Chapter 87. Scapegoat
The knocking echoed through the room.
The Harbinger lifted her gaze toward the doorway, her tone calm and unhurried.
"Come in."
As the door opened, the Fatui woman stepped inside.
A trace of surprise flickered across the Harbinger's eyes when she saw how quickly the other party had returned. She shifted her attention away from the documents spread across her desk and looked directly at her subordinate.
"Did you encounter an obstacle?"
The fact that she had returned so quickly made it obvious that this was not a routine report. Something unexpected had clearly occurred during the operation.
To be honest, the Harbinger found herself feeling a faint sense of anticipation.
Had they encountered Futsu Mitama and his group?
If they truly had crossed paths with him, then the situation would become far more interesting.
The Fatui woman took a deep breath, seemingly organizing her thoughts. Then she lowered her head slightly and spoke in a respectful tone.
"My Lady, we found the target."
"Oh?"
The Harbinger leaned back slightly in her chair, her expression becoming noticeably more attentive.
"So you found them."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Then why are you back already?"
According to the original plan, once the Matra located the target, they should have immediately begun the investigation. Regardless of the outcome, it should have taken some time before any report reached her.
Yet now, her subordinate had returned almost immediately.
That alone was enough to prove that something had gone wrong.
The Fatui woman hesitated briefly before speaking.
"Because Faruzan intervened."
The smile on the Harbinger's face froze slightly.
"Faruzan?"
"Yes, Lady."
The Mirror Maiden nodded. She placed the Great Sage's token on the table before kneeling on one knee. Her voice carried a deep sense of apology.
"Because an unexpected variable appeared. I felt that we could no longer continue the plan, so I returned immediately."
The Lady narrowed her eyes as she looked at her subordinate.
"Speak."
An unexpected variable? What kind of variable could have forced her to return so quickly?
As a Fatui Harbinger, The Lady did not punish her subordinates without reason. On the contrary, she understood very clearly just how capable the people under her command were.
If not for an unexpected development, the other party would never have abandoned the operation so easily and returned.
Suspect her subordinate?
The Lady would never do such a thing.
The people she selected were all talented individuals. If they lacked ability, she would never have brought them to her side to handle important matters.
"When I located the target and was preparing to take action, Faruzan appeared."
The Fatui woman's report was concise and direct.
The Lady's expression immediately darkened.
She had deliberately avoided targeting Faruzan from the beginning, yet she had never expected the other party to become involved regardless.
Was Faruzan's nose really that sharp?
She had only just moved against those Eremites, and Faruzan had immediately appeared.
"Furthermore, the Matra began refusing to follow our instructions."
The Fatui woman looked toward The Lady as she continued.
"They found the target, but deliberately began stalling for time."
"Even after learning that the other party was no longer called Akasuna no Sasori but had changed their name to Faruzan Troupe, they decisively refused to carry out the arrest."
At this point, a trace of annoyance appeared in the Fatui woman's voice.
If the Matra had acted faster and simply detained the group immediately, then even if Faruzan and the Scholars of Sumeru had arrived afterward, there would have been no way for them to demand their release.
Because the Matra would already have completed the arrest.
If Faruzan and the Scholars chose to interfere at that point, it would become a direct challenge to the Matra's authority.
In that situation, the conflict would have been between two factions within Sumeru itself and would have had nothing to do with either the Fatui or the Great Sage.
However, the Matra's hesitation not only wasted precious time but also attracted crowds of onlookers, Faruzan, and a large number of Scholars.
Therefore, the failure to apprehend Akasuna no Sasori—or rather, Faruzan Troupe—was entirely due to the Matra's actions.
"The Matra?"
The Lady showed no surprise.
Recently, she had instructed both the Thirty and the Matra to carry out numerous tasks. Most members of the Thirty were heavily influenced by the Akasha Terminal. As a result, they genuinely believed their actions were justified.
The Matra, however, were different.
The Matra could not be controlled so easily through the Akasha Terminal.
After all, they were the Akademiya's elite force. They needed independent judgment and independent thought.
If something unexpected occurred, the Matra represented the Akademiya's final line of defense.
In other words, the Thirty could be manipulated.
The Matra could not.
This was because the Great Sage himself remained wary of the Fatui. More accurately, he remained wary of Dottore's capabilities.
Dottore was currently attempting to modify the Akasha Terminal itself. If that succeeded, it was entirely possible that Sumeru would completely fall into another's control.
Such a possibility was not impossible.
The people of Sumeru relied too heavily upon the legacy left behind by Maha Rukkhadevata.
