At this moment, Lumine was hiding behind the Miss Hina billboard at Yae Publishing House.
Kamisato Ayaka, meanwhile, was crouched behind Lumine.
She held her folding fan up to her face, revealing only her flushed eyes.
When she first spotted Lin Mo charging toward the Pure Land of Eternity, Ayaka had been overjoyed.
The Lin Mo she had missed so dearly had finally returned from his journey with no set end.
But after seeing him leave the Pure Land alongside Ei, Saiguu, Miko, and Chiyo, her confidence in reuniting with him evaporated.
As the young lady of the Kamisato Clan, she was well-versed in history.
The oni girl who bore a child for the Tengu General.
The revered Shrine Maiden, Lady Saiguu, who harbored deep affections for him.
The god who, in rage over the Tengu General's sacrifice, split an island in two and slew a demon god.
Throughout Inazuma, poems passed down through the ages and songs chanted for a thousand years all celebrated that black-winged Tengu General.
This made Ayaka hesitate to reveal herself to Lin Mo.
After all, how could she let anyone know that the exalted Lord Sasayuri had once worked for the Kamisato Clan of Inazuma?
If the Raiden Shogun found out.
If the oni ancestor Chiyo learned of it.
If the shrine's Lady Saiguu discovered it.
That the one they served as a god had once served her.
How would they view the Kamisato Clan then?
Just as Ayaka was suppressing her urge to reunite and lost in chaotic thoughts, Lin Mo slowly rose from the stone bench beneath the scarlet cherry tree.
"What... what is he doing? Why is he coming this way?"
Ayaka felt a sudden wave of inexplicable tension.
Her heart raced to its limit.
Lin Mo's steps drew the attention of the others, who had been reading quietly.
Under everyone's gaze, he walked up to Ayaka and stood there, quietly watching her flustered, reddened eyes.
"Miss, I'm back." His warm smile.
His gentle words.
In an instant, tears flooded Ayaka's eyes like a bursting dam.
"Mr. Lin Mo..."
With tears streaming down her face, Ayaka lowered the fan that had been covering her features.
She bowed slightly to him. "Kamisato Ayaka of Inazuma's Yashiro Commission Kamisato Clan greets Lord Sasayuri." Her voice trembled with polite deference.
This immediately made Lin Mo frown in dissatisfaction.
He couldn't help but raise his hand and flick her forehead lightly.
"Ah~"
Ayaka clutched her head in surprise.
Her expression mixed grievance and embarrassment.
Those resentful eyes seemed to accuse him: Why did you flick my head?
"After all this time waiting for our reunion, and you're treating me like some distant celestial being? What, don't you miss me?" Lin Mo teased with a mischievous grin, pinching her cheek.
Ayaka's eyes grew even more aggrieved.
But... for some reason, her heart felt warm and fuzzy.
"Sasayuri, who is this...?"
At that moment, Ei approached slowly.
Naturally, Miko, Saiguu, and Chiyo followed.
"Hm, let me introduce her to everyone."
Lin Mo turned, smiling. "This is the head of Inazuma's prestigious Kamisato Clan, Miss Kamisato Ayaka. I once served under her as her household steward."
Ayaka's gaze flickered with panic.
She hadn't expected Lin Mo to so casually reveal his service to the Kamisato Clan.
"Just... a steward?"
Saiguu's eyes sharpened noticeably.
She had clearly sensed something more between them.
"Ahem, of course, we weren't just master and servant."
As he spoke, Lin Mo gently ruffled Ayaka's hair.
The gesture threw Ayaka into complete disarray.
Lin Mo smiled at the group. "Over those years we spent together, Miss and I developed feelings for each other. We're not lovers, but something even deeper than that."
"Not lovers... but deeper than lovers..."
Those words echoed in Ayaka's mind, filling her heart with indescribable sweetness.
"Sasayuri..."
Saiguu's eyes flashed with resentment once more.
How dare he say "not lovers, but deeper than lovers" right in front of her?
Nearby, Ei seemed thoughtful, murmuring to herself, "Hm... so you're quite similar to the male lead in this light novel."
"Hm? Similar how?"
Lin Mo blinked in confusion.
Ayaka, equally curious, glanced at the light novel in Ei's hands.
"The similarity is that you both have a knack for attracting admirers."
As Ei spoke, her gaze lingered on Lin Mo, hesitant. "In the book's terms, your behavior, Sasayuri... would qualify you as a 'heartbreaker,' wouldn't it?"
"A heartbreaker? Does the book have a crime like that?" Lin Mo asked, intrigued.
Ei nodded.
She looked at him seriously. "I've decided—I want to borrow from this novel and add a similar law in Inazuma."
"I second that!!"
Saiguu was the first to raise her hand, smirking at Lin Mo. "Let's see if you'll dare play the field after this!"
"Uh... I wouldn't call this playing the field..."
Lin Mo looked a bit troubled.
He turned to Ei, puzzled. "What punishment does this law have for heartbreakers?"
"Since it's a crime, there must be a punishment."
Ei nodded as if it were obvious.
"Wh-what kind of punishment?" Lin Mo had a bad feeling.
"Give me a moment; let me check the book's description of this offense." Ei lowered her head, her slender fingers flipping through the novel.
Soon, she found the relevant passage.
"For the heinous act of a heartbreaker who 'loves but takes no responsibility,' harming countless innocent maidens' hearts."
"For such egregious offenders."
"A severe penalty must be imposed."
By now, Ayaka was nervously clutching Lin Mo's arm, her beautiful eyes filled with worry. "What... what kind of penalty?"
Ei glanced at Ayaka and stated solemnly, "The penalty for a heartbreaker is as follows: He must marry the maiden whose heart he has captured and take full responsibility for her body, emotions, and family."
"Huh!?"
Lin Mo: ???
"Ei, what did you just say? Penalty?" Lin Mo double-checked.
"Yes, penalty."
Ei nodded, her expression grave. "Starting today, I plan to enact this law in Inazuma, effective immediately."
"Yay!"
Nearby, Mikoshi Chiyo jumped up in delight.
In the next instant, she rushed to Lin Mo's side, grabbing his other arm. With a pitiful, pleading look at Ei, she said:
"Lady Ei~"
"Chiyo has also had her heart captured by Lord Sasayuri!"
"We must! Right now! Immediately~!"
"Impose a severe penalty on Lord Sasayuri for his heinous act of 'loving without responsibility'!"
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T/N:
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