Chapter 90: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [90] [50 PS]
Bonus Chapter!
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After giving Theresa and Natalia a few instructions to stay behind and watch over Inazuma City, Luo Qing prepared to set out in search of Kunikuzushi.
Coincidentally, after completing her negotiations with the Kanjo Commission on Ritou, the Harbinger known as the Lady was also heading to the Delusion Factory. So, Luo Qing first made his way to Ritou, planning to accompany her to Yashiori Island.
He also wanted to ask Rosalyne about his promised position as a Harbinger. After all, she had once used that as a bargaining chip to recruit him.
Several days of travel later...
Luo Qing arrived at Ritou once again.
He had already sent a message to Rosalyne beforehand, arranging to meet her there so they could travel together to Yashiori Island.
By the time he reached Ritou, several Snezhnayan merchant ships were docked at the harbor.
It seemed that Rosalyne's visit to Inazuma, under the guise of the Snezhnayan envoy she had mentioned, allowed her to act with such boldness.
Following her directions, Luo Qing found himself aboard a cargo ship anchored at the docks.
The sailors were busy loading crates, and he could see bits of Crystalline Marrow falling from the gaps in the wooden planks.
Rosalyne was seated at a desk in the captain's cabin, reviewing some shipping documents.
When Luo Qing entered, she didn't bother to look up, merely letting out a cold snort.
"Hmph, in quite the rush, aren't you?"
Unfazed, Luo Qing sat across from her, smiling. "Not at all. I just couldn't wait to see you, Lady Rosalyne."
"..."
"Spare me your flattery. It doesn't work on me."
Rosalyne shot him a glance, her brows knitting slightly.
"I've reported your accomplishments to Her Majesty. She seems quite interested in you. Once we're done in Inazuma, you'll accompany me back for the investiture ceremony, and you'll be granted your new name."
"And what if you don't make it back?" Luo Qing teased.
"..."
[Frustration Value +1 from Rosalyne]
"Do you think I'll die here in Inazuma?"
Rosalyne set the shipping documents aside, a red moth landing delicately on her finger as she fixed Luo Qing with a cold stare.
They hadn't seen each other in a while, and it seemed Luo Qing's cheekiness had only grown.
Did he think he could act this way just because he was about to be on equal footing with her?
She'd have to find an opportunity to teach him a lesson.
"Hmph, don't think that just because you return, you'll automatically become the Twelfth Harbinger. You know Snezhnaya doesn't keep idle hands. Before the investiture, you'll have to prove your worth and your talents to Her Majesty."
"Talents?"
Luo Qing looked puzzled.
"Does eighteen centimeters count?"
"..."
Rosalyne's expression darkened.
She was this close to grabbing something and hitting him.
"Hmph, we'll see if you can keep up that smart mouth when the time comes."
"Oh, by the way, Childe knows about your investiture. He's planning to oversee your evaluation personally."
"So, in addition to proving yourself to Her Majesty, you'll also have to fight him. If you don't earn his approval, you won't even have the right to meet the Tsaritsa."
"Ah, seriously..."
Luo Qing was at a loss for words. He thought back to that time when he'd eliminated a few of Childe's subordinates.
Was Childe really holding a grudge over that?
Was he so eager to pick a fight?
"What's the matter, scared?"
Rosalyne's lips curled into a smirk.
There had been rumors about a mysterious figure who had suddenly appeared and repelled Osial, with the Fatui assuming it was some hidden power from Liyue.
To this day, few in the Fatui knew the true extent of Luo Qing's abilities, save for his handful of eccentric followers.
Though Childe's mind might not be the sharpest, he was undeniably a formidable fighter.
She'd heard about Luo Qing's unorthodox methods during the trials, but she doubted he could stand up to Childe in a direct confrontation.
Luo Qing shook his head, replying casually, "Not at all. I'm just worried that if I knock him down, he might lose face."
"..."
Rosalyne was left speechless, wondering where he got such confidence.
"Go back to your cabin. Just seeing you is irritating."
With that, Rosalyne got up and left the captain's cabin, heading to the deck for some fresh air.
The thought of soon facing another person with an even fouler mouth than Luo Qing's was exhausting.
...
Several days later.
Rosalyne's ship finally docked at Yashiori Island.
During the journey, Luo Qing had taken every chance to hang around her, bringing up the most absurd topics.
