Sangonomiya Kokomi

The inhabitants of Watatsumi Island once lived in Enkanomiya, at the bottom of the sea. It was only by the grace of the god Orobaxi bringing them up to the surface that the civilization of Watatsumi Island exists today. When Orobaxi was slain by the Electro Archon, its body was left as a skeleton and its resentment permeated the land, giving rise to Tatarigami. Yet its desire to protect Watatsumi Island never faded. This will lives on in the bloodline of the Sangonomiya Clan, and follows them from generation to generation. The current heir to this bloodline is known as the Divine Priestess. The meaning behind this is as such: to inherit the will of a god in a mortal's body, and to defend this land and its people in that god's stead.

The day Kokomi ascended to the role of Divine Priestess, countless inhabitants of Watatsumi Island came to Sangonomiya Shrine of their own accord to see her. Surprise, suspicion, confusion, chuckles... Their expressions were strange, all on account of her overly-young appearance in their eyes. Plots were hatched and questions were endless. The ambitious planned to make their move. The storm was approaching, and all was not at peace on Watatsumi Island. Yet all went back to business as usual not long after Kokomi ascended to her position. She was fair in distributing rewards and punishments alike, appreciated the contributions of the people, and was militarily skilled. Her many abilities quickly won the hearts of most of the people. "Things will be alright as long as Her Excellency is here" soon became the most widespread saying on the island.

There are many factors involved in deciding victory or defeat. Terrain, weather, differences in military strength and equipment quality... All of these require careful consideration. Those who study the details too closely tend to miss changes on the field, and most who speak of strategy speak of it in a vacuum. Only those who can grasp both the big picture and the small details can create miracles on the battlefield. And behind all this lies countless hours of hard work delving into the reasons behind one's failures. Few if any ever persevere to the end, but Kokomi was not only good at this but also possessed a unique tactical style. "Manipulate the larger strategic situation to force the other side to give up, and to win wars with the least amount of cost possible."

Whether on the battlefield or off it, Kokomi tries to "know thy enemy" as much as possible. She tends to predict all possible scenarios beforehand and devise strategies to address them, which are then delivered as directives to those who enforce her will. This has given rise to the issue of some of these directives being rather thick and heavy, but this method has guaranteed the stable development of Watatsumi Island. Today, Watatsumi Island moves each day towards greater prosperity, and as more talented people have been appointed to office, the directives that Kokomi has to deliver have decreased. As far as she is concerned, that is something worth celebrating.

When Kokomi has the time to spare, she will go on walks on Watatsumi Island alone. She often tries to avoid crowds, pacing slowly through the violet forests, sometimes sitting by the seaside and looking out into the distance. The sun and the moon rise over the sea, the stars shine in their skies, and the sound of the waves is pleasing to the ear, relaxing the soul. Sometimes she will even place a seashell on her head, only to put it back where she found it when she leaves. In her mind, perhaps some wandering crab will burrow its way inside and call this shell home. Sometimes, Kokomi will also go diving, enjoying the calm atmosphere by herself, her worries sinking into the ocean depths as schools of fish swim all around her. Kokomi treasures every sight there is to be seen on Watatsumi Island, and she remembers the name of every person. Sadly, while scenery remains, people's hearts are complex and changeable. Victory is simple enough to attain compared to the mammoth task of making sure that everyone lives happily. This dilemma has always troubled her.

Kokomi has been well-read since she was young, and has a particular love for military treatises. As such, Kokomi has a broad store of knowledge to be used in every field. But another result of her constantly being buried in such treatises of war and illustrated military texts is that Kokomi lacks skill in social interaction. She does not know when it started, but interacting with people eventually became tiresome to her. Having ascended to the role of Divine Priestess, Kokomi had no choice but to learn many things that she wasn't any good at before, whether it was dealing with people or performing duties that she had little interest in. However, forcing herself to do things she holds little love for is a serious drain on her energy reserves, leaving her feeling quite exhausted. As such, Kokomi set up an "energy" system of measurement for herself. When she does things she enjoys, her energy levels will increase, and the reverse is true when she trudges through unenjoyable slogs. When she runs out of this energy, Kokomi will temporarily put her duties as the Divine Priestess aside and resume being an ordinary homebody. Engrossing herself in the close reading of a book on military strategy, walling herself off from the rest of the world — thus does Kokomi reclaim a temporary respite from her busy existence. These moments are of utmost value to her.

