Chapter 336: Hearing Luo Li: Sangonomiya Kokomi, my... daughter?!

This power, gifted during her infancy, had once provided Kokomi with extremely potent assistance.

Her Vision granted her the power to heal and soothe hearts, while the Stigmata bestowed upon her immense combat prowess capable of destroying all things.

The young girl firmly believed this was the first gift her father had given her upon her birth.

Gorou could not refuse, or rather, once Sangonomiya had made a decision, no one could stop her.

"Very well, please follow me, Your Excellency."

Knowing he lacked the ability to persuade her, Gorou could only agree.

Setting aside the official business she was handling, Kokomi stood up, the hem of her skirt—which trailed behind her white-stockinged legs like a mermaid's tail—swaying gracefully.

Emerging from the main hall, the two followed the stone bridge by the fountain pool.

Gorou looked around, but saw that Hearing Luo Li, who had been there not long ago, had vanished.

Under Kokomi's puzzled gaze, he said anxiously, "He was right here just a moment ago..."

Kokomi understood, and looking toward the short-haired shrine maiden guarding the hall, she walked over and asked, "Nahi, do you know where the guest brought by Gorou earlier has gone?"

"Your Excellency!"

Seeing the revered Divine Priestess, Izumi Nahi immediately bowed her head in salute, then answered the question: "That guest seemed to have gone to the mountain on the other side, saying he wanted to witness the scenery of Watatsumi Island."

The shrine maiden pointed toward the cliff opposite the Sangonomiya, detailing the path Hearing Luo Li had taken.

"That place is..."

Casting a glance at the indicated direction, Kokomi was quite surprised.

That location was where she would escape from official duties, a place where she would read military strategy books and relax in her state as an ordinary girl.

"Is it a coincidence?" Kokomi wondered to herself.

Regardless, she became curious about the identity of that "guest," and even the previous irritability she felt dissipated somewhat.

Since it was a place she was familiar with, she did not need Gorou to lead the way, instead taking the lead herself.

"Wait for me, Your Excellency!"

Realizing he had been left behind, Gorou hurried his pace.

Before long, the two crossed a suspension bridge and arrived at a cliffside halfway up the mountain, several miles away from the Sangonomiya.

In less than a few minutes, Gorou saw the two soldiers he had dispatched to follow Hearing Luo Li standing by a small path, looking at a loss.

"You two, are you neglecting your duties standing here? Where is that guest?!"

Gorou's expression turned grim; he was worried the man might have escaped.

Discovering that the General Gorou and the Divine Priestess had arrived in person, the two soldiers were startled and hurriedly explained.

"It's not like that, Your Excellency. That guest just entered the hidden natural cave over there and instructed us not to approach."

"A natural cave?"

Gorou was suspicious; he had never heard of a natural cave in this vicinity.

Sangonomiya Kokomi said gently, "That is a private place where I often stay. I apologize for not having informed you of it."

"I... I see."

Gorou felt awkward; it turned out to be a private place for the Divine Priestess to relax.

Upon further reflection, he realized that such a secret place had been intruded upon by an outsider, and his expression changed immediately.

"Your Excellency, let's go quickly! It would be disastrous if he took anything away!"

"It doesn't matter. At most, there are only some books on military strategy; I wouldn't keep anything too important there."

Kokomi shook her head slightly, her expression appearing very calm.