As a general, she cannot be a good daughter of Kage.

His palms gradually tightened around his legs, his lips pursed slightly, and his voice became increasingly ethereal.

"Have you ever thought about giving up?"

She finally picked it up and asked tentatively.

"...Give up?"

Xinhai wasn't too surprised, nor did he think she was exaggerating. He just whispered the word softly.

"To pursue your ideal, your childhood ideal, to be a staff member?"

she said softly.

"...(shakes head)"

Xinhai shook his head slowly.

"Maybe... I thought about it when I first took office, but... now I don't dare to think about it."

Xinhai sighed in reply.

"...Is it because of Kaijijima?"

"Well...if I leave, what will happen to them...the people of Kaiji Island? Now that I am here, they all have a bad opinion of, or disrespect for, the shogunate, Narukami Island, and even you. .”

"If I weren't here... Phew, I don't know what they would do. Waiting for them will only lead to death, right? General?"

Xinhai asked.

"It's true. If you weren't here, I wouldn't have to worry about your face. I would cut them to pieces with one strike~"

As the general spoke, he naughtily pressed his back towards Xinhai. Xinhai also felt that her movements were a bit doting and made his upper body lean forward in cooperation with the other party before. Same action.

"Haha... So, I can't leave. I won't pursue my old ideals. It's impossible..."

Xinhai loosened his knees and placed his left hand gently on the stone platform under his hips, and slowly caressed the back of the hand of the person behind him who was also placed on the stone platform.

"Your 'sword' is on my neck at the moment. If I were not here, only Haiji Island behind me would suffer. So, General, please keep this knife on my neck forever."

The palm of his hand gently grasped the general's hand, as if to strengthen his mind.

"Don't be so evil. I have no intention of using a sword against you. My arms are still tired after holding it against you for a long time."

The general jokingly pressed his back against hers again.

"It's just a metaphor..."

Xinhai smiled slightly and then said softly in a sweet and soft voice.

"That's not okay, it can't be compared."

The general became irrational like a child, which was very cute for a moment.

"Pfft...yes, yes~~"

Xinhai responded to her lovingly.

"..."×2

The two fell into a kind of silence again, but this time it was no longer awkward, but peaceful and even a little warm.

"Really...have you decided?"

"Ok?"

"Abandon your ideals?"

she asked again.

"...Well, maybe life is like this. How many people in the world can completely control their own lives? Sometimes it is inevitable that you will embark on a path that goes against your previous ideals, and it is inevitable that you need to give up some things. As the saying goes, ——Theron’s loss of horse and rouge is not a blessing. If I really became a staff member, I wouldn’t meet you now, right~?”

Xinhai finally turned around and sat on the stone platform side by side with the person behind him. His shoulders slowly leaned towards her and his eyes stared at her affectionately.

"...///"

After she heard these somewhat straightforward words, her fair and tender face had a lovely and obvious rosiness, and she subconsciously looked away to look at the distant fire clouds.

"..."

Xinhai smiled slightly after seeing her shy little movements, and gently probed her head to see her face.

"!"

She subconsciously avoided it, not wanting the other party to see her blushing.

"Are you blushing?"

Xinhai asked bluntly.

"...Ahem, it's the setting sun."

She coughed lightly, and then she didn't hide anymore. She made a simple excuse, and even crossed her arms.

"That's right...it's already evening."

The emotionally intelligent person did not ask further questions, but changed the subject.

"…And one more thing."

She said it again.

"Ok?"

Xinhai turned to look at her, waiting patiently for her question with a soft smile.

"Why do you take a bath here when you feel unwell?"

The general asked in confusion.

"...Pfft, take a, take a bath, haha~!"

Xinhai covered her chest and laughed at her somewhat ridiculous vocabulary.

"L-what are you laughing at? Aren't you taking a bath?"

the general asked dissatisfiedly.

"Hmm~Pfft...yes, it's a bath (laughing)."

Xinhai gently pressed his shoulder against her, then held back his smile and petted her as he spoke.

"..."

The general had begun to narrow his eyes, revealing his speechless eyes.

"Huh... Actually, the spring water here is indirectly connected to the residual power of the Great God of the Sea. There are particles in it that are consistent with my water element. It has a therapeutic effect and can just slightly relieve my headache and physical fatigue."

Xinhai took a breath and explained to her in detail.

"Only you?"

she asked.

"Well, others wouldn't go out of their way to go to such a distant place...Pfft...take a bath——"

Pooh~

She couldn't bear it, reached out and gently pinched the other person's white stockings thigh. She pinched the fabric of the stockings and the thigh meat underneath.

"Ouch~it hurts~!"

Sure enough, Xinhai screamed cutely, and then immediately clamped her thighs together to cover the twisted position and looked at her with a bulging face.

"Humph~"

The general snorted arrogantly, crossed his legs and ignored her, who made this guy laugh at her.

"Hmm///~ So... I am the only one here, and I want to avoid being noticed. Moreover, it is very close to the Coral Palace but not obvious, which is very convenient."

Xinhai looked at her aggrievedly and then continued to answer obediently.

Pooh~

However, the next second the general felt his thigh being gently pinched by the other party, and looked over speechlessly.

"...Give it back to you~"

Xinhai let go of his hand and patted her thigh gently, saying revenge to her with a sweet smile.

"..."

Looking at the other person's smile, she was lost in thought for a moment, then came back to her senses and complained to herself inwardly before standing up gently.

"What a grinder..."

He said helplessly to him.

"……Um."

After hearing this, Xinhai was slightly startled, and then he smiled with relief and nodded obediently, as if to say 'I am'.

[Xinhai, becoming the 'Miko of the Living God' means entrusting Kaiji Island to you. 】

[I know you are not good at this, but from now on...you must try your best to respond to everyone's expectations. 】

[Because... you are the future of our Haiji Island. 】

"!!"

I woke up from a dream again. After a period of hazy vision, I saw a familiar ceiling. The surroundings were dim, and there was only a golden afterglow in the peripheral vision. It was not the setting sun but the bedside table lamp.

"...What am I...?"

She was a little confused for a moment, why was she lying on the bed?

"Well…"

Narrowing his eyes, he raised his hand from the quilt and put the back of his hand on his sweaty forehead. After looking around, he breathed a sigh of relief when he found that it was his own room.

The windows were covered with curtains, but the fact that there was no light coming through the curtains showed that it was already evening.

"Did I fall asleep..."

She couldn't help but murmur softly, her voice was still a little hoarse probably because she had just woken up.

I remembered that after taking a dip in the spring water in the back mountain, the general carried her all the way back again. He returned to the Coral Palace through the back door. After entering the room, he put her on the bed. At that time, she wanted to lie down for a while, but she didn't expect... phew... directly. Fell asleep.