Cherreads

Chapter 148 - ei: understood! working hard can’t fix a nation—slacking and “fishing” can!

Villa

Luo Chen continued:

"Earlier, we evaluated the merits and faults of the elder sister, Baal. Now it's the younger sister Beelzebul's turn."

"First—Beelzebul's merits."

"One: Unifying Inazuma."

"During the Archon War, she joined hands with Baal to unify Inazuma."

"Compared to her sister's civil governance, Beelzebul's contribution lay heavily in martial achievement."

"She slew the serpent, shot down the thunderbird, and annihilated monsters. With Musou, she cleared every obstacle blocking Inazuma's advance."

"She secured the external environment necessary for Baal's governance to flourish."

"Two: Passing down martial arts."

"She taught the people naginata techniques, swordsmanship, and forging arts."

"She granted the people the means to strengthen themselves."

"Three: Resolving the Khaenri'ah calamity."

"After returning from Khaenri'ah, with the aid of the Sacred Sakura's power, she suppressed the vast monster disaster with overwhelming strength."

"She saved Inazuma from the brink of destruction."

"Now—Beelzebul's faults."

"One: Loving too deeply."

"This primarily refers to the Watatsumi Island war."

"After defeating Orobashi, out of compassion, she did not enforce measures to fully assimilate Watatsumi."

"This left hidden dangers that later evolved into renewed conflict."

"Two: Inexperienced in governance; extreme ideology."

"The former is understandable."

"Before officially inheriting the title of Raiden Shogun, Beelzebul was merely a taciturn general."

"Makoto's death came too suddenly. Her succession was rushed."

"As for the latter—her starting point was always Inazuma."

"Because she loved Inazuma so deeply, she could not bear to see its people suffer from worldly delusion."

"Because she knew too well the agony of losing loved ones, she chose eternal loneliness for herself so that Inazuma might enjoy everlasting peace."

"Because she personally witnessed the tragic fall of a civilization that advanced too quickly, she did not wish for Inazuma to repeat that fate."

"She rejected erosion only because she wished to preserve the eternal memories of those she cherished."

"But understanding her motives does not erase the tragedies her actions caused."

"Much like Mondstadt's former tyrant—the Lord of the Tower."

"He loved his people, but his method was wrong."

"So too with Beelzebul."

"Objectively speaking, Inazuma's citizens suffered greatly."

"Civil strife, corruption, endless war—people lived in hardship."

"In the end, one must fulfill the responsibilities of one's position."

"As Inazuma's god and sovereign, Beelzebul failed to properly guide her people. That was her greatest fault."

"Taken as a whole, her merits outweigh her faults. She made tremendous contributions to Inazuma."

"From rigid extremity to awakening enlightenment—"

"Given more time, perhaps she will truly fulfill her promise: to grant her people a dream."

extraordinary chat group

Alice: Exactly! As the nation's god and ruler, failing to guide the country is dereliction of duty. Excuses don't matter—because that's your responsibility!

Keqing: Strictly speaking, Inazuma only became severely chaotic in recent years. So overall, as the light screen said—Beelzebul's merits outweigh her faults. Inazuma cannot be without the Raiden Shogun.

Lumine: Oh? Hearing a human say humanity can't do without a god? (doge.jpg)

Paimon: Master Keqing, you've changed! (doge.jpg)

Keqing rolled her eyes.

She wasn't that naive girl anymore.

Nilou: Without the Raiden Shogun, Inazuma might have been consumed by calamity five hundred years ago.

Navia: And even if it survived, it would've fallen prey to the Fatui later.

Neuvillette: There is another factor. Inazuma borders the Dark Sea. Many gods who fled during the Archon War remain there.

Neuvillette: Without a powerful force standing guard, Inazuma would never know stability.

Kamisato Ayaka: Without the Shogun, there would be no Inazuma today! We are forever grateful!

Kujou Sara: Whether Lady Makoto or Lady Ei, both have made indelible contributions!

Kujou Sara:Eternal principles endure—Narukami forever!

Soon the chat was filled with the same slogan.

Faith had solidified once again.

Villa

Luo Chen nodded.

"Inazuma cannot afford to be without a god."

"Because of the Dark Sea threat alone, strength must stand guard."

"If Makoto had not fallen, with one civil and one martial, Inazuma would have prospered even more."

He sighed.

"Unfortunately."

Then he continued:

"That concludes the formal evaluation of the Electro Archon."

"So far, we have evaluated three gods."

"And what an interesting trio they are."

"Barbatos and Morax appear unreliable."

"One never works, spends his days drinking and slacking."

"The other works once a year and spends the rest of the time strolling, watching opera, and bird-watching."

"Yet their nations are among the most stable on Teyvat."

"Even after disasters, they recover swiftly."

"Now look at Beelzebul."

"She appears the most diligent."

"She works constantly."

"She even created a theoretically perfect version of herself to ensure peak performance."

"And yet—under those circumstances—her nation's governance was the worst."

"How dramatic."

The chat fell silent.

That contrast… was glaring.

extraordinary chat group

Nahida: It may be disrespectful, but I believe the issue lies primarily with the god.

"Barbatos and Morax may seem carefree, but they possess great wisdom."

