Faced with Dottore's grandiose rhetoric, Jingchen could only force a smile as he slowly reached out to accept the gift box.
He understood Dottore perfectly.
A madman who conducted insane experiments and personally annihilated the girl who loved him.
Someone even the damned Akademiya had abandoned.
One could easily imagine the depths of Dottore's madness.
Even his colleagues were unworthy of even a shred of trust.
Moreover, Jingchen had personally erased two of Dottore's Segments in Mondstadt and Fontaine.
"Absolutely, absolutely. I'm sure we'll have opportunities to collaborate in Sumeru, Dottore."
Dottore smiled coldly.
"I eagerly await the surprises my experiments will bring you regarding the oracle of *Profanation*."
***
At the only ice-free port in southern Snezhnaya, Jingchen carefully helped Columbia board the ship.
They entered the most luxurious cabin, preparing for the journey south to Port Ormos.
Columbia kept her eyes tightly shut, snuggling close to Jingchen.
Jingchen gazed thoughtfully out the window, wondering if his very existence would alter Dottore's experiments in Sumeru.
If it were merely Scaramouche's Divine Machine and the cyclical dream, perhaps things wouldn't have spiraled out of control.
But with the mad Dottore, Jingchen couldn't imagine what insane lengths he might go to.
"A'Chen, what are you thinking about?"
"Huh?! Nothing, nothing."
"That Dottore... even though Her Majesty the Tsaritsa has granted him immense power, it doesn't mean we have to cooperate with him. On the contrary, if he dares to provoke us, we'll eradicate him and all his Segments."
"Mmm."
Seeing Jingchen still lost in thought, Columbia took out the pink scarf and wrapped it around both of them.
Jingchen was momentarily taken aback. This warmth felt so comforting.
Columbia smiled faintly.
"See? That fox understands us best after all. If I could, I'd even weave clothes from Yae Miko's tail... for the children."
Jingchen couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Let's not see her again."
"Why not?"
"What if we provoke her further? She'd become even more unhinged, and that would be troublesome."
"Alright then."
Columbia continued to snuggle against Jingchen, talking about their future—
Children, blue skies, white clouds, Immortal Spirits, beaches, and summer.
***
Inside the palace in Snezhnaya, Dottore remained alone, gazing at the spot where Jingchen had just sat.
He let out a low, sinister laugh.
Several Segments materialized around him simultaneously.
There was a youth, a young man, an elder...
The Segments surrounded Dottore.
The youthful Segment waved his hand in exasperation.
"Dottore, aren't you being too greedy?! The Divine Machine's grand experiment, a true God, has become a mere pawn before you. You seek to annihilate an unannihilatable miracle, all to make Jingchen ascend?!"
Another young man Segment scoffed.
"This isn't ascension. It's about awakening the power within him—a power that doesn't belong to this world, yet is uniquely his. Alas, that power is beyond our reach. Give it up, Dottore."
The other Segments chimed in their agreement.
"We've always been exploring 'humanity,' refining this intricate 'machine' to make it even more powerful."
But Dottore, Jingchen is now an Immortal Spirit. His past identity must have been even more terrifying than that of an Immortal Spirit.
We urge you once more to abandon your latest plan and refocus on the Experimental Subject Scaramouche, whom we had already reserved.
Is it not an unspeakable greatness to allow a discarded wretch abandoned by the gods to ascend to divinity?
Dottore smiled faintly and walked to the spot where the jester had stood earlier.
"Scaramouche's limits may be modest, but Jingchen has no limits.
I alone will judge right from wrong."
A young Segment stepped forward, challenging Dottore.
"Dottore, do you want to drag us all down with you? Give it up now!"
Dottore covered his mask and laughed maniacally.
"Heh heh! Give up?! This ascension experiment has only just begun. What talk of giving up?!"
"Dottore!! Your arrogance will be your downfall—and ours too!"
***
Within Inazuma City, Yoimiya, Kirara, Ayaka, and Kokomi ran wild, setting off fireworks with reckless abandon.
This time, the Tenryou Commission could only watch from a distance. If the slightest danger arose, they would immediately extinguish the flames, but they were forbidden to intervene.
A Tenryou Commission guard asked Kujou Sara, "My lady, why aren't we stopping Yoimiya this time? Could it be because the esteemed Miss Kamisato Ayaka of the Yashiro Commission is here?!"
Kujou Sara shot the guard a fierce glare. She was equally helpless. Both the Raiden Shogun and the Chief Priestess Yae had warned her: let Yoimiya set off fireworks in Inazuma City as she pleased. The Tenryou Commission and Kujou Sara were to handle any fallout discreetly behind the scenes, without disturbing them.
Yae Miko and Raiden Ei stood atop the Tenshukaku, admiring the dazzling fireworks. Raiden Ei stared blankly at the fireworks Yoimiya had set off, unable to believe that in just five hundred years, the fireworks of the Naganohara family had developed to such an extent.
Five hundred years ago, fireworks were monotonous and dull, with only a few basic shapes.
Today, the fireworks Yoimiya creates leave even Raiden Ei speechless, and she can't help but marvel at Yoimiya's genius.
Yae Miko covers her mouth and chuckles. *This country bumpkin...*
She hands Raiden Ei a tri-colored dango. The moment Raiden Ei takes it, it vanishes from her hand.
"Aei, what do you think? Isn't this world outside far more vibrant than your One Mind Pure Land?"
"Ah?! It is. These mortal fireworks feel like a dream, ethereal and enchanting.
Last time Jingchen was in my One Mind Pure Land, he used mechanical crystal butterflies to paint a unique scroll for me.
And the osmanthus cakes and lotus crisps he made by hand were also quite good.
Ah, he was just like Makoto—someone who pursued both reality and ephemeral beauty, gentle and thoughtful. It's a shame I lost both of them."
Yae Miko remained silent, simply watching the fireworks alongside Raiden Ei.
___
Some people seem to misunderstand the Oblivion Thunder Sakura Assembly, so I'll clarify.
Kirara and Yoimiya were purely invited by Yae Miko, the type to just join in the fun.
The Shadow felt that Jingchen had failed to uphold his contract with Yae Miko and had obtained the Raiden Shogun's Heart without her knowledge.
(Note: The Raiden Shogun's Heart is currently in Scaramouche's possession. It's possible that in Sumeru, the Raiden Shogun herself will appear to discipline her wayward son.)
Kokomi remained normal, but she felt indebted to Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayaka for their overwhelming kindness.
As for Yae Miko and Ayaka:
To put it simply, their character development gradually...
After her marriage was stolen and due to her proud nature, Yae Miko hadn't truly loved anyone for five hundred years.
When Jingchen suddenly disappeared, it left her...
As for Ayaka, her upbringing was the reason.
The Kamisato Clan drilled her day and night in the intricate etiquette of the nobility (music, calligraphy, painting, tea ceremony, swordplay).
Whenever she felt like giving up, she would always remember Jingchen.
Thus, Jingchen became her sole emotional and spiritual anchor.
The Sumeru arc will follow the original Akasha Pulses, the Records of Past Lifetimes. Though Great Lord Rukkhadevata won't be resurrected, she will receive a more fitting conclusion.
After the Sumeru arc, I'm not sure if the Fontaine arc will appear, as I've already planned the Star Rail arc.
......................
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(End of Chapter)