Ever since Ryen quietly slipped the Vampiric Scepter to Guizhong earlier, she had become noticeably more subdued.
She stayed close by his side, no longer hopping around restlessly, her head lowered as if lost in thought.
Ryen did not pry into what she was thinking.
If Guizhong was behaving herself, that was the best possible outcome.
The Twilight Forest was far too dangerous. With Guizhong's personality, able to vanish halfway across the map the moment no one was watching, keeping her calm was a matter of safety.
Ryen withdrew his gaze from Guizhong, thought for a moment, then suddenly reached out and grabbed Yae Miko by the wrist, pulling her closer.
Miko raised an eyebrow. She was not startled in the least, if anything, she looked intrigued.
"Well now," she teased,
"Could it be that you've finally lost your restraint and decided to make a move on me? Though everyone's still watching, maybe you should take me somewhere private first?"
Ryen was momentarily stunned by the barrage of words. After a pause, he clicked his tongue.
"Stop talking nonsense. I have something serious to ask. Did Makoto talk to Ei about the Shogun?"
Miko blinked, then leaned in close to his ear.
"Want to know? Confess to me, and I'll tell you."
"I like you, Miko."
"..."
Miko fell silent.
Technically, he had confessed, but for some reason, there was absolutely no sense of accomplishment.
"Why did you answer so fast?! Didn't you even think about it?"
She rubbed her forehead helplessly, though she had to admit, on second thought, it did feel oddly comfortable.
Ryen shrugged.
"Saying that won't cost me anything. Besides, I do like you."
"Really?"
"Now hurry up. What happened just now?"
Miko's interest visibly waned.
"Didn't you already guess? Makoto lost her temper over the Shogun and Scaramouche and gave Ei a very harsh dressing-down."
Ryen glanced meaningfully at Ei walking ahead, head lowered, her entire figure radiating grievance.
"So it wasn't just a scolding, was it?"
"She just spoke very harshly," Miko said with a light laugh.
"Makoto found out that the Shogun developed self-awareness but was sealed in the Plane of Euthymia. And that Scaramouche was abandoned after being created."
"On top of that, she saw everything Ei neglected in Inazuma over the past five hundred years."
"She basically settled all old accounts at once."
Ryen finally understood.
"No wonder…"
Compared to Ei, Makoto possessed far more humanity than divinity.
Ei cared about the greater picture of Inazuma, about Makoto, and about her close companions.
Makoto, however, cared first and foremost about every single citizen of Inazuma.
To Ei, Scaramouche was merely a test product, created, evaluated, and discarded.
Even after he developed self-awareness, it was irrelevant to her needs.
The Shogun, likewise, was nothing more than a tool meant to govern Inazuma in her stead.
Now that Makoto had returned, the Shogun was no longer necessary.
Ei was a pure realist, an extreme pragmatist.
Makoto could never accept that.
To her, even a puppet created by Ei was still Ei's child.
And if it was Ei's child, then it was also Makoto's.
How Ei treated Scaramouche and the Shogun, everyone knew.
In Makoto's eyes, Ei had become irresponsible and cold-hearted.
That was not the sister she remembered.
Her rage was inevitable.
"I can understand it," Ryen said softly.
"Makoto taught Ei by example for years, hoping she would become a gentle and responsible god."
"But after Makoto's death, everything Ei did just kept piling up as unspoken resentment."
"And now she sees Ei being this irresponsible… Makoto's probably angry at herself too."
Miko's eyes lit up, and she nodded rapidly.
"Exactly. I think Makoto blames herself for not teaching Ei well."
"So what now?" Ryen asked.
Miko clasped her hands behind her back and walked beside him leisurely.
"Makoto told Ei to handle everything herself. No one is allowed to help."
"She even said that if Ei can't resolve it properly, then she's no longer her sister."
"…That extreme?" Ryen frowned. "Ei's going to shut down completely."
He glanced at Ei again, her face was full of quiet sorrow.
For Ei, even being told that her Musou no Hitotachi couldn't cut down a high-level monster would hurt far less than Makoto saying she didn't want her anymore.
Ryen had already pushed the story to this point before, he knew what the Shogun's situation truly was.
After some thought, he said slowly,
"Come to think of it, ever since I came to Teyvat, I've barely left Liyue. The only exceptions were two trips to Sumeru."
Miko raised her eyebrows, anticipation flashing across her face.
"So… you're thinking of visiting Inazuma?"
Ryen nodded.
"Sightseeing. Clearing my head."
Miko moved closer, clearly pleased.
"In that case, I can be your guide."
"By day, I'll show you around the islands of Inazuma."
"And by night… I'll take you back to the Grand Narukami Shrine to play."
Ryen studied her carefully and lowered his voice.
"When you say play… are you being serious?"
Miko smiled.
"What do you think?"
