Lumine, Paimon, and Nahida turned to look, only to see Miyashiro's figure appear behind them. However, at this moment, Miyashiro's hair seemed a bit disheveled, messy like a bird's nest.
Although they were also in the cycle of the Sabzeruz Festival, the feeling Miyashiro gave Lumine and Paimon at this moment was completely different.
The person was still the same, but the aura Miyashiro exuded after cultivating the Immortal Mode was vastly different from before. Even though he looked disheveled now, Lumine and Paimon still felt a sense of incongruity, as if it should be so.
Paimon was very happy to see Miyashiro and subconsciously wanted to go up and say hello, but she was pulled back by Lumine, who was beside her.
Paimon turned back somewhat strangely, realizing that not only Lumine, but also Nahida beside her, was staring at the newcomer with a serious expression.
Paimon asked with some concern, seeing this, ",Lumine, Nahida, what's wrong with you?"
Nahida's answer explained Paimon's confusion: ", Paimon, so far, we have experienced 152 cycles of the Sabzeruz Festival. However, in these 152 cycles, we have never seen the Inazuma Regent. Now that he has suddenly appeared, it adds a new variable for us."
Hearing Nahida's answer, Miyashiro, who was walking towards them, stopped and said with some self-deprecation, ",So today is already the 152nd time? It seems my Talents are really poor; it took me so long to learn it."
But it's good, at least it was completed before the 168th time. A good result is all that matters."
Paimon asked, ",Eh? Learn what?"
Nahida asked seriously, ", Mr. Uchiha, what have you been doing all this time? With your strength, you should have realized the strangeness of this space long ago, right? Or are you also a participant in the Akademiya's plan?"
Paimon shouted in shock, ",What?! Miyashiro? Is this true?"
Miyashiro glanced at the small, cute Nahida, shook his head, and said, ",Although I disdain to cooperate with those old dogs from the Akademiya, from the results, I have indeed become a beneficiary of their plan. Everyone just relies on their own abilities to get what they need."
Paimon: ",What?! So you knew about this long ago?"
Miyashiro nodded: ",Back in Vimara Village, Azar's assistant, Setaria, became my secret pawn. Although her rank wasn't high, her identity as a Grand Sage's assistant allowed her to know a lot of top-secret information."
Perhaps she didn't know the specific purpose of these tasks, but as long as she told me, and I combined it with information provided by others, the truth would surface."
Lumine, somewhat confused by Miyashiro's actions, said, ",How could this be? Look at Deena Dazed; her consciousness is being constantly harvested by the Akasha, and she is already very weak, possibly disappearing in the next harvest of the Akasha at any time. Is this situation also what you wanted to see?"
Miyashiro shook his head and said, ",Lumine, you seem to be directing your anger at the wrong person. The one implementing this plan is the Akademiya, and the real reason the Akademiya is implementing this plan is the Lesser Lord Kusanali beside you. Besides, didn't I also provide some energy to Deena Dazed back then to help her last a few more days?
I am just a foreigner who came to Sumeru for diplomatic relations, at most, I just played along after learning about the Akademiya's plan. As for protecting the people of Sumeru, that seems to be Lesser Lord Kusanali's job, especially since Deena Dazed is one of Lesser Lord Kusanali's few loyal followers."
Nahida heard this, and a hint of grievance and loneliness flashed in her eyes. She couldn't help but clench her small hands.
Lumine added, ", Deena Dazed is not an Inazuma citizen, but what about Kokomi, Ayaka, and the members of the Inazuma Delegation? As Inazuma residents, their dreams are harvested by the Akasha again and again. Don't you worry about their physical condition?"
Hearing this, Miyashiro showed a sly smile and said, ",Do you think Kokomi, Ayaka, and the members of the Inazuma Delegation appearing in this dream are still their original consciousness?"
Lumine's eyes widened as she asked, ",What does that mean?"
Nahida explained from the side, ",If a person's consciousness cannot sustain itself and can no longer play their role in the dream, then a Marionette will be born in the dream as a substitute, just like every plant and tree in the dream are merely components to form the dream and keep it going.
These Marionettes will appear relatively dull and unable to fully replicate human vitality, as they are merely there to complete their roles."
Paimon said in surprise, ", Miyashiro's meaning... could it be that Kokomi, Ayaka, and the others we saw before have actually already left this dream?
No wonder when I interacted with them before, they seemed expressionless and uninterested in anything, completely different from the Ayaka and Kokomi I remembered."
Miyashiro smiled and nodded: ",That's right, as I just said, the reason I was willing to venture alone into this dream was to use the Akasha's computing power to help me achieve some goals, but there's no need for my subordinates to get involved in this matter. Now, they are probably outside taking good care of our main bodies.
With Setaria's secret help, reducing the dream harvest of a few dozen people in such a large Sumeru city is simply child's play."
Paimon was so angry that she stomped her feet in the air, crossed her arms, and complained to Miyashiro, ",Ah~ Miyashiro, you're too biased! Are we still your friends? You're making me so mad! Do you know how much suffering Lumine and I went through?!
I've decided! I'm taking back the nice nickname 'Guest' and giving you an ugly one instead. I'll call you... I'll call you'Scheming Man'! Because your head is full of little schemes!"
Miyashiro:???!!!... Miyashiro's mouth twitched directly. Paimon truly was a master of nicknames; the level of cringe in this nickname made Miyashiro break out in a cold sweat.
Miyashiro: ",Hey, hey, hey, Paimon, this newly given'Scheming Man' is one thing, but when did you give me the nickname 'Guest'? Just because I treated you to a few meals? And is that considered a nice nickname?
Alright, alright, let's get back to the main topic. Since my goal has been achieved, there's no need for this dream to continue existing. I'll take you to stop this dream, but Paimon, you have to take back that nickname you just gave me."
Lumine, Paimon, and Nahida were all confused. Stop the dream? Why did Miyashiro say it so easily?
Nahida said, ",Although this dream is under the control of the Akasha, dreaming is a human ability. To break this dream, we must find the main body that created this dream and make them realize they are dreaming."
Paimon: ",But, in such a large Sumeru City, finding this main body would be like looking for a needle in a haystack, wouldn't it? How do we even begin to look?"
Lumine and Nahida suddenly looked up at Miyashiro, a guess already forming in their minds: ",Could it be..."
Seeing their expressions, Miyashiro's smile grew even brighter, and he nodded, ",That's right, it's thanks to Miss Assistant again!"
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