After hearing the light screen's evaluation, many across Teyvat were left deeply moved.
Since the evaluations began, there had been no shortage of tragic figures.
For example—Miss Navia.
In the original future, she lost her parents and her retainers.
Or Mr. Neuvillette.
More than four hundred years ago, two of his most loyal subordinates gave their lives in the name of justice.
Or the Anemo Archon.
One of his closest friends perished in a struggle for freedom.
And then there was the Geo Archon.
Friends dead, friends sealed away—loss upon loss.
Each of these stories had already been painful enough.
Yet no one expected something even more devastating.
A single calamity had taken everything from the Electro Archon—
her sister, her friends—
and nearly destroyed Inazuma itself.
In the end, the Raiden Shogun was left almost completely alone.
It could be said that she lost nearly everything that could be lost.
At that moment, people finally realized—
Gods were not as radiant and untouchable as imagined.
Even gods carried tragedy, helplessness, and sorrow.
If people of other nations felt only sympathy, then for Inazumans, the emotions were far more complex.
ordinary chat group
Mikoshi Genjirou: Sigh… Back then, Grandmother Chiyo really had no choice…
Sachiko: Lady Makoto, Lady Saiguu, Lady Chiyo, the yokai, the Shogunate soldiers… His Excellency truly lost and bore far too much.
Shibamon Jirou: I knew the calamity five hundred years ago hurt Inazuma badly—but I never imagined it was this close to national destruction…
Amakumo Juugo: Without the Shogun, Inazuma would truly have fallen.
Teppei: So there was history like this… In that case, His Excellency even saved Watatsumi Island. (sigh.jpg)
Inoue: The Shogun's actions have been judged by the light screen. As her people, all we must do is follow her—just as we did five hundred years ago!
Saizō: The eternal way is vast—Narukami endures forever! Fight for the Shogun! Fight for Inazuma!
(messages flood the screen)
Watching the familiar wave of messages, people from other nations sighed.
Mondstadt had once done this.
Liyue as well.
Now it was Inazuma's turn.
Perhaps the Inazuma of the past had been chaotic because of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree.
But if they truly crossed this threshold—
With unity like this, it might one day return to the eternal paradise it once was five hundred years ago.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
"Ei… Beelzebul…"
After hearing the evaluation, Venti let out a rare sigh.
She had been an old acquaintance—one he and the old man once knew well.
Seeing her tragedy left his heart heavy.
Zhongli felt the same—perhaps even more strongly.
He, too, had lost friends.
The difference was that he chose to face it.
Whereas his old friend had chosen to escape.
And thus, as the light screen described, she had walked down a path of obsession.
Besides the two old Archons, one man and two dragons nearby also wore expressions of quiet grief.
At that moment, Hu Tao frowned slightly, as if realizing something.
"From Venti, to you, Consultant, and now the Electro Archon…"
"Doesn't it feel like the Archon Evaluation series is getting more and more tragic?"
"At this rate, won't the Dendro Archon and Hydro Archon be even worse?"
Venti and Zhongli both fell silent.
They truly didn't know.
After all, the later nations were ruled by second-generation gods.
They had little contact with them.
But judging by the trend…
It was entirely possible.
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Hu Tao quickly changed the topic.
"Alright, enough gloom!"
"Come on—drink!"
"Venti, I want a bowl of baijiu!"
"Coming right up~"
"Director Hu, that's strong stuff. You might not handle it well."
Zhongli tried to advise.
"Hmph, don't underestimate me!"
As long as it wasn't mouth-chewed wine or vodka, there was nothing Director Hu wouldn't dare drink!
Zhongli could only sigh, hoping she wouldn't regret it later.
Tenryou Commission
"Wuuuu… Shogun… Shogun-sama is too pitiful…"
Kujou Sara lay slumped over her desk, tears streaming freely.
All her former sharpness and discipline were gone.
Like a fan witnessing her idol's tragedy—
no, even more intense than that.
She had always been loyal.
But she had never truly understood her Shogun.
Now, through the light screen, she finally did.
Lady Makoto.
Lady Saiguu.
Lady Chiyo.
Lord Sasayuri.
Friends who had accompanied her for thousands of years.
Faithful yokai.
Loyal soldiers.
Countless citizens.
So this was what His Excellency had lost.
No wonder she clung so stubbornly to Eternity.
In the past, Sara enforced the Vision Hunt Decree out of loyalty.
Now, she understood the reason behind it.
Because she had lost too much—
she could not bear to lose anything more.
She wanted to freeze Inazuma in its most perfect moment.
Of course, that path had proven wrong.
"No… not wrong."
"The method was wrong—but the desire itself wasn't."
"No matter what, I will continue to follow the Shogun!"
"I will never allow her to face a future where she stands alone again—like she did five hundred years ago!"
