"What on earth do you want to do, Lord Kamisato Ayato?"
Yilan had just entered the physical sensing mode when he heard a sighing voice beside him.
"..."
Yilan didn't say anything. After entering the sensing mode, he immediately felt manic and extreme emotions surging into his mind.
Compared to the impact caused by external sources like demonic residue or karmic affliction, this felt more like an illness—a deterioration from within.
It was like someone suffering severe sleep deprivation, hearing constant tinnitus every moment of the day. If it continued long enough, even the strongest will would eventually waver.
This influence came from the inside out. Unlike external corruption, this internal erosion couldn't be resisted by willpower alone.
However, Kokomi mistook Yilan's silence for unwillingness to answer.
She sighed quietly, and in a slightly resentful tone said,
"Aren't you going to take off your mask? We're already married. What happens next…"
She paused, her carefully made-up face flushing pink.
"Wait… when that time comes, are you still planning to wear the mask?"
Yilan turned to look at her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
In the game, Sangonomiya Kokomi had been nicknamed the "ornamental fish"—both because her combat strength was often underestimated, and because even among Teyvat's many beauties, she stood out as one of the most breathtaking.
And now, she wore a wedding dress.
It was a white gown, similar to a modern bridal design, but with a dreamy, otherworldly style.
The train was long, trailing behind her like a mermaid's tail, elegant and ethereal.
The front hem also reached her ankles, but from the knees upward, the design turned sheer—an almost transparent layer of fine gauze.
Through the veil of fabric, a pair of slender, voluptuous legs wrapped in snowy, translucent silk stockings could be seen. The material shimmered with a soft luster.
The dress was fitted with a corset, a white ribbon cinching Kokomi's slim waist. Beneath it, her hips lifted the fabric into a perfect curve, and above, her chest—wrapped in shell-pink cloth—rose proudly.
From the chest to the neck, translucent white tulle formed a delicate layer, revealing only hints of the collarbone and the alluring valley between her breasts.
Her slender arms were adorned with matching gauze gloves, and her face, refined with makeup, looked almost sacred in its beauty.
The gown itself was extremely conservative—every inch of skin was covered—yet the careful craftsmanship imbued it with an ineffable holiness… and a temptation that tugged at the heart.
Yilan approached and sat down beside her on the edge of the bed. Slowly, he removed his mask in front of her.
"It really is you, Lord Kamisato Ayato,"
Kokomi breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his handsome face, as if an invisible burden had finally been lifted.
Hearing this, Yilan lifted a finger to gently tilt up Kokomi's delicate chin, smiling at her flushed cheeks and averted gaze.
"Why do I feel a sense of relief in your tone, Kokomi? Could it be that you actually like me… and don't mind marrying me?"
"Lord Kamisato, please don't tease me…"
Kokomi shrank back slightly, slipping free from Yilan's touch.
Yilan didn't press her further. He simply smiled lazily, looking at the "mermaid" who had been led to the chopping block.
"Then tell me, Kokomi. What kind of person do you think I am? And how did you guess my identity?"
Seeing him shift from teasing to serious discussion, Kokomi finally relaxed and answered quickly,
"Actually, I had my suspicions back when you presented that photo of Gorou."
"After all, the Kamisato Clan is one of Inazuma's Tri-Commission families. You and your sister are both Vision holders, outstanding figures who even secretly cultivated an organization like the Shuumatsuban.
Among the Tri-Commissions, your strength could be considered the highest."
"How could such a powerful family have something as absurd happen as enemies sneaking into their home base to take secret photographs?"
"But that alone isn't enough to suspect me, right? There could have been a traitor,"
Yilan said casually, noting that even from this distance, he could smell Kokomi's fragrance—likely a mixture of her natural scent and special perfumes.
"It's possible," Kokomi admitted, "but think about it: the people secretly photographed were all Vision holders.
