When a person opens their mouth to speak, there's no turning back.
Sound spreads uncontrollably.
For most people, waking someone up comes at the cost of disturbing everyone else. But Li Mo wasn't bound by such limitations.
Precisely targeting a single person's wake-up call while leaving others undisturbed was child's play. And so, Yae Miko was treated to a personalized morning alarm.
A deafening chime rang out—yet only the fox curled up in her blankets could hear it.
Jolted awake, Yae Miko's eyes snapped open. After a brief moment of confusion, she spotted Li Mo standing there and immediately pieced together what had happened.
"Sacred Sakura!"
Purple blossoms materialized in the room—her shikigami. Lightning crackled, lashing toward Li Mo.
The flaw of the Thororm spell lay here: while it could nullify any understood attack, physical impacts were easy to deflect. But against esoteric assaults, it faltered.
Still, Li Mo had plenty of ways to handle Yae Miko's retaliation.
"Little one, do you not realize how rude it is to disturb someone's sleep?"
"Here. This is your problem now." Li Mo tossed True Tales of the Supernatural onto her bed. "I stopped by Yae Publishing House yesterday. This book is outselling all your light novels."
Light novels catered to a niche audience. But this? It had broken into the mainstream.
"Oh? Are you joking? Yae Publishing House's years of dominance, toppled by some ghost story?" Yae Miko scoffed, her irritation fading as her Sacred Sakura bolts harmlessly fizzled against Li Mo's defenses.
For a youkai like her, staying up all night reading was routine. Li Mo's provocation was deliberate.
She had absolute faith in her novels.
And yet...
After skimming the book, Yae Miko's smirk wavered.
"This—this is cheating! Exploiting people's greed for wealth to boost sales? Such a writer doesn't deserve to be published!"
True Tales of the Supernatural detailed a ritual promising riches. Yae Miko could dismiss it as fraud, but readers would believe it—especially when Li Mo had conveniently slipped in a "Yae Publishing House investigation report" confirming its authenticity.
Fake or not, the sales spoke for themselves.
"Little one... did you forge my editors' handwriting?"
"Remember that tea I brought back after dealing with the Riftwolves?" Li Mo replied airily.
Yae Miko's eyes narrowed. "Ah, that's how you knew. How interesting that you foresaw even this. At this point, I'm starting to wonder if you're connected to her."
"Handle this, Yae. I'll take my leave." Li Mo turned, then paused. "I look forward to seeing your... Night Parade of a Hundred Demons."
Yae Miko didn't stop him. Sitting in her rumpled sleepwear, she mused aloud, "Well, well... To think I'd see those old ghosts again. I'll need to recruit some help..."
An image of a certain golden-haired traveler came to mind.
Perfect.
---
Meanwhile...
Witnessing Yae Miko's ruffled temper had been worth it. The usually unflappable fox, who carried herself like an immortal toying with mortal affairs, had finally shown a crack in her composure.
Turns out she's not so transcendent after all.
Li Mo headed toward the shrine's dining hall. The Grand Narukami Shrine had its own kitchen—necessary, given the number of shrine maidens living on-site.
By now, the maidens were stirring. Li Mo grabbed breakfast to-go and made for the office.
There, the Raiden Shogun sat rigidly at her desk.
"Good morning, Shogun."
"Good morning." Her voice was ice.
"Where's Ei?"
"Meditating. The documents have arrived. Begin work."
Li Mo set down a plate of tri-colored dango. "Want some? Ei loves these."
"Unnecessary."
He took a seat across from her, deliberately savoring the sweets.
The Shogun's gaze sharpened. "Why repeat this pointless act?"
"You claim to be Ei's shadow. Then shouldn't you learn to be human first?"
"Irrelevant. 'Eternity' requires no such frivolities."
Li Mo smiled. "Last one. Sure you don't want it?"
"Remove it. Sugar impairs bodily function."
"Then I'll eat all the desserts from now on."
A shift. The air around the Shogun changed.
"Don't listen to her! Sweets? Tooth decay? Just replace the teeth! How could this hinder eternity?"
Ei had taken over.
Li Mo slid the dango toward her. "Here. I've got more." Like a magician, he produced an entire platter.
"You forced me out on purpose?" Ei pouted.
"Of course. The contrast between you and the Shogun is hilarious."
The Shogun's icy demeanor versus Ei's sweet-toothed softness was comedy gold.
"R-really? Thanks..." Ei mumbled, already devouring the dango.
"Ei, have you heard of the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?"
"Hm? That's a youkai banquet tradition. Why?"
"I'll be leaving this world soon."
Ei froze. "...Leaving?"
"Once the parade ends," Li Mo said softly, "I'll be gone."