"Yes, Lady Kujou!" All the samurai responded earnestly.
Just as they were about to set out, a figure suddenly appeared beside them.
"Who is it?" All the samurai grew alert, gripping their weapons tightly.
"Divine Sovereign!" But when they saw Akio's face, they immediately bowed in respect.
Akio nodded and looked at Kujou Sara, asking, "Are you busy tonight?"
"Divine Sovereign, I am not busy," Kujou Sara shook her head. "We just have one more patrol round before we can disband."
"Is that so?" Akio said. "In that case, I'll join you for this round. After you finish the patrol, I'll take you to Tenshukaku."
"Ah?" Kujou Sara was surprised. She looked at Akio, who nodded and said, "Let's go! I'll join you for the last round. Is that okay?"
"No problem!" All the samurai responded loudly.
They were deeply moved. The deity himself was personally accompanying them on patrol! This was an immense honor for them, and naturally, they were all filled with vigor, their fatigue from a day of patrolling completely gone.
"They've all agreed, let's go," Akio said with a smile. "Don't dawdle, Makoto and the others are waiting for us."
"Understood," Kujou Sara nodded, and the group set out on their patrol.
"..."
As they walked, Kujou Sara seemed somewhat distracted. She glanced at Akio, who was walking beside her, several times wanting to speak but unsure of what to say.
"Hey, have you noticed that the atmosphere between the Divine Sovereign and Lady Kujou seems a bit... different?" one Tenryou Commission samurai whispered to another.
"Shh... keep quiet. We must not gossip about the deity," the other samurai replied in a low voice.
"Got it," the first samurai nodded and fell silent, though many in the group couldn't help but curiously glance at Akio and Kujou Sara walking at the front.
"Sara, what's on your mind?" Akio asked with a chuckle. "The Kujou Sara I know isn't one to hesitate like this."
"..." Kujou Sara looked at Akio, opening her mouth before finally asking, "Lord Akio, what... what brings you here to find me?"
"Oh, it's like this. Makoto and I have decided to hold a banquet at Tenshukaku. Everyone is already there, and you're the only one missing, so I came to fetch you," Akio said with a smile.
"Me?" Kujou Sara was puzzled. She asked, "Lord Akio, may I ask who else is attending?"
"Makoto, Ei, the Shogun, Miko..." Akio listed them one by one.
"Uh..." Kujou Sara realized that all these women were, in fact, Akio's lovers, weren't they?
"Sara, I've come to find you myself. You should understand what I mean, right?" Akio whispered softly in Kujou Sara's ear. "I've given you plenty of time to think. Chisato also told me about what happened when you went to Watatsumi Island."
"Sara, running away won't help. You're destined to be mine. You can't escape," Akio said seriously.
"I... I..." Kujou Sara's face turned crimson. She lowered her head and whispered, "I won't run away... I just don't know how to say it. Chisato taught me, but I can't muster the courage."
"Am I really worthy of a deity's love?" Kujou Sara murmured.
"Why wouldn't you be?" Akio laughed. "Or are you unaware of your own charm?"
"It's not that..." Kujou Sara shook her head. She wasn't being vain, but she did think she was fairly attractive.
In the past, many noble sons of Inazuma had sought her hand in marriage, but Kujou Sara had driven them all away. She had always believed that anyone who wanted to marry her had to be stronger than her. Otherwise, she was content to serve the Shogun for the rest of her life.
"Well... then I'll be in your care from now on, Lord Akio," Kujou Sara said softly, looking at him.
Akio perfectly matched her criteria. He was naturally handsome, and as a deity, his strength was unfathomable. Kujou Sara, of course, was also moved.
"Wow~" A chorus of exclamations came from behind Akio and Kujou Sara.
"You all..." Kujou Sara turned her head to see the samurai behind them looking at the two with knowing smiles. Her face instantly turned bright red.
The samurai knew that Akio was a very approachable deity. He never put on airs around them and was always gentle, which was why they dared to tease him. As for Kujou Sara, although she was strict during training, she was also very kind and cared deeply for them.
When they saw Kujou Sara and Akio confess their feelings, they couldn't help but feel happy for her.
Sure, Lord Akio was... a bit of a playboy? But he was a deity, so what if he had many women? There was no one else as extraordinary as him, and if Kujou Sara could be with him, they, as her subordinates, were genuinely happy for her.
"Be serious, we're on patrol..." Kujou Sara tried to sound stern, wanting her subordinates to stop teasing, but the usually authoritative and decisive Tenryou Commission general's words now carried no weight.
"It's alright, Sara. This is something to be celebrated. Smile," Akio said with a grin.
"..." Kujou Sara's face remained red, but she couldn't help but smile from the heart.
"Divine Sovereign, since you and Lady Kujou have confirmed your relationship, why don't you two go off on your own? The remaining patrol route isn't long. We'll finish it for you," one samurai suggested.
His words were met with agreement from the others, who thought it was a great idea.
"No," Akio firmly refused. "We must see things through to the end. Even I must adhere to this principle."
"Lord Akio is right," Kujou Sara nodded. "Leaving you all behind is out of the question. No more of this talk."
Hearing this, the samurai nodded in agreement. The deity was right! The deity's words were so wise!
The group completed the rest of the patrol route together, and after handing over their duties, everyone was free to disband and rest.
"Divine Sovereign! May you and Lady Kujou be united in love forever! May your bond be eternal!" The samurai offered their blessings.
"We will. Thank you for your blessings," Akio smiled and nodded, pleased to receive their well-wishes.
With a gentle wave of his hand, streams of life energy flowed into the samurai's bodies, warming their battle-worn and scarred forms.
"A divine blessing! This is the Divine Sovereign's blessing!" the samurai exclaimed, feeling an unprecedented sense of ease and comfort in their bodies. They were so moved that tears nearly fell from their eyes.
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