"As the ruler is, so shall the people be." This precept was something Kokomi heard from her mother a long time ago. The Divine Priestess' role is one of utmost importance to Watatsumi Island, and its people's eyes are always upon her every move. The things she loves will be in fashion, and the things she dislikes, the people will also distance themselves from. Kokomi, in truth, has no wish to affect the people's lives, and as such has rarely ever revealed much of her personal likes or dislikes. She treats all things with an egalitarian manner, and holds "fairness of judgment" and "justice in dispensing rewards and punishment" to be her guiding principles. However, these are not necessarily her true feelings, and so she prepared a book of secret notes for herself. Here, she records the fluctuations in both her energy levels and mood. When the night deepens and the world falls silent, Kokomi will open this book and write the day's experiences, whether they be joyous, sad, or frustrating. ...Of course, this object is for her eyes only — and so it must remain.

A leader with a strong will can lead those around them in a clear direction. However, Kokomi lacks such strong ideals. Instead, she respects the will of the people and wishes that they can each find their own way. Just as the vast ocean can accommodate countless souls and their individual desires, so does Kokomi wish her rule could be. When the Vision Hunt Decree came about, the resentment of the people turned into cries of revolt, and so Kokomi led them in raising the banner of resistance. And once the war was over, the hearts of the people turned towards peace and stability, and so did Kokomi direct her energies towards governance and economics. But what was the source of this toil? Was this the role of the Divine Priestess speaking? Or was this a product of her own sense of duty? Or perhaps... it was a bit of both? As the Divine Priestess, Kokomi naturally has her own Vision. And ever since the day she looked out at the sea outside Sangonomiya Shrine, her wish has never once changed— "I wish to protect all of Watatsumi Island and allow its people to lead happy lives."

Yae Publishing House has released numerous works that lay out military strategy in a simple and pragmatic way. Those are my favorite.

Respect must be given to the will of every creature. Each fish in the ocean swims in its own direction.

To survive hardship, you must prepare for hardship.

I am Sangonomiya Kokomi, the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island. My journey with you will be an opportunity to unwind... Ahem, I mean... to survey beyond our borders. Don't worry, I've left behind ample directives in my absence, and have also completed the island's projected development plans. Departing for a brief period will be of little consequence.

Marching in the rain conceals the sound of our arrival, but is also a test of stamina...

The snow... have you ever seen such beauty?

Such fortunate weather... Care for a walk?

Mm... High winds. An incendiary attack would be particularly effective.

Good morning. I've just read a fascinating stratagem, would you like to study it together?

Mmmm... to improve efficiency, we must make some adjustments to our battle plan for the afternoon.

Mm? Night already? Time seems to slip away when I'm with you.

Good night. Garner your strength for the battles ahead.

The battlefield is unpredictable — one false move could mark utter defeat. Before the onset of battle, I bring every possible scenario into consideration, and turn my thoughts into written directives. These are then issued to the troops. ...It does seem at present like they're somewhat over-reliant on the directives, which worries me... If they read up on military strategy themselves, they could begin to rely on their own ability to read the battlefield. I need them to be able to identify and seize opportunities in the heat of the moment.

Mm... I hope we can put an end to this battle quickly. The Yae Publishing House has just released a new volume of "A Legend of Sword." Ah, I'd like nothing more than to curl up with a copy in my room and read it front to back.

