Blue Planet — Villa
"These two…"
Watching Ei and Miko continue bickering in the barrage, Luo Chen couldn't help but smile.
Across all of Teyvat, there was probably no other pair of Archon and familiar who loved and fought like this.
But abdication?
Both of them?
That was unexpected.
Though… thinking carefully, it made sense.
Ei had never truly been suited for governance.
Becoming the Electro Archon had been a necessity, not a calling.
Even now, though she had grown, the road to becoming a truly capable ruler would still be long.
Better to return the seat to Makoto — who was naturally fit for it.
As for Miko…
She probably just wanted to slack off.
"But if she stepped down," Luo Chen muttered, "who became Guuji?"
Saiguu?
…That fox didn't look like someone who would willingly take on extra work.
The next wave of highlighted messages answered him.
Makoto expressed gratitude.
Saiguu offered to personally guide him through Inazuma if he ever visited.
And Hanachirusato—
Announced that she had officially assumed the position of Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Luo Chen blinked.
Hanachirusato?
That… actually made sense.
Serious.
Responsible.
Steady.
Saiguu and Miko really had their ways.
He gave a small, warm smile.
"Thank you for the support."
"Just live well."
"You lost five hundred years."
"Make up for it by seeing more of Inazuma."
"And I'll remember your words."
Then he straightened.
"Now."
"Time for today's evaluation."
"Sumeru."
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
"Nahida."
"And the Aranara."
Sumeru — The Rift Opens
The moment the names were spoken—
The atmosphere in the ordinary chat changed.
Rainforest citizens were excited.
Desert citizens—
Not so much.
Dinazade: Finally! Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Lesser Lord Kusanali will be acknowledged!
Rahman: Acknowledged? Don't make me laugh.
Rahman: Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is the culprit behind the destruction of the Scarlet King civilization!
The chat exploded.
Rainforest versus desert.
Faith versus resentment.
It was fiercer than the civil conflict Inazuma once endured.
Other nations watched in stunned silence.
This felt… familiar.
Yes.
Like the Liyue "Salt God incident."
Blind accusation.
Distorted history.
Misplaced hatred.
Eventually, calmer voices stepped in.
Reminding everyone how that previous "truth" had been wrong.
Gradually—
The argument subsided.
The desert faction hesitated.
What if… they were wrong?
What if history had been lost?
What if the truth was more complicated?
They fell silent.
Waiting for the Light Screen to reveal it.
Akademiya — A Different Kind of Excitement
Inside the Akademiya—
Celebration.
But not for the right reasons.
They weren't excited for the god's return.
They were excited for wisdom.
Power.
Authority.
"Finally! Greater Lord Rukkhadevata!"
"If she revives, Sumeru will ascend again!"
They barely mentioned Nahida.
In the Grand Sage's office—
Azar was grinning.
But one Sage quietly spoke:
"If the Lesser Lord gains a powerful reward… and the people unite…"
Azar waved dismissively.
"Most divine rewards so far have been resurrection-type."
"If that's the case, nothing changes."
"The Eremites can't overturn us."
Then the Sage added softly:
"And if Greater Lord Rukkhadevata truly returns… how will she view what we've done?"
Silence.
Azar's smile faded.
They had imprisoned the current Archon.
Manipulated authority.
Attempted to surpass the divine.
If Rukkhadevata returned—
Would she approve?
Or condemn?
The celebration suddenly felt like a death knell.
Outside the Akademiya
Cyno stood with arms crossed.
"They aren't celebrating her."
"They're celebrating what she gives them."
Alhaitham leaned against the railing.
"They don't care who the god is."
"They only care about access to wisdom."
Cyno glanced sideways.
"You moved first."
Alhaitham shrugged.
"The Akademiya is ill."
"If left unchecked, they will break the rules of this nation."
"And once rules collapse, chaos follows."
He paused.
"And we owe Rukkhadevata."
"Allowing her successor to be imprisoned is… unworthy."
The timing was perfect.
The Light Screen had destabilized public perception.
Momentum was building.
Tighnari.
Faruzan.
Nilou.
Dehya was attempting to sway the Eremites.
Even parts of the Corps of Thirty were ready.
"And Nahida?"
"We've contacted her."
Through subtle hints in the chat.
Through the Akasha.
She knew.
She agreed.
The plan was in motion.
Meanwhile — The Core Question
Was Rukkhadevata truly responsible for the Scarlet King civilization's fall?
Or—
Had history twisted something sacred into blame?
The Light Screen flickered.
Tension spread across Sumeru.
Rainforest.
Desert.
Akademiya.
Abyss.
All waiting.
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