"Shogun-sama?!"
The two voices overlapped almost perfectly as Kamisato Ayaka and Kuki Shinobu reacted in unison, their surprise evident as they quickly lowered themselves in respectful bows.
Beside them, Aila and Shenhe also inclined their heads. Regardless of status or origin, the one who stood before them was still the Electro Archon. Even as disciples of the adepti, there were boundaries that could not be crossed.
Only Futsu Mitama remained as he was. He did not bow. Not out of arrogance, but because he understood her. Raiden Ei had already made her stance clear long ago—formalities of that sort held little meaning between them. To insist upon them now would only create unnecessary distance.
Raiden Ei's gaze swept across the room, her expression as calm as still lightning. There was no trace of the storm that had descended upon Snezhnaya not long ago, no lingering sharpness of anger—only a quiet, controlled composure, as though everything that needed to be done had already been resolved.
"There is no need for formalities," she said evenly. "I have returned from Snezhnaya. We will speak further in the Chat Group."
Her words were simple, but they carried a clear implication. Everyone present was already part of that shared channel; there was no need for secrecy, no need to separate matters further. Whatever had occurred would be addressed there.
Futsu Mitama studied her for a brief moment, noting the subtle steadiness in her presence. The earlier tension that had lingered within her was gone. It seemed she had already vented whatever anger had driven her across nations.
As for the outcome—
He did not ask.
Not yet.
But the answer was already taking shape in his mind.
With Raiden Ei personally taking action, whether or not the Gnosis had been reclaimed, Snezhnaya could not have escaped unscathed. That alone was enough to satisfy his curiosity—for now.
—
Within the Chat Group, the atmosphere remained active.
If one looked closely, however, it was less a casual exchange and more a quiet orchestration led by Raiden Makoto. Her guidance flowed steadily, directing both Yae Miko and Sangonomiya Kokomi as they handled the aftermath across Inazuma.
Yae Miko was occupied with resolving the consequences left behind by the Tenryou Commission, while Kokomi focused on stabilizing the Resistance. Though the conflict had ended, its conclusion was not instantaneous. There were procedures to follow, tensions to settle, and structures to rebuild.
Only when all of this was completed—Could Inazuma truly step into a new era.
A message appeared.
[Raiden Makoto: "It truly was not easy to reach this point."]
Another followed shortly after.
[Raiden Makoto: "To be honest, I had already prepared for failure. I did not expect things to proceed this smoothly."]
A familiar, carefree tone soon joined in.
[Venti: "Aside from that unexpected variable—Dottore?"]
There was no delay in the response.
[Yae Miko: "Beloved Anemo Archon, if you do not speak, no one will mistake you for mute."]
A heavier, more grounded voice interjected next.
[Azhdaha: "I feel that Barbatos has become increasingly… irritating ever since he went to the Nameless Island."]
And as if entirely unbothered—
[Venti: "Ehe!"]
The brief exchange carried a rare lightness, a momentary reprieve amidst the shifting tides of nations. Yet beneath that surface ease, everyone understood—
The real matter had yet to be addressed.
Raiden Ei—Had returned.
The moment Raiden Ei appeared in the Chat Group, the previously relaxed atmosphere subtly shifted. The idle chatter that had been flowing moments ago quickly converged toward her presence, as if an invisible center of gravity had formed.
[Venti: "This isn't cheapness, but freedom. I have the right to free speech. Speaking of which, has Beelzebub returned to Inazuma? That combat fluctuation has disappeared. If nothing unexpected happened, she should have returned to Inazuma."]
[Raiden Ei: "Yes, I have returned to Inazuma."]
Her confirmation was immediate and concise, yet it carried enough weight to draw out the questions that truly mattered.
[Guizhong: "Did you get the Gnosis?"]
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "What price did she pay?"]
[Raiden Ei: "..."]
A brief pause lingered, but before the topic could settle into something heavier, it was abruptly hijacked.
[Yae Miko: "You're back? Perfect! Quickly issue an order for the Okuzume to obey my commands. News of the Tenryou Commission's defeat has already spread. It's time for some parasites to face their reckoning."]
[Yae Miko: "Hehehehe~ I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."]
Her excitement was barely concealed, the shift in priorities almost jarring. Compared to the Gnosis, she was far more interested in settling accounts within Inazuma.
Futsu Mitama, however, had no intention of letting the matter drift away so easily.
[Futsu Mitama: "I know you've been waiting a long time, so wait a little longer. I want to know what's happening in Snezhnaya?"]
This time, Raiden Ei did not remain silent.
[Raiden Ei: "Dottore lost several segments. His strength is probably similar to the Adeptus Disciple beside you."]
[Raiden Ei: " Tsaritsa told me some things and signed a contract with me. From now on, the Fatui will not set foot in Inazuma."]
[Raiden Ei: "If a Harbinger, due to special circumstances, enters Inazuma and commits any wrongdoing, I can kill him unconditionally."]
[Raiden Ei: "Also, she, in the name of the Fatui, will unconditionally provide a large amount of supplies to help Inazuma recover. Tsaritsa said that the Gnosis has not yet returned to Snezhnaya; it has only gone to Sumeru."]
[Raiden Ei: "My Gnosis will stay in Sumeru for about one or two years. Dottore and Kunikuzushi seem to want to conduct some experiments there."]
The series of statements landed one after another, each more impactful than the last. The group, which had been lively just moments ago, fell into a rare pause before reacting.
[Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: "Hmm?! Why Sumeru?!"]
