Seeing Kirara's message, everyone in the chat group froze.
Huh?
That actually… sounded like a good question.
And so, the group immediately erupted into discussion.
extraordinary chat group
Barbara: I think Ioroi probably didn't know at first, but later on, he must've had some suspicions.
Hu Tao: Yeah! No matter how mischievous Kitsune Saiguu was, there's no way she'd prank him for five hundred years straight. Something had to have gone wrong.
Yoimiya: Then why did he act completely clueless when talking to the Traveler in the light screen? (confused.jpg)
Alhaitham: Self-deception, most likely.
Furina: As long as he pretended not to know, Saiguu was just teasing him. That's still better than facing the cruel truth.
Keqing: Escaping reality may be shameful—but it works~!
Neuvillette: …How lamentable.
Clearly, most people had reached the same conclusion.
And that was only natural.
After all, a game of hide-and-seek lasting five hundred years—
Anyone with half a brain would realize something was wrong.
Ioroi's behavior was nothing more than self-comfort.
Faced with such willful self-deception, the group's emotions turned complicated.
In the end, all that remained was a quiet sigh.
Villa
Luo Chen glanced at the chat's discussion about Kitsune Saiguu and Hanachirusato and sighed inwardly.
Truth be told, he personally liked those two characters very much.
In some ways, even more than Yae Miko.
As for why—
Perhaps it was the tragic undertone they carried.
Much like Greater Lord Rukkhadevata of Sumeru.
That kind of sorrow naturally left a deep impression.
After a moment of silence, Luo Chen returned to the broadcast.
Giving the audience a brief pause, he continued.
"Third tragedy: the fall of a close friend—Mikoshi Chiyo."
"When the calamity descended, Mikoshi Chiyo led her troops into battle."
"During the fighting, she was swallowed whole by a monstrous creature with the body of a tiger and the tail of a serpent."
"But in the end, she tore her way out from its belly and escaped alive."
"This battle made her famous."
"And thus she gained the title 'Torachiyo'—the Tiger-Bitten Chiyo."
"However, that victory came at a price."
"While inside the monster, she was infected by demonic corruption and gradually lost her sanity."
"In the end, she even raised her blade against Beelzebul herself."
"Much like Dvalin in Mondstadt."
"Only—she did not have the same luck."
"No Traveler came to save her."
"Beelzebul, unwilling to kill her outright, merely severed one of her horns and one of her arms."
"Gravely wounded, Mikoshi Chiyo fled into the forest… and eventually died there."
There were several versions of Chiyo's death.
Some said she was slain by the tengu.
Others claimed she was killed by the Shuumatsuban.
And there was yet another, far more tragic rumor—
That she was cut down by Iwakura no Tane, who mistook her for a monster.
And Iwakura no Tane—later known as Iwakura Michihiro—was Chiyo's own biological child.
If that version were true…
Then her fate was truly cruel beyond words.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
"Another victim of demonic corruption…"
Dvalin sighed softly after hearing this part of the evaluation.
Once upon a time, he himself had suffered the same fate.
As someone who had lived through it, he understood the agony all too well.
Five hundred years of torment.
Then manipulation by the Abyss Order.
And finally, an attack on Mondstadt itself.
Thankfully, disaster had been averted in the end.
Otherwise, he would never have forgiven himself.
Because of that, Dvalin deeply understood Mikoshi Chiyo's suffering.
He knew her attack on the Raiden Shogun had not been out of betrayal—
But necessity.
Still, her ending was deeply regrettable.
Seeing Dvalin's expression, Venti stood up and poured him a glass of baijiu.
"Don't dwell on it. It's all in the past."
"Come on—drink."
Dvalin looked at him helplessly.
This guy really had an absurdly big heart.
But then again—
Perhaps only someone like that could truly be free.
Villa
Luo Chen continued.
"Since we're talking about Mikoshi Chiyo, let's briefly mention those connected to her."
"Although Chiyo died, her act of turning her blade on Beelzebul caused the oni clan's status to plummet."
"Her adopted son, Mikoshi Nagamasa, entered government service to restore the family's honor."
