Grand Narukami Shrine.
As the largest shrine in Inazuma and the one that worships the Electro Archon, there are two fox statues at the entrance of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
The layout of the Grand Narukami Shrine follows a standard design, with a main hall in the center and two side halls on the left and right; it is the typical layout for a shrine.
"Are you looking for Lady Guuji Yae?"
"I am a shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Inagi Hotomi." At that moment, a Lady dressed in shrine maiden attire was pacing in the courtyard of the Grand Narukami Shrine. Upon seeing Raiden Makoto and Sayu approach, she immediately walked over.
"Hello."
"Lady Guuji Yae is not in the shrine right now, but she should be back in a while."
"If you really need to see Lady Guuji Yae, you will have to wait for a bit." Inagi Hotomi's tone was very peaceful, and a smile appeared on her face.
"Mm."
After arriving at the Grand Narukami Shrine, Raiden Makoto had been observing it. The appearance of the Grand Narukami Shrine seemed somewhat familiar to her, as if she had been there before.
The Grand Narukami Shrine was shrouded by the massive sacred sakura tree, which also gave Raiden Makoto a sense of familiarity. Just now, when she was at Sanka, images had flashed through her mind that seemed to include the sacred sakura tree, but now those images had become blurred, and she was somewhat uncertain.
"Sister?"
"Regarding that tree, Sayu, how much do you know about it?"
"You mean the sacred sakura tree? I don't know much, but the shrine maiden sister surely knows a lot."
"The sacred sakura tree has existed ever since Inazuma appeared. Its cherry blossoms bloom and never Decay, much like the pursuit of the Lord of the Watatsumi—reaching toward eternity." Inagi Hotomi said with a smile.
Around the main hall was a pool of clear water where goldfish were swimming happily, and many cherry blossom petals floated on the surface.
"Miss Inagi, roughly when will Lady Guuji Yae return?" It was currently noon; if Yae Miko returned late, they might have to spend the night at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Still, the Grand Narukami Shrine must be quite beautiful at night.
"Lady Guuji Yae will likely return in the evening," Inagi Hotomi said thoughtfully. "However, Miss, you look very similar to the Lord of the Watatsumi."
Raiden Makoto naturally knew who the Lord of the Watatsumi the shrine maiden spoke of was—that would be the Narukami Ogosho, who is also the Electro Archon.
As a shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Inagi Hotomi had certainly seen the Raiden Shogun before because of the relationship between Yae Miko and the Raiden Shogun. It was precisely because she had seen the Raiden Shogun that she only felt Raiden Makoto looked similar to the Raiden Shogun, rather than thinking Raiden Makoto was the Raiden Shogun herself.
"People often say that, but why don't you take me for the Raiden Shogun, Miss Inagi?"
"Although you, Miss Makoto, look very similar to the Lord of the Watatsumi, I have seen the Lord of the Watatsumi up close, and there are still subtle differences between her and you. Besides, the Lord of the Watatsumi has always been inside Tenshukaku, so how could you be the Lord of the Watatsumi?" Inagi Hotomi had a gentle smile as she quietly looked at Raiden Makoto.
"However... for there to be two such similar people in this world... if I didn't know there was only one Lord of the Watatsumi, I really would have taken you for her."
"Hotomi, what are you talking to them about?" As a gentle and mature female voice came from behind, Inagi Hotomi quickly bowed.
"Lady Guuji Yae!"
When Raiden Makoto and Sayu turned around together, she also saw the true face of Lady Guuji Yae.
Yae Miko had long pink hair and deep purple eyes. She wore her Vision hanging by her ear, and the hair on both sides looked somewhat like fox ears.
Yae Sakura? Although Raiden Makoto didn't know too much about the world of Genshin Impacts, she knew quite a bit about Honkai. Yae Miko and Yae Sakura were practically identical in spirit.
Of course, the differences were significant; it was merely a resemblance in spirit.
Yae Miko naturally recognized Sayu beside Raiden Makoto, but she had never seen the Raiden Makoto next to Sayu before. However, Raiden Makoto's appearance made Yae Miko's eyes widen.
She saw... Ei? But in the next second, Yae Miko dismissed the thought. How could Raiden Makoto be Ei? Ei was still in that place she had created, shut away from the world, and couldn't possibly come out.
But Raiden Makoto and Ei were truly too similar, which left Yae Miko's mind in a bit of a mess.
"The one who impersonated her in the Chinju Forest was you, wasn't it?" Yae Miko quickly retracted the shock in her mind and returned to her usual self, but she was still observing Raiden Makoto.
"It was me." Raiden Makoto knew what Yae Miko was talking about and nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Guuji Yae."
"Just call me Yae Miko; there's no need for such formality."
For some reason, hearing Raiden Makoto address her with honorifics gave her a sense of satisfaction. It might be because Raiden Makoto was too similar to Ei, even giving her the illusion that it was Ei speaking to her.
But Raiden Makoto was definitely not Ei.
"My name is Raiden Makoto. You can just call me Makoto."
"Rai... Raiden Makoto?" Yae Miko was stunned. In the eyes of outsiders, she still appeared lazy and composed, but Raiden Makoto's name completely shocked Yae Miko, leaving her heart extremely unsettled.
"Makoto..."
Was it a coincidence? With Yae Miko's wisdom, she could conclude that it was definitely not a coincidence.
Because she knew that the first Electro Archon, Ei's sister, was named Makoto, and how similar she was to the girl before her.
But she also knew that Raiden Makoto had already passed away five hundred years ago, which was precisely the reason for her shock.
"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with my name, Miko?" Raiden Makoto was always one to get familiar quickly. She saw that Yae Miko seemed to be in a daze, and the way Yae Miko looked at her felt a bit off.
"No." Yae Miko returned to normal. Since the girl before her seemed to know nothing, she wouldn't say much more, but Yae Miko was still deep in thought.
Was all of this really not a coincidence? Or was the Lady before her truly Raiden Makoto... that gentle god?
She had never met Raiden Makoto, but she had heard that Makoto was a very gentle god, which was the exact opposite of Ei.
But Raiden Makoto was confirmed to have passed away five hundred years ago, and the girl before her seemed to know nothing, so she wasn't quite sure.
"Makoto, did you come to the Grand Narukami Shrine to find me for something?" Regarding the thoughts in her mind, she certainly wasn't going to tell Raiden Makoto now; she continued to look at Raiden Makoto with feigned composure.
"Originally, because I impersonated the Raiden Shogun, the Tenryou Commission issued an arrest warrant. At that time, I wanted to seek your help, Miko, but now the arrest warrant has been canceled, so I've just come for a simple visit." Raiden Makoto had a smile on her face.
Looking at Raiden Makoto's gentle smile, Yae Miko fell into an illusion once again.
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