"Outsiders indeed do not know of the relationship between the Shuumatsuban and my Kamisato Clan, but Sayu..."
"Sayu is also well-known in Inazuma. If he stays with Miss Makoto, wouldn't that also be somewhat inappropriate?" Kamisato Ayato rested his chin on his hand, speaking thoughtfully. "In short, the matter of contacting the resistance cannot involve anyone associated with our Kamisato Clan."
"The resistance opposes the Shogunate. Contacting the resistance is opposing the Shogunate. The Kamisato Clan has been subordinates of the Shogun for generations; you and I cannot ruin the honor of the Kamisato Clan."
"However, Sayu is not out of the question." Kamisato Ayato nodded. "Just to protect Miss Makoto, not to fight. Sayu is a suitable candidate."
"Mhm."
"Ayaka, you mentioned before that most of the people in the resistance have lost their Visions, and some joined out of fear because of the Vision Hunt Decree?" Raiden Makoto had been thinking about how to get in touch with the resistance; after all, she was powerless.
"Yes."
"One can only pray that their goal is merely to oppose the Vision Hunt Decree, and not..."
If they were using the banner of opposing the Vision Hunt Decree to secretly carry out other schemes, she felt there was no need to contact them.
In war, the ones who truly suffer are the ordinary people. She wasn't a saint who pitied the whole world, but for some reason, seeing the people of Inazuma living in such misery now, she couldn't bear it.
Was that an emotion left behind by the original body?
"Brother, take us to see Sayu. It's really not easy to see him at ordinary times."
"That kid... usually slacks off in the trees."
"Makoto, do you think we can succeed?" There was a hint of expectation in Ayaka's voice, but also a hint of self-doubt.
Mustering the heart to resist the Vision Hunt Decree was already her greatest act of courage. The Vision Hunt Decree was issued by the Raiden Shogun; resisting the Vision Hunt Decree was resisting the Raiden Shogun.
"If the first thing you think about before doing something is whether it will succeed, then how can it ever succeed?" Raiden Makoto smiled. She could see Ayaka's anxiety and immediately comforted her, "Alright, alright. Since I've already promised to help you, I will help you to the end."
"Whether the resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree succeeds depends not on me, but on us—on your determination." Raiden Makoto's tone was very gentle, which dispelled the anxiety in Ayaka's heart. A look of determination appeared in her icy blue eyes.
"Yeah."
Because Kamisato Ayato had too many affairs to attend to, he gave a few simple instructions and left early after finishing his meal.
Only Thoma, herself, and Ayaka were left, and Thoma had just been diverted by other matters. So now, only Raiden Makoto and Ayaka remained in the Kamisato Estate.
Unfortunately, she didn't know the plot of Inazuma at all; otherwise, she could have been much more relaxed. She only knew the plot of Mondstadt, and she didn't even know about Liyue, which was to be released later.
Moreover, she didn't know where Lumine or Aether were right now, or how far the plot had progressed, but those things were irrelevant to her for now.
"Makoto, because of my status as the Demoiselle of the Kamisato Clan, I cannot give you much overt help. But in secret, I will do my best to help you."
"Thank you for joining me in resisting the Vision Hunt Decree." Ayaka knew how much risk Raiden Makoto was taking. Raiden Makoto was just an ordinary Lady; if the resistance against the Vision Hunt Decree failed later, she couldn't imagine the consequences.
"We're friends now, aren't we?" Raiden Makoto smiled. Her gentle smile made Ayaka daze for a moment.
"Yes, we are friends." Ayaka pondered for a long time before saying firmly, "We are friends."
"Let's go find the one you mentioned, Sayu." Just from the name, Raiden Makoto thought Sayu should be a girl. Could he be a mature kunoichi? After all, a Japanese kunoichi, heroic and valiant, seemed quite nice.
"Okay."
..."Is Sayu a mature kunoichi?"
"A mature kunoichi? Hahaha..." Ayaka couldn't help but chuckle. But it seemed a bit inappropriate to lose her composure in front of Raiden Makoto, so she covered her mouth and giggled.
"Makoto, you'll know when you see Sayu. We're almost there."
"Demoiselle..." As they arrived at a courtyard, a shrine maiden hurried over, her face full of respect. "Do you have any requests?"
"Where is Sayu?"
The shrine maiden then pointed to a tree. "Sayu... he has been in the tree all day today..."
As Raiden Makoto looked up at the tree, she finally understood why Ayaka had laughed just now.
"?"
Sayu turned out to be a small loli who didn't look very tall? Was that Sayu?
"Sayu, the Demoiselle is here." The shrine maiden's shout made the little figure in the tree tremble slightly, and he hurriedly jumped down.
Thus, Raiden Makoto got a full view of Sayu. She couldn't help but be stunned; it was completely different from the image in her mind—the contrast was too great.
"A ta... tanuki?" Sayu looked especially like a little tanuki, looking exactly like a small child.
She remembered there seemed to be a little loli in Mondstadt, and now there was one in Inazuma too. Would there be one in Liyue as well?
"Sayu is not a tanuki! Demoiselle Ayaka, who is she?" Sayu sized up Raiden Makoto. He was already used to people mistaking him for a tanuki upon first meeting; he probably did look a bit like one.
"My friend, Makoto."
"And the person you need to protect for this mission." Ayaka had a smile on her face. In truth, she didn't think Sayu was particularly reliable; after all, she had long heard of Sayu's laziness, but this was a choice born of necessity.
"A mi... mission? Protect her?" Sayu blinked. "Demoiselle Ayaka... that kind of mission... I..."
"No, you must complete it properly for me." Ayaka knew exactly what Sayu was thinking. "It's a very important matter."
Raiden Makoto wouldn't look down on Sayu because of his youthful appearance. After all, that little loli in Mondstadt was someone with immense combat power.
Besides, although Sayu looked like a loli, he was probably already an adult—a legal loli.
"Ugh... alright." Sayu could see the gravity in Ayaka's expression. Although he often slacked off, he knew how to prioritize.
"Mission guaranteed." Sayu's gaze then fell entirely on Raiden Makoto. "Milady, I will protect you."
"No need to call me Milady. Just call me big sister." Raiden Makoto smiled; she wasn't quite used to the strict hierarchy in Inazuma.
"Big sister, I will protect you."
Sayu's youthful voice made Raiden Makoto daze for a moment. Those words felt somewhat familiar.
"Was it her younger sister?"
-------------------------------
Hope you enjoy this fanfiction if you do and would like to read the next 30 chapters in advance, pls do check out my Patreon.
patreon.com/TLScarlet
Also don't forget to give me a Power Stone if you do like this fiction. Your support really motivates me to continue doing my best in translating, Thanks!!