"Her biological son, however, chose to withdraw into the mountains."
"He later changed his name to Iwakura Michihiro and founded a new school—the Iwakura Style."
"But five hundred years later, this school degenerated into a violent sect that tested blades on innocent passersby."
"In the original future, it was completely wiped out by the Traveler—Lumine."
"Thus, the lineage was severed."
The chat group had been mourning Chiyo's death—
And Ei's loss of yet another friend—
But at this point, many people couldn't hold it in anymore.
Good grief.
Wiped out by the Traveler?!
As expected of the Executioner.
If the timing weren't so sensitive, the jokers would've definitely piled on.
Tenshukaku
Ei was still lowering her head in silence.
But Yae Miko shot Lumine a meaningful glance.
She didn't say anything—
But the implication was obvious.
Lumine and Paimon noticed it instantly.
Their smiles turned stiff.
Inside, they were panicking.
Oh no.
Mikoshi Chiyo wasn't a traitor.
She was a hero of Inazuma.
And also Ei's close friend.
And now Lumine had wiped out the sect founded by her descendant?!
And the worst part?
They were currently inside Tenshukaku.
Right. Now.
Lumine glanced at the sword on the table.
Then at Ei, who remained silent.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Panicking, she rushed to the chat group for help.
extraordinary chat group
Lumine: I'm at Tenshukaku. The light screen just exposed that in the original future I wiped out the Iwakura Style.
Yae Miko is staring at me weirdly. Ei isn't saying anything. There's a sword on the table.
Lumine: Help. What do I do? Urgent. Waiting online.
The group had planned to just enjoy the chaos.
But since Lumine herself had stepped in—
There was no reason to hold back.
Venti: That was Beelzebul's close friend! You really dared wipe out her descendant's school? (doge.jpg)
Zhongli: From a rational standpoint, Beelzebul is currently emotionally unstable. Logic may be compromised, therefore—
Nahida: Therefore she might impulsively avenge her friend! Traveler, run! (doge.jpg)
Furina: Run where? One Musou no Hitotachi and you're done. Ten thousand meters wouldn't be enough.
Paimon: W-We need a lawyer! Yanfei, help!
Yanfei: No use. As the saying goes—reason fails before force.
Yanfei: And the Raiden Shogun isn't exactly known for patience. You sure you'll last until I arrive?
Alice: Sounds like you're having a last supper~ (doge.jpg)
Hu Tao: Oh? Looks like business is coming my way. Since you're a group friend, I'll give you a 90% discount! (doge.jpg)
Lumine: …
Paimon: …
Kamisato Estate
"Brother… do you think Lumine and Paimon are really going to—"
Ayaka's face was pale with worry.
She was genuinely afraid that the Raiden Shogun, influenced by the light screen, might strike them down in anger.
If that happened, she had to intervene.
They were her friends.
And if she hadn't invited them to stay, they wouldn't have been invited to Tenshukaku.
So their safety was her responsibility.
Ayato chuckled softly and shook his head.
"You're worrying too much."
"If Her Excellency truly intended to strike, Lumine wouldn't even have time to ask for help."
"The chat group is just enjoying the spectacle."
Thoma nodded.
"Exactly, Lady Ayaka."
"The Traveler is Inazuma's benefactor."
"The Shogun would never do something so ungrateful."
"…That's true."
Ayaka finally relaxed.
Tenshukaku
Lumine hadn't thought that far yet.
Seeing the chat's replies, she rolled her eyes.
She asked for solutions—
And everyone was just enjoying her suffering.
Useless. All of them.
With no other choice, she started thinking on her own.
"Should I call Ayaka and escape with a teleport door?"
"No, not possible."
"The Shogun's draw speed is way too fast."
"Then… surrender?"
"But will that even work?"
"…It's my only option."
She couldn't fight her way out anyway.
At that moment—
Ei, having finished crying, had calmed down considerably.
She wiped the corner of her eyes and looked up.
She had seen the light screen's evaluation.
And the chat.
And Lumine's panicked reaction.
She sighed helplessly.