My mother once taught me that it takes a broad outlook to become a qualified leader. However, my younger years were mostly spent traveling between Sangonomiya and the army. I never had time to embark on my own adventure. So... there are many aspects of adventuring that I've yet to fully understand. Mm, you'll have to excuse my lack of experience in this area.

It's said that the depths of a person's heart run deep indeed. Yet, as the Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island, it is my duty to strive to understand each person's thoughts. Let's start with you, Traveler. What are you thinking about now? Let me take a guess...

In my book, Visions are symbols of aspiration, and aspiration is a precious thing indeed. This is exactly why the resistance was formed — to oppose the Vision Hunt Decree. Aspiration should never be abandoned or forcibly taken away.

Among Yae Publishing House's various publications, my personal favorite is the "Teyvat Art of War." See, it has articles on classic military campaigns, as well as detailed analysis and commentary from famous strategists. There are a few that I particularly enjoy... Here, let me read them to you.

The world below water is not bright and sunny like that of dry land. Still, whenever I lend myself to the deep, my heart gradually fills with a permeating sense of peace. Fish move in faraway shoals, jellyfish dance around me, and my troubles start to simply wash away. Mmm... I could take you to see it sometime, what do you think?

I simply love Watatsumi Sango Pearls... They're not just a source of income for Watatsumi Island, but a gift from the sea itself.

Gorou is an exceptional general... sincere, determined, and courageous. He has a strong camaraderie with the troops and is able to come up with creative battle plans. He does, however, have one shortcoming... He often lets the excitement of battle get to his head. If you are ever deployed to the battlefield together, be sure to have a good rein on him when things get underway.

Mmm... I must admit, Kujou Sara is an opponent that cannot be taken lightly. She seldom employs cunning strategy, but her performance in open warfare is always admirable. The Shogun's Army places great trust in her abilities — they are united and ready to fight valiantly under her command, even to the death. Her forces have been a serious threat to the resistance on multiple occasions.

I have also heard of Guuji Yae's great deeds. In all fairness, I hold her to be an outstanding shrine maiden, and she has performed her duties marvelously. I even heard that she holds responsibility where Yae Publishing House's light novels are concerned. An enigmatic individual to say the least...

Now that the Vision Hunt Decree is over, Watatsumi Island has once again returned to normal life. It has never been my intent to scrutinize the rights and wrongs of the Shogun's actions, even to this day. What I do care about is the future of our island. It is my hope that the Shogun will fulfill her promise and that we can live with the Shogunate in peace. However, if there comes a day when she once again casts aside the aspirations of the people, I can assure you that we won't sit by and watch.

Ah... back when Beidou and I were carrying out ambushes against the Shogun's Army together, I raised my concerns that the enemy might detect our approach. But Beidou assured me of her fleet's unwavering discipline, and that raids could be carried out without detection. In the end, she was right, and that's exactly what happened. Now, every time the Watatsumi fleet encounters some sort of bottleneck, I consider inviting her to come and give them her instruction. There's no doubt, she runs a tight ship...

Kazuha once came and bunked with the resistance for a time. If I'm not mistaken, he got along very well with Gorou — they would often fight side-by-side in battle. Kazuha has a carefree personality and doesn't like constraints, but he would follow every command to the letter when he was among our ranks. In my opinion, not only is he an outstanding swordsman, but a very refined character.

Initially, I was astonished to see anyone coming to Watatsumi Island wearing a Tenryou Commission uniform. A Tenryou Commission samurai would never be that brazen, and a Tenryou Commission spy would never be that conspicuous. Shortly after, I discovered that he was a self-proclaimed "detective" by the name of Shikanoin, and that he took no interest in military, government, or commercial affairs. Instead, he seemed to have arrived for a bit of sightseeing. As such, I set a few eyes on him, but refrained from taking any action to remove him from the island. Be sure to talk to him if the chance ever presents itself.

No matter how pressing the situation may become, I must remain composed. If I let the stress get to me, then what can I expect from others around me?