[Azhdaha: "It seems Sumeru is also not peaceful. Alas~ Liyue is still the best. No matter what happens, there are the Liyue Qixing, the Adepti, and Morax to stop it."]
[Zhongli: "Interesting. Did you not go to Sumeru to retrieve it?"]
[Venti: "There must be some restriction on revealing such important information."]
[Raiden Makoto: "To reveal this information so generously, Ei must be unable to go."]
Futsu Mitama, seeing the direction of the discussion, could not help but interject again.
[Futsu Mitama: "Could it be that she wants to go fishing?"]
The remark was light, almost teasing, but Raiden Ei's reply came without the slightest fluctuation.
[Raiden Ei: "Perhaps. But Makoto is right. The Tsaritsa told me the location of the Gnosis, but also made it so I cannot go to Sumeru. Aside from me, if anyone else in Inazuma retrieves the Gnosis, then the Fatui will adhere to the previous contract."]
[Raiden Ei: "As for what she wants to do, to be honest, it's very crazy, but understandable."]
The explanation only deepened the intrigue, and as if sensing an opportunity, Yae Miko's tone shifted again—this time toward something far more mischievous.
[Yae Miko: "Oh? Someone other than Ei goes to retrieve the Gnosis? What if we happen to sign in and get a [special husk doll], resurrecting Makoto?"]
The sudden turn of thought caused a brief ripple in the group.
[Kamisato Ayaka: "This..."]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "That scene would probably be very interesting."]
[Raiden Makoto: "But I'm not good at combat. Even if I'm resurrected, at most I'd be a bit stronger than Guizhong~"]
[Guizhong: "Hmm?"]
[Guizhong: "How did the conversation suddenly turn to me? I may not be good at combat, but my automatons are strong!"]
[Guizhong: "Recently, I've had a lot of inspiration and plan to create something similar to the mecha Scaramouche used. Cloud Retainer, after learning of my idea, also plans to assist me, and its scale might be quite large."]
The topic, as always, veered sharply into unexpected territory.
[Azhdaha: "How large?"]
[Guizhong: "Half of you."]
[Futsu Mitama: "What!!!! Building a Gundam?"]
[Shenhe: "What is a Gundam?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "What is a Gundam?"]
[Aila: "Young Master's peculiar metaphor. Please don't mind it."]
[Venti: "Good heavens, half of Azhdaha?! Isn't that a mountain? You're planning to build a war-type automaton."]
[Keqing: "?! Has this automaton received the Geo Archon's permission? If it's as big as half of Azhdaha, then even a slight movement would probably cause a huge impact."]
[Guizhong: "No big deal. Our chosen target is Guyun Stone Forest. Building things there won't cause any problems. Even if something happens, isn't there still Morax?"]
[Zhongli: "..."]
The conversation drifted further and further away from its original topic, transforming from a discussion about Raiden Ei's clash in Snezhnaya into an increasingly absurd debate about constructing a colossal war machine.
Watching this unfold, a faint smile appeared on Raiden Ei's face, a trace of novelty flickering in her eyes. Even across nations, across time and space, these individuals could speak so freely—there was something undeniably interesting about it.
Her gaze shifted.
"Futsu Mitama," she said calmly, her voice cutting cleanly through the atmosphere of the room. "Come with me."
There was no room for misunderstanding. This was not a casual invitation.
Futsu Mitama paused only briefly before nodding, handing over what he was doing to Aila without hesitation. The others did not question it. They understood. Whatever Raiden Ei intended to discuss, it was not something that could be spoken openly.
In the next moment, space itself seemed to fold.
The familiar stillness of the Plane of Euthymia enveloped them once more.
Raiden Ei stood before him, her expression composed as always, yet her words carried a quiet weight.
"Sumeru, you do not need to go."
Futsu Mitama blinked, clearly not expecting that conclusion.
"Is that really alright?" he asked, a hint of confusion surfacing. "You already know what the Fatui are planning, don't you?"
Raiden Ei shook her head slightly, her gaze steady.
"Some things—are a taboo," she said. "When your strength reaches the appropriate level, I will tell you."
Her tone grew firmer, more instructive.
"For now, you are still too weak. Authority and the Gnosis are merely external forces. True strength must come from yourself."
Then, after a brief pause, she raised her hand and pointed upward.
"Their target…lies above the sky."
The words were simple, yet they carried an indescribable weight.
"What they are doing," she continued quietly, "is something we once desired—but never dared to pursue."
Understanding flickered in Futsu Mitama's eyes, but he did not press further. Some truths were not meant to be spoken lightly.
Instead, he gave a small nod. "Even so… I still plan to go to Sumeru. I already promised Maha Rukkhadevata."
Raiden Ei frowned slightly, though she did not refuse him outright.
"In that case," she said after a moment, "you will stay here and train first. Six months."
Her voice left no room for negotiation.
Before Futsu Mitama could respond, a flash of lightning split the stillness.
"Combat is the fastest way to grow."
The next instant, her naginata was already descending.
Futsu Mitama barely had time to react, instinctively drawing his blade to block. The impact sent a sharp tremor through his arms, and for a fleeting moment, he could only stare at her in disbelief.
He had just returned.
He had barely rested.
And now—He was fighting again.
At that moment, a single thought surfaced in his mind with absolute clarity. Staying in this dreadful Inazuma for six months…might truly be a terrible decision.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
For anyone interested for some advanced chapters, or just want to support me. Hit the membership button to my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/ModerateCitizens