It was precisely because of this that The Lady looked down on this nation.
Wisdom? What a joke.
If Wisdom alone could solve everything, then Maha Rukkhadevata would never have perished.
Yet Maha Rukkhadevata had passed away.
And these self-proclaimed wise people had chosen not to embrace a new god, instead endlessly mourning the old one.
How ridiculous. Had the concept of destruction preceding reconstruction never crossed their minds?
Because of this, The Lady despised Sumeru's current state.
If Inazuma was a decaying nation, then Sumeru was a stagnant one.
Dull. Lifeless. Completely devoid of vitality.
They had long forgotten Maha Rukkhadevata's teachings and instead pursued only what they personally defined as wisdom.
This was also one of the reasons Dottore had chosen to return to Sumeru.
But now—
Were the Matra beginning to develop thoughts of resistance? Even after that troublesome General Mahamatra had disappeared, they still dared to resist?
That truly was unexpected.
"Explain everything that happened at the scene in detail."
The Lady instructed her subordinate. She wanted to know exactly how the Matra had resisted. And more importantly—
Was Faruzan's appearance truly just a coincidence?
She did not believe that.
"Yes, Lady Signora."
The Fatui woman immediately began recounting everything that had happened, providing every detail without inserting unnecessary personal opinions.
The Lady listened silently.
After the report concluded, she lightly tapped her fingers against the table.
A meaningful smile slowly appeared on her face.
"It can now be basically confirmed that the person leading them is indeed Futsu Mitama."
Based on only a few lines of dialogue, The Lady had already reached her conclusion.
That tone.
That casual and almost frivolous attitude.
It had to be him.
One had to understand that an Eremite group's name was not changed casually. For the people of the desert, the title of an Eremite group represented honor itself. Anyone who wished to tarnish that honor would have to pay in blood.
Faruzan's influence was undoubtedly immense, but it was nowhere near enough to make a group of Eremites willingly change their name.
Unless Faruzan someday became the Great Sage. Only then would such a thing seem remotely reasonable.
"Huh—!"
The Fatui woman could not help but draw in a sharp breath. She did not question Lady Signora's judgment.
Because she believed that once Lady Signora spoke with such certainty, she was already completely convinced.
What truly frightened the Fatui woman was something else entirely. She had actually attempted to have the Matra arrest Futsu Mitama.
She was simply tired of living.
Within the Fatui, aside from the Harbingers themselves, most members held tremendous fear toward Futsu Mitama.
He was known as the Devil's Spokesperson.
In Mondstadt, Liyue, and Inazuma, countless people had met tragic ends at the hands of him and those around him. It was even rumored that the former Harbinger candidate who had been corrupted by Abyssal power had become his maid.
Oh~ Archon Tsaritsa.
Even a former Harbinger candidate corrupted by the Abyss had become his subordinate. How terrifying must that existence be?
The Fatui woman was one of the survivors of that incident. Because of that, she understood that person's strength better than most.
If not for The Lady personally intervening back then, she herself would already be dead.
Because she understood, she feared.
The Fatui woman wiped away the cold sweat forming on her forehead and silently awaited Lady Signora's next command.
"As long as it is confirmed to be him, then it is time to cast the net."
The Lady revealed a rather satisfied smile.
The task Dottore had assigned her was to locate Futsu Mitama within Sumeru City.
If Faruzan Troupe truly was Futsu Mitama's group, then she could finally leave this cursed place and return to Mondstadt to handle her own affairs.
Of course, that was only after confirming their identities beyond doubt.
Seeing the pleased smile on Lady Signora's face, the Fatui woman could not help but feel admiration.
As expected of a Harbinger. She showed no fear whatsoever toward Futsu Mitama.
Compared to her superior, she herself seemed rather insignificant.
"Come with me."
The Lady picked up the Great Sage's token from the table.
Her voice remained calm.
"It is time to visit the Thirty and the Matra. Faruzan's sudden appearance was likely the result of someone informing her."
"Hehehe~ there are not many individuals in Sumeru capable of doing that. Has that Archon who has been imprisoned for five hundred years finally grown impatient?"
The Lady led her subordinate toward the encampment of the Thirty.
She intended to probe the situation further. She wanted to determine whether the other party truly was Futsu Mitama.
If he was, then her mission would effectively be complete.
Everything afterward would become Dottore's problem. Even if a massive battle erupted within Sumeru City, what did it have to do with Snezhnaya or the Fatui?
None at all.
The blame would naturally fall upon Sumeru itself.
After all, they were the ones who acted.
She had merely issued instructions.