She wasn't the Shogun puppet.
She was just… socially awkward.
Was she really that terrifying?
Ei was about to speak—
When Lumine suddenly raised both hands, face solemn.
"Respected Ei—no, Raiden Shogun—御建鸣神主尊大御所大人!"
"I—no, this one—surrenders!"
"Please, for the sake of my future contributions to Inazuma, don't cut me down!"
Paimon's eyes widened.
Then she quickly followed suit.
"Cough! Respected御建鸣神主尊大御所大人, I also surrender!"
"We may not have achievements, but we've suffered plenty!"
"Please give us a chance!"
Ei: "..."
She was completely speechless.
Yae Miko, on the other hand, burst into laughter.
Front to back.
This was priceless.
Too bad the light screen couldn't broadcast this live.
But that was fine—
She snapped a few photos and sent them to the chat group.
Instant chaos ensued.
Ei finally recovered and shook her head helplessly.
"That… Iwakura Style harmed innocent travelers. They were already criminals."
"You eliminating them brought nothing but merit to Inazuma."
"There is no guilt."
"There's no need for this."
"If you keep this up, people will think I'm completely unreasonable."
Lumine and Paimon froze—
Then exploded with joy.
They weren't getting cut down!
They hugged each other, almost in tears.
In hindsight, they really had overthought it.
But it wasn't their fault.
The Raiden Shogun's light-screen reputation was terrifying.
Especially with Mikoshi Chiyo involved.
Watching the two goofballs, Ei finally smiled faintly.
The heavy gloom in her heart eased.
For a moment—
It felt like she was back beneath the cherry trees with Makoto and the others.
"Chiyo… I will restore your name."
"You were never a traitor."
"You were a hero of Inazuma."
Ei murmured softly.
Villa
Luo Chen continued.
"Makoto. Kitsune Saiguu. Mikoshi Chiyo."
"All perished in the calamity."
"Add Sasayuri, slain by the great serpent earlier—"
"At this point, every one of Beelzebul's close friends and family had died."
"And yet, the tragedy did not end there."
"The once-flourishing yokai—capable of a full Hyakki Yagyō—were devastated."
"One of Inazuma's four legendary warriors, the Great Tengu's retainer Takamine the Mist-Cutter, was swallowed by dark miasma after his blade shattered."
"He was later personally slain by Asase Hibiki."
"The Sacred Sakura nearly withered while absorbing corruption."
"Countless Shogunate soldiers died."
"Civilian casualties were beyond counting."
"From friends… to yokai… to ordinary people—"
"The calamity nearly erased Inazuma entirely."
"Only Beelzebul's timely return—"
"And the aid of a man named Kazari-no-Kami Harunosuke—"
"Managed to end the disaster and save the nation."
"Even so, the losses were catastrophic."
"Beelzebul lost all her companions."
"Inazuma lost its elite leadership."
"It lost loyal soldiers."
"It lost countless citizens."
"At that time, the Great Tengu clan leader exiled herself out of guilt, leaving only Gyoukou behind."
"As for Yae Miko—she had only just taken human form, barely able to shoulder Guuji's role."
"So what stood before Beelzebul was—"
"A devastated nation."
"No advisors."
"No capable aides."
"And she herself was a warrior who knew nothing of governance."
"All while enduring unbearable grief."
"It was… unimaginably difficult."
"In contrast, Liyue confined its battlefield near The Chasm."
"With adepti, yaksha, and the Millelith working together—"
"They sealed the monsters away."
"Though losses were heavy, they were manageable."
"More importantly—Morax and most of the adepti survived."
"Liyue Harbor remained largely intact."
"So recovery was swift."
"Inazuma, however—after repeated devastation—"
"Was led by Beelzebul down an extreme path of Eternity."
Luo Chen sighed.
No wonder Inazuma declined so sharply.
An Archon who couldn't govern.
A hollowed-out leadership.
A grieving population forced to rebuild.
If this hadn't been a nation ruled by a god—
And if Ei hadn't been overwhelmingly powerful—
Any ordinary dynasty would've collapsed long ago.
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