...
"Have you ever thought about what kind of life motto you'd have inscribed on your tombstone?"
"Or who you'd want to be buried with?"
"If nothing's left of you, not even ashes, would you consider a cenotaph?"
...
It was as if he was convinced she'd meet her end in Inazuma.
What an ominous attitude.
He must have some screws loose.
As they arrived at the designated harbor outside the Delusion Factory, Yashiori Island remained as foreboding as the last time Luo Qing visited—constantly wracked by lightning and shadowy, malevolent spirits.
For safety reasons, the Fatui's advance team stationed there had to rotate shifts frequently, lest they fall prey to the same mental strain that had driven the Shogunate soldiers mad.
But for the Sixth Harbinger, Kunikuzushi, such dangers were irrelevant. He remained a steadfast guard of the Delusion Factory, serving as a reliable workhorse.
"Why are you even here? Didn't I tell you to stay in Inazuma City?" Rosalyne asked as they approached the factory, still feeling something was off.
What reason did Luo Qing have to abandon the relatively comfortable Inazuma City and follow her to this cursed island?
Did he have an itch to get high on the malevolent spirits?
"I just want to spend more time with you, Lady Rosalyne. What if I never see you again?"
Luo Qing replied offhandedly.
"..."
[Frustration Value +1 from Rosalyne]
"Luo Qing, if you keep talking like this, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish!"
Rosalyne snapped, barely containing her frustration. Who goes around cursing someone to die like that?
"Ahem... Fine, fine. I won't say any more."
Luo Qing glanced at the entrance to the Delusion Factory's cave. "How long are you planning to stay here, Lady Rosalyne?"
"A few days."
"I see."
Luo Qing paused, then said, "Well, I'll leave you to it. I'm going to take a stroll. Call me when you're ready to leave."
Waving his hand, Luo Qing wandered off into the wilderness.
"Hmph, already developing your own little schemes before becoming a Harbinger?"
Rosalyne watched him go, snorting disdainfully before stepping into the Delusion Factory.
As if dealing with Luo Qing wasn't enough, now she had to face another foul-mouthed nuisance.
What a headache.
---
Meanwhile...
Once Luo Qing was out of Rosalyne's sight, he made his way to a secluded cliffside.
With a thought, he retrieved the Mimic Mask and the Invisibility Cloak from his inventory—items he'd drawn in earlier pulls.
Kunikuzushi was not like Osial. If Kunikuzushi realized Luo Qing was messing with him, and given Luo Qing's connections to the Raiden Shogun, it would be much harder to secretly mess with him in the future.
So unless absolutely necessary...
It was best not to be seen at all.
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Chapter 91: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [91] [100 PS]
Bonus Chapter!
---
Luo Qing spent some time lingering on the cliff.
As midnight arrived, he slowly got to his feet and glanced in the direction of the Delusion Factory. He then put on the translucent Mimic Mask he had brought with him.
The Mimic Mask allowed him to imitate the aura and appearance of any template he had stored. So even if he were discovered, no one would trace it back to him.
[Ding! Please select a template to simulate:]
[Available templates: Tartaglia, Zhongli, Ganyu, Keqing... Thoma, Beelzebul, Yae Miko...]
"..."
Luo Qing stared at the list of names in confusion.
He could understand having female options... but how could he even simulate the fox?
"Well then, I'll choose this one..."
With a thought, he selected Yae Miko as the template and carefully put on the Mimic Mask.
The moment the mask touched his face, a faint glow enveloped his body. In just a few seconds, his appearance morphed into Yae Miko's.
Luo Qing moved to a small pool nearby and looked at his reflection.
Soft pink fox ears and a rather impressive chest.
Hiss... Ah...
So this was what cross-dressing felt like?!
No, he had to use this thing sparingly.
Otherwise, Luo Qing feared it might mess with his psyche.
"Let's see something..."
Curious, he patted his pants.
Ah.
Still there.
...
With the Mimic Mask in place and the Invisibility Cloak draped over him, Luo Qing headed toward the Delusion Factory.
There was only one entrance—a cave opening. He'd have to either use Time Zero to rush inside or rely on invisibility to sneak in.
Both Ei and the Raiden Shogun could sense Luo Qing's use of Time Zero, so Kunikuzushi likely had similar abilities.
Thus, he opted for the cautious approach, using both the Mimic Mask and the Invisibility Cloak.
