Chapter 27: Yae Miko's Growing Interest
Tn: This chapter is re-written at 5 / 20 / 2025
. . . . . . . . .
"My Lord!"
An enthusiastic Fatui agent came rushing toward Bai Luo, clutching a freshly printed book in his hands.
"Great news! Yae Publishing just approved your manuscript—it's on sale now!"
Regardless of Yae Miko's personal feelings toward Bai Luo, the editors at her publishing house were treating him like he was made of Mora.
Kuroda himself had delivered the first copies, along with a personal message:
"Lady Guuji wishes to invite you to dine with her at Uyuu Restaurant."
"…Uyuu?" Bai Luo blinked, his expression turning a little stiff.
First off, knowing that wily fox's personality, there was no guarantee who would end up paying for the meal. Probably him.
But more importantly…
Uyuu Restaurant was also the birthplace of that ridiculous rumor linking him with Kujou Sara.
Now imagine: the "rumored husband" of Sara having dinner again—but this time with Yae Miko?
Yeah, that would go spectacularly well with the gossip-hungry people of Inazuma.
'Tch. That fox would probably enjoy watching my carefully crafted 'Son-in-Law of the Kujou Clan' persona go up in flames.'
One must tread carefully when dealing with a fox.
"Has Editor Kuroda left yet?" Bai Luo asked after thinking it through.
"He's still nearby—over at the Tenryou Commission's outpost."
In truth, Kuroda had hoped to meet Bai Luo in person, but the Fatui guards had blocked his way. After all, Bai Luo wasn't just an author—he was an Envoy of Snezhnaya and a Harbinger. Seeing him required more than just polite intentions.
"Then give him a message," Bai Luo said lazily, "Tell him to inform Lady Guuji that I'm busy working on Volume Two of My Electro Archon Can't Be This Cute. I'll meet her another time."
In other words: Not happening.
No flirting, no risks—just playing it safe.
"As you wish, my lord," the agent said with a bow.
. . . . . . . . . .
At a small street-side ramen stand in the middle of the busy town…
Yae Miko, disguised as a simple civilian woman, paused with a strand of noodles still dangling from her chopsticks.
"…That's really what he said?"
"Yes. That was the exact message," Kuroda confirmed, both hands respectfully holding the manuscript.
He was practically buzzing with excitement.
As a veteran bibliophile, Kuroda had assumed My Electro Archon Can't Be This Cute was a standalone one-shot.
But now there was a Volume Two?
Wait—he said "Volume Two," not "Final Volume"…
Does that mean there's a third?
A fourth, maybe!?
Just the thought of it made him want to skip work and lock himself in with the next draft.
"Mmm… I was thinking that if he refused, I'd just go find him myself," Yae Miko said, licking a bit of broth from her finger with an almost catlike grace.
Of course, she'd expected him to dodge the dinner invite—her ploy had been a thinly veiled excuse to pay him a personal visit.
But now that he dropped the sequel card?
She was genuinely intrigued.
And a little frustrated.
Now she couldn't just show up on his doorstep with a sly grin and playful accusations—not without a good excuse. And the promise of Volume Two had robbed her of one.
'That sly man… really knows how to keep a lady waiting.'
Perhaps she'd give him a few days. Just a few.
And if he didn't deliver the manuscript?
Then she'd show up herself—to "check in," of course.
Yes. Just a friendly reminder from the publisher…
"Meow."
"…Huh?"
Yae Miko turned her head, just as she set down her empty bowl.
A pure-white cat had quietly hopped onto the bench beside her, brushing its body against her kimono. It radiated an unusual level of awareness—no match for a full kitsune, but easily more intelligent than an average feline.
It was drawn to her—youkai could always sense their own kind, even if hidden in human skin.
"Ah, sorry about that," a soft voice said.
A young man in ronin garb leaned down to gently scoop up the cat.
His sword hung loosely at his waist, but the blade itself was polished and well-maintained.
