"Ara ara, Lord Akira Shindo. I'm still hungry, you know," Yae Miko said, gently poking Akira Shindo's firm chest with a jade-like finger. "Discussing serious matters isn't suitable while enjoying delicious food."
Humming a little tune, she walked straight into Uyuu Restaurant.
"That sly fox…" Akira Shindo muttered helplessly.
Sure enough, her true nature had already revealed itself—still the same mischievous pink-haired fox.
Shaking his head, Akira Shindo followed her inside.
Strangely enough, this version of Yae Miko felt more real to him. The ever-changing, unreadable Yae Miko was far more unsettling.
As soon as he entered, he saw that Yae Miko had already taken a seat.
"The usual—fried tofu and assorted tempura skewers," Yae Miko told the server. "And have Erika fry the tofu."
"Understood, Guuji-sama!" the server replied with a nod.
"Lord Akira Shindo, what would you like to eat?" Yae Miko asked as Akira Shindo sat across from her. "Order whatever you like. My treat."
"!"
The server's eyes widened.
Did he hear that correctly?
Guuji Yae had just called this young man "Lord"?
He must still be dreaming.
"You don't need to call me 'Lord.' Just call me Akira Shindo," Akira Shindo said, rubbing his forehead in resignation.
This troublesome woman.
Wasn't she just deliberately giving him extra attention?
"I thought calling a god directly by name might offend you," Yae Miko said with a teasing smile. "But since you insist, as repayment, you may simply call me Miko."
Akira Shindo looked at her.
As expected of a meticulous woman.
She had tested his attitude through forms of address, and now she allowed him to call her "Miko," subtly shortening the distance between them.
"Sir, what would you like to order? Here is the menu," the server said, handing Akira Shindo a menu.
"..."
Akira Shindo felt slightly awkward.
Alright—he couldn't read Teyvat's script at all.
Fortunately, the spoken language in Teyvat was conveniently understandable.
"Just give me the same set as Miko," Akira Shindo said. "And if you have Berry Mizu Manju, bring one serving as well."
"Understood. Please wait a moment, honored guest," the server said before leaving.
"Akira Shindo, why are you staring at me like that?" Yae Miko asked curiously.
She noticed him looking straight at her and subconsciously touched her face.
"Is there something on it?"
"Nothing," Akira Shindo shook his head.
Yae Miko was even more beautiful than he had imagined.
Even just sitting there, she radiated charm.
"The food hasn't arrived yet," Akira Shindo said. "So perhaps you could tell me what you want me to do."
"Ara, such an impatient god," Yae Miko said, resting her cheek against her hand.
Then she looked at him seriously.
"I want to invite you to join the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Hm?" Akira Shindo raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding her meaning.
"You said earlier that you intend to stay in Inazuma for a long time, correct?" Yae Miko said.
"You've just arrived here—no job, no identity."
"If you join the Grand Narukami Shrine, you can obtain an official identity immediately. You also won't have to worry about earning Mora."
"And what would I need to do?" Akira Shindo asked directly.
There was no such thing as a free lunch—especially when dealing with someone as shrewd as Yae Miko.
"I want you to change Inazuma's current situation," Yae Miko said with a serious expression.
"My god is far too rigid. With my power alone, I cannot see any future where Inazuma reforms."
"You are a variable from beyond Eternity."
"You could become the one who disrupts the board."
"To change the will of a god, only another god can do it," Yae Miko sighed softly.
"Only divine will can shake divine will. Unfortunately… we do not possess such power."
"Change Inazuma…" Akira Shindo murmured thoughtfully.
In the original storyline, it was the Traveler and Paimon who arrived in Inazuma.
Only then did Yae Miko begin arranging her plans, letting the Traveler disrupt the situation.
By borrowing the power of the Statue of the Omnipresent God and the visions' collective will, they barely managed to defeat Raiden Ei.
And in the end, Ei came to understand that even a god's will could be defeated by the gathered wishes of the people.
Only then did she realize the error of the Vision Hunt Decree.
"I won't bear the people's wishes," Akira Shindo said after thinking for a moment.
He shook his head.
He had no intention of becoming someone's tool.
He already possessed power comparable to the gods.
And as time passed, he would inevitably surpass everything.
But bearing the wishes of an entire nation…
That wasn't something he wanted to do.
Besides, the Traveler still needed to grow.
If he interfered directly, what meaning would the Traveler's journey through Inazuma have?
"You know this as well," Akira Shindo continued.
"Even if I could defeat the Raiden Shogun, without bearing the people's wishes, I cannot change her will."
"I ignore the Sakoku Decree and Vision Hunt Decree. I cannot truly understand the desires of the people."
"So I cannot carry their wishes."
"If necessary, I can still offer assistance at the right moment," Akira Shindo said.
"At the very least, before the situation changes, I can help shoulder the pressure of facing a god."
"I see…" Yae Miko said softly, a hint of disappointment appearing in her eyes.
But she couldn't possibly force a god to carry the wishes of Inazuma's people.
"However, there's no need to worry," Akira Shindo added.
"I briefly observed Inazuma's future earlier."
"In the near future, a Traveler will arrive in Inazuma."
"She will help Inazuma overcome this crisis."
"Really? A Traveler?" Yae Miko's eyes brightened slightly.
"The same Traveler who resolved the dragon disaster in Mondstadt?"
"Oh?"
Akira Shindo froze for a moment.
So the timeline was after the Traveler resolved Mondstadt's dragon crisis?
"In that case," Yae Miko said after a moment of excitement, "please join us."
"Become a safeguard for our future."
"As far as I know, the Grand Narukami Shrine is a place that serves the Narukami," Akira Shindo said curiously.
"It's filled with shrine maidens. Would it really be appropriate for me to join?"
"Not exactly," Yae Miko replied.
"Over a hundred years ago, the Grand Narukami Shrine once had a position called Chief Divine Priest."
"This position oversaw sacrificial ceremonies. Although it held no authority over governance or military affairs, it was a sacred office that could directly audience the god."
"Because of that, its status was extremely high."
"Even the heads of the Tri-Commission would respectfully address them as 'Lord.'"
"However, several centuries ago, Ei sealed herself within the Plane of Euthymia and withdrew from the world."
"Since ordinary people could no longer meet the true god, I stopped appointing Chief Divine Priests."
Yae Miko looked at Akira Shindo.
"If you join the Grand Narukami Shrine, I will restore the position of Chief Divine Priest."
"Although you cannot directly audience the god for now, your status will still be extremely high."
"You will be able to move freely anywhere in Inazuma."
"And as Chief Divine Priest, the Grand Narukami Shrine will not assign you any duties," she added.
"The Yashiro Commission can handle ceremonial matters."
"The salary is also quite generous."
"And if you want to buy anything…"
"You can simply send the bill to the Grand Narukami Shrine."
"Hm?"
Akira Shindo's eyes lit up.
He nodded immediately.
"In that case…"
"I'll join the Grand Narukami Shrine."
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