By now, the night was deep. The Fatui soldiers responsible for producing Delusions had retired for rest, leaving only the stationed guards behind. The factory was nearly deserted.
Relying on his memory from his previous visit, Luo Qing navigated through the factory, his invisibility and Time Zero rendering him undetectable to the guards.
Soon, he spotted Kunikuzushi in the core section of the factory.
Kunikuzushi sat alone in the heart of the Delusion production room, eyes closed, seemingly resting.
"Tch, what a diligent little workhorse, sleeping right next to the core," Luo Qing mused.
Only those who had been abandoned sought to constantly prove their worth to others, yearning to feel needed.
The Doctor and the Jester must have understood this about him, which was why they had recruited him into the Fatui.
Luo Qing's predecessor had heard stories of Kunikuzushi's prowess in the Abyss.
As a tool, he was even more dedicated than the Lady and Childe.
"Time to feel the warmth of motherly love."
With a quiet sigh, Luo Qing set Time Zero's speed to maximum and approached Kunikuzushi. He slipped the first letter from Ei into Kunikuzushi's lap.
Just as he set the letter down, Kunikuzushi's eyes opened. Even at two hundred times Time Zero, he sensed Luo Qing's presence.
But as the first experimental prototype, his physical capabilities weren't on par with the Raiden Shogun's. He could sense Luo Qing's presence but couldn't keep up with his speed.
In the blink of an eye, Luo Qing vanished from sight.
...
Kunikuzushi's eyes slowly opened, staring down at the letter in his lap.
He was puzzled.
For a brief moment, he'd felt someone pass by him.
But whoever it was, they had moved too quickly for him to react, dropping something before vanishing.
"Hmph, for me, is it?"
Kunikuzushi frowned, turning the letter over in his hands.
There was a faintly familiar aura about it.
With a wary glance at the entrance, he slowly opened the letter and began to read.
The first line alone made his brows furrow tightly.
"Prototype of Eternity..."
Skimming the contents, a surge of anger flared within him. A powerful burst of energy shredded the letter into fragments as fury spread across his face.
"It's from her..."
Kunikuzushi glanced toward the direction where the intruder had disappeared.
No wonder he'd sensed a familiar presence—it had to have been that accursed fox...
The words on the letter played over and over in his mind.
Unsettled and unable to find an outlet for his anger, he used his willpower to piece the shredded letter back together, glaring at it as if trying to see through the paper and into the depths of the Plane of Euthymia.
...
At the same time...
Having delivered the letter to Kunikuzushi, Luo Qing returned to the cliff he had chosen as his resting spot.
Not long after he arrived, his system log began displaying notifications.
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
Just as Luo Qing expected, Kunikuzushi's emotions were volatile—an excellent source of Frustration Value.
Every now and then, a notification popped up in his system log, continuing until the late hours of the night.
Just from that single letter, Luo Qing had accrued 560 points of Frustration Value—equivalent to five draws.
"Kunikuzushi's resentment is certainly strong... Alright, tomorrow, I'll send another one."
Luo Qing nodded with satisfaction as he reviewed the accumulated Frustration Value.
He still had around ten letters left.
Delivering one letter a day to Kunikuzushi would hopefully yield enough Frustration Value for dozens of pulls by the time he left with the Lady.
Of course, that assumed Kunikuzushi's reactions stayed as intense as they were today.
A few lines were enough to push him over the edge.
...
The next day.
Rosalyne left to stir up trouble at the front lines between the Shogunate and the Resistance.
Meanwhile, Kunikuzushi remained at his post, overseeing the Delusion Factory as usual.
By the end of the day, Kunikuzushi's anger from the previous night's letter had finally subsided, and his resolve had only strengthened.
One day, he would return to Inazuma and take revenge on the deity who had abandoned him.
As night fell, Kunikuzushi resumed his vigil in the core section of the Delusion Factory, meditating alone.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the cave entrance.
Sensing something amiss, Kunikuzushi leapt to his feet, eyes fixed warily on the entrance.
But even then, he was a step too slow.
By the time he stood, another letter with purple edges lay on the ground in front of him.
"Is this never going to end...?"
Kunikuzushi cursed under his breath.
Though he resented the letters...
A small part of him couldn't resist the urge to open them.
...
Later that night.
Luo Qing's system log:
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
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Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
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