"The starry sky is so beautiful… so why would the gods above seal it away?"
Ayaka whispered in awe.
After witnessing the true cosmos with her own eyes, she was still overwhelmed by its beauty— endless worlds woven into a tapestry of light.
It was something she once believed she would never see in her entire life.
But today, she had.
And yet she could not understand: why would the gods of Celestia forbid mortals from reaching the heavens?
Did ordinary people truly have no right to explore the sky?
Even Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei gods themselves had no answer.
"We… don't know," Makoto admitted.
Since birth, they had known only one truth:
Skyfrost Island—the Celestial Realm—is never to be opposed.
Even in its weakened state, even a single Heavenly Nail could annihilate a nation.
The fall of Orobashi had taught Ei that clearly.
One glance from the heavens was enough to kill a god.
"There's nothing complicated about it,"
Su Ran replied casually.
"Teyvat is simply someone's property.
And the owner doesn't want anyone touching their treasures."
To him, that was the logic of the Heavenly Principles.
All living beings had selfishness.
If not, one would be a saint.
And the Heavenly Principles certainly did not behave like saints.
"But… is that really correct?"
Ayaka murmured.
After meeting Su Ran, her worldview had begun to shake.
Was a life repeating itself endlessly unchanging for centuries truly what was "right"?
Why couldn't they move forward?
"Did you hear that, Ei?
Ayaka is asking you,"
Su Ran suddenly said.
Ayaka: !!!
"No—no! I didn't mean to question the Shogun!"
Ayaka panicked instantly.
To question the Raiden Shogun out loud was tantamount to suicide.
Even with a hundred heads, she wouldn't dare.
"Ei, you scared her,"
Makoto scolded softly, tightening her hold on her tiny sister.
Ei: "…"
She had done nothing.
She hadn't even looked at Ayaka!
How did she scare anyone?
And in this tiny doll body?
If someone still got scared…
shouldn't they reflect on themselves?
If she weren't being carried, she might've gone to a corner to draw sad circles on the floor.
Ayaka only grew more panicked.
Both Makoto and Su Ran were speaking "on her behalf," yet she somehow felt she was being buried deeper…
Su Ran patted her head.
"Ayaka, don't worry.
Ei may be gluttonous, airheaded, incompetent at daily life, petty, and prone to violence… but she would never secretly take revenge on you."
Makoto nodded solemnly.
"You hear that, Ei?
You're not allowed to secretly take revenge on Ayaka.
She's a good girl.
Don't bully her."
Su Ran blinked at Makoto.
Makoto winked back.
Ah.
They understood each other.
Both enjoyed chaotic humor and teasing the people around them.
Unfortunately, the victims today were Ei… and poor Ayaka.
Ei was sulking.
Ayaka was terrified.
A perfect dual-kill.
"L-Lord Su Ran!"
Ayaka finally broke.
"Please allow me to serve you for the rest of my life!"
If she lost favor now she might not live to see tomorrow.
Ei didn't show killing intent, but her gloomy aura today was enough to frighten Ayaka half to death.
"Mhm.
If Ayaka left my side one day, I'd be very sad."
Why are you like this…?!
Ayaka nearly cried on the spot.
"Yo
Sweet-talking girls over here again, huh?"
Herta had finished bullying Yae Miko and Ningguang, and now wandered over— only to find Ayaka on the verge of tears.
Clearly, she thought, Su Ran had lied to yet another girl.
Just like he lied to her.
"How can you call it sweet-talking?"
Su Ran said mildly.
"It's the art of communication.
Something a socially oblivious Herta wouldn't understand."
"I don't need to learn that.
People are supposed to accommodate me.
I don't accommodate them."
Herta lifted her chin proudly, meeting Su Ran's gaze without flinching.
"You sure about that?"
"…"
Herta froze.
Then, defeated, "…Fine. Except for you.
Be honored— you're the only one worthy of Herta lowering her head."
Anyone else?
Absolutely not.
Su Ran?
Different story.
He was too mysterious— too intriguing.
"Good girl.
Knowing when to yield makes you wise."
Su Ran ruffled Herta's hair.
Her puppet looked like a doll, but its tactile sensation was surprisingly human.
"Since you're feeling generous, how about building a Simulated Universe access point for me here?"
Herta said eagerly.
Since the puppet lacked tactile feedback, Su Ran's head-pat didn't have any effect so she simply got to the point.
"Why?"
Su Ran wasn't interested in the Simulated Universe.
No rewards, no motivation.
"Because all three of us—
well, the three that matter—
have unanimously decided:
we want you involved in our research
on the birth of the Aeons."
Herta's playful demeanor faded.
Her expression turned serious.
"So that's why…"
—------------------------------
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