As if by prior agreement, Lin Mo arrived at the Tenshukaku early the next morning.
Just like their first meeting, Makoto greeted him with her warm, refreshing smile.
"You're here?"
Her faint smile was heartwarming, filling him with a sense of comfort.
"Yeah."
Lin Mo nodded and glanced at the stack beside her, puzzled. "These documents..."
"They're all about the people's livelihoods~"
Makoto said with a smile. "On Narukami Island, aside from the three great clans, the ordinary folk are living like primitive tribes. How can we achieve lasting peace and stability like this~?"
Primitive tribes...
Lin Mo didn't really care much about this issue.
After all, Liyue at this time didn't even have Liyue Harbor yet.
Its people were still living in the Guili Assembly—that was a true primitive settlement.
Even the people of Mondstadt were trapped in city-states enslaved by wind walls.
In contrast, the people of Narukami Island, under the rule of the three clans, had already begun forming the outlines of a proper city-state. It was middling at best—not the greatest, but better than many.
Moreover, Lin Mo's mission in this life was simple: "Maintain the stability of Narukami Island, and during the surprise attack from Watatsumi Island, sacrifice your life to block Orobashi's advance, provoking Ei to slay Orobashi in rage."
So, how the residents of Narukami Island lived didn't really concern him much.
As long as internal strife, plagues, or other disasters didn't lead to the nation's downfall, that was enough.
But since he'd promised Makoto to be her assistant, he had to take it seriously now...
He picked up the thick stack of documents beside her and went through them one by one.
"Grain Shortages for Three Consecutive Years"
"Rampant Tanuki and Red Foxes Causing Annual Losses for Breeders"
"People Barely Clothed, Neglecting Proper Attire, Affecting Morale and Health"
...
There were no fewer than fifteen such files on livelihood issues.
Each one detailed the problems currently facing the people of Narukami Island.
"You... did all this in one night?" Lin Mo asked in disbelief.
"Um... pretty much."
Makoto smiled and nodded. "I basically went over all the issues I'd noticed in the past four months in my mind and jotted them down last night."
"You didn't get much rest, did you?" Lin Mo couldn't help but show concern.
"It's no big deal~"
Makoto didn't mind at all.
Instead, she pulled him to her side.
Pointing at the documents, she asked, "As a native of Narukami Island, have you thought of any solutions to these problems?"
"Uh... sort of." Lin Mo furrowed his brow slightly.
Truth be told, for someone like him—a transmigrator from Earth—finding solutions wasn't hard.
The difficulty lay in persistence.
Whether it was improving and updating farming methods,
driving out wild beasts from breeding areas,
or getting the people of Narukami Island used to wearing proper clothing,
these issues couldn't be fixed without several years of effort.
So, Lin Mo confirmed with her, "Solving these isn't difficult, but sticking with it is. Are you sure you want to do all this for humans?"
"Of course."
Makoto smiled without hesitation. "Only when the people are happy can Narukami Island gradually prosper. That kind of flourishing world is the paradise my sister and I want to live in~"
Lin Mo gazed into Makoto's eyes, full of longing. He was certain she would be the enlightened ruler who led Inazuma to prosperity and abundance.
In the future, her status in the hearts of Inazuma's people would rival that of the Geo Archon Morax or the Anemo Archon Barbatos.
"Fine, I'll help you."
...
In the following years,
Lin Mo's contact with the three clans decreased.
Because ever since he started working at the Tenshukaku, he'd been living in the room next to Makoto and Ei's.
Every morning when he woke up,
the first thing he saw was Makoto, smiling as she brought breakfast to him.
"Lord Sasayuri, after breakfast, it's time to start the day's work~"
Makoto was so gentle.
"That won't do~"
Lin Mo smiled as he took the breakfast. "You're the deity of Narukami Island, after all. Let the servants handle this from now on."
Makoto refused immediately. "If a servant brings you breakfast, you'll get grumpy and refuse to get out of bed. Isn't it obvious you want me to personally coax you?"
"Fine, fine~"
Lin Mo accepted this gentleness without reservation.
Over the years, Makoto's tender, thoughtful wake-up service never stopped.
Over the years, the two were inseparable, spending every day together.
What they pursued were solutions to Narukami Island's livelihood and infrastructure problems.
Five years later,
the two stood once more on the balcony in front of the Tenshukaku, gazing out over the lands of Narukami Island.
Through their efforts,
in just five short years, Inazuma City's scale was already comparable to what it would be millennia later.
Compared to the civilization levels of other nations on Teyvat at the time,
Narukami Island's Inazuma City was undoubtedly the most prosperous and affluent.
"Narukami Island, Inazuma City—they're so beautiful~"
Makoto gazed at the land below, filled with emotion.
Lin Mo smiled and asked from beside her, "The problems we summarized back then are basically all solved now. Does that mean my work is done?"
"Yes... you should take a break for a while..."
Makoto's eyes seemed a bit downcast.
"What's wrong? You look a little unhappy."
Lin Mo asked curiously. "Isn't this the golden age you hoped for?"
"But..."
Makoto lifted her gaze to meet his, her expression bittersweet. "I feel like they're the children we raised together as husband and wife. Now that the children are grown and starting their own families, the parents have to leave."
"Husband and wife, huh..."
A smile tugged at Lin Mo's lips.
Indeed, over the past five years, aside from not sharing a bed, they had truly been like a married couple in every other way.
"Sasayuri... how about... staying at the Tenshukaku to keep me company?" As Makoto spoke,
her hand, which had been resting on the railing, slowly reached toward his.
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T/N:
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