The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

However, before the words were finished, a voice that had not been heard for a long time appeared behind everyone.

"I'm relieved to see that the three of you are still in such good spirits. I apologize for not informing you of the existence of the two Lei Huo beforehand. I hope she... hasn't made things difficult for you."

Upon hearing the sound, the three of them turned around.

Accompanying the sound was a woman wearing a fox mask.

Although she seemed calm and collected, her tone was much weaker than before.

Although neither Luminous nor Paimon noticed, Kiana connected the dots to her true identity and eventually realized...

Time is running out in Hana Sanri.

"You?" Upon seeing the client appear, Ying suddenly recalled everything she had encountered in the cave on that island, and her expression instantly turned cold.

She slowly released Paimon, then drew her sword and stared at the elusive young lady with extremely wary eyes.

Finally free, Paimon shouted angrily:

"Masked Shrine Maiden? You always appear so suddenly! Why weren't you there when Hotaru fainted last time?!"

Their complaints left Hana Sanri, who already felt guilty, speechless once again.

Just as she remained silent, seemingly eager to fabricate rhetoric to clarify the facts, Kiana suddenly reached out and stopped the two somewhat agitated individuals.

"Don't worry, she won't harm us, I can guarantee that."

Her protection left Paimon and Ying completely baffled.

However, because they trusted the girl so much, the two didn't press her further. Instead, they huddled together to discuss how to explain everything that had happened to Kamisato after the Great Exorcism.

Seeing that the crisis was over, Hanahara looked at Kiana with gratitude, her tone revealing both thanks and confusion.

"Why...do you trust me so much?"

"Because I know you very well, or rather, I know this world very well."

"...Surprisingly, are the three of you preparing to purify the final tree roots? This time, why don't I accompany you?"

After Hana Sanri finished speaking, she slowly walked towards the three puzzle points. Kiana and Ying were about to think that this priestess had some great supernatural power because she walked so calmly.

However, she hadn't walked far when she suddenly turned back to look at Kiana.

"Could you please come over here for a moment? I have something to say to you. As for the destined one... please wait here with your travel companion. Don't worry, it won't take too long."

Upon hearing this, Ying and Paimon exchanged a glance.

"Why..."

Just as the duo was about to ask for clarification, Kiana suddenly turned around, smiled, and waved gently at them.

It seems to be saying, "Don't worry about me."

"I really don't understand you..." Ying covered her forehead in frustration, but ultimately nodded in agreement silently.

Having received permission, Kiana immediately followed Hana Sanri and began exploring the entrance to the last remaining ruins of the Divine Cherry Tree Roots.

Clearly, Hana-sanri does more than simply issue missions and reveal the contents of the Great Exorcism.

Having inherited the memories of the Fox Palace, she walked across this land with ease, as if she already knew the answers to all the mysteries.

If it weren't for the occasional appearance of monsters and autonomous mechanisms, she might have remained calm and composed until the entrance mechanism was completely unlocked.

"Although it may be offensive," Hana Sanri stopped after unlocking a lightning-attribute mechanism, as if she had something on her mind to ask, "if I don't get an answer, perhaps even if I dissipate... I will still have some regrets."

If Ying and Paimon were there, they would definitely be puzzled by what these words meant.

However, thanks to the system's assistance, Kiana had already realized that Hana-sanri's true identity was actually a filth formed from divine cherry blossoms.

In essence, they are even the same kind of beings as those fallen samurai who were forced into it.

But what makes her different is that she inherited the memories of Inazuma's greatest shrine maiden, Fox Maiden.

Knowing everything, she couldn't possibly be unaware that the completion of the Great Exorcism would mean her own destruction.

Hana Sanri seems to have completely inherited the will of Kosai-gumi. Even though she understands that she is asking someone else to see her off, she still chooses to silently help Ying and herself complete the Great Purification of the Divine Cherry.

"Ask away, Hana-sanri, no... Kitsune-sai-miya? Or rather, the humanoid form formed from the filth of the Divine Cherry Blossom? What should I call you?"

"You are truly wise, already knowing everything... In that case, how you address me is no longer important."

Hana Sanri stood quietly in place, letting the cool evening breeze caress her clothes.

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, in the last long stretch of her life, the priestess slowly revealed the doubts in her heart.

"Who exactly are you? What changes will you bring to this land? Will you bring calamity or blessing to that person?"

"Is the person you're talking about General Thunder?"

Kiana looked around and, after confirming that no one was around, asked in return.

