[Ei said, "There's a nostalgic scent in the air, and a solid feeling beneath my feet, hmm…"]
Thus spoke the centuries-old shut-in.
Having floated in the air for so long, she had forgotten the sensation of standing on solid ground.
This was the opposite of Guizhong, who was the type to always have her feet firmly on the earth—Guizhong walked barefoot, pure and natural, without any additives (shoes).
[Paimon said, "Let's head to the liveliest place in the city first!"]
The liveliest place Paimon referred to was the city's marketplace. After all, with no festivals happening, the market was already the most bustling spot.
The sudden appearance of the Shogun, who hadn't left her seclusion in centuries, at the marketplace was undoubtedly a striking event.
Passersby and stall vendors alike were astonished, as if they had seen someone walking an alpaca down the main street.
No, even rarer than an alpaca, because people actually keep alpacas. The Raiden Shogun? You couldn't keep her even if you wanted to.
Speaking of which, keeping the Raiden Shogun wouldn't be bad—she doesn't even need rest.
She's a 24/7, 365-day workhorse, serving you tirelessly.
Her services depend on the core programming you set for her. In Ei's hands, her priority is serving "eternity" above even Ei herself.
If you had her working in a factory by day and delivering takeout by night, I can't even imagine how great that would be.
Back to the story, the people of Inazuma were extremely surprised and uneasy seeing the Shogun in person.
But Ei, with her big heart, didn't care at all and was completely at ease.
After all, with a big heart comes a certain boldness.
[Ei asked, "The citizens' transactions are still conducted using Mora, right?"]
[Paimon replied, "Yep, same as before. Still shiny and oh-so-captivating!"]
Paimon noted that Mora was the unchanging, eternal constant. Even now, with the Geo Archon "dead," Mora hadn't been replaced.
[Paimon suddenly thought of something, "Wait, Ei, you don't have any Mora either, do you?"]
[Ei nodded, "Of course not. In the Plane of Euthymia, there's no need for transactions. If I need something, I just have the Commission members deliver it."]
["…Why did you say 'either'?"]
Venti chimed in, "Yeah, why?"
Readers finally got it—none of the gods have money, do they? Is it against the law for gods to be rich or something?
The Anemo Archon has no money, busking for wine money. The Geo Archon isn't broke, but he never carries money, so it's as good as being penniless.
Now, the Electro Archon is also a penniless god. Surely the Dendro Archon won't be like this too, right?
No way! No way!
Leaving the Dendro Archon aside for now, in the story, Ei spotted something wonderful—dango milk!
Ei gave dango milk high praise, even suggesting, when she learned its sales were lackluster, that the Yashiro Commission go door-to-door to deliver a cup to every household, showing just how much she loved it.
[Lumine asked, "Want another cup?"]
[Ei instinctively said, "Yes."]
[But then she felt it wasn't right and added, "…No, never mind. I'm not that obsessed."]
The people of Inazuma understood—the Raiden Shogun was very obsessed.
They used to think she was the "Triple-Nothing General." Now they realized she was the "Tsundere General."
The only question was whether eating too much tricolor dango and dango milk would turn her into the "Triple-High General" (high blood sugar, pressure, and cholesterol).
No need for the Yashiro Commission to deliver door-to-door—once Lucian's book came out, the ultimate "product endorser," Raiden Ei, was born.
With Ei so fond of dango milk, it was bound to become a hit in Inazuma!
Tomoji woke up one day to find his product had suddenly become a "viral milk tea."
And there was no worry about copycats, because this was certified by the Shogun's brand. Even if others made the same flavor, they couldn't compete with the name!
Were people drinking dango milk? No, they wanted to taste what the Raiden Shogun tasted!
… I mean, they wanted to taste the flavor the Raiden Shogun enjoyed.
In reality, Ei put down her dango milk and glanced at Lucian.
You did this on purpose, didn't you? The story mentions me eating tricolor dango, and now that I've switched to dango milk, it's in the story too?
"Yep, on purpose," Lucian nodded.
Though Ei hadn't said anything, Lucian could tell from her look what she was thinking.
I can't read minds, but I know your personality.
"I acknowledge your prophetic skills," Ei said, not only unangered but nodding in approval, lost in some private thought.
Lucian: "Huh?"
At the same time, far away in Fontaine, Furina, in a "forbidden duet" with Lucian, also let out an "Huh?"
"Huh? Dango milk! It sounds pretty good…" Furina felt her mouth watering.
Shikikan! My dear Shikikan! Quick, buy some and feed it to me!
Consider it soothing my fragile heart, which was recently frightened by "The Knave."
I don't get it, I really don't. Why did that Knave laugh when she saw me? That cold expression paired with a "cold smile" was seriously terrifying!
And she even bought me desserts—I can't shake the feeling she's up to no good. What does she want?
Shikikan's the best. He buys me desserts from Liyue and Mondstadt to pamper me.
Though both buy desserts, the ones from "The Knave" always feel like they're poisoned, like some kind of "end-of-life care."
With Lucian's teleportation ability, how could you nerf that? It's perfect for food delivery!
Furina thought eating desserts brought joy, and Ei felt the same.
[Ei, delighted, said, "Ah—desserts really do lift your spirits. Compared to sitting alone in deep thought, this is so much more enjoyable."]
Indeed, the three goddesses who had endured hardships all loved desserts—perhaps because their hearts rarely found ease.
["By the way, Miko once mentioned she built a place called 'Yae Publishing House,' selling… light novels."]
Having just savored her "otaku happy drink," Ei now wanted to read light novels. Truly fitting her "shut-in" persona.
As Inazuma's Electro Archon, she didn't even know where Yae Publishing House was and needed Paimon, a foreigner, to guide her.
Aside from her own room, she was clueless about what was in the city. On a rare outing, she was drinking "milk tea" and buying light novels—peak shut-in behavior.
When the group arrived at Yae Publishing House, the Traveler began picking out books for Ei.
[The first book: In the Martial World, I Just Want to Write Novels Properly]
[Paimon: "What a weird person. Why insist on being a light novelist?"]
["If they're that skilled, they could easily become the top martial artist, right?"]
At Paimon's jab, readers thought of one person—Shikikan.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Furina: About the Desserts from Arlecchino
"Why? Why in the world? Why did she have to give me desserts?"