Inazuma, Grand Narukami Shrine.
Ei had just finished making breakfast in the kitchen and set it in front of Xia Zhi.
At first glance, it didn't look too bad.
He took a bite.
Ei watched him expectantly. "Well?"
"I can only say the flavor's... imaginative."
"..."
"Switch with the Shogun."
"Huh?"
"I know you can't taste the difference yourself. Let her try it."
"Alright…"
Ei closed her eyes.
A moment later, when she opened them again, her whole aura had shifted.
She lowered her head, looked at the plate, and silently picked up her chopsticks for a taste.
Xia Zhi asked, "How is it?"
Expressionless, the Shogun chewed and swallowed before replying flatly, "By most rational standards, it doesn't taste very good."
That way of speaking—yeah, that was something she'd definitely picked up from teaming up with Zhongli in the internet café last night.
Xia Zhi raised a brow. "So your sense of taste is fine. Interesting. You two share the same body, yet the difference is this big... do you eat often?"
The Shogun shook her head. "You know I don't. Puppets don't need food."
Of course he knew.
He was the Puppet Master, after all.
But the Shogun wasn't an ordinary puppet.
She was a flawless copy—identical memories, emotions, even desires.
It was just that the constraints of divine law, coupled with Ei's naturally reserved personality, left her unable to express emotion at all.
Xia Zhi leaned back. "Still, even puppets can eat if they want to."
"I rarely do. My duty is to remain in Tenshukaku and handle Inazuma's affairs in Ei's place."
With the faith of all Inazuma sustaining her, that was enough to keep her divine power intact.
She really was a machine—efficient, emotionless, tireless.
And honestly? That was kind of sad.
Her life wasn't so different from Nahida's—born divine, but locked away. Yet at least Nahida could read and dream, slipping into other people's minds for company.
The Shogun didn't even have that. She worked endlessly, day and night, alone in that palace. Ei had shut herself off from the world, and the puppet had no one left to talk to.
No wonder she'd become like this—emotionless, detached.
She'd just been lonely for too long.
After a moment of silence, Xia Zhi said softly, "Even so, food is one of life's pleasures. Didn't you try the [Gods' Temptation] I made yesterday?"
The Shogun blinked once. "No."
"There it is. You two share the same body, you should really communicate more. Share the good stuff."
He sighed, a little helpless.
Ei was hopeless when it came to her sister—when Makoto was around, the rest of the world didn't exist. Yesterday at lunch she'd been too busy eating with her sister to even think about switching out so the Shogun could taste the [Gods' Temptation] too.
And the Shogun wasn't much better. Same sister complex, same indifference to everything else. Plus, every time she overrode her own divine law, she got punished, so she never insisted on taking over for long.
Those two really were impossible.
Compared to them, Focalors and Furina might fight all the time, but their relationship was clearly much warmer.
Xia Zhi exhaled. "Well, it's fine. I'll make Gods' Temptation again for lunch. You can try it then."
The Shogun nodded slightly. "Alright."
"You can cook, right?"
"Anything Ei can do, I can do."
"Then it's your turn. Try making it yourself."
"Understood."
The Shogun moved to the stove, repeating Ei's earlier steps precisely.
When she finished, Xia Zhi took a bite. "This time, it actually tastes normal. So the problem really is only when Ei's in control."
The Shogun gave a faint nod. "Then I'll switch back."
She closed her eyes again.
Moments later, Ei returned—her expression unreadable.
She glanced down at the food and took a bite.
"How is it?" Xia Zhi asked.
Ei frowned. "Tastes... about the same."
"..."
Not even close.
He sighed.
Alright, time for plan B.
He pulled out a small wooden plaque—[Temporary Certificate].
With a brush, he wrote a single line:
[An automaton with a perfectly normal sense of taste.]
He held it up. "Don't move."
Ei stood obediently still.
He slipped the plaque around her neck. "Now try again."
She picked up her chopsticks and took another bite.
The moment the food hit her tongue, her face changed.
She chewed slowly, expression growing more and more grave.
"Well?"
"It's... really strange."
"Exactly. Your taste buds are the issue."
Xia Zhi was pretty sure she had some passive skill hiding in her stats—he just hadn't copied it yet.
"Anyway, keep that plaque on for now."
"Alright."
--
While they ate, Yaoyao came over to tell Xia Zhi she'd just chatted with the Traveler.
That caught his attention.
The Traveler named Lumine supposedly had a tiny floating companion called Paimon.
A girl from another world traveling with a fairy-like partner, solving crises across nations—that was pure main-character energy.
Even Venti, Zhongli, and Ei had praised her in casual talk.
Apparently, she could resonate with the Statues of the Seven, manipulating elemental power without even possessing a Vision. She was the rising star of the Adventurers' Guild, had parried one of the Shogun's attacks, and even fought Ei in her Meditation Space...
Anyone who could go toe-to-toe with an Archon had to be special.
And if her strength was that incredible, maybe she carried a Diamond Treasure Chest.
Not that the chest itself mattered. Xia Zhi was more curious about the girl herself—someone else who'd crossed worlds, just like him.
Maybe he could learn a new skill from her—something like [Dimensional Travel].
Then, once he finished exploring Teyvat, he could visit other worlds without ever getting bored.
The thought made his eyes glimmer with anticipation.
And even if he didn't learn that, there was always the [Shop]. It had everything—he just needed enough points.
He still remembered the visions he'd seen while crossing the void: dazzling, alien realms, and that one mysterious god whose mere gaze had blinded him.
Once his journey across Teyvat was done, he'd have enough points to buy something that could safely take him through the void again.
----
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