a single hit on Ayaka.
Just as Sara prepared to leverage her aerial advantage for a drawn-out fight—
"Kamisato Art—"
"Soumetsu!"
The training grounds froze over in an instant.
A howling blizzard of ice surged forward, engulfing everything in its path.
When the storm cleared, Sara was left kneeling on the ground, her breaths ragged and weak.
"I... lost..."
The air fell deathly silent.
Ayaka turned, her face alight with joy, eager to see Lin Mo's expression.
But instead, she saw...
Lin Mo hurrying onto the grounds, his eyes filled with concern as he reached Sara's side.
"Sara, how bad is it?" he asked, worried.
"I'm... fine. I'll recover with some rest."
Sara's voice was faint.
Lin Mo nodded earnestly. "The miss had her first real combat experience—she went a bit too hard. I apologize on her behalf."
"Such exquisite skill..."
Sara managed a bitter smile. "It must be thanks to your guidance, right?"
Lin Mo didn't answer. He couldn't admit here and now that Ayaka's abilities came from an outsider like him, tied to the Kamisato Clan.
Then, Sara added with a wry grin, "She seems off. You should go check on her..."
"Hm?"
Lin Mo turned.
Ayaka had vanished from the training grounds without a trace.
"I'll find her. You focus on recovering," Lin Mo said quickly, before rushing out.
But...
He couldn't spot Ayaka anywhere in Inazuma City.
Only after asking passersby did he learn she'd left the city alone, heading back to the Kamisato Estate.
Lin Mo understood.
It must be the unclear relationship between him and Sara that had sparked her misunderstanding.
Worse, he'd checked on the injured Sara first instead of congratulating her, stirring up her emotions.
His priority now was to find Ayaka, explain everything, and clear the air.
But just as he stepped out of the city gates—
[Ding! Eighty-ninth life's mission "Help the Kamisato Clan of Inazuma Overcome Internal and External Crises" complete.]
[Initiating your ninetieth reincarnation...]
"System! Wait!!!"
Lin Mo roared in his mind.
[Eh? What's wrong?]
"Give me some time! I need to explain things to Ayaka!"
[Hm... Did you two have a misunderstanding?]
[Fine, considering how diligently you've completed so many missions.]
[Alright, I can give you a month at most.]
The system fell silent after that.
Without hesitation, Lin Mo headed straight for the Yashiro Commission headquarters.
Sure enough, Ayaka was in her room—but the door was firmly shut.
"Miss? Miss, listen to me—it's a misunderstanding."
"I've known Sara for a long time." "I... owe her a lot."
At that, a puzzled voice finally came from inside.
"Owe her?"
"Yes!"
Lin Mo explained hurriedly:
"We met over a decade ago."
"I happened upon young Sara in the mountains, attacked by corrupted monsters."
"She survived thanks to her strong will to live, awakening her Vision. But she was still gravely injured."
"So I cared for her for quite a while."
"Then I brought her to Inazuma City, to serve the Shogun." "But that was the worst decision I ever made." "She used to be such a cheerful child."
"But... her Vision caught Takayuki's eye." "That's why the Kujou Clan adopted her, subjecting her to harsh training." "It stripped away her innocence, turning her into the aloof person she is now."
"I feel like I owe her for that." "That's why earlier I..."
Lin Mo figured that by explaining this far, Ayaka would understand his predicament.
"Alright, I understand."
"Steward, you can go now. I want to rest."
Ayaka's voice was cool, lacking its usual warmth.
Hearing that, Lin Mo knew the misunderstanding was cleared.
But she was still upset with him, wasn't she?
He could only shake his head helplessly and return to his room.
For the next half-month, Ayaka didn't seek him out once.
It was like a young girl throwing a tantrum in her first romance, declaring a temporary rift.
Lin Mo didn't have time to coax her.
After all, his time was running out.
During those days, he focused on training Thoma, imparting the essentials of being a steward.
In simple terms, Lin Mo was preparing Thoma to take over for the sake of the Kamisato Clan.
Meanwhile, Ayaka was kept busy.
That duel had spread her fame throughout Inazuma City.
Word got out that the prestigious Kamisato Clan had a worthy successor.
Not just Ayato, who had earned merits abroad.
But within the city, there was Ayaka—the refined young lady skilled in the arts, and now proven in combat.
As a result, for the past half-month, Ayaka basked in the respect of Inazuma's people.
Every time she stepped out, someone would bow and greet her as "Miss Kamisato" or "Lady Ayaka."
But this scene she'd once dreamed of brought her no joy now.
Because she knew.
The title of "Egret Princess," and the people's admiration.
It didn't belong to her alone.
It also belonged to Lin Mo, the man who'd been by her side since childhood, guiding her to this point.
He was the one who'd entered her tragic early years, freeing her from a caged bird's life and raising her into the soaring eagle she was today.
"Why hasn't Mr. Lin come to see me in half a month..."
"He's the one who messed up..."
Ayaka felt a pang of grievance.
Lowering her head first would feel so undignified...
But... she couldn't help murmuring to herself:
"So many people respect me because I'm the Egret Princess..."
"Because I'm the heiress of the Yashiro Commission's Kamisato Clan..."
"I know they're honoring my status." "It has nothing to do with who Ayaka really is."
"So I think..."
"The one who can truly get close to me..."
"Is only you."
"Mr. Lin..."
Ayaka made up her mind.
What did a little dignity matter?
She couldn't keep up this childish standoff forever.
So she wrapped up her work quickly, eager to find Lin Mo and reconcile.
But just then, he appeared at her office door.
"Miss," Lin Mo said with a bitter smile.
"You... why are you here..."
Ayaka wasn't prepared, her composure faltering.
"Mm... I came because there's something I need to tell you."
Lin Mo spoke calmly.
"Perfect—I have something for you too."
Ayaka smiled shyly. "Why don't you go first~"
She assumed, delightedly, that he was here to make amends.
But the words that followed were...
"Miss, I told you a long time ago." "I have a journey I can't avoid."
"Today, the time has come. I... have to go."
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T/N:
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