At this, Hana Sanri's tone suddenly became much more serious:

"Please answer me, this is the only question I can't let go of before I disappear."

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter 30 I will cheer her up, by any means necessary.

Hana Sanri seemed to have long since accepted the fact that she would disappear after the Great Exorcism, but she remained indifferent to whether Kiana would bring that person calamity or blessing.

She was particularly concerned about this matter, even placing it above her own safety.

Or rather, in her view, it was the Thunder God who sat high atop the castle tower, unilaterally issuing the Eye Hunting Order, attempting to preserve Inazuma's eternity in this way.

Far more important than herself...

Kiana was deeply moved by Hanahara's unconditional, selfless, and gratitudeless giving, and a fiery red figure flashed through her mind...

General Thunder and Lightning, do you know that in some unknown corner, there are still people who sincerely pray for you and wish for your eternal prosperity?

Time passed slowly, and the road, which was once faintly visible, became blurred due to the dimming light.

At this moment, a biting wind blew in, as if the boundless darkness was trying to invade this pure land...

As darkness approached, Hana Sanri unconsciously took several steps back, and finally slipped and fell to the ground, stepping on loose stones.

It's obvious she's afraid of the dark...

And at that very moment.

'Da~'

Suddenly, a flame appeared in the darkness. Hana Sanri felt the warmth of the flame and looked around after regaining her senses.

It turned out that Kiana had somehow plunged the giant sword into the ground and was standing there with her back against the blade.

Beside her were the embers from the flames that had scorched the grass, though they were much weaker than when she had unleashed her power.

But Hana Sanri could still sense just how powerful this stranger was.

However, the flames weren't that scorching...

"A very warm fire, is it something you've deliberately concealed? It's truly unsettling..."

"Haha, no problem."

Kiana smiled, then slowly stood up and reached out to Hana Sanri, attempting to pull her up.

However, the shrine maiden who inherited the memories of the fox spirit did not respond.

She slowly got up from the ground, lightly patted the dust off her clothes, just as calm and collected as when they first met.

"No matter how similar they may seem, filth is still a symbol of impurity. Please keep yourself pure and virtuous..."

"It's strange, why do you think so little of yourself?"

"..." Hana Sanri did not answer.

Clearly, they don't intend to waste time on these things.

Seeing her coldness, Kiana didn't press further and could only slowly repeat her initial self-introduction.

"My name is Kiana, a traveler from another world."

"A traveler? What is the purpose of a traveler with extraordinary powers like yourself?"

"Hmm... there are many purposes. Protecting Ying is one of them, but that's all I can tell you."

Kiana, with her right hand on her hip, truthfully told Hana Sanri her true intentions.

"Protecting a friend? She... must be one of your cherished companions, right?"

"Yes."

"I...have heard some terrible rumors, and although I can't believe that these are all the will of that person. But even so, I implore you not to become her enemy. For the sake of our past interactions, please...please don't let it turn out that way."

Hana Sanri covered her heart, pleading humbly.

Kiana made no promise, but simply exhaled a breath of stale air and asked in return:

Why did she become like this? Was it in pursuit of some so-called eternity?

"You're interested in this? Well... strictly speaking, it's to walk the path I firmly believe in."

"What kind of reason is that? Does it give you the right to arbitrarily take away someone else's dream just to walk the path you believe in?"

“I…don’t know. But that memory, which doesn’t belong to this era, tells me that a priestess once advised General Raiden to firmly walk his own path. When the calamity came, after failing to fight against the filth, she begged the dark filth to return her memories to the Inazuma land she loved…and that’s how I was born.”

After Hana Sanri finished speaking, she fell silent, standing there quietly, waiting for Kiana's response.

I believe that General Thunder must have kept his old friend's advice in mind, which is why he persevered on his journey.

As Hana Sanri sincerely spoke, the system's reward notification sounded quietly.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the mission. The initial restrictions on the use of Herrscher Gems have been unlocked. By consuming Herrscher Points, you can unleash Herrscher power in different worlds.]

"Was Fox Palace's advice to General Raiden about a promise of 'eternity'? To always firmly believe in one's own path..."

After completing the mission, Kiana did not immediately respond to Hana Sanri. Instead, she slowly drew the Flame King Sword and began walking towards the next lightning element mechanism.

"Let's go, it's getting late."

"Your Excellency... alright."

Hanahara did not show any dissatisfaction when she did not receive the answer she wanted.

Or rather, what can she do now besides pleading?