Who could have known that the leader of Faruzan Troupe would turn out to be Futsu Mitama?
As for Faruzan—
That matter could be left entirely for the Great Sage to worry about.
The Lady was actually quite curious to see what expression the Great Sage would make once he learned that he had unknowingly offended Futsu Mitama.
However—
That was probably also the very scene that the damned Dottore wished to witness.
And that alone made it all the more interesting.
—
Faruzan was stunned. She had no idea how many times she had been shocked today.
She felt as though her mind was reaching its limit. After listening to everything Futsu Mitama and Nahida had explained, she suddenly realized that the apparent peace of Sumeru City was nothing more than an illusion.
Those seemingly insignificant incidents had, in fact, been exposing the ugly truth hidden beneath the Akademiya's surface all along.
For example, there had recently been a large number of people throughout Sumeru City suffering from unusual weakness, persistent coughing, and symptoms resembling severe illness.
More than a dozen Eleazar patients had also passed away within only a few days. Others had deteriorated so rapidly that they could no longer even leave their beds.
Regarding this matter, Nahida explained that the actual situation had been far worse.
Originally, many more people should have died.
However, she had secretly used her own power to save those afflicted with Eleazar.
If Dunyarzad's life had once been a flickering candle, then Nahida had expended an unimaginable amount of strength to pull her back from the edge of death.
As for the other Eleazar patients, Nahida had managed to maintain their conditions in a fragile state of balance.
Yet the Akademiya's experiments had shattered that balance entirely, triggering a widespread outbreak that caused their conditions to worsen at an alarming rate.
All Nahida could do was continuously suppress the progression of Eleazar through her own power, allowing those patients to survive for a little longer.
This was also why she had been so eager to learn the legacy left behind by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata from Futsu Mitama.
The ability to manipulate the power of life itself was the true key to suppressing Eleazar.
Nahida's own power could forcibly restrain the disease, but its effectiveness was nowhere near comparable to the power of life.
If she could truly wield that power, those suffering from Eleazar might one day live ordinary lives. They would no longer need to endure endless pain and suffering every single day.
"In other words—"
Faruzan slowly organized everything she had heard. Her expression became extraordinarily complicated as she said,
"The Akademiya is already in complete chaos. And the people responsible for all of this are the Great Sage and the other Sages?"
To be honest, although Faruzan devoted most of her time to academic research, she was far from foolish.
On the contrary, she had long noticed many abnormalities within the Akademiya.
She had even wanted to help those afflicted with Eleazar. Unfortunately, Eleazar could only be suppressed, not cured.
As a result, the only assistance Faruzan could provide was financial support in the form of Mora.
Although her own research projects required considerable funding, those expenses were never as urgent as saving lives.
What Faruzan had never imagined was that the Akademiya itself was the true mastermind behind all of this.
They were the source of everything.
Because Nahida, as the current Dendro Archon, had personally investigated the matter through the Akasha.
She had attempted to identify the culprit and uncover the truth. Yet because the individuals involved had deliberately stopped wearing Akasha Terminals, she had been unable to discover any useful clues.
Hearing this, Faruzan immediately recalled something. Recently, there had indeed been a group of people within the Akademiya who were no longer wearing Akasha Terminals.
She remembered the matter clearly.
For the people of Sumeru, especially those who revered Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, the Akasha Terminal was practically an indispensable part of daily life.
Every Scholar within the Akademiya wore one. Yet one day, when Faruzan had gone to consult a Sage regarding certain academic matters, she noticed that he—and several Scholars accompanying him—were not wearing their Akasha Terminals at all.
At the time, she had even asked why.
The Sage and the Scholars had merely laughed and casually explained that their Akasha Terminals were experiencing technical problems and were currently being repaired.
As for what those problems actually were, Faruzan had not pursued the matter. She had been occupied with other affairs and had not thought much of it.
But now—
Now that she thought back on it, she finally understood.
The plan had already begun at that time.
And now she also understood why those Sages and Scholars had chosen not to wear their Akasha Terminals.
They had been guarding against the Dendro Archon, Nahida.
For a brief moment, an indescribable sadness rose within Faruzan's heart.
The esteemed Sages and Scholars of the Akademiya had actually begun treating their own god as an enemy.
What kind of absurd logic was that? Or perhaps—
In their eyes, the god they were attempting to create had already become more important than the god who currently protected Sumeru.
They were not even willing to spare a glance toward Nahida within the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
How arrogant.
How ignorant.
How disrespectful.
Even Faruzan understood a simple truth.
