[Shogun, what do you think about this matter?]
[Sitting and watching.]
[...]
When did the Shogun become so cheeky? Is this the time to say such things? She was asking a very serious question.
Raiden Ei, currently in the Plane of Euthymia, was conversing with Raiden Shogun. They needed to have a good talk about Durandal.
[Answer properly. I'm asking you about Durandal. You also think Durandal is very important, don't you? I want… I want her to stay in Inazuma, to stay by my side and assist me. What do you think?]
[Her assistance would naturally be beneficial for Inazuma's development, but… can you make her stay? Don't forget that both you and I were defeated by her. If we try to force her to stay, Inazuma might face a catastrophe, even more terrifying than Orobashi's invasion.]
Orobashi's invasion brought many disasters to Narukami Island. Many of Raiden Ei's friends and excellent generals died in that war.
Durandal's strength was greater than Orobashi's, and her abilities caused even greater DMG. According to Raiden Shogun's calculations, if Durandal wanted to destroy Inazuma, it would only take one day, and everyone in Inazuma except Raiden Shogun would die.
So, trying to coerce her with force was absolutely impossible. But making her stay by other means wouldn't work either, so Raiden Ei had no solution at all.
[...Surely we can't just give up like this? Even if I can't make her stay and assist me, I can set a slightly smaller goal. That should be achievable, right?]
[A smaller goal? What do you want? Do you want her to stay in Inazuma? Or do you want her to stay by your side?]
Raiden Shogun's precise words made Raiden Ei freeze. She inclined towards the latter, but... but putting her private emotions before Inazuma, wasn't that something she, as a God, shouldn't do?
"What are you worried about? Even though we are Gods, we also have things we desire and pursue, just like humans. Just like the eternity you and I are pursuing, aren't we also prioritizing our private emotions by being so fixated on this matter?"
"...Why do you know what I'm thinking, Shogun?"
"Are you serious? Asking such a question. We are one. Even if we have disagreements on some things, our thoughts are still unified on others. I'm just putting myself in your shoes to think; do you think I don't know what you're thinking?"
Damn, she was completely seen through. To be completely seen through by the Shogun, when she couldn't see through the Shogun's thoughts at all, but her own thoughts were laid bare.
What's going on? What's with this feeling that only she was incapable? She felt that if this continued, she, the Electro Archon herself, would become a substitute, and Raiden Shogun would become the true Electro Archon.
(Raiden Ei: Oh no, I've become a substitute!)
"Then what are your thoughts? You've been talking about my feelings; what do you think? Since we are one, and our thoughts are unified on some matters, then your feelings must be the same as mine, right?"
"Hmm, you're right. I am indeed grateful to her for Makoto's sake, grateful for her help to Inazuma, and I have a good impression of her for all the things she's done. But... don't forget why you created me: to pursue eternity."
Yes, Raiden Ei created Raiden Shogun not only to counter erode but also as a mechanism to restrain herself, an insurance policy against her regretting the pursuit of eternity in the future.
Although she later developed her own personality, the pursuit of eternity never changed, even now.
Raiden Ei nodded, ε=('o｀*))) Sigh~ She hadn't expected the original insurance measure to bring so much trouble. How should she deal with the problem of Raiden Shogun? Raiden Ei had no clue.
"However..."
As Raiden Ei was troubled, Raiden Shogun's tone suddenly shifted, and she said,
"She, who can eliminate erode, is of considerable help in our pursuit of eternity. If we can keep her by our side, it would be another step closer to eternity, wouldn't it?"
Hmm... huh? What does this mean? Why does the story's development feel strange? Wasn't she just disagreeing? Why did her attitude suddenly do a 180-degree turn?
"You... you believe her claims? Aren't you worried she might be lying?"
"It's unlikely. She has no reason to joke with us about this; it's meaningless. Besides, she said she has already eliminated the erode on someone in Mondstadt and Liyue. Who do you think these two people are?"
Huh? How should she answer this question? No, this question is surprisingly easy to answer.
The erode mechanism is used against long-lived species like Gods; ordinary people don't need to worry about the effects of erode.
This eliminates many people at once, and searching among the remaining ones, the answer is obvious.
"You mean... Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, and Morax, the Geo Archon, have already accepted her healing?"
"That's highly probable, but she said there's still someone in Liyue who hasn't been dealt with. So the candidate for Liyue is still debatable; it might be another God."
"But... didn't they say Morax had already fallen?"
