84. Modernization? I'll Do It Regardless

When Ryūhei thought that Miko wouldn't agree to his terms, she suddenly asked him about the contract, which was a spiritual contract he learned from Morax.

After forming a contract, Ryūhei didn't want to stay in the shrine and decided to go back while dragging Jiu along with him.

Seeing the disappearance of Ryūhei and Jiu, Miko chuckled.

"Ufufu. I didn't think that a brat who barely stood against the little rascal from the Kamisato clan would be so threatening after leaving Inazuma for 2 months. But, where did he stumble upon such power from?"

What Miko had seen earlier, the way Ryūhei executed his technique looked similar to the way Adepti used their techniques called Adeptus Arts. However, as she recalled, Ryūhei didn't seem to use Adeptal energy when he used his technique.

Miko shook her head.

"I don't need to think that much. More importantly, this manga…" She held the Shokugeki no Sōma manga in her hand, flipped it, and read it once again.

Not only tempted by the art and storyline of the manga, but something inside her also urged her to drag Ryūhei into the Yae Publishing House. Honestly, she felt that those people from the Kaedehara clan were idiots to force Ryūhei out of that clan due to his origin and the fact that his great-grandfather who was adopted from the Niwa clan closed the family business.

On the other hand, the Kamisato clan was so lucky due to the marriage arrangement in the past. Not only did they get a talented combatant, but they also got a talented manga artist or mangaka.

The Yae Publishing House literally had no rival in their business. However, the arrival of the manga might change everything. She was even sure that if Ryūhei opened a publishing company in Inazuma City, the popularity of his company would drown the Yae Publishing House.

"Seems like I need to do something."

— — — —

Ryūhei and Jiu returned to the Kamisato estate. Meanwhile, Ayaka was glad that he could find Jiu. She didn't know Jiu's real identity. And since Ryūhei had decided to adopt her as a little sister, that meant she was her little sister as well. Thus, she was worried that something might happen to Jiu when she disappeared without anyone noticing.

Ayato and Thoma asked where Jiu went and how Ryūhei found her. Ryūhei told them that she was headed to the Narukami Shrine. As for how Ryūhei found her, he just said that he noticed Jiu's changing expression when he mentioned the shrine and the custom of Inazuma. So, he suspected that she went there.

From that moment on, they began to chat. And after a while, a ninja suddenly appeared and whispered something to Ayato which made him leave to take care of something.

Looking at Ayato's figure disappeared made Ryūhei open his mouth to comment.

"That guy is so busy."

Ayaka nodded.

"As expected, I guess. Being a clan leader weighed heavily on big brother. That's why I want to lessen it even if it's just a little."

Ryūhei understood that. After all, he also lived with them for 5 years. Well, Ryūhei also wanted to help them to take care of the situation in Inazuma. However, since the most problematic was the Archon herself, Ryūhei needed to prepare a lot of things before taking action.

Putting aside that thing, since Ayato was busy with something else, he turned to Thoma, gesturing him to leave him and Ayaka alone.

Thoma could only smile awkwardly before leaving. While Ayaka somewhat understood his intention.

Before long, she heard Ryūhei's voice.

"By the way, Ayaka. Do you like my birthday present?"

"Ah… Erm… Yes. Thank you."

"I'm glad if you like my present. Then, don't you want to try on the clothes?"

"Eh." Ayaka turned to Ryūhei. "The clothes from your present? Do you want me to wear them right now?"

Honestly, she was a little bit nervous since she was alone with Ryūhei. But, she tried to keep her composure.

Hearing her question, Ryūhei replied,

"Well, I've only ever seen you wearing clothes from Inazuma. I've never once seen you wearing anything from other nations. So I wanted to see it. Can you?"

"If you say so…" Ryūhei returned from Liyue just to give her a birthday present. So there's nothing wrong with her complying with his request.

And 15 minutes later… It seemed like it took some time for her to dress up. Luckily, her time to dress up did not give results in vain.

In fact, he was surprised at how well Ayaka fit in modern clothes. Green denim jacket with white top and black shorts. White socks with green trims and yellow mid-top sneakers. A black ball cap and a necklace, with her hair flowing back.

His gaze fixated on her as the clothing somewhat reminded him of his past life.

"H-how is it?" Ayaka wanted to know if the clothes looked weird on her.

"Umu. Naisu!" Ryūhei gave her a thumbs up.

'Perhaps, I miss my past life after all.' Ryūhei said inwardly.

"But, I can't wear this outside…" Ayaka said dejectedly. Openness is something she finds very difficult. She constantly has to remind herself that as a lady of the Kamisato Clan, there are countless people watching and countless expectations to live up to. She must be a model of exemplary conduct at all times.

'But, should I wear this just for him to see? Erm, why do I feel like I'm playing favorites here?'

"Is there something in your mind, Ayaka?" Ryūhei asked her after seeing her dejected expression.

"Ah, no. Nothing."

"If you have something in your mind, how about taking out for a walk?"

"But…"

"No but. Besides, no one will recognize you if you wear these clothes." Ryūhei also pointed at the cap she was wearing, which could be her cover as well. And Ryūhei also did the same. Although the modern clothes were so conspicuous, no one would recognize her, and people would recognize them as foreigners.

He knew that Inazuma wasn't friendly toward foreigners, however, that didn't mean all people were like that. Well, not like he cares about that.

In the end, Ryūhei forced her to go outside with him. He could see her hesitation at first. But, Ayaka ended up letting Ryūhei take her because Ayaka also wanted to go outside as an ordinary maiden. Even though this wasn't the first time she had done that, she knew that something like this lessened the burden she had on taking care of her clan.

— — — —

Meanwhile, in the Narukami Shrine. A pink-haired lady stomped her feet to the ground around the Torii gate of the shrine entrance as if she waited for someone.

"Why hasn't this little scoundrel come back here yet? How long is this little scoundrel going to make me wait? I want to read the rest of the story!"

She was none other than Yae Miko.

Her dangerous aura leaked out into the surroundings, causing the shrine maidens to tremble after feeling it. They wondered who would dare to piss her off like that.

After realizing that there was no sign of Ryūhei coming back to the shrine, she decided to head down.

— — — —

Meanwhile, Ryūhei had no idea that Miko was waiting for him as he walked out with Ayaka. They didn't go to Inazuma City because their appearance would attract the attention of the Shogun's army. On the other hand, they spend their time in Konda village, playing with kids, eating snacks, etc.

The sky dusked rapidly, showing that the day came to an end. Ryūhei looked at Ayaka who was brimming with delight.

'Underneath whatever position she may have held, she is just an ordinary girl. Maybe this all seems immature, but she just wants to live life as an ordinary maiden.' Ryūhei muttered with a sigh. His gaze turned to the sky.

'I already took the first step as well. By starting my business, I already introduced manga and games. If my system gives the things I predicted, there will be new industries that make electronic goods which will lead to modernization in the future and anime will come eventually. Heh, modernization is the thing I want the most. So, I'll have to do it regardless. But, there's something in my mind. Is it okay to show modernization in this world? I mean, I know there's a camera from Fontaine, electric instruments, or sci-fi robots like a Ruin Guard or others. But, will there be a problem if I invent unseen electrical goods? But I think the most problematic is personnel.'

Anime would be born eventually after the industrial estate started to take shape. However, he knew it was too difficult if he did it by himself, knowing that no one had knowledge of the modern world in Teyvat. If only there was a former human from a modern world reincarnated as a slime in this world like the one he read about in the novel he bought at the system market. It would be so fun to have a friend like that.