"They do not micromanage, yet they stay connected to the people."

"They maintain the correct overall direction."

"As long as the direction is right, major issues are unlikely."

"And if problems arise, they can personally step in."

"Beelzebul isolated herself in the Plane of Euthymia, losing touch with the people's wishes. Once the direction deviated, daily diligence could not compensate."

Many nodded.

Ei did not refute it.

It was true.

Furina: Besides the god factor, there's another—competent officials!

"Mondstadt has the Gunnhildr and Ragnvindr families."

"Liyue has Ganyu, who has worked diligently for over three thousand years."

"With capable administrators, even divine guidance can be properly implemented."

"In Inazuma, two of the Tri-Commission collaborated with the Fatui. The Yashiro Commission lacked authority. The Grand Narukami Shrine stayed out of politics."

"Execution matters."

Ei sighed internally.

She wished she had reliable subordinates.

But five hundred years ago, most had perished.

And the ones left…

Well.

Then Alice arrived again.

Alice: You're overthinking it!

"Barbatos doesn't work. Morax works once a year. Their nations are fine!"

"But the grumpy Shogun works every day—and her nation has problems!"

"What does that prove?"

"It proves working harms national governance!"

"Only slacking and fishing can rule properly!" (doge.jpg)

Venti: Ehe! Exactly! (doge.jpg)

Zhongli: From a rational standpoint… There is some merit. (serious.jpg)

Yae Miko: Indeed~ (smirk.jpg)

Furina: Precisely! (doge.jpg)

Others stared in disbelief.

What kind of logic was this?!

But Ei… actually thought about it.

"Slacking… and fishing?"

Strange as it sounded, there was a pattern.

The more she interfered, the worse it became.

Perhaps—like Barbatos and Morax—she only needed to guard the overall direction.

As long as that direction aligned with the people's wishes.

In that moment—

Ei felt enlightened.

Nahida, too, felt she had learned something new.

Villa

Luo Chen continued:

"That concludes the Three Archons."

"Next up—the Raiden Shogun's familiar: Yae Miko."

"As usual, a brief background."

"Yae Miko, current Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine."

"Descendant of the Hakushin bloodline."

"Eternal companion and friend."

"Editor-in-chief of Yae Publishing House."

"Compared to the somewhat simple Beelzebul, her temperament is unpredictable."

"Beneath elegance lies cunning intelligence."

"She is not a woman one can judge by ordinary standards."

extraordinary chat group

Alice: A naive god and a cunning familiar—what an interesting duo~ (doge.jpg)

Lumine: In Mondstadt, Venti had me fight his familiar Dvalin. In Liyue, Zhongli had me fight Azhdaha. In Inazuma? The familiar made me fight the god! 😂

Paimon: Miko single-handedly restored familiar honor! Ei suffered badly~!

Ei: …

Hu Tao: Dvalin, Azhdaha—you two need to step it up! Look at her! (doge.jpg)

Yae Miko: Oh my~ You're embarrassing us familiars~

Dvalin: …

Azhdaha: …

After a long pause—

Dvalin: You're right! Why must familiars always be beaten by the Traveler? We should retaliate!

Azhdaha: Revive the glory of familiars—this is our duty!

Lumine: Oh? Am I up again? (excited.jpg)

Dvalin: No violence! We compete in drinking! No divine power allowed!

Azhdaha: Traveler, you'll be the referee. Hu Tao, prepare the drinks.

Venti: I approve of this counterattack.

Zhongli: …

The chat descended into chaos.

Villa

Luo Chen resumed.

"Formal Evaluation, Item One—Miko's childhood."

"Most people associate Yae Miko with sly mischief."

"But she wasn't always like that."

"Five hundred years ago, she was just a harmless little pink fox."

He displayed an image of a fluffy pink fox.

"Born of the Hakushin lineage, she was raised by Kitsune Saiguu at the Grand Narukami Shrine."

"Her cute and clumsy demeanor won the favor of the Raiden twins."

"In her own words—"

'Back then I was but a small, foolish creature.

How could I compare to Lady Hakushin?

I stumbled about like one foraging in snow,

hoping only to catch Her Excellency's gaze.

How laughable. It was that foolish boldness

that won me her favor.

And thus I gained the honor

of serving at her side, warming her hands and feet.'

"She succeeded in being adorable, was taken home by the Raiden sisters, and became their personal hand-warmer."

"She lived carefree days."

"Until she encountered one person."

"Alice."

"With that chaos-maker around, Miko was teased mercilessly."

"She cried and fussed constantly."

"Of course, once she grew up, she got her revenge."

"But that's another story."

"Later came Khaenri'ah."

"When Kitsune Saiguu left for Tenshukaku, she tricked Miko into inheriting the position of Guuji."

"At the time, Miko didn't want the burden."

"But she was tempted—by fried tofu."

Silence.

Adorable?

Hand-warmer?

Bullied by Alice?

Bribed with fried tofu into becoming Guuji?

Was this really the mysterious, calculating Yae Miko they knew?

The contrast was staggering.

As for the fox herself—

She froze.

"…So it's finally exposed."

To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon: 

patreon.com/nani_kaito

More Chapters