If Keqing hadn't told him, Kazuha could have thought about it for a lifetime and never imagined that his deceased friend was the reincarnation of the Raiden Shogun's brother—the very one who had struck him down. Several years ago, when the swordsman challenged the Shogun to a duel before the throne, her swing was justified. Now, Kazuha seeking revenge for his friend was also justified.
But when the storyteller revealed the full picture, their relationship became far more complicated. Both Kazuha and the Raiden Shogun were victims of fate, both bound to the swordsman by deep ties.
As Keqing had expected, when Kazuha heard this—that his friend was the reincarnation of the Raiden Shogun's brother—he was utterly stunned. This outcome was beyond anything he could have imagined.
"It's made up—it has to be made up! It can't be true! How could my friend be the Raiden Shogun's brother?"
He muttered to himself, unable to accept such a result. It was too absurd.
Seeing Kazuha like this, Keqing could only sigh. She didn't know how to comfort him.
Beside them, Hu Tao remained her usual mischievous self. "What's so impossible about it? Even the Raiden Shogun herself believes the swordsman was her brother."
Kazuha was taken aback. "The Raiden Shogun came here too?"
In his memory, the Shogun never left Inazuma. Especially now, with the war between Narukami Island and Watatsumi Island still ongoing, how could she possibly leave?
Hu Tao put down her handful of sunflower seeds, raised her hand, and pointed to another corner of the inn. "If you don't believe us, see for yourself. Three Raiden Shoguns have been sitting in that corner the whole time."
Kazuha followed her finger with a dazed look. Sure enough, in that corner, three Raiden Shoguns, tears still glistening at the corners of their eyes, were comforting each other.
But why were there three Raiden Shoguns?
The moment Kazuha looked at them, the three Shoguns also turned to look at him. Their gazes were full of complex emotions—panic, guilt, and even a hint of fear.
One Raiden Shogun was terrifying enough. Three of them appearing together—who in all of Teyvat could stand against them?
Kazuha forced himself to suppress his fear and met their gazes bravely. He hesitated. Should he confront them about his friend and the Vision Hunt Decree? But he knew that in the eyes of the Shogun, he was nothing more than an ordinary samurai—someone who could be destroyed with a wave of her hand.
So facing three "Raiden Shoguns," he did not act rashly. Instead, he quietly moved his hand to his waist and gripped the two Visions there. Because of the duel before the throne, he could not avenge his friend. But he would protect his friend's Vision at all costs. He would never let the Raiden Shogun embed his friend's wish into that cold statue.
...
Meanwhile, in the other corner, when the three Shoguns saw Kazuha staring at them in shock, Makoto, Ei, and the Raiden Shogun also looked back.
Makoto said with some surprise, "That child—Kazuha, our brother's friend. Shouldn't he be on Watatsumi Island? Why is he here?"
All three looked over and saw Beidou beside Kazuha. They understood instantly. The Shogun had long suspected that forces outside Inazuma were helping Watatsumi Island—shipping weapons, providing cheap grain. Now it was clear: the one helping Watatsumi Island was this Crux Fleet from Liyue.
With that thought, all three Shoguns turned their gaze to Zhongli, making him very uncomfortable.
Zhongli explained calmly, "It has nothing to do with me. I don't know anything. Investigate it yourselves."
Ei said coldly, "I hope you're not behind this, or I will not let you off."
Zhongli ignored her and continued sipping tea and playing with his bird with Barbatos.
Then Makoto spoke. "Since that child has seen us, let's go and offer him our apologies."
The apology was not really for Kazuha, but for their brother. Since they had not yet found their brother, they would first apologize to his friend.
Ei hesitated. For the Raiden Shogun—one of the Seven Archons of Teyvat, the ruler of Inazuma—to apologize to an ordinary martial artist was indeed difficult.
But after a moment's hesitation, the Raiden Shogun spoke. "Regardless, it was I who swung that blade. It is most fitting that I go and apologize."
That made sense. At this moment, with their brother not yet found, they were all reluctant to face Kazuha.
Barbatos, who had been listening to their conversation, quickly interjected, "That won't do. If the Raiden Shogun goes to apologize, I'm afraid Kazuha might say something disrespectful and anger her again. One swing of her blade, and that boy won't survive."
Zhongli put down his bird and said calmly, "Barbatos is right."
Though they had little interaction with the Shogun in recent years, both Zhongli and Barbatos had some understanding of her personality. She was inflexible, unskilled in handling emotional matters. That was their initial impression of this puppet.
Ei thought their words made some sense. If she ended up cutting down Kazuha as well, things would become truly complicated.
But the Raiden Shogun could not go, and Makoto and Ei were unwilling to go. For a moment, the three archons looked at each other, all remaining seated. It was very awkward.
Makoto finally said, "Then let's pretend we didn't see him for now. After all the stories are finished and our brother returns to us, we can apologize to Kazuha then."
Ei nodded in agreement. "Sister is right."
The Raiden Shogun: "…"
Then, all three awkwardly turned their heads away, no longer looking at Kazuha in the other corner.
Kazuha, who had been watching them warily, was bewildered. What did that mean? Had all three Raiden Shoguns gone blind?