Legend has it that our ancestors lived in a palace in the depths of the ocean, and that the god, Orobashi, brought us to the surface. I've often wondered, wouldn't a palace like that be too dark? Every time I think about it, I start to really appreciate the light...

After you left, the soldiers of Swordfish II nominated a temporary captain, but everyone was hoping that you'd return. I could only tell them that you'd been tasked with an important solo mission. If you get the chance, you should go visit them, I'm sure they'd love to see you.

A long time ago, I had no intention of becoming the Divine Priestess. My only goal was to study military strategy and become an adviser. That way, I could remain behind the scenes and lessen my overall burden. *sigh* Fate had other ideas in store... You can't defy that which flows in your veins.

After becoming the Divine Priestess, I gradually grew accustomed to this life. At the very least, I have the power to change something when it doesn't sit well with me. More importantly, this title allowed me to meet you, did it not?

Huh? What do I enjoy? Simple. I like to find a quiet place by myself and read books on strategy... Ahh, the whole day, without interruption. I'd be even happier if we looked over some of it together. One thing though... You'd have to sleep on the floor.

To be quite honest, I'm not particularly skilled at communicating with others. Putting on my "Divine Priestess airs" certainly makes things easier, but once I run out of energy, I start to get a bit negative. I prevent others from seeing that side of me at all costs. The people of Watatsumi Island need a perfect leader, not some girl who likes to wile away her time at home.

I just love eating Bird Egg Sushi. The ingredients are easy to find, and it's simple to prepare... Ah... perfect for military life. Sitting down to eat Bird Egg Sushi in the midst of war might seem a bit extravagant, but in most cases, simple food like this brings great satisfaction to the soldiers.

Mm... If I had to say, I'm not fond of any sort of seafood. But please, keep this strictly confidential. The fishing industry is essential to Watatsumi Island, and if word were to get out that seafood wasn't my thing, I'm afraid morale would be gravely affected.

Happy birthday! So, what are your plans for the day? Oh, why don't we celebrate on Watatsumi Island? First, I'll take you out at daybreak to see the sunrise, then we can go diving during the heat of the day. In the evening, we can go for a stroll around Sangonomiya Shrine. If it rains, we'll find somewhere cozy to hide out with a few strategy books, and try to bake a cake together! In any case, no need to plan anything, the grand strategist has everything thought out for you!

Brute force is not my modus operandi. But becoming stronger isn't a bad thing.

I'm just bubbling with energy... We'll make a formidable force in our next fight.

The moon shines bright over the depths of the seas as the tides come and go. It seems that as I go from strength to strength, so does my state of mind flow.

I often used to succumb to self-doubt. I would think to myself, "Can a person like me really hold the title of Divine Priestess?" Now, the thought hardly crosses my mind. When I'm with you, I seem to be able to cut straight through most problems.

Allow me!

Hold the line.

Rest and rebuild.

Covenant of the Deep.

Billowing surge!

Torrents, bring refuge!

Let's move out.

Breathtaking.

Provisions are vital.

We should make the most of these supplies.

Mm... So this is the thrill of adventure...

Fatigue is setting in...

Time to switch tactics.

Foresight brings victory.

Reinforcements have arrived!

Fall back.

New strategy needed...

A lapse in judgment...

Must learn from my mistakes...

A brash maneuver!

Uphill battle...

We'll need a strategy...

Take heart, victory will be ours.

All is accounted for, let's move out.

Yummy, this is delicious! And it seems my energy is also... Ahem, I mean... Never mind...

I like to take my time and eat slowly, that way I can enjoy it for longer.

Oh, it seems we're at an impasse.

Miss Mizuki's talents are well-known throughout the land. I had some ideas for a few projects around Watatsumi Island and was hoping to bring her on as a consultant. But, after talking with her, it became clear that she has much bigger dreams in mind. I'm looking forward to the day when she brings that vision to fruition. In the meantime, Watatsumi Island is always open to her.