Throughout the long history of Teyvat, there had once been countless beings known as Demon Gods. Yet today, only The Seven Archons remained.
What if the Akademiya truly succeeded in creating a new god?
Would such a being receive recognition?
Would the other Archons acknowledge a god artificially created by human hands?
And if they crossed such a forbidden boundary... would the Akademiya ultimately become the next Khaenri'ah, destroyed for daring to touch a taboo that humanity was never meant to grasp?
Faruzan didn't know what to say anymore.
Today's succession of revelations had already exceeded anything she had experienced in the past hundred years.
After hearing everything Futsu Mitama and Nahida had told her, she suddenly realized that the seemingly peaceful surface of Sumeru City concealed an undercurrent powerful enough to overturn the entire nation.
And at the center of that vortex stood the Akademiya itself.
Faruzan could no longer tell whether she felt anger, disappointment, or disbelief. The Great Sage and the other Sages had truly gone mad.
No.
To be more precise, they had already brought disaster upon Sumeru.
According to Nahida, if the god being created through the Akademiya's God Creation Project, together with Dottore, were to clash with her and Futsu Mitama—
Then a cruel fragment of the Archon War would once again descend upon the land of Sumeru.
At that time, regardless of victory or defeat, Sumeru would suffer unimaginable losses.
This was not a joke.
"More or less."
Futsu Mitama nodded. Looking at Faruzan's exceptionally complicated expression, he spoke in a comforting tone.
"The situation hasn't become that bad yet. You don't need to look so worried. The Great Sage and the others probably haven't reached the final stage of their plan."
"So we still have a chance to stop it."
Although Futsu Mitama said this, he knew very well that the situation had most likely already entered its final phase.
Half a year ago, the Fatui had already begun laying the groundwork throughout Sumeru City. Only recently had they started using the Akasha Terminal to collect energy.
If nothing unexpected happened, the God Creation Project had already begun. And if they wanted to stop it, they would have to act within the next few days.
"What do you need me to do?"
Faruzan looked at Futsu Mitama. She understood that he had revealed his identity and explained the entire situation for a reason.
There must be something he wanted her to do.
And just as those juniors had told her earlier, she understood one thing clearly.
If she chose not to step forward now, then Sumeru might truly be doomed.
"Actually, there's not much."
Futsu Mitama rubbed his nose. To be honest, Faruzan was no longer particularly important to their current plans. In other words, the greatest objective behind their insistence on entering Sumeru City had always been Nahida.
As long as Nahida was found, the largest obstacle had already been resolved.
Everything else became secondary.
However, after thinking for a moment, Futsu Mitama realized that Faruzan could still play a role.
"You can go find Tighnari. He should already have some plans prepared. Our situation is a bit delicate right now, and it isn't really suitable for you to get directly involved."
Although Faruzan possessed a Vision, her combat ability was not particularly strong. To put it bluntly, Dehya could subdue her without much difficulty.
Kuki Shinobu could probably restrain her instantly.
If Faruzan remained beside them, she would likely do little more than place herself in danger.
On the other hand, if she joined Tighnari, the situation would be different. With her identity and prestige, combined with Tighnari's connections and influence—
They could probably gather a considerable number of qualified Scholars in a short period of time.
At that point, they would have enough support to openly question the Great Sage and the other Sages.
As for Dottore, Scaramouche, and that Fatui operative—
Futsu Mitama and the others would deal with them personally.
"Is that so?"
Faruzan sounded somewhat disappointed. It was obvious that she had wanted to remain with Futsu Mitama's group.
However, she quickly adjusted her mentality.
This battlefield did not require her. But another battlefield did.
"What about me?"
At that moment, Dehya suddenly interjected. The more she listened, the more fired up she became. Although she was a Desert dweller, she still felt that the Akademiya's actions were utterly disgraceful.
And they had nearly caused her young miss to lose her life.
How could she possibly tolerate something like that?
Dehya had already decided. She was going to join Futsu Mitama and the others.
Together, they would bring down the Great Sage.
"You should focus on protecting your young miss."
Nahida looked at the hot-blooded Dehya and smiled gently.
"Because what comes next will be very, very troublesome. You must protect her properly. If nothing unexpected happens— Eleazar might even disappear."
For five hundred years, Nahida had been preparing for the taboo disaster that loomed over Sumeru. And now, five hundred years later, she had a faint premonition.
Perhaps the legacy of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata would return. Perhaps the disaster born from forbidden knowledge would finally be resolved through Futsu Mitama and his companions.
And if that happened—
Then Eleazar and the Withering would also disappear.