Kujou Sara wiped her tears, her eyes resolute.
If only the Great Tengu had stayed back then…
Perhaps everything would have been different.
But that was the past.
What mattered now was the present.
She looked back to the light screen.
Perhaps it would show her what to do next.
extraordinary chat group
Nahida: Losing her twin sister of thousands of years… losing her closest friends, her generals, her soldiers, her people…
Nahida: These experiences are unbearably heavy. It truly wasn't easy for Senior Beelzebul. (sigh.jpg)
Nahida: Is this… another price of being a god?
Furina: Yes. Losing almost everything, yet still having to rule through the pain… it's truly cruel.
At one time, Nahida and Furina believed their own experiences were already unbearable.
But compared to Beelzebul's…
Being imprisoned for five hundred years didn't seem that bad.
Hiding the truth for five hundred years didn't seem that bad either.
At least only they suffered.
They didn't have to endure the pain of losing loved ones.
Of course—
That was only because they didn't yet know what awaited them.
Alice: Honestly, the core of this tragedy isn't how miserable it is—it's how powerless it feels.
Alice: The grumpy Shogun probably wanted to save her sister first, then come back to save Inazuma.
Alice: A perfect plan—but in the end, she saved no one.
Alice: She arrived too late in Khaenri'ah… and returned too late to Inazuma.
Alice: And to make it worse—she was strong. Top-tier strong. (sigh.jpg)
The chat fell quiet.
She was right.
Ei's strength was undeniable.
The corpse of Orobashi and the Musoujin Gorge still exist.
Among the Seven, she stood at the very top.
And yet—
She couldn't save a single person close to her.
The realization was suffocating.
If even gods were like this…
What hope did mortals have?
At that moment—
Lumine: Hmph. Alice, that's where you're wrong! If you feel powerless, it's not because strength is useless—it's because you're not strong enough!
Paimon: Oh? Then what level of strength is enough? (doge.jpg)
Barbara: Barbatos-level? Or the Geo Archon? (guess.jpg)
Venti: No no no! I'm weak—one spear from the old man and I'm flying! Definitely the old man! (doge.jpg)
Zhongli: …
Zhongli: From a rational standpoint, my strength and Beelzebul's are not vastly different. That gap alone cannot solve everything. Otherwise… back then…
Zhongli: Therefore, at minimum, one would need power surpassing the Seven—such as a Dragon King.
Dvalin: …
Dvalin: Don't look at me. I'm the weakest.
Azhdaha: My strength is comparable to Morax.
Neuvillette: If I reclaimed full authority as the Hydro Dragon, I would surpass the Seven—but even that wouldn't be enough.
Neuvillette: Above that… only the Heavenly Principles.
Lumine: Exactly! In Teyvat, to truly control one's fate, you need power close to—or equal to—the Heavenly Principles!
Lumine: If Ei had that strength five hundred years ago, she would've saved them all.
Lumine: She could've stopped Makoto from going to Khaenri'ah outright!
Lumine: And if you're even stronger—like the one in the light screen—then you can walk all over Teyvat! (doge.jpg)
The group could only smile bitterly.
The logic was flawless.
But Heavenly Principles weren't cabbages growing in a field.
Strength wasn't so easily obtained.
Still, Lumine's interruption lifted the mood.
But Ei had taken those words to heart.
"Yes… that's right."
"I couldn't do anything because I wasn't strong enough."
"If I were strong enough—none of this would've happened."
"When everything settles… I will train harder."
Ei thought quietly.
Then she looked at the chat.
Ei: Kamisato Ayato. You heard the earlier evaluation.
Ei: Chiyo was not a traitor. She was a hero of Inazuma.
Ei: Makoto, her, Saiguu, Sasayuri, the yokai, the soldiers—record everything truthfully.
Ei: Draft appropriate restitution measures.
Kamisato Ayato: Yes, Your Excellency. I will handle it properly.
Kamisato Ayato: However… What of Lady Hanachirusato?
At the mention of that name, Ei's expression grew complicated.
Once handled, there would be no turning back.
Yet leaving it unhandled was also impossible.
After all, she was born of corruption.
Ei hesitated.
At that moment—
Yae Miko: The Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual falls under the Grand Narukami Shrine. The Yashiro Commission need not interfere.
Kamisato Ayato: Understood, Lady Guuji.
Lumine and Paimon finally relaxed.
They truly didn't want that gentle shrine maiden to disappear.
"To part with you—when shall we meet again? I fade like morning dew."
It hurt too much.
Looking at the flood of messages—
The unity.
The resolve.
Ei froze.
Five hundred years ago, Inazuma had also been in ruins.
But back then—
She stood alone, lost and in pain.
Now—
She was surrounded by loyal, dependable people.
Full of hope.
Ei pressed her lips together softly.
"Makoto… I think I finally understand what you meant by "Eternity."
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