Day 20. Although this body of yours is not good at martial arts, you have still benefited greatly from the dedicated teachings of Ei. At the very least, if you're forced to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy, you won't be as helpless as before.
On the other hand, although your wisdom is truly exceptional, as a time traveler, you also possess political insight and foresight far beyond this era.
You and Makoto have a tacit understanding. Together, you've reorganized Inazuma's administrative structure and improved its laws and regulations. Under your joint governance, Inazuma's national strength grows by the day.
At the same time, you established checkpoints at key locations, built turrets and arrow towers, and prepared in advance for the incoming tide of dark beasts.
Day 30. Ei told you that martial arts training should be balanced between intensity and rest. So, you didn't practice on this day. Instead, you invited Kitsune Saigu, Sasayuri, Miyu Chiyo, and other friends out for an excursion. Kitsune Saigu even brought a pink little fox to join the party.
At the picnic, Kitsune Saigu suggested everyone cook a dish and then draw lots to decide who would eat whose food.
After all the dishes were prepared, you drew first—and got Ei's dish.
Raiden Ei had made tri-color dango, her favorite, but when you looked at the dish on the plate, it didn't look like tri-color dango at all.
It was hard to imagine why black, purple, blue, red, green, and cyan would all appear in the same dish at once.
You didn't want to eat it, but under the encouragement of your friends and Ei's hopeful gaze, you finally ate the "colorful dango" with a fearless spirit.
You lost consciousness.
"Ah, he's not going to die just like that, is he?"
Yilan stared in shock at the text that appeared on the simulator.
He knew Raiden Ei wasn't good at cooking, but to the extent she could poison a God to death? Wasn't that a bit too much?
Fortunately, you only lost consciousness for three seconds. You told everyone that, in that moment, it felt like you saw Yomi Hirasaka and Higanbana.
Amidst everyone's laughter, Ei drew the second lot and got Sasayuri's dish. Sasayuri had made a classic grilled bird egg dish.
Raiden Ei ate the omelet while looking at the lotus cake you had made with visible resentment.
Then it was Miyu Chiyo and Sasayuri's turn, who got Kitsune Saigu's fried tofu and Miyu Chiyo's animal bone ramen respectively. Kitsune Saigu ended up with your lotus cake.
Ei suspected some kind of plot and started a playful fight with Kitsune Saigu. In the end, Kitsune Saigu gave Ying a portion of her lotus cake.
No one finished their own dish and left a bit for the pink fox. The fox tasted everyone's dish—except for the "colorful dango."
After the meal, Kitsune Saigu opened her round fan and danced gracefully while singing a beautiful tanka. The lively and energetic ghost girl Miyu Chiyo joined in with a cheerful dance that completely clashed with the rhythm of the tanka.
Encouraged by Raiden Makoto, you also joined in and pulled Ei—who was pretending to be cool on the sidelines—into the dance. The pink-haired little fox jumped around as well.
The usually reserved Sasayuri watched the scene with a gentle smile. Everyone was dancing their own way. Though chaotic, the atmosphere radiated a kind of harmonious beauty.
Day 31. The dark beast tide descended, and the Khaenri'ah Catastrophe began.
The monsters from the Abyss were terrifying, but thanks to your preparations, the defensive passes held them back. The turrets and arrow towers inflicted great damage. Because of your efforts, Inazuma suffered almost no casualties in the early stages of the Khaenri'ah disaster.
However, that same day, you received a Heavenly Decree summoning the Seven Archons to participate in the assault on Khaenri'ah.
That night, you sealed off Raiden Makoto's consciousness and called Raiden Ei to your room.
Day 32. After leaving behind a detailed future plan, you departed from Inazuma and headed to Khaenri'ah.
Day 35. Aside from the Great Compassion Tree King, who had other important matters to attend to in her nation, the other six Archons—including you—arrived in Khaenri'ah.
But the reality was far from what you expected. Rather than being the main force to destroy Khaenri'ah, you six gods were more like spectators summoned by the laws of heaven.
You understood clearly—this was a warning. Any deviation from the divine order, and Khaenri'ah's fate would become your own.
The human kingdom was powerless against the might of gods. Even someone as strong as "Gold," Rhinedottir, was utterly helpless in the face of divine judgment.
The Heavenly Principles alone crushed Khaenri'ah's main resistance. You and the other Archons were merely tasked with cleaning up the remnants.
You also learned the true cause of this war—Khaenri'ah had sought out the Abyss to resist the Heavenly Principles and uncover the truth of the world. But they failed to control its power, and the resulting overflow triggered the dark beast tide. At the same time, their defiance drew the gaze of Celestia, sealing their fate.
Was Khaenri'ah right or wrong?
You pondered this as you quietly awaited the right moment to act…
Day 39. Though weakened, Khaenri'ah was still once the strongest nation on the continent, and clearing the remnants took time. But on this day, the Great Compassion Tree King finally arrived.
She came straight to you.
"Should I call you General Raiden, or a visitor from beyond this world?" the Goddess of Wisdom asked, looking at you with her bright green eyes.
[Entering somatosensory mode]
"..."
The sky was blood red. The land burned with poisonous flames left by the war—yet the air held no trace of smoke.
—All because of the woman in front of you.
On the scorched earth, a barefoot girl walked slowly. Her pure white hair trailed to her ankles. Wherever her pale feet stepped, the land revived, and buds sprouted on green shoots.
She had a beauty that made one tremble. When Yilan saw her for the first time, only two words came to mind: "fairy" and "elf."
"Hello, traveler from another world."
The elf-like woman gave Yilan a gentle smile, and in that moment, it felt as if spring flowers had bloomed. Her emerald eyes held such warmth and tenderness, it was almost overwhelming.
"I came here just for you."