Despite his youthful face, there was no trace of innocence left in his eyes—only the quiet weight of someone who'd seen far too much for his age.
After the Vision Hunt Decree was enacted, boys like this had become all too common in Inazuma.
But to see one this young, already capable of suppressing his aura so naturally—it meant one of two things:
He'd either been beaten down by life early, or…
He was an old monster pretending to be young.
Judging by his eyes, though—it was probably the first.
"It's alright," Yae Miko said softly, "Animals tend to like me."
As the white cat nestled against her leg, Yae Miko's ears almost twitched.
He was interesting.
Very interesting.
There was a story etched into every line of that boy's face—and her inner fox was always drawn to good stories.
"May I ask you something?"
The boy gave her a shy smile, pulling down the brim of his straw hat.
"Ask away," she replied casually. "I know quite a bit about this city."
That was no boast. As a kitsune who had lived for centuries, Yae Miko had watched Inazuma grow and change in ways few mortals could imagine.
"Can you tell me how to get to the Tenryou Commission?"
She raised an eyebrow, ears perking slightly.
"The Tenryou Commission? What business do you have there?"
Her curiosity sharpened instantly.
The boy had kept his power concealed well—but she could still feel it.
There was a Vision somewhere on him, and from the slight crackle of ambient energy, it was likely Electro.
Heading to the Tenryou Commission while carrying an Electro Vision…
Wasn't that the same as walking willingly into the jaws of a beast?
Did he think the Raiden Shogun would spare him just because his Vision was granted by her hand?
He clearly hadn't seen the pile of Electro Visions embedded in the Statue of the Omnipresent God.
But then he said it.
"I would like to formally challenge General Kujou Sara to a duel before the Shogun."
Yae Miko almost dropped her chopsticks.
A duel before the Shogun—that was no trivial request.
If he won, sure, it would be impressive… but if he lost?
There was only one outcome:
He would stand before Raiden Ei and face her blade—Musou no Hitotachi.
To this day, not a single soul—aside from Yae Miko herself—had ever taken that blade and lived.
"…I see," she murmured.
Well, this was getting more fun by the second.
The annoyance she'd felt over Bai Luo's rejection? Gone—replaced by a growing, delighted curiosity.
This boy wasn't bluffing.
He meant it.
"Kuroda."
"Yes, Lady Guuji?"
"Escort this young man to the Tenryou Commission."
"…Understood."
Kuroda had heard the whole conversation, and he was just as surprised as she was.
A duel before the Shogun?
He hadn't heard of one being requested in years.
This boy… was either incredibly brave—or incredibly reckless.
Still, looking at his age, maybe it was just youthful hot-bloodedness.
A familiar kind of foolishness.
. . . . . . . .
"You'll find it up ahead," Kuroda pointed from a distance instead of escorting him all the way.
The truth was, even though General Kujou Sara still held some respect, the Tenryou Commission no longer inspired confidence or comfort in the people.
Especially not among those who bore Visions.
As for Kuroda himself?
Well, he was just an ordinary civilian. He didn't like going there either.
There was only one person who could make him willingly step foot inside that place—and that was the author who wrote under the pen name "Instructor."
"Thank you, Mr. Kuroda."
The boy gave a polite nod and started walking toward the Tenryou Commission gates without hesitation.
Kuroda, watching him go, didn't linger either. He turned and headed back toward the city streets and the warmth of Yae Publishing House.
But just as he entered the main street—
A squad of fully armed Tenryou soldiers rushed past him, faces grave.
They stormed straight toward the public notice board.
Recognizing one of them, Kuroda reached out and grabbed the soldier's arm.
"What happened? What's got you all so fired up?"
The soldier looked annoyed at first, but relaxed when he saw it was Kuroda.
"There's been an official request," he said in a low voice.
"Someone just challenged General Kujou Sara to a duel before the Shogun."