It's understandable that Gorou might have been careless on unfamiliar ground, but it doesn't explain why both you and Lady Ayaka would be caught unaware."
"So I boldly guessed: the photographer must have been ordered by either you or Lady Ayaka herself.
And the other party wasn't on guard because they trusted the one giving the order."
"Excellent inference,"
Yilan nodded approvingly.
Seeing Yilan completely absorbed in the conversation, Kokomi's wariness eased even further. She continued:
"You know… many years ago, when I was still a child, I attended Lord Raiden Shogun's birthday banquet. That was when I first met Lady Ayaka.
Although we didn't meet often afterward, we kept in touch through letters."
"In those letters, no matter the subject, Lady Ayaka always mentioned you, Lord Kamisato.
Through her words, I came to know you indirectly."
"After the incident with the photo, as you took control of Watatsumi Island, I observed you carefully.
I noticed how much you resembled the brother Ayaka had described.
Later, I discovered that whenever you appeared on Watatsumi Island, the Kamisato Clan's leader was conveniently 'absent.'
And that further confirmed my suspicions."
"So during that time you suddenly became bolder—daring to slack off around me, even offering me snacks…"
Yilan said thoughtfully.
"Ahem!"
Kokomi awkwardly covered her mouth with her gauze-gloved hand and coughed, hastily trying to change the subject:
"Lady Ayaka really admired you, Kamisato-sama.
Especially after your marriage—she sounded so happy in her letters… I could feel her joy just through her words."
As Kokomi continued to talk endlessly, Yilan shook his head with an indescribable smile.
Without warning, he pulled her slender body into his arms and toppled with her onto the soft, vast bed.
***
The One Who Married Him
Yilan and Sangonomiya Kokomi lay on the beautiful wedding bed, decorated with pearls and shells, their black and blue-pink eyes gazing into each other's.
The sudden change clearly frightened Kokomi. She struggled instinctively but couldn't break free from Yilan's hold. Helplessly, she looked up at him and said:
"Kamisato-sama, you—"
The second half of her sentence was blocked as Yilan placed a finger gently on her cherry lips.
"You are very clever."
Yilan withdrew his fingers, feeling the lingering warmth on them. He shook his head slightly and said:
"But don't try to be clever in front of me. I don't mind chatting to make things more lively—after all, I do want to behave as gentlemanly as possible.
But if you try to provoke me again with your words, I'll eat you up right here."
Just now, Kokomi had deliberately mentioned Kamisato Ayaka in front of Yilan—bringing up his bond with Ayaka—hoping to stir his emotions and escape disaster that way.
Unfortunately, if it were the Yilan of the past, he might have been swayed.
But now, he had grown a little extreme—no longer the same.
In truth, the words he just spoke weren't things Yilan would have said normally.
Yet he couldn't deny that it felt good—to say what he wanted, and do as he pleased.
Kokomi looked away, avoiding Yilan's devilish black eyes.
"Then, Kamisato-sama… can you tell me why you're doing this? I really don't understand," she said softly.
"Must you say such dreary things on such a beautiful day?… Whatever."
Yilan wrapped his arms around Kokomi's slender waist, resting his chin on her exposed snow-white shoulders.
Her skin was pale, as if soaked in milk, and she carried a soft, pleasant fragrance.
"Uh, Lord Kamisato?" Kokomi shifted uncomfortably.
"Call me Yilan."
"…Yes, Lord Yilan."
"Before asking my purpose," Yilan said lightly, "you should think about what I stand to gain by doing this."
"..."
Listening to Yilan's words, Kokomi momentarily forgot his frivolous behavior and instinctively began thinking seriously.
"Could it be… gaining control of Inazuma?"
But she quickly shook her head.
"No… Even if you defeated the Shogunate army and suppressed the resistance on Watatsumi Island, as long as the Raiden Shogun still sits in Tenshukaku, you could never claim Inazuma…
I don't know what the Shogun is thinking now, but if she acts, you would surely die by her sword."