"You actually believe that? As the strongest existence among the Seven Archons, do you think he would die in public due to an assassination?"
Hmph! Naive, too naive! Just like the sweets Raiden Ei usually eats, it's too sweet (naive)!
Such a thing might scare ordinary people, but to try and hide it from the other Archons? If Morax really died, the impact of his death wouldn't be so small, and the commotion caused should have been noticed by them.
But so far, they haven't felt any abnormal fluctuations. What does that mean? It means that guy is still alive.
Alright, Raiden Ei also felt she was being foolish; it was such a simple question, why hadn't she thought of it?
It seems Miss Delezie's problem had too great an impact on her, making her brain unable to react.
"Alright, let's assume Miss Delezie's abilities are real. Then what do you plan to do? Are you going to go find her yourself?"
"Why not?"
Raiden Shogun said as a matter of course: "Since you can't do it, I will. The words I can't say, I will say. I don't have as many scruples as you."
"Eh? What... what are you planning to do?"
Raiden Ei didn't react. Why did this feel so bad? What was this guy planning? What did she mean by doing what she couldn't do? Saying what she couldn't say? What was she planning to do?!
Raiden Ei panicked, stood up, and tried to regain control of her body, but found that the authority she could usually easily seize was exceptionally difficult today.
At most, she could only make Raiden Shogun's movements pause for a moment, but they would quickly return to normal.
Oh no! She wouldn't really become a substitute, would she? Someone help, quickly stop the Shogun! This guy is going to do something strange!
At this moment, inside Tenshukaku.
Raiden Makoto was organizing the official documents Raiden Ei had handled, checking if there was anything unsuitable.
Halfway through her inspection, she saw Raiden Shogun stand up from her seat and walk towards the main door.
Hmm? Huh? What's going on? Usually, after Raiden Shogun finishes handling official business, she meditates or finds other things to do.
If it were Raiden Ei who came out, she would come and talk to her about various things.
Why today was she neither meditating nor talking to her? What kind of development was this?
Raiden Makoto scratched her head in confusion, always feeling something was off, but couldn't quite pinpoint it.
Never mind, maybe she suddenly thought of something she wanted to handle herself. She'll probably be back soon.
Before she returned, she would stay here and organize the official documents so she could hand them over to Raiden Shogun for revision when she came back.
At this moment, Raiden Makoto still didn't understand what Raiden Shogun intended to do. As she walked out of Tenshukaku, the samurai and Inazuma citizens along the way were all scared and quickly stood aside, lowering their heads, not daring to meet her gaze.
Raiden Shogun was not Raiden Ei. Walking outside, her every move exuded the majesty of the Electro Archon, a majesty that ordinary people could not resist.
After Raiden Shogun had gone far, the citizens began to discuss the reason for her outing.
It seemed no Tenryou Commission samurai were accompanying her on this outing. Was it a spur-of-the-moment decision? What exactly did she want to do? It truly made people curious.
Normally, a crowd would surely follow to watch such gossip, but this time, the gossip involved Raiden Shogun.
What Raiden Shogun represented in Inazuma was obvious even without saying it. No one would risk their life just to join the excitement, right?
Even the most reckless people dared not follow this time. Angering Raiden Shogun was a capital offense. Even if this rule wasn't written in Inazuma's laws, it was a tacit rule for everyone. No one wanted to be turned to dust by a sudden bolt of lightning from the Electro Archon.
Leaving aside the situation of the onlookers, Raiden Shogun had already arrived at the inn where Miss Delezie and her group were staying.
Miss Delezie happened to be home. She had just finished receiving composers and light novel writers who wanted to create works related to Tsurumi Island, and was now eating and reading a light novel to relax.
She hadn't relaxed for long when she felt an intense gaze, which made her feel a bit bewildered.
This was in Inazuma City. Was someone looking at her so intently trying to pick a fight? Did anyone still dare to cause her trouble now?
She looked up and found that it was Raiden Shogun looking at her, which made Miss Delezie even more confused. What was wrong with her? To personally come and find her?
It couldn't be that Raiden Ei was going to be annoying again, could it? If that were truly the case, then she wouldn't be polite and would directly make a move in front of the citizens.
Under Miss Delezie's gaze, Raiden Shogun arrived in front of Miss Delezie.
"...What are you doing here?"
"Durandal..."
The Raiden Shogun pronounced her name with great dignity, then extended her hand and said,
"Become my person."
"...Huh?"
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