Yae Miko blinked. At some point, her soft, pink tail had quietly wrapped around Ryen's arm.
Ryen immediately nodded, utterly serious.
"Looks like I really do need to make a trip to Inazuma."
"Tch… wasn't someone saying he was only interested in fluffy, pink-haired fox pets?"
Miko laughed teasingly. Ryen shrugged.
"Timing matters. During the day, of course petting foxes is more appropriate. As for the night…"
"If you come knocking yourself and I turn you down, wouldn't that damage your self-confidence?"
"Lisa was right, you really are someone who accepts all comers."
Miko complained lightly. Ryen looked completely unbothered.
"That's my philosophy as a true man: don't take the initiative, don't refuse either…"
"…And don't take responsibility?"
Miko raised an eyebrow, giving him a strange look.
Ryen pinched her nose and joked,
"Responsibility depends on the situation."
"For example?"
"For example, if it's just petting a fox, I'm definitely not taking responsibility."
"…Then what if it's playing with a fox?"
Miko asked boldly. Ryen gave her a meaningful look.
The two of them tacitly let the topic drop.
After a short pause, Miko asked softly,
"So when do you plan to go to Inazuma? I'll need time to prepare."
Ryen looked up to check their progress.
The group was already nearing the territory of the third boss.
After thinking it over, he replied calmly,
"After we finish this speed run through the Twilight Forest and unlock the new mod. Once I've made all the arrangements."
"Even if it's just sightseeing, I should finish my work first."
Miko smiled as she looped her arm around his, her voice gentle.
"A man with such a strong sense of responsibility… I like that."
Ryen shrugged.
"I still have a lot to handle."
"Researching the new mod, starting construction on the new city, Lumine is still dealing with Sumeru, and I also need to design entertainment activities for this world's Lantern Rite."
"Tch… once the Twilight Forest is fully cleared…"
"I'll probably be busy all over again."
He shook his head, chatting idly with Miko while occasionally teasing her, making her alternately flustered and pleased.
The atmosphere between them was surprisingly harmonious.
Ganyu and the others noticed, but paid it no mind.
They understood Ryen's personality all too well.
If Miko didn't take the initiative, Ryen would do nothing.
But if she stepped forward herself, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
Lisa shook her head and leaned close to Jean, whispering,
"See, Jean? If you don't make a move, someone else will. You should be careful."
Jean glanced at Lisa awkwardly and fell silent.
But if anyone's feelings were truly complicated, it was Guizhong.
Ever since Ryen secretly handed her the Vampiric Scepter, her thoughts had been in complete disarray.
She kept recalling the past few days,
especially last night's surprise ambush on Ryen, what she saw and heard, and the moment he pinned her against the wall while complaining about her.
She couldn't understand what was happening to her.
Seeing Ryen chatting happily with Miko made her feel inexplicably irritated.
It was as if her favorite toy had never really belonged to her,
as if she'd only been borrowing it, while someone else was the rightful owner.
For no clear reason, Guizhong felt her fists tighten.
Walking behind Ryen, she clenched her advanced-tier staff, staring straight at Miko.
A voice inside her urged her to smack Miko with it.
"Fox spirit…"
Guizhong muttered under her breath.
But Miko's ears were far too sharp, every word reached her perfectly.
Miko raised an eyebrow, a mysterious smile forming.
She casually glanced back at Guizhong, chuckled softly, and moved even closer to Ryen.
"!!!"
Guizhong felt her staff itch again.
This woman…
She was practically leaning on Ryen!
Fox spirit!
Guizhong stomped the ground angrily and hurried past them, deciding that out of sight was better for her peace of mind.
Miko, as if having discovered something amusing, grew even more excited.
Leaning close to Ryen's ear, she whispered,
"Looks like your good brother is about to have some feelings go bad."
"What?"
Ryen snapped back to attention and looked at her in confusion.
Miko rolled her eyes.
"You weren't listening at all, were you?"
"Of course not."
Ryen nodded frankly.
"You're pressed this close to me, if I don't take the time to appreciate it, wouldn't that be wasting your goodwill and disrespecting your figure?"
"..."
Miko's expression turned complicated, a hint of embarrassment flashing in her eyes.
"You really are straightforward… You can say things like that without any shame at all?"
"Why would I hide it?"
Ryen casually pulled her closer, laughing.
"Right place, right duty. Consider it compensation for neglecting you before."
"You just want to take advantage of me."
"Mmm… I won't deny that."
As he spoke, he reached out and grasped Miko's tail, sighing contentedly.
"Fluffy… it really is wonderful."
"Right now, I've got wives, children, and even a personal pet. I wouldn't trade this life for the Third Throne."
Miko rolled her eyes but didn't stop him.
After all, she was the one who approached him first.
She'd spent thousands of years alone.
Now Makoto had returned, Inazuma was steadily improving,
Was it really so wrong for her to think about herself for once?