"Exactly," Yilan smiled calmly.
"All I would earn… is a blow from the Raiden Shogun herself."
"But… wouldn't that mean you'd die? Wait…!"
Kokomi suddenly remembered something from Ayaka's past letters—words she hadn't thought much about at the time.
An absurd, terrifying idea flashed into her mind.
"Are you thinking…" But she quickly shook her head. "No, that's impossible—it's completely unreasonable—"
"What's unreasonable?"
Yilan smiled as if he were talking about something unrelated to himself.
"Kokomi, you like reading light novels, don't you? In those stories, isn't it the most exciting when the beloved hero defeats the evil Demon King?"
"But… but this is wrong! If you die, Ayaka—!"
"Then tell me what I should do!"
Suddenly, Yilan burst out like a provoked lion.
He flipped over and pinned Kokomi under him again, looking directly into her wide blue-pink eyes:
"Tell me—how do we end the Vision Hunt Decree? Or better yet, how do we end this civil war?
Don't tell me you started this war on Watatsumi Island simply to seek justice for those whose Visions were confiscated."
Under the weight of Yilan's dark gaze, Kokomi lowered her eyes weakly.
"…I don't know."
"Yeah. You don't know."
Yilan rolled over, lying flat on the bed, speaking in a tone mixed with boredom and bitterness.
"But you can still say that I'm wrong.
Indeed, I know I've made many mistakes. Many people have died because of my plans.
Even if my actions save more people in the end, the deaths that have already happened cannot be erased."
"So, Sangonomiya Kokomi—
From a moral standpoint, I will never be able to convince you.
People like you… always have the right to say others are wrong."
"That's not what I meant," Kokomi said in a small, aggrieved voice.
"I just thought… maybe we could find a perfect solution without having to sacrifice anyone…"
"The same excuse again."
Yilan shook his head, smiling faintly.
He turned and reached out, holding Kokomi's cheek, forcing her to meet his gaze.
Their eyes met.
"But Kokomi… sometimes, instead of wasting endless time seeking a perfect answer, it's better to act—even if your hands get dirty.
That way, maybe… just maybe… more people will survive."
Then, without warning, he kissed her gently.
Kokomi's blue-pink eyes widened, momentarily bewildered—but she did not resist.
"Let's not spoil the mood any further," Yilan whispered against her lips.
"If we keep talking about such things, it really will ruin the moment."
…
At first, Kokomi had been afraid—terrified of what might happen next.
But strangely enough, this time, she didn't feel much revulsion.
Instead, she finally understood… why Kamisato Ayaka loved her brother so deeply.
Yes.
Faced with a man willing to dirty his own hands to protect others—what woman wouldn't be moved?
She recalled the countless letters Ayaka had sent her in the past.
In every one, Ayaka had used different words to praise and boast about her elder brother.
Over time, the image of a strong, reliable, gentle man had formed in Kokomi's mind.
And now, exhausted by the endless pressures crushing her from all sides, Kokomi realized that deep within her heart, she had always yearned—yearned for someone like him, someone she could lean on.
Maybe…
Maybe she had already developed feelings for this man long ago.
Thinking back, the days she spent handling government affairs alongside him…
Those were the happiest days of her life.
There was no need to shoulder the world's burdens alone.
He was always there—sharing her worries, bearing the pressure.
She had never wanted to be Watatsumi Island's Supreme Leader.
She only wanted to find someone she could rely on—to act as his military strategist, to hide behind the scenes, to read her light novels in peace… and to offer advice from the shadows.
…It turns out, I like him.
The only thing that left a small pang of regret in Kokomi's heart was this:
He must have been gentler when facing Ayaka, right?
But…
A smile slowly appeared on her lips.
And silently, in her heart, she spoke to her distant best friend:
(The one who married him… wasn't you, Ayaka. It was me.)
***
Once more two chapters were combined 🫡