Unaware that a certain small fox was staring at him, Luo Li suddenly remembered something and turned his head.
"By the way, I haven't seen Chiyo around lately. Where's she been?"
As a descendant of the crimson oni, Oni-Chiyo was part of Inazuma's elite inner circle—brave, powerful, and worthy of bearing the Raiden banner.
Before Makoto could reply, Saiguu spoke first, feigning hurt.
"Oh my, even with the three of us here, you're still thinking about another woman. True, Chiyo's beauty even impresses me, but hearing that is a little heartbreaking, you know?"
"…"
Luo Li wisely ignored her. Saiguu's personality was essentially Yae Miko on "hard mode"—indulge her even a little, and you'd be stuck for hours.
Makoto sighed softly and answered,
"In recent days the outer islands were attacked by monsters. Several pirate crews used the chaos to raid villages, so I sent Chiyo to command the Shogunate army. The Kujou, Takamine, and Kaedehara clans are assisting her."
Luo Li nodded. Small matters.
Though… the Kaedehara Clan…
He remembered that five hundred years later, the last clan head—Kaedehara Kazuha's father—would sell the family estate and wander the world as a ronin.
"Alright, service shift! Time to switch roles~"
Saiguu clapped once and withdrew, sweeping her silver hair aside to expose her slender neck as she turned and sat before him—clearly expecting a massage in return.
"Tch, then allow me to show you what a true master-level massage feels like."
"Mm~ I'm looking forward to it."
Seeing Luo Li suddenly burst with energy the moment physical contact with a fox-woman was involved, Makoto couldn't help but laugh.
But her amusement halted when her gaze caught Ei's expression—impassive as always, yet her cheek puffed just slightly in irritation.
Makoto leaned over instantly, voice low and teasing.
"Why did you reject Saiguu's offer earlier? Wouldn't being honest be easier? Now look at you—quietly sulking."
Ei froze, caught off-guard.
Her head jerked away like a scolded child.
"I—I wasn't."
"Fufufu."
Makoto didn't expose her, instead stroking the small fox in her arms while watching her childish sister and her bickering friends. Her eyes softened with a quiet, lingering sorrow.
If only days like this could last forever…
This beautiful Inazuma…
These dear companions…
She sighed faintly.
At that moment, beyond the cliffside, a streak of light shot upward into the night sky.
A man-made meteor.
It rose high, then exploded in a cascade of brilliant sparks that illuminated the dark heavens.
"Life's countless sights… fleeting as a single moment."
The glow reflected in her gentle eyes. Makoto drank her sakura-scented warm wine in one graceful motion.
Beside her, Ei didn't hear a word—lost inside her own thoughts.
Only Luo Li and Saiguu exchanged brief glances in silent understanding.
The air fell still.
Fireworks continued blooming above, one after another.
Perhaps the clan that studied starlight launched them to celebrate the success of the Divine Blade Festival.
When the final ember faded into darkness, the quiet waters finally stirred with a voice.
"I may have to leave for a while. Narukami Shrine will be in your care during that time."
Saiguu rested her chin lazily on her hand, watching Luo Li out of half-lidded eyes.
"Leaving again? Fine… but what's the compensation?"
He didn't even ask why she was leaving—just immediately began bargaining.
Saiguu tapped her lips thoughtfully.
"Hmm… let me think…"
Then her eyes lit up wickedly.
"Alright, when I return, you may choose any shrine maiden you like from the Grand Narukami Shrine."
Luo Li almost choked.
Lady, is this a shrine or a KTV full of hostesses?
Without giving him time to protest, she continued cheerfully:
"Right! A new trainee shrine maiden recently arrived—very promising, obedient, bright-eyed. Her name was… Asase Hibiki, I think? Good figure too."
Luo Li stared at her.
Is THIS really something the matriarch of the Hakushin Clan should be saying!?
"…Fine, fine. I agree."
It wasn't about the shrine maidens.
He mostly… enjoyed helping friends.
But Asase Hibiki—a name he knew well.
So many figures who were mere footnotes in long-lost history during the game were now alive, real, and vivid before his eyes.
Across these two millennia he had witnessed countless tragedies—characters from "lore text" torn apart, burned away, or quietly fading into obscurity.
The lady of Amos's Bow… shredded by the Lone King of the Tower.
The Spearmaiden of the Moonpiercer and her doomed love with Parsifal.
The wandering troupe that rose in rebellion—only to perish namelessly in the snow.
And yet, there were epics too—
A gladiator who struck down the old aristocracy and rose to godhood.
All of it etched into Luo Li's memories.
Sometimes he intervened.
Sometimes he merely watched history unfold.
"Heh, claiming you're not interested, yet your reaction says otherwise."
Saiguu's peach-blossom eyes curved with amusement.
Women changed moods faster than flipping pages in a book.
Luo Li was long immune.
He had something else on his mind entirely.
If he remembered correctly, before the fall of Khaenri'ah, Saiguu would leave Inazuma three times.
This was already the second.
The third time…
She would never return.
A major turning point was approaching:
The Cataclysm. The Abyss. The collapse of an entire nation.
Makoto would die.
Saiguu would vanish forever.
Countless Inazuman citizens would perish.
General Takamine the Mistsplitter would fall.
Oni-Chiyo would be corrupted and struck down by Ei herself, fleeing into the dark.
Ei would shut herself away.
Inazuma would enter its era of Isolation.
"So troublesome…"
Luo Li exhaled slowly, thinking of ways to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
The truth of Teyvat was… complicated.
Humans and gods alike were foreigners to this land.
During the Primordial Era, the First Throne battled the Second Throne.
Enkanomiya's ancient records implied the victor was the First Throne—
But countless clues suggested the opposite.
Why was only Istaroth, one of the Four Shades of the Second Throne, still capable of responding to prayers—
while the Sustainer and the remaining three Shades were completely silent?
Perhaps not unwilling…
Perhaps simply gone.
Why were the people of Enkanomiya forbidden from returning to the surface?
Why was the silver, leyline-growing tree of Sal Vindagnyr destroyed by a Nail?
Why were all traces of pre-Crown civilization erased?
Clearly, those above did not want mortals to know the truth.
Khaenri'ah's destruction reeked of conspiracy.
Luo Li had a bold theory:
What if the Abyss was actually the remnant power of the defeated Throne?
Or… the victor.
Too little information—too much speculation.
He rubbed his temples.
"Forget it. Overthinking won't help. Better to prepare countermeasures in advance."
His gaze drifted to Makoto and Saiguu.
If someone so beautiful were to vanish forever… it would be far too cruel.
He had spent centuries building these bonds.
They were on the verge of tearing down the final barrier between them.
To lose everything in an instant?
No—unacceptable.
After mulling strategies in his mind, he finally returned to the present—
And realized he was alone in the entire bath.
"…Where is everyone?"
A voice squeaked from the entrance.
"Lord Luo Li, Lady Shogun and the others departed earlier. Lady Saiguu told me not to disturb you—and to remind you to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine early tomorrow morning."
"They sure left fast."
He muttered.
Well, if everyone had gone, there was no reason for him to stay either.
With a splash, Luo Li rose from the water.
"Alright. Come help me change."
The shy maid stepped forward, face burning red as she held out a towel and fresh robe—
unable to look directly at his unnervingly handsome, borderline-demonic features.
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