Upon hearing these words, Dehya's eyes immediately lit up. She grabbed Dunyarzad's shoulders excitedly.
"Young Miss! Did you hear that?!"
"Eleazar might disappear! Doesn't that mean your illness—"
Before she could finish speaking, Futsu Mitama suddenly sensed something.
He immediately interrupted Dehya.
Pulling his mask back over his face, he looked toward Nahida, Faruzan, Dehya, and Dunyarzad.
"You should leave now. Because some uninvited guests have already surrounded this area."
Dehya and Dunyarzad froze.
Nahida was equally surprised. She had been monitoring the Fatui operative through the Akasha all this time.
Logically speaking, if anything happened on that side, she should have known immediately.
Had a new enemy appeared? But could they really react that quickly?
For a moment, Nahida was caught off guard.
However, the moment Faruzan heard those words, she immediately grabbed Nahida's and Dunyarzad's hands.
Without hesitation, she began leading them away.
Although she didn't know what had happened, she trusted that Futsu Mitama had a reason for saying it.
And right now, all she needed to do was trust him.
Dehya stared blankly for a moment as Dunyarzad was pulled away.
Then she quickly followed.
Not long after the four women withdrew, more than fifty members of the Thirty appeared.
Dressed in green uniforms, they swiftly surrounded the area. Not a single one of them was wearing an Akasha Terminal. Clearly, someone had anticipated this possibility and deliberately prevented them from wearing one.
The moment they appeared, Aila and Black Aila stepped forward and positioned themselves in front of Futsu Mitama.
If the enemy attacked first, then as his maids, they would launch a counterattack immediately.
Kuki Shinobu and Sangonomiya Kokomi moved to Futsu Mitama's left and right.
Meanwhile, Shenhe quietly held a talisman in her hand. Beneath her mask, her expression remained completely calm.
The intentions of the newcomers were obvious.
And if they attacked, she would respond without hesitation.
The members of the Thirty approached in silence. Weapons in hand, they stared at Futsu Mitama's group with obvious hostility.
"What business does the Thirty have with our Faruzan Troupe?"
Futsu Mitama had not expected them to arrive so quickly. The Fatui operative's efficiency was surprisingly high.
"Capture them!"
The leader of the Thirty immediately gave the order. Without hesitation, the surrounding members raised their weapons.
With loud shouts, they charged directly toward Futsu Mitama and his companions.
'Are they really that brave?'
Hidden in the shadows, Dehya covered her face.
She knew some members of the Thirty personally. If possible, she would rather not see them clash with Futsu Mitama's group. Because this was no different from throwing eggs against a stone.
But the current situation made it obvious.
The Thirty were acting under Fatui instructions.
That was why they attacked immediately without even asking questions.
And sure enough—
The instant they launched their attack, Aila and Black Aila moved.
Their speed was astonishing. In the blink of an eye, every member of the Thirty who had charged forward was knocked to the ground.
"?!"
The leader's pupils contracted sharply. He immediately reached for an object, apparently intending to call for reinforcements.
The enemy's strength had completely exceeded his expectations.
Swish!
A figure flashed before him.
Kuki Shinobu appeared instantly.
She seized the object from his hand and struck the back of his neck.
The leader collapsed unconscious on the spot.
Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle! Gurgle!
The remaining members who had been preparing to attack suddenly found themselves trapped inside giant water bubbles.
No matter how hard they struggled, they could not break free.
The battle ended in less than three seconds.
More than fifty mercenaries were suppressed before they could even put up meaningful resistance. And throughout the entire confrontation, Futsu Mitama never even made a move.
"So... so strong..."
Even though Faruzan already knew how powerful Futsu Mitama's group was, she still couldn't help but exclaim.
Their strength was simply overwhelming.
Now she finally understood why Futsu Mitama had said earlier that her staying behind would only become a burden.
With her own abilities, handling a force of this size would already be difficult.
"Let's leave first."
Nahida narrowed her eyes as she looked at the defeated members of the Thirty. Her tone became noticeably more serious.
"This place should be left to Futsu Mitama and the others. We need to leave immediately. I suspect this entire area will soon be sealed off."
Turning toward Faruzan, Nahida continued,
"Faruzan, you need to leave Sumeru City as quickly as possible and find the Scholar named Tighnari. As for me, I'll act together with Dehya and Dunyarzad. The Fatui have never seen the two of them before. So, for the time being, they won't be in any danger."
"If you need to contact me—"
Nahida lightly touched the Akasha Terminal by her ear.
"Just call for me through the Akasha."